Lessons In Escapology

May it be a good year for everyone^_^

I don't usually review manga because I don't buy much but these have been piling up since the beginning of the year. These are all English language editions.

Mushishi by Urishibara Yuki, vol.1: ( Read more... )

Switch by Naked Ape, vol.1-5: ( Read more... )

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle by Clamp, vol.15-18: ( Read more... )

Blank Slate by Kanno Aya, 2 vols: ( Read more... )

Japan by Hiroji Kubota: ( Read more... )

Stalin's Ghost by Martin Cruz Smith:( Read more... )

Nightlife by Rob Thurman:( Read more... )

Star Trek: Killing Time by Della Van Hise:( Read more... )

Been reading more manga than novels lately.

To be nobody but myself -- in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else -- means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting.

E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)

happy holidays^_^ Click below for the eyecandy.

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Finished the tv series.

Reactions include excessive use of the exclamation mark.
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Reached episode.57

Some things I've noticed/forgotten since reading the manga when it was first published..
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Title: Mother of All
Fandom: X
Rating: PG-15
Status: Complete
Pairing: Seishirou/Subaru
Summary: She has watched over them all, they and their children and children's children. Yet only now... can she say that she has a family of her own.
Warning: AU
Link: http://archive.skyehawke.com/story.php?no=18290

Written for the x2009 challenge on livejournal.

Death tugs at my ear and says, "Live, I am coming."

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., poet, novelist, essayist, and physician (1809-1894)

I'll be a refugee here until LJ comes back. Damn but trying to do all the housework I usually do in a weekend in 4 hours is exhausting.

So Obama won the election. While I'm relieved it wasn't McCain (thank you, America) the cynic in me hopes Obama won't get assassinated before he finishes his term in the office.

Is livejournal down? I can't log in.

Did a little re-organizing of the bookcases and double-shelved the paperbacks. I sorted out a small pile of books to donate to the university's library, since their collection is woefully incomplete in a way that offends the bibliophile in me, which were mostly old paperbacks of literature books that I bought new hardcover editions of. Also discovered I have a smaller collection of books about Japan than I thought. *eyes glint* This means more purchases are entirely justifiable! XD

Although dust is an annoying by-product of book-collecting....

There might be spoilers below.

Natsume Yujin-cho, ep.13: My favourite anime of the year so far. The storytelling is quiet and moves slowly but undeniably human and bitter-sweet without trying too hard to win the viewer's sympathy. Natsume feels like a real person in his speech and reaction to events, which in my opinion is high praise for an anime character/series. Looking forward to the second season in January.

Casshern Sins, ep.1: I watched the OVA and Live-action film years ago. The OVA had that old-school feel and appeal of making one care for the character even while drowning in angst, while the film was probably the most beautiful and innovative piece of Japanese cinematography I've seen. This new series by Madhouse Studio manages to do the impossible: retain the old-school feel/character design/story-telling mode and make its world look moody and visually lush. Definitely watching this one.

Ga-Rei Zero, ep.1: I'm impressed by this anime. I thought myself jaded when it comes to the anime genre but this one convinced me it's still possible for anime to look fresh and innovative even when employing old clichés. The moody setting of the city, the cinematography that is gorgeous and more akin to action movies in its scene construction, and the music adding to the gloomy mood. Best of all, the protagonist and his girlfriend are adults. Natsuki, his girlfriend, seriously rocks as an anime female character. Whoever thought of protective runes inscribed on motorcycle tires? Watching this episode felt like watching a good action film, it ends on a brilliant cliff-hanger that manages to tie the threads and themes in this episode in a full circle. This episode feels like a combination of Yukikaze's serious mood and beautiful visuals with Yami no Matsuei's supernatural/horror elements and strange symbolism. Arguably one of the more promising series this season!

Vampire Knight: Guilty, ep.1: Let's be honest here, if you like vampires and their genre then this anime does it proud and employs all the little genre clichés/symbolism/tricks. This season enters into the more interesting story arc of the manga. The sexual tension between Kaname/Yuuki/Zero is delicious and so thick one can suffocate from it. The OP is very well-done and prepares you/sets the mood for what's coming. All in all, if you're a vampire fan then you can't go wrong with VKG.

Yozakura Quartet, ep.1: I couldn't drop this one fast enough. It rips off elements and character designs from every single shoujo and shounen anime out there. The OP makes you think you're watching a hentai anime, weirdly enough. Ugh, no thanks.

Too bad this doesn't include manga.

1. Favourite Book? Impossible to say! I can't possibly choose.
2. Favourite Author? I like certain works by authors but haven't found a writer whom I totally adore yet.
3. Favourite Genre? Fantasy
4. Favourite series of books? Hmm... The Rai-Kirah by Carol Berg for interesting world-building, The Spellsong Cycle by L. E. Modesitt Jr. for the strong female protagonist, and the Master&Commander books by Patrick O'Brian for sheer poetry on paper.
5. Favourite Illustrator? Michael Whelan and Matt Stawicki.
6. Favourite book from when you were little? Didn't have one but Black Unicorn by Tanith Lee is the one I remember vividly even years later.
7. Favourite Hero? Damien Vryce from Coldfire Trilogy and Aleksander zha Denischkar from Transformation.
8. Favourite Villain? Does Gerald Tarrant count?^_~
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Don't drink anything when you click on this link ^_~

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vasc8ghyu1g

Take a look at this comic ^_~

Link: http://abstrusegoose.com/57

Novels read in August.

SPQR: The Princess and The Pirates by John Roberts: ( Read more... )

Hit Man by Lawrence Block: ( Read more... )

Black Dagger Brotherhood by J. R. Ward: ( Read more... )

Petshop of Horrors: Tokyo, vol.2: I read this volume and liked it well enough but can't help feeling there's something missing. It's too soon to tell since this is only the second volume but Wu-fei isn't Leon. With Leon we as readers could bond with him over the Count's various actions and dubious judgment. He was an Outsider POV and a kind of moral voice. I'm kind of indifferent about Wu-fei and only get excited when Leon shows up in the side-stories.

Vampire Knight, vol.5: Argh! Talk about the plot moving at a snail's pace and Viz publishing the volumes even slower! Hino's style is really suited to drawing a vampire manga and the next volume should start the new arc.

The greatest tragedy in mankind's entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion.

Arthur C. Clarke, science fiction writer (1917-2008)