prpl pen ([info]prpl_pen) wrote,
@ 2008-04-11 20:15:00
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Current mood: sooo excited
Entry tags:bleach, books, bullet point time, pimp, reading, reading challenge, writing

Somehow or another, it's mostly about reading.
I've been lax in updating again. (And reading/commenting on the flist, too; I actually intend to go back and catch up somewhat tonight/tomorrow, so don't be surprised if you get a comment from me on an older entry.) I actually have a few things I meant to talk about, but FIRST!

Yeah, I'm gonna talk about Bleach here. Like, even I was starting to get a little bored with it lately, because while even though individually all the fights were good, having them all stacked right on top of each other like that with hardly any rests for character development, etc., they were starting to grow tiresome. Because, let's face it, Kubo's fights scenes are good (some of the few shounen fight scenes I can read without my eyes immediately glazing over, in fact), but his real strength has always been in the story/plot and characters (and let's not forget FASHION DESIGN). So, starting with chapter 314 or thereabouts, I started to get really excited again, because, OMG plot!, and OMG backstory!

With this latest chapter though (-106), I AM IN HEAVEN. Like, take my normal love of Bleach (which is easily over 9000!!!) and multiply it by...A LOT. This chapter. OMG. THIS CHAPTER. This is reminding me of the other reason (number one always being that the characters are so well-developed and nuanced) why I love Bleach so much: SMART STORYTELLING. This chapter is confirmation of SO MUCH to me. That things are not what they seem on the surface. More than ever, I am convinced that ultimately Bleach is going to be about not so much "Good vs. Evil" but the old-guard vs. the new-guard. Revolution and reformation. OMG. Just. OMG.

IT HAS OBVIOUSLY MADE ME VERY ELOQUENT.

Seriously though, for those who think Bleach peaked with the climax of the Soul Society arc, and that Kubo has just been "rehashing," I say, "HA! Suckers! You ain't seen nothing yet!"

On to other things! BULLET POINT STYLE! :O

  • I've been working on my [info]jump_exchange fic pretty diligently the past few days, which is good! For a long time, I was just failing at coming up with the motivation to actually write, though I've had the idea for a good long time. I'm almost done with the first draft (thanks in large part to [info]danbi being awesome and encouraging), and it's actually shaping up to be quite a bit longer than I originally thought it would be. Not a bad thing, really, I just need to work on it double-time this weekend to make sure I can finish in time to have my betas look over it (btw, anyone else who's current/nearly current on Bleach, I wouldn't mind another pair or two of eyes to look it over--let me know!) so I can get it all fixed up by the due date. Not too worried just yet.

  • via [info]mekosuchinae: [info]bottle_of_shine is hosting a reading challenge on her journal, which looks double-plus good awesome. The jist of it is:

      * Sign up!
      * Compose a list of ten books you love, then share it.
      * Read at least three books recommended by other participants, then review the books you've read.

    I'm totally doing this, and you should too! Seems like a great way to get book recs! :D

  • Oh, and in that vein, remember the whole "reading journal" thing I was planning to do? I got sort of sidetracked on that, in large part because the last one I tried writing (focused on the Twilight series, and especially Eclipse) was so disjointed and hfdsahfs that I had to give up on it for a while. Well. The other day I started doing a write-up of it again. It's not done, quite (I set it aside to concentrate on my [info]jump_exchange assignment), but expect to see it soon. And since so many people on the flist have read the series, I'm looking forward to having some good discussion when it's posted. So be on the lookout for that. Though, uh, just a warning, not all of my thoughts are flattering. >.>

  • The Persona -trinity soul- anime may not be that particularly astounding, but I lovelovelove the ending theme. I'll upload it later tonight from work, where I have access to a better internet connection, but in the meantime, check it out here
    ETA: Okay, it's uploaded now! -->Suicides Love Story<--.
Mmkay, I think those are the main points for now!

P.S. -[info]the_firefly! I got your package! ♥!!! --but, uhm. The DVD you sent me is apparently. Blank. Tried it on three computers and none of them can read anything on it. :\

(17 comments) - (Post a new comment)


[info]homelight
2008-04-12 02:07 am UTC (link)
Agreed so hard on Bleach. Kubo has always handled backstory and character stuff awesomely. And agreed on the revolution thing-I think Kubo has this habit of flipping shounen conventions around even if he does stick by a lot of them sometimes, so I would totally be THRILLED and yet not shocked if he went in the direction that Aizen is not necessarily EVIL OVERLORD-esque but more CHE GUAVERA-revolutionary type. And hey, I think that would be extra awesome because everyone thinks Hinamori's wrong/delusional but she might actually be morre correct about Aizen than anyone else is, which would be delicious delicious irony 8).

