Yen Press

The manga publishing company Yen Press has been around since mid-2007. I remember this 'cause when me and friend went to the Comic-Con that summer, I snagged the preview book of Yen Press and a poster [which I gave to my brother and is probably lost or thrown away.] The first thing I had ever boughten from them was Spiral: Bonds of Reasoning.

A little while ago I browsed their web site and found a couple more series that I would like to get when they come out: :D

Dystopia
Hero Tale
Hissing
Higurashi: When they Cry
Jack Frost
Night School
Pandora Hearts / Crimson Shell
Raiders
Step

These are the series that I have and the ones I need to catch up on:

Cirque du Freak
Maximum Ride
Spiral: Bonds of Reasoning
With the Light
Zombie Loan

These are, of course, just the series from Yen Press that I'm interested in; there'd be much more if I would include every book from every company. Hm, maybe later.
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Oh, and I'm working on my fanfiction finally, and I'm really hoping to publish it before midnight. AH! I need to write!!!


-Tzui
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"Just Like The Crow Chasing The Butterfly / Dandelions Lost In The Summer Sky / When You And I Were Getting High As Outer Space"
The Crow & The Butterfly - Shinedown

New Movie

Before I forget, I was going to mention that yesterday during the previews of Transformers, there was a preview to one movie by M. Night. Shaymalan [is that how you spell his name?]. So at first I though it was going to be another movie like 'Signs' or 'The Village'. But then throughout the preview [which wasn't much], I had a realization that was right--they're going to make an Avatar movie! Haha, I was thinking oh my gosh, no way! and oh my gosh, I want to watch it! You know--Avatar-- the kid with the arrow tatoo and controls air and stuff.

That's about it.


-Tzui
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"Wrap Me In A Bolt Of Lightning / Send Me On My Way Still Smiling / Maybe This Is The Way I Should Go / Straight Into The Mouth Of The Unknown"
CALL ME - Shinedown

Party + Transformers

Yesterday was my brother's gradution party from high school and I hadn't had a chance to write about it 'cause I was kinda busy yesterday.

But yeah, my youngest older brother graduated high school earlier this month and I graduated freshman [haha]. We had a few relatives and other peoples come over, though it was pretty hectic when one family with six kids came along and they started whacking eachother with pool noodles. >.<>

But it was fun despite how hectic it was. After everyone left, me, my brothers and my cousin played Brawl for at least an hour. Oh--and my brother got $500+
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Also, today we went to go and see Transformers: Rise of the Fallen. It was a really good movie, lotsa action and comedy strung into about two hours. It went over more of the history of the mechanical creatures and I really liked it. Although I'm curious what the storyline for the next movie will be, we'll all just have to wait and see in 2011.
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Also, on another dorky note, I finished Vladimir Tod: Tenth Grade Bleeds yesterday. It was good, different than the previous two--which I'm pretty sure I mentioned before. But now I can't wait until next year when book four comes out. I'm really interested to see how the whole 'Pravus' thing will go and I'm also curious if the author will make Vlad seem more vampiric than he wants to, i.e the thing with Snow in this book. :D
[Here's a pic of Vlad I did: http://tzuiassassian.deviantart.com/art/Vlad-127610069]

Lastly, I started Quantum Prophecy: The Gathering last night, no, last evening during the party. But yeah, and then I finished it this afternoon. Personally, the majority of the book didn't seem to compare to the first, however it was still very good. Colin uncovers a few new abilities about him and Danny is still worried about his dad's prophecy. It wasn't as action-y as it could've been, but the last third or so was pretty good. The very end makes me curious about what Colin will end up as, what with that decision and saying bye [in a way]. Now I've got to find the third book and finish this storyline.

