Books! I can has them!
All thanks to the wonders of the Seattle Public Library system!

I'm reading a few things that I would recommend:

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Minekura? and Durarara!
So, LONG TIME, but AM STILL ALIVE. :-)

Some questions for those more knowledgeable...

What happened to Minekura?

Maybe I'm really late to the party on this one, but I ask because this is her old website. (Did she lose the domain name?) Here is her...new site? I think...? Her blog... Wild Adapter hasn't appeared in Chara for about four issues or more (so since April 09) and isn't in the issue coming out tomorrow... Checking out her blog, she seems pretty busy with Saiyuki events, but I thought it seemed strange, especially since WA has basically been on break for year...

Anyone know anything?

Durarara!

Durarara is a new anime that is very very good--entertaining, well-written, and has a jumbled, multi-perspective style that reminds me of a Guy Ritchie movie (which I like...most of the time.)

Like how Xam'd finally got me to finish Eureka 7, I like Durarara so much that I finally got around to watching the "Baccano!" TV series, which is by the same novel writer. I liked it, but I'm actually liking Durarara better so far. (More likable characters?) Baccano got surprising dark, but I still enjoyed its energetic style. Durarara seems to do a better job of fleshing out individual characters (so far).



Besides that, am still alive. I look forward to when my life is simpler. (Hmmmm...what can I do to make that happen...)

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Son of All Monsters Attack - Grand Illusion this month
It's monster movies for a month at the Grand Illusion this month. :D And for $10, you can see both shows of the night!

OCTOBER 17 - OCTOBER 23

INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1956) @ 7PM

THEY LIVE (1988) @ 9PM

OCTOBER 17 & 18, 24 & 25

GALAXY OF TERROR (1981) @ 11PM

OCTOBER 24 - 30

HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH (1982) @ 7pm

ASYLUM (1972) @ 9pm

OCTOBER 31 - NOVEMBER 6

RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (1985) @ 7pm

THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN’T DIE (1962) @ 9pm

OCTOBER 31, NOVEMBER 1, 7 & 8

GOKE: BODY SNATCHER FROM HELL (1968) @ 11pm

NOVEMBER 7 - 13

CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954) @ 7pm
In 3-D!

IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (1953) @ 9pm
In 3-D!

NOVEMBER 14 & 15

DR. BLACK AND MR. HYDE (1976) @ 11pm

NOVEMBER 14-20

THE RE-ANIMATOR (1985) @ 7pm

FROM BEYOND (1986) @ 9pm

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Guide my taste, Pandora!
An interesting conversation at happy hour today got me thinking about these streaming music services...

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Operation Budget - Library Edition
So, I am Hold #495 for the new David Sedaris book. I guess that's not too bad when there's 84 copies in the system...

Operation Budget-use the library- has been working excellent for the last year and a half, and now I rarely buy books, outside of the few Must-own-read-manga and the books that I really want to own because I wouldn't mind rereading them or lending them out. The only issue that has popped up is recently, the more business-y, social networking books aren't at the library, so I've had to buy a few of them.

But now, it's almost like a system, having the constantly running holds list, with the save list in the background for when the holds list is emptying. Yay for the Seattle library for allowing multiple lists for multiple levels of commitment.

And yay for in-coming sequels! The sequel to the surprisingly slashy The Last Knight is coming out this August, and the third book based off of Larklight and Starcross is coming out this October. (Reviews here and here.) Yay! Something new to add to the Holds list! (eventually...)

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On the Media
On the Media has a great show this past week on books, e-books, the changing printing industry, etc. Very interesting.

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Spring Season Anime and Dorama
So, the spring isn't too bad. There's actually too many interesting shows, which is such a switch from too many blech-harem shows. It's a nice change.

God, there's like so many somewhat interesting anime that I'm not following due to time- I hear the new Macross is very good. I can't take Code Geass although the fanboys swoon over it. Soul Eater seemed okay, but seemed more style, like Tim Burton, and the shounen story didn't really yank me in. There is a surprisingly amount of BL/Shounen-ai-ish stories. Who knew?

Nabari no Ou (Official website, ANN, Opening via Youtube)

This is my favorite by far. It's like this year's Black Lagoon for me, or rather, an anime that seemed so interesting that I went and bought all the manga. (Up to 8 volumes so far.) I don't know why it hits my buttons. All the characters are interesting. Everyone has multiple layers of motivations and driving forces. I like how the main character has this total facade of not caring about anything when in fact that's his coping mechanism so he doesn't end up hurting anyone, and then feel pain for their pain, etc. Then you introduce Super Emo Bad-Guy-Not-Really Yoite, who is like, his twin star, and instead of going the route of always battling each other, the story goes in a different direction and ties them closer together. In fact, it's like Kenshin when "bad guy groups" are introduced, but then they all end up working together, etc. I always liked those twists.

