Reviews

Nov 6, 2019
Preliminary (6/14 eps)
This is currently my favorite isekai anime as of making this review.

I understand having favorite and isekai next to each other is in itself like a cardinal sin in the anime community. But hear me out, it’s unlike every other brain numbing action fantasy isekai. It’s not when Kirito— sorry, some dumb, brokenly strong character gets bitches and slays any monster without real consequences. Ascendance of a Bookworm gets what so many other isekai get wrong.

Ascendance of a Bookworm is a isekai, but that’s not really what sells the show for me. It’s the slice of life that makes me adore Maine the MC, and the world she is in. Maine comes from another world (You see where this is going) and dreams of being a librarian. When she is reincarnated in this new world she is not some action hero or a comedy/parody isekai. She is a sickly poor girl in an uneducated household. She is also insanely physically weak. Not able to even walk down the stairs to leave her house, let alone walk down the street to save her life. Right off the bat one can tell that this isekai at the very least is going to try another approach and a different approach on the isekai genre.

Another huge aspect of Ascendance of a Bookworm is that her one true goal in life is to just read a book. I mean one could probably find that out from the title but it presents that this anime is about the simple struggles in life. It’s relatable in a sense that not everyone gets to have a normal life. Not everyone gets the same starting place and gets the so called short end of the stick. It’s a freaking isekai that doesn’t start in the kings palace and is given everything because they are the hero that will slay the evil of the nation.

Have I told you how wholesome this anime is? Like damn, this makes me wanna just restart my life and focus on the simple problems. Maine is a determined, strong mined, main character. Watching her make progress and also fail is very enjoyable. Since Maine is in a poor, uneducated household she has more hurdles than most. Books in the time period she is in is only made for the wealthy. Paper cost a small fortune too. Maine doesn’t even know how to write in their language.

Adolescence of a Bookworm is also kinda educational. In a time where normal conveniences have not been not been invented Maine makes due and learns about this world just like the viewer. As Maine progresses in the anime she brings in innovations from modern times that really come in handy. One learns about the inequality of the times and how even taking a shower was not even an option.

The originality of this anime makes me smile. As this anime gets more episodes I cannot wait to see what Maines next step forward will be. Is this the perfect isekai? No, not at all. But what Ascendance of a Bookworm does right is how changing what can be done with the genre of isekai can make what seems like a dead genre into one with innovation. This is the perfect anime to watch after being on the seasonal grind and have watched your 100th isekai anime. The art is appealing to the eye and is more stylized than most generic isekai. The music is minimalistic but also cinematic at times and does it’s purpose. It’s best to try to not focus on the isekai troupes or character troupes in this anime otherwise I’ll just get under your skin and bother you. Otherwise it’s so much fun watching!

I recommend Adolescence of a Bookworm to everyone no matter how much experience you with anime. But I especially recommend this anime to anyone who is on the seasonal grind and needs an anime to relax to.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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