Lunch at Borders: Books, Books, Books everywhere

[dangermousie]

The best way to have lunch? Getting a stuffed pretzel and a juice at neighborhood Borders, spreading the books they allow you to bring into the dining area with you (smart move on their part, I've bought many a book after perusing it this way). There is no giddy feeling to compare with when you first open a new book and realize it's a whole other world for you to fall in love with. And they know it!

Today my haul was very modest. Tanuja Desai Hidier's Born Confused. It was a Desi novel for less than $8 and sounded like Bollywood in book form. Of course, prior to buying it I made sure it ended in the way I liked, as after Vikram Seth's A Suitable Boy, any Indian-themed novel with words "suitable" and "boy" in close proximity makes me nervous (ASB might be a masterpiece of world lit but the ending of it pissed me off enough to want to hunt down Mr. Seth).

On the way out I also saw a thick novel entitled Darcy and Elizabeth: days and nights at Pemberley. By the description on the back (I can't resist a train-wreck), I was delighted to discover that someone published an explicit P&P fanfic. Yay. Indeed.

During the lunch itself I had the best time reading the first volume of Yuu Watase's manga Alice 19th. Why? I loved Fushigi Yuugi anime that was based on a manga of hers. After finding out the plot of Alice I realize it's the 4th manga of Watase that holds to the belief that a teen girl is key to saving the world (FY, Ceres and Genbu are the other 3). Ergo, Yuu Watase and Joss Whedon are an OTP made in heaven. I won't be buying any volumes as the concept is a simplistic metaphor (words can literally hurt or kill, wow, compleeeeeex), and Alice herself is too meek, but I had a great time reading this volume and will eventually read all of them in the bookstore. Why? One word: Kyo. A gorgeous protective guy who is on the archery team and loves to bake. Boy did I go to the wrong school. And I took archery for a semester, too.

Don't believe me on my shallowness (or Kyo's hotness?).

Hey, he looks attractive despite the oddest outfit ever (they are called 'buttons,' boy!):


Men in aprons are hot:


Or at least the heroine thinks so:


"Mmmmmm, all that lovely endurance and body control" thinks Alice:


"You...should not...have...complained...about...my CAKE!!!!"

Comments

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

Alice 19th is my favorite Watase manga (the only one I own the whole series of). I adore both Kyo and Frey. I can't choose between them. Kyo is one of Watase's most compelling male characters (as he actually has a definite personality, issues and a lot of character flaws, something meny of her males lack *coughToyacough*). He's also probably her most attractive male (he's a bit of a cross between Tamahome and Toya in character design). I did a pic spam of him a long time ago.

If you want to browse some good manga (manga is far better than anime, but then I'm from the 'book is better than movie' camp), I think you'd like HanaKimi, which features a protective male (several of them in fact), a cross dressing female lead who can't let the boy she likes know she's a girl (it's all a bit Twelfth Night), and very pretty men. There's also Ouran High School Host Club, if you really like humor. It's off the wall, but very cute with some very cute guys and another gender bending female lead.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I did a pic spam of him a long time ago.

How can I find it? Pretty please?

I haven't gotten to Frey yet, unless he is the gooooorgeous blond guy who shows up at the end of 1 saying Alice is his betrotheed.

a cross between Tamahome and Toya in character design

I have to say, from my limited exposure to manga/anime, YW really knows how to design bishounen. Though they have a similarity. Tamahome and Kyo could be siblings or at least cousins. Not that I am complaining.

something meny of her males lack *coughToyacough*).

Haven't watched AnC yet, so can't say anything about Toya (though she did mention in the margins he is her ideal so flaws would have to be limited :P). Tamahome's flaws are many and crack me up. Haven't gotten to Kyo's yet (liking to bake is not a flaw unless your cooking skills are at my abysmal level :))

Thanks for the manga recs!

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

the gooooorgeous blond guy who shows up at the end of 1

Yup, that'd be Frey. There's also the funniest picture in all manga involving him and underwear in Vol 3 I think. Funniest picture my best friend and I have ever seen. Frey's a goofball sometimes, but he's a great guy.

Watase is well known for her ability to draw bishies. I like her manga work much better than the anime take on them. The artist who does HanaKimi and the artist who does Hot Gimmick are also very well known for their male drawing talent. Watase is the best though (even though I'm more fond of the HanaKimi males).

Kyo does have some flaws (major ones) that you'll get to later. Too nice is one of his problems when it comes to girls (as you've already run into). His back story is also rather unpleasant as is Frey's.

The problem with Toya is that there IS no problem with Toya. He's a Gary Stu of the highest order and he's boring because of it. Writers don't always realize that flaws make a character more interesting and likable. Toya really has no flaws other than memory loss. He's gorgeous though and you can tell Watase loves him, which is WHY HE HAS NO FLAWS.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

He's gorgeous though and you can tell Watase loves him

You know what's sad? So will I, if the pics I've seen are anything to go by. Sadly shallow, me? Yup. I will overlook everything short of cannibalism of a gorgeous male character if he has angst...I am easy easy easy. Of course, so far my favorite male anime character is Vash by a country mile and while he can look attractive, he is no YW bishounen, so maybe there is hope for me :)

Too nice is one of his problems when it comes to girls (as you've already run into).

