I've reached a point with NANA where, instead of wanting to write a review all by my lonesome, I save all my thoughts for the always-enjoyable roundtable discussion with Danielle Leigh and MJ. Their perceptions of the work cause me to look at it in new ways, and it's a testament to the depth of the story that we're on our eighth column and still haven't run out of things to … [Read more...] about The Return of the NANA Project
Features
Let’s Get Visual: Of Sakura and the Sea
MICHELLE: Welcome to the November edition of Let's Get Visual, a monthly column in which Manga Bookshelf's MJ and I attempt to improve our understanding of manga art! We don't have any particular theme this month, but that hasn't stopped us from assembling some interesting pages to talk about! MJ has chosen a two-page spread from the fourth volume of Children of the Sea, … [Read more...] about Let’s Get Visual: Of Sakura and the Sea
Breaking Down Banana Fish 9-10
The fifth installment of Breaking Down Banana Fish, covering volumes nine and ten, is now up at Manga Bookshelf! These volumes feature the dramatic conclusion to the fight between Ash Lynx and his rival, Arthur, and the resulting fallout, somehow culminating in Ash having to escape from a mental hospital. As ever, it's pretty awesome. The story is very well balanced, too, … [Read more...] about Breaking Down Banana Fish 9-10
Off the Shelf Gets in the Spirit!
Such is the gravitational pull of Soliloquy in Blue's Halloween Week that it has even sucked Manga Bookshelf into its orbit! Well, for one day, at least. Check out the latest edition of Off the Shelf, in which MJ and I discuss supernatural offerings like From a Twisted Mind, Nightschool: The Weirn Books, Demon Sacred, and Higurashi When They Cry: Beyond Midnight Arc! … [Read more...] about Off the Shelf Gets in the Spirit!
Halloween Week 2.0!
Welcome to Soliloquy in Blue's second annual Halloween Week! Beginning today, October 25, and continuing through Sunday, the 31st, I'll be posting daily reviews of novels and manga with a supernatural bent. Some may be cute and fluffy, some may be genuinely creepy, but all will fit the general theme. Last year I asked for recommendations for future Halloween reading, and I'm … [Read more...] about Halloween Week 2.0!