Months of Absence

Erm... Hello, Internet!

How are you? Well, I hope!

I'm well aware of my absence since Star Wars Day. While I fully intended to continue, I just lost some motivation. I felt as if none of it mattered - all in all, I got bored of myself. And then laziness clutched at that fault, clambered up, pitched a tent, and settled in. One of my best friends reminded me of my absence a little while ago, and I thought maybe I should make my way back.

Slowly, but surely, I intend to start posting reviews again. I realized that I've been posting about books I love or enjoyed, at the very least. I want to diversify that, so I will try to write about books I haven't enjoyed or hated (in some cases).

This will not be constant. I cannot assure you of a schedule or consistency. There will be lulls, silence, and for how long, I cannot say, but I can only say that there will be some. All I ask is patience. This is not only a blog of reviews, this is an archive of my literary history. It takes me time to remember what I liked or disliked, whether the plot truly belonged to the book I'm remembering, whether I enjoyed it at all, maybe if I even finished the book/series.

I wish everyone the happiest of Holidays. I hope to see more of you in future.

Happy Reading!
-- Isabel

Happy Star Wars Day!

Why Read?

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."

– Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

"Isn't it odd how much fatter a book gets when you've read it several times? ... As if something were left between the pages every time you read it. Feelings, thoughts, sounds, smells...and then, when you look at the book again many years later, you find yourself there, too, a slightly younger self, slightly different, as if the book had preserved you like a pressed flower...both strange and familiar."

– Cornelia Funke, Inkspell  

"Everything in the world exists in order to end up as a book."

– Stephane Mallarme

"A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest."

– C.S. Lewis

"Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing."

– Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird

"Do not read, as children do, to amuse yourself, or like the ambitious, for the purpose of instruction. No, read in order to live."

– Gustave Flaubert

"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers."

– Charles William Eliot

"We read to know that we are not alone."

– C.S. Lewis

"'A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies,' said Jojen. 'The man who never reads lives only one.'"

– George R.R. Martin, A Dance With Dragons

"It is only a novel... or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed, in which the most thorough knowledge of human nature, the happiest delineation of its varieties, the liveliest effusions of wit and humor, are conveyed to the world in the best-chosen language."

– Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey

All of these quotes are from the phenomenal site Good Reads, where I have only skimmed the surface of 1,307 quotes about reading. These are all reasons why I love to read, as well.

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There's a theorist named Evgeny Morozov who writes about something called "net delusion." This concept is that the world's population has become naive with the invention of the Internet. People believe the Internet can fix anything, is stronger than anything, has power over anything. Morozov pities those of us who believe that sites like Twitter and Facebook can overpower government or tyranny. I, like Morozov, pity those who believe in the absolute power of the Internet.

The Internet is only as powerful as the people who use it. Those who wield the power of the Internet have the power to make change. Just as the invention of the printing press. Alone it holds no power. When a printer uses the press, only then is there power in the object. The printing press began a revolution around the world, just as the Internet has. They are mere catalysts in a human's evolutionary curiosity. "Guns don't kill people. People kill people." Well, certainly guns help in killing people. But, this is true. It is a tool we use. The printing press is a tool we use. The Internet is a tool we use.

Books are tools we need. Without them, there is too much untapped knowledge. Is it naive of me to think that books have power? Am I one of Morozov's delusional people? Can I sit here and say that one of the necessities of life is to read, and in reading one becomes powerful? I am, albeit, biased. But, when reading, a reader gains a more enlightened mind. A reader gains knowledge. If "knowledge is power," then the Internet is powerful. But, those who control it are even more so.

Excuse the tired ramblings of a weary college student. I found myself in need of an outlet of sorts. Perhaps this makes sense... Perhaps it doesn't. Perhaps I'll return to this post and edit the living day-lights out of it... Perhaps not.

"A person is a fool to become a writer. His only compensation is absolute freedom." – Roald Dahl

Happy Reading!

-- Isabel

Manga/Anime Corner!

