The loot
Wild Adapter vol. 2
What caught my attention after the initial OMGYESMINE was that this wasn't wrapped in plastic despite the 18+ rating. Not that it matters to me but apparently no one cares that kids could leaf through this in the store. *grin* I wonder if other countries would be as lenient.
I don't think that I need to praise the art. If you've seen Minekura's art in this and the later volumes of Saiyuki, you know it's good. These colour pages aren't my favourites but nice nonetheless.
I like Tokyopop's translation a lot. It's smooth and while it may differ from the scanlation by Emerald Eyes, the changes are usually well-thought. Usually. This volume has one page that bugs me: Dice 11, page 19. I suspect that Emerald Eyes' translation is closer to the original meaning, simply because it fits the characters better, but I might be wrong. I suppose I have to ask around before it drives me insane.
Death Note vol. 12
I haven't compared this to the scanlation but I doubt it differs all that much.
I do love the ending so much, and ran away screaming when I saw the anime version. WTF, it shouldn't go like that! I don't understand how people can like the anime ending better because it's so different from the original.
Anyway, one thing I noticed after reading this is SPK members' reactions when Mikami writes in the notebook. They seem to be as scared as Light's group, so either they don't trust on Near or they're damn good actors. Probably the latter, and now I'm entertaining myself by imagining what they were thinking through it. "Wide eyes, check. Trembling, check. ...Gevanni is sweating already? How the hell does he do it?"
Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
I read Stephanie Plum novels for amusement, not because they have incredibly deep plot and character development. Not to say that I don't like the characters or that they are flat, but if you're looking for real crime fiction, I suggest that you'll read Agatha Christie.
That being said, I didn't like this as much as the previous part. The plot was even thinner than usually and the novel concentrated on Stephanie's men trouble. Not that I minded, exactly, since I have a crush the size of Alaska on Ranger and only a little smaller on Joe. I'm a bit surprised that I'm not slashing them madly, but Evanovich has written them in such a way that I don't have any need to do so. This novel did leave me with the "I need to read the next one now" feeling, mostly because I'm hoping the triangle will change a bit.
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
I haven't read this yet and bought it for three reasons: the cover is absolutely stunning, the blurb and the bits I read sounded interesting, and, most importantly,
viridian_magpie recommended it some time ago.
Never to be said that your opinions don't matter!
Melusine by Sarah Monette
I haven't read this either but it looks like I will soon: the weather is looking suspicious again and there just might be a thunderstorm coming (the reason I didn't post on Thursday or yesterday).
I bought this because a) it has a half-naked man on the cover and b) when I randomly opened it, there was a m/m scene. Not that the blurb sounded all that bad, but I probably wouldn't have bought this if it didn't have buttsexing in it. Yes, I am as shallow as a kiddie pool.
What caught my attention after the initial OMGYESMINE was that this wasn't wrapped in plastic despite the 18+ rating. Not that it matters to me but apparently no one cares that kids could leaf through this in the store. *grin* I wonder if other countries would be as lenient.
I don't think that I need to praise the art. If you've seen Minekura's art in this and the later volumes of Saiyuki, you know it's good. These colour pages aren't my favourites but nice nonetheless.
I like Tokyopop's translation a lot. It's smooth and while it may differ from the scanlation by Emerald Eyes, the changes are usually well-thought. Usually. This volume has one page that bugs me: Dice 11, page 19. I suspect that Emerald Eyes' translation is closer to the original meaning, simply because it fits the characters better, but I might be wrong. I suppose I have to ask around before it drives me insane.
Death Note vol. 12
I haven't compared this to the scanlation but I doubt it differs all that much.
I do love the ending so much, and ran away screaming when I saw the anime version. WTF, it shouldn't go like that! I don't understand how people can like the anime ending better because it's so different from the original.
Anyway, one thing I noticed after reading this is SPK members' reactions when Mikami writes in the notebook. They seem to be as scared as Light's group, so either they don't trust on Near or they're damn good actors. Probably the latter, and now I'm entertaining myself by imagining what they were thinking through it. "Wide eyes, check. Trembling, check. ...Gevanni is sweating already? How the hell does he do it?"
Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich
I read Stephanie Plum novels for amusement, not because they have incredibly deep plot and character development. Not to say that I don't like the characters or that they are flat, but if you're looking for real crime fiction, I suggest that you'll read Agatha Christie.
That being said, I didn't like this as much as the previous part. The plot was even thinner than usually and the novel concentrated on Stephanie's men trouble. Not that I minded, exactly, since I have a crush the size of Alaska on Ranger and only a little smaller on Joe. I'm a bit surprised that I'm not slashing them madly, but Evanovich has written them in such a way that I don't have any need to do so. This novel did leave me with the "I need to read the next one now" feeling, mostly because I'm hoping the triangle will change a bit.
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
I haven't read this yet and bought it for three reasons: the cover is absolutely stunning, the blurb and the bits I read sounded interesting, and, most importantly,
viridian_magpie recommended it some time ago.
Never to be said that your opinions don't matter!
Melusine by Sarah Monette
I haven't read this either but it looks like I will soon: the weather is looking suspicious again and there just might be a thunderstorm coming (the reason I didn't post on Thursday or yesterday).
I bought this because a) it has a half-naked man on the cover and b) when I randomly opened it, there was a m/m scene. Not that the blurb sounded all that bad, but I probably wouldn't have bought this if it didn't have buttsexing in it. Yes, I am as shallow as a kiddie pool.