Familiar Diversions
I'm a librarian who loves anime, manga, and reading a wide variety of genres.
Currently reading
Humble Manga Bundle: Fantasy
Ooh. Although I continue to struggle with digital manga (I have sooo many volumes I have yet to read), I may get this bundle.
Titles I've read at least some of and enjoyed:
- Land of the Lustrous: Sci-fi in which gemstone-based people live their lives and try to avoid being broken to pieces and captured by creepy beings that come from the moon. It's a weird series, and the world-building and action is occasionally confusing, but it's also lovely and has managed to grow on me. If you do end up finding the action confusing, the anime is streaming free for Prime members (US, not sure about other regions) and is easier to follow.
- Cells at Work: An anthropomorphized red blood cell tries to go about her business while anthropomorphized viruses and bacteria try to kill her, cause havoc, etc. It seems like the sort of series that could get old after a while, but the first volume, at least, is quality edutainment.
- Battle Angel Alita: It's been ages since I last read any of this series, and I don't know how well it holds up, but it's one of the series that first got me into manga. I recall it having dystopian elements and a cyborg main character. Oh, and yes, I've seen the trailer for the live action movie, and I deeply dislike the decision to give Alita big eyes.
Notes on some of the others:
- Pumpkin Scissors: I've read some of this and don't recall being particularly impressed. There are better "post-war period in a fantasy world" series out there.
- Noragami: I don't think I've read any of the manga, but I've seen and enjoyed the first season of the anime. The main characters are a god without any worshipers and a teen girl who gains the ability to see gods like him.
- That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: I've heard that the novels are surprisingly good. I have no idea if the same holds true for the manga.
- Mushishi: I've seen a little of the anime but haven't read any of the manga. The anime is gorgeous.
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