And it's that consistency with evolving characters, who they are, and what they want to do, that makes it far more interesting, and not really a "shounen manga" ninja series ala Naruto. There hasn't even been a "training" period. I dig it.

Junjou Romantica (Official website, ANN, Opening via Youtube)

How did such a smutty series get a TV show? I've barely read the manga, but what I saw was like- TV? No way! Well, way! They just darken the screen or look away when people are having sex. Hilarious!

And it's surprisingly good. Or rather, it's not god-awful, which most yaoi-ish anime falls into. (Low bar here, kids.) Good acting, super-melodrama, blackened-out sex, nice opening song, animation is not wretched. (Cluster Edge!!! Oh god! There was one time when movement in that anime was a bunch of stills faded in and out!) It's not horrifically slooooooow (Meine Liebe!), or just…bad…(Gakuen Heaven. God, there was one episode when Main Boy just spent 22 minutes meeting all the different characters. Hi! Hello there! My sweet honey! Hi!)

So, maybe it's the source material, maybe it's because the series follows three separate, but connected couples (ala Love Mode). But so far, so good. Total surprise. Speaking of Love Mode, if you can blacken out sex for JR, then I don't know why LM can't make a good anime. There's a ton of story around all the sex.

There's also Monochrome Factor, which I've only caught the first episode so far. Animation wasn't super great, nor the story, but I heard that for some reason, the anime is more yaoi-ish than the manga. That's a switch. Pandering? Hmmmm...

Amatuski is also pretty interesting. Talky, but fun. Plus, I like Romi Paku (who voiced Ed and FMA.) Her voice is always fun to hear.

Has anyone caught anything else interesting this season?

Dorama-wise

Gokusen 3- is actually not as good thus far as 1 and 2. 2 was an almost direct copy of 1, but the boys were interesting enough that it was easy to push aside. I mean, you had Jun and Kame, Teppei-kun, Mokomichi, and some other guy. They were all interesting and very distinct (except maybe other guy.) Season 3, the boys really aren't that distinct, nor is there anyone played by a really interesting actor. The sameness then is more obvious, and the whole show is less interesting, even with the funny gym teacher guy, and Koizumi's hot actor son playing the role of the Hot Guy. (I'll still watch it though, because I'm a chump.)

Puzzle- For right now, Puzzle is more interesting. It's a little like Detective Conan with the mysteries and set-up, but the fact that the main character is such a money-grubbing, manipulative jerk is still pretty funny right now. Two of the boys that play her unhappy helpers played major characters in Hana-kimi, so it's nice to see them again, although their characters right now seem more like Huey, Dewey, and Louie. (Not a lot of character difference.) Maybe there will be more development, but somehow I doubt it. But the formula and humor is still a little comforting and relaxing to watch.

Last Friends- wow, talk about DRAMA. You have one girl who ends up in an abusive relationship and then flees to her former junior-high school friend/motorcross racer/lesbian friend for help. Said friend is TOTALLY IN LOVE with her, but won't say anything because she's not out. They live together in a house with another guy who is in love with the gay friend. Abusive boyfriend comes around. DRAMA-DRAMA-DRAMA.

I haven't seen too much of it yet, but it's actually pretty good. Good actors, good music, lots of melodrama. Someone else mentioned the interesting feature of gender and role in the series. The gay friend is female, but very tough, where as the one guy in the house is straight, but effeminate-ish and more gentle. The abused girl is fleeing a "normal" relationship and finding solace in a place where gender, role, and behavior is less set and more fluid. It's interesting. I hope no one dies of suicide or cancer.

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Dim sum tomorrow!
Dim Sum tomorrow! Same bat time and channel. Man...I wish I had a meat bun right now!!!!

Current Mood: hungry

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Does this happen on your phone?
So, I'm not sure if I'm going to keep the Samsung sgh=a517. It's not just the fact that it can't hold cute phone straps, and the texting doesn't feel very intuitive.

It's that to use photos-as-caller-ID you have to copy all the numbers from the SIM to the phone. that sounds fine, but then in the address book, you now have two copies of everyone's number. It's Adam Adam Andrew Andrew Andy Andy, etc. If I delete it from the phone, I can't use photo-caller-ID. (Not a huge loss, but it's a fun feature.) If I delete it from the SIM, I'm deleting it from the sim card which sounds like a bad idea.

Is this normal though? Does this doubling up happen to everyone's phone, and I just don't remember?

*I do like the fact that some parts of the samsung is capable of using larger text (since I am like the Very Cool New Governor of New York and Legally Blind. Woo-hoo!) I don't know if that's enough though to make it worth it, and maybe other phones can do that too...

Any help is much appreciated.

