Book Review: By the Time You Read This I'll be Dead

Title: By the Time You Read This I'll Be Dead
Author: Julie Anne Peters
Pages: 200
Publisher: Hyperion (an imprint of Disney)

Goodreads synopsis:


Daelyn Rice is broken beyond repair, and after a string of botched suicide attempts, she’s determined to get her death right. She starts visiting a website for “completers”— www. through-the-light.com.
While she’s on the site, Daelyn blogs about her life, uncovering a history of bullying that goes back to kindergarten. When she’s not on the Web, Daelyn’s at her private school, where she’s known as the freak who doesn’t talk.
Then, a boy named Santana begins to sit with her after school while she’s waiting to for her parents to pick her up. Even though she’s made it clear that she wants to be left alone, Santana won’t give up. And it’s too late for Daelyn to be letting people into her life…isn’t it?
National Book Award finalist Julie Anne Peters shines a light on how bullying can push young people to the very edge.

What I think:

The book is either promoting suicide or applying reverse psychology. There are various ways listed on how you can end your life, complete with its full-proofeness and pain level. I find it mildly disturbing. I think knowledge in the wrong hands will inflict permanent damage to society...

The heroine in this book is incredibly mopey and pessimistic. Even when a boy clearly expressing his desire of becoming friends, she blatantly ignore the effort.

She was bullied a lot and did not stand up for herself. I am a bit enraged by the fact as you always need to stand up to your tormenter. It doesn't matter if you choose to give the silent treatment or a full brawl as long as they leave you alone. A lesson that I got from the internet on how to combat bullies is to tell people and get help. If they don't believe you, tell another and another until action is taken. You must never yield. Bullying hurts. People say that everyone is hurting, even the bullies. Actually, I don't care if the bully is hurting on the inside, ridiculed or bullied himself. He has no right to continue the cycle or hurt other people. Just because he has a horrid past or come from a broken family, it is simply an excuse to pardon his wrongdoing. Here's a story that support my unbelievable anger:-

The book was an easy read but I didn't get the ending. Did she die or did she try to be another person, reborn if you will.

Manga Review: Cute x Guy 1

Title: Cute x Guy 1
Author: Tateno Makoto

Review:

The story starts with a girl who falls in love with her classmate. the girl's name is Takaoka Sumi. She observed that her crush is interested in mature girls. Sumi's father is a scientist so he offered a medicine to make her look mature. Actually, her father tricked her as the medicine turned her into a boy. Granted that he turned into a cute boy.

The problem is in the medicine is she'll turn into a boy whenever her heart goes doki doki.

I love her crush's character. He is so innocent. he trust everybody and did not even question Sumi's weird behavior around him. He was not even suspicious of Tadano Jun (Sumi's alter ego)

The antagonist in this volume is the health teacher. I find her a pervert because she's chasing after Jun and would not stop at nothing. However, I find this big chested sensei extremely funny.

The best thing that happen when Sumi changed her gender is she finally gets friend. She found another guy who can change his body at will thanks to her father. I think instead of trying to make her crush like her, she became closer as a friend and got other friends as well.

Manga Review: Kimi to Himitsu no Hanazono

Title: Kimi to Himitsu no Hanazono (Volume 1)
Alternate Title: You and the Secret Flower Garden
Author: Hayashi Mikase

A piece of my mind:

See the cover? One of them is  a boy. Shocking, isn't it. No? Yeah, there's too much gender bender around nowadays. Meh, who's complaining. They're my favorite genre.

Okay... this story is about a girl who is an Aikido freak. It is not by choice but due to circumstances as she is the youngest in the family consisting of mainly boys. She went to an all-girls boarding school to learn femininity and as luck would have it, roomed with the epitome of girlishness.

But there's a catch. Her roommate is a boy. During the entire book, the girl was bullied by the boy under the pretense of helping her. I pity her naiveness. I don't particularly care that she wants to be effeminate. In my opinion, if she looks good with the boyish look, stick with it. This is because some people just look plain hideous. If you already achieve the stage of cuteness just by being you, why change?

