Naruto #2

Konohamaru is so cute! He's Chopper afterall! XD

Naruto #1

Well, I like Naruto!! I'm already watching more than I should! =D

The caption is from the first episode, but I did watch a lot! 

Finally, watching Naruto!

Mina-san! Konnichiwa!
Well, see! I though of this idea, I'll be kind of documenting my experience with Naruto, but briefly. Whenever I feel like noting something while watching or after watching my daily portion, I'll do it here! Since, I started watching a while ago, and I have lots of things to say about what has already passed, I'll go through the episode list and try to remember, but I'll stick to the one post per day policy (I just made it, I think it should be fine), well, maybe two until I catch up. I'll be starting today!

What has been going for the last month...

Hi there! It's been a very loooong while! You know what? I don't regret starting this blog at all. It made me realize that writing is not my thing. When I first started it, it felt like a dream come true, but now it's been months and I didn't feel like writing so it can't have been my thing. So, I decided to give it another use, and make it like some kind if diary, a place where I document the different things I do (which are not many for now). When I say document, you might need to be reminded that half my documentations will be about new anime I started or finished watching, because that seems to be the only interesting thing going on with my life now. Hopefully, it won't be for long, since it seems that I actually found an interesting hobby that might become more than that.

Here I go, so what's new, since my last blog entry?

Yes, I said I'll be watching Durarara! And I did! I watched Durarara! And Durarara!!x2 They were really good! I didn't like Durarara!!x2 in the beginning as much as Durarara! I didn't like the new characters introduced in the first couple of episodes, but then I got used to them and the other new characters were kind of cool; that's aside from the fact that Heiwajima Shizuo never seizes to be awesome! X2's finale was, in my modest opinion, better than Durarara's. Conclusion: Now I have one more favorite anime (I think it deserves to be in my top 10) and a bunch of favorite characters with Shizu-chan and Celty on top.

What else? Yes! I started watching Naruto! And this is big! I remember when I started watching anime, and I knew about the big three, Naruto didn't interest me, mainly because of the art, and I have to say I still think the art and the animation in Naruto is kind of poor compared to Bleach for example. I don't know about Naruto: Shippuden, since I'm still watching Naruto. However, I am loving it! I am loving Naruto, it might be second favorite anime of all time, after One Piece, or third after Hunter X Hunter, can't decide yet. Clearly, it didn't surpass One Piece, and it never will I think, but it definitely surpassed Bleach (I'm talking about the big three here). It seems like the only credit I can give Bleach, is that it has the most refined art between the three, but that's pretty much it. Between, the three, Naruto seems to be the least surprising, so far it's kind of predictable, but it's pretty much enjoyable, that I can go on watching for hours. I decided, finally, to watch Naruto after attending the Egycon a couple of months ago, and realizing that I am missing on loads of stuff, not having watched Naruto. I and my brother like to watch mainstream long running anime together, so we actually made the decision when he started to feel like he's missing on something too. Well, a while ago there was a total Lunar eclipse – Bloodmoon - and everyone was like XXX (I don't know his name, and I don't want to, I want to be surprised) from Naruto is coming! He seemed like some scary villain, he doesn't know about, and that's when he decided it's time to watch Naruto, and we started soon after we finished Durarara!!x2, and so far it's good! It's enjoyable to watch and there are many likable characters; and my favorite character so far is Uzumaki Naruto! :D Well it feels so much like watching Sakuragi Hanamichi from Slam Dunk. He's an idiot, but I like him! And he's, well, cute! Not handsome "cute, I mean childish "cute". His "Ano sa! Ano sa!" is so kawaii! I like him, and I don't want him to grow up! I don't like Sakura and Sasuke, but I absolutlely like Kakashi. Afterall, he's the one Naruto character that I thought looked cool, before ever considering watching Naruto; and it's not just about the character design; he feels like Kyoraku from Bleach, Urahara from Bleach, Gintoki from Gintama, well a bunch of cool characters and his own unique self ,so he's awesome! There're many other characters I like, Jiraiya for example.. well I don't really feel like going for long with this, so let's stop here, or I'll keep going forever about Naruto, it deserves it! 

About the hobby, well, you know? Many times, I think that something interests me and I get so hyped about and when I start to take it kind of seriously, it turns out I wasn't really interested, or it wasn't really my thing. That's why I've been very cautious about the "getting excited" part. I've been thinking, maybe I should do the "take it seriously" part first, and see what happens. Honestly, I don't even want to talk about it until I'm 100% sure, it's my thing. Call me superstitious or whatever! I know I can be! XD However, I decided to wake my artistic sense, improve my handwriting and my drawing; that may give you a hint!

That's all for today! Ja ne!

Cairo Annual Book fair

     The past month has been full of events, and I'm glad I could attend all of them, for a change. I'm the kind of person who's invited to events on Facebook, and the response is "May be going" all the time, and most probably I wouldn't go.

     The Cairo book fair is an annual event awaited by bookworms and readers. They are not the only visitors though. People would go there for a hangout since it takes place during the school's mid-year holiday. The book fair accommodates all local publishing houses, bookstore chains and tents by foreign countries. There's also "Sur El-Azbakya" for used books and high copies. Also, there are discounts by almost all the sellers.