Welcome to Manga/Anime Corner again! This time I am going to recommend a lighter manga/anime and a darker one. Both are manga and anime. While I typically prefer the Japanese voices, I happen to really like the English Dubbed voices of both anime. So, this time around, I cannot give a “Subs v. Dubs” recommendation. All right, here they are!

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Ouran High School Host Club­ – Bisco Hatori

Both an anime and a manga, Ouran High School Host Club is a fun romantic comedy for guys and girls alike. Ouran is a satire, overall. It pokes fun at the stereotypical male characters girls are supposed to like. And it is downright hilarious!

The series follows Haruhi Fujioka, a scholarship student at Ouran Academy. Ouran Academy is an extremely prestigious high school, where only the richest attend. Their unofficial motto is “Lineage first, wealth a close second.” It is very rare when an exceptional “commoner” is granted a scholarship. When looking for a quiet place to study, Haruhi stumbles into the Ouran Academy Host Club.

A Host Club is a group of men who entertain women with conversation and drinks. Host and Hostess clubs are very popular in East Asian countries. The Ouran Host Club is a group of six male students. Each student epitomizes a male stereotype found in Japanese manga/anime.

Tamaki Suo is the princely, flamboyant, and narcissistic founder and president of the Host Club; Kyoya Otori is the secretive, pragmative, megane (glasses) vice-president of the Host Club; Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin are the mischievous, childish, twins in the Host Club; Mistkune “Honey” Haninozuka is the Lolita, sweets-addict, and eldest member of the Host Club; Takashi “Mori” Morinozuka is the protective, quiet, tall, and second eldest member of the Host Club. What is Haruhi to do when she meets all of these strange men? What happens when she accidentally smashes an $80,000 vase in the clubroom? Is working as a Host the only way to pay off her debt? Don't they realize that she's a girl?

Back Row: Kyoya, Mori (with Usa-chan), Tamaki
Front Row: Kaoru, Haruhi, Hikaru, Honey

The anime only spans 26 episodes (a rather short anime), and the manga is only 18 volumes long (a rather short manga). There are two seasons in the anime. A 3^rd season was rumored, but hasn’t been produced. There is a live-action drama and film, which I haven’t seen. The anime ends rather abruptly and very differently than the manga. To find out what happens, I suggest reading the manga for answers. Despite the ending, I adored the anime! Every episode had me cracking up and smiling. And, guys, don’t be afraid of it! I know quite a few men who really enjoyed it, too! Initially, Ouran is really weird… But, you grow accustomed to it!

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Cowboy Bebop – Keiko Nobumoto (anime) / Hajime Yatate (manga)

The 1998 award-winning anime, Cowboy Bebop, is actually one of the greatest anime I’ve seen. Granted, I say that about a lot of things on this blog… Cowboy Bebop truly is brilliant. With only 26 episodes and one movie, this show caters to everyone. Men and women alike will love this show. It’s science fiction, film noir, Western, and crime fiction all in one. The music is reminiscent of the 40’s-60’s with its jazz and southern tones, but also the 50’s-70’s early rock style. The animation is awesome for a 1998 show. The voices, both in Japanese and English, are perfect for each character.

The year is 2071, and the entire Solar System is accessible through hyperspace gates. The explosion of a test hyperspace gate, in 2022, severely damaged the Moon. The survivors abandoned Earth and colonized other planets. Now, Mars is the central hub of human civilization. However, it is also the hub of interplanetary crime syndicates. Those syndicates have an influence over the government and the ISSP (Inter-Solar System Police). In order to regulate the corruption, a bounty system – similar to one in the Old West – is established to deal with crime. Those involved are aptly named, “cowboys.”

Our main characters are aboard a ship called the Bebop, owned by a man named Jet Black. An ex-ISSP detective, Jet turned to bounty hunting to pursue justice. Despite his gruff exterior, Jet is protective and caring man. His partner in crime is a man named Spike Spiegel. Spike is an easygoing, skilled pilot and a master of hand-to-hand combat and firearms. While hunting for their next paycheck, the two encounter Faye Valentine – a novice, bounty hunter with a gambling problem and debt – and Edward – an eccentric computer genius and master hacker. As they pursue various criminals, the Red Dragon Crime Syndicate keeps popping up. Will Jet and Spike get involved in something far bigger than a little bounty? Who is this mysterious Julia woman? Will they keep the corgi?

