Lament of the Lamb (OVA 2003)

Based on a manga called 羊の歌 or "Song of the Sheep", the story revolves around a boy named Kazuna who begins to suffer from a strange illness.  He remembers being left behind by his father as a young boy to the care of an uncle and his wife.  In order to find out more about his strange condition, he seeks out his father and discovers that he has died and that he has an older sister with the same illness.  She reveals to him that they are a family afflicted with vampirism.  Thus begins the two siblings' painful journey of accepting their fate, confronting the demons of their past, and trying to separate themselves from the rest of humanity in order not to become monsters that constantly crave blood.  They try to live together and to find solace in their shared suffering, but in the end they could only succumb to the terrible conclusion that awaits their lives. 

I rather liked this anime at the beginning.  I felt like it had really good atmosphere, one of mystery and sadness.  What was disappointing was the pace - it was simply too slow.  They could have told the entire story in half the time it took.  There were too many unnecessary flashback scenes, too many dramatic pauses, and repetition of other melodramatic elements.  It felt more like a Korean drama than a Japanese story.  Although the themes were touching and somewhat thought-provoking, the story would have benefited from a plot with more motion and eventfulness to it and less of the internal struggle from the characters.  It's not too bad, but sadly, I can't say it's on my list of favorites.

Boat-rides

Boat-rides

I love the way he’d look at me

As though I was a pleasant surprise

Each and every time

His eyes would turn my way.

Our eyes would meet, he’d look away

Then find my gaze again.

What sublime secret

Language is this, spoken only

Between two people’s eyes and souls.

I’ve fallen for the way

He’d gently touch these

Silent undersea creatures –

The kindness and reverence

In his hands that I imagine

Could heal any hurt.

There he sits at the prow at ease,

Riding the waves of his home waters,

And speaking island song. 

I see him thus and feel unburdened.

I long for the sea salt-taste of his lips

On mine and his voice in my ear.

He has lived a short while yet, and yet

His wisdom is deep as the sea

That claims him.  I try to

Picture him in my mind and keep him

There away from the world.

But the world never stops pulling me

Back from this ocean I yearn to drown in.

I do not want to forget, but oh,

How quickly we forget

The things that never were.

Let me dive down deep

Into the memory of touch, sound, sight –

The only ocean in which

We two can meet.  

Reactions to some books

Note:  These personal reactions were posted at another blog before. 

THE SIRENS OF TITAN – KURT VONNEGUT

After flying into a chrono-synclastic infundibulum, millionaire astronaut Winston Niles Rumfoord becomes pure energy and exists only as a wave phenomenon, pulsing in a distorted spiral through time, only getting home to Newport, Rhode Island for an hour once every fifty-nine days. But at least he has his dog with him. And he gets to learn everything that has ever happened. And everything that ever will. Which, of course, leads inevitably to the establishment of the Church of God the Utterly Indifferent...

I really don't want to classify this book under Science Fiction, though undoubtedly it has elements of SF in it. But far beyond SF, it is probably one of the most psychological and philosophical, even theological, books I've ever read. It does indeed take you from Earth to Mars, to Mercury, to the moons of Saturn, to Betelguese, and beyond - but never, not once, did it stray from us, the human Earthling. This book is about humanity at its worst and at its most enlightened. It questions who we really are and what the hell are we really doing with our lives and where the hell does God really enter the picture (Hell, is there really a God in the picture?). It asks, and answers, the questions that really matter.

I loved this book through and through. Vonnegut is a genius. No one else could give a read like this where you get space ships and aliens along with religious zealotry and will actually make you doubt which of the two is more believable, more plausible. He does it with pinpoint accuracy and wit, too. It's like crossing Douglas Adams with Thomas Acquinas. What other author could possibly compare?
Well, maybe Terry Pratchett...

THE PENELOPIAD – MARGARET ATWOOD

Elegantly written, wonderful through and through. I finished the whole book in one sitting (lying down, actually, a bad habit). I happen to be one of those nutty people who lovelovelove mythologies. I honestly cried many times while reading the Iliad for the first time, and I still cry when I re-read it. This book really made me look at The Odyssey in a whole new light. I've always admired Penelope, but nothing like the way I see her now. This book is amazing. A definite must-read for all women (alright, men, too), whether a fan of Homeric literature or not.

