(no subject)

[skygiants]

Hmm, I don't know if I have all that much to say about The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya. Again, I think I like the books best of all of the versions of the story I've seen - Kyon's narration comes across the most clearly, and it's a large part of what makes the story fun. Also, I really like the hints that all of the 'supernatural' characters are untrustworthy or have a flawed view on events in some way, and that all of their theories contradict each other, and I am totally hoping to see that played up more in later books - I don't remember it coming up in the show so much. I also really liked how Kyon's friends got drawn in a little, and how their general apathy compares and contrasts with Kyon's and with the antics of the club.

That said, Sigh was a little more frustrating as a story than Melancholy because I want to smack EVERYONE for being complicit in really horrible abuse of Asahina, and I don't even like Asahina! I want to keep liking the characters, but it gets a little exhausting constantly fanwanking things in my head so their behavior is not as horrific as it seems.

While I am here, I should probably also mention that scifantasy lent me the first two volumes of the manga to read a while back as well. They were perfectly decent, but they didn't really bring anything new, and I don't think I'll be bothering to keep hunting them down when I can already get the same story in two other media that I like better.

Comments

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

I want to smack EVERYONE for being complicit in really horrible abuse of Asahina, and I don't even like Asahina!

Seriously. Especially her "friend," Tsuruya. Seriously, she just went along with spiking Asahina's drink? Some friend!

(Interestingly, apparently in the original the spike in question was amazake, a low-alcohol sake. Changing it to "tequila" just makes it worse. Not that it was good to start, but we're going from "Tsuruya had a valid belief that she'd only make Asahina tipsy" to "Tsuruya should have known this was dangerous.")

That said...I kind of feel for the SOS Brigaders. The four of them (especially Kyon) know that the world quite literally hinges on their keeping Suzumiya grounded in reality and happy. So even if they don't like what's going on, they kind of feel they have to go along.

I'd like to think that Suzumiya learned something from Kyon's stopping her. I'd like to think that she recognizes, even if only unconsciously, that there is a point where she'll go too far and Kyon will abandon her.

But maybe I'm wishfully thinking.

[skygiants]

Seriously! I mean, I know high schoolers can be horrible, but I would like this recognized a little more that this is HORRIBLE BEHAVIOR!

(I spend a looot of time massively fanwanking in my head that Asahina does not play as 'cute and helpless' when she's with her classmates as she does in the SOS Brigade, but I doubt this is actually the case.)

Hmmm. Yes and no, but on the other hand, we get a lot of grumping from Kyon about how he doesn't REALLY believe the world is going to end or care about keeping Suzumiya happy. I can excuse the other two a little for that reason - well, and Yuki is a special case, considering she's not a human being anyways and has no need to abide by human moral codes, so I don't really judge her for it - but there are a lot of times when I feel like it's Kyon's responsibility to step up, and he doesn't. And the times when he does step up don't really make up for it.

My hope - and impression? - is that part of Haruhi's character arc is going to be developing an understanding that other people are, you know, people and not toys, and Kyon's character arc is going to be one of learning to take a more active role instead of a bystander's, which includes a few stands on moral grounds. And I am clinging desperately to that hope!

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

I spend a looot of time massively fanwanking in my head that Asahina does not play as 'cute and helpless' when she's with her classmates as she does in the SOS Brigade, but I doubt this is actually the case.

I doubt that too.

However, I am not sure that Asahina is as helpless as she appears both to the Brigade and her classmates. The whole thing could be a front.

we get a lot of grumping from Kyon about how he doesn't REALLY believe the world is going to end or care about keeping Suzumiya happy.

Unreliable Narrator. Kyon might express his doubts, but he won't risk the universe--and I can't blame him, especially seeing what he's seen.

We'll see about the larger arc. Knowing what I know about bits of where the story goes (including speculation about who has the actual reality-warping power--completely unsubstantiated, mind)...

[skygiants]

I did like the hints we got in this book that some of it might be a role. It mitigates things somewhat (and makes her more interesting!), though it still really, really does not excuse everyone's treatment of her - it's not like they know it's a role.


True; on the other hand, it seems just as often to be way more motivated by the fact that he's happy to look at Asahina in her costumes than by any desire not to irritate Haruhi, so, uh, I'm still not letting him off the hook.

Don't spoil me! :D

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

it's not like they know it's a role.

For values of "they" equal to Tsuruya, Suzumiya, and Kyon, I agree.

