I am not the target demographic of shoujo manga! You will not pass me on the street and even suspect that I have 12 volumes of Fruits Basket on my bookshelf, am a huge CLAMP fan, and have just fallen in love with Kare Kano. No, you’re more likely to clutch your purse more tightly, than think that I’m into any of that… So it feels a little embarassing to whip out Kare Kano for a quick read at McDonalds. Most people around don’t have a clue as to what it is, but the often soft girlish covers are definitely not on the books that I would be expected to be reading.
But I make no apologies! I like what I like and I don’t care that I’m too old, or the wrong gender or ethnicity to be liking these things. That just doesn’t matter to me, especially if it gets in the way of having fun. There are a lot of good things in this life and I refuse to let artificial barriers get in the way of enjoying them. And I’ve always loved a good story and great characters I can care about, whether they are flying in starships from star to star or working up the courage to confess their love in high school. Story is what it’s all about.