There is the fact that boys will be intimidated by the manliness(?) shown but to be fair, if they could not accept you as who you are... why bother.

Manga Review: Kiss Me Princess 9

Title: Kiss Me Princess (Volume 9-END)
Alternate Title: Boy Princess 9
Author: Kim Se-Young

Wrap-up:
This is the final book in the series. I am actually delighted that it has come to an end. I love the story, the ending was somewhat cute. there was no bloodshed. For that I was truly happy.

Except for one thing,  the secret heir died in accident. *snicker*
So, Derek's son became the heir. He grew up to look exactly like his father, and he falls for Shahi. Outrageous, I know, but they were cute and Shahi was finally happy so it is forgiven. The couple on the side is Nicole and Zed. Yup, he cut his hair and got tan. Awesome.

What I learn from this entire series is that you'll do crazy things for the one you love. But then, people will do evil things in the name of love but they actually don't possess any love. They just thought they do. Love does not hurt, it is pure. It is the act in the name of love, by people blinded by fake love that destroy the our faith in what is true.

Makes you think that this phrase is true... It is better to have love and lost than to have never love at all. Makes you want to experience that awful feeling as well.

Note to those who want to read this series: This manga is not graphic at all. it is simply shounen-ai. Feel free to read it without guilt.

Manga Review: Kiss Me Princess 8

Title: Kiss Me Princess (Volume 8)
Alternate Title: Boy Princess 8
Author: Kim Se-young

A bit here,  a bit there:

Do you wanna know how evil the father? After the brotherly war he said, "Well this ends rather dissapointingly. You're both still alive"

Come on, you produced them. Or maybe Derek might not be, but Zed is your flesh and blood! Zed is the exact replica of you when you were younger except that he has long hair. Mind you, he's hot either way.

Anyway, everything's resolving nicely and there's only one volume to go. Yippy ya ya, yippy, yippy ya ya. Do you guys even know how to do that? I'm a Girl Guide so, yeah, I'm weird like that.

By nicely I mean, Derek committed suicide. Zed was exiled. He was supposed to be dead but royalty has this hush-hush thing going on so he just had to have a low profile in exilation. But, he is dead to the kingdom.
Shahi finally get to raise a child that he wanted so badly since Derek is no longer around to control him or even to take care of his own baby. Shahi got an instant baby belonging to the crown princess.

Ooh, and it seems like the king isn't half bad. he did not hate his brother at all. I think he stopped feeling all compassionate since the incident with his brother. *3* The royalty should put in effort to bring the country towards wealth by joining forces not fight for power. This is almost exactly what is going on in my country right now. I wonder who has as much power as Zed's dad though.

Manga Review: Kiss Me Princess 7

Title: Kiss Me Princess (Volume 7)
Alternate Title: Boy Princess 7
Author Kim Se-Young

A couple of things I wanna say:

I am positively confused. There is more history behind Zed and Derek. Nicole is also in a twist. the allied countries are betraying left, right and center. the king is obviously a mastermind, pitting both his sons in order for his other heir whom is secret to the world to be fit for king. He, who is not corrupted by the royalty yet. *sigh*

I don't even feel like understanding anything anymore. I just want this to end. Don't get me wrong, I love this story. There you go Hika, you've been craving for some plot instead of brainless shoujo. Now you got want, you feel like your head is going to explode.

Manga Review: Kiss Me Princess 6

Title: Kiss Me Princess (Volume 6)
Alternate Title: Boy Princess 6
Author: Kim Se-Young

Churning words into sentences:

The only thing worthy of news is Nicole and Zed is divorcing and Reyni is marrying Nicole's eldest brother. Everything else is a jumble of  conflict. Arghhh, how frustrating.

This had brought us to the topic of how successful is an arranged marriage? No, that's not it, some of the people here is arranged to be married but they were all unfaithful. Teehee.