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Daylight savings
Dude, totally forgot that Daylight Savings was this weekend...Goodbye, one hour!

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Book Recs/Discussion - Hero, The Alchemyst, The Amber Spyglass
Hero

Description: "Thom Creed tries not to disappoint his dad, a disgraced caped crusader who now toils as a factory drudge, so he keeps his gay identity and his developing superpowers under wraps. Then he secretly tries out for the prestigious League, joining aspiring heroes in villain-busting adventures that escalate alongside more private discoveries."

Verdict: Very readable and enjoyable. It's a fun, superhero/coming of age-coming out story and it's neat that it mashes those genres together.

You can definitely tell it's written by a guy and not say, a female slash writer. Way more details (but not purple prose) about the hot physical aspects of guys on guys. I was a little surprised to see that in a young adult book, but then again, it's probably perfect for its main focus audience, young gay guys. This is a fun book to read, but it's also a book to fill the "hot-sexy-superhero-cool-positive-family values-acceptance-love-awesome" space. Recommended.

The Alchemyst

Description: "Twin 15-year-old siblings Sophie and Josh Newman take summer jobs in San Francisco across the street from one another: she at a coffee shop, he at a bookstore owned by Nick and Perry Fleming. In the vey first chapter, armed goons garbed in black with "dead-looking skin and... marble eyes" (actually Golems) storm the bookshop, take Perry hostage and swipe a rare Book (but not before Josh snatches its two most important pages). The stolen volume is the Codex, an ancient text of magical wisdom. Nick Fleming is really Nicholas Flamel, the 14th-century alchemist who could turn base metal into gold, and make a potion that ensures immortality. Sophie and Josh learn that they are mentioned in the Codex's prophecies: "The two that are one will come either to save or to destroy the world." Mayhem ensues..."

Verdict: Interesting idea. I didn't know much about Flamel. Did he become hot again because of HP? Overall though, the book is very weak. Not super interesting. Easy to read, but not a good read. I reminded me of the Da Vince Code in a way, which I read about 20 chapters of. (Each chapter is about two pages long...) It's action-thriller writing. Nothing too complicated.

*Lots* of telling, and an amazon reviewer described it better as "summarizing sentences". Constantly summarizing and reiterating characters thoughts and feelings and what just happened. I don't think kids are that dumb to need that, but it is an easy quick read (I was able to finish it which I usually don't do with books I don't like), so I can see kids flying though the books if they have them handy. This is the first one of a probable trilogy, with the second book coming out later this year.

There's a nice twist near the end that's kind of interesting, but not enough for me to want to read the second book. Overall, a disappointing read.

The Amber Spyglass

Description: The third and last book in the His Dark Materials trilogy that started with the Golden Compass and continued with the Subtle Knife. The Amber Spyglass starts with Will searching for Lyra and the events to following, including journeying to the land of the dead, and a final major battle between The Authority and Asriel's factions. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Mary Malloy is chilling with these wheeled elephant-like animals...

Verdict: I liked most of this book, but it POOPS OUT near the end. And because of that, I have a hard time recommending the first two books, which I did really enjoy. I think Pullman is a good writer, and he creates some fantastic characters over the three books. The most stand-outs are probably Iorek the bear, Lee the aeronaut (and his daemon Hester), those little Gallivespians, Mrs Coulter and her scary gold monkey, Lord Asriel, Lyra and Pan, and Will.

The most powerful parts of this book to me are when Lyra and Will meet, the journey to the dead, and the big battle. What comes after that though is just "what?"

Spoilers!

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buh-bye
Two good-bye things this weekend, one last night, and one tonight. Le sigh. I guess it's the moving season.

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Book Recs (The Sequel Version) - Starcross and Sea of Monters
So, both of these are the second book in a series.

Starcross: A Stirring Adventure of Spies, Time Travel and Curious Hats

Sequel to Larklight. (Review here.)

Description: "Art, Myrtle and their mother accept the kind invitation of a holiday to an up-and-coming asteroid resort. But they set out with visions of rest and relaxation only to be sucked into a dastardly plot involving spies, time travel, and mind-altering clothing! Before their adventures are out, they’ll sail an aether-ship amid asteroid-strewn seas, dodge demonic puppets, and learn wisdom from an unlikely ally: the Moobs! With faster-than-light plot twists and enough tongue-in-cheek vim and vigor to keep a galaxy in laughter, this dynamic sequel to Larklight is a tour de force of the most intergalactic kind."

Verdict: Although slower to start than Larklight, after a bit of set-up, the story starts to move. It's still very much a fun romp. There are a lot of things going on, and the narration slides in a lot of jokes in between. I think Larklight is still my favorite, but this is very much a good book, and I really like how some of the characters change and move forward in it. It's not just a story with an Event and no real Progression. One of the funniest running gags is with Myrtle, and how she's always "I can't do that! I'm a girl!" But she does all these things and in the end, has a major "breakthrough" about what she wants to do with her ladylike life.

