Manga Bookshelf

Once again it’s time for the NANA Project! This time around, join Danielle Leigh, Michelle Smith, and me as we discuss volumes thirteen and fourteen of the series.

To quote Danielle, “This week we talk about three ‘controversial’ couples that take center stage in volumes 13 and 14 of NANA. Join us as Michelle puts on her detective’s cap, Melinda redeems “bad girl” Yuri, and Danielle gets fed up with whiny rock stars.”

On a personal note, I get to rant about Takumi some more, so it’s a satisfying session at the roundtable for me. I could complain about that guy all day long. There’s also a great deal of opinion tossed around by all on the subjects of Yuri, Miu, and Ren & Reira’s ill-conceived… everything.

Unending thanks to Danielle and Michelle for continuing to invite me into this delicious conversation. There’s little I enjoy more than participating in The NANA Project. I hope you’ll join us in conversation this month as well! [Read more...]

Here’s a quick evening link to the newest installment of The NANA Project, a bi-monthly roundtable on the series with Danielle Leigh, Michelle Smith, and me. This month, we discuss volumes 11 and 12, particularly focusing on the ways Nana and Hachi’s roles in the story have changed.

Here’s a quote from me early on: “… I feel like we’re being taught a lesson about the nature of love, though I’m not entirely sure I like it. Hachi’s relationship is really a sham on so many levels, yet it offers her a kind of security she’s never quite had (even at home with her parents) … Meanwhile, Nana’s urgent love for/with Ren should make them both feel more secure (certainly that’s what everyone’s banking on), but instead it just feels dangerous, suffocating, and a little bit unreal.”

It was a great conversation and I hope you’ll join in! Read this month’s installment here or catch up on past Projects. [Read more...]

For those who have been following The NANA Project or those who’d like to start, please join Danielle Leigh, Michelle Smith, and me over at Comics Should Be Good for our discussion of NANA volumes 7 & 8! Due to the events in these volumes, discussion revolves heavily around Hachi, Takumi, Nobu, and Nana, with just a teeeensy rant from Danielle on the subject of Ren and Yasu. These are a couple of pretty intense volumes encompassing events that range from euphoric to absolutely devastating, so you can imagine that the three of us have quite a bit to say. Fans of Takumi will enjoy Michelle’s near-defection to their side. Anti-fans will prefer my stubborn refusal to go along with. Either way, there is plenty to dig into, so please join us in comments!

For previous discussions, see Projects one, two, and three!