Loveless by Yun Kouga

This is the side of manga that exposes Japan's idiosyncratic obsessions, with homosexuality and in particular the love of younger boys, and with fantastical meetings of worlds. Challenging and I'm not sure how I feel about it yet! I love the way the people who haven't had sex have ears!

AZ: "Ritsuka Aoyagi is a sixth grader, transferring to a new school. Years ago his brother Seimei was murdered. Upon transferring in, he is branded as peculiar - he shows up without his parents, and is aloof toward the other students. Yuiko, an outcast in her own right, befriends him, much to his dismay. Soubi, a Fighter Unit, arrives to meet Aoyagi. Soubi knew Seimei, and Aoyagi lets his guard down momentarily. Midori and his Fighter Unit Ai come with orders to abduct Aoyagi, but are powerless against Soubi. Aoyagi, who seems to be suffering from memory loss as well as personality disorder, wants to reclaim his identity as "Ritsuka." Aoyagi discovers a mysterious last message left from Seimei in which he reveals the identity of his murderer(s) as The Seventh Moon, and that his true name is Loveless. Midori and Ai again try to abduct Aoyagi, but are thwarted once again by Soubi. Aoyagi is confused by Soubi's psychological tactics, who seduces him yet withholds the emotional connectivity which he craves. On the other hand, he slowly warms up to Yuiko, becoming a friend to her. Meanwhile, other rivals appear: Yayoi is jealous of Aoyagi's friendship with Yuiko; and Kio, a university colleague of Soubi, is distraught that a young boy such as Aoyagi could capture Soubi's attention. As a sign of their bond, Soubi asks that Aoyagi pierce his ears. On Parents' Day at school, neither Aoyagi nor Yuiko's parents are present, but Soubi shows up to greet Aoyagi at the entrance. Aoyagi is further entranced by Soubi."

The Originals by Dave Gibbons

A graphic novel version of Quadrophenia by the artist of Watchmen set in the future all in black and white, well written and illustrated but to my mind lacking a little in originality

AZ (DG): "I discovered Mod when I was about 15 and have a vivid memory of seeing my first scooters. They were fantastic, almost science-fiction machines, gleaming with chrome and accessories. They rolled up one night at my local dance-hall, the riders dismounting and undoing their military-surplus parkas to reveal smart shirts and jackets.

The opening scene of THE ORIGINALS tries to capture some of that feeling. I merged it with another real incident where I helped a bunch of scooter boys to find the local motorcycle gang and give them a good beating."

Buddha: Kapilvastu by Osamu Tezuka

Tezuka is supposed to be one of the best manga artists, so I thought I'd start reading his major work, his narration of the life of the Buddha. Kapilvastu is the first volume and, as with most manga, I'll need to read it again to get it properly!

AZ: ""Kapilavastu", Chapra, an ambitious slave, spurns the caste system into which he was born, and tries to become a nobleman. Tatta, the wild pariah child, communes with animals, and the monk, Naradatta, strives to uncover the meaning of strange portents surrounding the Buddha's birth. Originated in the 1970s, "Buddha" is Osamu Tezuka's unparalleled rendition of the life and times of Prince Siddhartha. Tezuka's storytelling genius and consummate skill at visual expression blossom fully as he contextualizes the Buddha's ideas; with an emphasis on action, emotion, humour and conflict as Prince Siddhartha runs away from home, travels across India and questions Hindu practices such as ascetic self-mutilation and caste oppression. Rather than recommend resignation and impassivity, Tezuka's "Buddha" predicates enlightenment upon recognizing the interconnectedness of life, having compassion for the suffering, and ordering one's life sensibly, his approach is slightly irreverent in that it incorporates something that Western commentators often eschew, namely, humour."

