So, have you read any good books lately? Any good graphic novels? And really lame ones?

Right now I'm reading All The Kings Men. Though it's long, about 625 pages, it's proving to be really interesting, especially the plays in politics. My ela teacher nearly had a heart attack when she saw I was reading it though, she didn't really think I'd pick up something like that.

Right now I'm finally finishing up the Battle Royale manga series, at 13/14 volumes. I'd started back in May, left it for awhile, then picked it back out Mid-November. The premise is of a class is sent to an island where they are left to kill each other until one remains. It's a good series, and the closer it gets to the end, the more intense the battles get. A lot of little details have been thrown in, such as a emotionless killer's question mark. A little bit of a put-off is knowing that in the end, the only people who survive this are two very bland characters.

And I had to read my vocab book. That was really bad, even for a textbook.

I'm working on all of Dean R. Koontz work for fun.

But in English we're reading Sunrise on the Veld then Rocking Horse Winner.

Rocking Horse Winner? Sounds like racing rocking horses.

I want to race on a rocking horse.

Thats the whole point, racing on a rocking horse to win money to get the house to shut up O_o

I actually like that short story, I like it a lot. Mind, I've had to read it like three times in three different classes over the years, but still, it's not bad as far as shorties go. The Lottery is another good one that everyone should read if they haven't read it already.

A Modest Proposal, by John Swift, is ALSO up there. Seriously. Go read it. Now. It's amazing XD But when you do, remember, it's sarcastic.

So, its possible to do a ten page paper on the Rocking Horse Winner by D H Lawrence? I only was able to hit five.

.....O.O

Ten pages? are you kidding me? You have to? I've had bloody research papers that are barely longer than that.

Personally, I'm of the belief that doing reports on short stories that are significantly longer than the short story in question are next to impossible unless you turn it into a research paper x.x

I'm currently reading Disgaea. Because I can't get enough of the art style. So now I need to find out more about it. *shrug*

I've been reading some of R.A. Salvatore's Forgotten Realms fantasy novels. I am enjoying them for the most part.

Also Battle Royale kicks ass I saw the movie and now I want to read the manga or novel. I mean if the movie is good then the book is better. The movie is up on youtube for anybody who is interested.

Also its been out for a while but the Marvel Mangaverse just amuses me.

Megatokyo is of course awesome. And cause its a webcomic its free/convenient.

The Ultimates are great. At one point after being told to surrender Captain America claims the letter on his head "Doesn't stand for France!" That is priceless and is one of the greatest comebacks ever to grace the pages of a comic book.

One of my favorite Star Wars Expanded Universe novels is the Clone Wars novel Shatterpoint which is about Mace Windu.

I really enjoyed the novel Godplayers by Damien Brodrick.

Jim Butcher's Dresden Files novels. They make Harry Potter look pathetic.

I'm reading.. too much crap.. I have like, 20 different books laying around that I've started and need to finish.

All of the Clerks and Jay and Silent Bob comics kick ass. I have them all in the Tales from the Clerks omnibus. Snoogans.

Im reading Stranger in a Strange Land

Not quite what I wanted, but I still like it alot. The character Jubal Harshaw is the shit.

On the topic of Battle Royale: Book kicks major ass. I couldent get into the manga, the characters seemed to different to me for some reason. They made whateverhisfaceis (the main character) all pretty boyish. I didnt like that much.

Thats nothing compared to my books I have to read ''. Even short stories out beats all the manga I have x.x

The manga pretty much adds backstory to all the characters, which change it a lot. It's what introduced me to Battle Royale though and is pretty much my favorite. Although at the same token, it's a _lot_ more explicit.

They also made the characters really varied in diffference and they don't look japanese. So looking at the movie/manga is weird.

Apparently, there will be an americanized version of the movie released in 2008. I don't want to try to imagine that too much...

We almost never read interesting short stories in my ela classes. There's one that sticks out in my head, the one with the mongoose with the long name by Kipling. That was awesome.

My twin sister and my best friend read Marvel Mangaverse and the Ultimates and such. I've never really got into them though. Besides manga, the only series I really read is Strangers in Paradise by Terry Moore. Her timing in her story could use more work, little heavy on Hobbs views, but otherwise it's really neat I think. And just have some great lines.

Yeah the Americanized Battle Royale movie scares me. Will it be an all new American film or just a dub and edit of the Japanese one? Thats the question I'm asking. In any case it will be weak with the violence REALLY toned down.

