Hey, I am just starting the manga Life, the one with the girl who cuts herself, but, I really need a pick me up manga. Does it continue to be dark and depressing or will it actually get better. I do like character development and it says that there is romance but.... is it worth reading if I want to cheer up.
Thanks

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We work in the dark, we do what we can, we give what we have, out doubt is our passion and our passion is our task, the rest is the madness of art. Henry james

Life isn't a manga that cheer you up. It's a manga that first sends you deep into mariana trench then pull you up only to send you even deeper. It will repeat this sadistic pattern for at least 11 volumes (I stopped reading somewhere around there as I want it fully scanlated before I continue) but it will do some even crueler things, like cutting your stomach up, tie you up, burn you with glowing red heated metal rods and beat you up with a spiked bat while you're vertically impaled.
Well, that's how it would be if it actually physically assaulted and tortured you.

Truth being, it is worth reading even if it may seem depressing and cruel. There are some good moments during the story and there are some romance
and there are times where you just want to drop it as it seems nothing will change. But still, the characters grow and changes. They become stronger or weaker, better or worse.
In the end, you should read it even if it doesn't cheer you up (unless you like seeing people in pain). But if you really need a manga that cheer you up Life isn't one of them (unless you like seeing people in pain).

A good manga that can cheer you up is Hibi Chouchou (if you haven't read it that is). But it has more in common with Kimi ni Todoke and Hiyokoi than Life and hopefully it will go on as long as either of them.