I haven’t posted to the blog lately because I’m busy trying to beef up the content on the site. My initial method for selecting manga to review was very unscientific: I picked up the books that were lying around the house. The quality was pretty uneven, though, and I wanted to get some books up there that I could be enthusiastic about. So I turned to The Librarian’s Guide to Anime and Manga which has an interesting list of recommendations.
From this I found Kare Kano, which is subtitled “His and Her Circumstances” but should really be subtitled “The Secret Life of Overachievers.” The plot is completely over the top, but it’s well written and well drawn as well. It’s safe for the kiddies and a nice light read for the grownups.
The Kindaichi Case Files are murder mysteries that are intricately plotted but too violent for kids. If you like “Monk” and “Law and Order,” you’ll like Kindaichi; the books have the same sort of plot, with the sleuth following a complicated trail of clues to find the killer.
The website also recommended Ranma 1/2, and I got it from the library, but I haven’t been able to read it yet because my kids won’t give it up. I guess that’s as good a recommendation as any.
