I haven't read the manga, so I'm not sure how close it is...however, I like that this series is easier to read than most Japanese novels (It has furigana, etc) but remains interesting (unlike most books aimed at middle-schoolers).
The novels are more fleshed-out than the movie, but overall, both have the same "tone," which is a positive in my mind. The characters are enjoyable and the situations aren't too far out there.
Overall, a great series for someone who is trying to graduate to "real" novels in Japanese but just...isn't...there...yet...
I haven't read the manga, so I'm not sure how close it is...however, I like that this series is easier to read than most Japanese novels (It has furigana, etc) but remains interesting (unlike most books aimed at middle-schoolers).
The novels are more fleshed-out than the movie, but overall, both have the same "tone," which is a positive in my mind. The characters are enjoyable and the situations aren't too far out there.
Overall, a great series for someone who is trying to graduate to "real" novels in Japanese but just...isn't...there...yet...