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Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Miunohri to Swan, Vol.1


Miunohri to Swan, Vol.1
Miunohri to Swan, Vol.1 by Mi-Ri Hwang (황미리 )


My rating: 4 of 5 stockings



The ugly duckling stars in her very own manga!
Go Mioh is an obese and unattractive young junior high student, with only a few days until graduation. All she has to look forward to is her new life as a high school student with Eunho, the only person that's ever treated her kindly. After a series of unfortunate events Eunho is changing high schools due to his modeling career, Mioh is being shunned, called a "Pig", treated like dirt, bullied, etc. Her final resort was a failed suicide.

In an odd twist of events this resulted in, Mioh making a contract with her dead grandfather to make her beautiful. Although with all contracts there is a catch in the fine print, this one although results her to turn back to her ugly duckling self when drenched in rain for a 10 minutes, and when she kisses someone her contract is annulled.

What will she do? Will she get revenge on Kim Dojin for treating her like a slave? Or will she try to carve her way into Eunho's heart?

This is actually an interesting anime to say the least, I'm actually a fan of Mi Ri Hwang. Yes, this is another girl likes boy, boy is gorgeous, other boy picks on girl manga's, but with a different feel to it. Dojin's an obsessed character with money at the tips of his fingers, Eunho is a model and seems to be a good rounded character, Mioh seems like an obsessed character, with self esteem problems. All in all I'll give it 4 out of 5 stockings. A recommended read.




Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Crank


Crank
Crank by Ellen Hopkins


My rating: 2 of 5 stockings



I can relate to this novel from a thrid person account (one of my immediate family members is a drug addict currently seeking help) and from a first person account (being pregnant at 17). I honestly did not enjoy the writing style, the mother seemed too self absorbed, the broken sentences pissed me off to the point of rants. The story was uncaptivating, I only finished this novel because I like to follow through. I read a few pages to my husband and my mother, to justify my rants on how horrid it was and oddly enough they agreed.

My friends recommended this series to me, and I love them so I took the time. I do see why they liked the novel both those friends have addictions, so I take it, it makes them feel hope that they're not the only ones battling demons. Good book ... just not for me... 2 stockings.



Monday, January 16, 2012

Review: Mushishi, Volume 1


Mushishi, Volume 1
Mushishi, Volume 1 by Yuki Urushibara

My rating: 4 of 5 stockings



Mushishi volume 1, revolves around a Mushishi named Ginko, who studies Mushi a type of "spirit" if you will. Ginko, unable to stay in on place because he attracts too many Mushi, travels during the Edo/Meji period helping those plagued by mushi. The first volume is split into a five different cases.

Story one, a young child who has the ability to create Mushi whenever he draws with his left hand.

Story two, people from a snowy village are losing their hearing, and one child is growing horns from his head, while he's unable to have any moments peace.

Story three, a young family man is having premonitions through his dreams.

Story four, a young girl ultra sensitive to the sun to the point of unbearable pain, has been put away in a warehouse.

Story five, a travelling swamp of Mushi and a young woman, search the sea.

I don't like short stories, I then to not grasp their importance. Although this is a collective of short stories that happen to Ginko, so it's different than just a short story. I like this volume, and recommend it to anyone who likes Hell Girl. I'm giving this 4 stockings.


Friday, January 13, 2012

Review: After School Nightmare, Volume 2


After School Nightmare, Volume 2
After School Nightmare, Volume 2 by Setona Mizushiro

My rating: 3 of 5 stockings



Last instalment, Mashiro is now dating Kureha one of the people who share dreams together. Kureha was raped when she was a young child of only five or six, her mother was also abused by her father. Now the only man Kureha trusts is Mashiro because he's intersex. Mashiro is now focussed on proving he's a man and protect Kureha at all cost.

Mashiro's focused on finding out who's in the dream world and trying to help them graduate, or to gain some ground. Sou an old kendo classmate has confessed his love towards Mashiro, and previously kissed him. Meanwhile in the dream-world Mashiro realises strength here is based on sheerly imagination and the strength of one's soul. Midori finally found her key, unlocked the door and was forgotten. In reality Mashiro tries to ease Kureha into making friends with men, specifically just one. As expected the result wasn't good.

