Lecture [Light Novel] Durarara !! – Tome 1

Fiery Inspiration: Lucky Clothing

I had already told you about a Light Novel a short time ago and I'm continuing with another title that I really appreciate and that I discovered thanks to its anime. I'll leave you with the summary and then we'll meet again!

In Ikebukuro, gangs, strange people and urban legends are commonplace... Mikado Ryūgamine, a seemingly ordinary and uneventful high school student, is invited to settle in the Tokyo district of Ikebukuro by his childhood friend.
His dearest wish is to live extraordinary adventures and discover the atmosphere of the big cities!
With a violent guy dressed as a bartender, a troublemaker informant, Russian sushi vendors, the mysterious Dollar gang and a headless biker lurking around the neighborhood, Mikado has no idea that his life is going to take a strange 180-degree turn...

 "You shouldn't even think about life after death when you're going to die. Believing in a second life is a right reserved for people living [...] To die means to leave. And what is going away is not suffering, but your very existence...  Izaya Orihara

Durarara!! takes place in Japan and more precisely in Ikebukuro, a district where life is good... Erm... At least if you avoid certain people. In reality, this neighborhood is not the quietest in the world, let alone the most "normal" – but what is normality, right? – given the madmen there. On the one hand, we have human beings, like you and me, going about their business and trying to stay alive. On the other? Supernatural beings. At least a being for whom we are sure that he is not very human.

Yes, sir! Supernatural beings exist and can also go to the local grocery store to get food! What do you mean I'm rambling? But no, not at all! The headless biker crosses the neighborhood without any problem and people stop to observe him. But I'm going to stop procrastinating and tell you a little more about this Light Novel.

We follow, most of the time, Mikado Ryugamine. The young man has just arrived in Ikebukuro and discovers this district of Tokyo at the same time as us, as well as its inhabitants. We learn that there were several gangs not long before – the Colors Gangs – but that we hear more and more about the Dollars, a group without color. Next to Mikado, we also follow other characters, each one as colorful as the next.

Personally, I remain a total fan of Izaya Orihara. There's nothing to do, I love it! Among the female characters, Celty wins without any problem ♥

The story in general is quite dark, to the point of becoming creepy at times, yet the crazy and totally offbeat humor that appears in it even makes us want to laugh – or smile – in quite... Complex? The universe being based on the mix of criminal circles and urban legends, it is difficult not to find more violent elements. The most ironic part of all this? This universe, and the story that stems from it, is incredibly addictive.

The district itself really exists, although we will probably not find either Celty or Shizuo there. In the light novel, we discover it over the pages, events and by the different protagonists with sometimes – or even often – opposing points of view. This colourful neighbourhood is the scene of the events of the work and the place where many people from different backgrounds gather.

Surprises, we have them during the reading. Unless you know the work, there are elements that you will surely not think about and the end will only give you one desire: To have the sequel in your hands. I can't wait to read volume 2, discover it and go back to Ikebukuro to see what will become of the characters, how some alliances will evolve, if some links between the protagonists will change. There are so many possibilities. There is no need to say, volume 1 of Durarara!! will have laid its foundations and it must be admitted that they are understandable despite the extremely rich universe that is offered to us. As for the drawing, I still appreciate Suzuhito Yasuda's ♥ illustrations

What did you think of it? Is there a character you like best? Are you planning to try it?