A plays a lot with the "god in the machine" stuff because of, uh, Art and Myrtle's mom. It will be interesting to see how they will move forward with that. Maybe in the next book, they could do an Adventure! with the Dad along since he's been mostly out for both books. I hope they do more. Both books are a great read.

Sea of Monsters

Sequel to The Lightning Thief (Review here.)

Description: "In this second installment in the series, Percy, Poseidon's 13-year-old demigod son, is desperate to rescue his friend Grover, captive of the bloodthirsty Cyclops Polyphemus, and to retrieve the healing Golden Fleece. The sheepskin is needed to restore the protection around Camp Half-Blood, the only safe haven for the children of gods and humans, heroes-in-training in our modern world. However, the camp has already been compromised and the quest for the Golden Fleece has been awarded to the bully Clarisse. Encouraged by Hermes, Percy sets off for the Bermuda Triangle anyway with his friend Annabeth and classmate Tyson, who turns out to be a half-brother and a Cyclops as well. Adventure follows chaotic adventure at a rapid pace, and readers with even a passing acquaintance with the Odyssey will enjoy this fresh use of familiar stories. Percy is an appealing kid, and the subject of a chilling prophecy may resonate with readers."

Verdict: So, this is the second book in what I think is a five book series. The third book came in from the library, but god, this is not a great series. It's hard to describe why. I think kids will enjoy the fast action, and if they've read up on their classics, they will pick up the references. But...it feels like this was written by a fourteen-year old. Just things that happen, stupid decisions for the sake of the plot. I mean, I would think by now, if these kids receive anything on a quest that remotely looks good, like a hamburger or a cruise ship, they should instantly think that something bad will happen, because it ALWAYS happens. But no, Percy drinks the weird drink from the Pretty Lady Circe. Uh oh! For characters who actually have the *benefit* of knowing the classics and the bad things that happened to the earlier heroes, they don't seem to learn much from them and do repeat a lot of the same mistakes. It's like screaming at a movie screen. "Don't go into the basement!"

This is a popular series with young/young adult readers, but I'm not impressed. Its fast-pace does not make up for the fact that it's not that well-written. I haven't decided if I'm going to try the third book.

On a bright note, I'm really psyched about the book I'm reading right now- An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England. A Nancy Pearl rec, I had to wait, like, four months in queue to get this book. I'm in the second chapter, and really digging it. It's narrative style reminds me of good "This American Life", and also reminds me of David Sedaris a little bit, the way the main character's voice mixes in the funny with the sad and the real.

So, Larklight/Starcross, big recommendations! I hope they do make a movie out of Larklight. It would be a blast to see.

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Yay from MS Paint!!
A very Happy Birthday to flemmings!!!!!



I hope you have a wonderful Birthday! :D

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Book Recs - The Last Knight and Larklight
So, this time around, both books were good and a lot of fun. (Reading is fundamental! ...Does anyone remember those old RIF commercials? I think LeVar Burton might have been in them as part of reading rainbow...)

Anyways...

The Last Knight

Description: "Need a Hero? You've got one in Sir Michael Sevenson. Although there hasn't been a knight errant in over two hundred years, this young noble has decided to revive the trade. He's found himself a reluctant partner in Fisk, a clever rogue who has been given the choice of serving as Michael's squire or going to jail for a very long time. Now Michael and Fisk are on a quest to right wrongs, protect the innocent, and make the world a happier place. It's not going to be easy. On their first attempt at rescuing a damsel in distress, they break a lady out of a tower, only to discover she was there for good reason: awaiting trial for poisoning her husband. Now the would-be heroes must find Lady Ceciel and return her to justice or be condemned themselves."

Pro: A very fun read, and whoa, SURPRISINGLY SLASH-FRIENDLY. :D NO, SRSLY!

(cough) Um, the story bounces well between the two narrators. Out of the two, Fisk is definitely the most interesting. "Inherently good" characters like Michael can suffer from being slightly dull. He does end up being a little naive, which means his interpretation of actions might be different from say, Fisk (or the reader), which can be fun.

The story also serves as a nice little mystery as the two have to travel about, finding clues on how to find the accused murderess that they "rescued" and released.

Con: At times, the tone of the dialogue switches from what seems too modern colloquial to things like "'Twas". That's a little jarring sometimes.

But overall, very fun read (for multiple reasons. ^_^) The author has also said that this will be the start of a six book series. There's definitely some back-story that was hinted at in this first book that most likely will get delved into later. I'm looking forward to checking the following books in the series when they are released.