He seems a bit passive which I find less of a flaw and more...a bit unappealing. I guess I like agressive guys :) His attitude towards the whole romantic thing ('let it happen, whatever 'it' is) reminds me a bit of Rui from HYD except he has no childhood love and is a lot less cold (Rui is not shy, just not engaged with the world).

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

He seems a bit passive

There is a huge reason for this, which you'll get to later. Kyo's passiveness is tied into his real problem or a result of his problem, more accurately. He's got reasons for not engaging in the world, which is why Alice is well suited to him since she MAKES him take an interest.

I guess I like agressive guys

Ah, then don't be too hard on Kyo. It'll all get explained (about book 5 I think since Frey's issues are in book 6).

She likes the archery too, which isn't a problem for me since I find it sexy myself. Both Kyo and Tomite (one of the main characters from FY Genbu Kaiden) are archers (Tomite was actually in FY too).

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Kyo's passiveness is tied into his real problem or a result of his problem, more accurately. He's got reasons for not engaging in the world, which is why Alice is well suited to him since she MAKES him take an interest.

You should really be a publicist. Now you've got me really interested and wanting to run to the bookstore in the evening to read more :) Seriously. Eeeek, can't wait.

She likes the archery too, which isn't a problem for me since I find it sexy myself.

Plus, you can hunt things and get food in the unlikely event you are stranded in the woods :) I used to have a bow hunting license though I never used it, so archery is extra cool to see. Plus, gives you great arm muscles...

Tomite was actually in FY too

He was one of the ice guys, right? I am actually curious about Genbu Kaiden because we know how that story ends and it doesn't end even as well as the Byakko story (not that the Byakko one ended all that well either). It ends pretty horrifically actually. So I wonder...

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

I must say that even though Frey is more suited to my personality, Kyo is the sexier of the boys. Frey can be when he wants to be, but he's got a wicked sense of humor and doesn't smoulder quite like Kyo.

Tomite was the more taciturn of the ice guardians. Hikitsu was a little nicer. Tomite isn't so bad in the FYGK. There's also the stunning looking Limdo (the Tamahome of the series) whose power involves gender bending. And, as is par for the course with this priestess/warrior thing, also has it bad for the priestess.

You know, they'd make the whole "virgin priestess" thing a whole lot easier if your warriors weren't all drop dead gorgeous and in love with you. You don't tease a person with a large harem and then say "you can look but not touch!" I would have been all "screw the prophecy, I'm getting it on with at least one of my warriors".

I would have made an extremely poor priestess.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

stunning looking Limdo (the Tamahome of the series) whose power involves gender bending.

My, their sex life would be so interesting...That is, if they could have, which is as likely as a snowfall in hell.

You don't tease a person with a large harem and then say "you can look but not touch!"

Indeed. It's like inviting a hungry person to a banquet and then not letting them have a plate. I'd be all "savior shmavior, they can save themselves, see how well they fight. Now, which one of the guys should I invite to my tent?" Especially since YW was co clear that NO hanky panky of any variety is allowed...Forget it!

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

they are called 'buttons,'

NEVAH! ANIMALES'S CHESTS DEFY YOUR BUTTONS!

Actually, anime defies a lot of things. Their hair defies gravity, their life choices defy logic, their wardrobe defies taste...

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Animales? That is the best word EVER!

Their hair defies gravity, their life choices defy logic, their wardrobe defies taste

I am literally giggling at my computer.

But why the random strings across the chest? It looks like all his buttons popped off last time he transformed into the Hulk and he was too lazy to do anything about it so he just found some really long shoe-laces instead.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

But why the random strings across the chest

I suppose you've never seen the artwork from the series Angel Sanctuary. String is apparently very fashionable, thank you. They also defy your top pants button. It's just a thing with manga. They tend to put random either out of character or beef cake style drawings between chapters. Even shounen manga do that.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

They also defy your top pants button

Well, at least his pants are buttoned. :P

tend to put random either out of character or beef cake style drawings between chapters

Heee. I still remember the 'beefcake' pic of Hanazawa Rui from HYD, where he is unbuckling his belt, preparatory to pulling the belt out of his pants and the thought of Rui (or anyone not a stripper actually) doing that made me ROFL.

Strings? Well, at least it's not mesh shirts.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

Oh, there will be mesh;)

Actually, there generally is mesh in the shounen front plate shots. Since it's technically a "guys" manga, they don't go the whole shirtless route, just throw in some mesh and sharp metal objects (see Naruto, Bleach, etc).

