It is an honor beyond measure to be invited by MJto be a guest blogger. I have such a deep respect and admiration for MJ’s thoughtful reviews and insightful analysis of manga. Honestly after my initial excitement over the invitation abated a little, I froze for several days in a fit of self-consciousness. But manga means too much to me to pass up this wonderful opportunity to share my love of it with more people.
I cannot promise the eloquence and insight that you have come to expect from MJ, but as so many of my favorite characters say, I will do my best.
It all started out so innocently. A story about a boy plagued by spirits, who finds himself in the shop of a mysterious woman who can grant almost any wish – for a price. A woman who intones, “There is no such thing as coincidence. There is only hitzusen.”
I thought I knew what I was getting into when I picked up that first volume of xxxHolic last April. I had read MJ’s beautiful persuasion post after all. I had no idea that, like Watanuki, the reason I had entered Yuuko’s shop was because I had a wish as well. I had been seeking a purpose, some kind of clear direction in my life and I found it here in this medium.
XxxHolic was such a wonderful introduction to the genre. And then of course I had to read its crossover series Tsubasa. And Tsubasa was full of characters from Clamp’s other manga…. and the slippery slope became an all-out free fall into this world that I am so thrilled to find myself in.
Manga has become an all-consuming passion as I strive to read as much as I can get my hands on as well as become more informed about the genre. I have consumed 376 volumes of manga since xxxHolic volume 1; spread over 60 series either completed or ongoing.
MJhas been such a wonderful guide (see: crack-dealer) to this world and out of all the series I have read now, my favorites (except for 3*) are series I first picked up based on her recommendations.
My Top Ten (currently):
Banana Fish by Akimi Yoshida
Bleach by Tite Kubo
Fruits Basket* by Natsuki Takaya
Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa
Hikaru no Go by Yumi Hotta and Takeshi Obata
Nana by Ai Yazawa
Ranma ½* by Rumiko Takahashi
Sand Chronicles* by Hinako Ashihara
Tsubasa by Clamp
XxxHolic by Clamp
I cheated by listing them alphabetically, so I would not have to outright rank them. I love them all equally, but they each have their own beauty and strengths that appeal to me. I have only read 2 volumes of Ranma ½ and 3 volumes of Sand Chronicles so it may truly be too early to call them outright favorites, but at this point I am really looking forward to reading more from those series. If you’re curious about what else I read last year, I posted my 2008 reading list here on my livejournal.
So other than the fact that I have a growing collection of manga and anime and its accompanying ephemera that is rapidly taking over my living space, what else is there to say about myself? I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and now live within a reasonable drive from Seattle. I’m turning 30 this year. I work in a library, but have dreams of getting into the publishing industry: specifically manga publishing. My favorite sports are baseball and roller derby. I have a weakness for 80’s music and my all-time favorite musical group is Depeche Mode, but I enjoy all kinds of music. I am a movie-buff, but that has really taken a back seat to my manga addiction.
Well, I think that about does it for my introductory post. I want to say thank you again to MJfor this opportunity. Thank you for the trust you have placed in me and for always being such a warm, encouraging spirit.
Next time, I’ll be posting about Canon by Chika Shiomi, Seimaden by Higuri You, Life by Keiko Suenobu, and Only the Ring Finger Knows by Satoru Kannagi & Hotaru Odagiri
Melinda Beasi says
January 11, 2009 at 8:04 pmDeanna, I am so thrilled to have you on board! Your enthusiasm for manga is unparalleled, and I’m honored to be able to host your thoughts over here on my little blog!
ps: This… I had no idea that, like Watanuki, the reason I had entered Yuuko’s shop was because I had a wish as well.
…made me tear up a little.
pps: In my capacity as your, uh, dealer, I recommend that you read this review and my accompanying commentary, because if that series was written for anyone, it was written for you. :D
Deanna Gauthier says
January 12, 2009 at 3:21 amxxxHolic is special to me for many reasons, and I am eternally grateful that it was my gateway into this world. [My sister is now fully hooked on manga as well, which is amazing considering the first series I gave her to read was X/1999. It was the only series I owned sequential copies of at the time :) She has forgiven me. Not to say X/1999 isn’t good, its just a pretty bloody and heavy-handed introduction to the genre.]
and um thanks? hee! for another rec that I will not be able to ignore!