Time for my opinion, this volume tries too hard to cram too much in it's limited space it hold. Don't get me wrong I love it, it's just I've notice with the 2 first volumes could have been made into 4 or 5. That's also something that I like about it, it has less fluff than most stories. With the gender bender genre the main character can end up with Kureha, Sou, or no one. Romance, Mystery, fantasy, drama, I give kudos to this story. I'm giving it 3 stockings it's good but it could be better.


Thursday, January 12, 2012

Review: After School Nightmare, Volume 1


After School Nightmare, Volume 1
After School Nightmare, Volume 1 by Setona Mizushiro

My rating: 4 of 5 stockings



Mashiro an intersex high schooler who posses as an being completely male. Because Mashiro started menstruating he quit the kendo club in fear that it was his female side that was weak. After noticing many of his fellow schoolmates have been disappearing, he was asked by the school nurse to go to the basement of the school (which was never there before). Before Mashiro knew what was happening, he was brought into an alternate dream world were schoolmates are twisted and deformed to the point of unrecognisably due to the state of their souls. Oddly enough Mashiro's appearance hasn't changed with the exception that he wears a female uniform. After a dark night soul ripped his clothes everyone in the dream world know's his secret but he doesn't know who the others are.

I'll end it here, usually manga's don't have much going on from manga to manga. Which doesn't give me much to write about. With the first volume of After School Nightmare I've left out so much. The overall originality of this story is amazing, it reminds me vaguely to Moon Key. The character's are anything but boring. I enjoyed reading this volume and only had to look back one for this review (for the high school name... didn't find). I'm giving this book 4 stockings because I'm expecting so much from this series.



Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Review: キミがスキ 3 (3)


キミがスキ 3 (3)
キミがスキ 3 (3) by Ayu Watanabe

My rating: 1.5 of 5 stockings



Last instalment, Aoi confessed to Hojo that she loved Mase and could no longer date him.

Hojo is not willing to let go of Aoi that easily, and tries his best to prove to her that he's just as good as he was before the accident. Aoi still supports Hojo in every way, but not romantically. Natsumi finds out about Aoi's love toward's Mase, soon after refuses any contact with the pair. Mase claims that he only has feelings towards Natsumi.

Okay, I finished reading the series and I'm alive! I actually liked the third volume, more then the other two. This series is just one big run around, and utterly pointless. This story could have been written in one novel instead of three. My thought's on the last one, it got my blood boiling ... slightly, with is more of a reaction I ever had reading the two first. I'll give it 1.5 stockings, I still don't like it but it was better then the first two.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Review: キミがスキ 2 (2) by Ayu Watanabe


キミがスキ 2 (2) (講談社コミックスフレンド B)キミがスキ 2 (2) by Ayu Watanabe
My rating: 1 of 5 stockings

Last instalment, Aoi, Mase, and Hojo have all transferred to the same high school. Aoi has also made a new girl friend Natsumi, while Hojo and Mase become friends also.

Aoi and Hojo are still a couple while Natsumi tries to win over Mase. Eventually Mase and Natsumi get together. Aoi get's emotionally startled by these event.

Okay's it's short I have no choice, this whole story revolves around a love triangle, which in reality is really just two people attracted to each other trying to piss each other intentionally or unintentionally. The plot, characters, and story line are boring, and are lacking in so many ways. I'm giving this volume 1 stocking nothing more nor less.


Monday, January 9, 2012

Review: キミがスキ (Kimi ga suki) 1 (1)


キミがスキ 1 (1)
キミがスキ 1 (1) by Ayu Watanabe


My rating: 1 of 5 stars



キミがスキ (kimi ga suki) volume 1, Aki a girl in junior high falls in love with Mase a fellow classmate and basketball player. The two have been inseparable throughout junior high, sharing every moment together. Her girl friends were all encouraging her, she finally set a date on Christmas eve. But everything changed with one simple confession!

