We're still firmly of the opinion that even if Kureno is revealing Akito's secret, he'd still be used to using the masculine pronoun, and that's what he'd use. There are a couple of characters that we found out their real gender and we still had a hard time referring to them in the proper pronoun, and that's without being trained for about twenty years to call them by the wrong one.
As for the passage of time, it makes sense for them to be rehearsing for graduation in January or February (okay, January might be a little early), since the Japanese school year starts at the beginning of April and all. They probably want lots of time to make it perfect?
*nods* I definitely think that's a reasonable argument. I just wish there were some magical answer that would work on all levels--this approach makes sense, even if the aesthetic result doesn't click for me. I don't envy some of the choices that have to get made in translation. :/
I really liked the book overall, though--after I was done posting I worried a little that you'd think I was being too picky or something, but it was a great read. ^_^
(And February sounds like something I can work with. ^^)
I need to head to the bookstore tomorrow so I can get my volume. Would you mind reposting this or posting a link to this reaction on my forum? I got a lot of con-goers at my table to tell me they've been lurking at the forum but not posting. I know people who don't do the whole LJ thing really miss out on posts like this.
Okay, first of all, I want to say that the part you have to highlight to read... it's just. Wow. I finally get the metaphor... and it's beautiful. I remember reading summary/reactions on someone's blog, and the blogger saying that she knew there had to be some kind of metaphor with the scarf and Kyo "rescuing" it.
Guh.
And... in regards to translation/pronouns. It's really like a little stab in the heart to read "he/him/his" in the dialogue that refers to Akito. It drives home the point that *she* was raised as a boy, that she isn't allowed to accept herself/her true gender. ...But that's just my reaction to its usage in the English version. On the technical aspects, I agree with you on the most part. I think I'd prefer the older Juunishi to use Akito's name more instead of the masculine pronoun, especially for Kureno's big dialogue in ch. 97 like you said..
I just sort of read the scene, and blinked and went back, and my whole heart clenched up. ;_;
All I can say about the pronouns ultimately boils down to "it's a hard choice to have to make, and I'm glad I didn't have to be the one to do it." And the effect did work much better in ch. 98 than I was expecting, which was pleasant surprise. ^^
I still say the BIGGEST fault of Fruits Basket is that she wrapped up Yuki's arc about 12 books early, then had to figure out what the hell to do. This to me is why everything with Yuki after Volume 11 or so seems totally tacked on. Notice that with some others, when their arc is finished, they virtually vanish from the book, yet she can't do that with Yuki.
Poor Ysa, not being able to squee about Ch. 101 the way us Shigure fen can. SQUEE! Oh, he's so manipulative and ambiguous and tricksy. Yes, he is.
I'm just not ready for Vol. 18. Can Akito go back to just mentally abusing people now plzkthx? ^^;;
...but then he became so awesome again after a while, which redeems a lot for me. Also, there was something Takaya said in the second fanbook that helped me a lot--something about reading that she'd written the series with the intention that Tohru and Yuki were the main characters, with their own stories playing out side by side, made it make more sense to me. Which is weird, since it's not exactly an earth-shattering comment..
I can so squee about ch. 101! I just do it, um, quietly, because there're so many people who're so much more eloquent about it. ^^
I'm absolutely dying to read vol. 18, expect that I know I'm going to wind up sobbing my way through it.
I hear you about the pronoun twinge. Especially in Kureno's conversation with Tohru. I can understand the years of training they had to do in order to keep the secret, but I thought it might've been confusing to those who've only been keeping up with the English version.
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As for the passage of time, it makes sense for them to be rehearsing for graduation in January or February (okay, January might be a little early), since the Japanese school year starts at the beginning of April and all. They probably want lots of time to make it perfect?
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I really liked the book overall, though--after I was done posting I worried a little that you'd think I was being too picky or something, but it was a great read. ^_^
(And February sounds like something I can work with. ^^)
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Guh.
And... in regards to translation/pronouns. It's really like a little stab in the heart to read "he/him/his" in the dialogue that refers to Akito. It drives home the point that *she* was raised as a boy, that she isn't allowed to accept herself/her true gender. ...But that's just my reaction to its usage in the English version. On the technical aspects, I agree with you on the most part. I think I'd prefer the older Juunishi to use Akito's name more instead of the masculine pronoun, especially for Kureno's big dialogue in ch. 97 like you said..
But it's OK. :D I guess. XD
Aaah, chapter 101 love... volume 17 love..
Good reaction post! ^^
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All I can say about the pronouns ultimately boils down to "it's a hard choice to have to make, and I'm glad I didn't have to be the one to do it." And the effect did work much better in ch. 98 than I was expecting, which was pleasant surprise. ^^
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Poor Ysa, not being able to squee about Ch. 101 the way us Shigure fen can. SQUEE! Oh, he's so manipulative and ambiguous and tricksy. Yes, he is.
I'm just not ready for Vol. 18. Can Akito go back to just mentally abusing people now plzkthx? ^^;;
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I can so squee about ch. 101! I just do it, um, quietly, because there're so many people who're so much more eloquent about it. ^^
I'm absolutely dying to read vol. 18, expect that I know I'm going to wind up sobbing my way through it.
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