kafka
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May 3, 2024 10:31:10 GMT -4
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Post by kafka on Oct 5, 2006 6:57:03 GMT -4
[/color] Okay, who was it? ;D[/quote] Heh. I vote for the IHA. After all, there was no suicide note.... But seriously speaking, I'll repeat what I said earlier: I don't want to be inappropriately flippant about suicide (?) or wanting to die while imprisoned in that palace, but it's kinda hard to avoid. I mean, seriously, a palace which also houses the rival royals, Akishino, Kiko, their children and the new male heir, *AND* Masako's family? I don't know about the poor 19 yr old, but *I'd* want to probably contemplate suicide if stuck in Masako's shoes, especially now, living right next door to "Saint Kiko" and the child which has rendered everything in her life --- particularly Aiko --- totally irrelevent and stamped by failure. On a separate note, some "expert" has just now suggested that Masako & Naruhito adopt the newborn prince as their own. To make things easier.... for the baby. I'd comment, but I think I need to lie down with a bottle of aspirin and a cold compress.
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Post by Auroranorth on Oct 5, 2006 10:40:41 GMT -4
I'd comment, but I'd get kicked off the board!!!
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kafka
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May 3, 2024 10:31:10 GMT -4
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Post by kafka on Oct 5, 2006 16:47:30 GMT -4
Can you imagine what it would be like for Masako and Aiko if they were forced into adopting that baby? Aiko: So, my new baby cousin is now my brother, and in the future, he will push me aside because I'm not important? Masako: So, my new baby nephew is going to be my son and in the future he will push aside my daughter, because he's the only thing that matters and I'm just considered to be a big fat failure and have shamed the Imperial Family? There was quite a bit of talk before the baby's birth that, if he were a boy, a lot of problems would be fixed by having the Crown Princely couple adopt him. And it would somehow let the couple "save face" by having a son of their own. ( ) So, this whole thing is not a new proposal or some zany idea by a lone "expert" on the fringes of things. I really hope that doesn't mean they railroad or force Masako/Naruhito into doing it. And, while I don't like Kiko, what would it be like for her to have to give up her son? Ouch.
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Post by Auroranorth on Oct 12, 2006 15:28:47 GMT -4
"Nausea is inevitable." should be added to your sig, Kafka.
Man, every time I wonder what it would be like to be royal, something like this happens and makes me so glad I'm a peasant.
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Post by Aspasia on Nov 1, 2006 9:20:03 GMT -4
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kafka
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May 3, 2024 10:31:10 GMT -4
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Post by kafka on Nov 2, 2006 10:28:44 GMT -4
From the review linked above by Aspasia:
I think talk of abdication is unrealistic. Not in this culture, not with their emphasis on duty, shame and (in the CP's case, in particular) the burden of history. It makes me wonder just how much of an outsider this chap is towards the overall culture, mentality and value-system.
Hmph. "Star-crossed lovers" has to be a red flag in most historical biographies, let alone one whose understanding requires an examination of objective, political issues and pyschological cultures.
"Why is there secrecy" about IVF and Masako's mental state? Pleaaaaaase. That's akin to wondering why Tsar Nicholas or Henry VIII were so obsessed with a male heir. It's not only obvious, but seems to imply that the Japanese are being overly neurotic over the issue, even though tons of Western monarchies have lived and crashed on the same issue. My God, has no-one heard of Henry VIII???
It's good that people are trying to make the Masako situation into something approachable, understandable and interesting for the average reader. Really, I applaud that a thousand times over. My issue is that the book sounds painfully simplistic; a Harlequin romance with an open-ended conclusion reeking of soap opera-ish generalities, when the detailed reality of things would be a thousand times more riveting and would suck in anyone who likes Desperate Housewives.
That said, if this book can make even 10 people more aware of the blooding sodding IHA, and Masako's situation, then all the better.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 3, 2024 10:31:10 GMT -4
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2006 15:43:55 GMT -4
It's good that people are trying to make the Masako situation into something approachable, understandable and interesting for the average reader. Really, I applaud that a thousand times over. My issue is that the book sounds painfully simplistic; a Harlequin romance with an open-ended conclusion reeking of soap opera-ish generalities, when the detailed reality of things would be a thousand times more riveting and would suck in anyone who likes Desperate Housewives. My Bolds. I think that you are on the right track here, but forget the Romance and the Satire. Consider the succeeding generations of Mad Empresses and Insane Consorts of the Royal Family. This is like The Grudge Parts One, Two, Three, Four... One Thousand. Or even better, The Ring where each Empress is turned into the voracious little scary girl who eats the souls of the succeeding Empresses. How do you stop the curse? How do you stop the Evil that is IHA?
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kore
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May 3, 2024 10:31:10 GMT -4
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Post by kore on Nov 5, 2006 11:37:37 GMT -4
I'm still up for the raiding of the Palace, grabbing Masako & Aiko, taking them to safety, then..... taking out the IHA and all living members of their families "Godfather" style.
After that we announce that a female will take the throne. If there is any squable, we'll bomb them, again.
My 2 cents ;D
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garnet927
Landed Gentry
Posts: 737
Mar 9, 2005 15:47:26 GMT -4
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Post by garnet927 on Dec 27, 2006 19:49:27 GMT -4
So has anyone read any of the Ben Hills book, now that it's in bookstores? I was thinking of borrowing from where I work.
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snowrunner
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May 3, 2024 10:31:10 GMT -4
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Post by snowrunner on Jan 8, 2007 8:30:35 GMT -4
I'm still up for the raiding of the Palace, grabbing Masako & Aiko, taking them to safety, then..... taking out the IHA and all living members of their families "Godfather" style. After that we announce that a female will take the throne. If there is any squable, we'll bomb them, again. My 2 cents ;D I don't think the Japanese would appreciate the bomb comment.
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