Thank you again to all who responded to my first plea for help deciding what to read next. Although the battle was fierce, Antique Bakery emerged victorious. Although I certainly liked Ōoku very much, I fell in love with Fumi Yoshinaga in a major way with Antique Bakery. I can imagine how Danielle Leigh felt to discover her greatness, as I am now compelled to read everything … [Read more...] about Manga Marching Orders, 9/13/09
Detroit Metal City 1 by Kiminori Wakasugi: C
From the back cover: By all appearances, Soichi Negishi is a sweet, well-mannered boy who loves Swedish pop music, trendy boutiques, and all things fashionable. But at the same time he's also Krauser II, front man for Detroit Metal City, an indie death metal band whose popularity increases by the day. Once the DMC makeup goes on and Soichi takes the stage, his natural talents … [Read more...] about Detroit Metal City 1 by Kiminori Wakasugi: C
Antique Bakery 1-4 by Fumi Yoshinaga: A
Last month, I debuted the Manga Marching Orders feature, in which I invite readers to help me decide what to read next. The results were very close, but, in the end, Antique Bakery came out on top. On the surface, Antique Bakery is the story of four men who work together at a bakery, providing delicious cakes for their customers. What that simplified summary fails to mention, … [Read more...] about Antique Bakery 1-4 by Fumi Yoshinaga: A
Underfoot in Show Business by Helene Hanff: A
From the front flap: "Each year, hundreds of stagestruck kids arrive in New York determined to crash the theatre... One in a thousand turns out to be Noel Coward. This book is about life among the other 999. By one of them." - Helene Hanff In her spirited, witty and vastly entertaining memoir, Helene Hanff recalls her ingenuous attempts to crash Broadway in the early forties … [Read more...] about Underfoot in Show Business by Helene Hanff: A
Millennium Prime Minister 1 by Eiki Eiki: C
The premise of Millennium Prime Minister is so ridiculous it almost sounds fun. Minori Nagashima, a sixteen-year-old schoolgirl and video game aficionado, ditches school one day and ends up at an arcade, where she takes on and defeats an opponent who’s been trouncing the other patrons. Initially angry, the young man changes his tune when he sees Minori, and declares, “You can … [Read more...] about Millennium Prime Minister 1 by Eiki Eiki: C