NANA, Volume 1

Finished reading the manga and omggg. This holds up so well. Each character is so well rounded. I often find that there's such a lack of balance in developing supporting characters in a meaningful way in so many stories. So to read through this and care for everyone who came across was so refreshing! I was invested in everyone! Even for characters who pissed me off (looking at you Takumi) I could still get their point of view and their motives. The drama is high, everyone is stumbling through their twenties in their own way and each scene is so beautifully illustrated. Absolutely wish I had read this in high school! It's still been an amazing read coming through the end of my twenties though.

I am conflicted. I love one half of this series, and absolutely hate the other. How can something be so subversive in its portrayal of women and at the same time be so sexist?

The series follows two women named Nana through their romantic escapades and their friendship. Both women move to Tokyo, become roommates, and we learn about their separate backgrounds.

I love Nana O’s storyline. I want to be her friend. She’s an edgy rock star with a really great romance plot. She’s independent and tries to make her own way in the world.

Unfortunately, both Nana K’s views of the world and romantic life are seriously harmful. (“Only guys can have sex when they’re not in love”? Seriously?) Her entire motive for living is to find a show more boyfriend, and she’s completely defined by her past romantic relationships. She’s also super obnoxious.

So I have a hard time reconciling these two conflicting themes. Feminism and anti feminism side by side? Wtf?

Ugh. 4 stars, I guess. show less

For the sake of sanity, I'm going to call Nana Komatsu 'Little Nana' and Nana Osaki 'Big Nana'.

Oh my gosh! I HATE girls like Little Nana! Always looking for a boyfriend and too stupid to know when a boy is taking advantage of her. But when the 'relationship' dies because it's nonexistent, SHE DOESN'T LEARN FROM HER MISTAKES! She keeps doing it over and over and over! I just can't feel sorry for her. Let her break her heart! It's the only way she'll learn. Junko and Kyosuke though... I ship it.

I liked Big Nana's story. Yes she had love and she could've been happy together with Ren forever. But in the end she thought about what she wanted to do. Good for her.

This series is currently on hiatus at 21 volumes.

Manga is addictive like crack. I can't stop.

(Okay, for those who know me, manage is addictive like Mountain Dew. I can't stop.)

At first, I didn't think I'd like this story line much. The first story is about Nana #1. She's a college age girl and she's immature. She hasn't had any luck with love and is trying to learn to be an independent woman, especially since her BFF just went to Tokyo with her boyfriend. It seemed like a typical girlie story and although I liked the writing, it just really wasn't my thing. Plus, this Nana is highly annoying.

Then - enter Nana #2. She's a goth chick and a singer in a punk band. Her boyfriend is so cool. She's a lot more confident in love and life than Nana #1, although they are both about the same age. show more Suddenly, her boyfriend moves to Tokyo and becomes a big rock star. They break up.

Both Nanas decided to move to Tokyo to start their lives. They haven't met yet - but they will.

Okay, I'm sold. Bring on Volume 2!

(This was on several recommended manga reading lists, btw.) show less

3,5*

Buddy read with May Yes, we are dumbasses who decided to pick up a series that was apparently never finished and cry over it hsdghad

And they were roommates!

Nana and Nana meet on a way to Tokyo and immediately hit it off. This is enough for them to decide to move in together the next time they see each other. This and cheap rent, of course.

Goth Nana is more confident and girly Nana is more childish but both of them are new to independant life and the big city. Nanas have a great dynamics and after just a few interactions I feel that they're going to impact each other a lot. Also, I ship them already ups... I'm going to suffer because it's not yuri but girly Nana has spent more than one page admiring goth Nana's looks so..

I didn't show more like girly Nana's boyfriend. He seemed very flat and annoying. ALSO, his friends looked like siblings a bit? I was SHOOK that they're dating..

This seems like something that will become more serious and sad as it goes but I can't take it 100% serious with those noodle legs.. I know that it's old so the style is also old but.. NOODLE LEGS show less

This volume is very much an introduction, focusing on the lives of the two main characters prior to their moves to Toyko and the intersection of their lives that the back cover has promised me. I didn't care for Nana Komatsu for most of her story, but I think she showed some real growth towards the end, and I'm looking forward to seeing how her character progresses as she gets to the big city. I feel like I barely even got to know Nana Osaki, and that so much of her chapter was taken up by Nobu and Ren. Still, it was by no means terrible, and I've heard such good things about the series as a whole that I'm willing to overlook a somewhat weak prologue and will soldier on through a few more volumes before making final judgement calls.

I saw a single frame of art from this series posted online, and searching for the artist led me to this manga.

This first volume serves as a prologue, introducing readers to Nana and Nana before they meet in the story. I find them both to be likable and interesting characters and, as mentioned, I like the art. I'm looking forward to seeing where this story goes.