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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 29, 2008)
6 Clackamas Print Wednesday. 2008 ‘Death Note’ novel enthralls fan Jess Sheppard I Arts & Culture Editor Before Light Yagami ever picked up the supernatural Death Note that made him believe he could change the world, there was Beyond Birthday, another murderer who had also been touched by the corrupting power of death. Beyond Birthday has lived his whole life with an unnerving gift - the eyes of a Shinigami, or God of Death. Just by looking at people, he can see their name and the exact date of their death. It’s an unsettling power that ultimately drives him to commit three violent and mysterious murders in the hopes of defeating his predecessor, the legendary detective L. Based on the controversial manga/anime, “Death Note Another Note: The Los Angeles BB Murder Cases” is a prequel to the original series in novel format Written by popular Japanese novelist Nisioisin and translated into English by Andrew Cunningham, “Another Note” is addict ing, engrossing and impossible to put down. Although prior exposure to the original “Death Note” series adds a special perspective to the reader, it is entirely possible to read the novel without ever having seen the anime or manga. The Death Notes themselves, so pivotal in the storyline, are mentioned only briefly in the foreword along with a summary of the original series’ events. The book focuses on a string of serial murders called the L. A. Serial Locked Room Killings (later renamed the Los Angeles BB Murder Cases), which are mentioned briefly by the detective L at the beginning of the “Death Note” series. From toe original cast is Lhimselfas well as Naomi Misora, the Japanese FBI agent chosen to be his eyes and ears in the field. Joining them is Beyond Birthday, or BB, the killer who dares to challenge the greatest detective of the century, and a suspi cious private investigator named Ry uzaki, who has a monstrous sweet tooth and an uncannily good memory. Possibly the only fault of the book is in the names of the characters who are not from the original series. In addition to Beyond Birthday himself whose name is at least explained by the narrator, there are the three victims - Believe Bridesmaid, Quarter Queen and Backyard Bottomslash. Those are not errors of any kind. They are the characters’ actual names. Obviously they are uncommon and they stretch the reader’s suspension of disbelief. However, their names have purpose; it just isn’t evident until well into toe stay. . It’s very hard to put down a book that begins by break ing the fourth wall within the first two paragraphs. From the description of the first crime scene, to Misora and Ryuzaki’s step-by-step analyses of Birthday’s cryptic clues, to the final, head-spinning twist at the end, “Another Note” grabs a hold of toe reader and doesn’t let go. MM mmmmm ______ Artwork contributed by Yuumei of Deviantart www.yuumei.devianti Showcase your art and writing tn The Print aced@clackamas.edu HONEST, INDEPENDENT, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE I hate clowns. - Donna Ford “One eyed freak, three arms, something crazy.” - Austin Wilson “Freddy Kruegei; because of those claws.” - Mich? Campus Poll: As a child, what scan you the most about Halloween1 . RON ADAMS CLACKAMAS COUNTY COMMISSIONER POSITION 5 “There is room for one moderate voice of reason on the expanded, 'NONPARTISAN' Clackamas Board of Commissioners.” Ron Adams Paid for by Friends of Ron Adams “My daughter is scared of any kind of • gruesome mask and ' witches, too.” - Jackie Wheeler I “My brother, and he still scares me.” -Jeff South Fantasmos. - Edwardo Sal
