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Features & Reviews

A Demon in My View by Ruth Rendell: B+

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Book description:
Arthur Johnson’s loneliness has perverted his desire for love and respect into a carefully controlled tendency for violence. One floor below him, a scholar finishing his thesis on psychopathic personalities is about to stumble upon one of Johnson’s many secrets.

Review:
This short book is fun and creepy, and, on two occasions when describing Arthur’s early violent outbursts, downright disturbing. It had a number of twists that surprised me (though one I saw coming) and came across as neatly well-planned. It doesn’t surpass my favorite Rendell so far (The Lake of Darkness), but it really is quite good.

Rendell’s style of writing is incisive and atmospheric, and she excels at the “show don’t tell” technique. The book alternates perspectives between Arthur Johnson and the scholarly new tenant (Anthony Johnson), and these sections show not only the character of each man but also their differing perceptions of the same events. Much of the action in the book occurs due to Arthur misconstruing what has happened, owing to his lack of social skills. Sometimes one almost feels sympathy for this dangerous yet clueless guy, knowing how the clumsy overtures he’s attempting are going to turn out.

I found the ending to be a surprising and satisfying one. However, as many compliments as I have for it (and for the narration of Julian Glover), I’m having trouble picturing myself rereading it. At least not for a long while, until I’ve forgotten all the twists and turns.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Watcher’s Guide 1 by Golden and Holder: C+

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From the back cover:
As long as there have been vampires, there has been the Slayer. One girl in all the world, to find them where they gather and to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their members. She is the Slayer.

Exclusive Interviews, Totally Pointy Profiles, Behind-the-Scenes Info, and Other Buff-stuff About the Hit Show.

Review:
The title Watcher’s Guide suggests to me that the guide is meant to augment the experience of someone watching the show. In addition to a description of the episodes, therefore, I expected at least some analysis, some discussion of what the episode was truly about, or its purpose in furthering the events of a particular story arc or a character’s development.

Instead, the action of each episode in the first two seasons is summarized in a few paragraphs, a quote of the week is chosen, romance progress is charted, and there’s a small section devoted to continuity between episodes. If one is already a watcher of the program, this information is irrelevent and redundant. I have found much more insightful episode commentary online.

On top of that, the summaries are fond of including questionable value judgments, deeming things hilarious or gorgeous, for example, that really aren’t, in my opinion. Example: Is the following exchange “hilarious,” as claimed, or merely cute, funny, and totally in character?

Oz: I’m gonna ask you to go out with me tomorrow night. And I’m kinda nervous about it, actually. It’s interesting.
Willow: Oh. Well, if it helps at all, I’m gonna say yes.
Oz: Yeah, it helps. It-it creates a comfort zone. Do you wanna go out with me tomorrow night?
Willow: (cringes and slaps her hand to her forehead) Oh! I can’t!
Oz: Well, see, I like that you’re unpredictable.

The latter half of the book is made up of sections devoted to monsters, relationships, cast and crew interviews, and a list of all the songs to appear in the episodes. The monsters and relationships sections just reiterated things that I already remembered from watching the show, though I guess the former could be useful if one, like, urgently needed to refresh their memory on Machida. Every member of the cast and crew that you could possibly think of got their own interview. Some of these were interesting, but they got repetitive. But hey, at least I now know about everyone’s scars, tattoos, or other distinguishing marks!

What is excellent about the Watcher’s Guide is that it often includes dialogue from the script that didn’t make it into the finished episode. This ranges anywhere from a couple of lines to full-blown scenes, some of which are awesome to have in print—like the dialogue we don’t get to hear from the phone call at the end of the episode “Passion,” for instance.

Full Moon o Sagashite 7 by Arina Tanemura: A

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From the back cover:
Mitsuki is trapped by the Lord of the Underworld and is imprisoned within his barrier. She pleads for Izumi to come help her, but the Shinigami is immobilized by his fear of releasing his last memory—the moment before his death—and will not rescue her. Is there anyone who can protect Mitsuki from the Death Master’s scythe?

