**spoiler alert** I think it's telling that I mostly gave this two stars because it was more of a "Q-ta" volume than a "Haruka" volume. I wish I could**spoiler alert** I think it's telling that I mostly gave this two stars because it was more of a "Q-ta" volume than a "Haruka" volume. I wish I could pick Haruka up out of this series and airlift him to a better story and a girlfriend with some sense in her head. The poor guy.
Yura is getting dumber by the volume, and Q-ta is such a complete scumbag. It's painful watching her be so wrapped up in him.
I like some of the side characters, like Nanase, and while the whole Shachou thing is slightly creepy, it's still better than her having any kind of relationship with Q-ta. Aaaack.
I don't think I'm even going to be able to read Volume 6 because no library around her has it, but I'm really ok with that because from the reviews, it would only depress me. YURA. GET SOME BRAIN CELLS. AAAAACK....more
This series is frustrating in that you know it's one giant love triangle, and it will never be resolved because a) that's bad for plot and b) the seriThis series is frustrating in that you know it's one giant love triangle, and it will never be resolved because a) that's bad for plot and b) the series is on "hiatus" anyway (not that I ever see it coming back). I have a clear, clear frontrunner in who I want to win this battle and while I love his scenes he's not stepping up as much as he needs to - and that's just kinda depressing to read....more
Another good volume. I like both of the Nanas, as well as Junko and Shouji and Kyousuke. I'm rooting for Hachi-Nana especially, even though she can beAnother good volume. I like both of the Nanas, as well as Junko and Shouji and Kyousuke. I'm rooting for Hachi-Nana especially, even though she can be dense and a bit of a dingbat. I think she's learning to grow up. Once again, the clothes and apartment furnishings are fun to look at....more
Meh. I love Meg Cabot, and would try anything of hers, but this book wasn't a stellar read. They wrapped things up nicely (I actually thought this wasMeh. I love Meg Cabot, and would try anything of hers, but this book wasn't a stellar read. They wrapped things up nicely (I actually thought this was going to be a trilogy, but this one tied everything up) and it did have some entertaining moments. I thought that there was some pretty swift character development to make it more obvious which way things "should" go (it was a lot easier to see who the "bad guys" or even "bad for you" guy was in this book than in the previous one!) which felt sort of rushed, but I guess I see why, now that I know there's no book three.
Overall it was a total fluff read, but I'm glad I read it for character-closure reasons....more
Overall I did really like this series, even though some of the plot twists are clearly favorites of Takaya's (particularly where they involve gender bOverall I did really like this series, even though some of the plot twists are clearly favorites of Takaya's (particularly where they involve gender bending and people unexpectedly changing sides). Might have enjoyed it more if I hadn't read Fruits Basket and Tsubasa first. It was fun watching Takaya's art style develop. By the end of this series, she ended up pretty much where she started in Fruits Basket, art-wise....more
I really enjoyed this series although I might have enjoyed it even more had I not read two of Takaya's other series - by volume 4 it becomes obvious tI really enjoyed this series although I might have enjoyed it even more had I not read two of Takaya's other series - by volume 4 it becomes obvious that there are a lot of very similar plot points between them, even regarding some of the biggest plot twists. These usually involve gender or people switching sides unexpectedly....more
A co-worker lent me this series. It's Takaya Natsuki's first series and I really like the plot and setup so far. Looking forward to the rest!A co-worker lent me this series. It's Takaya Natsuki's first series and I really like the plot and setup so far. Looking forward to the rest!...more
This book was a welcome relief from some of the stuff that went on in the book before. There were plenty of plot threads, some smaller resolutions regThis book was a welcome relief from some of the stuff that went on in the book before. There were plenty of plot threads, some smaller resolutions regarding questions that have been around for a while, some new bits of information popping up, and a progression of Sookie and Eric's relationship that felt fairly natural. Bill was around (I still like Bill, darn it), and there was plenty of Sam.
It felt like a quiet book compared to some of the others, even though there were big fight scenes and firebombings and the like - but I needed a quiet one. (And also, thankfully, Sookie actually has a book where she comes out physically unscathed. Finally.)...more
Oh, Sarah Vowell. I always laugh right out loud at your books, and I learn so much!
This one was especially interesting to me as I had just started to Oh, Sarah Vowell. I always laugh right out loud at your books, and I learn so much!
This one was especially interesting to me as I had just started to learn about Hawaii's annexation before I heard this book was coming out. It took me longer to read than it needed to just because I kept finding quotes I wanted to make sure to save before moving on.
I think that Vowell really did a good job of presenting a balanced picture, describing events from our present-day perspective, but trying to point out how the viewpoints of the time informed the participants' decision-making. She isn't forgiving them, exactly, but she tried not to dehumanize them into monsters, and I think that's important.
(Of course, some of those people were just jackwads out for personal gain, and she certainly didn't shy away from showing that, either.)
I also think it was important to show that Hawaii's ruling class was not just taken over unawares or out of nowhere. They were willing participants in the Americanization of their government and nation, to a point. Despite the influx of Protestant missionaries, the native religion was destroyed not by Europeans, but by King Kamehameha (the first), and his descendants often requested the help of these missionaries, the American and British military, and other haole advisors in their decision-making process.
