Manga in Scotland

We live in what is arguably one of the most desirable houses in Perth. It's listed in Perth & Kinross: an illustrated architectural guide by Nick Haynes as one of "Nos 109-135, an impressive series of blowsy later 19th century villas with quirky details." By no means is it nicer or bigger or more expensive than its neighbors, but it happens to be in the middle of a well-known and very grand row on the main thoroughfare into town.

One of my neighbors, who lives in an even bigger house in this row of 15 or so, was here this evening for the bi-monthly meeting of our book group (otherwise known as The Chocolate Club). This neighbor, it turns out, has got a 17-year-old manga-fan son who feeds his habit by going to meetings in Glasgow (an hour away by train). His room is decorated with a black silk robe and a sword, and he is so inspired by his addiction that he is planning to spend a year in Japan on a language program.

So there you go. There's more of your audience--17-year-old upper middle class Scottish lads.

Does the deranged 40-year-old American woman down the street count as far as the target audience is concerned? I sorta think she ought to, since she's the one who introduced the entire fifth grade class at Viewlands Primary School to Alex Ryder, via their mothers. (OK, Alex Ryder isn't manga. Neither is Telemakos Meder. But I think they're all mined from the same mother lode.)

I love my book group! It's eleven p.m. The sky is still light in the north.