That's about it; I guess I'll be reading Negima!?Neo 2 next and probably The Sorceress. But July's coming and I said I'd start The Odyssey then--ugh, I so don't want to read it but I have to. T_T


-Tzui
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"You're A Few Years Overdue / What Kind Of Role Model Are You?"
OVERDUE - The Get Up Kids

June's End

Wow, the year is already half way over. It didn't seem to long ago when '09 had just started, or when I entered my first year of high school. Wow.

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I was able to go to Barnes and Noble yesterday and I was so happy. I coud've gotten more books/manga than I did, but I didn't want to splurge--'sides, my dad was buying ^^

Well, here's my small purchase yesterday--was about 30$. To the far left is Negima!? Neo volume 2. I was going to get this along with Cirque du Freak later this month, but since I already bought the later book I decided to just get it anyways. If you cound't tell, Negima is probably by far my favorite manga series :D Okays, to the right of that is Quantum Prophecy: The Gathering. I was going crazy after I finished book one Sunday and want to grab books two and three right away but I didn't. I'm really interested to see how the storyline will continue since this trilogy is already on my top ten [and hey--the list isn't hard to choose from]. And finally, Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Tenth Grade Bleeds. This is really the only vampire series I own [and the Twilight series we got for my mom on Christmas that she makes my keep in my room don't count--they're the only books I don't mind keeping in my closet ~.^] Oh, and the green-black thing beneath Negima!? is a blank B&N gift card with the Last Olympian theme. I kinda wanted to snatch it...

Anyways, back to my previous rant, I re-read the second Vladimir Tod book, Ninth Grade Slays the second half of Wednesday and today. I remembered most of it but maybe it's because I've alraedy read it that I think Tenth Grade Bleeds is better. [Basic storyline: Vladimir Tod is a teenager living in Bathory, and he'd be normal if he wasn't a half-vampire. And because he was born with fangs rather than created, 99% of the other vampires hate his guts.] This one's really cool though because it gets more into the complexities rather than just the happily-ever-after-stuff of some other series'. *coughTwilightcough*. One, his best friend Henry--who also happens to be his drudge--doesn't want to be his drudge anymore, and Two, Vlad's huger got the best of him halfway through the book. Ha--it was creepy but also interesting, how he couldn't control his hunger...
But anyways, I've got maybe 80-90 pages left since this morning and I haven't finished it yet! I need to skeddadle to my room right now and finish it. But's it's near-midnight. Hrm...

-Tzui
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"Above The Carnage Of A Dark Funeral / Truth-Debate-Peace-Error, Regret / Many Thousands Of Years, Pity"
ZETSUBOU BILLY [English lyrics] - Maximum the Hormone

'The Games' Begin

[Yes another blog about a book, but whatever >.<]

Now, yesterday afternoon I started another book that I bought in the fall of last year 'round the time when it just came out. It's Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games. At first I thought it was going to be more like her Gregor series [which is one of my favorites], and it was similar but also very different. I just finished the book a bit over an hour ago, and I completly love this series too :D

This book takes place in a futuristic world that isn't all Hollywood-y futuristic. In fact, only the Capitol of Panem is living all high and mighty--Panem is where North America used to be. The majority of the 12 Districts, at least the poorer areas, struggle to eat enough food, or food at all. And that's where the story starts. The main character is 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen [yes, that's her name and I know it's kinda weird but it's actually a plant]. She has to hunt outside the gates of the District and trade her kills and spoils for better food and money. The time is hard and worst yet, the Hunger Games are about to begin.

The Hunger Games is a sport/competition where the randomly selected children from each district must fight and kill eachother. The catch: a child inserts their name the day they become 12 and once more every year until they're 18. Seven strips out of thousands, right? But the child can enter their name for a tessera which allows for oil and grain for one year per person. And being 16, Katniss has twenty entries, four each year to help supports her, her mom, and her sister, Primrose.