PORTRAIT OF A MARRIAGE – PEARL S. BUCK

One of the most beautiful love stories I've read in a loooooong while.
A moving story of the great sacrifices that people can make for the ones they love. From the acclaimed author of "The Good Earth."
A worthwhile read. Highly recommended.

Synopsis: William and Ruth came from two different worlds. He was a sensitive, proud artist, son of a rich and often selfish family. She was the unlettered daughter of an earthy Pennsylvania farmer. Yet, from the moment William saw Ruth, he knew he must have her. And with a stubborn intensity that shattered his family's objection, William went after this soft-spoken but provocative woman who knew nothing of art and elegance, but who was all-wise in the ways of love...

HIGH LONESOME – SHORT STORIES BY JOYCE CAROL OATES

A collection of short stories by the author.
I love her writing. Sublime, elegant, and gracefully restrained. Her stories are alternately sad, disturbing, and mysterious. The endings are often puzzling but satisfying nonetheless. The stories leave you wanting to know more, wishing the author wrote more, showed you more, but she didn't. It's like she's deliberately leaving you to make your own impressions and conclusions. So amazing.

Favorites:
Fat Man, My Love
High Lonesome
Life After High School
Will You Always Love Me?
The Tryst
The Dead
The Swimmers

ON THE ROAD – JACK KEROUAC

“During three weeks in 1951, Jack Kerouac wrote the first draft of On the Road - typed as a long, single-spaced paragraph of eight sheets of tracing paper, which he taped together to form a scroll."

On the Road is one of the most influential works of the beat generation, and upon reading it, one can certainly feel the irresistible yearning for that unidentifiable something new, something else in the world beyond what everyone already had resigned themselves to. You just want to drop everything and step out the door and see where your feet (and perhaps a car) will take you.

Reading "The Original Scroll" was like downing a giant coke slushie in one go. The brain freeze and the sugar shock shoots straight through your body and you feel woozy and drunk and dizzy and you wanna dance till your socks fall off - a literary high. I felt like I was there in that car with Jack and Neal, barreling down those roads where only the unknown destination matters.

I didn't bother to read all the forewords and introductions. I couldn't care less what critics and experts say. I loved this book. For me this book is freedom and adventure and daring. I recommend it to anyone who feels boxed in by convention and worry about what others might say. I recommend it to anyone who has glimpsed outside the windows and doors of their lives and has wondered what's out there. I recommend it to anyone who wants to dare themselves to live free.

THE DISPOSSESSED – URSULA K. LE GUIN

For a sci-fi novel, this one is a true classic.
It's almost like reading Orwell's 1984, or Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath.

It's the story of Shevek, a brilliant physicist from an anarchic world.
His ideas rejected, he seeks intellectual refuge by travelling to the mother
world, only to discover that in that world, sharing his ideas would have
consequences he never could have thought of.

The novel is terse and intensely thought-provoking. I loved every moment of it.
It is a book for anyone who enjoys stories that make them look at their
world and rethink the way they live.

Memorable: "True journey is return." & "His hands were empty, as they have always been."

THE GRAPES OF WRATH – JOHN STEINBECK

EVERY GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL OR ANYONE ELSE RUNNING FOR OFFICE, SHOULD READ THIS BOOK.

THE DARK TOWER SERIES – STEPHEN KING

I have followed this series since its inception. I don't really know, nor do I care how many years that has been. And now that I've come to its end, the beginning matters even less. Life is a cycle, and fate is a wheel.

Suffice it to say that for all those years, Roland Deschain has been walking at the edge of my world; not quite within my touch, but there in my world all the same. He, like all my best beloved tragic heroes, have served to hold the edges of my world intact. Because of the lessons I have learned from him, I have not quite frayed so badly yet. I have been held together by the knowing hands of the last gunslinger, and I am most grateful.

I held off reading the last of the series (I've had the whole series in my possession for years, but only recently decided to finish it) for many reasons, but primarily because I was afraid of the ending. It had been a world I'd sort of gotten used to, and perhaps I didn't want to leave it anymore. I had imagined myself in it, breathing its air, speaking an-tet with Roland, Eddie, Susannah, and Jake. I've fancied myself stroking Oy's fur. Laughing and suffering along with them. But leaving a place that had felt like a home to you is sometimes necessary, however painful.