Review:
These final few chapters bring about a very satisfying conclusion to the series. Plot threads, aside from one that wasn’t resolved as clearly as I would’ve liked, are thoroughly wrapped up, a testament to the careful planning of the tale. I particularly liked the last few pages of the final chapter; they’re totally like the ending credits of an anime.

There were plenty of differences from the anime, so I was able to enjoy being surprised by a few more twists in the story, and got sniffly as a result more than once. We also learn the true meaning of the title at last.

I can definitely see myself rereading this title, especially in light of information learned in the final chapters. If, like me, you’re tired of stories that drag on without a hint of real development in sight (Hana-Kimi, I’m talking to you), then I recommend this series without reservation.

Full Moon o Sagashite 6 by Arina Tanemura: A-

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From the back cover:
Mitsuki has previously refused the operation that would save her life—at the expense of her voice. However, as Mitsuki gets closer to her first concert appearance, Ms. Oshige decides that she will put Mitsuki in the hospital after the event, no matter how Mitsuki feels about it. Even so, it may be too late to save Mitsuki’s life, unless Takuto and Meroko are successful in changing her fate.

Review:
Both Meroko and Mitsuki take some important steps forward in this volume, and I particularly liked chapters 25 and 26. The introduction of Hikari in chapter 25 might’ve seemed like a random obstacle gimmick in any other manga, but it works here because of the story line and really forces Mitsuki to confront some things. I especially love the bit with the pendant.

The last chapter advances the plot along nicely, though it left me a little confused on a couple of points. A side story, okay but predictable, with Madoka and Nachi completes the volume.

Full Moon o Sagashite 5 by Arina Tanemura: B+

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From the back cover:
Mitsuki’s popularity as Fullmoon has skyrocketed, but Mitsuki learns that fame carries a harsh price. Hidden among the birthday presents sent to Fullmoon is a mail bomb that explodes in Ms. Oshige’s face! Will the crazed fan be captured, or will Mitsuki have to quit music to save her friends… and herself?

Review:
I am very meh about this crazed fan story, even though I quite liked the revelation in the final pages of the volume. It’s possible this story could yield more interesting results later on, but for now, it wasn’t very exciting. Somehow, however, this ended up prompting Mitsuki to decide that she wants to live after all, and to grow determined to be stronger, so I guess it accomplished something besides providing a career obstacle.

In addition to a less than thrilling arc, character motivations or plot flow were not as clear as in previous volumes, and there were several times I had to go back and reread several pages when certain elements seemed to just pop up out of the blue.

I did like the backstory for Izumi, though not as much as Meroko’s. It reminds me strongly of Sohma Yuki from Fruits Basket, and there are parallels to be made between Mitsuki and Tohru, too.

Full Moon o Sagashite 4 by Arina Tanemura: A

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From the back cover:
Mitsuki’s love for Eichi has helped keep her alive because she promised that one day she would become a famous singer and meet him again. But lately even thoughts of Eichi haven’t been enough to keep her spirits up. Will Takuto’s confessed love for Mitsuki be enough to convince her to live?

Review:
Mitsuki’s cheery shell finally cracks in this volume, and her resultant actions would be extremely annoying if perpetrated by, say, Miaka. However, Tanemura-Sensei has a knack for prompting her characters to dramatic choices in a way that’s IC and engenders understanding and sympathy. Good characters may do bad things, but the reader always understands why this is happening. (With the possible exception of Takuto, who irked me a few times.)

My favorite part of the volume was the last few chapters, where Meroko’s backstory is revealed. I don’t remember this being in the anime at all, and it was nice to be surprised. With the possibility for Izumi revelations on the horizon, I am eager to tackle the next volume.