Here's the thing: once a year each district has to put up two tributes--competitors in the Games--one boy and one girl. For District 12, their girl is Primrose Everdeen, Katniss' sister. Instead, Katniss volunteers herself and is accompanied by the boy, Peeta Mellark. They go to the Capitol where there's cameras everywhere, watching and listening to whatever you do. After some openings, interviews and training, the twenty-four tributes are tossed into the arena in a battle of life in death. And then the Games begin.

Personally, this book was awesome. I couldn't put it down. It's both entertaining, action-y, and yet it also conveys how corrupt Panem is--at least the Capitol. Though I also find it real funny how the cliched 'girl-likes-guy-but-guy-doesn't-know-and-guy-is-too-boneheaded-to-see' is flipped around. Though the ending was a bit different than I expected, I cannot wait for book two. :D But it comes out in Sptember so the waiting is going to be agonizing as well...

-Tzui
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"The Air Is Warm But I Feel Grey / The Chill Of Dawn On A Funeral Day"
DAWN ON A FUNERAL DAY - Tsunami Bomb

One More

I started yet again another book on that list I've been meaning to read. And I wish I read it sooner...

I started Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Last Olympian yesterday 'round midday. I've only got 'bout another hundred pages to go and I've only read it for a few hours yesterday. Anyways, it's good. Really good. I kinda forgot what happened in previous books but I'm still liking it a lot so far. Basically, if you don't know, the story revolves around Percy Jackson, and one day in school he realizes he has powers [that and his teacher was a monster]. His friend is also not the friend he thinks he is [in a good way], and ends up at Camp Half-Blood. Percy isn't the only one with 'powers'--in fact there's many children similar to him. Well of course; they're all demigods. One parent is mortal the other Greek God[dess]. The books revolve around a few prophecies and the journey he takes to help save his friends, and the camp.
This one isn't over yet and I still couldn't put it down. Comical and adventurous, it's probably in my top favorites of books [along with other children's books, of course :D]


-Tzui
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"When You See Me Sit Here By Myself / You'll Think That I'm Waiting For Someone Else / But I'm Wishing For Somewhere Else"
POSTCARDS - An Horse

Father's Day

Well, on one note, it's father's day today! :D I'd love to spell out my plans for today, celebrating all that is of my father and stuff---but he's on a plane right now. In fact, I'm kinda sad that my dad had to leave on a day designed especially for guys that had kids [like us]. It's his work; he tends to fly away to a handful of powerplants either on the East Coast, Spain, or Mexico. Kinda sucks, but he'll be home Thursday which is good.

[Y'see, he was also supposed to come home on Mother's day last month, however things happened and he didn't come back for another week. And now he's missing his day, too T_T

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But, I've finally started that list of ten books that I've been needing to read since, well, forever. ^^; I'll admit it--I'm lazy at times, but whatever.

Friday, I started The 39 Clues: Beyond the Grave. Then I finished it yesterday morning. And even though it is a children's book, there's nothing wrong with reading them, is there? Besides, they're soooo fun... :D Anyways, this is the fourth book of the 39 Clues series, and it takes place in Egypt for the entire book. Dan and Amy Cahill have to search for hidden clues in tombs and try to stay alive whilst their other relatives try to stop/kill 'em. Although, there isnt an indication to where they're going next book... On another note, this book seems to also tug at the relationship between Amy and Dan which might face more obstacles in books to come. [I still really want to know what branch they are, but I'm going to have to wait for book... GAH! I hate waiting for books to come out T_T



And then, yesterday morning after finishing the previous book, I started another one I got when I bought the third book of the 39 Clues. It's called Quantum Prophecy: The Awakening. I don't remember what got me interested in buying this book; the summary or the price tag. But either or, at first I was a bit wishy-washy about reading onwards but it's not too bad. It's about super heroes and a world where they're normal. The superhumans disappeared all of a sudden ten years back in a mystery. Then in the present, main character Colin witnesses something strange--before getting hit by a bus, his friend Danny saved Susie, the younger sister of their other friend Brian. It happened so fast Colin thinks Danny is a superhuman, and he is. But there's more to that than one person having powers...
The book was actually really, really good.