I've always believed that endings are nothing to be afraid of. Life is a cycle, and fate is a wheel. I and Roland's ka-tet will meet again; perhaps when I have found my own rose, the keys to all my unfound doors, and when I've reached the top of my own dark tower and faced the ending that awaits me there. And from there, everything can begin again.

THE BOOK THIEF – MARCUS ZUSAK

Is there anything in the world that is REALLY worth stealing? My answer: Books. This is one of the most wonderful, luminous stories I've read in a while.

My brother and I found this book together. That in itself makes it so special. At that time, neither of us had the money to buy a copy of the book. Did we contemplate becoming book-thieves ourselves? It's certainly worth much more than money. We had to wait awhile before we could read it, and we don't regret the long wait. I can't ever praise this book too much.

The Book Thief is the story of a young girl who sought salvation and redemption in books in the thick of Nazi Germany, told by an unexpected narrator in a voice I will not forget 'til I meet him myself.

I joyfully recommend this book to anyone who loves to read, and loves to live. Unforgettable.

JONATHAN STRANGE AND MR. NORRELL – SUSANNA CLARKE

One of the longest novels I've read recently. But that doesn't mean it's not interesting. On the contrary, no matter how long it took me, I knew I would not be able to rest until I'd finished the book.

The story is about the revival of English Magic by two magicians, a teacher and a student. Their exploits range from the very trivial, almost unnoticeable magic tricks, to changing the course of history, to bridging the gap between different dimensions and planes of existence. It is a magical, historical, literary thrill ride. Even the innumerable footnotes are gripping.

I love the language of the book. The author captured the historical atmosphere of that age, it's dim-duskiness, and its foggy mysteries. I found the use of old spellings delightful. The language transported me to that time and place, where anything and everything seemed possible, and magic was as real as change. I ended up wanting to believe that there truly was magic in the world. The eerily haunting pictures helped create the mood, as well.

I love the characters. They are all believable. Not one of them was perfect and polished. They are all wonderfully quirky and annoying and frustrating and fascinating all at the same time. Even the antagonist was endearing in some ways. My favorites are Jonathan Strange and Stephen Black.

I adore how everything fell into place in the end, and how the story taught me that no matter how powerful a person is, if that power can't be used for a truly worthy cause, and then it might as well be as useless as grass to a dead horse.

I recommend this book to those who like to take their time with a book, and to those who staunchly believe that there is Magic in the world.

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES – RAY BRADBURY

Ray Bradbury writes in poetry. No one could describe the joys and fears, the triumphs and defeats of childhood quite like he can.

This story presents two boys, the best of friends, faced with the ultimate temptation - knowledge. The story also gives us a father's look at the world of his son, his part in it, and how he finds the strength and courage to save his child - and ultimately himself - from the worst kind of evil. It's a story of heroism, redemption, true friendship, and hope that with a little help from our friends and family, no evil will be able to touch us. I'd joyfully recommend this book to anyone, but most especially to fathers.

Thanks for lending me your copy, Kevin.

Winter in Japan

Winter in Japan

When I was

young, a sleeping god thought

long-dead came awake

in anger, fire, and

ash falling softly

from the sky.  I thought,

Snow.

Here I am old in a land where

a sleeping god lies

yet to wake and

snow falling gently

upon my face.  I think,

Ash.

(August 2012)

Note:  When I was a child, Mt. Pinatubo, a volcano long thought to be extinct, erupted in overwhelming violence.  The effects of having released massive amounts of volcanic ash into the atmosphere were seen all over the world.  When I was in my late twenties, I went to Japan and saw another sleeping volcano, covered in pristine white snow... 

Christmas Surprise

Something wonderful happened to me the other day.

In my Educational Research class I have a classmate, a girl from Turkey – let’s call her by the initials SC.  She’s Muslim (or Moslem, or however you prefer to say it) and she always wears a very pretty, colorful scarf that covers all of her hair and neck.  Now there are many Muslims in the University, but being the only one wearing a head scarf that marks you as Muslim still makes you stand out in a classroom where one could safely assume that the majority of the population is Christian.  Add to this the fact that SC is a foreigner, and very beautiful.  I honestly think hers is one of the most beautiful faces I have ever seen in my life, and the scarf accentuates her looks even more.  She is friendly and cheerful, always has a ready smile for everyone in class.  She and I happened to be grouped together during one of our class activities two weeks ago so we got to talk to one another a bit more.  The wonderful part of the whole thing is that last Wednesday as we were saying our goodbyes before parting for the Christmas Break, she came up to me and handed me a Christmas present – my very first present of the year. 

