books and writing and manga/anime

[cornerofmadness]

Here's two long book reviews I did.

book review the first

book review the second


Fell 200 words short on Red Skies so backed it down again word count wise for this week. Summer's just too busy.

558 / 1,000 (55.8%)

now been thinking about this in part for an rpg i'm futzing with, looking at strong female characters. We have the Buffy crew covered, but I was thinking about those kinds of characters, especially in manga/anime. There really aren't that many strong ones out there. I'm thinking on the manga I have here.
1. Fullmetal Alchemist - this is why i love this one so much, several strong women, Riza, Winry, Izumi and Olivia, heck they're even scary
2. Saiyuki - eh, male oriented to be sure, Yaone started strong then fizzled out
3. Bleach - Rukia started strong then became a simpering girl waiting to be rescued which has really annoyed me. I guess Yoruichi is strong but sh's minor
4. Rurouni Kenshin - Kaoru and Misao are somewhat strong but always get left behind in a more tradition woman role sense of things
5. Her Majesty's Dog - Amane again is only semi-strong and highly dependent on Hyoue
6. Black Cat - now this one has some stronger females, Rinslet the thief and Eve, i think that might be why i like it so much
7. godchild/cain's saga - the only girl here is really a girl, a young one but she's relatively brave

well i've got more back there but you get the idea. So tell me, who is your favorite strong manga girl (or tv girl for that matter)

ETA - I keep forgetting to ask, anyone out there know a good way to dry out tomato seeds so they can be put away for germination this winter?

Comments

[mjules.livejournal.com]

Scully.

OMGScully.

And, let's see. How about movies? Oona from Stardust (that I've seen twice now) is amazing, though there's still a subtle misogyny to that movie that irritates me. I like the looks of Cate Blanchett's Elizabeth from the upcoming movie... I love Elizabeth Swann from Pirates, especially in the third movie...

Most of the manga that I read nowadays (that isn't what you've already listed) is yaoi. I love the girls in Gunslinger Girl - they each have their own strengths. Claes and Triela especially. There are some good girl characters in some of the yaoi, like Yuriko in Kusatta. She's awesome.

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

OH, how could I forget Scully? *headdesk*

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

haven't seen Stardust...and you know i think that bothered me in the comic itself

I did like Elizabeth

yes, that's true, the girls in GG do have strenght. I've not seen Kusatta

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Favorite Female Characters (in no particular order):
1. Emma Peel The Avengers -c'mon, who didn't wanna be Emma Peel? She rescued herself AND John Steed, to boot. She was the head of her company. She was a SPY. And she was beautiful!
2. Winry Rockbell Fullmetal Alchemist - Genius-level and strong enough to keep up with the boys - and strong enough to stay there. Definitely a keeper.
3. Willow Rosenberg Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Funny, smart and generous. Did I mention powerful? And funny?
4. Wednesday Addams The Addams Family movies - Deliciously Goth and oh, so wicked.

There are others but those give you a good sample, yesh?

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

nods though Emma is too old for the game.

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Yes, Emma is...unless she's a teacher. *laughs* Martial arts teacher.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

snort

[mulzrule.livejournal.com]

Well, I absolutely love Izumi as one of the strongest FMA characters. Call me crazy, but I also ADORE Psiren from the anime. (Poor Ed, no wonder he never dates, the only women he knows terrify him;)

I also like Kaoru from Kenshin. Misao is nice but annoys me at times.

Rukia from Bleach disappointed me too. Blech

Then there's Saiya, from Blood+. Love her. Am off to watch it in a bit actually.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

You know Saya annoys me too. Half the time she's quivering and doing nothing while people die and Hadji has to step in. I want her to be stronger than that, though i'll be watching in a few hours too

[mulzrule.livejournal.com]

I agree, I'm surprised to see that Kai seems to be maturing faster then Saya eventhough it's HER ordeal. Hadji's grown on me. I'm still suspicious of him, but I like him now at least.

I never made it though, I ended up taping last night's as usual. *sigh*

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i always tape them since i'm working on the computer at that hour. Yes Kai has become the strongest of them and Saya...she keeps making idiot choices that annoy me, I keep telling myself she's young

[mulzrule.livejournal.com]

That's what I kept telling myself but then the flashbacks with her and Hadji kinda ruined that illusion. At least Kai can make his own decisions as a mini adult, poor Rikku is just stuck in all this.

I have yet to see last night's. I'll watch it tomorrow morning before I leave for work hopefully.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i'll see last nights about this time next week...

but yes, Saya needs to suck it up. Rikku is a sweetie though

[chaos-by-design.livejournal.com]

For some reason the male-orientedness of Saiyuki doesn't bother me too much. I think it's because the way Minekura draws the boys seems like such blatant female fanservice. Weird, eh?

I haven't found too many female characters from manga that I've really liked so far, outside of FMA. For American comics, I liked Death and Delirium from Sandman. I know you're not a Babylon 5 fan but Susan Ivanova is probably my favorite female character ever.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I do remember Susan

yes Death has to be one of my favorite female characters ever

the male-orientedness of Saiyuki doesn't bother me

what does...my own writing. My earlier works had strong female characters, the latest stuff...only has them as minor characters

[chaos-by-design.livejournal.com]

interesting. i wonder if it's internalized sexism, or if you identify more with men because you're not a typical girly-girl.

*scratches head*

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking more I like messing up men. (which says what I'm not sure) Since all my male leads are messed up and none of the females are

[chaos-by-design.livejournal.com]

ah yes that's a decent theory. you certainly do like to torment your characters until they're a puddle of emotional goo. it's kinda your trademark.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

even in the strong female stories (like Machiavelli Moon which I'm about given up on) the males shared that trait

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

There you go. Death would be far too much fun. *nods* Not sure what it'd say for her world but....

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Death was such fun

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

She's GREAT. A happy Goth chick. *nods*

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

oh yes..and now i'm wondering HOW Kirk isn't losing what's left of his shirt

[nowhere-winry.livejournal.com]

Because he's Captain. James. T. Kirk. C'mon.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

well yes I KNEW that was the answer but I was looking for a Spock answer

[nowhere-winry.livejournal.com]

Logically, the fabric is partially stuck to the perspiration. Therefore, the fabric does not slide off, as it should, and furthermore, the collar, not being torn, is still valiantly attempting to keep the audience from seeing nakie!Captain!chest.

...How's that?

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

that works

[nowhere-winry.livejournal.com]

yayness.