Let us discuss the relationship between Zed's mum and dad instead. They were politically engaged. Zed's mum found another lover so should he or should he not let her go. Yes, he should! I remembered Johny Depp's quote saying that if you fall in love the second time, stick with the second because if you truly love the first, you won't fall for the second. Why would you torture her to be with you if she clearly love another? To foster the love for you? I think it just fester hate instead. In turn you will hate yourself. You might even compare yourself to the lover, finding flaws in yourself and then being continuously depress.

Love is a wondrous thing. Or so they say, since that is something I've never experienced. Therefore, I conclude that if you truly someone hold them real tight. But if you're pretty sure they don't love you back, let go of them. You'll save yourself  from lots of anger and grief.


Ok this is just added.....

Omooo, i thought I finished the book, turned out I didn't. This volume issssssssssss interesting. Seriously.

Somehow Shahi betrayed Zed or maybe it was a ruse, I dunno. Blood is coming out of Nicole's mouth. Oh no! Is he dead? Is this really is a trick? I thought  it was but then when Shahi tell their secrets, I felt that it was true that he's two-faced cockroach. *panic mode*.

Manga Review: Kiss Me Princess 5

Title: Kiss Me Princess (Volume 5)
Alternate Title: Boy Princess 5
Author: Kim Se-Young

My blow by blow thoughts while devouring:

I knew it. I knew it. I knew it. Ahah, just as I expected, Shahi's tribe has this special power to turn into a woman with their magic after they made love. Boo yah. Take that. I can even guess such a bizzare predicament.

Okay, enough with the excitement. This volume is not that interesting. It is merely contain flashbacks which concern the late queen as in Zed's mother.

The relationship is revealed. Therefore I'm guessing that the man who turn into a woman got pregnant as well. So.......... I'm guessing it was the girl that look like Reini and she may be Zed's sibling. Could it be that Shahi is as well? Everythings a big maybe. *sigh*

Zed and Nicole's relationship is  getting better. Nicole is confused because Zed has set the line and he wonder whether he should man up, which means should not receive anymore kisses or advances for him.
This is hard. I want them to be together as well. T^T Jiayou Nicole. I think you'll be fine with Zed.

I think the Zed and his royal family really have a horrible past....

Manga Review: Kiss Me Princess 4

Title: Kiss Me Princess (Volume 4)
Alternate Title: Boy Princess 4
Author: Kim Se-Young

Straight and uncensored thoughts from moi:

Oh my god, I am laughing really hard for this volume. I can't believe Prince Nicole can still behave so childishly. And I think that almost everyone who is anyone knows about his relationship with Prince Zed.

In this volume, Prince Nicole had to change places with Princess Elena yet again. This is to ensure that Princess Elena can carry and deliver the child safely. What I think was, the effort was futile. Even if the baby is delivered, do they expect Elena to come back and then take back her place. What is Nicole? A mere doll? Don't think that he got no feelings. I know that he adore Zed but then take into consideration on how many people are trying to kill him. Think about how his feelings seemed to be shattered by Zed everytime Zed was becoming affectionate to him because he was his 'wife' at the time. Nicole's dream of being an equal to Zed might not happen. Zed seems to treat him like a girl.

I love Nicole for the fact that he takes everything with a smile. He also pass off all the failed assassination as his fear towards Zed. He was actually poisoned but he thought the stomach ache was caused by his fear. =,="

Oh yeah, I just noticed the height difference between Zed and Nicole.

Nicole is so short. XD

It made me think that Zed's word is true that he is still a child. He could actually be twelve or fourteen for all we know. Oh noooooooooooo, Zed might be considered a pedophile. Nah, I guess not since he's no older than eighteen I think. This manhwa is set in the middle ages so I  guess that's logical.

Another thing that I found funny was what the nanny said to Nicole.