At the end of class that day, I came up to her, gave her shoulders a little squeeze (because I felt shy about giving her a hug), and said, “SC, Merry Christmas!,” and as I walked out of our classroom I suddenly realized I should not have said something that might be considered inappropriate to a Muslim girl!  But then she comes after me and hands me a beautiful woven bookmark, saying “This is my Christmas present for you.  It’s from Turkey.”  Then she held my shoulders as she gave me three kisses, alternately on both cheeks (this must be how they greet each other in Turkey).  I was so shocked I was babbling my incoherent thanks while she gave me those kisses.  I had no idea how to respond. I just kept repeating, “Thankyousomuchit’ssobeautifulI’msosurprised!”  How I wish I had something to give her then, too.  Of course I will rectify this when we see each other again in January.    It always makes me happy to receive gifts, but what made this one extra special was that it came from SC, a lovely Muslim girl who I barely know, who comes from a country and a culture I could only ever visit in pictures and in dreams, who practices a religion so misunderstood and strange to me, wishing me a heartfelt Merry Christmas.  For a very, very brief moment I suddenly believed there could possibly be such a thing as World Peace. 

Merry Christmas to all! 

Rurouni Kenshin (Live Action Movie) 2012

Finally the long-awaited live action film has been released in Manila. This movie was released in Japan in August of this year, and so many Filipino fans have been waiting for it to come to our shores.  The anime adaptation (then called Samurai X) gained so much popularity here, that it was run and rerun on TV several times over.  If you ever were a follower of this series, you must not miss the live action movie!  It's absolutely worth the wait. 

It's a nearly perfect adaptation.  From the characters, the plot, the nuances and the overall atmosphere of the story-line; it strove to be as faithful to the original as possible and I really appreciate this fact.  It makes me want to see the entire anime series from start to finish all over again.  The fight scenes were really cool, not exaggerated or spoiled by too much obvious computer magic.  I'm glad they managed to show the variety of fighting styles that were such a big deal in the anime version, especially Kenshin's Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu (how quickly he moves, etc., it was really exciting to see it). The portrayals were also as good as I hoped; the actors played their parts well.  There were even a good number of comedic moments which the original versions had plenty of.  Takeru Sato was great as Kenshin; I think it quite suited him to play the part.  He was able to show the many sides of Kenshin's complex tormented character - torn between his nature as a killer, and his deep-seated yearning for peace and belonging.   

My favorite fight scenes: the fight between Kenshin and Gein (the guy with the guns and the dagger), the fight scene between Kenshin and Jine (the one who pretended to be Battousai), and the fight between Sanosuke and Inui (the priest-type fist-fighter).  Those are just my favorites, but generally all the fight scenes were thrilling and bloody and splendid.  The only thing I would have wanted to see more of, really, was Saito (the samurai-turned-police chief) since in the anime he really had a lot to do with Kenshin's life.  But I suppose the film would have gone a little too long if even more character development was expounded upon.  As it is, I personally think it's perfectly awesome.  Obviously, I'm a fan. 

More information on Rurouni Kenshin (Live Action Movie)

A Wizard of Earthsea - Ursula K. Le Guin

Ged was the greatest sorcerer in all Earthsea, but once he was called Sparrowhawk, a reckless youth, hungry for power and knowledge, who tampered with long-held secrets and loosed a terrible shadow upon the world.  This is the tale of his testing, how he mastered the mighty words of power, tamed an ancient dragon, and crossed death’s threshold to restore the balance.  (Book cover)

This is exactly the kind of book that I love to read, and dream I could write – intelligent, deep, thought-provoking, and with magic and dragons in it!  I have loved Ursula K. Le Guin for a long time, but it had been especially difficult for me to find a complete set of her Earthsea books.   At last, on a serendipitous foray into an obscure corner of my small world (Cubao  J), I came upon a second-hand-books store that had it!  Joyous day it was indeed!  I tried not to get too excited, so I let the books settle for a while in my bookshelf, let them get used to the atmosphere of my room, but constantly I knew they were there, waiting for me.   The Earthsea series has spawned a radio dramatization, a television series, and even an anime film from the famed Studio Ghibli.

