The Beginning and the End
This season of summer seems to be marked with a cyclic shift of my entire universe.
First of all, PSME (Please Save My Earth), a monumental manga at 21 volumes, has finally come to a close. For those of you unfamiliar with PSME, this is a Big Deal. PSME has one of the richest, most original storylines I have ever been lucky enough to read - and the characterization is such that the reader can keep track of a cast of at least twenty main characters. Manga like this just isn't written anymore.
I'll admit to the fear that the ending of PSME couldn't live up to the rest of the story - but I was wrong. It ended in a completely unexpected way that, in retrospect, was the only thing that could have happened. I was blown away; the moment the story was over, I raced back and read the entire last volume all over again.
And, of course, anyone reading this knows that the seventh volume of the Harry Potter series comes out tonight at midnight. I feel more than a bit conflicted in regards to this. I look forward to the seventh book, but again, I find myself afraid that it can't possibly live up to the promise of the rest of the series. Then there's the horror that was the sixth book, which many commented reminded them of a moderately good piece of fanfiction. Lots of Malfoy, Snape, and Dumbledore, fandom's favorites - but Rowling pulled an Aspen-in-the-Sunlight and had most of the action with a secondary enemy be following him around. In general, the sixth volume, much like the fourth, involved a lot of waiting, punctuated with OMG!action, like Harry's Sectumsempra, or the murder of Albus Dumbledore. Both the fifth and the third books exhibited far more consistency. If the pattern holds true, the seventh book should be bloody amazing! But if the seventh book is anything like the sixth, I will be quite disappointed.
As far as characterization goes, Slughorn was an interesting character and I really liked his slimy nature - but Harry's chest monster was ridiculous, and Ginny's involvement disappointing. I was sorry Rowling turned her into an attractive, confident, aggressive, funny Ginny Sue instead of our initial shy kid, who I had always kind of liked.
Then there's the thought that there will be no more Harry Potter, and that I will only have fanfiction to sustain my ridiculously omnipresent addiction. Awwww...
In the realm of the physical rather than the fantastical, I am finishing my graduate schooling. Wow! I don't have a title yet (no Dr. Kirinin, ladies and gentlemen), but I will soon have a degree in Clinical Herbal Medicine. Soon meaning by the end of August, after which I will also move to a wee little town in WVa. This is really quite odd, considering that I will have gone to school throughout my existence up until then.
...which must explain my final piece of news. I was cold-called to interview for a teaching position in this wee town, which I ended up getting. So... Chemistry and Creative Writing. Awesome! Shall I walk into the classroom exactly on time, stomp to the front of the room and sussurate, "I can teach you to brew fame, bottle glory, and even put a stopper in death?" I currently toy with the idea.
Love to all,
-K
First of all, PSME (Please Save My Earth), a monumental manga at 21 volumes, has finally come to a close. For those of you unfamiliar with PSME, this is a Big Deal. PSME has one of the richest, most original storylines I have ever been lucky enough to read - and the characterization is such that the reader can keep track of a cast of at least twenty main characters. Manga like this just isn't written anymore.
I'll admit to the fear that the ending of PSME couldn't live up to the rest of the story - but I was wrong. It ended in a completely unexpected way that, in retrospect, was the only thing that could have happened. I was blown away; the moment the story was over, I raced back and read the entire last volume all over again.
And, of course, anyone reading this knows that the seventh volume of the Harry Potter series comes out tonight at midnight. I feel more than a bit conflicted in regards to this. I look forward to the seventh book, but again, I find myself afraid that it can't possibly live up to the promise of the rest of the series. Then there's the horror that was the sixth book, which many commented reminded them of a moderately good piece of fanfiction. Lots of Malfoy, Snape, and Dumbledore, fandom's favorites - but Rowling pulled an Aspen-in-the-Sunlight and had most of the action with a secondary enemy be following him around. In general, the sixth volume, much like the fourth, involved a lot of waiting, punctuated with OMG!action, like Harry's Sectumsempra, or the murder of Albus Dumbledore. Both the fifth and the third books exhibited far more consistency. If the pattern holds true, the seventh book should be bloody amazing! But if the seventh book is anything like the sixth, I will be quite disappointed.
As far as characterization goes, Slughorn was an interesting character and I really liked his slimy nature - but Harry's chest monster was ridiculous, and Ginny's involvement disappointing. I was sorry Rowling turned her into an attractive, confident, aggressive, funny Ginny Sue instead of our initial shy kid, who I had always kind of liked.
Then there's the thought that there will be no more Harry Potter, and that I will only have fanfiction to sustain my ridiculously omnipresent addiction. Awwww...
In the realm of the physical rather than the fantastical, I am finishing my graduate schooling. Wow! I don't have a title yet (no Dr. Kirinin, ladies and gentlemen), but I will soon have a degree in Clinical Herbal Medicine. Soon meaning by the end of August, after which I will also move to a wee little town in WVa. This is really quite odd, considering that I will have gone to school throughout my existence up until then.
...which must explain my final piece of news. I was cold-called to interview for a teaching position in this wee town, which I ended up getting. So... Chemistry and Creative Writing. Awesome! Shall I walk into the classroom exactly on time, stomp to the front of the room and sussurate, "I can teach you to brew fame, bottle glory, and even put a stopper in death?" I currently toy with the idea.
Love to all,
-K