They won't get a baby if they went through. *laughing so hard that tears are coming out of my eyes*
It's like she approved of the relationship.
I just can't   *dying*
On top of that Zed was behind the door listening to every word and he was happy. Since when does Zed knows about happiness... :p

Aside from the fun, there are a few tragedies. Shahi gets a few flashbacks. He was once raped by the crown prince. o.O Then continue being his sex toy until now.
I'm not in the mood of recalling all his sob stories. All I know is, he should not have given up on life like that. He should kill that bastard. Kill them all. Well, not his mother. She should be forgiven. Even if not totally, a bit is okay.

Manga Review: Kiss Me Princess 3

Title: Kiss Me Princess
Alternate Title: Boy Princess
Author: Kim Se-Young

Quick rant:

Prince Zed had advanced on Prince Nicole when he was aimlessly wandering at the kingdom border. I understand that they are no longer husband and 'wife' but it is kinda mean to treat him so cruelly. I can see that Zed truly love Nicole but then it feels like he is cheating on Princess Elena.

At the same time, Princess Elena is trying to cover up her pregnancy with her *eh-hem* previous engagement. It infuriates me that she wanted to use Zed like that. It was her decision to elope but then when trouble arises, she easily went back without even begging for forgiveness. Has she not see what kind of damage she had done. If she did not ran away in the first place, Nicole did not have to endure all that hard ship. Plus, if she was in Nicole's place she could have died already and then expose the evilness of everybody there. See, dead for a cause is better than making everyone's life as miserable as hers.

I love how Nicole's brothers are so protective over him. Remember? The nerd and the flirt. turns out the nerd is called June and he's actually a strong prince as well. Lol. Anyway, I think they treated him not like a baby brother but instead they act like they're his fathers who are reluctant to hand over their daughter to a man. That is so funny.

Oh, apart from that, Shahi knows about the pregnancy and he started to hate himself. I mean he is starting to see the flaws in the side which he support. I can't wait to know what will happen. Just die dear evil mistress and son.

Manga Review: Kiss Me Princess 2

Title: Kiss Me Princess (Volume 2)
Alternate Title: Boy Princess
Author: Kim Se-Young

Some words of wisdom:

I doubt what I'm saying is actually wise as this blog is even named Demented Diva. ~^O^~

In this manhwa, Princess Elena returns to take back her place as Prince Zed's wife. But, Prince Zed is not that welcoming of her. Princess Reiny, his sister also realise that Elena is not the one that she has known earlier. I think the only interesting thing that developed was that I finally see Prince Zed to be more assertive in taking his place as the rightful heir.

Besides that, here I got to know that the person whom they call mother is just the  King's mistress so Derik isn't even supposed to be the crown prince. How I hated the mistress. she was given a chance to repent before, but instead she wanted to commit more crimes so that she can get her son to be the king some day.

I also do not like the Shahi, the healer in the palace. He is treated like a lover by Derik but I think it was forced. He is forced to do the unthinkables as in sex and murder, but he actually have the power to poison the evil mistress and his son. He could easily poison them little by little and they would not even know. Why would he be Derik's toy is a mystery to me. He said he has a deal with Derik but seriously, is that deal worth it? Kill him before he has a devil spawn Shahi, or before he rule the country for surely he will be a bad king.

Manga Review: Kiss Me Princess 1

Title: Kiss Me Princess
Alternate Title: Boy Princess
Author: Kim Sae Young


My thoughts:

This wasn't what I intentionally want to read. I was searching for another manga with a similar theme but then found this. Lucky me. Oh yeah, this is a manhwa actually, means it's Korean's.

The art for this manhwa is not bad, it's just that I'm used to bishounen in the manga that it was a bit difficult to adjust. The main male character came across as too scary and unapproachable. On second thought, that might have the manhwa-ga's intention. :p

The story started when Princess Elena eloped with a commoner so Prince Nicole had to take her place, disguised as a girl to be married to Prince Zed, a prince of a neighbouring country. However, his secret was easily discovered by Prince Zed but he didn't exactly minded. That made Prince Nicole's life way better since he had to endure an over-bearing sister and mother-in-law.