Full Moon o Sagashite 3 by Arina Tanemura: A

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From the back cover:
Mitsuki’s alter ego, Fullmoon, gets a new producer—Dr. Wakaouji, who is treating Mitsuki’s cancer! Before he got his medical degree, the doctor played keyboard in the legendary band ROUTE..L with Mitsuki’s father. Will the doctor break Mitsuki’s cover? And will Takuto’s newly exposed memories destroy his present friendships?

Review:
A lot of important stuff happened in this volume, and almost none of it related to Mitsuki’s career. Since I’m always hard-pressed to care about that what with the other plot points, this suited me just fine.

The first major occurrence is that Takuto remembers some of his past. I thought the details were just a little bit cheesy, but there were some interesting ramifications there for a couple of characters, so it managed to steer clear of lame. The second major thing, to which I shan’t even allude, is a pivotal twist and makes one entirely re-examine their concept of the story so far. It’s a testament to the writing that the story still hangs together when one looks at it through new eyes.

A pair of bonus stories round out the volume, one about Meroko and Izumi when they were partners and the other the first meeting of Eichi and Mitsuki (covered from her perspective earlier in the volume) now from his point of view.

Full Moon o Sagashite 2 by Arina Tanemura: B+

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From the back cover:
Now that Mitsuki has debuted in the pop world, she is faced with the dark side of the glitz and glamour—petty jealousy and scheming that just might be her undoing. Will her love for Eichi be enough to keep her on the road to stardom? Or will the schemes of a mysterious new Shinigami stop her dreams short?

Review:
This volume was pretty good, but not as good as the first. Thankfully, the Madoka pop rival stuff seems to be done (although how Meroko figured in was interesting), and instead we’re getting more backstory on the shinigami, both as individuals as well as the job itself. Also sprinkled in were a few moments suggesting Mitsuki’s not as happy-go-lucky as she seems. Cute moments abound, but it’s really the darker moments that I like the best.

There’s also a bonus story at the end called “Gin-yu Meika.” It’s about a boy (who looks a bit like Yuki Eiri) that encounters a fairy while practicing for a music competition. Although certain things transpired predictably, enough of the unexpected occurred that it turned out to be decent.

A Separate Peace by John Knowles: B

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From the back cover:
Set in an exclusive boys’ school in the summer of ’42, A Separate Peace offers a quietly told story of the relationship between two boys. Under the surface though, violent thoughts and feelings lurk, mirroring events in the outside world. It is these deeper levels of meaning that have made the novel an enduring classic of American literature.

Through the adolescent eyes of Gene, an introverted intellectual, we are shown the world of the Devon School. The campus and its residents appear to be untouched by the realities of war. Phineas, a charismatic daredevil athlete, embodies a careless optimism as he leads the boys in seemingly innocent games. Schoolboy capers, though, turn dark, and perhaps inevitably, the war slowly permeates the boys’ lives.

Review:
I remembered really liking this whatever year that was I was required to read it for school, but now I have mixed feelings.

The crux of the problem is that I don’t particularly like either Gene or Phineas. Gene initially comes across as borderline nutso, obsessively in love with Phineas and always comparing himself against him and suspecting Phineas of plotting against him. He even dons his clothes at one point in a very The Talented Mr. Ripley moment. Phineas is genial enough, and I like him better as the story progresses, but he’s one of those playful manipulator types who goad non-troublemaking sorts into participating in their activities, and I find those people irritating.

Eventually, though, one begins to think maybe Gene isn’t crazy, but a typical mixed-up stupid teen driven by impulses he doesn’t understand. Maybe he’s just the product of the competitive atmosphere of an all-boys’ school, where no one wants to be caught out falling for a trick, where everyone is always on guard and suspicious of sincerity lest they lose face with the rest of the group.

Soon, some of their classmates begin to change as they confront the reality of the war in their lives, a fact they’d been able to deny in the summer when they were still sixteen. All this sounds pretty good, but this is also right around where things began to drag for me. It was also hard to believe all these kids were so gung-ho to be involved with the war, but maybe that’s realistic behavior for “the greatest generation.”