There are some absolutely stunning front plates in HanaKimi. Watase has great ones too, but the HanaKimi mangaka knows how to pimp out her boys.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Must check out HanaKimi then :)

Mesh shirts are the incarnation of Satan. Also beloved of Bollywood designers.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

http://www.evitable.org/hanakimi/scans.html

HanaKimi scans for your pleasure.

(I'm on top of it today aren't I ;))

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oooooooh *is very grateful*

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Mesh-like see-through shirt....

http://www.evitable.org/hanakimi/sanoheee.jpg

*is scarred* :)

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

I told you there would be mesh. That's actually Sano though, so that's okay. He's hot and he's broody and he's sweet. He's the one the cross dressing girl is wildly in love with and he's in love with her too, but he knows if he lets her know he's in on her secret, she'll leave the boy's school (they're actually roommates).

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oooooh, he's the romantic lead. That explains the mesh (at least it always does in Bollywood).

Why is she in a boys' school anyway?

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

She went there to meet him. Sano is a track star (high jump specifically). She was a runner and hero worshiped him and comes up with this hair brained scheme to go to Japan and get accepted to his school. She ends up being his roommate though and getting him to compete in track again (he'd given it up because of injuries from a car wreck). He figures out right away that she's a girl, but he thinks she's sweet and doesn't rat on her. The school doctor also figures it out right away (he's gorgeous, gay, snarky and makes life worth living for me. I love Umeda). He helps her keep her gender under wraps.

So you end up with Mitsuki not being able to tell Sano that she likes him even though he likes her back. You end up with Sano being eaten up because he likes her and can't tell her for fear she'll leave. You end up with Nakatsu, another friend of Sano, falling for Mitsuki not knowing she's a girl and now he has gender issue confusion. You end up with Nanba, Umeda's nephew, figuring out something is up with Mitsuki but not being able to figure out exactly what it is but then he's pretty laid back and is very fond of Mitsuki too.

It's a delightful little comedy of errors.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Does sound cool...

Was thinking more about Alice 19th today and specifically how odd I find the passivity of both the heroine and the hero (at least so far). Alice herself is someone who I can see growing into Mrs. DeWinter in a way. I am not particularly bothered by her passivity or shyness because she is 15 and I am used to shy mousy heroines in fiction, but I must admit I prefer the battle-axe type myself. Whatever else you might think about Kaoru, Miaka, Tsukushi or Meryl, none of them are wilting wallflowers.

The hero definitely surprises me. He is a very nice guy but incredibly passive. I get the feeling he likes Alice, even if it’s not undying lurve yet (maybe because she is even less pushy than he is) but he doesn’t seem to do anything about it. And Mayagra is the one who makes all the moves (she asks him out and he asks her to give him until tomorrow to think it over, talk about gender roles being switched) and then he goes out with her even though he is not very interested. It’s odd to see this in a guy. Not that I’d want him to be Doumyouji (Alice/Doumyouji, now there would be an OTP from hell), but a little initiative of some kind would be good. He is very hesitant about things and if it keeps up anyone will be able to walk all over him.

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

I have come across a surprising amount of published fanfic of P&P most of which puts the 'ew' in 'erotic.' I don't know why people think that Austen is an act they can follow, but I guess there are buyers out there who are eager to know about Darcy and Elizabeth's sex life.

Surprisingly Joan Aiken wrote a set of continuations of the various Austen novels. But a friend told me that they are terribly depressing so I've avoided them. Given how depressing some of her children's novels are and how easily she kills off major characters I dread who would make it to end alive.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I tried reading the Aiken stuff in my first P&P love flush. I don't remember if they were depressing but they were very dull.

P&P fanfic? Why would anyone pay $$$ for it? I can find plenty on line for free that won't be any worse....

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

http://crumpeteer.livejournal.com/2005/07/02/

Found the Kyo pic spam.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

And you might not want to read the character write up closely because I spilled the beans about his character pretty well.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thanks! *off to check*

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Born Confused started out well, but it lost my interest after a while. However, many points for "It was the beginning of a summer spent with my head in the refrigerator and my heart in the garbage disposal."

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Ooooooh, someone else who read this! *is excited*

I am about half-way through (it's a quick read), and so far am really enjoying it. In fact, it's almost playing like a BW movie in my head (though I can't think of any actors for the leads, as they are too young. Maybe if Rani was much much MUCH younger). It's not an earthshaking masterpiece but it's a fun time which is more than I can say for the book I tried last week about siege of Malta where the author diverged unnecessarily to describe with relish various tortures unrelated to the plot.

I have no idea if I would have liked it if I didn't like BW, actually.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I loved the language, particularly the line I quoted earlier, but it just didn't hold me. Possibly because I'm getting mental about the number of books I have to read yet, and that makes me give up very quickly on books.

Kept it, though. It wasn't a reject, I just didn't want to give it time right now.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

The one thing that is 'bugging' me is the fact that Gwyn annoys me so much I am tempted to skip all the pages with her in it...she just grates and I guess she is supposed to but I still want to find her and smack her.