Larklight: A Rousing Tale of Dauntless Pluck in the Farthest Reaches of Space

Description: "Philip Reeve's novel combines historical fiction, fantasy, and science fiction into a charming story that young listeners will devour. Art and his sister Myrtle are British youngsters living with their father at Larklight during the reign of Queen Victoria. However, in this alternate Victorian era, Britain controls not only most of Earth—including the American colonies—but also Venus, Mars, and the moons of Jupiter. Larklight is a home that hangs just beyond the moon. Art is happy living in the suburbs of the solar system, but his priggish sister longs for the excitement of London's social scene. When giant spiders attack their home and their father disappears, the siblings are tossed onto a lifeboat and float through the ether until they are rescued by young space pirate with a grudge against the Empire. This Victorian Star Wars trio hurtles through space battling robots, aliens, and a loony scientist."

Pro: The title says it all- this story is a total lark, and very much a blast to read. Fun, lots of great characters, interesting twists, and filled to the brim with great illustrations. (It's a young adult book, but it is illustrated throughout- which fits well with the Victorian theme.)

Speaking of Victorian- this book is like a total fetish book for anyone interested in Victorian Sci-Fi-airships-pirates-bowler hats-Martians-imperialists-big machines-whatever. Even the spiders wear goggles!

But this still makes it a very fun read, and word on IMDB is that it will also be made into a movie, which hopefully will also be a blast. I liked this story better than what I read of Reeve's Hungry City Chronicles. (Which I never finished.) This was lighter in tone.

If you look hard, you will also notice some interesting themes throughout the book. One that stuck out was how love crosses over boundaries- whether it's a gentleman marrying a freed slave, an explorer marrying a Martian, pirates and refined ladies, scientists and gods, etc. It's interesting.

Another hilarious theme is that for several of the women characters, they would say things like "the fairer sex", or weaker constitution, etc, and then they would immediately do these amazing things. The story was very nicely balanced between male and female characters, and each side both would pull off awesome stunts.

Con: At times, the very-Victorian way people spoke slowed the action down at times and made things seem less immediate and more wordy. This might be less of a con if you listen to the story, but reading it, it was something I noticed.

But overall, a very fun read. I just started the sequel, Starcross, so hopefully that will also be as good.

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Book "Recs" - Chaos Code, Sure Fire, Ranger's Apprenctice and The Devil's Whisper
Actually, not all of these are recs. I just want to make a record...

The Chaos Code

Okay, so I really had a lot of fun with The Death Collector, so I started looking at what else the author has written. This is one of his recent books.

Description: "Matt Stribling is stuck spending another vacation with his brilliant, yet scatterbrained archaeologist father. His dad’s house is often a mess, so when Matt arrives to find the place turned upside down and his father missing, he’s not immediately worried. But a cryptic message and some strange sandy footprints quickly persuade Matt that all is not right. With the help of some unusual family friends, Matt discovers that his father had been searching for an ancient code, one rumored to have brought down the Mayans, and maybe even the fabled civilization of Atlantis."

Pro: Fun, but not as fun as the Death Collector. It was kind of like Young Indiana Jones but with modern technology. Lots of globe-trotting, some tense scenes, and for the most part, people made decisions that made sense. No one was conveniently stupid to move the plot along. There is an interesting twist also with a couple of the characters. Very readable, and again, like TDC, is easy to see as a film.

Cons: The author got really into his explanations, and sometimes, there's just too much exposition. That, and too much needless detail. You don't need to write a step-by-step process of how a character copies a DVD. I didn't notice this flaw in his earlier book, but it stuck out more in this one. I started skipping paragraphs to get to the point. That's a habit I don't do that much anymore, mostly because I stopped reading Stephen King.

Sure Fire

Description: "For fifteen-year-old twins Rich and Jade, their lives have just been turned upside down. When their mother is tragically killed in a car crash, their long-lost father John Chance appears to collect them at the funeral. He's a bachelor who lives on his own, and it's clear that Rich and Jade aren't welcome. But when Chance suddenly disappears, Rich and Jade uncover the truth: He's a spy. And now, whoever kidnapped their father is after them, too."

Pro: Uh...it's not that long?

Con: So, same author as for the Death Collector, but this time, he's coauthoring with some big suspense writer who I have never heard of.

Man, if this was written in 1985, the whole "Russian" villain and spy schtick would have made more sense. Even with the energy pipeline angle, it feels very dated. This was also like a movie- but a bad one- like the kind you see on TV late at night. Lots of too convenient events, random gun play, and how did that tank get that far without people trailing it? It's a tank!

This book also has the honor of being one of the few books that made me feel embarrassed that I was reading it in public (i.e.- on the bus.) On the cover is a burning helicopter and the tag line of "Grow up fast...or else!" Ugh!

