His mind drifted off in thought
Thank you all for the positive feedback and encouraging words for my latest fanart. As the government plans to ease the restrictions, before the residents are required to go back to normal (no more working from home for me 😅), I’d like to present a variation of the same drawing — Albert contemplated leaving Room 0 and pondering over whether to tell the kind nurse. For your interest, I’m going to post this on my Facebook page as well. 🙂
Great fan art, Ms. Puddle, one of your best. Thank you also for the signature. I’ve made a wonderful avatar of it.
I can’t reply to the comment of DanielleV, so I answer her here. I completely agree with you about Terry fans being a dying race, and while they extinguish they scream as loud as they can. The Terry fan community has suffered a great blow, especially since the publication of the French translation of CCFS, and the closing down of the biggest Terry-fan forum, Candy Terry Paradise, is the greatest proof of that. Its administrator herself has admitted that although being still a Terry fan, she doesn’t believe Terry is Candy’s partner in her 30s. Besides, she has also mentioned she was sick of all those quarrels between Terry fans and Albert fans, and that’s why she decided to close down the forum which has supported Terry for years. That left all the fanatics “homeless”, since they no longer have a place where they can worship Terry, insult Albert, and ridicule Susanna, the three basic reasons for that forum’s existence. All that remains is several insignificant forums throughout the web, trying unsuccessfully to keep the flame going. The remnants of those forums are exactly this loudmouth bunch as you and Lakewood have so eloquently said. I couldn’t agree more with that definition.
Hello Fay,
You and DanielleV have mentioned an interesting point regarding the dogmatic fans within the CC community. Surprisingly so, I came to realize that they’re far less than originally fathomed. Because they’re so loud and repetitive, they may give off the impression of being many but it’s sort of like the “Wizard of Oz”; once you get to see who’s behind the curtain, it’s just a little guy with huge insecurities. Those hysterical fans are exactly like that. They’re vocal but they’re small and insignificant, in reality.
As for the steep decline of Terry enthusiasts, I don’t think it’s because of the French version of the CCFS or the closure of the CT website-at least not entirely.
The Terry hype existed back in the 70s and 80s when toxic male characters like Terry were not only acceptable but also fashionable. To many Terry enthusiasts, it’s perfectly alright for him to strike Candy and dominate her. Luckily, the younger women of our contemporary society diametrically oppose such appallingly sexist and misogynistic mentalities and thus those Terry-like douche-bags have been tossed into the hot dumpster fire where they belong.
Just imagine how younger women would react if they watched that CCFS scene unfold where Terry forces himself on Candy and then hits her because she resisted his advances.. Even the anime creators back in the 80s weren’t comfortable with that scene and they decided to appease Terry’s abusive character by eliminating that May Fest slapping scene entirely and they replace it with Terry being a kind and supportive friend helping Candy to have fun at the party which ensued. Most of the Terry enthusiasts haven’t read the manga or the novel but have only watched the anime where Terry appears to be a much kinder chap who’s always supporting Candy. However, that’s not what happens in the manga or the novel where Terry is a very aggressive and violent guy.
No matter how much those dime-for-a-dozen loudmouth bunch worship abusive men, times have changed and women who respect themselves reject such douche-bags and good for them.
I certainly hope so, @Lakewood, that women should not tolerate any violence or abusive behaviour. Yet, the vast popularity of that certain series of books/movies about shades seems to suggest otherwise. Perhaps the majority of its admirers are no longer young?
Exactly. They’re predominantly middle-aged in their 50s and older. As for that dumb 50 shades-whatever novel, the franchise failed miserably after the release of the first book and film.
Thank you very much, @Fay, and glad to hear you use it as your avatar 😘
I’m not sure if Terry fanbase is getting smaller, because as I mentioned before in another comment there are many in Asia too.
That being said, readers have their right to choose their favourite characters in any story, so long as they don’t ridicule those who don’t necessarily agree with their opinions or preferences.
Thanks for the support, Fay. My comment about a specific category of the Terry-fans is that, indeed, they’re not only a dying race but they’re already defunct. To clarify, I don’t mean all the Terry-fans because I know quite a few and they’re alright. The same applies with the Albert-fans. You’ll find some nasty ones just like the aforesaid nasty Terry-fans but the majority of them are OK too. The issue at large is that the nasty ones coming from either the Terry-fans or Albert-fans are just a handful but they make a lot of noise. They probably think that they’re dominating but all they’re achieving is proving what pathetic little fools they really are. Even the writer and editors of the CCFS are keeping a distance from all that online fighting. It’s a shame that this beautiful story is being reduced to the cheap fighting between some inane fans.
Yes @DanielleV I agree most fans are alright. It’s only a few that are immature and nasty. 🙁
Hi, Ms Puddle!
How are you today? Hope everything goes well with you and your family during this pandemic situation. Had a flu last month and I thought I’d be a victim, but thank God, He spared me. And soon I went back to work though it’s risky, lol.
