Percy Jackson, The keepers, Fire Investigator Nanase, Devil and Love Song.

[badtzphoto]

• Chapter Book:
  
  1. The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 2) by Rick Riordan.
     - Borrowed from BPL.
     - read by Jesse Bernstein
     - Fun adventures for Percy and co. continue.
  2. THE KEEPERS - Book One: A Wizard Named Nell by Jackie Koller

Comments

[lyschan]

Hajimari no Niina: I liked it! The story and art reminded me of something out of Margaret/Betsuma more than Hana to Yume. The story was more down-to-earth than I think of HtY titles, despite the reincarnation theme. To answer your questions, yes, her dad was upset that a guy 15 years older than his daughter was proposing to her (understandably). Previous to that point, she'd moved to Hokkaido with her family and had recently visited Niigata (where Atsurou lived) to check out colleges. At the time she only thought of going to college where he lived, and wasn't really thinking about what studies or career she wanted to pursue. Atsurou wasn't happy with her priorities-he wanted her to think more for herself, probably, so he told her to give it more consideration. And she angsted over his reaction a while but did think it over, and finally announced she'd decided on a college in Tokyo (I think to pursue some kind of teaching degree? based on her experience with the little kids in one chapter), and in response Atsurou asked her to marry him as soon as she graduated HS. And then suddenly the family arrived home!!

So her dad's decree was that she not see or contact Atsurou until she'd been accepted into a college (or graduated HS?), which at that point was at least a year away. But they agreed, and she went about her studies and prep for college entrance tests. She took the test on Feb 14 and afterwards received an email from her mum giving her permission to contact Atsurou (since it was a special occasion, Valentine's day). She wasn't sure if she should even so... but she couldn't bear it any longer and ended up going to his house and visiting him.

I got the impression from all that that they married once she graduated HS as he had asked her, and she went on with college too (since the test she took was in Niigata, it seems she ended up attending college there after all). As for his haircut, I don't think a specific reason was given but probably it was something along the lines of looking more respectable/grown up (he did kinda look more like a kid with the long hair).

Oh my goodness, the zombie story!!! That freaked me out so much and took me completely by surprise. I was too grossed out to properly read the story all the way through. Ick ick ick! But I agree, she drew them quite skillfully :) Most of the side-story chapters were short like Kanoko's, mabye so they could fit in as extras in the collected volumes. They were still fun though :) Kanoko's was a meeting of the newspaper club members discussing an article about the 7 mysteries/wonders of the school... they got through three of them and discovered that all three were Otabe's fault. (did you look at the spinoff on LaLaMelody Online? It has some fun at Tsubaki's expense :D) I read the one for Last Game to get a taste of the series since you've mentioned it recently. I really liked the one for Red Haired Snow White! I hope you read your French books soon :D

I also liked the short stories on p465 and 573. The first had a nice setting with consistent, believable-looking medieval fashion (I get really picky about fantasy-settings and their fashion). And the second had really cute art of yokai kids!! Eeee~! I think both were done by new artists, so I hope they'll publish more in the future.

Just took a look at January covers. Housekeeper Man doesn't look too thrilled with his occupation...

[badtzphoto]

Thank you so much for your answers. I really appreciate it. I really like Niina and her family (both families), and friends, the poor guy who had confessed to her. In the end, did they ever discuss that Atsurou loved Niina for herself or her past life self, since they are one, but not, does it make sense? Over all, a great story. I'm glad you liked it.

"did you look at the spinoff on LaLaMelody Online? It has some fun at Tsubaki's expense :D"
I looked at it just now, and Tsubaki seems to be angry a lot. There are his fan-girls, too. The poor guy can't get a break!

I really should read Red Haired Snow White, since the French is now up to volume 8!

" Housekeeper Man doesn't look too thrilled with his occupation..."
HaHa

Unfortunately, zombies seem to be the current trend :(

[lyschan]

Oh yeah, that was an interesting thing-Niina never actually told anyone about her past-life memories. She accidentally let a few hints slip, like mentioning something that only her past self would have known. Maybe Atsurou or her former brother (the glasses teacher) had some idea but... I think she decided not to tell somewhat early on because she wanted Atsurou to love her as her present self, and then as time went on she began to feel like her own person, no longer the Chitose whose life she happened to remember, so she wanted to keep the two identities separate.
The boy from her class was a fun character :) I'd like to read more about his big family!!

Hahaha, Tsubaki is so fun to laugh at (and feel sorry for at the same time). On one of the pages Kanoko had him convinced she'd gotten a boyfriend (she wanted to shift her classmates' focus from her or something. heartless girl :D). Later she told him to eat lunch with some of the boys in the class, who were happy to talk to him but didn't know what they should say. One of the boys commented that Tsubaki and Kanoko seemed close, and the other two boys were shocked... to see him smile! Then the first boy went on to say they were like a married couple (the way they bicker as friends) and he asked if that was true: the other two worried he'd be mad about that statement so they disagreed and said it didn't look that way at all!! No love at all!! Of course, that wasn't what he wanted to hear :)

[badtzphoto]

Great. Thanks. His family dynamics is very interesting, indeed, the fact that he had to escape them to go out with friends is amusing.
Thank you for the summary of Kanoko's one shot of lala dx online.

I remember you're a fan of Princess Jellyfish, does that seem like something I may like? :)

[lyschan]

Are you asking about the manga or anime for Princess Jellyfish? I assumed you'd watched the anime already, but if you're asking for my opinion, maybe you didn't yet? I think you'd like it!! I have a few scattered volumes of the manga as well, which I haven't really got around to reading properly (rather just flipped through them to get the gist of where things were heading beyond where the anime left off). But definitely try out the anime if you haven't. Funimation may still have it streaming on their site.

[badtzphoto]

I haven't watched the anime yet. Thank you for the info on streaming on funimation. I'll check it out.