As you know, occasionally I need a change of scenery on the weekends. So instead of looking at, working with and reading books at work or home, I go to the library to look at and read books and I have been known to straighten a section. And when I do, I never know what will come of it. I usually get in some fun people watching or listening (on this trip I heard this tiny voice, “Where are the chickens?”), looking at titles that I wouldn’t have access to otherwise as I really don’t have time to browse shelves at work, and pick up a few titles. Sometimes I’ll even start reading something. This time I started two books. One was both interesting and slower paced so I paused it to look at others. The other was One Piece, Vol. 1: Romance Dawn by Eiichiro Oda.
Why might you ask? After all, it is popular and I tend not to “do” popular reads. It is Manga, and while I read Manga it isn’t my go-too. It is fantasy-action (okay, that one isn’t bad). But mostly it looked, well, Mangaish. Reading from left to right; the images are “ugly” when we have an angry, upset or shocked character (they all grow fangs, drip saliva, bulge out the eyes). But I had found a challenge for summer reads it was on and really the only title that was short enough and didn’t feel like it would be too “literary” or too “beach read.”
It was in my hands, I had a whiff of “people” assault me from the pages and I opened the book. I started out thinking, “Okay, we’ll read and see what the fuss is all about.” I continued with, “Hey, this isn’t half bad. Okay, that’s a bit much, but okay, I’m good.” And then there was: A fat joke?!? (Really Oda?) But it could have just been showing how delusional the character was. But either way, it was off putting. And then there were the thoughts of, “Well, that was too much. What the heck?” And finally, “Well, that’s a book.” It is a typical manga title, it is a pirate book (there are fights, “language”, action, booty, swords, people captured), it reminds me of Avatar the Last Airbender (the good animated show and the books) without the color (everything is black and white, which is too bad as one character is supposed to have red hair and another green).
Take the journey if you will, but know it is not an easy read, actually there are several mature concept content and I’ve no idea how I feel about it (the overall package I’m unsure of as the story was energetic with the characters, some of the action, but the plot moved slow. Though I’m okay mostly with the mature themes as most are not for the sake of being shocking). Though I am assuming I won’t continue, as getting into this series is a commitment (there are currently at least 114 in Japanese volumes, slightly less translations). The afterwords are interesting regarding the book’s history, so do read them. And please don’t let me get started on watching the live-action version…. Because Mackenyu as Roronoa Zoro looks like some yummy eye candy…..