Here, Prince Nicole got to see how the idyllic life of princesses is not as idyllic at all. He has to learn embroidery and other girly stuff and mind her manners. hat I like about this manhwa is there is a certain mystery around Prince Zed. he is the second born but he is busy taking care of the country. I'm wondering why his mother is so keen on making his eldest brother king. is she actually a step-mother? And, why is it her sister didn't like the mother as well. The sisters-in-law to be were also a bit irritating. To me, you guys are to-be wives, not wives yet. you shouldn't even be in the circle yet. =,="

I love Prince Nicole. He is childish, always want his own way but still as a prince should be.. strong. Unfortunately, or may be fortunately, Prince Zed is stronger. Prince Nicole is looking at Prince Zed as a role-model, even thinking to be like him when he grows older. It's not that he doesn't have any brothers. It's just that his eldest brother is a flirt and the second is a bookworm. I guess, Price Zed come off as cool.

Prince Nicole better watch out, because I don't think Prince Zed see him as a brother. This is a yaoi book, so, be careful Prince Nicole. Gambatte.. haha.

Manga Review: Kusuri Yubi Hime

Title: Ring Finger Princess
Original Title: Kusuri Yubi Hime
Author: Takamiya Satoru

This book is about Hinaki who was given a ring by her father. Her father said there is a prince trapped inside the ring. As a girl who believed in fairy tale, she naturally thought that it was true. She kissed the ring and a boy came out. That happened when she was young. She had lived with the prince ever since.  That black hair guy is the prince while the blond guy is her sempai who is in love with her. The story was humerous as the senpai keep trying to win her love. As most of Takamiya Satoru's book, it was easy to predict that she'll end up with the raven haired boy. Besides that, Hinaki kept trying to find ways on how to free her 'prince' from the ring.

I love it that Hinaki was so adamant on saying that the prince and her will stay together. Ah, i got tired of calling him the prince. His name is Sae. Hinaki is hopeless in housework so Sae took care of her. The setting was that Hinaki's parents are oversea so they live together... o.O a great development I see.

Since this manga only have one volume, not many things can be developed so I was somewhat disappointed. It was nicely elaborated but I wish there was more. Some scenes were to abrupt such as when Hinaki was trying to seduce Sae, but then she got scared instead. Sempai was a bit annoying as he kept popping up in various scenes acting like he owned the place. You can't help by getting irritated by a minor character that doesn't know how to give up. Usually, I'd pity the second hero, but in this case, I' love seeing him suffer. *evil laugh*

It was an enjoyable, but not so quick read. Maybe it was because I was distracted... Haha. I even stop to have dinner while reading this book. Talk about low commitment.

2013 Manga Reading Challenge

I feel like entering another challenge this year and I guess my manga reading is bit left behind. My aim is to finish 50 manga this year. I may or may not review them all but I hope I will. Anyway, anybody who's interested can click on the picture above to sign up as well.

Here are the list of manga I've read for the challenge. Click on the title to view the reviews.

1. Devil's Kiss by Takamiya Satoru 
2. Kusuri Yubi Hime by Takamiya Satoru 
3. Kiss Me Princess 1 by Kim Se-Young 
4. Kiss Me Princess 2 by Kim Se-Young 
5. Kiss Me Princess 3 by Kim Se-Young 
6. Kiss Me Princess 4 by Kim Se-Young 
7. Kiss Me Princess 5 by Kim Se-Young 
8. Kiss Me Princess 6 by Kim Se-Young 
9. Kiss Me Princess 7 by Kim Se-Young 
10. Kiss Me Princess 8 by Kim Se-Young 
11. Kiss Me Princess 9 by Kim Se-Young 
12. Kimi to Himitsu no Hanazono by Hayashi Mikase 
13. Cute x Guy 1 by Tateno Makoto 

Manga Review: Devil's Kiss

Title: Devil's Kiss

Original Title: Akuma no Kuchizuke

Author: Takamiya Satoru

My Review:

I am writing this review as I read the book. I'm doing so because I have a memory span of a gnat... What can I say *sigh* This is going to be my first time reviewing a manga by volume so bear with me.

