Oooooh

Amazon's new electronic book reader looks freakin' cool. Someday, when it's cheaper, I'm so going to get one. (=

The Golden Compass / Fun Quiz

My birthday...

...is coming up. It's the day after Veteran's Day, the 12th. For my birthday I would like our debts paid off, money for rent, energy and discipline for job searching (or better yet, for the perfect job to just fall in my lap), and no more depression ever. Failing that, if you really want to give me a present... well, click on my "wish list" label, and those old posts are pretty much still accurate. You can ignore the links that don't work (a couple of the makeup ones, I think), and the oldest post is outdated, but they're good other than that. And I now have a Wii, which affects the possible videogames. I also no longer want the Flylady water bottle or feather duster, as I have those already. If you get me the timer, I want the one that can vibrate. As far as books are concerned, really I'd like a gift certificate to my own store -- that's the best deal for used books, between no shipping and my employee discount. Yep...

Book of a Thousand Days

Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale

Good book, good book (happy dance)! Inspired by the fairy tale "Maid Maleen" and medieval Mongolia (kept making me think of a couple things I'd read of Kazakhstan for one of my classes), I think this is my favorite of Shannon Hale's YA since Goose Girl. They both appeal to my desire to be known, understood and protected without having to tell people whatever it is I want known directly to their face. Yes, that's kind of an unhealthy desire. But, even in its perversion, I think it provides a glimpse of God's understanding of us, so far beyond what we could ever tell Him. Maybe that's why it seems so romantic and lovely in story form. And it's not like the main character in either story could have solved all the problems by herself with better active communication (or at least, she couldn't know that she could), or like either of them were particularly passive and helpless -- I only mention it and say it's an unhealthy desire because, as another book reminded me, I can forget that my husband can't magically read my mind, and that I shouldn't love him any less for that. But in relation to God, it makes a lot of sense. And our romance here on earth often mirrors that, albeit dimly. Every so often we understand each other better than we understand ourselves...

"Oh Master, grant that I may never seek...
...to be understood, as to understand..."

Fruits Basket Volume 17

Fruits Basket Volume 17 by Natsuki Takaya

At last, the purpose behind the slew.

Wow. Volume O' Secrets. Normally in manga, the volumes are so very nameless, continuations of the story without having a particular character in themselves. Not this one. Three major (and I mean major!) secrets come to light, in pretty quick succession (of course -- these volumes aren't exactly lengthy). They don't solve any problems, in the sense that they don't make you feel like the story is about to end, but they do make me want to read the whole series over again. There would definitely be some things I'd understand better now.

Only complaint: in several places it was a little confusing who was talking or whether or why the scene had jumped to something else. I'm not sure it was worse than other volumes though, might just be because I'd been reading Ultra Maniac, which seems to have a slightly clearer (if less deep) style.

Fruits Basket Volume 16

Fruits Basket Volume 16 by Natsuki Takaya

In this volume we get the story of Tohru's parents, especially her mom. It's a really good story. I love it when her writing is more focused like this, instead of jumping from one incident to another. Those are fun, but the longer stories are excellent. After Kyoko we come back to the present and see the wider picture again -- Machi, several perspectives on New Year's. But the back story is my favorite in this one. Even just skimming through to remember what the volume was about almost made me cry.

Fruits Basket Volume 15

Fruits Basket Volume 15 by Natsuki Takaya...

...in which Yuki realizes something important and Tohru's class presents "Sorta Cinderella."


“‘We’ll, uh... need that description one more time.’

'I already told you! SHE'S AN ADORABLE GIRL WITH AN ADORABLE VOICE AND FACE, WEARING ADORABLE CLOTHES AND WITH ADORABLE POM-POMS IN HER HAIR! GOT IT?!'" -an officer and Tohru's mom


"'You're a wicked stepsister! You're mean! Get it right, genius!'

'Y-yes!'

'Crush her self-esteem into teeny tiny pieces!'" Kinoshita to um, the "wicked stepsister"


Hiro: “‘Anyway, be careful around here.’

Kisa: ‘Huh? Don't worry, Hiro-chan. This place may be crowded, but I won’t bump into anyone!’

Hiro: That's not what I'm worried about.

Random boy: Whoa, check out the cutie. Is she foreign?

Random boy #2: I wanna talk to her a little.

#3: Just a little won't hurt!

Hiro: Stupid scum. Get lost!

Kisa: Hooray for the play!'


"'Gentle Cinderella, for someone as kind as you, I will grant whatever you wish for the rest of this evening.'

'That sounds lovely. Burn the palace down.'

'I'm afraid that's a crime. Please wish for something softer, more pure.'

Pure... 'I wish for delicious yakiniku.'

'That's NOT what I meant.'" -"Fairy godmother", "Cinderella"


"'I'm very busy right now.'

'Did you just come here for the meat?'

...Sigh. 'What is it? Do you have business with me?'

'W-would you... like... to talk... to me?'

'Talk? ...Very well. Your aura is so pleasant tonight that it makes my brain throb.'

'I'm begging you. Choose an easier topic of conversation.'" -Um, Hana, obviously... and "Prince Charming"