But hey, bonus points for slashiness! Take this lovely passage, for instance:

Finny was right. And there was only one way to show him this. I threw my hip against his, catching him by surprise, and he was instantly down, definitely pleased. This was why he liked me so much. When I jumped on top of him, my knees on his chest, he couldn’t ask for anything better.

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower by C. S. Forester: B+

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From the back cover:
This year is 1793, the eve of the Napoleonic Wars, and Horatio Hornblower, a seventeen-year-old boy unschooled in seafaring and the ways of seamen, is ordered to board a French merchant ship and take command of crew and cargo for the glory of England. Though not an unqualified success, this first naval adventure teaches the young midshipman enough to launch him on a series of increasingly glorious exploits. This novel—in which young Horatio gets his sea legs, proves his mettle, and shows the makings of the legend he will become—is the first of the eleven swashbuckling Hornblower tales that are today regarded as classic adventure stories of the sea.

Review:
Mm, back cover, you lie a little bit. This is the first chronologically, yes, but it is the sixth in order of publication.

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower is a collection of short stories spanning the first five years of Hornblower’s career. Only two follow in direct sequence, so there is very little by way of narrative flow. I missed a long over-arching story, but still found the stories very entertaining. One of them, “Hornblower: The Frogs and Lobsters”, was rather dull, though it ended well. My particular favorites are “Cargo of Rice,” “Spanish Galleys,” and “The Duchess and the Devil.”

One thing Forester did exceptionally well was make young and inexperienced Hornblower recognizably the same character that readers following publication date will have already encountered later in his career. I also really liked seeing him interact with others of equal rank, actually joking around and stuff. Still, my favorite stories were those in which he was in command, so I guess I still like him best in that capacity.

The Grim Grotto by Lemony Snicket: A

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From the back cover:
Dear Reader,

Unless you are a slug, a sea anemone, or mildew, you probably prefer not to be damp. You might also prefer not to read this book, in which the Baudelaire siblings encounter an unpleasant amount of dampness as they descend into the depths of despair, underwater.

In fact, the horrors they encounter are too numerous to list, and you wouldn’t want me even to mention the worst of it, which includes mushrooms, a desperate search for something lost, a mechanical monster, a distressing message from a lots friend, and tap dancing.

As a dedicated author who has pledged to keep recording the depressing story of the Baudelaires, I must continue to delve deep into the cavernous depths of the orphans’ lives. You, on the other hand, may delve into some happier book in order to keep your eyes and your spirits from being dampened.

With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

Review:
This installment was really fun. The orphans actually fall in with some pleasant company, and the whole underwater atmosphere was really neat. I suppose the main plot ultimately did not advance much, though the ending kind of made up for that.

What I specially liked were the bits about moral ambiguities. How V.F.D. isn’t entirely this faultless organization. How it’s hard to acknowledge that someone you love isn’t perfect. And how no person is ever going to be entirely virtuous or entirely villainous. Here’s a great quote:

People aren’t either wicked or noble. They’re like chef’s salads, with good things and bad things chopped and mixed together in a vinaigrette of confusion and conflict.

The only false note I really noticed is that if someone swallows a spoonful of a certain condiment swallowed in this book, one is going to react a lot more violently than a mere shudder.

Lord Hornblower by C. S. Forester: A

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From the back cover:
The Admiral’s face was grim as he gave Commodore Hornblower his orders. The situation was critical: mutiny was an infection that could spread through the fleet like the plague and, furthermore, the defiant crew of the Flame were threatening to go over to the French. St Vincent has put his faith in Hornblower. Hornblower knows he must not fail. Yet neither man dreamt, on that day in 1813, that the mission would result in a peerage—and a death sentence—for Horatio Hornblower.

Review:
This book was totally going to get a perfect score until the last fifty pages or so. It just went on a bit too long. The material at the end felt a bit rushed, possibly just to tie up with Bonaparte’s defeat at Waterloo. It wasn’t bad by any means, just not as good as the rest. The ending was still strong.

