instead of doing what I should really really REALLY should've been doing...

[insaneneko]

I pulled the first volume off the shelf and started reading...And kept cocking my head. It seemed wrong. Why did the story begin with Yuki coming back from visiting his family to find his apartment burned down? I didn't remember the series starting off that way. It was only when he mentioned being raped by Kei that I realized I hadn't grabbed the first book...I really hate how the series isn't properly numbered. It's such a bitch to keep the volumes straight, I usually try to keep the books lined up in order to keep the hassle to a minimum. :P

So I got the actual first book and started reading. Oh my. Yuki is such a poor thing! He really is insecure...I had to smile at how much he resented Kei and how much he devalued himself and his talent. The rape to Tannhäuser....Is just plain hilarious. The author does a good job of conveying how awful the whole business is to Yuki (which is what kept me with the series, frankly, because I think it's so easy to get turned off by declarations-of-love-by-rape in this genre), but I can't help but laugh at it. I know it's partly because I know what comes after it.

I'd almost completely forgotten about that obnoxious bass guy that assaults Yuki. Ugh. I love imagining Kei kicking that guy's ass, literally. Won't hurt his hands, nope! And Kei taking advantage of Yuki's distraught state to kiss him! Yuki thinking of Kei as a huge doberman and not wanting to anger him was also quite funny.

I fear I may start rereading more and more at this rate. I don't really have the time, but I think I'm sucked in. I'm remembering why I love this series, and laughing at the familiar bits I'm rediscovering and feeling for Yuki as he changes...I especially long to read the bits when he really gets into the music. Those are definitely some of my favorite moments of the series.

I want to squee more, but I've really got to do the thing I've been putting off....*sighs*

Comments

[meganinhiding.livejournal.com]

About a year or so ago I someone posted Fujimi on yaoi daily which is how I got to see it and yes I think parts of the rape scene are funny (I am a virgin, 100% virgin) while managing to take Yuki's suffering seriously. I also enjoyed one scene where Yuki wondered if part of his dislike for Kei being conductor was because he wanted Fujimi to remain an amateur orchestra that he would clearly be the best musician in. Enjoyed the squee.

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

XDXD I remember Yuki wondering if he wants to be the big fish in a small pond...I wanted to pat him on the head, he's so down on himself.

[sara-tanaquil.livejournal.com]

LOL at the order problem. In addition to keeping the books in order on the shelf, I have to keep my excel spreadsheet handy, because I keep pulling books off the shelf and messing up the order by accident.

It will be interesting at some point to go back and read the first volume. Already when I went back to do summaries (when I was half way through volume 3) I was struck at how much had changed in their relationship, and I imagine the effect is that much more extreme when you've gotten used to where they are 25 volumes in the future.

I have to admit being really baffled by the common fan opinion that the rape is funny -- you mean just because it's so ridiculously over the top? I think I identified too much with Yuuki's POV.

[insaneneko.livejournal.com]

I just take out one of the later books and look at the inside back cover since all the books are listed in order in those. Wish they'd started doing that from the beginning. *grumbles*

It's very odd rereading the series because it jumps around quite a bit more than I'd remembered. Takane felt thrown in. And Sora! I think I got used to Yuki being able to concentrate basically on his music, so it's odd seeing him doing other work. Their relationship feels pretty settled even by several books in, actually. It's one of the big pluses for me. They aren't always being tugged this way and that by the littlest things like in too many BL novels. I really love their musical growth (and sorta rivalry).

I didn't think the rape was funny the first time I read it. I felt horrible for Yuki. But going back to it now, the scenario just seems really funny.