Jul. 14th, 2010

jaebility: (knt // sparklez)
Last year at some point, I went to a con and came home with a free big selection of upcoming comics published by Yen. I flipped through most of the comics unimpressed until I found One Fine Day. Fast forward to last week; I had a coupon from Borders and happened to pass by their manga/anime section as I looked for a book. Volume one of One Fine Day! That coupon went to a good use.

When I say that OFD is cute, I mean it. This comic is adorable and sweet from start to finish. Magician No-Ah has inherited an old house, and the comic follows the daily life of the house's inhabitants - Not just No-Ah, but also kitten Guru, puppy Nanai, and baby mouse Rang. Characters switch from human to animal forms without explanation; each form is adorable. Sirial gives no explanation to this nor draws attention to the change, which was fine with me. The art style is perfect for the stories - breezy and loose. Some scenes are simplistic, but the sketchy design fits with the gentle feel of the stories.

My only complaint is the quality of the physical book. Del Ray and Toyko Pop's graphic novels have spoiled me; the paper and the cover are flimsy and already showing signs of wear. There no are extras, no notes from the translators or sneak-peeks of the upcoming volumes.

But that's the only flaw, and the quality of the art and the stories make up for this imperfection. Sometimes I just need a break from it all - OFD is like a breath of spring air. Sweet without becoming saccharine. I haven't found much on Sirial on Google, but I hope s/he continues to produce comics. I'll definitely get the third book when it comes out in September.
jaebility: (tutu // bad writing)
Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler - Dark and depressing and incredibly awesome. Butler's view of America's future hits hard, and as I walking through the hot, damp, crowded subways yesterday morning, I started worrying the accuracy of her foresight. This book cracks you down before it beings to tentatively build you back up. This is what The Road wishes it could be.

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte - It's interesting how many Anne Bronte shares with her sisters, and just as interesting is how much they differ. Helen could get preachy, but her determination and strength made her a fascinating - and feminist - character.

Far From the Maddening Crowd by Thomas Hardy - Another book with an interesting female lead. Aaaand another book from the 1800s. Maybe it was the setting - an idyllic countryside - but this book was almost like reading poetry. Loved it. Also loved the ending. Hardy's treatment of Blackwood was an interesting twist on stereotypically feminine passions.

Behold! A Mystery by Joan Smith - Meh. It had all the makings of a succesful novel. Set in Victorian times? Tradition manor-house murder? Female narrator? All checks. But somehow things fell apart. Jess was smart and brave in the face of the crime, but the novel kept undermining her. Also: Punishing kisses. HATE HATE HATE.

The Duke Returns by Eloisa James - Another meh. James' is a competent writer, but I'm not as into romances about nobility as I was as a teen. In fact, I actively dislike the genre. Wah wah I'm filthy rich and have lots of sex. I'd rather read about the maids or the blacksmith. The most interesting part in this book was when the hero had to deal with the sewer system. If shit's more fun than sex, then you're doing it wrong.

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