my moral standing is lying down

Finished The Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs last night, shortly after coming home from work. OH MAN, there was an amazing part toward the end there -- disgustingly graphic with bodily fluids and such. Shockingly, I actually gagged after reading one particular line! After which, the expression on my face rapidly alternated between appalled and secret-giggliness. I'm still surprised that it managed to suck me in so much that I gagged. Really impressive Mr. Welsh! Thank you for that novel experience! <3

The ending of the novel wasn't at all surprising - in that, I had definitely listed the "big reveal" high on my list of possibilities - and the way in which it ended, after the reveal, was the only way I could envision it ending... but I admit to being somewhat surprised that it actually did end that way.

So, all in all, a satisfying read, but not one that will linger in my mind for too long, despite my enjoyment of it.

After finishing that, I immediately dove back into the Nodame Cantabile manga. I quite enjoyed the build-up and climax of the angst/confusion/conflict and was quite satisfied with several moments. Those moments where the best action to take is to pause, move away and do something else for a few minutes because the delicious feelings of angst, worry, anticipation, hope, etc., are all roiling within you -- but if you immediately continue reading, the continuing plot will sweep all of those emotions away.

Sometimes I lament that some storytellers don't know how to sustain a feeling of anticipation and anxiety to delay their peak. If the climax comes to soon, it's not as fun, now is it?

I had a wonderful sense of almost when the scanlations I had stopped just 2 chapters before the final end of the series. I had a few minutes of wailing and bemoaning and fluttering about (to which Judy can testify) before I thought to look for those last chapters in another location. Having found them and read them, I was satisfied by the end (and sad that it's over) -- but grateful for that pregnant pause.

(Though I've heard that a follow-up series was supposed to have started December 10th. I guess I'll have to wait and see.)

I started reading the Nodame Cantabile manga (visit stoptazmo.com!), and so far it seems the anime stuck very close to the manga while slightly glossing over certain parts. None of which was really so significant that it had to be shown.

( mild spoilers ahead )

I'm also currently reading Irvine Welsh's The Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs. It's interesting and entertaining and very much in the vein of his other novels, like Trainspotting and its sequel Porno. That is, dominated by the question of the working class and Scottish national identity... and as one critic said, "full of what Welsh does best -- sex, drugs, and drink." There is an interesting twist, however, in that there's an element of the supernatural/magical realism(?) in it which I don't think Welsh has ever really included in his other works. (Discovered that he does use it in several of his novels, just not in the ones I've read. After reading the Wiki on him, I think I should read his novel Filth next.)

I've been thinking about how I think about novels/films/etc. lately, and I've come to the conclusion that although I do analyze stories in certain ways, I'm not thinking quite critically enough. This is a sad realization. Where possible, I'm trying to prompt myself into thinking critically from different angles, but it's difficult. I feel like I should challenge myself to a book report, or at least the outline of one, and then look up critical essays to compare my thoughts to.

I think my brain is dissolving into something kind of... boring.