I just want to say how much I enjoyed admiring your artworks and reading updates regarding our favorite couple, Albert and Candy. Your Albert here is much more handsome than the one Igarashi illustrated in Manga. Nope, I’m not joking. Made me fall over for him, lol. And again, thank you for keeping Albert and Candy alive in the fandom through your great theories about them. Hope to hear from you soon!
Stay healthy and safe!
❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Thank you so much for your compliment and encouraging words, @albertlovescandy 🤗
I was primarily inspired by Yumiko Igarashi’s drawings and illustrations. A few friends from Korea and Taiwan told me they still prefer manga images than mine 😉😁 But that is totally fine with me, because I sincerely admire Igarashi’s artwork. 💖
A friend of mine felt ill last month too and was so sad, almost depressed. Turned out it was seasonal flu, and she happily made an announcement, telling her manager and coworkers right away.
Hello Ms Puddle,
Your artwork keeps on getting better and better. I’m pleased to hear that you’ll be working on more characters too. I’m sure you’ll do a great job drawing them. Your drawings of Candy are my favorite from what I’ve seen in the CC community until now. You make her look so beautiful.
Thank you @Michelle for your continued support and encouragement. So happy to hear you like my drawings of Candy 😍😘
YW.
Nah, they were saying that just to give you a little push, lol. No really, your Albert and Candy drawings are getting better and better as time passes by. 😍 😍 And I’m gonna agreed with what you said sometime ago that you found Manga Candy more beautiful than in Anime version, and you even made your Candy drawing look gorgeous than the Manga itself. No joke! 😊 😊
I’m happy to hear that your friend is better now. Hope she keeps her distance from people for now. I even brought Sanitize spray at work with me and to spray a vacant table before I sit down to catch my breaktime in the breakroom, lol. Hope some of my fellow employees are not offended for doing that.. just wanna make sure I stay away from getting sick again 😷 😷
Regards, my dear friend, and I’m looking forward to seeing your new artworks again! 👍 👍
Be well! 🥰 🥰 🥰
Hello @albertlovescandy, no I know for a fact they were honest about their preferences, lol…
Anyway, thanks again for your compliment, which is very encouraging. I’ll try my best to keep up. 💪💪
You take care as well, and please do not care too much about what others think.
Stay safe!
Love your artwork, Ms. Puddle!
I’ll soon post the results from my experiment with my younger sister, here in my country we are still in national lockdown and it doesn’t look like anything is going to improve, at least for a while… Right now, my college is “closed” until july but none thinks we will be able to switch back to presential courses this year, if we are lucky maybe january next year. This week I am having some mid-terms, when I’m done with them I’ll share with you my sister’s very curious reaction and thoughts.
Just popped in here to ask for some help, a girl’s comments in a facebook post confused me. Could any of you clarify it for me, when did Albert cut off contact with George and the rest?
She was saying how Anohito’s reaction about Candy’s stowaway story couldn’t be Albert’s, because when George told Candy that Granduncle William was okay with her becoming a nurse it obviously meant that both him and Albert were aware of her adventure.
Do you think Albert indeed knew about Candy’s whereabouts before disappearing? Some girls replied telling her how at the time they may knew that she was back in the U.S. but not how she did it haha or that George lied to Candy about WAA so she didn’t worry about him missing, and the fact that if he knew about it, he became amnesiac afterwards so obviously he forgot it.
In the Magnolia time I’m fairly certain that Candy told him the story, so basically it would have been his first time hearing it. Do you think it happened like that or she told him afterwards?
I always thought Anohito’s reaction was very Albert-like.
But agh, I don’t know it just made me so confused. I have come to conclussion that big part of the Terry-fans only use the same arguments and when they can’t think of anything else they get so aggresive, and use Plan B: start messing with your head lol
Hope you’re doing okay, and they allow you to stay at home more time. Take care of yourself! 🤗
Hi @FJ. There’s no point wasting your time with a couple of demented Terry-fans. They’re obviously triggered because Keiko Nagita has offered an equal chance for Terry or Albert to be “anohito” and that’s driving them crazy.Just let them stew in their own juice.😂
Responding to your question (I’m also looking forward to what @Ms Puddle has to say about this), it’s clearly stated in the CCFS that Albert had severed all ties with George and the Ardlays when he left for Africa. Based on his letter to Candy, he had left for Africa shortly after her last visit to the zoo. That was before the summer break. Candy received the letter from Albert after her return from Scotland which was in autumn. This was also way before Eliza had schemed that awful scandal against Candy and Terry.
If you read the letters in the Epilogue, Albert admits that he was selfish by severing all ties with George and the Ardlays when he left for Africa. In Section 3 (Volume 2), there’s a letter Candy had sent to George where she sympathizes with all the great responsibilities he had to undertake following Albert’s absence. Both of these pieces of information point out that Albert had no idea what had happened to Candy and Terry at St Paul’s following Eliza’s trap. It’s common sense. If he had known what happened, he would have intervened to help Candy and Terry. It’s most certain that George had received instructions from Albert to always look after Candy when he’s gone. Albert was confident that Candy was in good hands with Terry (maybe he thought they would get married after finishing school) and George would be her legal adviser, thereafter.
