One Piece, Ithaka

[incandescens]

So, if it's a decent manga, you read it, you smile, you think, "I enjoyed that," and you make a mental note that you really should get the next one when you see it in the shop. Perhaps even pick up a few earlier ones, should you have some spare cash.

But if it's a really good manga, like One Piece, you sit down at the computer that evening and order the rest of the series available so far. ;)

I can't see it as being one of the ones I write anything for, but it's a damn good story and well told. With good characters. Must try and see some of the anime sometime to see if it's anything like as good.

Otherwise, weather hot, writer tired, watched Hornblower over supper with mother. Just think, a historical drama with no Americans.

Unfortunately, part of a filling came out today. Very annoying, though not actually painful. Well, that settles two events for next week. Monday; phone dentist. Later in week; visit dentist.

---

Ithaka

As you set out for Ithaka
hope the journey is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - don't be afraid of them:
you'll never find things like that on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare excitement
stirs your spirit and your body.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
wild Poseidon - you won't encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul,
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.

Hope the voyage is a long one.
may there be many a summer morning when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you come into harbours seen for the first time;
may you stop at Phoenician trading stations
to buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
sensual perfume of every kind -
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
and may you visit many Egyptian cities
to gather stores of knowledge from their scholars.

Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you are destined for.
But do not hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so you are old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.

Ithaka gave you the marvellous journey.
without her you would not have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.

And if you find her poor, Ithaka won't have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you will have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.

-- Constantine Cavafy

Comments

[captain-boots.livejournal.com]

I should pick up the newest Hornblower show and watch them all through from the start again.

[incandescens]

The show was quite well done, so I see no reason to dissuade you. And you can read the books, too. ;)

[copperbird.livejournal.com]

Aww, doesn't he get to fight any Americans then? :)

(Although I have been trying to convince myself that my tooth has stopped hurting so I could really just cancel that dentist appointment I have for next week, I should be good and turn up to it. So I feel for you with your teeth. Good luck)

Anyway, what about Measure for Measure as the plot for a shoujo anime?

[incandescens]

Measure for Measure would probably work quite well. ;)

And as for the teeth -- go, woman, go. I'm biased on the subject. After breaking my jaw (ages ago) I waited about two years before going to the dentist, and really regretted it, because there was stuff that could have been fixed more easily had I gone earlier. So go.

[shiny-monkey.livejournal.com]

Happiness! Another OP fan. And yes, it's a really, really good series. The anime has some great music and while it does what all anime does (reduces the characters each to a single defining characteristic), it's pretty decent. Avoid the movies until you're sure you love the anime, 'cos they're weird to a one ^^

[incandescens]

Thanks for the warning re the movies. While the anime isn't my first priority (getting the rest of what's out in the French of the manga is) it is high on the list.

[flit.livejournal.com]

There's an episode of Hornblower with a whiny American. :)

[incandescens]

Nobody's perfect. ;)

[yhibiki.livejournal.com]

One Piece is AWESOME! :D Although I think the french version is pretty funny, since it renamed Sanji to Sandy and Usopp to Pipo or something like that. Pepe? It was a funny name.

I like the anime a lot too, since the music is very fitting for the series, and the voice actors have done such a good job. (at least, that's what it sounds like to my ears, but I've been told unless you are japanese, you have no right to judge over seiyuu.) Especially Luffy's voice actress, I think she is AMAZING. (You'll recognize Sanji as having done Gojyo ind the Saiyuki anime. Typecasting, I do belive.)

The movies... well, the first movie is pretty bad. I don't like it at all. the second movie is a lot of fun, and so is the third one. The fourth one is alright, it has a character who fights like Spike from Cowboy Bebop. Have not yet seen the fifth movie.

The only problem I have with the anime is really one of the filler arcs. So annoyingly long and pointless. "The dragon is on THIs island! No, wait, on that other island! *sail to other island* Oh, OOPS, it's back on the island we just came from."

[incandescens]

Sandy and Pipo, yes. Sandy I can at least see the logic behind, but Pipo? Oh well.

Sanji's seiyuu is Gojou's, mm? Yup, definitely sounds like typecasting.