Prior to that point, I was loving all of Hornblower’s internal struggles, his endearing insecurities and quirks, his brilliant solutions, the interesting chilly conflict between he and his wife, not to mention the quick action. This is a book that was completely engrossing from the first page, and to have it sort of sputter near the end was disappointing.

One especially neat thing Lord Hornblower did was raise of the question of what kind of man Hornblower would’ve become if there hadn’t been a war on for his entire life. It really made me excited to proceed on to the next books in the series, which take place earlier in his career chronologically, to see what sort of youth he was when he started out.

Fushigi Yûgi 18 by Yuu Watase: B-

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From the back cover:
Miaka has been fighting a battle across two different worlds to keep Taka, the human incarnation of her true love Tamahome, from vanishing. But what could it mean when Tamahome himself returns to confront Miaka and Taka? The answer to this riddle leads Miaka and the Seven Celestial Warriors to the stunning finale of the best-selling Fushigi Yûgi series!

Review:
This volume was really hit-or-miss. There are a number of good things, like Chiriko being clever, and all of the Taka-Tamahome interaction. I was a bit surprised to realize that I actually like Taka, while Tamahome was barely in my top 5 of the Suzaku Warriors.

So, on an interpersonal level, this volume is okay. Plotwise, however, is a real muddle. When explanations are given, they’re lame. Some things just made no sense at all, including a possible retcon, but I don’t really care enough to think that hard about it.

It seems the whole purpose of Plot 2 was to give Taka confidence in his own existence, and… okay. That goal was successful. I just wish the way to get there were better planned.

Bonus good bit: a blip of the happy Tama-cat family in the future.

Rats Saw God by Rob Thomas: B

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From the back cover:
Houston, Sophomore Year
Steve is on top of the world. He and his friends are the talk of the school. He’s in love with a terrific girl. He can even deal with the astronaut—a world-famous hero who happens to be his father.

San Diego, Senior Year
Steve is bummed out, drugged out, flunking out. A no-nonsense counselor says he can graduate if he writes a 100-page paper. And in telling how he got to where he is, Steve discovers how to get to where he wants to be.

Review:
Rob Thomas is the creator of Veronica Mars, one of my favorite TV series, and so I was expecting a little something more than what Rats Saw God had to offer. It’s a perfectly decent little book, but I found it to be predictable, mostly on account of heavy-handed foreshadowing.

There are all kinds of little glints of what must be some of Thomas’s favorite elements—the troubled teen who has a poor relationship with his famous father, a supporting cast who fit just a bit too neatly into their stereotypical roles, the game of “I Never” used to reveal who has not done a particular thing, the popular teacher with a dark side…

That said, it was an enjoyable quick read, and I particularly liked how the blocking and gestures of various scenes were clearly and efficiently written. It’s like Thomas was seeing all of this as a TV show in his head even then.

Fushigi Yûgi 17 by Yuu Watase: C

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From the back cover:
When the demon god Tenkou steals the four stones that Miaka has already collected, is all hope lost for the return of Taka’s memories? And will Tenkou’s manipulation of Taka and Miaka’s friends slowly drive wedges between them and ensure their defeat? Once again, it’s up to Miaka to keep two worlds from falling under the dominion of the ultimate evil!

Review:
This just keeps getting crappier. I really am just waiting for it to be over at this point. Here’s a nugget of Miaka wisdom that especially made me want to hurl the volume away in disgust: “Whether it’s because she’s happy or sad… when a woman loves a man, she’s going to cry.”

Tenkou manipulates Tasuki into being a total git, and Watase manipulates Tasuki into suddenly having feelings for Miaka that were never present before some anvillicious hints in “Part 2.” It’s just unpleasant all around. Chichiri does get to be a badass, but all the stuff about his past is pretty lame.

Good points: Tenkou’s comments when baiting Taka that it’s actually Tamahome that Miaka loves, and that Taka is just a shadow of the real thing. Taka’s resulting questioning of why he needs someone else’s memories to be complete. The final few pages.