Bleach 3, 4 and 5 by Tite Kubo

AZ: "One rainy day, Ichigo, whose ability to see the undead is a blessing with a curse, tried to stop a young girl from drowning in a nearby river. His mother, Masaki, ran after them, frantically trying to rescue her son. Then everything went black, and Ichigo awoke only to discover his mother dead and the little girl gone. It's the anniversary of Masaki's death, and the entire Kurosaki clan, along with former Soul Reaper Rukia Kuchiki, head to the cemetary to pay their respects. Sleeping demons rarely ever stay still and pretty soon Ichigo confronts the Grand Fisher, the Hollow that may be resposible for his mother's demise"

Burnout by Rebecca Donner and Inaki Miranda

The Minx series of graphic novels are written specifically for teenage girls and like teenage fiction they vary a bit, some are very good coming of age stories, others a bit thin, but I loved this one. The graphics and story were powerful and good.

"When Danni - whose father has left the family years earlier - moves with her mother to her mother's new boyfriend's house in the Pacific-Northwest, Danni develops a crush on his son. But when she secretly follows him, she discovers he's involved in eco-terrorism. Now Danni has to choose between falling in love and getting involved in something that she knows is illegal - a choice that will change her life forever"

The Pyramid by Henning Mankell

I enjoyed watching Wallander a lot so have turned to the source, the books by Mankell. Obviously there were none of the Wallander books available in the library so I read what I can. The Pyramid is actually a kind of postscript to the Wallander books, filling in gaps in Wallander's story. Mankell writes so well, a swedish counterpart to Rankin, whenever I pick up a book of his I know I'm in for a good read, not just that but a window into a whole different world and society.

AZ: "When Kurt Wallander first appeared in Faceless Killers back in 1990, he was a senior police officer, just turned forty, with his life in a mess. His wife had left him, his father barely acknowledged him; he ate badly and drank alone at night. The Pyramid chronicles the events that led him to such a place. We see him in the early years, doing hours on the beat whilst trying to solve a murder off-duty; witness the beginnings of his fragile relationship with Mona, the woman he has his heart set on marrying; and learn the reason behind his difficulties with his father. These thrilling tales provide a fascinating insight into Wallander's character, and demand to be read in one sitting. From the stabbing of a neighbour in 1969 to a light aircraft accident in 1989, every story is a vital piece of the Wallander series, showing Mankell at the top of his game. Featuring an introduction from the author, The Pyramid is an essential read for all fans of Kurt Wallander."

Nation by Terry Prachett

A good story, quite funny and a little odd, but a good read: AZ: "Finding himself alone on a desert island when everything and everyone he knows and loved has been washed away in a huge storm, Mau is the last surviving member of his nation. He's also completely alone - or so he thinks until he finds the ghost girl. She has no toes, wears strange lacy trousers like the grandfather bird and gives him a stick which can make fire. Daphne, sole survivor of the wreck of the Sweet Judy, almost immediately regrets trying to shoot the native boy. Thank goodness the powder was wet and the gun only produced a spark. She's certain her father, distant cousin of the Royal family, will come and rescue her but it seems, for now, all she has for company is the boy and the foul-mouthed ship's parrot. As it happens, they are not alone for long.Other survivors start to arrive to take refuge on the island they all call the Nation and then raiders accompanied by murderous mutineers from the Sweet Judy. Together, Mau and Daphne discover some remarkable things - including how to milk a pig and why spitting in beer is a good thing - and start to forge a new Nation. As can be expected from Terry Pratchett, the master story-teller, this new children's novel is both witty and wise, encompassing themes of death and nationhood, while being extremely funny. Mau's ancestors have something to teach us all. Mau just wishes they would shut up about it and let him get on with saving everyone's lives!"

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

The extended edition of Gaiman's short story in M for Magic, Gaiman is always, to me, better when he's writing for children, brilliantly imaginative and gripping

AZ: "When a baby escapes a murderer intent on killing the entire family, who would have thought it would find safety and security in the local graveyard? Brought up by the resident ghosts, ghouls and spectres, Bod has an eccentric childhood learning about life from the dead. But for Bod there is also the danger of the murderer still looking for him - after all, he is the last remaining member of the family."