Bakemonogatari, Part 1

For those of you keeping track, Bakemonogatari is the first novel written in the Monogatari series but the second in chronological order.

While reading this work, I had the distinct visual impression of Nisioisin sitting at his computer, a cheshire grin on his face as he worked away. There is such a undercurrent of whimsy and humor in the work which makes one smile. The humor is not like Diskworld or Douglas Adams. If you can imagine the razor whit of Groucho Marx transmogrified into a Japanese teen-age girl, and rejoiners that can sometimes keep up, you can come close to the conversations in this book. And why not? Nisioisin himself said: "All I wanted to do was write a fun novel crammed full of stupid exchanges..."

It's quite amazing how interesting the novel is since nothing much happens. Araragi goes to school, catches Senjogahara (who has slipped on the stairs - a banana peel? really?) and discovers her secret. He happens to know this very shady character whose knowledge bases are quite esoteric and he might be able to help her. A conversation, another conversation, a ceremony and Senjogahara saves herself from a crab god, crab-thing, crab-something-or-other, and her problem is over with.

In the second chapter, Araragi has an argument with his sisters, goes for a bike ride, ends up in a park, and talks to an elementary school girl who appears lost. In the course of the chapter, he has several conversations (and a brawl!) with Hachikuji - that elementary school girl - talks with his class president of class presidents Hanekawa, meets up with Senjogahara, goes for a walk and gets lost. Araragi talks with that shady character again about what's really going on, and manages to fulfill the residual wish of a residual type ghost who is doing the lost snail/cow (aberration) routine. Apology to sisters, gain a girlfriend, cut scene.

And this is interesting? It certainly is. Since aberrations (which can be monsters, ghosts, gods, ghouls, vampires, etc) are so close to human psychology, it's sometimes hard to see where a line can be drawn between the two. And that's where the fun starts, which is the point after all.

I'll admit that it's an acquired taste. There are 18 books in the series. I don't know how many that will translate into for English releases but I will find room on the already crammed shelves for the rest. That's the best recommendation I can offer.