You might like Runaways from Mavel. I think its decent. You can't forget Ultimate Spiderman either its good.

Americanized Battle Royale? Oh God, save me... T_T

The book was great. It gave a lot more insight into the background of all the characters. I have yet to read the manga, though I've heard a lot about it.

I was actually pleasantly surprised when we watched Battle Royale in my Horror and Science Fiction class last semester. Though I noticed that some basketball scenes and a bit on Mitsuko's history had been added to the movie. Go figure 0.o

Anyhow though, news of there being an Americanized Battle Royale being released worries me greatly x.x;

Oh yeah, Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal" is one of my favorite pieces of writing ever... XD There's nothing more awesome than a guy that can go on for pages, writing about eating babies and all the while sounding perfectly serious and sane.

Agreed XD. That has got to be one of the best works of sarcastic literature ever. Everyone should have to read it, seriously, that man was a genius <3.

I have to mention the Zombie Survival Guide. Yes somebody actually wrote one.

That's the Director's Cut version, then. A few deleted scenes and such were added back in.

Has anyone here seen Battle Royale II? If so, what did you think? I personally thought it was weak in comparison (as it didn't have the whole moral breakdown thing going on), but it was still fun.

I'm almost scared to see Battle Royale 2 thats how bad I heard it was.

Why are all the really great satirists Irish?

Yup. I've read it, it's an interesting read. Hah, my friends and I tend to joke on how best to fortify our dorm rooms against zombies XD

Me and my friends best discuss how to combat zombies hmmm..........zombat. How to best engage in zombat.

Yeah, that happens to us as well; shit, one of them saw a machete at walmart or something and bought it just incase zombies were to attack XD.

I have been trying to get a friend of mine to build me a flame thrower. I'm serious. I just want one so I can run around yelling "Who ya gonna call? TOAST BUSTERS!" and similar shit. He could build it to if he wasn't an asshole. I don't even think they are illegal.

building a flame thrower is actually quite easy

building one that is garunteed to not explode during use is a little more difficult

also you guys might want to check out World War Z, the sequel to the zombie survival guide.

Yeah, I've heard the same, though I'm still really curious to see it. I mean... if I sat through something as bad as Snakes on a Plane, I'm sure Battle Royale 2 couldn't be a bigger waste of my time ;p

Two words: Hairspray + lighter :3

Dear God you actually saw Snakes on a Plane? People had to have known going in that would suck. thats why when it came out I never heard any more about it.

Plus I want a REAL Flamethrower. Not hairspray, not a supersoaker filled with windsheild wiper fluid a real honest to crispy Flamethrower. My friend welds and builds motorcycles for a living so I am sure he could build me a decent one not likely to blow up. He won't though something about keeping one out of my hands for the good of the people or some shit like that. A guy can't even combat zombies or Nazis or aliens these days let alone get revenge on his 4th grade teacher. Its a damn shame.

The idea was bad from the start. So many jokes about that movie though!



My worry about americanizing Battle Royale is it becoming a disney tale. Everyone bonds as one and rises together. Kiriyama finds his self again, then he and Shugo ride off into the sunset, everyone ends up with their true love.

Well, except Mitsuko would die. Because you know, SLUT WE MUST KILL!

Or it ends up a really lame comedy...

Holy Shit! I just imagined Battle Royale with Disney characters! Donald Duck went fuckin' berserker and Pluto killed Mickey Mouse. Thank you for that sweet idea it can be used when I become an Evil Overlord to train child soldiers.

That aside I always wondered why they never made a Battle Royale anime.

Oh, my, all the characters and their true loves.

Although the dwarves can have fun beating up Snow White.

Kingdom Hearts on crack. Thats something that comes to mind.

I've almost finished Chew on This , it's about the fast food industry history what goes on in the business and it's effects on society. Although some on the statements in there should definitly not be taken at face view.

Apparently though, Ronald McDonald did start life off as a pedophile...the first commercials of him showed him in front of a tv, saying "Hey kids? Do you like watching tv? So do I! I like whatever you kids like!"

Don't accept candy from people like that. >.< Or hamburgers!

Holy shit! Hamburger town Battle Royale!

Actually they talked about something similar to just such a thing in Penny-Arcade once.
Here

In the middle of the island Battle Royale takes place...

A McDonalds is opened.

I can actually see McDonalds pulling a stunt like that.

The Hunt for the Red October. Just finished it and it's sweet. Also, the Eragon series is sweet. Finally, anything by Carl Hiassen.