In the manga and the anime, Aunt Elroy and the Ardlay elders have instructed George to pretend that Albert (aka the “grand patriarch”) is not missing and that everything is fine. It’s not as explicit in the novel but the readers understand that George had to take over Albert’s businesses and affairs.
Now, whether Candy had told Albert about her perilous journey back to the USA including all the details, no one is in a position to prove it. There’s no way to prove whether Candy had already told Terry or Albert about the details of her being a stowaway and the dangers ensued. There’s no textual evidence to support either theory.
Hope this helps a bit. Let me know if you want some further details from the novel.
Well said, Sarah.
Honestly, I’m baffled with the denial permeating some of those fans. I’m seriously beginning to doubt whether they’ve even bothered to read the novel. Many of those fans seem to be confusing the anime with the novel. Most of them are even ignorant of the manga.
As you have eloquently explained, Albert makes it perfectly clear that he had cut all ties with George upon his departure for Africa. He says this himself in his longer letter to Candy. What prompted him to return to Europe and then the USA was the news of the outbreak of WWI. He must have been living in Africa for about 2 years because he was involved in a war-related accident en route to Italy. Italy is known to have entered WWI in 1915. He had left for Africa before there was any fear for WWI.
Thank you @FJ! Good luck to your studies. 🙂 No rush in getting back to us.
Concerning your questions, I totally agree with @Sarah and @Lakewood. In addition to what they have already mentioned, I’d like to point out I’ve written something about Candy’s stowaway experience. Yet, SPOILER ALERT if you haven’t yet read my fanfic Peculiar Relationship. For your interest, just scroll all the way down in
http://mspuddleshaven.com/2015/07/08/peculiar-relationship-chapter-8/
So when did Albert leave Africa and ended up in Italy? Please read
http://mspuddleshaven.com/2014/11/27/living-together-how-long/
Besides, not even Georges could have known that Candy had spent all her allowance on chasing after Terry. Georges might have assumed she had traveled back to America the normal way, considering that he might be way more concerned about the young heir’s whereabouts.
Some fans argued that Candy should have told Albert about this when they lived together, because she said she could tell him everything. Back then, as a roommate he probably would not hold her tight in his arms. However, I won’t rule out the possibility that Candy decided not to tell anyone this but Terry? After all, it’s not something to brag about, I guess. Yet, years later, when she was in a steady relationship with Anohito, she could muster her courage to confide in him.
Thank you @Ms Puddle!
Everything is mere speculation when there’s an absence of textual evidence. Yet, some dogmatic fans believe that they speak for Nagita and dictate that she should write.
Since there’s no textual evidence to support that Candy had spoken to Terry or Albert about her journey back to the United States, anohito’s response to Candy’s narration in the mid-1930s could either be that of Terry’s or Albert’s.
The major mistake certain fans make is jumping the gun when it comes to reaching to conclusions without sufficient evidence. I’m saying this for both sides of the CC fandom. I agree with you, Sarah. As long as Keiko Nagita remains silent about the identity of Candy’s lover and she continues to be vague in her narrative, the online arguments between the Terry-fans and Albert-fans are pointless and profoundly tedious.
That’s right. They’re acting as if they’re the writers of Candy’s story. For my part, I only take into consideration what Nagita says herself. Everything else is just background noise.
Yes you’re right it’s only speculations @Sarah. No solid proof or textual evidence from CCFS itself.
That being said, we don’t know for sure when Candy had talked to Anohito about this adventure.
Some people said this is one of the trickier clues in CCFS, especially because Candy implied she’d like to tell Terry in her first letter to him after his brief visit to Pony’s Home. However, Anohito’s reaction was not very Terry like, as I have already explained in my other post.
The problem is that Nagita wants us to use our imagination and draw our own conclusions. In reality, however, Nagita is passing the buck to her readers and she’s freeing herself from any further involvement with the online fights between the hysterical fans. Her move is clever and the ways in which she retains the ambiguity in her novel are even more ingenious. By giving a 50-50 percent chance to Terry-Albert, she manages to keep both sides hopeful whilst quietly walking out of the “saloon”-type fights between the fans. As the saying goes: “Two birds with one stone”.😉
Both Terry and Albert’s mannerisms have been convoluted and conflated in the CCFS, and I would say it has been done deliberately so by the author to muddle the situation even more surrounding anohito’s identity. It gets to the point where it’s virtually impossible to differentiate between those two characters as the author provides similar attributes and traits to both Terry and Albert.
That I can’t completely agree, @Lakewood, but what I do agree is that it’s futile trying to derive who Anohito is merely by his manner, smile or voice. Yet, there are other clues throughout the novel that are based on personal experiences. 😉
Maybe you’re right, @Ms Puddle. Yet, it appears that for every argument, there’s going to be a counter-argument.