For Nagato and Koizumi...debatable.

it seems just as often to be way more motivated by the fact that he's happy to look at Asahina in her costumes than by any desire not to irritate Haruhi, so, uh, I'm still not letting him off the hook.

Fair enough. (Actually, part of what makes me think Asahina's playing a role is just that--if you were going to manipulate a teenage boy, who better than an Asahina?)

Don't spoil me! :D

As far as I know, I'm not. I've only heard thirdhand rumors of winked-at possibilities.

[skygiants]

Koizumi clearly has his suspicions; whatever there is to be known, Nagato probably knows, and isn't saying. But like I said, I don't tend to judge Nagato by, uh, actual human standards anyways. Whether Koizumi is actually terrified into inaction or just prefers standing around being cryptic and watching events unfold is unclear!

(Oh, it totally makes sense - and also seems to fit with what we've seen of older Asahina. I like it as a theory.)

All arc speculations are pretty interesting anyways, considering that according to the note at the end of the second book the author didn't really intend to write more than one to begin with.

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

Indeed.

Incidentally, it looks like the next book might not be until June (argh), the movie will be February plus DVD delay in Japan plus fansub time (so probably also June, argh), no word on American DVDs of season 2 (argh)...such is my life, I guess. *grin*

[skygiants]

Hey, one book every six months or so is not looking so bad to me right now, what with the yearly wait on the other light novel series I'm reading. Oh Twelve Kingdoms, why so slow!

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

More like nine months, but your point is taken.

[skygiants]

. . . heh. I WIN AT MATH.

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

No, it's a fair point. I'm actually annoyed more because I thought they were on a six-month schedule.

[skygiants]

Yeah, that's what I thought too. Still, on the bright side, this way everything will be coming out when you're officially done with school for the year and can indulge guilt-free!

[gramarye1971]

I'm glad I saw the anime (at least the first 'season', or however they're billing it), but I have no real desire to follow it up in other media. Haruhi reminds me far too much of some people I know in RL, for one thing. ^^;; And the Asahina abuse borders on unreadable for me, too -- it hits my emotional squick buttons dead-on. I'll probably watch the rest of the anime if I ever get my hands on it, though.

[skygiants]

Yeah, it's conflicting - I really like a lot about the premise and the storytelling, but in other ways I find it really frustrating! I do actually find the books more dealable than the show, though, partly because I don't have to see the abuse and can sort of mentally mitigate it in my head, and partly because the unreliable narration is more clear. On the other hand, I totally get not feeling the need to catch the story more than once over.

[ceitfianna]

I want to read some manga for my children's lit thing, what would you recommend for me? Also, the booktalk I did for Hexwood is up on my journal.

[skygiants]

I saw that your booktalk was up! I will totally be listening when I get the chance (and, uh, am not at work. :D)

Hmmmmm. Well, I am not all that much of an expert - the range of what I have read is pretty small, and usually not actually child-oriented (see icon *wry*) - but Fullmetal Alchemist might be a good one that could fall into the YA category. I have also heard very good things about the series Cardcaptor Sakura, which I believe was actually aimed at kids, though I haven't read it myself.

[gramarye1971]

Cardcaptor Sakura was published in the serial magazine Nakayoshi, which is aimed at girls around ages 9 to 13. Other good Nakayoshi series aimed at that same age range include Sailormoon and Magic Knight Rayearth. For series aimed at a YA or high school girl audience, try Boys Over Flowers (Hana Yori Dango) or Hana-Kimi. (FYI, Becca, Hana-Kimi has girl-crossdressing hijinks as one of the main plot lines!)

For series published in magazines aimed at boys in the same age range, try Ranma 1/2, Prince of Tennis, Rurouni Kenshin, or Death Note.

(I'm sort of flailing a bit here, because I really don't know what's available in English in the library! Which sounds horribly snobbish of me, but is totally true.)

[skygiants]

(I have heard of Hana-Kimi and it is totally on my list! Actually I think Jo has promised to lend it to me next time I am up in Maine. >:D)

[gramarye1971]

^_^

I used to have a few volumes of a weird little manga called Mint na Bokura (We Are Mint), which had the semi-unique theme of a boy crossdressing to get into his twin sister's school and thwart her crush on a cool older guy. The art style wasn't bad, but the storyline never really pulled me in, although I've been told that it has a good ending. Unfortunately, it's not out in English.