From Left: Jet, Spike, Faye, Ed, and Ein.

The manga was written after the anime aired, but still is enjoyable. I started and finished this show in less than a fortnight (2 weeks). I can’t even begin to tell you how fantastic Cowboy Bebop is. I’ve remained pretty vague in my description of the show because the characters will be elaborated on when you watch the show. Both the Japanese and English voices are perfect for the characters. Ladies: Spike is unbelievably handsome no matter what language he’s speaking. Gents: Spike is unbelievably bad-ass no matter what language he’s speaking. Everyone: Cowboy Bebop is unbelievably awesome no matter what language they are speaking.

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Both anime can be found on AnimeReady.com, JustDubs.net, AnimeCrazy.net, and various others. Manga can be found on CityManga.com or MangaFox.com. Ouran can be found on YouTube in high quality in both languages. It was posted by FUNimation and is completely legal.

Don't forget to do your best to support the artists, too. Give both a try! They’re tons of fun!

Happy Reading and Watching!

-Isabel

Excuse the Absence!

I've had a pretty chaotic week! After I'd gotten back from Easter shenanigans at a friend's house, the game began. Indeed. Humans vs Zombies week began. The Apocalypse came to my campus.

Humans vs Zombies originated in Goucher College where a bunch of students came up with this eccentric game. It became so popular that it is now played in hundreds of communities and colleges nationwide. More information can be found on their website http://humansvszombies.org/.

HvZ is like a giant "big-kid" game of tag! Humans wear bandanas as armbands and Zombies wear them as headbands. It starts with an OZ - Original Zombie - who tags as many Humans as they can, infecting them. Those tagged by the OZ immediately become Zombies. The OZ wears an armband for the first 24 hours of the game, or until they tag 10 Humans. A tag is quite literally a tag. A Zombie has to chase after the Human and tag them.

Tags, for Zombies, equate to kills for food. A Zombie must "feed" or be "fed" every 48 hours, or they will stave to death. That is the only way to "lose" HvZ. Sometimes some Humans equate becoming a Zombie with losing.. That's not the case. In fact, living without the paranoia of getting mobbed by Zombies is a rather nice feeling. One can only lose if they do not tag anyone.

Tags are regulated through the website hvzsource.com. Every human has an ID number, which they carry with them at all times. So, when they are tagged by a Zombie, that Zombie enters the ID number into the website. When submitting the tag, the Zombie is able to "feed" two other Zombies as well. By feeding fellow Zombies, you increase the survival time of the horde.

Humans are not defenseless! They are allowed to use Zombie repellent. Nerf Darts and balled up socks can stun Zombies for 10 minutes. Typically Humans will stock up on both and fortify themselves in no-play zones. Many Humans will create packs or squads to protect each other and attempt to survive longest. It all becomes about who you know and where they are. By building up one's social network, a person can survive for quite a long time. This is a game of networking and social capital. You don't want to protect someone who can't protect you! Ultimately, you'll get killed for it! But, as a Zombie, you contact your Zombie friends and create a horde. Your horde will go to the missions, or go out Human hunting with you. Both parties are stronger in groups than alone.

Anywho, so this was the game that was played for a week, with missions to keep up excitement. It was supposed to span from Monday to Sunday, but us Zombies took out too many Humans. On Friday, our Moderators gave 7 Zombies (chosen from a lottery) revives, and the ratio of Humans to Zombies was relatively equal: 52:48 or so. But, then came the Friday evening mission. It was a glorious last stand for the Humans, and a magnificent win for the Zombies. 20 or so Humans versus 15 Zombies, maybe fewer. Strategically, the finale was definitely in our (Zombies') favor. So, the game ended earlier than intended.