I couldn't put it down and finished it yesterday :D Now I want to get the second and third books along with another book this week plus one or two manga...


My wallet is crying so much.


-Tzui
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"It's A Lovely Day To Be Together / I Doubt That Life Could Get Any Better"
LOVELY DAY - Finn Wallace

Middle of June

Yep, it's mid-June already. It's also been nearly a week since I've been outta school. :D

Today, one of my friends that I haven't seen in forever called and asked me if I were going to attend the 8th grade promotion. Another one of my friends--one whom I really havn't talked to in a year maybe--is promoting today around four but I don't know if I can go and truthfully, I kinda don't want to. It's now that I'm mean or being ignorant, but I just don't really want to go back and see all those teachers and stuff....plus, I've been to my cousin's promotion, my brother's baccalorete [sp?], and my brother's graduation withing the same week.... I'm kinda tired...

Sorry Kim...

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But on another note, it's getting hot. It actually feels like summer now, what with last week being cloudy and chilly so it was so weird seeing that in summer here in California. THat means it's the season of swimming...and running practice... T_T

Yep, summer. And, speaking of, I also went to Franks yesterday with my brother's as I mentioned in the previous post. As usual, they went buying cards while I manga. Unfortunately, this one guy that I was able to buy cheap manga from wasn't open and another stall didn't have any manga I want. I was sad--I had to spend all the bill-money I brought so my wallet is crying right now...



The first is The Flat Earth/Exchange volume 1. This was the only book I bought yesterday that I was able to get pretty cheap--for five bucks. I don't remember how I got interested but it's about a future where androids think they rule the world or something. But it was five bucks ^^
Next is Hikaru no Go volume 1. Oh.. My... GOSH!! I finally got the first volume!!! I am super duper extremely happy when she said she had it in stock :D Though, because of it I ended up paying seven bucks I though I was going to end up saving but whatever. And yes, I saved a dollar. Now I just need to get the rest of the series...
Besides that is Ghost Hunt volume 2. I also saved a dollar here, and I think I bought it 'cause I couldn't find some other volume... But the series isn't too bad--it's interesting, involves ghosts [no duh] and it's...it's not in alphabetical order...
Anyways, at a full price of eleven dollars [no!] is MPD Psycho volume 3. I am really liking this series. It's rated M for you little kids, but if you don't mind the actuality of crazy cases and crazy murderers, it's very well written. The art is very nice, too.
And last, Yubisaki Milk Tea volume 2. Actually, I don't even own volume 1 of this series, but I figured that since I couldn't find volume one at Franks or B&N [or Borders], I might as well buy two now and one later. I'm considering finishing volume one scans so I can read this one, but I'm not sure.

Hm, mm. :D That's how I spent $43 instead of $50, though this is also why being into manga/anime is so freaking expensive! But that's also why I like Franks 'cause I can get cheaper manga...sometimes...


Unless I can manage to get my dad to pay for more manga when I hit up Barnes and Noble again, I might have to stop buying for a little while... ^^;

Hm........oh! That's right--according to a list of mine, I have 137 manga, fifty-two of which I bought solely this year. Holy ****. I really should stop buying so many but they're so good!!! Oh, and I think that when I buy three more I'll've bought fifty since mid-February when I took a picture of my collection then. Then I had 89 and I'll soon have 140... wait, 89 + 50 = 139, but I have 137 + 3 = 140, so I miscounted.....then.......


-Tzui
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"Happy Boys and Happy Girls Will Be / We Are The Happy Boys And Girls"
HAPPY BOYS AND GIRLS - Aqua

Been a While

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've been kinda busy--I think...

