Logs - Books

A brief account of Books and Manga I have read

  1. One Piece Manga
    Eiichiro Oda
    Translated from Japanese to English
    First Published: 1997
    Read Date: Ongoing
    9/10

    The same old story couldn't wait for the anime to end. One of my favorite manga with amazing worldbuilding, intricate story line and a true masterpiece.

  2. Kingdom Manga
    Yasuhisa Hara
    Translated from Japanese to English
    First Published: 2006
    Read Date: Ongoing
    8/10

    Based on ancient Chinese era warfare and politics, Kingdom is one of the best action war manga out there. It focuses on the story of a peasant called Shin who wants so become a general, which is hard to say the least. Kingdom is filled with stratergies and surprises which are clever and intriguing. Politics adds an extra layer of complexity and makes the world of Kingdom more believable.

  3. One Hundred Years of Solitude
    Gabriel García Márquez
    Translated from Spanish to English
    First Published: 1967
    Read Date: 27/11/2021
    10/10

    One of the most gripping books I have ever read. Takes you on a tour....

  4. Norwegian Wood
    Haruki Murakami
    Translated from Japanese to English
    First Published: 1987
    Read Date: ??/02/2021
    8/10

    Norwegian wood depicts depression, living with a depressed person and anxiety of student life, and many more themes in a very Murakami way. Even after reading all 389 pages, I still felt the book to be incomplete which is just what Murakami does to you.

  5. South of the border west of the sun
    Haruki Murakami
    Translated from Japanese to English
    First Published: 1992
    Read Date: ??/03/2022
    9/10

    A typical Murakami tale that surprisingly lacks fantastical elements. This book feels like it's firmely in the Murakami universe; along with the Norwegian woods and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

    Also I felt this book, while being very similar to the Norwegian wood, to be better than Norwegian wood.

  6. Berserk Manga
    Kentaro Miura
    Translated from Japanese to English
    First Published: 1989
    Read Date: Ongoing??
    10/10

    RIP Miura. He died while I was about to finish the berserk and I was hoping for him to get better in order to finish it. No other death of a public figure comes close to the shock I felt. I still believe that Berserk is perfect as it is and ends on a satisfying note (Beware! I have grown too used to cliffhanger endings to movies.).

    Berserk makes me feel things no other Manga has managed before and it is one of the bests for that very reason. I have read/watched a lot of fiction, and Berserk will still be on the top-tier list among all those mediums.

  7. My Hero Academia Manga
    Kōhei Horikoshi
    Translated from Japanese to English
    First Published: 2014
    Read Date: Ongoing : Dropped
    6/10

    The same old story couldn't wait for the anime to end. Dropped.

  8. Mushoku Tensei Manga
    Rifujin na Magonote
    Translated from Japanese to English
    First Published: 2012
    Read Date: Ongoing : Dropped
    6/10

    The same old story couldn't wait for the anime to end. Dropped.

  9. One-Punch Man
    One / Yusuke Murata
    Translated from Japanese to English
    First Published: 2009
    Read Date: Ongoing : Dropped
    7/10

    The same old story couldn't wait for the anime to end. Dropped. The initial chapters are a joy, but later it loses the comedy and its unique charm

  10. Jujutsu Kaisen
    Gege Akutami
    Translated from Japanese to English
    First Published: 2018
    Read Date: Ongoing : Dropped
    7/10

    The same old story couldn't wait for the anime to end. Dropped.

  11. Attack on Titan Manga
    Hajime Isayama
    Translated from Japanese to English
    First Published: 2009
    Read Date: Read date:??/??/2021
    7/10

    The same old story couldn't wait for the anime to end. Dropped.

  12. That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Manga
    Fuse
    Translated from Japanese to English
    First Published: 2013
    Read Date: Ongoing
    8/10

    The same old story couldn't wait for the anime to end.

  13. Sapiens
    Yuval Harari
    English
    First Published: 2014
    Read Date: ??/05/2022
    10/10

    A surprisingly easy read for such an info-packed non-fiction book. It takes the reader on a journey through time with a scientific outlook. I feel very biased towards the book, for it affirms my biases of nihilism and absurdism. And it makes me happy knowing that the author probably shares them too.

  14. Vagabond Manga
    Takehiko Inoue
    Translated from Japanese to English
    First Published: 1998
    Read Date: Ongoing??
    9/10

    Started this after completing Berserk, as Vagabond is considered another classic masterpiece. I have mixed feelings about it, but it was good for most parts.

  15. Men without women
    Haruki Murakami
    Translated from Japanese to English
    First Published: 2014
    Read Date: 25/06/2022
    9/10

    A collection of short stories that explore various emotions a man feels when there are women in his life, and when they are not. It is a skillful exploration that branches into a fresh new direction with each new short story.

    I picked up the book during my Murakami binge because Drive my car was recently released (and I was excited to see Murakami's story transform from pages to a movie). Samsa in love is probably the most unique and touching story, but Men without women (the short story named after the title of book, or vice versa) was also quite enduring.

  16. A Game of Thrones Book 1
    George R. R. Martin
    English
    First Published: 1996
    Read Date: 24/04/2023
    9/10

    A more satisfying and engaging read than I had expected it to be. The book is far more detailed—as it should be—compared to the show but is also more raw and brutal in its tone. The theme of entitled lords who play games at the expense of common folks is far more apparent.