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lunabee34Our internet went out this weekend, and it’s only just now fixed. I am not happy. I need to be able to use the internet from home to grade, so I ended up spending hours more than I usually would on campus so I could grade. I also couldn’t do stuff like check our online banking or look up something random I wanted to know or comment on failfandomanon. I could technically do all those things on my phone (and I did read LJ and DW), but some sites are difficult to navigate on my phone, and commenting is really hard for me (texting is beyond my skill set; thank goodness most times I can talk into my phone and have it transcribe what I’m saying).
So here are the things I wanted to post about while I was away:
1. I am finally finished with Furuba. I was doing a reaction post per volume or handful of volumes, but I think I’ll just discuss the main points picking up where I left off in volume 13 to the end.
I love that Yuki and Kyo both are parts of Tohru’s past even though she’s not initially aware; Yuki wearing Kyo’s hat when he leads Tohru home reminds me a great deal of a similar back story for the main characters in Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple.
All the parental abuse, neglect, and rejection in the story really started to get to me by the end. As a parent myself, imagining a scenario in which I physically or emotionally abuse my kids or reject them entirely is impossible for me. Especially if all my kid does is turn into a kitty when I hug him. I don’t get the visceral horror all the parents of the Sohma kids seem to experience. And the sibling stuff is disturbing as well; from Momiji being separated from his siblings to Machi being accused of trying to kill her brother by a manipulative mother, those relationships are pretty tragic, too.
I found Tohru’s mother’s back story pretty satisfying and loved the joy she was able to find in her family.
I was not expecting the reveal that Akito is a girl, and I didn’t expect her relationships with both Kureno and Shigure. I don’t understand why Akito’s mom insisted she be raised as a man, and once again, her rejection of her child makes little sense to me. I think Akito’s mom truly loved her dad and was traumatized by his death and the way the other members of the household treated her but that hardly seems an excuse. I’m also not quite sure I understand exactly why Akito becomes so possessive and manipulative and cruel as a result unless those traits are just meant to be the perversion of the original deal the animals made with god.
I think the way breaking the curse is handled is probably the most interesting part of the whole story. I was expecting something like a fairy tale, Tohru making the right gesture or Kyo admitting a vulnerability or something similar to release them all. I think having the bond slowly dissolve naturally is probably a better choice, and I think that choice leaves fans with something interesting to chew on in fic—namely, to what degree is Akito consciously or unconsciously influencing that dissolution.
Tohru falling off the cliff was a bit much for me. LOL
I like the way all the endgame relationships play out (Aayame and Mine, FTW!) I died laughing at the part where Kakeru announces that Tohru is Yuki’s mommy in his heart (even though Yuki confirms that’s true later, the way Kakeru says it slays me). I cried at the end when Tohru and Kyo are shown as grandparents with Tohru’s mom’s wishes for Tohru written over the images of their happy family. So lovely.
I also liked seeing the original banquet and how the story and purpose of the zodiac became perverted over the centuries. So deeply sad and melancholy. This story contains a great deal of death, and one of the main themes seems to be learning to accept mortality and live well despite eventual death.
All in all, I’m glad I read this series even though manga and comics will never be my preferred genre to read.
2. All the Americans who believe that changing the time twice a year is a good idea should have to take care of an infant and a dog for a week after the time change while also continuing to fulfill their regular responsibilities and obligations. I do prefer waking up in the morning to sunlight but NOT THAT MUCH!
3. Who else thinks what the world needs now is a Peter Quill vid set to "Ain't No Other Man" by Christina Aguilera?
4. Rest in peace, Tom Magliozzi. I care shit all for cars, but you and your brother have brought a great deal of laughter and joy into my life over the years. Thanks for sharing your expertise and your mirth with us all.
5. I just placed a ginormous perfume order with BPAL, and I hope it will arrive before Christmas. :) Emma picked out imps of Dragon's Milk, Al-Shairan, How Doth the Little Crocodile, Schrody's Cat, Eden, and Good. I picked out imps of Bewitched, Troll, Kumiho, Whitechapel, Alecto, and Strangler Fig. I also got full-sized bottles of Phobos and Incantation for myself plus a full-sized bottle of Elf for Emma. I can't wait to try them all.