So true, @Lakewood, because certain group of fans can never give up. For example, why was Anohito able to recognize Pony’s Home (looking down from Pony’s Hill) at a glance? The only valid reason is that he had been there himself in the right season, possibly more than once. 😉
Another example is Lagan’s resort grand opening picture. Why would Anohito display this particular family photo in the study? 😆
All your points are valid, @Ms Puddle. However, there’s no point trying to reason with an irrational fan. I’ve experienced such toxic folks innumerable times. Once they get cornered after sledgehammering them with logic and evidence, they begin those hysterical tantrums of theirs where they keep on repeating the same old lame excuses in the most compulsive way. Just check out some of the online bickering going on following the release of the Spanish CCFS. Fortunately, all that insanity will be dug deep again once the dust sets in. The irony is that the fans aren’t too many but they’re a loudmouth bunch. If they’ve got a spouse and/or children, I feel sorry for all them for having to deal with those lunatics on a 24/7 basis. At least we just bear them for a couple of minutes and then toss them aside or block them.
Yes indeed @Lakewood. I just randomly picked two points and there are more, but you’re absolutely right. It’s a waste of time trying to reason with some folks. I feel sorry for their family members. 🙁
I almost forgot to ask you, @Ms Puddle..
Your reference to Candy’s library in the mid-1930s is interesting because I haven’t come across any Terry/Albert fan discussing the medical books in her library. Most people probably assume that they belong to Candy and perhaps they’re right about that.
There is a strong possibility that those medical books belong to Albert because he had been working with a medical team during his stay in Africa. Moreover, Candy frequently jokes around that she’s not into books and that she wished she had a more receptive mind. Albert is the exact opposite, however. He’s very scholarly and enjoys reading books and acquiring knowledge. I’m not saying that Albert is a doctor but he most certainly had to study loads of medical books and journals in order to keep up with the demands of the clinic (for humans, as Nagita specifies) in Africa.
We get quite a lot of clues in the novel that Albert was the most well-read and educated young mind having been exposed to intensive private tutoring in order to enter an ivy-league university in the UK.
What do you think?
@Lakewood: You’ve got a point. There are many references indicating the Ardlay clan inclination to higher learning applying to both men and women. The younger members had to study hard even during the summer break. George was also encouraged to study at university which he excelled and Candy later on was commended for her decision to become a certified nurse.
Yes some of those medical books might belong to Albert actually, @Lakewood. As @Sarah pointed out, even the young generation had to study hard during summer break. Imagine what Albert had to go through in his youth 🙄
He must be well educated if even his right-hand man had excelled in his advanced studies at a university. I also doubt that Albert had a medical degree but he might be reading simply because it was one of his hobbies (might have been influenced by his experience in Africa). He and Candy had some common interests, unlike Candy and Terry. As far as we know she had never (properly) watched any of his performances on the stage.
Thanks for your feedback, @Ms Puddle, and thanks @Sarah for the further info.
You’re absolutely right @Ms Puddle about Candy and Terry not having much in common, especially not career-wise. Presumably, with Albert she had so much to discuss since both of them were interested in helping others and shared love for nature.
Nagita has generously offered us a magnificent love story between Candy and Albert but some fans will continue to be in denial and fail to see the beauty in this meaningful relationship.
Exactly, @Lakewood. Not only that, they fail to see/accept Susanna as the woman who actually could understand Terry or support him in his career.
Speaking of Susanna and her severe accident, I’ve been meaning to ask you about a query I’ve got @Ms Puddle.
Isn’t it a bit strangle or outlandish that Candy or her friends hadn’t found out about Susanna’s tragedy from the newspapers? Based on what we’ve got as textual evidence, Susanna’s accident had occurred a considerable time before Candy traveled to New York. She even mentioned that Terry hadn’t told her anything about it, presumably, not via correspondence either.
How is it possible for her not to have known about such a major event within the Broadway world, especially having to do with such a high-profile glamorous actress as Susanna? That news would have definitely hit the headlines in tabloids and newspapers alike. Readers already know that Candy would collect every piece of information circulating about Terry, and she would want to know what’s going on between him and Susanna with regards to the rumors circulating that they’re a couple. Even if she was working long hours at work, she would still devote sufficient time to read anything available about Terry. Needless to say that her friends would have given her a heads up for anything new about Terry and Susanna just like Annie always did.
Hello @Lakewood, I’m writing a new post about Terry and Susanna, and may I quote this comment of yours and discuss in the new post instead?
Honestly, Lakewood, I also have that same question. How on earth didn’t Candy know about Susanna’s accident? Terry didn’t have to tell her although he should have instead of keeping her in the dark and having to find out in such a shocking way. Terry’s behavior is that of a coward. The only brave person in that entire mess was Susanna for risking her life and Candy for letting go. If Terry had any dignity and self-respect, he would have been honest to both Susanna and Candy. Yet, Terry kept leading Susanna on by giving her hopes and he kept lying to Candy that everything was alright. Terry pretended that he was a tough guy but when the tough times emerged, he just slithered into a corner and let those two women sort it out for him.