The Ranger's Apprentice: vol. 1-3

Description: "Like the other 15-year-old wards of Castle Redmont, Will is nervous about Choosing Day, when each of them will be assigned to a different master for training. Though his dearest wish is to enter the Battleschool, his small stature prevents it. Instead, Will is apprenticed to the grim-faced, mysterious Ranger. Soon Will learns that becoming a ranger is more difficult, dangerous, and worthwhile than he had imagined."

Pro: Like Tamora Pierce's First Test/Paige series, the author takes his time to show that you have to work to get better at something. You're not just some random Mary Sue who can instantly use a bow and arrow perfectly. I always appreciate when authors do that.

Overall, this series is pretty readable, and I think kids who like HP or Percy Jackson may like this as well. Overall, it's fast-paced, some of the characters and their relationships are very endearing. There is something...comfortable about the books. (I've read three so far, which is what has been released in the US. There are 8, I think so far. The books are Australian, and slowly coming out here.)

Con: Okay, this author is like...the King of Tell. Only in some of the action scenes will he not plainly explain to you how every character is internally feeling or thinking. If he does Show, he immediately follows it with Tell, explaining exactly what was going on, in case you missed it. I know this book is aimed at 5-8 graders, but c'mon. Kids are not that dumb. I kind of find it lazy.

Also, the books are overall fast-paced, but I started skipping during the second volume, and man, the third book, that could have been condensed since it doesn't really feel like much happened. Also, on one hand, I admire that the author wanted to show how hard it is to get off a drug addiction, but the multiple chapters detailing it just sloooooowed everything down. The 4th book is coming out in March, and I wish they cut the third book down and connected it to the fourth book. It would have been stronger.

So, it's not a great series...but it's easy to keep reading it. His style doesn't encourage me to linger over his writing, but the situations are interesting enough (mostly...) that I'll go to the next book. The Telling Everything though is so annoying.

The Devil's Whisper

Description: "Mamoru Kusaka, a sensitive and intelligent teen, is troubled by the loss of his parents. Twelve years after his father disappeared following a municipal financial scandal, his mother has died of a stroke. As Mamoru tries to start a new life with relatives in Tokyo, his uncle, taxi driver Taizo Asano, is arrested after running over a young woman. While working to exonerate Taizo, Mamoru stumbles upon evidence that the victim may have been fleeing the person responsible for two other recent strange deaths that were officially classed as suicides."

Pro: GREAT BOOK. Great book. So good. Totally reminded me why I loved All She Was Worth, also by Miyuki Miyabe. Miyabe excels at writing the one-shot mystery. She fully develops characters along with an engaging and engrossing plot. It's amazing to see especially since often mystery writers don't develop their main characters that much. They're often just this traveling observer that figures things out that involve these shallow surface characters, half of whom die before the end of the story. But Miyabe- she fleshes out the main character, the friends, the family. People are interesting; you care about them, which is even better because it makes the story even more tense, because you feel fear when crazy things happen.

This was a tense mystery too. I was all "Dude, what is going to happen??"

I actually liked this better than All She Was Worth, which I think is more highly regarded than this one. (Don't get me wrong, All She Was Worth is also highly recommended, and I have it if people want to borrow it.) But All She Was Worth dragged a little bit when Miyabe wanted to go on about how bad credit companies are. I actually put down the book twice before finishing it because I got bored during those parts. I eventually tried again, and really enjoyed the rest. This book, she does go off on some messages, but it doesn't distract or slow down the pace.

I'm surprised it hasn't been made into a movie. I heard it was made into a tv movie in Japan, like, 15 or so years again, but I think the story is interesting enough that it could be a very tense thriller.

Again, great book, and definitely one of the better ones that I've read lately. I might buy it when it comes out in paperback. I'm psyched that Kodansha is focusing on slowly releasing Miyabe's books into English.

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Gokusen!
There's going to be a third Gokusen dorama starting this April!!! :D

I know the second season was almost identical to the first season except for new students, but still. XD I'm psyched. Gokusen was always so much fun.

The new students haven't been casted yet. Which major Johnny's haven't been in it yet that could still pass for high school????

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Snow + Book Recs - The Death Collector and Drift House
Wow, so it's both snowing and sticking. Rare occurrence indeed.

Bit of a tiring week. Stuff got done, but not as much as I wanted to get done. One of those weeks where I wondered how the days passed.

Book Recs

The Death Collector

Description: "In Victorian London, Albert Wilkes returns home for tea four days after his funeral. While his shocked and terrified wife rushes to prepare it, Wilkes takes the family dog for a walk and is abducted. His kidnapping is witnessed by young pickpocket Eddie, who becomes embroiled, along with an assistant at the British Museum and a clergyman's daughter, in a deadly plot involving the fragments of a diary, a secret department at the British Museum, and a dinosaur-like creature roaming the streets. Oh, and there are some zombies."