I was sore, I was tired, I was bloody exhausted... But, HvZ was the most fun I'd had in a while. I met some fantastic people and bonded with some I already knew. Being a Zombie was tons of fun! Sprinting after Humans while going to class made the mundane ... absolutely wicked. So, spread the word! Maybe you can get one started in your community! At home? At camp? Family gatherings? Anywhere!! Check humansvzombies.org and hvzsource.com and find a game near you!!

More books to come! =)

Happy Hunting!
-Isabel

Manga/Anime Corner!

Welcome to the first of (hopefully) many Manga/Anime Corner Posts! Upon request, haha! I’m hoping to do more of these as time goes on. I’ll do two, maybe three, per post to keep it interesting and have enough to actually talk about in the future, haha! Everything I talk about can be found via Anime Ready and/or Manga Fox. So, here goes nothing!

  

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Durarara! – Ryohgo Narita (also the author of Baccano) 

A manga and anime, Durarara! is one of those underrated shows. Admittedly, I have not read the manga (which is something I will do, eventually), but the anime is fantastic. I prefer watching this subbed because the voices seem to fit the personalities and characters perfectly. It has slight bits of romance, but overall Durarara! is an supernatural/action anime. 

Ryuugamine Mikado moves to Ikebukuro – a district of Tokyo – after being invited by his childhood friend – who he hadn’t seen in years – Kida Masaomi. Mikado longs for the exiting, “big city” life he imagines Masaomi has. But, he is also scared of the infamous Ikebukuro. Masaomi warns Mikado about the strange people and gangs that inhabit the district. There is the freakishly strong, Heiwajima Shizuo; who hates the cunning information broker, Orihara Izaya. There is a mysterious, colorless, gang called “The Dollars”; both the “Yellow Scarves” and “Blue Squares” – two Ikebukuro gangs – fear them, despite the war between the two factions. The “Black Rider” is a local legend; she is rumored to have no head under her yellow helmet. Sonohara Anri is a quiet, timid, schoolmate of Masaomi and Mikado. 

Other characters are introduced and reappear frequently, as the cast remains small. The plot follows characters through one of the most memorable, twisting, and unpredictable plot lines I’ve encountered so far. I absolutely loved this show. I would try to talk about it a bit more, but I would risk spoiling something! It'll become clearer once you watch the show. Honestly, it’s worth every moment!

  

(From Left)
Izaya, Masaomi, Mikado, Anri, Shizuo

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Hellsing (OVA) – Kouta Hirano 

Hellsing is a bloody, supernatural anime that follows the militaristic Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing – leader of the Holy Order of Protestant Knights. The Order is an organization was originally led by Abraham Van Helsing, the infamous vampire hunter. Sir Integra is protected by the faithful Hellsing family butler, Walter, and the original vampire, Alucard. Seras Victoria is a young police officer, who was turned into a vampire by Alucard. 

There are zombie-like vampires created en masse by the remnants of a Nazi group called Millennium. The Vatican have their own vampire extermination organization: Section XIII Iscariot. Over London, the three factions clash in an apocalyptic war-triangle. This ongoing manga and anime is awesome. The subbed anime has lots of fighting and fantastic voice acting. Alucard is the most epic vampire ever. There are only 9 OVA episodes, but they’re worth the wait. I absolutely love this show! All versions of this anime are good. The OVA is bloodier than others, though. But, I suppose, that’s what makes Hellsing great! That and Alucard's utter badass-ness.

(From Left)
Seras Victoria, Sir Integra, Alucard

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Those are my two anime/manga suggestions for this Anime/Manga Corner! I’m working on some more, too! I’m picking only with ones I know – meaning I’ve read or watched them. I also will only write about them if I can link you to a scanlated version online. I know it’s difficult (and expensive) to get your hands on a physical copy of any manga. Ditto with anime. I do not mean to deter you from purchasing the physical copies! It’s very important to support the artists! But, I’d like to give an alternative so you can actually enjoy them as much as I did! 

Happy Reading/Watching! 

-- Isabel

The Scariest Game I Know

Amnesia: The Dark Descent is honestly one of the scariest games I have ever encountered!!

