Current Reads: September
Ascendance Of A Bookworm Manga
I dislike the Isekai genre. However, I’m aware of how popular this type of storytelling is, and I’m not above giving a manga a chance just because it falls into certain tropes. There have been many times I’ve been surprised by a genre take, and that is just the case here. So, let’s talk about “Ascendance Of A Bookworm”.
This manga was originally a Web Novel by Miya Kazuki. The story follows a book-obsessed college student who suddenly dies due to an earthquake. She wakes up in a different world and a different body. She is now Myne. A sickly five-year-old whose family is impoverished, and the majority of the population is illiterate. Worst of all, books are not a commodity! Myne now makes it her goal to use her previous memories to learn how to make books.
What I love about this manga is the limitations the protagonist has to overcome. Not just getting to know the world she lives in but the logistics of producing books with literally foreign materials. Myne’s previous memories and knowledge of Earth’s seemingly simple products like shampoo and recipes for food blow everyone away because products like that don’t exist. Simple items that are taken for granted are monumental improvements for her friends and family.
There are currently seven manga volumes with more slotted to come. What’s cool is that the manga artist Suzuka and the author work closely to make the world very immersive and interesting! Needless to say, I’m incredibly invested in Myne’s journey to make books.
Witch Hat Atelier
From the moment I saw the artwork of Kamome Shirahama I was sold. Story aside, just studying this manga’s paneling and creativity is something to marvel at. But this isn’t just pretty to look at, it’s also such a fascinating read!
Witch Hat Atelier is about Coco, the daughter of a seamstress, and a curious dreamer. Although she is not a witch herself, she is obsessed with everything magic and yearns to learn how to cast spells. So when a Wizard visits their shop Coco is observant and is ecstatic to learn she may be able to do magic too. As she tries to conjure up magic in secret, disaster unfolds as her spell backfires and causes harm to her mother and home. With the help of the Wizard, Coco becomes his apprentice and tries and set things right.
Again, what I love is the artwork. This manga has created panels I’ve never seen before. Such as wild transitions from panel to panel and detailed borders reminiscent of religious iconography. So far there are 8 volumes and the story won’t be ending soon judging by the pacing of everything. Witch Hat Atelier has created a wonderful magic system and packed with adventure and wonder. It’s so damn cheesy but this manga really is magical.
Chi’s Sweet Home
I rarely do this, but I picked up this Manga on a whim simply based on the adorable cover art of a cheesy cat. And I am glad I did because by far this manga has been the most enjoyable thing to read this year.
Chi’s Sweet Home is about a kitten who gets separated from her family but gains a new one in human form. The Yamadas. They take her in, cautiously, as their apartment has a strict no-pet policy. And that’s as far as this plot goes, as the rest of the series follows Chi getting used to her new home and the adorable things cats do.
Each chapter follows either something new Chi has discovered or the many quirky situations that occur specific to owning a cat. Cat lovers, you’re going to adore this.
Written and created by Kanata Konami, there are 12 volumes, however, the version I have is somewhat like an omnibus with multiple volumes in one. It’s a very easy read, and I think for animal lovers it’s a universally good read.
Daytime Shooting Star
I’ve actually read this series before (through a shady website mind you) but I remember really loving it. So I purchased the series to experience it in a better way. A do-over. Unfortunately, my second time around I have to admit it wasn’t as impactful. Perhaps because I’ve read many manga since or I haven’t read a shoujo manga in a while but I have mixed feelings.
On one hand, I enjoy Mika Yamamori’s distinctive character design. And on the other, I believe the pages were very empty with many spaces and similar perspectives in the compositions. There are also some tropes I do not care for such as love triangles and teacher-student crushes.
This doesn’t take away that I do still enjoy reading this. My rose-tinted glasses are just off.
The story is about Suzume moving from the countryside to Tokyo for high school. On her first day in the city, she collapses in a park and is helped by a stranger. There seems to be an immediate spark she feels toward him, but eventually, they part. This won’t be the last she sees him as it turns out he’s her homeroom teacher, yikes. While she sorts her feelings about her teacher she makes friends with a classmate who doesn’t like to be touched by women. And thus their love triangle begins….
You see what I mean by tired tropes. However, I can’t say the way this manga handles these tropes is bad, in fact, I enjoy the way it was presented. Some expectations were diverted and there are some cute-looking characters. If you like shoujo and cute art, I’d think you’d enjoy this. Only 12 volumes too.
Anyway, those are the manga I read in the month of September. For October I’ll be picking up a few new things Like “I am a Cat Butler and "Komi Can’t Communicate” and I’ll see how that goes.