Verdict: This book was *so* much fun. It was the equivalent of reading a Saturday matinée, the kind full of Adventure and Danger and Dinosaurs and British People. I'm surprised it hasn't been made into a movie yet (and I checked IMDB, no luck.) The adventure and set-up is just so cinematic. And the main characters were great. The chick wasn't useless nor was she a man in a dress. And Eddie the pickpocket's disgruntled realization that he always got the worst jobs out of the bunch was hilarious. Highly recommended for a fun YA read. (It also had one of the more confusing editing errors that I've seen in a pro book. Normally, I don't notice mistakes, but this one was glaring enough to throw me out of the book for a minute.)

Drift House: The First Voyage and The Lost Cities

Description of the first book: "After the events of 9/11, Mr and Mrs. Oakenfeld send their three children from New York City to Uncle Farley's home on the Bay of Eternity, somewhere in Canada. Uncle Farley and his often-sassy parrot, President Wilson, inhabit a strange, shiplike home called the Drift House. A flood sends the Drift House (and the children) into the bay and then beyond into the Sea of Time, where they meet mermaids, pirates, a talking frog, and Pierre Marin, the builder of the Drift House."

Verdict: I'm mixed on these two.

Pro: They're actually very fun "Adventure!" reads for kids. The characterization is well done, the settings interesting, and the story moves along nicely. It's full of the fantasy stuff that people like- lots of interesting things happen, and you never have to worry about not having food because whatever you want will zip right up in the mysterious dumbwaiter. Uncle Farley is enough of a useless adult to allow the kids to have the lay of the land, and the most interesting twist happens to Murray the youngest. The books really reminded me of older fantasy adventure books like Dr. Dolittle or the Narnia books, and were surprisingly enjoyable as a whole.

Con: The 9/11 stuff inserted in the beginning and at several points is totally needless. The author of the books has even said that he was inspired by the books about kids during WWII in England, when the Blitz was going on, but 9/11 is totally not random and recurring firebombing of London. The kids are shipped off to the Uncle's house for potentially *months* because their parents are feeling that the city is too unsafe to live. (Allusions of kids being shipped off to the country in England during the war or Canada, etc...) I didn't feel like this was a similar enough situation that warranted such measures and when 9/11 popped up, it felt inappropriate. I think it's actually a disservice to kids to give them an overly fearful feeling of 9/11. It's an awful event caused by terrorists, but it shouldn't be put in the same category as months or years of bombing. Maybe if these kids live in Baghdad, it would make more sense for them to get shipped off to their irresponsible uncle in Canada, but not if they live in NYC. The kids didn't know anyone in the Towers, they weren't personally affected outside of living in a posh part of town and having things interrupted. I think if all that stuff was taken out, the books would still be strong and it wouldn't have this odd historical context that wasn't used very well.

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Book Recs - The Janissary Tree, The Lightening Thief, and London Calling
My recent observation about pushing books on people reminded me about another quandary. I read a lot more now, but I get a majority at the library, and then since I don't own them, I forget what I read. Maybe I should start writing about them... (Warning- I read mostly young adult lit.)

The Janissary Tree - This was a huge rec by Nancy Pearl- Seattle Librarian and the author of Book Lust. I think I heard her talk about it on NPR.

Description: "In 1836, though the corrupt elite troops known as the Janissaries were crushed 10 years earlier, there are ominous signs that their influence still persists in the twisted alleys and secret places of Istanbul. A series of crimes, including the barbaric murders of several soldiers and the theft of some precious jewels, leads eunuch Yashim Togalu to delve into the past in an effort to separate legend from truth. With special access to all areas of the sultan's royal court, Yashim uses his network of contacts to try to solve the crimes."

Verdict- Most straight-up mysteries bore me. They're too laid out with their genre points. So the ones I tend to like mix genres, like historic mystery or coming-of-age or sci-fi/fantasy, etc. (I wish there were more Fantasy/Mysteries. I think they're hilarious.)

The Janissary Tree was very good, but the best part of it, more so than the mystery, is the atmosphere that the writer creates. You can smell the markets and the cooking and the perfume and feel the heat from the fire. Great dialogue too, and he's written some fabulous characters- most of all being the man-without-country Polish ambassador that is Yashim's bud, the nearing middle-aged transsexual dancer who likes to hit the bars at night, and the fabulous French mother of the sultan who rules the forbidden harem section of the palace.

Yashim is also an interesting character- Quick-thinking, a good cook, has a soft-spot for French literature, and his place is society allows him both more freedom and less. And how often do you read books about the eunuch getting some (add: with a woman)? This is definitely my first, I think.