Firstly, I am absolutely in love with Takamiya Satoru. She has a way of making me swoon at her characters. Plus my heart always beats awfully fast when I'm reading her works. Or maybe that's just the caffeine coursing through my veins. ~^O^~

I love the way she drew her feathers.  

    

See... so pretty and fluffy. I think she loves angels and devils and witches as well since she seems to be drawing a lot of 'em. 

This volume consist of several one-shots. 

1. The first one would be about an angel and a devil. The angel is trying to pass angel school. To do so, she must captured a devil. She bended the rule a bit as she summoned a devil to be captured. Such a naughty little angel. Angels are not supposed to cheat. *shrug* How else can they show good examples to us humans. The angel's name is Sara while the devil is Rembrandt. Instead of capturing him, Sara was being lured by Rembrandt to not be an angel. As shoujo stories always go, I guess I don't have to tell you the ending. It's way too predictable.

"Whether you like me or not, as long as I can create unforgettable feelings in you, it's fine. Those feelings which you can't control, do you know what they are called? It's called love" -Rembrandt-

I think the thing that the manga-ka wants to emphasis in this story is that even when you're in love with somebody, don't ever change who you are to satisfy the one you love. It's okay if it's for the better but to change just simply he or she wants you to is simply irrelevant. For example, if you're somebody who throw rubbish anywhere on the floor, yes, change. be somebody cleaner who throw them in appropriate places like the dustbin. But, if you go all the way to change how you look, behave and well, what makes you, you, then that is wrong. Or should I say it screamed desperation. The person who is in love with you should accept you just the way you are. Besides, he or she has fallen in love with you because you have been yourself in the first place. Let's just assume that if you change too much, he or she will wonder where did the person they have fallen in love in the first place and they might just fall out of love.

2. Yosh, moving on to the second story. The second book is about Kiku, a flower that suddenly turned into a boy and Hina, a middle school girl. Kiku was a red chrysanthemum. To all that doesn't know what flower is that (including me, lol) voila:-

 

The plot was a bit undesirable. They do end up  together. It's just that Hina was supposed to be in love with her best friend's boyfriend, but did not have the courage to confess. Then she suddenly like Kiku. o.O And also magically has the will to tell him that she likes him. 

3. Is it me, or the story has become bothersome to read. This time it's about a popular girl who has fallen for her sempai. Like all Takamiya Satoru's male character, this one is also manipulative. I found out that the girl is actually afraid to be alone and easily trapped within the sempai's web. She learned that having many friends is not necessarily important, she just needed at least one who actually cares.

4. Hee, the fourth story is funny. It's about a high school student that is in love with the teacher. No matter what he did, he can't shake off  the student that cling to him. It just shows that if you pester a guy enough, he may eventually love you. 

Me: *shouting from a distance* "Hey crushhhhhh, if I say I like you and pester you everyday, will you like me?" 

Crush: *place a restraining order* "Not in a million years freak.

Me : *hide in a corner, sobbing uncontrollably*

To wrap this up, I guess I have mixed feelings about this book. I like the first and the last story but the second and third just didn't do it for me.

2013 Mammoth Book Challenge

It's May and it is Labour Day. Therefore I'm having a break from school which in turn give me free time to roam the internet. Since I'm not entering any challenges this year except for that Goodreads book goal, I guess I'd give this a go.

This challenge has four levels which are:-
a. Walrus: Read 3 mammoth-sized books.
b. Hippopotamus: Read 6 mammoth-sized books.
c. White Rhinoceros: Read 9 mammoth-sized books.
d. African Elephant: Read 12 or more mammoth-sized books.

I'm not going to be an overachiever this year since this challenge requires reviews. Something I don't exactly have time to do at the moment. So, I'm going to pick Walrus. Yay, for walrus. :3