Well, on the bright side, my brother's back from college. Yay^^ I was real excited to go up and pick him up, though as usual the four hour ride there was kinda a bummer. But we got him and he's not leaving until fall >.>

But yes, I'm very happy. And speaking of, on Saturday--when we went to go pick him up--I was also able to head to Borders 'cause of a really great coupon I was able to snag. We all went and I grabbed two manga--Claymore volume 4 and Sprial: Bonds of Reasoning volume 6--along with book four of the 39 Clues series. [I know it's achildren's book, but they're so much more fun to read. :D] Oh, and I also got The Odyssey for school. Gotta read it over the summer along with ten other book-book that've been collecting dust over the years >.<



Sunday: A lazy day, pretty much. None of us really did anything 'sides, well, nothing.

Monday: A bit more interesting. Nothing really got done until midday, when my eldest brother, the one from college, and I went over to GameStop. I was looking for Persona 4, but I couldn't find it. I was also going to maybe buy Sonic and the Black Knight, but it was still $45! But in the end, my brother snagged Resident Evil 4, No More Heroes, and Redsteel all for about $50. ^^ I watched him play Resident Evil 4 since I'm kinda not as brave to play horror games, and it was fun.

Tuesday: Once again, nothing much, just playing video games and hanging out at home. I reorganized my manga bookshelf so it's pretty much jam-packed I don't know how it's going to handle anymore books...

And on a related topic, I--along with my brothers--shall be going to Franks today so I'll probably grab around four more manga. I want to buy a few at full price, and then scour around for ones that are half off and cheaper. I think my mom must be rubbing off on me 'casue it feels so good to buy five manga for $34 instead of five for $45 :D But a steal's a steal, and that's how you save money ^^


-Tzui
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"Ask Me I Say I Know / Oh It's Sarcastic I Take The Show / Guess Tonight I'm On My Own"
RED EYE - Ace Enders

Woo!

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! :D

Today's a pretty good day for me. :D First of all, I finally got out of high school at noon today, and now I can be officially called a 'sophmore'. Then my dad and I had a "daddy-daughter afternoon" [haha], which was pretty fun though we were only out till two thirty. Lunch, Barnes and Noble, Best Buy, and Home. Fun ^^

Now, today my package that I mentioned earlier fianlly came in--which is pretty awesome since I ordered Saturday, they shipped it Monday, and I got it Friday. Less than a week wait. Coolios. Here's the box:


You want to know what's in it...?

Hehe, don't worry about it ^^ S'not like there's a human head or anything... *whistles*


Naw, it's just anime / manga stuff. Woooooo! :D

Spiral: Bonds of Reasoing DVD Artbox + Puzzle volume 1. I wasn't actually going to buy this but it was in the clearance section for $4. That's right; $4! I figured why not :p The manga's great so the anime should be--theoretically
With the Light: Raising and Autistic Child volume 1. I've been waiting forever to finally own this book--could never find it at Barnes and Noble or Frank & Son--but now I do :D [I never realized how BIG it was...]

Yups, very freaking cool ^^ I'm very happy right now I want to go read it.


Also, I went to Barnes and Nobles, too, and I went there with a small list of manga and one book I wanted to buy. Well, I couldn't find the book which sucks, but I manged to find manga:

The first is Cirque du Freak volume 1. It was supposed to come out late this month [at least that's what I found] but I was excited when I found it in the Teens section. The next is Zelda: Oracle of Ages. I'm kinda a nerd so of course I'd own the Zelda manga =p They're really cool, though my favorite so far right now is Majora's Mask. I can't wait for Four Swords and Wind Waker. The one next to that is Future Diary volume 2. It's a good series, I think, though what bugs me is: 1- the pages are a lot thiner and 2- it was $11! Stupid Tokyopop... >.> However, the series has an interesting plot and it's worth the money. And finally, the last book's Hollow Fields volume 3. It's an Ameri-manga, I know, but I like some of the series published by Seven Seas as well as distributed by them. Now, Hollow Fields is great though I might've not boughten it [yes, I said boughten], but some guy at Franks [Frank & Son] was having a manga clearance and I bought the first volume along with the third of Amazing Agent Luna--both for a total of $5! ^^
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Tomorrow, we'll be going to pick up my brother so I don't know if I can go to Franks [and buy manga!] Or Borders, which has a coupon for 25% off EVERYTHING. I hope I can get more--the 150 mark is getting close I can almost taste it... >.<