I meant to say the only brave people were Susanna and Candy.
P.S. Why didn’t Terry dispel those rumors about him and Susanna being lovers when he had the chance? He didn’t have to provide any details regarding his personal life to the press and to his colleagues but just curtly state that he’s in a relationship or nothing is going on with Susanna. Period.
That would have sufficed as it would have also shone his respect for Candy who’s been subjected to reading all that gossip about him and Susanna.
Plain and simple.
Sigh… I can’t agree with you more, @DanielleV. His fans failed to see or accept this though. Their argument is that there was no need for him to explain anything to anyone. Yet, I don’t buy that at all. At the very least he could avoid appearing with Susanna alone as though they were a couple.
There’s no need to ask me, @Ms Puddle. Whenever you feel like it, you can always quote my comments as long as they’re useful to you. I appreciate your politeness and support.
Thank you @Lakewood 🤗
I don’t care what his fans think. Besides, they’re a dying race anyway. Their influence has waned severely and that’s why those last remaining handful of them scream and shout like raging lunatics on social media. Just because they’re louder doesn’t mean they’re important. It’s actually the opposite. The more loudmouth and persistent someone is, the least people take them seriously and respect them.
Most of the younger readers of the CCFS tend to be less fanatical and far more reasonable and cool minded. These younger readers may have their own preferences but they don’t impose it on anyone and they’re also willing to indicate the pros and cons of their favorite CC characters in a calm and intelligent manner.
Well said, DanielleV. The younger ones don’t like all that online bickering between the older members of the CC fandom. Whether they prefer Terry or Albert as a character, they’re willing to accept that “anohtio” could be Terry or Albert and they’re fine about that.
It’s ironic that the younger generation is teaching the older generation what civility means within a debate but it’s a refreshing phenomenon most needed within the CC fandom.
What’s even worse is that some narrow-minded fans fail to interpret the intentions of the author and subsequently those of the editor(s). Either they deliberately distort their findings simply to market their own rhetoric and pat themselves on the back or they’re doing it out of sheer ignorance. Either way, it’s doing a disservice to the CC community as a whole.
It’s pathetic of them to believe that by fixating onto their convictions, Nagita or the editor(s) will change their mind and give in to their pestering. Until now, this hasn’t happened but let’s see what the Spanish version will reveal. The editor of the Spanish version has announced on YouTube that it will be a direct translation of the Japanese text published in 2010 with an added note by Nagita to her Spanish fans. She had done the same by adding a note thanking her Italian as well as her French fans. If the Spanish version turns out to be as professional as the Italian and the French ones, certain biased fans will be bitterly disappointed. The sensible fans, however, will be pleased to see that the Spanish edition constitutes professional work independent from biased fans.
Yes @Myra my sentiments exactly. They not only fail to appreciate the beauty of the love story but they also threaten the author to change, or they belittle (if not ridicule) Albert’s character or his fans.
I honestly hope the Spanish version was not influenced by any biased fans or theories circulating the fandom for years.
Inevitably, there will be tons of pressure as most of the Terry-fans are Latin American, whereas there is a balance between Terry-fans and Albert-fans in Spain. This majority doesn’t exist in any other country and that’s why the translations so far have proven to be as close to the original Japanese text as possible. I’ve noticed that the Spanish editor is struggling to keep the Terry-fan pressure at bay but we’ll all have to read the Spanish version to see if professionalism has been maintained. At the end of the day, it’s only another translation of the novel and the CC community could always focus on reading the unbiased translations. However, I do have the impression that the Spanish editorial and publishing board will not give in to hysterical fans but provide a verbatim translation of the original text.
Hello Ms Puddle and Myra, I’ve already ordered the book as a gift to a friend and I’ve been informed that there will be no changes made to the novel. It will be an authoritative translation of the Japanese original without any influences from the fans. This is simply a book which will be accessible to Spanish readers.
Wonderful news, thanks @Anita 👏🤗
That’s good to know, Anita. Thanks!
You’re welcome, Ms Puddle and Myra. The source of information is supposed to be reliable so all good.
Thanks! @Sarah @Lakewood @MsPuddle for clearing my doubts. 😊 I was waiting for my copy of the spanish translation to arrive by the mid of june to read the complete novel, hence my lack of knowledge about some things and overall confusion. 😅
I wanted to have a clearer vision, so yesterday I took the time to read a unofficial translation, only till the other comes:) That plus your explanations now everything is crystal clear, thank you so much!
I do have to mention: Everyone in this blog seems so educated and well-spoken! You really inspire me to try to improve my writing vocabulary:)
Your writing vocabulary is just fine, FJ. Thanks for the shout out, by the way.
I’ve got the Italian and French translations. A friend of mine is going to get the Spanish one and translate the crucial stuff for me as I translated certain texts for her from Italian and French. It would have been cool if there was an English translation but I doubt that will ever happen. Nagita herself said at the Paris interview last year that she really wanted her book to be translated into English but no one (I guess she meant the editor or publisher) seemed to be interested to take up the project. It makes sense because Candy’s story isn’t well-known in the English-speaking world. Even the anime had never been dubbed into English regardless of its massive popularity back in the 80s. But then again, you never know. Maybe an editor will develop interest into this story and get it translated into English some day.
