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osarabaThere are a couple of books that I wanted to comment on.
Sword-Dancer and Sword-Singer by Jennifer Roberson. Angelica tried to get me to read these books almost 10 years ago. I just couldn't read them at the time; I think it's because I was reading so many romances with arrogant guys that I just couldn't get past Tiger's arrogance and Del's alternating coldness and emo-ness. This time I was able to get past that initial distaste, and their story was actually kind of interesting. Interesting enough, I suppose, to get me through two books' worth. However, I do have complaints about Roberson's plot structure? devices? She sets a goal for the book and then proceeds to throw obstacles in the way of our protagonists, which they seem to overcome by chance/coincidence/accident/etc. Repeat several times until you're close to the end of the book, and then stumble upon the finish line.
At the end of the second book I had reached my limit with Del's alternating emotions. I just wanted her to be cold and mostly logical; instead, the arrogant man turns out to be the semi-reasonable one, and she an emotional idiot.
There was a slight twist at the end of the second book that makes you really want to continue reading to find out what happens. Luckily I have someone who read the books and (with a bit of a refresher) was able to describe some of what happens later. I prefer having the rest told to me than actually reading through the next four books. So yeah, I won't be continuing this series, although I'm happy enough to have satisfied my curiosity about it.
Next.
Over the last several weeks I've been reading the yaoi novels that Angelica has bought and passed along for me to read.
First I read Only the Ring Finger Knows (volumes 1 and 2) by Kannagi Satoru and Odagiri Hotaru. From the first chapter I thought I'd enjoy this story. I enjoy school-age stories and the main character seemed pretty strong. I was wrong. Painfully, painfully wrong. The main character [uke] turned out to be a lot more insecure, dumb/oblivious, and feminine than I'd hoped. I often really end up hating stories where misunderstandings could have been prevented by the regular sort of talking people do. I'm not talking about DEEP, life-altering conversations, but simple things like, "I can't believe I lost the VERY IMPORTANT bauble you gave me, but this very unethical person picked it up and won't give it back." This simple sentence may have allowed you to avoid things like BLACKMAIL DUE TO STUPIDITY.
In addition, does this publishing company even have an editor on staff? If I wanted to read poorly edited, STUPID fics, I would just turn to the huge world of the internet -- where at least I can get poorly edited, STUPID fics, with LOTS OF HOT SEX.
Next I read Cold Sleep by Konohara Narise and Saikawa Nanao. This one was better; at least the guys weren't feminine or overly insecure. Unfortunately, the plot was kind of boring (because or in spite of the cliche usage of amnesia as a plot device), and then there was the "big revelation" at the end. Up to the end I kept waiting for something to happen, and then it was kind of like... Oh. Okay.
After taking a bit of a break, and wondering why the hell I was continuing to read these STUPID STUPID books, I read Don't Worry Mama by Konohara Narise. It might be yaoi because it has male homosexual sex, but there certainly wasn't any romance or love in it. Or pretty much any feeling whatsoever. And Imakura [uke] is a WHINEY BITCH. *rages* But at least no one's particularly feminine.
Continuing in the Don't Worry Mama storyline (but with different main characters) is The Man Who Doesn't Take Off His Clothes by Konohara Narise. I'm about half way through the novel and it's BORING. Again, there's no feeling in this book so far. Nothing between the characters that I'm assuming end up together. And certainly no feeling in me for any of the characters in the book. Again, so far the only thing this has going for it is that none of the characters are particularly feminine. Considering how yaoi can be, I consider that a big plus and appreciate it whole-heartedly, but it doesn't make the story any more interesting to read.
You may have asked by now why I have read all of these yaoi novels. The answer is, I DON'T KNOW. I'm STUPID. Angelica is a pusher and I have no willpower when it comes to a published book in my hand and a long train ride or eating dinner alone (basically, lack of internet access for an extended period of time equalling 10 minutes or more).
More interesting things in the next post.
Sword-Dancer and Sword-Singer by Jennifer Roberson. Angelica tried to get me to read these books almost 10 years ago. I just couldn't read them at the time; I think it's because I was reading so many romances with arrogant guys that I just couldn't get past Tiger's arrogance and Del's alternating coldness and emo-ness. This time I was able to get past that initial distaste, and their story was actually kind of interesting. Interesting enough, I suppose, to get me through two books' worth. However, I do have complaints about Roberson's plot structure? devices? She sets a goal for the book and then proceeds to throw obstacles in the way of our protagonists, which they seem to overcome by chance/coincidence/accident/etc. Repeat several times until you're close to the end of the book, and then stumble upon the finish line.
