Crouch This!

[dangermousie]

I am reading The Book and the Sword by Louis Cha, which is amusingly labeled as a "martial arts novel." Does this novel wear a lot of black, do strenuous exercises, and can chop bricks in one stroke of its pages? Not sure.

It's quite interesting, actually, though mainly for the 'never read anything like this before' factor. Not great literature though. I am not sure whether it's the fault of the author or the translator but the prose is very simplistic and clanky. Also, it has way too many characters and I find it very hard to keep track of them, despite a helpful index in the beginning. Of course, seeing the rapid rate at which they seem to drop off in sudden and amusing ways, this is becoming less and less of a problem. But despite all this, it's keeping me entertained.

I am also amused by one of the OTPs because all they do is argue and insult each other, even though they are OMG attracted. Of course, since their first meeting consisted of fighting each other, as he was trying to kill her father (a giant misunderstanding as the characters in this book are prone to act first think later. Much later), that's rather understandable. I am not too worried about their future as the helpful character index, which clearly does not believe in suspense, states they marry each other.

Oh, and then there is a character who is madly and angstily in love with a wife of a fellow secret society member. He finally confesses and says that he's always taken long missions for the society so as not to be around her but after all he is closer to her in age than he elderly husband but she is all outraged and tells him older guys are better in the sack he should be ashamed of himself. And then he goes emo and tells her he knows he is all wrong and evil and paraphrases the famous song by admitting "When I think about you I cut myself" and shows her his arm which is full of cut scars. Yes. He cuts himself. When he isn't clobbering bad guys or scheming against the evil government. And when you add in the fact that he fights using a flute, I am forced to admit the man is a fruitcake. Ergo he is my favorite character.

As to the plot, it's much too confusing, but it involves a noble secret society out to overthrow the evil bad Manchu emperor. And there are some Uigurs who want to get their Quaran back. And lots of fighting. And men with flutes who cut themselves. And the leader of the secret society falls tragically in love with the same woman evil Emperor wants. It's delicious.

Also, I caught the last 10 minutes of Prison Break ep last night and I didn't know much of what was going on (I saw eps 5 and 7 and that's about it), but I liiiiiked it. It's like a hit of angst straight to the veins. I think I'll start watching the show now.

Comments

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

He fights with a flute? a flute?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Indeed. Now you see why I have an abiding love for him?

From the character summary on the front:

"Yu, Scholar: Yu Yutong, a young, slender outlawed scholar and key member (fourteenth-ranking) of the Red Flower Society. Infatuated with the lovely (but married)* Luo Bing. He plays on a Golden Flute,** which he also uses as a Martial Arts weapon, sometimes wielding it like a staff, sometimes shooting darts with it..."***

* They don't mention "also violent and unreasonable" in her description. I wonder why.

** I guess if he was giving you the music lessons, you wouldn't want to tick him off.

*** But the cutting! How can they not mention the cutting! :P

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

Now I want to change my lj user information to 'fights with a flute as a martial arts weapon.'

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

You totally should.

Oh, and he ends up falling in love with a much more suitable girl who is also a superb a martial artist and they end up living HEA as rebels. I guess they'll have super-trained kids and when she asks him about the cuts, he'll tell he fell on a fork a few times. Or something.

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

I just did! Now I want to go out and learn just how you would do that.

Maybe he'll say he got the cuts in manly combat, duelling only with tiny yet sharp knives?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oh! Oh! *excited high pitched noises* I saw it...

Maybe he'll say he got the cuts in manly combat, duelling only with tiny yet sharp knives?

And his opponent had an arms fetish? :P

[thelana.livejournal.com]

Also, I caught the last 10 minutes of Prison Break ep last night and I didn't know much of what was going on (I saw eps 5 and 7 and that's about it), but I liiiiiked it. It's like a hit of angst straight to the veins. I think I'll start watching the show now.

Bwahahahhaahahaha! *mad genius laugh*

But yeah, I thought it would be the right episode for you. Not much violence, lots of angsting. In fact rumor has it that the next and the one after that are all supposed to be somewhat more slow moving and more about the character background. *keeps fingers crossed*

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

In fact rumor has it that the next and the one after that are all supposed to be somewhat more slow moving and more about the character background

Yay!

Basically, before this, I saw the two-parter where there was a riot and it was OK but I wasn't too into it. Also, everyone on my flist is Michael/Sara but I found them a bit boring. If I have to have a ship (and I don't think it's a show I am going to ship much) I like Linc/Veronica which makes me a pariah from looking around.

Also, there was all this violence which was OK but I don't particularly consider fun. So this was much better.

[thelana.livejournal.com]

I like Linc/Veronica which makes me a pariah from looking around.

The few, the strong, the proud.

There are some, but it's usually hard to find them and even harder to get them to out themselves :D

Michael/Sara makes my eyes bleed. (but feel free to ship them if they strike your fancy, you get to ;D)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

There are some, but it's usually hard to find them and even harder to get them to out themselves

Why? Why is that the unpopular ship? I am honestly curious...

[thelana.livejournal.com]

*shruggs* Different folks, different strokes. I think somehow somebody decided that somehow it wasn't "cool" to like Veronica or Lincoln/Veronica and the fandom just keep parotting it.

I get why the storyline might not appeal to everybody. It's an established relationship rather than people flirting and getting to know each other. They don't get a "OMG, look at me!" scene every episode. They are, you know, grown up.

