Library Task Force Protecting The Sanctity and Existence of (Banned) Books
So I finished The Bell Jar during lunch hour. That posed a problematic situation; I didn't have anything decent to read during the journey back home. The thing about working in the vicinity of the most well-stocked bookstore in the country was, yes, book-shopping convenience.
I have a book by James Wood, Madam Bovary and even The Golden Notebook to be attacked at home, so I needed/wanted something light. Hence, I decided to get a manga. I had set eyes on Library Wars a few weeks back and what can I say, it was kismet, I was destined to purchase and savor it anyway.
So why Library Wars?
Easy. It was a manga about library and books. It was set in near dystopian future where in Japan the Media Betterment Act was passed as a way for the government to confiscate 'indecent' books at their pleasure. In retaliation, state libraries set up their own Library Task Force, where selected librarians were army-trained to protect reading materials.
It was kinda cheesy, because the main characters were 'jual-mahal' to each other but we all know that they will be together-together in the end (I only read Vol. 1). But hey, it's about books. That's a huge selling points for me. I got teary-eyed even, when the Library Task Force Agent went all macho and helped Iku Kasahara when she refused to give up the copy of a fairy tale book she waited for 10 years to the Media Betterment Committee raiding her neighborhood bookstore.
What is WRONG with fairy tales?? I devoured fairy tales as a kid, and I'm still a feminist! I first read Madam Bovary when I was 12, but I didn't turn out like Emma - I hated her even. My parents actually trusted me that much to not filter my preferred reading materials. Why can't others do that as well?
Oh well, that's beside the point. I'm just venting out - a lot of reading materials I savored these past weeks revolved around injustice. It's time to set things right, maybe a la the Library Task Force!
I have a book by James Wood, Madam Bovary and even The Golden Notebook to be attacked at home, so I needed/wanted something light. Hence, I decided to get a manga. I had set eyes on Library Wars a few weeks back and what can I say, it was kismet, I was destined to purchase and savor it anyway.
So why Library Wars?
Easy. It was a manga about library and books. It was set in near dystopian future where in Japan the Media Betterment Act was passed as a way for the government to confiscate 'indecent' books at their pleasure. In retaliation, state libraries set up their own Library Task Force, where selected librarians were army-trained to protect reading materials.
It was kinda cheesy, because the main characters were 'jual-mahal' to each other but we all know that they will be together-together in the end (I only read Vol. 1). But hey, it's about books. That's a huge selling points for me. I got teary-eyed even, when the Library Task Force Agent went all macho and helped Iku Kasahara when she refused to give up the copy of a fairy tale book she waited for 10 years to the Media Betterment Committee raiding her neighborhood bookstore.
What is WRONG with fairy tales?? I devoured fairy tales as a kid, and I'm still a feminist! I first read Madam Bovary when I was 12, but I didn't turn out like Emma - I hated her even. My parents actually trusted me that much to not filter my preferred reading materials. Why can't others do that as well?
Oh well, that's beside the point. I'm just venting out - a lot of reading materials I savored these past weeks revolved around injustice. It's time to set things right, maybe a la the Library Task Force!
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