In summery this book is girl and boy know each other for 3 years, both love each other. A random guy confesses to the girl, she pities him and goes out on a date. He get's crushed literally while trying to find her hair elastic. She later finds out he can no longer play basketball, and because of this she will accept his feelings. While the guy she loves confesses his feelings she rejects him. The story has more than just that as a plot and that's not the end of the volume.

I don't mind the story although it's all too coincidental, what happens. The characters and bland and the main character makes stupid decision, so I give it 1 stocking, I personally didn't enjoy it.


Sunday, January 8, 2012

L DK (7)

L DK(7) (講談社コミックスフレンド B)L DK(7) by 渡辺 あゆ
My rating: 3 of 5 stockings

We end the last instalment with Satsuki asking Shuusei if he would have rather died in "her" place, who is this mysterious "her" woman?

L DK volume 7, Aoi and Sanjo decide to give it a try and go out together as a couple, she meets his sisters a little before this decision. Aoi still can't get Shuusei out of her mind. In the end Shuusei gets a hold of Aoi and tells her who "she" is, and why it's so hard for him to love someone ever again.

Okay okay, this one's short for the sole reason I can't say anything without spoiling it! I honestly feel like slapping Shuusei just like Aoi did when he told her his reasoning behind his actions. Sanjo ends up being one hell of a guy and taking one for the team, and actually pretends to be "the bad guy" in order to make the girl he loves happy. Sanjo will be my favourite character from this series, Shuusei honestly just makes me think that he's a spoiled child. I give it a total of 3 stockings out of 5. So that's my last L DK review I hope you liked it <3


Saturday, January 7, 2012

L DK volume 6

L DK(6) (講談社コミックスフレンド B)L DK(6) by 渡辺 あゆ
My rating: 2 of 5 stockings

Last instalment, Sanjo puts his cards on the line and basically tells Shusei "If you make Aoi cry one more time I will take her home instead of you.

L DK volume 6, Aoi tries her best to make Shusei happy by training with Sanjo to make the perfect dish. Shusei never even took the time to take a bite before telling Aoi he was leaving the apartment. In all desperation she confessed her love to him, and in the end ... she is left in the rain alone and rejected. Sanjo confessed to Aoi, and Shusei pores his problems onto his sister.

I honestly have a love hate relationship with this volume, the way it was headed in the first half was amazing. When Shusei said he didn't feel the same I was in a 5 stocking mindset, because how many stories end up with the romantic counterpart in the end not having any attraction to the other. I soon after thought that the writer had pulled the wool over the readers eyes in attempt to create a fake love between the two. Soon after I read that Shusei's just afraid that he might hurt her ... how LAME! Like that hasn't been done in like EVERY LOVE STORY EVER! That's why my rating went from 5 to 2 stockings ... yah BIG difference.


Friday, January 6, 2012

Review: L DK(5)


L DK(5)
L DK(5) by 渡辺 あゆ

My rating: 4 of 5 stockings



For the L DK volume 4 I did not write a review (I had to go to work), so instead of my "Last installable ... blah blah..." I'll just say, read volume 4.

L DK volume 5, Aoi, Shusei, and Kota (the landlady's son) all go to the amusement park. Shusei get's jealous but of who Aoi or Kota and why? A new neighbour moves in next door who also happens to go to the same school as Aoi and Shusei. With school regulations banding all dating, romance, and living arrangements with the opposite sex, Shusei does the unthinkable. What will the new neighbour Sanjo become, a friend, a foe or a lover?

This is by far the best volume up-to-date of the series, there's romance between Aoi and Shusei, but not only that it seems that he's starting to realized he might lose her. A rival character shows up, I'm not a fan of love triangles, although in this story Sanjo's more along the lines of a pair of cable jumpers and Shusei the car battery (not the best metaphor). I have no choice but to give this 4 stockings, it's that good.


Thursday, January 5, 2012

Review: L DK(3)


L DK(3)
L DK(3) by 渡辺 あゆ

My rating: 4 of 5 stockings



Last instalment Aoi realizes that she indeed loves Shuusei, although getting her feelings to reach him will be a battle of it's own.

