Le Portrait de Petite Cossette

While working at an antique shop, a young man named Eiri discovers the portrait of Cossette, a beautiful young woman shrouded in sorrow. He quickly becomes obsessed with the painting, while ignorant of its tragic past: everyone who has owned Cossette's portrait has died. Shortly thereafter, Cossette's spirit appears to Eiri, begging him to save her. The two embark on a harrowing quest of redemption, as they search out Cossette's cursed possessions, objects she once owned that are now bringing pain to the living. The real tragedy however, is the flatness of the story. In its attempt to be poetic, Le Portrait de Petite Cossette becomes tiresome. The characters are essentially one-dimensional and the love story borders on self-destructive: Cossette brings nothing but pain to those around her, and Eiri is quickly drowning in her sorrow. What the book lacks in plot line it makes up for in art, though. Katsura 's style is exquisite in every sense of the word. The line work is intricate, as delicate as a china doll, and the characters are almost painfully beautiful. Sadly, the depth of emotion does not carry over to the story. Le Portrait de Petite Cossette is beautiful to look at. but difficult to read. (Aug.)