So Ged learns from a very young age that unlike the other kids, he’s special, gifted – he can do magic!  His beginnings weren’t so bad, he was a naturally curious child who liked to explore and learn more and more about his world and about what he can do in it.  He even ends up helping to save his village from savage invaders, risking his life in the process.  Good thing someone comes along to take him in hand, his teacher, Ogion.  The benevolent and quiet old man believed the boy to be incredibly powerful and sees in him unlimited potential, but Ged is impatient and impulsive.  He thinks the teacher isn’t actually teaching him anything.  So he does something that will have terrible consequences later – in secret he reads a dangerous book and summons up an unexplained darkness that no one will be powerful enough to confront, except Ged himself.   Ogion then does the only thing he could do at that point – he sends the rough-hewn Ged to wizard school, that he may learn what he needs to become a powerful wizard. 

Everyone at school acknowledges Ged’s undeniable giftedness.  But there he meets Jasper, older, more learned and just as confident in his skills as Ged was in his; they quickly rub each other the wrong way.  And though Ged makes good friends in Vetch and in the other aspiring wizards, he carries a constant grudge toward Jasper.  Then comes the fateful day when, issuing a challenge against Jasper, he ends up releasing the Shadow into the world.  In a desperate attempt to save Ged’s life, the Archmage sacrifices his, and Ged is left to hover at the border of life and death.  Thus begins his true development into the wizard he was destined to be, and his journey all over Earthsea in a quest to defeat the unnamed evil no one else but he could possibly face.

I loved every single word of this book.  Reading it, you can clearly see that the author has a profound understanding of what it means to be human – imperfect.  I love the fact that Ged started off just like any other kid who knows that he’s got something that other kids don’t.  He was cocky, boastful, arrogant, and with a little mean streak that helped him dominate all the other kids.  But of course, the world knows exactly how to teach kids like this the lesson that they need.  Ged learns humility the hard way.  In many ways he reminds me strongly of Beowulf (Yes, hero of the earliest known epic in the English language.  Read that, too!).  The point is that Ged learns from his terrible experiences, acknowledges his faults, and works hard to try to remedy the situation himself.  He doesn’t just give up and hide in a corner somewhere, asking other people to protect him.  In the process, he discovers just who his real friends are, and what it means to be only a small part of the great balance of the world, and that having power doesn’t mean having control and dominion over what or who seems powerless. 

I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!  I sincerely hope that whoever you are, wherever you are in the world, you may also find something that gives you such pleasure and joy as well-told stories like the Earthsea Saga does for me. 

Ursula K. Le Guin's website

UnScene #11

Slipper

The creature moved fast, but my heart was beating even faster.  I felt sure that the monster could hear the panicked muscle’s frantic pumping, that it could smell my fear and knew exactly where I was.  True enough, it turned around, ever so slowly, and peered into the shadowed corner exactly where I was trying to flatten myself against the wall.  It can see me!

“A weapon,” I thought.  “I need something, anything.” I had to move, I knew, but my knees were locked and I couldn't take my eyes off its horrible shape.

It moved, advancing toward me, seeming to grow bigger, and expanding its figure as it stalked.  Wings.  It’s going to fly!

Frantically I scanned the dimly lit room, but I couldn't see anything that would help, and nothing was within my reach.  I was trapped, immobile.  A scream built up my throat, ready to choke me.

The front door suddenly opened and my husband stepped in, a grocery bag in hand.  The startled creature launched itself straight at my face.  I let out a blood-curdling scream, “AAARGH!” crouching and ducking my head into my arms, trying to make myself as small as possible.

My husband took two great strides, brandishing a slipper, and with a great resounding “WHACK!” smashed the cockroach against the wall; a crunchy squish.  It fell dead on the floor  right next to me with a soft thud.  I stared in morbid fascination.  Yellow-green muck was oozing out of it.  I burst into tears, and my husband grabbed my arms and pulled me up from the floor.

“What took you so long!?” I wailed into his chest as he held me. 