L DK volume 3, Aoi and Shuusei are once again living together, and hiding that fact is getting harder and harder to maintain. The titled Prince Shuusei is having a hard time keeping the women at bay never mind the girls, with a crazed cougar teacher trying to seduce Shuusei, how is Aoi supposed to get close to him? If that's not bad enough Shuusei's older brother Kugayama shows up, what does he want?

The way Shuusei handles every event and obstacle thrown at him, makes this story all the more interesting. Aoi on the other hand tends to act like the typical romance heroine, where she gets herself is horrible situations that could have been easily avoidable.

The events in this story are getting quite interesting and old plots points that were originally boring or uninteresting, have come back with a vengeance. I honestly recommend people to read this volume, it's funny cute, and you know something's wrong... I'm going to give this book 4 stockings.


Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Review: L DK(2)


L DK(2)
L DK(2) by 渡辺 あゆ

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stockings



Last instalment Aoi and Shuusei came home to find a woman named Eri waiting by the door.

L DK volume 2, Eri who turns out to be Shuusei's sister, tests the alleged "love" that Aoi and Shuusei proclaim they have for one another. It doesn't take long for her to see through their ruse. There's also a school basketball competition, a confection to Aoi from Shuusei's old friend. A few changes in living arrangements change and a few more surprises occur and secrets are unveiled.

Every book/show need's it's annoying character, whether you like them or not. Shouta is that annoying character, although I like him he adds a little something to an otherwise bland story. More of Shuusei's mysterious past get told without actually giving away too much. Compared to the first novel this one's much more juicy. Aoi even proclaims her love towards Shuusei when she's speaking to Shouta. I'm tempted to give volume 2, 2 stockings because it's not "up to par" story wise, or 3 because I find it's better then the first that I have 3 stockings to. I have no choice but to give it 2.5 stockings.




Tuesday, January 3, 2012


L・DK 1 (講談社コミックスフレンド B)L・DK 1 by 渡辺 あゆ
My rating: 3 of 5 stockings

In L<3DK we follow Aoi Nishimori a stubborn high school student who live by herself. We start the story some time after Aoi's best friend Moe's confection to Shuusei her feeling, and got rejected. Not soon after Aoi's new neighbour brings her a gift, which cliché enough is Shuusei. After a few mishaps he ends up having to stay with her till his apartment gets fixed.

It's average, there isn't anything different that says BAM! I'M AWESOME AND UNIQUE! Within the first volume their love is obviously applied, without any real barriers. There's always the sense of normal girl dating school hottie, and the bullying that comes with it. Something that bugs me a little is how easily Moe gives up on Shuusei (you can tell it hurt her to do so), but I'd like to see more of Moe's thoughts on this. Also most manga's take several volumes to get to were Aoi and Shuusei got in the laps of 176 pages. The art is okay, but not great.

The only reason I'm giving this book 3 stockings, is for it's potential and not of it's current contents. Considering it starts so cliché it's actually has potential to become a beautiful story.



Upgrade to Free: The Best Free & Low-Cost Online Tools and AppsUpgrade to Free: The Best Free & Low-Cost Online Tools and Apps by Beth Ziesenis
My rating: 5 of 5 stockings

Kudos to Beth Ziesenis and her overall awesomeness in making this novel. I thank her from the bottom of my heart for my personal free/signed copy, which I call one-of-a-kind a) because it's signed with my name and b) pages 193-200 are printed upside down <3. Now that personal!

Upgrade to Free: The Best Free & Low-Cost Online Tools and Apps, is honestly the first of it's kind that I've read. It's so well written and structured that if you didn't want to read the whole novel and just try and find free security tools. You'd just have to get to number 17 turn to page 168 and have your pick of what's what.

There is no way of getting lost in this book it's written for everyone from a internet "noob" to a computer "techy". Another thing I must point out is all the descriptions, the longest one if I recall correctly was merely two pages and most if not all was a quote. It's better to keep things short when it comes to these things.

I have personally tried out a few of the organizing tools found in here (on my dead pc)I had found a few that I liked. Although now that I have a new laptop I get to personalize it with he help of Beth Ziesenis' low cost solutions through her novel and forum http://bit.ly/U2Fforum . This I must say is deserving to go on my shelf (my fav books aka, re-readable), I recommend it for anyone who loves organization.