     It's true I'm into reading, but I've never been to the Cairo book fair any time before, or not any time I can remember. The place where it's held is too far from where I live, and I could never go. However, this year I decided I'd just go no matter what. I made it to this year's book fair, with Summar's company, and it was a satisfying, enjoyable and exhausting experience. It's satisfying because you'd love looking at the stack of books you've got yourself at the end of the day. It's enjoyable because books are all around you! You'd never see that much books, anywhere else in Egypt; and finally, it's exhausting because you'd keep walking for long hours, carrying all the books you've bought. It has a sour-sweet feel to it! :D

     As a way to prepare for the event I saved a good amount of money, and made a list of all the books I'd like to purchase. Summar is a regular visitor to the book fair. She didn't make lists and such because she thinks it's useless, and she's right! I mean, I bought plenty of books and I was very thrilled, then I checked my list and I only cancelled one book off it. One never sticks to a list when there's plenty of attractions around them.

So, what did I buy?!

- I bought a couple of Donald duck comic books, and these one were on my list! XD

- I bought three Agatha Christie-thrillers: Poriot investigates, Poriot early cases , and Then there were none.

- I, finally, bought "The book thief", but, sadly, the movie edition. (I hate movie editions!)

- I bought Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the shore. Since, his books are high-rated, and I have a deep affection for anything that's Japanese, I thought I'd go with that book, since almost all the reviews I checked were positive.

- I bought a few books I've already read, either as a soft copy or borrowed like To kill a mocking bird, The hunger games and Catching fire.

- I bought a short stories- Arabic book written by a relative, to support her (It was the first book I read from all those purchases, and it was really good.)

- Finally, I bought George Orwell's 1984.

     One cool thing about the book fair, is that book stores all over the country would probably have discounts while it's running, and I did benefit from that. The rest of the "Song of ice and fire" series was on the top of my list. However, I couldn't find the second book, the one I'd read next, since I've already read Game of thrones; or well, I did find it but it was too expensive and not the same edition as that of the "Game of thrones" copy I have. So, a week later, I was I the shopping mall and I found the rest of the series (or what's already published) in the book store. They were the edition I wanted, cheaper and there was a discount as well. The plan was I'd buy, only, the second and the third book, but I couldn't just leave the other two lying there; and luckily, dad was with me so he paid for them. XD

     I'm truly thrilled by the scene of the book stacks lying on the desk, and I can't wait to read all of them, and I can't wait for the mini-book club I and Summar will have since we have many common purchases! 

Pointless Blabber

       Hi there! It's been a while shorter than the last while. Last night, I was reading the last few posts I've written on the blog for no specific reason. It's kind of fun remembering when I was writing those posts and how It felt back then, it's like going back in time… This is not that kind of post though! What I wanted to say is that I've notice loads of mistakes in my writing, mistakes like: a missing "s", a missing verb, a repeated word, a sentence that doesn't make any sense. Well, my deepest sincerest apologies for that. For a nerd like me, who wouldn't let a single spelling or grammatical mistake go in peace, that's big! But then, those mistakes were not on purpose, they were just typing mistakes, and it can't be helped now, what's done is done… Well, it can be helped since the posts are editable, but it's a pain, they are too many, I don't have that much free time… Well, I have, but that's not how I'd like to spend it! And besides who am I fooling?! No one is even reading this. It's not necessarily a bad thing. I mean I'm not very careful with my writing for that very same reason. This is not a technical report, it doesn't have to be so formal.

       Another thing I noticed is that the amount of crushes I have on anime characters is huge! It's kind of alarming, or not. I mean absolutely like them but that's where it stops; I don't join fandoms, I don't read or write fan fiction about them, I do nothing! I just like them, and at most I'd write about them a "character of the day" post on this blog. So, I think I'm still on the safe side, and I think I'll always be. I realized I'm not the kind of person that becomes insanely dedicated to something, there's a limit to my obsession. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. That kind of people seem to enjoy their stuff way more than I do, but they are possibly missing on other things, I don't know.

       My last month has been, indeed, fuller than any other time since I graduated. A Revit course I've been enrolled in for months has finally started a couple of weeks ago. I went to the annual book fair for the first time, or the second time (Mum and dad were saying that I went there before when I was much younger, but I don't remember that, so I don't think it counts.), and I bought plenty of books. I went to a one day Manga workshop in the Japanese foundation, I attended the Egycon last week, and the plan is that we will be watching a Japanese movie in the Opera next week, as a part of "The Japanese film week". It's worth mentioning that apart from the Revit course, I and Summar did all that stuff together.

      What else has been happening in my life? I've been eating too many Omurice, and somehow it's become a tradition to watch Kaito KID 1412 while eating it. I decided to eat all my food with chopsticks as a practice, but it only lasted for two days. My hand hurt and It took me forever to get finished and the food would get cold and tasteless.

      The plan was I'd be talking about loads of stuff in this post like the how slow One Piece has become, and how Bleach's main characters are so boring, and how awesome Egycon was and the books I've been reading, but I feel like I'm done already, so I'd be talking about that stuff in the next few posts. I promise! (That should be very reassuring)

      Well then, See you!