The pacing is quick and moves along very well. My only quip would be the needless cutaways to other perspectives outside of the main cast. I think it's more confusing than stylish. It could benefit more if you read it a second time, but I don't like things that don't fit well in the first read-through. I also dislike when you give two pages to a villain's perspective early on (in that covert way where gender isn't revealed but they're thinking bad thoughts or something.) Unless it's a consistent voice that's peppered throughout, I find it a lazy technique to add suspense or explain something.

The Lightning Thief - If you liked Harry Potter, you would probably like this. It's similar enough in style and even somewhat in story. (Except camp vs school, gods vs wizards)

Description: "The escapades of the Greek gods and heroes get a fresh spin in the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, about a contemporary 12-year-old New Yorker who learns he's a demigod. Perseus, aka Percy Jackson, thinks he has big problems. His father left before he was born, he's been kicked out of six schools in six years, he's dyslexic, and he has ADHD. What a surprise when he finds out that that's only the tip of the iceberg: he vaporizes his pre-algebra teacher, learns his best friend is a satyr, and is almost killed by a minotaur before his mother manages to get him to the safety of Camp Half-Blood--where he discovers that Poseidon is his father. But that's a problem, too. Poseidon has been accused of stealing Zeus' lightning bolt, and unless Percy can return the bolt, humankind is doomed."

Verdict: It was good, but not as good as HP (and I'm from a camp that both likes and dislikes HP.) There was a part in the middle somewhere where I wished this was better, that it was more like HP- either in storytelling or style or whatever. This is also set up for a series (5 books). Kids will probably love it, but it's definitely simpler than HP, not as rich. Reading this made me realize more how HP does a good job in some areas, even if it's far from perfect. I'm trying to think of what the best part of the book was...probably the pacing. It kept things at a good clip so even if things were a bit implausible (for a fantasy book about gods...) it was easy to keep moving forward.

London Calling - I borrowed this partly because of the previous book, Tangerine, that I read by the same author. Tangerine was a fabulous book (about a legally blind character- rare!) that involves growing up, sports, clashes between race and economics, fruit growing, and one heck of a family secret. I still remember the last line of the book- it was so good. So, when I saw this new one, I put it on my list.

Description - "John Martin Conway feels out of place at his exclusive prep school, where he is constantly reminded that he is a scholarship kid. After a confrontation with Hank Lowery, the great-grandson of the schools founder, he requests to work at home on an independent study project. The World War II-era radio that his grandmother left him brings him into contact with Jimmy, a boy who lived during the war and who needs his help."

Verdict: I read this awhile ago, but I just got reminded about it. It was really good. I don't know if it was as good as Tangerine, but it was pretty good and recommended. A very interesting mystery/coming-of-age, and it deals very nicely with multiple issues- both in the past and in the present. The characters were also very well written- very realistic, and they bounce off each other well. Martin's older sister, who works for an encyclopedia company, is also very interesting, and is an involved character as opposed to just being a tool to move information along. Thinking about the ending makes me a little misty-eyed too. Nicely done.

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Anime & Dorama Fall 2007
It's about that time of year again for another new season of anime and dorama. Summer season was pretty uneventful, anime-wise. I haven't really followed anything too regularly although I'd like to catch up on Love Complex. That was actually some pretty funny shoujo. Dorama-wise, I followed Hana-Kimi, Tantei Gakuen Q, and Hikaru no Hikari. The first and third I still have to watch the final episodes of. Out of the three, Hana-Kimi was by far the best. The guy who played Nakatsu was *hilarious* and I hope he gets more major roles like that.

Fall Anime of Interest

Actually, there's very little of interest due to the huge amount of harem shows. Bleh! The one I'm most looking forward to is:

Ghost Hound (Air date: 10/18/07)
The three main characters really remind me of Sono Te wo Dokero, especially since there's strangeness going around. It's also done by I.G., concept by Shirow (Ghost in the Shell, etc.) and directed by the guy who did Lain. This could mean that it won't make much sense, or could be totally awesome. Who knows. To me, it's the best bet for this fall.

The two anime that totally scream marginoferror is Rental Magica and Mokke. Go ahead, Andrew, tell me I'm wrong. :P

The other three that might be interesting is the new You're Under Arrest TV series, the sequels to Shakugan no Shana and Geshiken. Most everything else is harem-harem-harem. Bleh!

Fall Drama of Interest

Yukan Club
This one looks like it will fit the Hana-Kimi category of hilarious, plus added goofy mysteries. Bonus Points for having Akanishi Jin from KAT-TUN.

SP
It doesn't start until November, but I really enjoy most of OkaJun's dramas. He's a fun actor to watch.

Judge
If this is like Dr. Koto but a Judge instead of a doctor, than this could be great. Or deathly boring. Who knows?

Galileo
This could be a good mystery. It will depend on the character's chemistry though...

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