Looking forward to your thoughts about the Spanish translation when you receive it.
Hi @Sarah, it’s great you own both official translations and I suppose you’re fluent in these languages as well? 👏
Oh! And @DanielleV, I consider my sister and I as part of the younger readers, most of us don’t like to comment or take part on those arguments since almost everytime we do we either get bashed for any little thing or completely ignored lol
And have I mentioned how repetitive gets everything with them? .. I read “daffodils” at least once in every comment section, I see where they are coming! But it simply doesn’t make sense for me.
I am guilty of trying to fill some voids by myself, but never of trying to impose my opinion on others:)
IMO I believe that’s why you don’t see a lot of us nowadays: we are fans, we love drama, but it gets humdrum when everyone is so obstinate. Sigh…
I love CC/CCFS, it really has a special place in my heart, and I love the non-problematic part of the community:) that’s only why I have been trying to have courage and participate in nice places like this one.
I agree with you @FJ and I’m one of the younger readers of the CCFS myself. Some of the older fans are too narrow-minded but I guess that happens when you get older. Hopefully, we won’t end up like them when we reach their age.
On the bright-side, there are many fans who are very polite and provide intelligent commentary surrounding the CCFS. I think it’s best if you focus on those people who are worth your time talking to and just dispense with those who are moronically fanatical.
Regarding some fans’ obsession with those daffodils, there is no point wasting your time trying to reason with them since they’re so fixated with the notion that those flowers represent Terry. Nowhere in the novel does the author or any other character identity Terry with daffodils. There’s only one brief scene where Candy stumbles over Terry and he jokes about being a scented daffodil and that candy wants a kiss from him. He was simply trolling her as usual.
Thank you @FJ and @DanielleV and once again, welcome to my blog. 🤗 It’s refreshing to read new ideas from newcomers 👏
About what @FJ said concerning daffodils, I couldn’t help laughing out loud. That’s not even a strong hint IMO, and just as @DanielleV mentioned, it was just another bantering scene between them. 😆
Hi there!
During the quarantine I got to read your LNF fan fiction and then your short story called “The Diary”. I’m planning to read “Peculiar Relationship” soon. I’m very pleased with the quality of your writing. You’re so eloquent.
May I ask what prompted you to write fan fiction about Candy?
I also like your drawings about Candy and Albert. I had a hunch that those two were going to be a couple in the anime. It became much more obvious in the novel. Albert is a wonderful character and a role model for modern day readers. In the novel his elegance is more pronounced than in the anime. The novel is closer to the manga than the anime and Albert’s character has more depth in the novel than in the anime or the manga.
Thank you!
Hi Leda, nice to meet you. Thank you for reading my fanfics and glad to hear you’re interested to read yet another.
What prompted me? Perhaps I like the main characters very much and felt that their beautiful relationship had been misunderstood by many?
I also think Albert got more character development in CCFS than in the manga. The anime version didn’t do him justice 🙁
Your fan fiction is intriguing and I’m planning to read more of your work soon.
Nagita also wanted to dive deeper into some characters such as Susanna, Neil and Stear but her editors had advised her against that, perhaps for financial reasons. Publishing books costs money and editors always try to keep the budget tight.
I also liked the manga more but the anime was enjoyable to watch at certain scenes and one of my favorite was the Magnolia episodes.
Thank you once again, Leda, for your encouraging message, and take your time to read. 😘 It’s been a long while since I last wrote a fanfiction though. 😉
I wish Nagita sensei could spend more time writing or elaborating section 3 of the Candy Candy Final Story though. Right now it feels so much is missing, especially Candy’s days with Albert in Magnolia. I have a feeling that it might have been intentional because otherwise it would have been too obvious who Anohito is… 🙄
Nagita had explained that it was a combination of publishing demands and her preference for the epistolary style. In her interview held in Paris last year, Nagita explained that she finds love letters fascinating and she wanted the letters exchanged between Candy and Albert to be separate from any of the three sections of the novel and provide a distinct section which is the Epilogue. She wanted to keep those letters at the end of the novel to provide greater impact.
I would have also preferred if Nagita gave a longer narrative for the Magnolia years but the emotions expressed between Candy and Albert are very intense and we get a clear image how important those years at the Magnolia were to them.
Yes @Leda I remember Nagita sensei explaining her preferences. As we can all see, the epilogue consists of nothing but the letters between Candy and her Prince on the Hill and Anohito coming home to Candy. 😊
About Magnolia, no doubt it’s important to them both as they mentioned it here and there. I just think there could be a little more. 😁
Agreed. It would have been awesome to know more about Candy and Albert’s life at the Magnolia. I’m not disappointed because the Epilogue provides insight into their emotions and fond memories at the Magnolia. They had been living together for quite some time and they both express nostalgia for those days. Being apart has cost them both emotionally, based on their letters to each other.