Author's Note:  I hate hate HATE cockroaches. 

This Means War 2012

On a whim (well, not really a whim since I have a huge crush on Tom Hardy), I picked up this movie.  It aired 2012 and starred Chris Pine, Reese Witherspoon, and Tom Hardy.  It was directed by McG.  I know many people might disagree with me, but I didn't really like it all that much (except of course, for the gorgeous Tom Hardy).  The premise was kinda cute, spy vs. spy, and all that; both of them trying to get the girl.  But it all came down to the inevitable predictable thing, in the grand tradition of romantic comedies.   It did have some genuinely funny moments, though.  That scene where Hardy's character hired a fake "family" which Pine's character had kidnapped and swapped with some really trashy replacements took the crown in my humble opinion.  The action scenes (what few of them there were) weren't so bad - the opening fight scenes were okay, and I liked the air-gun/paintball scene, too.  But this was definitely a chick flick.  It's good enough for something light and kinda funny on a boring night with nothing to do except pick up a random video and snuggle with a bag of potato chips. But I guess I'm not that into the chick flick genre after all.  I'd much rather watch The Dark Knight, or Inception.  Still, Tom Hardy is there, so what the hell. 

Watch the trailer for This Means War.

The Red Necklace and The Silver Blade - Sally Gardner

The winds of change are blowing through Paris in the winter of 1789, both for France and for our hero, a striking and mysterious Gypsy boy named Yann Margoza.  He was born with a gift for knowing what people are thinking and an uncanny ability to throw his voice, and he has been using those skills while working for a rather foolish magician.  That work will soon end, however, and on the night of the magician’s final performance, Yann’s life will truly begin.  That’s the night he meets shy Sido, an heiress with a cold-hearted father, a young girl who has only known loneliness until now.  Though they have the shortest of conversations, an attachment is born that will influence both their paths.

And what paths those will be!  While Revolution is afoot in France, Sido is being used as the pawn of a fearful villain who goes by the name Count Kalliovski.  Some have instead called him the devil, and only Yann, for Sido’s sake, will dare oppose him. (Book jacket, “The Red Necklace”)

As the French Revolution descends into nightmare, Yann Margoza, a mysterious and extraordinary practitioner of magic, uses his skills to confound his enemies and help spirit refugees out of France.  If he fails, their fates lie under the blade of the guillotine.  But the question of Yann’s true identity and the kidnapping of his true love, Sido, expose him to dangers that threaten to destroy him.  With Paris on the verge of collapse, Yann must summon all his strength and courage to rescue his beloved Sido and outwit the devil’s own – this time for good. (Book jacket, “The Silver Blade”)

Strongly reminiscent of two other of my favorite books (The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy and The Fallen Angels by Susannah Kells), I immediately fell in love with these two books.  What strange serendipity that all three stories happen to be set in the French Revolution and all three are stories of adventure, intrigue and heroism with a generous touch of romance.  I guess I am a sucker for this kind of story.  The main distinction that differentiates Gardner’s books from Baroness Orczy’s and Kells’ books is that they are geared towards a young adult audience.  Compared to “Pimpernel” and “Fallen Angels” these two are quite light, easy, and fantastical.  There was no element of the magical/supernatural in either “Pimpernel” or “Fallen Angels” (just the most thrilling sly and ingenious cleverness and wit) whereas Gardner’s books held a healthy dose of magic.  In fact, there was a scene in The Silver Blade that I felt bordered on the awkward and incongruous (I won’t relate it here, for fear of giving spoilers), but I enjoyed the story so much that I didn't mind a little deus ex machina.  Why is it so rare to find stories like these nowadays?  I thank the gods that I managed to stumble upon these books at a book sale – there they lay in a random pile of pitiful-looking marked-down books and when I saw them, I didn't even think twice.  They were practically calling out my name.  It was fate, definitely fate – and I only paid a seventh of the original price for them!  Fabulous.

