A couple of regular blog readers have threatened to go try out the first volume of Nana on my recommendation. That’s super…but I do want to warn y’all that the first book is probably the weakest of the series. I think Yazawa was originally considering using it as a stand-alone story, rather than turning it into a series…anyway, it’s pretty different, and somewhat weaker, than what follows. Not that it’s bad or anything (especially the third part) but I’d hate to have anyone pick it up and then decide not to go any further.
If you’re just starting, you should really commit to reading at least the first two — or even beginning with the second one if reading two whole volumes seems too much of a commitment.
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In other news; if you follow the blog, you’ve probably noticed that I’ve been posting a lot over the past two weeks. That is going to have to slow, I think…I’ll try posting a couple of times a week still, but the everyday thing is just not sustainable, I fear.
I do have a blog event which should definitely be debuting in the next few weeks…and I’ve got a couple of other ideas as well, which aren’t quite fully thought through yet. And I’m hoping to have at least one more blogger added to HU early next year.
So…thanks to all the new readers who have stopped by this week, and to all the old hands too. If you’d like, leave a comment and let me know how you think we’re doing in general, or what you’d like to see more or less of. Thanks again.
You know, I actually started reading Nana based on dual recommendations (not given to me personally, from online and the journal) from you and Dirk Deppey, and I’d second that second volume thing–I didn’t actually read volume 1 until after I’d read 2 and 3, and I don’t know if I’d have fallen for it on the basis of the first one. The art’s good, but otherwise, it’s not as strong as the later ones.
I says you’re doin’ good. Keep it up.
I tried Nana after you, Brady and Stone all raved about it. Seriously, you guys are such girls. Anyway, I’ll give volume 2 a chance as well.
Do you like any cultural products aimed at women? If not…yeah, it may not be for you. But hope you like the second volume more….
i am also thinking i will ask for the first nana (the first two nana, now) for generic winter holiday this year.
i wasn't sure, because what seems to be the typical shojo/shoujo (i don't remember the difference) manga face drawing style is a big turnoff for me. i know it is not objectively more stylized than, say, craig thompson's art, but the character designs tend to rub me the wrong way.
now i've seen one reviewer post a page, & that one page looked very pretty. on the other hand, there weren't any frontal-view faces in it.
nevertheless, i love a good soap opera, especially if the characters are not total weak-ass stereotypes. i want to take a chance on nana.
The only comics I like are written by Frank Miller.
Hey, that’ll work…he writes romance comics, right?