insaneneko

How did I not remember that Sekai Ichi Hatsukoi volume 7 has a limited edition version? It looks like the usual suspects have sold out!!

It's sad how distressed I am about this. ^^;

More distressing is that my right arm is in a brace thanks to a "golfer's elbow" type condition. It's made using a mouse and typing rather unpleasant, especially at home where I have no ergonomic set-up and really no way to get one. So....not much intensive typing going on right now, and thus no posts. I'm currently typing this at work where the set-up is slightly better (and I'm waiting for someone to check something so that it can be sent out...). A couple of things I've been wanting to talk about:

First, anime. Finished both Tsuritama and Sakamichi no Apollon and enjoyed them both. I had issues with both (some things were just lame), but in the end I'd become quite fond of the characters and thus was happy with how things turned out. I thought Sakamichi was going to be A LOT more depressing, which was a pleasant surprise. And the soundtrack piece that played when Kaoru was leaving on the train? I liked it out of context as it's super pretty, but LOVED it in the scene. I'm behind on Kuroko no Basket, but have heard and am a bit disappointed in the second opening. It's just not as good a song as the first.

Bought a whole crapload of manga and books and really liked a bunch. The ones I remember off the top of my head:

Saiyaku wa Boku wo Suki Sugiru 1 and 2 by Kannagi Satoru (writer) and Ninomiya Etsumi (artist), story about two high school kids who are the lucky ducks from their respective families tied together for a year of misfortunes. The art is beautiful and the characters are fun (well, except the "older brother" dude whom I find a bit tiresome), and I love how one guy explains why he sticks like glue to the other one by openly confessing his "love." I assume it'll be somewhat BL-ish since it's a Chara title, but I'm fine if it remains suggestive if the story actually goes somewhere good.

Shizuku Hanabira Ringo no Kaori 3 by Kawai Toko keeps the awesomeness of this series going. Sadly, this is the final volume but the end was wonderful. I love how sex-positive the uke is in this, and how the seme is the silent brusque type but not so much so that he won't do his best to respond to his much more open and direct boyfriend.

Honto Yajuu 5 by Yamamoto Kotetsuko feels a bit like she's coasting, but as I love the characters I don't have much to complain about. Plus, we get "yakuza" Ueda!!!

Mad Cinderella 2 by Yamamoto Kotetsuko is the second volume (duh) of a series about a poor boy and his rich neighbor who is at first his best friend but becomes his boyfriend. It's *really* adorable, IMHO. There's a distressing trend of not letting them consumate their (openly accepted!) love, but otherwise I am enjoying this one.

Junjou Romantica 15 by Nakamura Shungiku...Is it sad that the thing I remember the most is Ijuuin coming onto Misaki and Misaki sensing it and running away but trying to make Ijuuin seem less skeevy because he is such a fanboy. So adorable! I was rereading an earlier volume where Misaki meets his "Za Kan" soul mate at university the
other day... XDXDXD

Ha, all manga for now. Will someday talk about the novels.

Been trying to avoid the PoT manga posts I've seen around as I am planning on reading it in one fell swoop when the series ends...but the squeeing that erupted over Genius 349 defeated my resolve. leviosa8's post just killed me. I...can't quite believe that one infamous panel. Fanservice, much? I can't take it seriously (even though I do ship that pairing) because it just looks like it came straight out of a doujinshi. Love the fake scanlation, it just seems so much more fitting than the actual conversation!

Again via leviosa8, the Absolutely Unreliable Introduction to Oofuri! XD

Via wednesday_10_00, Matsuoka Natsuki wrote a bunch of short stories in celebration of the release of Flesh & Blood 10 (FINALLY!) on her blog (she uses Vox...heh) here. The stories will be up until 7/31. Speaking of Flesh & Blood 10, I can't believe how long it took for Amazon Japan to list the stinkin' book! The Chara novels I have ordered and am awaiting delivery of (though NOT from Amazon...):

Flesh & Blood 10 by Matsuoka Natsuki
The cover! *swoons* Too bad he's such a...a...a...

Soshite yubiwa wa kokuhaku suru (Book 4 of Sono yubi dake ga shitteiru) by Kannagi Satoru
What can I say? I like this series and have been waiting for this volume to come out for a long time--even longer than Flesh & Blood. I hope it doesn't suck (a lot of series with long blanks between volumes tend to go downhill...Do the authors just get sick of the series and write whatever to make money?).

Deadshot (Deadlock 3) by Aida Saki
I have only read Deadlock (the first book in the series) and can't say I was all that enamored of it...I think I need to reread it to make up my mind, though. In any case, I more or less liked Deadlock so I figured I'd just get Deadheat and Deadshot to finish up the series. If I end up hating the series, at least the art is nice. ^^;

For those who don't know Deadlock, check out the detailed review by Nanya, the translation of the first two chapters by xaevyn, and the very large pics posted by rusalkaz. It's prison drama with gorgeous men! In Cali! It does try to be gritty, but I don't think it quite got it...Did watching a bit of Oz spoil me? Man, that show was rather nasty...

(For those who actually buy manga or novels from Chara, don't forget the Chara 10th Anniversary Fair!)

Woo-hoo! I am down to one row of open tabs! Now when my orders (yeah, plural) arrive life will truly rock!