I’m battling illness and stabbing blindly at a difficult review, so just a little link-blogging from me today!
First of all, I keep re-reading Ed Sizemore’s review of Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys and find myself desperately wanting to read the manga. This has shot straight to the top of my to-buy list. Ed’s reviews are always very much from the heart, and it’s obvious how much he enjoyed this manga. Example number 100,000,347 of How Reviews Sell Manga.
Speaking of reviews selling manga, check out Michelle’s recent review of classic shojo manga A,A’. Made me want to buy that too!
At Manga Recon’s recent roundtable, the bunch of us talked about our hopes and fears for film adaptations of manga. I piped up in favor of adapting shorter, less-popular series that could grab someone other than the usual action flick crowd. Not that I expect that will ever, ever happen.
So, has everyone been following the conversation about manga at Hooded Utilitarian? I’ve avoided dwelling on it too much, because I keep getting angry, but one point rings true. I haven’t ever been able to get deep into western comics, and one of the reasons, I think, is that I find them visually overwhelming. So aside from the inaccurate (and insulting) aspect of the argument that simple = simplistic, I think there is something to the fact that I am a manga reader at least in part because the art is easier for me to follow. That is not the only reason by far, nor is it the biggest reason (which is actually that I find the stories being told in manga much more to my taste), but it is definitely a factor.
ETA: Of course I realize now that most of what I just said there has already been said much more eloquently and with less vitriol by Brigid Alverson.
Okay, gotta go. Be sure to check out Deanna’s post from earlier today!
Ed Sizemore says
January 22, 2009 at 6:23 pmMelinda,
A, A’ is an excellent book. It’s a shame it’s out of print. Thankfully used copies are too expensive.
Ed Sizemore says
January 22, 2009 at 6:23 pmThat should be “aren’t too expensive”. Sorry.
Melinda Beasi says
January 22, 2009 at 6:35 pmI figured. :) And yeah, heh, Michelle pointed out to me that some of the used copies she found are cheaper than the original cover price!
Ed Sizemore says
January 22, 2009 at 9:38 pmI also want to encourage you to keep plugging away on the review. I’m beginning to appreciate difficult reviews. They’re usually the ones that make me grow the most as a reader and a reviewer. Particularly if it’s a review where you know there’s something that doesn’t click for you, but you can’t put your finger on it. You spend a couple of days letting the book roll around in your head, looking at it from every angle, until finally the light hits it just right and you see the flaw. Man, that “Ah, ha!” moment is a wonderful high. I can’t wait to read your review.
Melinda Beasi says
January 22, 2009 at 9:54 pmEd, thank you so much for this. I’m sitting here working at this review *right now*, and your words could not come at a better time.
The review is for a translated Japanese historical novel that will turn up in next week’s Otaku Bookshelf column at Manga Recon. I’ve had the worst time of it, trying to balance my personal feelings about the book (which are really convoluted) with technical issues and everything else. It was a rough read, and the review is being just as rough.
Thank you *so* much.
Brigid says
January 23, 2009 at 8:53 amMelinda, it might be worth checking your library system to see if you can get A A’ via interlibrary loan. That’s how I found it.
Melinda Beasi says
January 23, 2009 at 12:16 pmBrigid, thanks for the tip!
Oliver says
January 23, 2009 at 10:57 amHi Melinda!
I have also been reading and commenting on the Hooded Utilitarian post, Manga: What’s the Point? and I am beginning to understand why a few people are a little upset by it. I had originally posted some recs in the comments section, but I now think they were in vain. I almost regret posting a comment there because many people posted recs, and the poster didn’t acknowledge any of them, and I doubt he’ll go check ’em out anyways. What I should have said was just to stick to Western comics. Even though, on the other hand, some Manga readers will say Western comics are quite juvenile.
Please get better soon!
Melinda Beasi says
January 23, 2009 at 12:18 pmI admire your willingness to get involved in that discussion, to be honest. I stayed away, because I didn’t trust myself to remain my best self throughout, you know?
And thank you for the good wishes!
Oliver says
January 23, 2009 at 1:15 pmYou’re welcome!