At the end of the second book I had reached my limit with Del's alternating emotions. I just wanted her to be cold and mostly logical; instead, the arrogant man turns out to be the semi-reasonable one, and she an emotional idiot.
There was a slight twist at the end of the second book that makes you really want to continue reading to find out what happens. Luckily I have someone who read the books and (with a bit of a refresher) was able to describe some of what happens later. I prefer having the rest told to me than actually reading through the next four books. So yeah, I won't be continuing this series, although I'm happy enough to have satisfied my curiosity about it.
Next.
Over the last several weeks I've been reading the yaoi novels that Angelica has bought and passed along for me to read.
First I read Only the Ring Finger Knows (volumes 1 and 2) by Kannagi Satoru and Odagiri Hotaru. From the first chapter I thought I'd enjoy this story. I enjoy school-age stories and the main character seemed pretty strong. I was wrong. Painfully, painfully wrong. The main character [uke] turned out to be a lot more insecure, dumb/oblivious, and feminine than I'd hoped. I often really end up hating stories where misunderstandings could have been prevented by the regular sort of talking people do. I'm not talking about DEEP, life-altering conversations, but simple things like, "I can't believe I lost the VERY IMPORTANT bauble you gave me, but this very unethical person picked it up and won't give it back." This simple sentence may have allowed you to avoid things like BLACKMAIL DUE TO STUPIDITY.
In addition, does this publishing company even have an editor on staff? If I wanted to read poorly edited, STUPID fics, I would just turn to the huge world of the internet -- where at least I can get poorly edited, STUPID fics, with LOTS OF HOT SEX.
Next I read Cold Sleep by Konohara Narise and Saikawa Nanao. This one was better; at least the guys weren't feminine or overly insecure. Unfortunately, the plot was kind of boring (because or in spite of the cliche usage of amnesia as a plot device), and then there was the "big revelation" at the end. Up to the end I kept waiting for something to happen, and then it was kind of like... Oh. Okay.
After taking a bit of a break, and wondering why the hell I was continuing to read these STUPID STUPID books, I read Don't Worry Mama by Konohara Narise. It might be yaoi because it has male homosexual sex, but there certainly wasn't any romance or love in it. Or pretty much any feeling whatsoever. And Imakura [uke] is a WHINEY BITCH. *rages* But at least no one's particularly feminine.
Continuing in the Don't Worry Mama storyline (but with different main characters) is The Man Who Doesn't Take Off His Clothes by Konohara Narise. I'm about half way through the novel and it's BORING. Again, there's no feeling in this book so far. Nothing between the characters that I'm assuming end up together. And certainly no feeling in me for any of the characters in the book. Again, so far the only thing this has going for it is that none of the characters are particularly feminine. Considering how yaoi can be, I consider that a big plus and appreciate it whole-heartedly, but it doesn't make the story any more interesting to read.
You may have asked by now why I have read all of these yaoi novels. The answer is, I DON'T KNOW. I'm STUPID. Angelica is a pusher and I have no willpower when it comes to a published book in my hand and a long train ride or eating dinner alone (basically, lack of internet access for an extended period of time equalling 10 minutes or more).
More interesting things in the next post.
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Date: 2007-01-26 06:33 am (UTC)And you need one that says you're stupid- ::nodnod::
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Date: 2007-01-26 10:22 pm (UTC)i actually just dropped by to thank you personally for liking kakashi's ass and both of my boys' faces. yay! i actually just posted those so grace could go look, i am in the process of redoing them onto unlined paper, honest! it's sorta why i didnt finish the shading on "school's out" cuz im just going to have to redo it.
wah. i wanna have more done so you can praise them. who knew praise would be SO addictive?
i am sorry you suffered through terrible yaoi. you have to read some of these kakairu djs. they're fucking incredible. i think im going to try to put them on a cd and send them to you. i'll let you know.
no subject
Date: 2007-01-29 03:47 pm (UTC)If I wanted to read poorly edited, STUPID fics, I would just turn to the huge world of the internet -- where at least I can get poorly edited, STUPID fics, with LOTS OF HOT SEX.
I heart you muchly, Sara