FTW: Finds This Week

This is my own version of a "Books/movies/things I've recently acquired" meme. It's not expected to be a regularly scheduled blog entry, only when it's relevant. Please enjoy my play on FTW, "For the win!"

"Deals FTW!"

In the last few days, week months... a few regular trips to  Half Price Books have been made.
Along with that, a rather large purge was done over the shelves of our household. Not only do I do Spring cleaning, I also do Fall cleaning (post Winter). Because you're locked in the house, things get forgotten, etc.

In those trips I've scooped up some great book deals, as stated in a previous post. What with Christmas shopping in full swing, I am hunting and searching for those deals!
While most of this post are not items that will stay in my position, Christmas presents to be given, they're still Finds! (And right now honestly my blog is in dire need of some content.)

Please ignore my ugly carpet!

First we've got...
The Complete Guide to Drawing Manga by Marc Powell & David Neal ($7.99)
The Little Prince Coloring Book: Beautiful images for you to color and enjoy... by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry ($6.46)

Each of them easily half price of their usually shelves price.

I'd been lightly browsing for a "How to draw manga" book as a present, then find this one pretty under the usual prices I've seen, usually about $12-20. I wasn't sold on the art style of the cover, the inside is much better.
As well, I'd been looking for an adult colouring book for a gift for someone, then stumbled across The Little Prince. Which will have more sentimental meaning than silly adult colouring. It's usually $10+.

Next, top of the image, we've got Vampire Knight Volumes 1-3 by Matsuri Hino
mangas Volume 1-3. I found two of the Vampire Knight mangas on a 'final clearance' shelf.
(Volume 2 was $2, Volume 3 was $1. Two mangas for $3 sounds like a win to me!) I completed the set by purchasing Volume 1 from an Amazon seller. ( 01¢ + $3.99 shipping = $4 book!)

Then there's two books for me off the clearance shelf.
The second is Amanda Hocking's Watersong series, which I just purchased the first one on sale as well in a previous post here. Then another book I saw had good reviews on Goodreads, Once We Were, it's sadly the second book in it's series, I'll be searching to find the first book. Both books were $2 each.

Lullaby (Watersong, #2) by Amanda Hocking
Once We Were (The Hybrid Chronicles #2) by Kat Zhang


Have you found anything good or interesting recently? Please comment and share!
Hope you all find some great deals out there!

Asian Rama Wednesday #2: Knowing your Manga

Personal Note: I have to admit that I'm not feeling this post too much which is why it's taken almost two weeks in getting around to posting. I planned on having two more (including this one) 'informational' Asian Rama entries, but it's driving me insane trying to make them. I feel blogged down, like this is a big mess of information, because it is! Nonetheless is needs to be done and these things need to be said.


I wanted to explain and source everything correctly, that said some are more sourced than others. Some sections are entirely written by me and others take a line or two form Wikipedia and About.com. There are personal notes in each section.
Although this leaves me with a wall of text feeling, but again, I still feel it needs to be done.

Let's begin.

(Source)

What is Manga?

"Manga is the Japanese word for "comics/cartoons" and consists of comics and print cartoons. In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan or by Japanese authors in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th century. In their modern form, manga date from shortly after World War II.


In Japan, people of all ages read manga. The medium includes works in a broad range of genres: action-adventure, romance, sports and games, historical drama, comedy, science fiction and fantasy, mystery, horror, sexuality, and business/commerce, among others. Since the 1950s, manga has steadily become a major part of the Japanese publishing industry. Manga have also gained a significant worldwide audience.


Manga stories are typically printed in black-and-white, although some full-color manga exist. In Japan, manga are usually serialized in large manga magazines, often containing many stories, each presented in a single episode to be continued in the next issue. If the series is successful, collected chapters may be republished in paperback books called "tankobon" (volume). If a manga series is popular enough, it may be animated after or even during its run, although sometimes manga are drawn centering on previously existing live-action or animated films." (Source)


What do you know about manga and it's influence?

(Source)

"Manga" as a term used outside Japan refers specifically to comics originally published in Japan. However, manga-influenced comics, among original works, exist in other parts of the world. particularly in Taiwan ("manhua"), South Korea ("manhwa"), and China, notably Hong Kong ("manhua").


In the United States, people refer to what they perceive as manga "styled" comics as Amerimanga (which I have never heard), world manga, or original English-language manga (OEL manga). Still, the original term "manga" is primarily used in English-speaking countries solely to describe comics of Japanese origin. More Information


Tokyo Pop used to hold a contest called The Rising Stars of Manga. Where they would print volumes with the winners of each contest, display their entries along with a small profile of the writers and authors. (This is no longer being held but I remember them and thought I would mention as many artists have gone on to do other works and hair their works printed.)
Some of the ones I know of are Van Von Hunter, Bizenghast (Seriously amazing art style), Mark of the Succubus, and Sorcerers & Secretaries.

Around the world: More Information on manga in Brazil, France, Germany, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Thailand, the United States, and manga influences around the world.


Now that we have the specifics out of the way, I usually just refer to all of them as "mangas". I feel in the big scheme of things those titles or names don't usually matter all that much. None the less it's good to know when searching for or referring to a series. Such as a Manhwa should be stated as at least being of Korean origin and not simply as being a "manga".
For the most part, and the rest of this post, I will refer to "mangas" as a whole. Mainly because it's easier and should now be more understood.

Asian Rama Wednesday #1: Introduction/My History with Asian Culture

I've decided to take the plunge and start a themed series or meme. (Sorry but I instantly think funny internet images at the word meme.)

Asian Rama Wednesday. I got the idea from Alison Can Read's Manga Monday. I thought about doing a similar thing for Manga Monday but realize that Manga isn't the limitation to what I'd hope to share and blog about that's related to Asian culture.

Along with the list of things I'm interested in -- I know much more than I should about Asian things. Such as, mangas and dramas. *blushes*
I am that one friend, that if there's a series I know what series it's based on and I've usually read it.
Hello Hana Yori Dango and all the things that are based on the series, Hana Yori Dango/Boys Over Flowers. (Don't get me ranting on about Boys Before Flowers vs Boys Over Flowers. OKAY.)

Warning: Rather lengthily post!