Melinda Beasi says
January 12, 2009 at 9:11 amI’m glad you were able to get your sister into manga! I, sadly, have no hope of managing that with my own sister. *sigh* I think when we were younger, I might have had a chance, but not now. Which isn’t to say I won’t *try*. :D
jansong@livejournal.com says
January 11, 2009 at 10:02 pmWhat a lovely introductory post, Deanna. I’ve read only a bit of manga (a must as Melinda’s mother) but, I do like to read what you all have to say about it.
Deanna Gauthier says
January 12, 2009 at 3:23 amThank you! I’ve gotten one of my sisters to read manga (she is now hooked!), but as much as I talk about it, I’ve been unable to convince my mom to try any. She’s been very supportive though.
Ed Sizemore says
January 12, 2009 at 7:05 amDeanna,
Great post. I will warn you that the first five volumes of Ranma 1/2 are the best. It slowly settles into a “fight of the week” series after that. Takahashi is infamous for starting out strong and then leaving her series without a real conclusion.
I look forward to your posts.
Melinda Beasi says
January 14, 2009 at 7:15 amTakahashi is infamous for starting out strong and then leaving her series without a real conclusion.
Ed, just out of curiosity, do you feel that way about Maison Ikkoku? I still only have a few volumes, so I’m not even close to finishing, but I’d been enjoying it immensely so far. Am I going to feel disappointed when I get to the end?
Ed Sizemore says
January 14, 2009 at 8:08 amMelinda,
That is the one series she did finish. It’s a wonderful read. I think you’re really going to like it. If read and liked the first volume, then you like the rest of the series too. Takahashi great gift is being able to perfectly blend genres. This is a great romance/screw-ball comedy. You’ll have to let me know what you think when you finish.
Melinda Beasi says
January 14, 2009 at 9:36 amSo far I’ve only read the first three volumes (which I loved), but I’m hoping to pick up some more in trading at mangatude! So hopefully I’ll have more to say about it soon! :)
jun says
January 12, 2009 at 9:33 amWelcome, Deanna!
Melinda, clearly you need to peddle some Basara-flavored crack next!
Melinda Beasi says
January 12, 2009 at 9:48 amYes I do!
Maybe I’ll do a little write-up about volumes 1-8 (I finished 8 last night, and now I have no more! *snif*) to start the job.
jun says
January 12, 2009 at 9:50 amOoh, yes, I’d love to see your thoughts on it so far.
Now I am pondering what to get you to read next. Hmm… Maybe Boys Over Flowers. It’s crazy addictive. :)
Melinda Beasi says
January 12, 2009 at 9:53 amSee, Deanna should clearly fear you much more than me, because you have essentially become my shojo dealer. :D Between the two of us, she is doomed.
I’m sure you know this, but volume 8 of Basara is really horrible place to stop! :D I’m plotting my next purchases right now.
As for Boys Over Flowers…. hmmm… I’ve never thought it looked interesting, but I’ve been fooled before! I sometimes see those volumes in the used section at our local comic shop. I will check it out!
jun says
January 12, 2009 at 9:56 amYeah, she probably should.
I actually don’t really remember what happens in volume eight of Basara, because I didn’t start the review blog until I was reading the teen volumes. By the way, there’s a short Basara anime. It covers events through the end of volume five, the whole Blue King storyline.
Boys Over Flowers has a smart heroine and a bunch of entitled rich boys, over-the-top drama, snooty school bullies, etc. I love it very, very much. :)
Melinda Beasi says
January 12, 2009 at 10:02 amI was looking at that anime as maybe a way to get my husband into the series! He likes manga, but it’s always easier for him to get into anime. Then after that, he could continue with the manga.
Heh, volume 8 ends with… hmmmm… how to describe this in a non-spoilery way… Sarasa has recently injured her eyes, and of course this is when she has the Red King pointed out to her. There is other stuff going on, but that’s the least spoilery mention I can make, I think.
I admit, you’re making Boys Over Flowers sound like a lot of fun. :)
jun says
January 12, 2009 at 10:03 amI should’ve included the anime in the package I have for you, but it’s all packed up. The sub is really bad, though. At some point, they start calling Hayato by a completely wrong name.
Melinda Beasi says
January 12, 2009 at 10:14 amWell that’s just sad.
jun says
January 12, 2009 at 10:21 amIf you want, whenever I send back Heaven’s Will to you, I can include it.
Melinda Beasi says
January 12, 2009 at 10:22 amOh, I meant that the sub situation was sad. :) But I’ll be happy to borrow it as well! Thank you!
jun says
January 12, 2009 at 10:24 amI knew what you meant. :)
jun says
January 12, 2009 at 10:25 amOr, actually…. y’know, it’s not like packing tape is expensive, and there’s totally room in the box. I think I’ll just do some package surgery.