Plus, it's different. Veronica is obviously putting it all out there and Lincoln; I think he just thinks that it has no future because he is sure he is going to die. But I guess we'll see. I'm curious how the dynamics will change after the almost execution (provided he survives ;D) and especially after the break out. Plus, there were some rumours about flashback scenes, maybe even childhood ones, if they don't get cut.

But then to me romance is just one tiny aspect of Prison Break, so what do I know?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oh, fandom coolness. That makes sense.

Sometimes I just like an established relationship. Less sturm and drang of 'will they won't they' which I like a moderate amount of, but past a certain point it just gets tiresome.

I'm curious how the dynamics will change after the almost execution (provided he survives ;D)

Well, if he will not, there is always Ghost!fic. I kid, I kid. Almost. With ff.net, all things are possible.

But yeah, PB doesn't strike me as shippy haven anyway.

[thelana.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I just like an established relationship. Less sturm and drang of 'will they won't they' which I like a moderate amount of, but past a certain point it just gets tiresome.

Exactly. Sometimes I really like that too. Especially since I tend to lose patience with the "will they/wont they" really quickly. I always figure if it is that hard for them (collective them, couples of all fandoms) to communicate about basic things why exactly should I root for them? They are obviously both idiots.

I think of Max/Liz or Buffy/Angel as couples who did it right from a purely writing POV. They got together and *then* the problems started piling up.

But yeah, PB doesn't strike me as shippy haven anyway.

Prison Break is the first fandom I ever was in where Gen (aka non romantic fic) actually has a sizable slice of the fanfiction pie. Guess you can see how much I like Michael/Sara if I'd rather read Gen than the fandom's chosen pairing. ;)

There is some readable Lincoln/Veronica out there. But sadly most not really focusing on the show stuff. Like I can't help but think that there is a lot of stuff that could be done with missing scenes/codas/"What were they thinking" during that and that scene.

Most is pretty melancholic stuff focusing on their past relationship and why it ended. But yeah, I figure that is part of the fandom's love affair with Gen :D

(same actually goes for most of the Sucre/Maricruz, who I also find cute in canon)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I always figure if it is that hard for them (collective them, couples of all fandoms) to communicate about basic things why exactly should I root for them? They are obviously both idiots.

Heeee. Exactly. I don't mind a very slow development if it's not the focuse of the story and where it's not 'will they won't they' but both characters are rather slow-paced about that stuff and see no reason to hurry (Kenshin, an anime I've been going crazy about lately, has that. The main OTP likes each other early on, and they both know that fact, but they are content to take it slow).

When the characters do the yo-yo, I have no interest in it. This is where Veronica/Logan in VM lost me. They strung it out in the second season to the point where I lost interest in them as an OTP. If they aren't invested enough to get their act together, why should I be?

Actually, now that I think about it, all my favorite OTPs are either 'get together early on, have problems' like Max/Liz, Buffy/Angel, John/Aeryn, Miaka/Tamahome or the 'slow, steady progress' like Kenshin/Kaoru, Max/Logan, etc

Gen is good. I think ff is too shippy in general. I don't mind shippy stuff in background of stories, especially if it's a part of canon, bur exclusively shippy gets dull.

[thelana.livejournal.com]

I kinda think that that Clark/Lana (chemistry issues aside) are like the penultimate example of what is wrong with the yo-yo concept. If you talk everything to death and let something lame like that stop you then obviously you can't want it that much.

I don't mind slow, Mulder/Scully was slow. But it worked because there was no urgency behind it. They already had a great relationship as partners and friends. It eventually became more but they weren't in a hurry to get there and there was always their partnership to fall back on. It wasn't "OMGANGSTWEAREGOINGTODIEIFWEDON'TGETTOGETHERRIGHTNOW". Which is fun, but kind of loses its credibility if you repeat it in every episode (again, especially if the characters don't know what they are talking about because they haven't been in a relationship before).

I think ultimately I'd rather have characters who are either content with what they have or who would rather try and fail than not try at all. That's the compelling thing about Lincoln/Veronica to me. They obviously tried before and failed. It makes sense that they would be afraid to get in a relationship again because they have been burned by each other before and might not be sure if it can work out.

When the characters do the yo-yo, I have no interest in it. This is where Veronica/Logan in VM lost me. They strung it out in the second season to the point where I lost interest in them as an OTP. If they aren't invested enough to get their act together, why should I be?

Word. It would have been different if they had like sat down and decided that they are going to take a break and focus on their own stuff. And maybe one day in the future they can have a *bang* moment where they want each other again. But this kind of limbo thing is just, ugh, who exactly is enjoying that? I'm just not a big fan of being strung along. Regardless of whether something is my couple or not (case point: Clark and Lana; I don't have to like them to see that the writing for them is atrocious).

I don't mind shippy stuff in background of stories, especially if it's a part of canon, bur exclusively shippy gets dull.

Lets hope then that the upcoming Prison Breaks will be good, because PB seems to be a rather Gen friendly fandom (so far). But not all are really plot heavy. Like there are a lot of short gen pieces. I'm guessing it's because the fandom is still pretty new. And because nobody really knows where the show is going.

Now I feel tempted to make a link list of stories for the less popular pairings (like Lincoln/Veronica, Maricruz/Sucre, Lincoln/Sara, Michael/Veronica, and the even more seldom ones like Sara/Bellick and whatever is out there :)).