-Tzui
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"Come On In / Take A Seat / Tell Me How You Feel This Week / Are You Cursed, Are You Blessed / Are You Still Inside The Mess?"
I OWN YOU - Shinedown

I Won...?

Yes, I won a contest. I would be super enthusiastic about this, having won free merchandise just by submitting my name and address, but this happens to be the one contest I wouldn't mind losing.

In March, Del Rey Manga sent out their March Newsletter, and inside was a Negima!?Neo contest. I was excited--one, they're finally publishing the 'second series' of Negima, and two--I could get it for free. I submitted.

But two weeks ago when the May newsletter came, I won. I was shocked--not in the way I hoped--to see my name on that list. Then I thought "wait--holy cr**, I've already bought this volume..." Then I thought "Holy CR**! I bought it at Frank and Son..." I was screwed--even if I got the free volume, I wouldn't be able to return it to, say, Barnes and Nobles, so it's like I wasted $11. I was dissappointed...


Any how, the package finally came in today during school, so I have two volumes of Negima!?Neo adorning my shelf. Here's ya go:

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Let's see, what else is of importance...? Well, I've got finals for three days starting tomorrow, [ugh].
JUNE 10
Geometry and Biology
JUNE 11
Architecture and English
JUNE 12
PE and Spanish
But after finals is summer--kinda. I'll be practicing for cross country so my mornings and sleeping-ins are shot, which sucks. But running's fun and even though I'm no Prefontaine, I hope I'll get faster. [Knowing Frank's training, I'll probably get faster and really sore after the first few weeks >.<]

Also, this is concerning MANGA: I ordered a few things off of RightStuf!, and I already got the confirmation e-mail saying they've shipped it, so I should be getting my stuff no later than next week. I'll take a picture when it comes. :D

-Tzui

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"And The Public Don't Dwell On My Transmission / 'Cause It Wasn't Televised / That Was A Turning Point, Oh What A Lonely Night"
SPACEMAN - The Killers

First Entry

Yay, my first blog entry :D

For starters, here's some quick info on me:

Name: Jessica
Loaction: California
Occupation: High School
Favorites: Manga, Anime, Video Games, Randomness, Cheese, Computers, Fan Fictions, Friends, Sleep
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Let's see, I like to write fanfictions, all of which are based off the Negima manga/anime franchise. It's fun writing stuff, though I have another idea in my head that I've yet to publish on FF.net. Argh--why are mysteris so hard to write T_T

I collect manga. I have over 100 and I think that sometime this year I'll break 150. I'm almost there, though It's kind of sad how many manga I've bought in this year alone ^^; Whatever--I love my [very expensive] hobby...

Video games can be sooooo addicting. I bought this one called Summoner for the PlayStation 2 for $5, and I couldn't put it down after I got well enough into it. It's an older PS2 game, so the graphics aren't super high qualitiy, but it's awesome. ^_^ I also got the original Phantom Brave for the PlayStation 2 at Gamestop the weekend before yesterday. It was used and for $10 so I figured why not? Too bad they didn't have Persona 4 used or for cheap--I still want to get that game. -.-


Well, I think that'll be it for today. I'll post again later with some somewhat updated pictures of my manga collection. It could be up tomorrow or next week... whenever... It hasn't grown too much in the past two weeks when I last took pictures, but it likes to grow *mwahaha*

-Tzui

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"I Dare You To Tell Me To Walk Through Fire / Brand My Soul And Call Me A Liar"
I DARE YOU - Shinedown