Melinda Beasi says
January 12, 2009 at 10:27 am!!!! Thank you!
Wow, I just realized my blog will only allow threads 10-messages deep. I can’t actually reply to the comment I intend to. Heh.
jun says
January 12, 2009 at 10:32 amWeird. Anyways, the package is going out this afternoon. Please look forward to it!
Melinda Beasi says
January 12, 2009 at 10:34 amWeird.
Huh, I just checked the threading plugin I use, and for some reason, this is the highest it can be set at. I wonder why.
Please look forward to it!
Hee, that sounds so Japanese. :D We read too much manga.
Also, yay! And thank you!!
jun says
January 12, 2009 at 10:39 amHee, that sounds so Japanese.
Yeah, that was my intent. We are major dorks. :)
Melinda Beasi says
January 12, 2009 at 10:40 amAt least we have good company in our dorkdom. :D
Grace says
January 12, 2009 at 9:39 amI disagree with Ed about Ranma, but obvs it depends on what sort of manga you like. I loved it from beginning to end and always found it hilarious. It’s a very episodic series, though.
As for Sand Chronicles, I’m sure you’ll love it because I can’t imagine anyone not. I really hope it doesn’t become one of those that gets dropped in the middle of the series (it’s only ten volumes, so hopefully not) because it’s just so awesome. If you don’t mind spoilers I have a review of the full series here, but it is definitely a series that shows what shoujo can be.
jun says
January 12, 2009 at 9:51 amViz is really good about finishing series, so I can’t imagine that Sand Chronicles would be dropped. Plus, it’s a critical darling, which has to count for something! :)
Grace says
January 12, 2009 at 9:58 amThat’s good to hear!
Melinda Beasi says
January 14, 2009 at 7:16 amI’m definitely planning on checking out Sand Chronicles. I kind of want to read your review, but I wonder if I should avoid the spoilers…
Grace says
January 14, 2009 at 7:36 amI actually think it’s something that should be read without spoilers, because like Nana, it’s not a typical shoujo romance where you know what’s going to happen. The relationships are very realistic and up until the very end I was unsure what would happen.
Here’s most of my review with the spoilers cut out (the fact that her mom dies is not a spoiler, as it happens in like the first chapter):
This is shoujo done right. It’s complicated and realistic, and the focus stays solidly on An. This is her story, and while there are some subplots with guy angst, it never takes over and becomes a story about the guy and his angst, like so many shoujo series do. I loved the characterisations here, too. There are strong women and weak women and women who struggle and become stronger over the years. It is also one of the few shoujo series where I was honestly not sure whether or not it would have a typically happy ending.
I highly recommend this. The series is ten volumes total, with the main story being the first eight, and some side stories taking up the last two volumes. Unfortunately only three (I think?) volumes are out in English, but hopefully they will continue publishing the whole series.
The basic story is about a woman named An. It starts off with her finding an hourglass in the closet and reminiscing about when she got it. The story then goes back to when she was twelve and her parents had just got divorced. She and her mother moved back to the boonies to live with her grandparents. That’s when she meets Daigo, Fuji, and Shiika, who will be lifelong friends. That’s also when her mother commits suicide, something that affects An immensely and which she will never really get over (in fact, you could say the story is much more about An and her mother than it is about any of the romances). The story follows her through the years until it meets up with the point where she found the hourglass, then goes on a few years after that. The main side stories we get are one about An’s mother, Daigo’s mother, and Fuji and Shiika’s mother when they were young, one about An’s little sister, and one set a few years in the future from the end of the main story.
As I said above, this is really a story about An and her mother. It’s a story about how some boy can’t make it all better, no matter how much you love him or he loves you.
[snip snip several more paragraphs of awesome stuff I loved but it’s spoilery!!]
This is just such a great series. Just the right length, too. It didn’t feel like it was dragging on forever to keep the story going. And I really liked the art.
Ed Sizemore says
January 12, 2009 at 2:36 pmGrace,
I think Ranma 1/2 is a good read to the end, but the best work is at the beginning. In the beginning, Takahashi had a lot of satire about gender roles, by the six volume much of the that satire is dropped. My favorite scene is Ranma in girl form ordering a parfait. Akane is shocked. Ranma confesses he always wanted to try one, but felt they were too frilly for a boy to order.