reading update: mostly manga

[meganbmoore]

Death Note: You know, I almost don't trust this book anymore...it's like they get off on killing my loved ones(what I get for reading a series told primarily through the villain's perspective)  *puts Misa, Matsuda, Sayu, and Near in a protective bubble.  Lets Mello in on a trial basis.*  Speaking of Mello, when did I start liking him?  I used to hate him...But you know, forgottenpolishand I were talking the other day and we were wondering what on earth there was left for Light to do to make us hate him more(never before has a manga character deserved a love/hate relationship more than Light) and we decided that about all that was left was killing Misa(though, IMO, even though it was a form of protection, what he did this volume wasn't much better)  Anyway, I understand there are only 2 volumes left, and it's definately starting to get an "Endgame" feel.

Skip-Beat:  Fun as always.  It looks like the the series is definately going to go in a Kyoko/Ren direction...it's always nice when my odd ships win out(what is it with me and bizarre/slightly perverse ships?)  That said, I'm glad that Kyoko and Moko finally had something flat out good happen to them at the agency, they've been wearing those pink jumpsuits long enough.

Mushishi:  I liked this series quite a bit.  The art reminds me a bit of Blade of the Immortal(and actually, the main character, Ginko, makes me think a bit of a sane and non-homicidal Manji) and the story of Kino's Journey.  Mushishi is set in a world very like ours that's plagued by Mushi, beings, often parasitic, who attach themselves to people.  They feed on sound, sight, moisture, etc., and some convert humans  into mushi.  The exact nature of the mushi isn't explained in the first volume, which I reather like...it gives the series something of a whimsical, fairy tale feeling.  There are people who deal with mushi called Mushishi, sometimes mushi can be taken care of simply, such as using salt to dry out snail like mushi, and sometimes it's far more complicated.  Our mushishi is Ginko, who covers one eye(and both seem to be fake) with his hair, smokes, and wears a trenchcoat but no shoes.  I like Ginko a lot, though I suspect he's not quite as nice as he seems to be.  This series is one of the reasons I like Del Rey...Mushishi isn't the kind of series that, until recently, only Dark Horse would take a chance on(and even then rarely) because it's not shojo fluff, fantasy or angst or shonen action or mecha or, more recently, yaoi.  It is, however, extremely good(and has pretty and shiny packaging)

ES:  I'm liking this one more and more(course, I started out liking it)  It's interesting getting Shuro and Isaac's background, and Shuro definately lives in terror of Mine realizing that he really does "like" her...he has enough trouble not being at her back and call as it is.  That said, I actually feel mild concern for Isaac at the end, which is odd(not exactly a sympathetic kid...)

The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood:  This is the 3rd book in Albert's Beatrix Potter series.  I like this series because it really is the light and cute series it claims to be.  The mysteries in it are side things, really, storylines for the characters(human and animal) to follow.  It's mostly about turn of the century England village life, through the events in Potter's life.

Right now I'm about 2/3 through the first Twelve Kingdoms book, by Fuyumi Ono(who's also the author of the books the Ghost Hunt manga are based on) the novel series the anime was based on.  Now, the anime is one of my absolute favorites(incidentally, anyone who's been told not to watch it and the words "Fushigi Yugi" were in any way involved with it needs to ignore the rec...whoever first came up with the idea of comparing the two was nuts...the similarities begin and end with "girl gets transported to a world based on asian mythology."  The worlds, characters and stories are as different as they could possibly be and the only genre they both fit into is fantasy)  but the books is worlds beyond the anime, which is a pleasant surprise, as I was just hoping for something readable enough that I'd get through them so I could read the novels that didn't get to be adapted into the anime.  (My experience with translated japanese novels has been rather shaky)  But this?  This is great.  And deserving of it's own post.  And it's making me want to rewatch the anime.

Comments

[fivil.livejournal.com]

I never understood the Light fangirls. I thought his progress in the first volume was very interesting but eventually I just grew tired of him always being a step ahead of the people who were chasing him. He's not a villain I can get behind even in that "oh god he's so cool and vicious!"-way. :/

Of course, it's been awfully long since I read it but I discussed this with a friend and it really seemed like the series was going somewhere, but then L died and it turned out the series was heading towards a completely different direction altogether.

Heh, L/Misa. From my own DN fangirl days, I remember all the various cracky pairings like that. Good times. Sayu/Matsuda was cute but when she got kidnapped, I stopped following the manga.. Did things evolve with the two post-kidnapping?

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Light has lost most of his appeal...now it's mostly just hoping he gets his comeuppance.

Sayu/Matsuda hasn't evolved really(I guess it's too cute and fluffy to get much attention in the manga?) But it's clear that he has a crush on her(that's probably at least somewhat reciprocated, however innocently) and that both Light and his father know and aren't sure they approve.

I actually really wish we got to see more of Sayu. She is, I think, the only person Light actually loves, and adds a much needed degree of humanity to him.

[fivil.livejournal.com]

Death Note isn't too good with cool female characters. Misa got on my nerves even at her coolest - mostly I just felt bad for her and her oblivious interest in the cold fish Light. There was Naomi, Ray Penbar's wife, who was witty, but she naturally gets killed and the rest of the women are played by Light without any difficulty.

So yeah, I also liked Sayu and hoped for more of her but then I just decided I didn't care enough about the overall story to keep following.

I ficced Sayu/Matsuda - so my DN het OTP - for a drabble's length because yeah, that little hinting there was really adorable.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Misa is stupid and irritating, yet oddly endearing. I constantly have a "why do I like you so much?" reaction to her. There's one woman who works for Near(and possibly has a thing with Mello) who has potential, but hasn't done much. Definately agree about Penbar's fiance...a part of me keeps hoping that she somehow escaped, or at least, hasn't finished yet. I know it's a pointless hope, but hey...Definatly not fond of the new woman who just showed up...she's supposed to be very smart and capable, but frankly, she got snowed in by Light even easier than Misa did...Misa, though out of her league, at least went in with her eyes mostly open...this chick deliberately put the rose colored glasses on.

I think Sayu and Matsuda are the only characters I have ANY faith whatsoever in making it out of this alive...we'll see...only 2 books to go.

[fivil.livejournal.com]

I remember when I actively discussed DN online, some people were of the opinion that "Misa is more than meets the eye" - that she's actually just putting up an act and is really up on what's happening but is helping Light for her own interests. I'm not sure how that theory would work in the context of the later manga. I'm afraid with Misa what you see is quite simply what you get. Which sucks but eh, it's manga. Strong, cool characters aren't exactly a rule of any kind.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Not sure where that idea came from, never really seen anything to make us think there's more to her. Yes, she can SEEM smart sometimes(such as when she first appeared as the second Kira) but even then it's usually more luck and determination than actual smarts.

Most of Death Note's problems stem from the fact that they can never really have anyone be better than Light.