bill allison's review on Manga: Ascendance of a Bookworm (5/5)
Review for
Ascendance of a Bookworm
Rocks!
A High Quality Medieval Historical Fantasy for the Family
This finely crafted world-building story has good literary quality. There is humor and human drama, but this is not an action series. If you don't like books, you may not feel the same excitement that book-lovers will find here. The author has done extensive research into old European culture, religion, and the history of paper and printing. This series is genuinely educational and thought provoking.
Each story arc is named a Part and there are Parts 1-5. Each part shows Myne maturing as a person and growing in power and influence. Myne begins as a child so sick that she has already died once and could die again at any moment. Her obsession for books and love for her friends and family are what motivate her to continue to survive and struggle forward.
There are a few action filled climax scenes near the end of each story arc, but most of the story is a about relationships, society, and creating inventions. One of her on-going problems throughout the series is how she is a mixture of multiple societies and their different customs. Her contemporary morality does not agree with medieval beliefs, and the beliefs of the commoners, priests, and nobels are also disparate. She frequently challenges the status quo and gradually changes those around her. Those around her may complain about this, but they follow her anyway.
In each Part, Myne becomes more mature and the problems she deals with become more serious. She advances from making hair shampoo to eventually leading a war.
This series has been a best seller in Japan for years (9 million books sold is a lot for novels) and has been inducted into Japan's literary Hall-of-Fame for its quality.
This finely crafted world-building story has good literary quality. There is humor and human drama, but this is not an action series. If you don't like books, you may not feel the same excitement that book-lovers will find here. The author has done extensive research into old European culture, religion, and the history of paper and printing. This series is genuinely educational and thought provoking.
Each story arc is named a Part and there are Parts 1-5. Each part shows Myne maturing as a person and growing in power and influence. Myne begins as a child so sick that she has already died once and could die again at any moment. Her obsession for books and love for her friends and family are what motivate her to continue to survive and struggle forward.
There are a few action filled climax scenes near the end of each story arc, but most of the story is a about relationships, society, and creating inventions. One of her on-going problems throughout the series is how she is a mixture of multiple societies and their different customs. Her contemporary morality does not agree with medieval beliefs, and the beliefs of the commoners, priests, and nobels are also disparate. She frequently challenges the status quo and gradually changes those around her. Those around her may complain about this, but they follow her anyway.
In each Part, Myne becomes more mature and the problems she deals with become more serious. She advances from making hair shampoo to eventually leading a war.
This series has been a best seller in Japan for years (9 million books sold is a lot for novels) and has been inducted into Japan's literary Hall-of-Fame for its quality.