So, you want to learn more about the history, politics, and culture of China and you’re looking to read some books about China in order to do that. Do you pick up a novel by a Chinese author or search for a Chinese memoir? I suspect most English-language readers would go for fiction. It’s so …
Asian Literature
When the Dorohedoro anime hit Netflix, it turned a lot of heads. But for fans of the anime and newcomers alike, Q Hayashida’s Dorohedoro manga, which has been going since 2002, is an absolute must-read. In her Dorohedoro manga, Q Hayashida has created a gnarly, nasty, raw, and radical piece of fiction. Dorohedoro is bloody, …
The Kaguya-sama: Love is War manga is translated from the Japanese by Emi Louie-Nishikawa Created, written, and drawn by mangaka Aka Akasak, the Kaguya-sama manga (Kaguya-sama: Love is War) is a slice of life manga that pits two proud and brilliant, but socially inept, teenagers against one another. It’s a simple premise that works brilliantly …
Now is a great time to dig into some spooky reads, from classic horror novels to modern thrillers, paranormal stories to twisted murder mysteries. These novels from Canada, Korea, UK, Japan, Argentina, and more present narratives that are unnerving, unsettling, and weird, bordering on outright horrifying. The Most Unsettling Books from Around the World From …
Slice of life manga come in many shapes and sizes. Some focus on romance, others comedy. Some take simple situations and twist them into bizarre shapes. Others are queer coming-of-age stories. Essential Slice of Life Manga Whatever your personal flavour when it comes to slice of life manga, you’ll find something to sink your teeth …
Before you travel to any new country, you should know a little about its history, food, art, language, and customs. Japan’s literature and culture are so rich and the best way to learn more is to tuck into a few Japanese novels by some of the best Japanese authors, as well as some fantastic travel …
Books about witches take many different forms. Some are horror novels; others are historical accounts. Some are charming children’s stories; others are strange and disturbing mysteries. Setting witches at the heart of a novel, a comic book, or a nonfiction book can mean many different things and can cover many different genres, settings, and styles. …
The To Your Eternity manga is translated from the Japanese by Steven LeCroy Yoshitoki Oima is a modern legend of the manga world; a young female mangaka who has shaken the manga and anime scene with two incredible series’: A Silent Voice (Koe no Katachi) and To Your Eternity (Fumetsu no Anata e). A Silent …
The Komi Can’t Communicate manga is translated from the Japanese by John Werry Tomohito Oda’s Komi Can’t Communicate manga (Komi-san wa Komyushou Desu) is a slice-of-life comedy that succeeds and fails in equal parts; propelled forward by a sweet premise that remains interesting, but its comedy moments are often jarring and forced. The titular Komi …
So much of our experience with a novel relies on its narrator and its protagonist. When we read, we both apply our understanding of the world to the novel, and seek to put that aside to look through the narrator’s eyes. Most protagonists and narrators feel trustworthy, pleasant, and kind; even if that protagonist has …