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[info]prpl_pen
2008-04-12 02:34 am UTC (link)
Oh man, yesss. Like, I'm not convinced Aizen's motivations are completely benign (and even if his ultimate aim is more reformation than usurpation, his methods are definitely on the sketchy side), but there is obviously much more going on there than meets the eye, as this newest chapter confirms. I've actually thought for a long time that Yamamoto is gonna end up being, like, an END BOSS. XD I won't pretend to have any firm predictions, though, but MY GOD. What a ride this is going to be!

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[info]the_firefly
2008-04-12 04:59 am UTC (link)
:O

I tested it too!

It doesn't find anything on it or it doesn't read it at all from the drive?

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[info]prpl_pen
2008-04-12 05:06 am UTC (link)
It shows as being a blank disc. D: Like, I stick it in the drive and when I open it, it wants me to drag files onto it. I DON'T KNOW WHY. Do you use a program to burn things, or just Windows? Did you finalize it or whatever that weird thing is you have to do on Vista?

I'll hop on Gmail, too, if you want to chat. *MISSES YOU*

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[info]the_firefly
2008-04-12 04:08 pm UTC (link)
Is it just the dvd or the cd or both? I used Windows to make it a data disc. I finalized both of them and did nothing different from when I sent you the Baccano episodes. Except maybe loaded the dvd to nearly full.

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[info]prpl_pen
2008-04-12 04:23 pm UTC (link)
I didn't test the cd, actually; I was so D: when the dvd wouldn't work that it didn't occur to me. I'll do so when I go home. But yeah, Baccano! worked perfectly, obviously. Plus I have Vista on this computer so in theory it should show the files even if it wasn't finalized, I think? I DON'T KNOW. D:

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[info]the_firefly
2008-04-12 05:09 pm UTC (link)
Maybe a bad dvd, D:

Let me know if the CD works or not and try opening the dvd by clicking on the E drive? If the cd doesn't work, it's probably an issue with my laptop, but if it does, I can just reburn the dvd.

And test it on a ton of computers, :P

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[info]prpl_pen
2008-04-12 05:25 pm UTC (link)
Ah, yeah, I did try opening it that way and same deal. I'll totally test the cd when I get home and let you know, though.

Gah, I feel so bad about this; I don't mean to complain or whatever! I really appreciate that you took the time to make it in the first place ♥

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[info]the_firefly
2008-04-12 07:54 pm UTC (link)
I know you're not complaining, ♥

I'm just wishing I wasn't in such a hurry to mail it out, :P I feel like a dunce, lol

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[info]prpl_pen
2008-04-13 12:24 am UTC (link)
Don't! Weird flukes happen.

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[info]the_firefly
2008-04-13 11:18 pm UTC (link)
Did you try the cd?

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[info]prpl_pen
2008-04-13 11:38 pm UTC (link)
I did! The cd works a-okay!

Oh man, did you see the new Negima? Setsuna came in first in the character poll again! :D

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[info]the_firefly
2008-04-14 12:25 am UTC (link)
Ok! I will try the dvd once more, XD

And yessssssssss! Secchan! This is what, the fifth time? Hee

And if you need a new show to follow for the current time, I recommend Kure-nai. I can offer DDL links if you can use them, :D

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[info]prpl_pen
2008-04-14 01:07 am UTC (link)
Okay! Thank you again!!!

She's just that amazing.

Ooh, that sounds good! I trust your recs, as always. XD I'll be able to do DDLs at the library or at work, probably!

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[info]the_firefly
2008-04-14 01:26 am UTC (link)
The first three sites require no registration and have like 95% of everything I follow, :D

At this time, the ones I recommend to hold you over are:
Kure-nai (still airing, two episodes subbed)
Soul Eater (still airing, one episode subbed)
Rental Magica (24 episodes, complete)
Bamboo Blade (26 episodes, complete)
Oh! Edo Rocket (26 episodes, complete)
Manabi Straight! (12 episodes, complete)
Hitohira (12 episodes, complete)

Have fun! XD

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[info]nelson_bannaba
2008-04-12 10:12 pm UTC (link)
The reading challenge sounds pretty neat - so what ten do you plan to do?

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[info]prpl_pen
2008-04-13 12:23 am UTC (link)
Hrmm, I haven't decided yet! I suppose I'll have a list up in the next day or so.

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