2008: 50 Books Challenge, Mangas List
50 books
Goal: Finish and review 50 books by the end of this year. :D
Here's a list of books I've read and rated so far in 2008.
Rating System:
♥: I wish I'd never opened the book.
♥♥♥♥♥: Amazing read, will most likely buy a copy for myself and read it again in the future.
04/50
House of Spirits
by Isabel Allende
Rating: ♥♥♥♥
Review: What's unique about this book is that it not only recounts part of Chile's history but it also incorporates some magical aspects to it, hence its genre, magical realism. What I love about this book is that it's like a continuous stream of richness. Allende might be talking about the same thing for two to three pages and I wouldn't give a damn because she's talented like that. She's fond of run-on sentences but it adds to her style, and she keeps bringing things back around in cycles in very unique ways. It, however, is a very long read and contains some mature elements such as rape. Not for people who like quick reads.
Beloved
by Toni Morrison
Rating: ♥
Review: God, I hated it. It has some pretty good themes but the contents really... disturb me. It's like a dark, human stain of the atrocities of the past. Basically, this book recounts the life of a woman who escaped slavery with heavy mental scars. Her masters raped her, took her milk, and when they came for her and her children, she went nearly insane and attempted to kill her children, succeeding with one and driving away the others. One of the chapters is completely incomprehensible because it's so fragmented. I don't know. I wouldn't have read this book if I was given the option. Oh, btw, did I mention? Men practice bestiality in this book. :/
Ender's Game
by Orson Scott Card
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Review: The first thing that I thought when I finished the book and set it down was: "This is the greatest book I have ever read." My friend Steven said that the entire IB class should read it, simply because, in a way, it reflects us, too. Ender's Game is set in a world of the future where children and their 'games' are the key to Earth's survival. Ender's Game about competition, being puppeteered by adults, overcoming obstacles, and understanding others. There's so much to this book that I don't know where to begin. And, by just finding the amazon link, I've discovered that it has sequels so they should appear later on in this list. ;D
The Misted Cliffs
by Catherine Asaro
Rating: ♥♥♥♥
Review: It's a fantasy novel that contains darker, mature aspects to the plot. I really liked, first of all, the pairing; Mel is a young, vibrant woman who has always experienced love and peace while Cobalt is a hardened warrior who grew up to violence. Their interactions are just ♥ because Mel keeps bringing surprise after surprise to her husband (forced marriage) and I like how magic is set up in this realm. Would reread, but not at the top of the list.
Favorite Quote:
"He thinks he's Alexander the Great. And why shouldn't he be? Why shouldn't you be, too?"
"We can't both be Alexander."
"Two faces of the same coin. And I am the metal in between."
Mangas
Honestly, I can't keep track of the manga's that I read so... 8D;
(Formatted similarly to 50 Books Challenge)
Shinshi Doumei Cross
Summary: In return for a business loan of 50 million yen, the prestigious Kamiya family gave their daughter Haine away to the Otomiya family. Haine, now an Otomiya, is appointed to the student council of the exclusive Imperial Academy, a private school for the aristocracy. Even though Haine is of proper lineage to be on the council, she finds herself struggling to find her place among the many secrets of its elite members, especially those of the president who holds her heart--Shizumasa Togu, aka "the Emperor."
Rating: ♥♥♥
Progress: Complete
Review: So-so manga. It's the usual love triangle. The art is really pretty and there are quite a few moments where I go "awww." I like the sub-stories and the deeper aspects, but at the same time the deeper themes seem to be muted a bit by the "cute." But it's pretty good. :)
Kaichou wa Maid-sama!
Summary: Ayuzawa Misaki is the student council president of the former all-boy school, Seika High School. In order to protect the girls, she battles the boys everyday. On the other hand, she secretly works at a "Maid Cafe". But a popular boy from school, Usui Takumi, found out! Living in between the double identity of a Maid and a student council president~
What should we do Goshujin-sama!?
Rating: ♥♥♥♥
Progress: Ch. 9
Review: Very, very cute. I love the art and the setting/plot as well as the characters. Idk. I'm really bad at reviews. ;-;
Addicted to Curry
Summary: Makito Koenji is a curry chef with a mysterious past who helps Yui Sonezaki keep her father's curry restaurant, Ganesha, open through a lack of customers, a hostile takeover attempt by a huge company, and many other challenges. Get addicted... to Curry.
Rating: Unknown as of now.
Progress: Ch. 18
Review: I really like curry, and this started off at a pretty good start... so we'll see how it goes, ne? ^^
Note: Curry recipes! *Q* (Chapter/Page)
(1/35)(2/19)(4/19)(6/16)(10/21-28)(11/19)(12/17)(13/16)(15/14)(15/15)
Warning: Some sex scenes. *_*; And there's pervertedness. Edit: It's really perverted at some parts. -__-;
Amatsuki
Summary: History isn't Tokidoki's strong subject. He's even forced to do make-up work at a high-tech history museum to bring up his failing grades. After losing an eye to a virtual reality monster in an Edo-period simulation, he finds himself unable to leave the game. Could it be real?
Rating: ♥♥♥♥
Progress: Ch. 28
Review: I like it. 8D; It shows contrasting sides and shows that even though people may be different on the outside, they're very similar on the inside. Also has a bunch of stuff about destiny and stuff. *_*; Very interesting read. :) Very cute too~ ^o^
Katana
Summary: A unique owner with an unusual talent, a boy is able to see the Katana's true form! Behold the strange tales of a sword sharpening meister!
Progress: Ch. 5
Review: Very cool, interesting story/plot/whatever you wanna call it.
Immortal Regis
Summary: One day, suddenly... a night where the moon shines like never before, a boy meets the otherworldly Serin, a denizen of Chaos, only to die and become the undead. Now immortal, he can no longer exist with humans due to an ancient law... A tale of revelations that begins as he returns to Chaos, the start of a new adventure!
Progress: Ch. 26
Review: Love the art. Will think of review later. -_-;