It's a puzzle game! You make your way through a massive castle... but, you're not alone. You're being haunted and hunted by a shadow...among other things. You barely remember who you are, let alone what you're doing there. Thank goodness you've left yourself notes around the castle... if you can remember where you put them. The darkness makes your sanity dwindle, so you must collect tinderboxes to light your path and oil for a lantern

But, light will also give you away. You cannot attack in this game. In Amnesia, you can only hide, run, and solve the puzzles. This game is meant to be played with headphones, or loud volume, in the dark. The graphics are awesome, the background noise... creepiest noises and music ever. This is a first person puzzle game, in which you can interact with pretty much anything that surrounds you. Frictional Games did a phenomenal job!

In the DLC (Downloadable Content), Amnesia: Justine, if you die, you have to start at the very beginning of the game. Luckily, in the original game, that is not the case. So, my suggestion is: save frequently. You never know what the game will throw at you.

I tried playing Amnesia with a friend of mine, and the two of us made it about 10 minutes (maybe fewer) into the game before getting so scared we slammed the laptop shut! We figured we could handle it because we'd watched "Let's Play's" on Youtube. We couldn't... Hahaha!

It's a brilliant game that will run on both Mac and PC. You can download the Demo and the game from their website here. If you're someone who uses Steam, the game and Demo are also available there.

I dare you to give it a try!!

Happy Gaming!
- Isabel

PS
Apparently there's another one appearing in the near future! This is all we know!!
Another Amnesia?!
More  Information  Courtesy of one of my lovely sisters.

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Some Awesome Let's Play's of Amnesia:
GoldGlove's Let's Play
The Best of GoldGlove Plays Amnesia
Toby Plays Amnesia Part 1 and Part 2
Jesse Cox (OMFGaming) Plays Amnesia
TotalBiscuit Plays Amnesia for Halloween: Part 1 and Part 2

'Ello Out There!

Welcome!

I suppose introductions are in order.

My name is Isabel, and welcome to my blog! A little about me… I’m about 6’0” tall, I like pretty much any music, I’m learning Japanese, I’m a total geek… and I’ve read a ton throughout my life. Everything from teenybopper beach reads, to, well… almost anything in the fiction genre. Granted, many of the books I’ve read cater to girls, but not everything. So, when I recommend something, I’ll say whom I think it’ll appeal to more. But, there’s going to be a lot of fiction. (^w^) I love fiction!

Aren't they ADORABLE!?

<Insert picture of polar bear cubs to make this less blocky----->

Temporary Insanity is named after one of my favorite Alexz Johnson songs. (It’s awesome! I loved “Instant Star”!) I thought it’d be a good name for my blog because … well, it fit, haha! 


I’ve never blogged before, so this is going to take some getting used to. Every now and then I might post one of these, more personal, updates. As I said in my little “About Me” blurb, I’m quite the ranter. I don’t want to give out spoilers, but if there’s something that bothers me, I will rant about them. 


Have no fear, though! I’m going to black out the spoilers... Or, white out. It’ll look a little like this: Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father. So, you can highlight the spoiler’s and read them. If you've never watched Star Wars and didn't know that... I apologize. If an entire rant, or post, is about something spoiler-ific, then I’ll say so in the title. Nifty, huh? I’ll try to keep it professional, though, haha!

So, this blog is going to have a number of things going on. Yeah, I’m going to recommend and/or review books I’ve read and enjoyed. I’m not sure I’ll post about anything I didn’t like; because someone out there might actually like the book, and I don’t want to dissuade anyone from reading it. I’m also thinking of doing a “Phobia of the Day” and/or “Word of the Day”! There are some totally outrageous phobias out there, which really need to be shared, haha! Words, too! 


Along with those, if I find something I’d like to share, no matter how nerdy, I’ll share that as well. I might recommend a manga/comic, a show, an anime, a game, or … well, who knows? I’m doing this on a whim. So, I’ll just post whatever comes to mind!

Now, to wrap this up…I’m a college student, and will try to make regular posts. Bi-weekly or weekly, perhaps. But, I can’t make any promises. There’s going to be lots of work. I’ll do my best, though!!

Hope you’re well! And…Welcome!!

Happy Reading!

- Isabel