6. I am about to spam you all with some more posts (Walking Dead, kids today, Gotham) that I hope you all find mind-blowingly scintillating. Whoooooo!
So here are the things I wanted to post about while I was away:
1. I am finally finished with Furuba. I was doing a reaction post per volume or handful of volumes, but I think I’ll just discuss the main points picking up where I left off in volume 13 to the end.
I love that Yuki and Kyo both are parts of Tohru’s past even though she’s not initially aware; Yuki wearing Kyo’s hat when he leads Tohru home reminds me a great deal of a similar back story for the main characters in Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple.
All the parental abuse, neglect, and rejection in the story really started to get to me by the end. As a parent myself, imagining a scenario in which I physically or emotionally abuse my kids or reject them entirely is impossible for me. Especially if all my kid does is turn into a kitty when I hug him. I don’t get the visceral horror all the parents of the Sohma kids seem to experience. And the sibling stuff is disturbing as well; from Momiji being separated from his siblings to Machi being accused of trying to kill her brother by a manipulative mother, those relationships are pretty tragic, too.
I found Tohru’s mother’s back story pretty satisfying and loved the joy she was able to find in her family.
I was not expecting the reveal that Akito is a girl, and I didn’t expect her relationships with both Kureno and Shigure. I don’t understand why Akito’s mom insisted she be raised as a man, and once again, her rejection of her child makes little sense to me. I think Akito’s mom truly loved her dad and was traumatized by his death and the way the other members of the household treated her but that hardly seems an excuse. I’m also not quite sure I understand exactly why Akito becomes so possessive and manipulative and cruel as a result unless those traits are just meant to be the perversion of the original deal the animals made with god.
I think the way breaking the curse is handled is probably the most interesting part of the whole story. I was expecting something like a fairy tale, Tohru making the right gesture or Kyo admitting a vulnerability or something similar to release them all. I think having the bond slowly dissolve naturally is probably a better choice, and I think that choice leaves fans with something interesting to chew on in fic—namely, to what degree is Akito consciously or unconsciously influencing that dissolution.
Tohru falling off the cliff was a bit much for me. LOL
I like the way all the endgame relationships play out (Aayame and Mine, FTW!) I died laughing at the part where Kakeru announces that Tohru is Yuki’s mommy in his heart (even though Yuki confirms that’s true later, the way Kakeru says it slays me). I cried at the end when Tohru and Kyo are shown as grandparents with Tohru’s mom’s wishes for Tohru written over the images of their happy family. So lovely.
I also liked seeing the original banquet and how the story and purpose of the zodiac became perverted over the centuries. So deeply sad and melancholy. This story contains a great deal of death, and one of the main themes seems to be learning to accept mortality and live well despite eventual death.
All in all, I’m glad I read this series even though manga and comics will never be my preferred genre to read.
2. All the Americans who believe that changing the time twice a year is a good idea should have to take care of an infant and a dog for a week after the time change while also continuing to fulfill their regular responsibilities and obligations. I do prefer waking up in the morning to sunlight but NOT THAT MUCH!
3. Who else thinks what the world needs now is a Peter Quill vid set to "Ain't No Other Man" by Christina Aguilera?
4. Rest in peace, Tom Magliozzi. I care shit all for cars, but you and your brother have brought a great deal of laughter and joy into my life over the years. Thanks for sharing your expertise and your mirth with us all.
5. I just placed a ginormous perfume order with BPAL, and I hope it will arrive before Christmas. :) Emma picked out imps of Dragon's Milk, Al-Shairan, How Doth the Little Crocodile, Schrody's Cat, Eden, and Good. I picked out imps of Bewitched, Troll, Kumiho, Whitechapel, Alecto, and Strangler Fig. I also got full-sized bottles of Phobos and Incantation for myself plus a full-sized bottle of Elf for Emma. I can't wait to try them all.
6. I am about to spam you all with some more posts (Walking Dead, kids today, Gotham) that I hope you all find mind-blowingly scintillating. Whoooooo!
no subject
Date: 2014-11-06 03:34 am (UTC)And fwiw, I much prefer to wake up in the dark and drive home from work when it's light than the other way around. Argh.
no subject
Date: 2014-11-06 03:40 am (UTC)I actually like waking up when it's light better than when it's dark, but I do not enjoy explaining to a 16 month old that we are not getting up at 4:40 today. LOL