What I liked most about these two books is that although the plot centers on the love story between Yann and Sido, it does not detract attention from the deeper underlying themes that pervade the setting of the tale.  The French Revolution was a brutal episode in human history.  It began with noble ideals – equality, fairness, justice, liberty, and so many other lofty dreams – but all too quickly deteriorated into a violent bloodbath where neither the guilty nor the innocent were spared of the lash of human greed and conceit.  Yann suffered the dilemma of his role as a ghostly, magical rescuer colliding with his longing to be free of the blood-covered Hell that Paris had become and simply be together with Sido.  Added into the mix was the fact that he had to confront the monsters of his own personal history, the origin of his strange abilities, and the fearful enemy that threatened him and all those he loved. I appreciated that the hero of this story was portrayed in such a way as to be cognizant enough of the meaning of responsibility and mindful of the consequences of selfishness – especially since this tale was meant for a young adult audience.   Heavens know that young people (everyone, in fact, not just the young) nowadays need to learn that particular lesson among many others.   I also liked the fact that Sido was not satisfied with being a prettified doll sitting in the lap of luxury and wealth, that she managed to overcome her imperfections and didn't settle with being a typecast figure.  Her character clearly showed that wealth and luxury can be as stifling and restricting as any other prison, and she chose not to let herself be held by those opulent bindings. 

While these books are apparently romance-themed, I appreciated the fact that more than being about romance, they dwelt heavily on adventure and heroism, about taking risks and making excruciating decisions and sacrifices.  The plot was quickly paced and exciting – not a dull moment.  It carried you through the characters’ fears, frustrations, dangers, and joys.  You could witness the unfolding of events of one of the most crucial times of history as you followed their tale.  Just wonderful.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a well-told tale, and who wants to savor the closing of a book with a full head and a full heart. 

Please also read The Scarlet Pimpernel and The Fallen Angels if you come across them.  Enjoy! 

Click here for Sally Gardner's website.

Hungry! (2012)

I’m not sure why but lately I’ve been gravitating toward J-dramas that deal with food a lot.  The latest one that caught my attention was called “Hungry!” starring Mukai Osamu.  It aired in Japan from January to March of 2012.  Eisuke (Mukai), having reached the age of 30 and having his dreams of being a rock star frustrated over and over, decides to quit the world of music and return to his mother’s French restaurant to work as a chef.  His skill at cooking had always been recognized but certain events in his childhood prompted him to veer away from developing his natural talent.  Unfortunately, just as he had gathered the resolve to continue training as a chef, his mother passes away.  Trials and tribulations come in the form of Mr. Aso, a celebrity in the restaurant /culinary world and owner of several popular restaurants.  Aso had been urging Eisuke’s mother to sell her restaurant to him for the longest time; and now that she is gone, decides to take over by force.  Eisuke and his widowed father, together with Eisuke’s former band-mates are forced to reestablish the restaurant in an old warehouse.  Things sure looked pretty bad from there.  To make matters worse, Eisuke’s personal life is taking a toll from all the drastic changes.  His girlfriend, Mariya, is strongly against his move to run a restaurant, and his first “fan” as a chef, a girl named Chie, develops a huge crush on him.  Facing the many difficulties of running a fledgling business, developing his cooking skills, maintaining his relationships with his best friends and girlfriend, and trying to get a grip on his own tempestuous and rebellious personality soon makes the whole thing seem like the beleaguered Eisuke has bitten off far more than he could possibly chew.  Nevertheless, his “hungry” drive for success and self-worth continuously urges him to keep pushing for his dream. 

I found the series quite entertaining, but not so different from the other series of similar themes I’d seen before.  Themes like overcoming hardships, cultivating the bonds of friendship, showing appreciation for family support, and falling in love at the same time – these have been seen many times in many other series before.  But what set this series a bit apart, I think, is the villain.  Inagaki Goro portrayed the part of Aso Tokio very capably indeed.  There were several times in the series when you’d feel at odds whether to feel a profound kind of pity for him, or a sudden deep loathing.  This actor really gets creepy down pat (see him as the villain in Nagareboshi).  The series also had its comedic moments, such as servings of rice made to look like a brassiere, an escaped lobster, an obsessive rival chef, and others.  And of course there were the beautiful shots of delicious French dishes enough to make the mouth water.  What kind of cooking drama series wouldn’t have those, huh?  All in all, I wouldn’t say it’s a bad or boring series, but it lacks for originality in my humble opinion.  Still, if you’re interested, why not give it a try.  Oh yeah, the cast is eye-candy – in my book, a good bonus to throw in anytime.

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