I'm glad to see that Hawaii is making more attempts now to hold on to its traditions, including the native Hawaiian language. I really, really want to visit there now, and see many of the sites described in the book - an experience that would mean so much more than a typical tourist trip having gotten some background on the situation....more
Mike Brown writes well and it was an interesting tale, finding out exactly how Pluto got de-planeted. This is probably a 3.5 star book for me, really.
Mike Brown writes well and it was an interesting tale, finding out exactly how Pluto got de-planeted. It just had a tad too much of the "here is what else was going on in my life at the time" angle for me. I wanted the science, and Brown wanted to tell me about his long weekends with his wife and all about the birth of his child. Yes, that's all nice stuff, but... I just wanted the science. (I had this same problem with Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched The World, which was 25% about Dewey, and 75% about the author's life.)
So, if you want to hear how it happened, this book is a good place to go. Just expect a bit of meandering along the way....more
Woo! Another enjoyable ride set in an alternative WWI. I am really enjoying this series. I liked Deryn and Alek even more in this book than the last, Woo! Another enjoyable ride set in an alternative WWI. I am really enjoying this series. I liked Deryn and Alek even more in this book than the last, and I think both of them really started to come into their own. The backdrop of history involving Darwinist and Clanker powers is fascinating, and as usual Scott Westerfeld comes up with very fun language to go along with it all.
My one gripe with this book was the perspicacious loris. While I find the concept intriguing and entertaining, I think this is the part that takes the greatest suspension of disbelief, even in a world of gigantic fabricated beasties and giant mechanical beings protecting ghettos (and that's saying a lot). Still, it provided a lot of humor and I'm sure has a bigger purpose which will be revealed in the next book.
I'm also enjoying Deryn's increasingly complicated relationship to Alek (and her thoughts on it, which are very insightful and show a great maturity, really).
**spoiler alert** Ok, first of all, I am a huge fan of Jane Eyre. That brought me into this book with a positive attitude, not negative. I think that **spoiler alert** Ok, first of all, I am a huge fan of Jane Eyre. That brought me into this book with a positive attitude, not negative. I think that April Lindner did a really nice job modernizing the story in most aspects, but I think certain parts of the tale just don't jive well with modern sensibilities.
There is just no way that anyone would think it is acceptable for Mr. Rathburn to keep a schizophrenic woman in a secluded room in the attic, no matter how well he claims to be caring for her or how much he claims that there is no such thing as a good mental institution.
In addition, I find it impossible that he would not have divorced her. I mean, really. It's just paperwork, these days. In Mr. Rochester's time the very fact of a mentally ill relation would have been a scandal, and certainly no one would have known how to deal with her other than to take her off to what would definitely have been a horrifying lifestyle. So I understand if Rochester never divorced his wife because he wouldn't have wanted anyone to hear about what happened and even the divorce itself might have been quite a scandal... but with Rathburn it just sat, uh, less well with me. He could certainly have pushed the paperwork through but still taken care of her.
So, parts just didn't work for me in a modern-day setting.
Also, some of the creative rewriting of how certain plot points happened was very jarring. Jane... mailed her cell phone away from her, concerned that Rathburn might get her phone number from the bill? Not to mention the fact that she was HIS DAUGHTER'S NANNY and he never had her cell phone number in all the time she worked there? What if there was an emergency!?! And now that she's mailed the phone off, she's going to do what? Stop paying the bill (since the bill is going to Thornfield Park)? I don't think so. Every cell phone company charges an early termination fee even if you want to kill the contract before it expires. And it wasn't a pre-pay without a contract, because she WAS getting a bill.
Yes, I think about these things. And I spent just a little bit too much time thinking about them while reading Jane.
Overall it's not a bad adaptation but I missed elements of the original story, and wasn't too fond of the addition of the sexual element. Jane Eyre refused to be Rochester's mistress; Jane Moore WAS Rathburn's mistress, albeit unknowingly.
It's a fun read but I would rather have just re-read Jane Eyre.
I so enjoyed this book... Melissa Marr did a great job weaving all the threads of the series together, and I was more than happy with how it all endedI so enjoyed this book... Melissa Marr did a great job weaving all the threads of the series together, and I was more than happy with how it all ended. (There ARE a few loose ends out there, so she could always write another one if she felt like it, but it's not necessary.)...more
Read this quite a while back. It's one of those stories where not everything makes sense and information comes out bit by bit to help you understand wRead this quite a while back. It's one of those stories where not everything makes sense and information comes out bit by bit to help you understand what's going on. I enjoyed it a lot, I think because I liked the concept of the story....more
Sigh. The first book in this series was interesting and entertaining, but all I could think as I trudged through book 3 and four was, "How can an authSigh. The first book in this series was interesting and entertaining, but all I could think as I trudged through book 3 and four was, "How can an author who actually likes her characters keep doing this crap to them?"
The resolution for each character was fairly appropriate, but some of this stuff is super frustrating to read. Arrrrgh. What ticked me off was that by the end, I'd stopped liking the character I originally liked and actually felt a modicum of hope and pity for the two I hated. (Basically, the crap only happened after I didn't want it to happen anymore.)
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