Do you have any idea how long Albert was away working at the medical clinic in Africa and how long was his flat-sharing with Candy? If I’m not wrong on this, I think he stayed in Africa for 2-3 years and he had been living with Candy afterwards for 2 years or a bit more than that. I’m making these estimates based on the assumption that Candy was born in 1898. There seems to be a consensus among the fans that she was born in 1898.
Yes Leda, apparently both Candy and Albert missed those days, especially Candy. She did not even try to hide her strong desire to see Albert again.
Those who insist they are merely friends or brother/sister are just so blind.
FYI, you might be interested in reading my old post:
http://mspuddleshaven.com/2014/11/27/living-together-how-long
Perhaps it’s not denial but sheer stubbornness. Some of those fans are so toxic that they’re not providing any form of sensible debate but reducing themselves to petty trolling. They’re a sad case.
Thank you very much for the link to your article. I’m going to read it through and get back to you.
Well said, Leda. As you say, those trolls are a sad case but, fortunately, they’re only a mere handful of them. They try to garner attention by spamming and repeating themselves. They’re trying to impose their opinion but all they prove is how silly they are.
Agree with you both, @Leda and @Myra 😊 Perhaps you’re unaware there are many pro-Terry fans in Asia too. However, it’s their loss who can’t appreciate the story, which hasn’t changed since 30 years ago — Candy met her prince as a child and at the end she was reunited with her Prince on the Hill, who decided to return to Pony’s Hill to confess. 💕
This is a very beautiful depiction of William Albert Ardlay. I am impressed with your work “Ms Puddle”. Usually, I come across naive and childish recreations of the Candy Candy tale but your work is a refreshing exception which adds depth to the characters. I have also read some of your fanfic during the quarantine and they are just as impressive. Most of the fanfic I have read so far are embarrassingly cheesy.
I would like to thank you for sharing your talent online.
Thank you DanielleV for your compliments for my drawings and fanfics. Nice to meet you 😊 There are high quality fan works for Candy Candy fandom out there, but your positive feedback is greatly appreciated. 🤗
Nice to meet you too.😃 I agree with you that there are some really good fanfic stories out there but they are very few, sadly. I like your drawing of Candy and you make her look much more beautiful than she was in the anime. Have you drawn other characters apart from the Candy Candy ones?
Thank you again, @DanielleV, for your kind words and encouragement. My drawings are mainly inspired by Yumiko Igarashi, the illustrator of the Candy Candy manga version. It’s a pity she could no longer work with Keiko Nagita anymore, the author of Candy Candy.
I’ve only published fanarts for Candy and Albert so far. This year I plan to draw other characters in Candy Candy, if possible. 😉
I’ve read about the law suit against Yumiko Igarashi. In some articles I had read that she lost the case but in others it is said that she has kept all the copyright for her drawings. That would make sense since none of the editors of the novel are permitted to use any of her drawings. It’s a pity there’s so much fighting between writer and illustrator. There’s also too much fighting between the fans. I’ve selected your blog because you and your contributors are polite and intelligent.
Which other characters are you planning to draw, if I may ask?
Sigh… It’s a pity these two talented ladies can no longer cooperate, @DanielleV. Together they have created our beloved Candy Candy, don’t you think? 💕
Which character? You will know when I publish. 😀
I like this different shade of blue you’ve added to this new version of your fan-art @Ms Puddle. It seems that Albert’s independent spirit always got the better of him even when he was suffering from amnesia. Whilst Terry would resort to violent actions and hysteria, Albert always maintained his resolve but deep down inside he wanted to take flight and be on his own. It would take someone’s very strong love to keep him from fleeing. As Keiko Nagita said herself, Terry suffered from depression and Albert from isolationism. Terry’s depression would often lead him to acts of physical violence against his mother and Candy, whereas Albert would always try to find a way to control his emotions but run away.
Well said, Lynn! I agree with you these two male characters have their own demons and conflicting inner emotions, and yet it seems Candy could see through Terry but not Albert.
That being said, the latter gave her a sense of security that she couldn’t quite explain.
Thank you Lynn and I’m glad you like this shade of blue too. Tell you what, it’s very similar to the color of the patients’ garments or the scrubs of the healthcare workers in my community. 😉
That’s an interesting interpretation and I agree with you. The irony is that Candy didn’t have too much faith in Terry even though she believed that she knew him inside-out, whereas she had complete trust in Albert even though she considered that he was uncharted territory. She was ready to venture into the unknown with Albert but the question lies whether he was willing to so do with her.
My sentiments exactly, Lynn. Yet, the fact that Albert was willing to make the important confession to Candy speaks volumes, don’t you think? 😉
Yes, and it also refutes the argument made by some people that Albert felt nothing for Candy. Those people criticize Albert for leaving Candy soon after he recovered from his amnesia but they fail to understand that he left after overhearing the rumors against him made by the neighbors. Albert left the Magnolia because he didn’t want to cause Candy any trouble. It’s actually quite similar to Terry’s behavior at St Paul’s when he stealthily abandoned Candy’s room without waiting for her to come back with the medicine. He didn’t leave because he didn’t care but because he didn’t want to cause trouble to Candy. Why is Terry’s behavior justifiable and not Albert’s? This double-standards mentality coming from some people adds to their already flawed and very biased arguments.