     Oh! There's that too! It's been really bugging me so it can't wait! Enough with the Valentine's day jokes people! And enough with the "single and proud" stuff! If the day is meaningless to you, then you don't make that load of stupid jokes about it and spam other people's FB news feed with them. It's boring and ridiculous! And stop joking about everything! Jokes are becoming meaningless! 

    This is not meant to be in favor of Valentine's celebrants, they are no less ridiculous; and I've surely offended a good deal of people in this post... enough writing for me today.

Baccano!!

Dear old blog! It's been a while. I can't believe we've actually deserted you for more than a month. Well, that kind of shows how good I can be at keeping promises. However, today I'm, finally, back, because I feel like writing. Yes! Baccano! is why I'm back!

In the past month and a half I watched three amusing Japanese dramas, and I'm completely absorbed by the fourth right now; I have read four books, or well four and a half. I have watched a Hayao Miyazaki movie and re-watched one. They are all stuff worth writing about, but Baccano! is the one that made me want to write! So, what's it about Baccano?

I don't exactly know. I don't know if it's the interesting plot, or the brilliant characters, or the classy soundtrack, or the fine art; I don't know. I guess it's the sum of all that.

Let’s see! My brother watched Baccano and he was fascinated, and he suggested that I watch it. Then lately, he'd ask me like twice a day, every day, when I'd start watching Baccano, and I'm like "Soon! Soon!". I knew Baccano is very bloody and I'm not very keen on bloody stuff. However, one day I was bored and I decided to watch it. Well, let's see, there was the first episode and there was my very first crush "Luck Gandor"! I don’t know if it was love at first sight, or love at first hear (I don't even think that's a valid expression). The deep dignified voice (which happens to be Gintama's Takasugi by the way) couldn't have been more perfect for a character like Luck Gandor.

The library scene! The freakin' library scene! <3 

There was Firo before that, but well, as nice and sweet as he is,he had ,like Carol said, a "hero" vibes, well, not my type, but I like him of course. Then there are a couple of idiots who happen to be actually funny "Isaac!!", "Miria!!".  Those two are the ones who made the balance, and lightened up the show. Then there's the freak, Ladd Russo, and the creepy Lua. Well, I disliked them but that is the point. They should be disliked. (Tell you a secret! I kind of well not liked, but not disliked Ladd Russo by the end of the anime. I gusess I was growing an affection to anything related to Baccano) Then, there' Jacuzzi! Yes! The one I assumed would be annoying because he's always crying, but I just thought he was sweet and cute. I liked him and his group, Nice, Nick, Donny, Jon they were all cool! There's the suspicious boy Czeslaw ,and Chane which I didn't like or dislike until later. Oh yes! Ennis! How can I forget Ennis?! Well, she's nice. And when we mention Ennis we remember Szilard.. and hold on a second! I didn't mention Maiza till now?! I absolutely liked the guy from the very first time I saw him. Well, oh yes, the Genoards, the girl was alright, and Dallas was…. My brother used a slang Arabic word to describe him, and I can't exactly translate it, and I hate to use another word, since the word my brother used was just perfect. Let's just say he's a blatant fool.

I miss them!! :D

Now, I'm done with the characters or I'm pretending to be, because I'm definitely not done. Here comes the cherry on top, Rail Tracer! I don't mean to spoil stuff in this post, so I will not talk much about that.

Rail Tracer!! 

I did say the plot was interesting, and that's true, but then many anime have interesting plots, ruined by boring hateful characters, and Baccano is by all means not one of them. Baccano starts with the end, and then moves between the years 1930, 1931 and 1932, except for this one episode which goes way back than that. The going back and forth makes things kind of confusing, but as you approach the end the confusion fades away. What's Baccano! Exactly about? Mafia wars and Immortality, that's Baccano in a nutshell.

Because the events of the anime take place in the 30s, some classy Jazz music was used for the opening and the soundtrack. I have to say that the music has definitely added a lot to my watching experience. It made me feel twice fascinated. When any anime gets very interesting, I start to skip the opening and get to business, but I couldn't get myself to skip Baccano's. It's BRILLIANT!!

To conclude, Baccano is a complete experience. It last only for 13 episodes, but I found myself missing it a lot when it was over, and I feel like I want more! Maybe that's why I decided to give Durarara! a second chance, since it's by the same manga-ka, and I get to see Isaac!! And Miriaa! Again! XD

Is it a coincidence that my favorite part in the music is the part that comes with Luck Gandor? XD 

Basically, I do like everyone, really, almost everyone; and I'm fascinated by some of them, but there's something about Luck .. It's the voice! It has to be!  

BONUS!
I realized later that Baccano had a 3-episode OVA, which happens to be almost as good as the anime. I got to see my favorite character, which is not Luck Gandor by the way (I have a crush on him but he's not my favorite, deal with it!), being cool as ever, so I was over thrilled. There was a new eccentric villain who has Gintama's Gintoki's voice so... I couldn't dislike him, It's a shame I didn't get to hear Luck Gandor's voice, but it was too good that I can forgive that.