In which I read Graceling and the manga Maximum Ride.

Graceling.

Graceling is incredibly well written. The characters are amazing, the plot is good (but a little confusing... what's the problem?), and Kristen Cashore is brilliance.

It's funny, reading the book, after reading her blog and about how she got to write it. For instance, she used VRC (Voice Recognition Software) to 'dictate' the book from her notes, because she has something in her fingers which makes it hurt like heck if she types/anything like that too much. And Po reminds me, in some ways, of Alpha (see post below). Which makes sense, because I heard about Alpha, Matthew, and Frankie, from her.

I love Katsa.

I have to say, I prefer 'wild' Katsa to 'Po' Katsa. By the end of the book, she's... not the same. she's changed. Which is good, in a way, I suppose. But it's like Lyra; I like her Pre-Will better. In the end of the Amber Spyglass, Lyra compares herself about what she'd do with her new-found ability of distance from Pantalaimon. Old Lyra, she thinks, would show off and scare the children. But Will taught me the values of silence. (Those aren't the right words. Just a brief example, I suppose you'd call it.) Bleh. Show off to 'em, Lyra, I say/think!

Also.

Maximum Ride... manga. Brilliant, right? Right.

I've been having a Max craving for weeks now, and finally, I can sate my hunger. That's a terrible metaphor. I love Nudge. Who doesn't love Nudge? Iggy, too. Iggy is great. Angel... bugs me. Gazzy is awesome. And, of course, Max. And Fang... Actually, I'd most likely choose someone else, but Fang. Iggy? (Y'know what I hate? People who pair up Iggy, and Nudge. Terrible. PERVERTS!) No Total yet.

My (and my friend's) Maximum Ride Hate List:

JEB.
Brigid.
Angel.

We like Ari. He's fine. It ends up. But JEB... c'mon, man, choose a side already!! And go Max for not trusting the idiot!

I love Dr Martinez, though. Ella's cool. Not as flock-ey, though. I don't think she'd last as a bird kid. Sorry, gal. She freaked at the sight of the bullet wound Max got from those meanies who tried to get Ella, and who Max saved her from. Bah!

Mood: Satisfied?
Music: The song playing on the radio right now, about the hand jive.
Book: Graceling, by Kristen Cashore/Maximum Ride, volume one, by James Patterson; manga-ness by Narae Lee