Reading Slump Cure: Manga

Reading Slumps. There comes a day (or multiple) in every readers life where despite wanting to, they just cannot read or finish a book. That day has come, again for me. I can't say specifically when it did but I strongly suspect school as the culprit.

Either way, as I can't seem to get into any books I thought I could share what I am getting into i.e. MANGA!

Not many people know this about me but I'm a massive manga nerd. It's a recessive trait so it goes on hibernation for most of the year but at the moments its back with vengeance. So before I ramble too much here are some of My Favourite Mangas!

Inu Yasha - Rumiko Takahashi

Transported back to Japan's feudal era, high school student Kagome accidentally releases the feral half-demon dog boy Inu-Yasha from his imprisonment for stealing the Jewel of Four Souls.

Thoughts: This one has some sentimental value as it was the very first manga I read. I was prompted to pick it up after watching the anime on YTV (those were the good days). I love the characters, Inu Yasha was my first anime crush, despite the fact that he was half dog... This epic action, adventure and comedy with a hint of romance was every thing pre-teen Mari needed and I think its a great one for people who want to try out manga but enjoy action packed and paranormal type of reads.



Anime: Yes 
 Recommend:

• There really is no age limit, although thinking back there were some inappropriate scenes.
• Those looking for: action, adventure, Asian culture, dog-boys and comedy

One Piece - Eiichiro Oda

A new shonen sensation in Japan, this series features Monkey D. Luffy, whose main ambition is to become a pirate. Eating the Gum-Gum Fruit gives him strange powers but also invokes the fruit's curse: anybody who consumes it can never learn to swim. Nevertheless, Monkey and his crewmate Roronoa Zoro, master of the three-sword fighting style, sail the Seven Seas of swashbuckling adventure in search of the elusive treasure "One Piece."

Thoughts: Sticking with the order in which I read these, One Piece was my life after Inu Yasha ended (tears). It is still on-going and the manga has reached volume 70 or so. Personally, I'm behind but the 40 volumes that I did read were amazing. One Piece is what invoked my love for pirates, well this and Pirates of the Caribbean (Will Turner!). It's another epic adventure, with great witty and silly characters who you can't seem to keep yourself from loving.
Anime: Yes 
Recommend:

• Fans of non-stop adventure and pirates!

Full Metal Alchemist - Hirome Arakawa

Alchemy: the mystical power to alter the natural world; something between magic, art and science. When two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, dabbled in this power to grant their dearest wish, one of them lost an arm and a leg...and the other became nothing but a soul locked into a body of living steel. Now Edward is an agent of the government, a slave of the military-alchemical complex, using his unique powers to obey orders...even to kill. Except his powers aren't unique. The world has been ravaged by the abuse of alchemy. And in pursuit of the ultimate alchemical treasure, the Philosopher's Stone, their enemies are even more ruthless than they are...

Thoughts: After reading Harry Potter anything with the slightest mention of a Philosopher's Stone was on my reading list. This one was no exception and for good reason. It's such a great story of two brothers who risked everything and paid the ultimate price and now they are looking for a way to redeem what they have lost and at the same time battling enemies and doing alchemy.
Anime: Yes, 2 actually.

Recommend:  

•  Non-romance lover (i.e P.E.) this is the manga for you. 
• Appeals to both boys and girls.

Paradise Kiss - Ai Yazawa

School is Yukari's life until she is kidnapped one afternoon by a group of fashion students calling themselves "Paradise Kiss." Wooed by George, the group's leader and resident art snob, Yukari discovers the world of high-fashion and a beauty she never knew she had. One of the top-selling shojo titles in Japan, Paradise Kiss stretches the manga genre with a combination of exquisite artwork, high comedy, and coming-of-age angst.

Anime: Yes, also has a new Japanese Drama.





NaNa - Ai Yazawa

Nana Komatsu is a young woman who's endured an unending string of boyfriend problems. Moving to Tokyo, she's hoping to take control of her life and put all those messy misadventures behind her. She's looking for love and she's hoping to find it in the big city. Nana Osaki, on the other hand, is cool, confident and focused. She swaggers into town and proceeds to kick down the doors to Tokyo's underground punk scene. She's got a dream and won't give up until she becomes Japan's No. 1 rock'n'roll superstar. This is the story of two 20-year-old women who share the same name. Even though they come from completely different backgrounds, they somehow meet and become best friends. The world of Nana is a world exploding with sex, music, fashion, gossip and all-night parties.

Anime: Yes 

Thoughts: These two are very popular managas by the same author. To be honest, Ai Yazawa is probably the best mangaka (author of mangas) I've ever read. Her illustrations are incredible and her stories are so intricately woven. You don't even realize your reading a manga, it feel like your watching a movie with multiple levels of drama and suspense. Those planning to check these two out bring a tissue box with you.
Recommend: 

• Contemporary, drama lovers.

Vampire Knight - Matsuri Hino

Yuki Cross has no memory of her past prior to the moment she was saved from a vampire attack ten years ago. She was adopted by the headmaster of Cross Academy, and now works alongside Zero to guard the Academy's secret. Cross Adademy is attended by two groups of students: the Day Class and the Night Class. At twilight, when the students of the Day Class return to their dorm, they cross paths with the Night Class on their way to school. Yuki Cross and Zero Kiryu are the Guardians of the school, protecting the Day Class from the Academy's dark secret: the Night Class is full of vampires!

Yuki Cross has no memory of her past prior to the moment she was saved from a vampire attack ten years ago. She was adopted by the headmaster of Cross Academy, and now works alongside Zero to guard the Academy's secret. Yuki believes that vampires and humans can coexist peacefully, but her partner has different ideas...

 
Thoughts: The original and the best in my opinion, Vampire manga. Another well written and illustrated story, with a fantastic batch of characters and well developed world. It's a story of vampires and vampire hunters and a girl who is stuck in between.This one had my hooked, it has one of those rare love triangles where you have a hard time picking a side as both the male interests are so amazing.
Anime: Yes  
Recommend:

• Vampire lovers.
• Paranormal romance fans.

Maid Sama! - Hiro Fukiwara

Brilliant and overachieving, Misaki Ayuzawa is the President of the Student Council at Seika High School, formerly a boys' school. Unfortunately, most of the students are still male and stuck in their slovenly habits, so man-hating Misaki really socks it to 'em in an attempt to make the school presentable to attract more female students. But what will she do when the sexiest boy in school finds out that after school, Misaki works in a maid cafe!

Thoughts: This one is on the lighter side. It is contemporary and about a female student body president in a ex-all boys school. It's hilarious and beautiful especially with the main male protagonist around.
Anime: Yes  
Recommend:

• Those looking for a light read.
• Contemporary romance and non-stop comedy fans.

-MARI