Right on, @Lynn! I will just tune out or ignore their arguments whenever they start using double standards. For example Terry could belittle Candy all he wanted by giving her nicknames but when Albert teased her it was inappropriate. 😆
Hi Ms Puddle and Lynn-This blue shade of Albert’s shirt reminds me of the anime. Even though I’m not much of a fan of the anime, this hospital scene where Candy and Albert meet again is played out quite well, IMO.
Yes, Myra. I also think this part of the anime was well done, and in fact, to me Albert looked his best in these few episodes. 🙂
I had the impression that the anime creators were influenced by the manga because the images almost look identical. The entire hospital scene was amazing with regards to character development and images.
Hi Ms Puddle,
Soon my colleagues and I are returning to work as well but many of us have been assigned online teaching for our postgraduate and research students until further notice.
Stay safe and wish you all the best with the global return return to normality.
P.S. This version of Albert is beautiful and you’ve nailed it with portraying his melancholic gaze.
Hi Avon, so will you be spending half the time teaching online? Wish you all the best too! 😘
Thank you so much for your encouraging feedback, and I actually prefer Igarashi’s sad looking Albert in the manga 💕
Hi Ms Puddle,
Actually, there’s a bit of confusion (euphemism for chaos) with regards to the loosening of the draconian lockdown restrictions. The UK prime minister wants us all to resume work as normal but our first minister of Scotland is against this order. There’s a lot of back and forth going on between those two and everyone else is just stuck in the middle of this insanity here in Scotland. Since my partner and I work in Scottish universities, we both await what Nicola Sturgeon will say since the devolved powers of Scotland apply to university level education. On the other hand, this is also a matter of national security, therefore, Boris Johnson’s order may prove to be more powerful. It’s an acutely complex situation. For the time-being, I’m providing my services via online teaching but I’ve been accustomed to this since online teaching has been available for so many years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak anyway.
Responding to your comment about Igarashi’s drawings of Albert, I prefer them as well but the anime ones aren’t all too bad either. The same goes for Igarashi’s drawings of Terry. He’s much better looking int he manga. Terry looks like an octopus or in the best case scenario like the Medusa with all that hair in the anime.
Hello @Ms Puddle and @Avon!
@Avon: It’s insane in the UK. You’re spot on describing the conditions in England. At least you live in Scotland where there’s some form of respect for human life. It’s a pity Scotland didn’t become independent when it had the chance during the referendum.
@Ms Puddle: I also prefer Igarashi’s Albert to the anime but both have their own charm, I guess. Your own drawing of Albert is fantastic. I’m glad you found time to offer us more of your fanart.
Thank you @Anita for your encouraging words. I probably won’t draw again until later this month or early June.
I guess you live in UK? Few weeks ago when we touch based with our young relative, things weren’t looking good. He could work from home but had to accept paycut.
Anyway, best wishes to you and your loved ones!
Hello @Ms Puddle!
I am currently working in the UK and luckily I haven’t had any cut to my salary but the same cannot be said for so many people.
Please, take you time with your drawings. You have got an important job like many of us. There will always be time for our beloved hobbies.😊
Best wishes to you and your loves ones!
I’m sorry to hear that, Avon, that you and your husband (plus all the others who are teaching in the universities in Scotland) are stuck in this complex situation. 🙁 I hope things will be clearer in due time.
Terry looked like an octopus?? LOL… someone else told me that Albert in the last few episodes had hairstyle that reminded her of squids too… Candy was no better either near the end of the story. I was told TOEI ran out of budget by then… Maybe it’s true 🙄
Thanks for your concern, Ms Puddle. It’s not too awful for those of us who are in academia in Scotland because my colleagues and I are accustomed to online teaching and arranging group Skype meetings for our research projects and other professional affairs. It’s the volatile sociopolitical situation which is getting worse and worse, especially for the vulnerable members. Glad that I’m not down South in England right now. London is a cesspit.
As for the anime, you’ve probably noticed that the final episodes were made in a rush due to the legal issues between Igarashi and Nagita. TOEI got caught in the middle of this storm and of-course it affected their budget as you’ve astutely pointed out.
I’ve seen some fanart where Terry is depicted with short hair and he seems so bland (I sound like Gordon Ramsey, LOL). Terry’s charm is that nice mane of his because it defined that rather old-fashioned yet romanticized character of his. His looks are rather obsolete for our contemporary times but portraying him with short hair severs his appeal and renders him nondescript. Albert, on the other hand, looks better with short hair because of his golden blonde hair, beautiful facial features and blue eyes.
There’s some pretty good Terry-themed fanart but most of the stuff circulating about him is silly. I agree with you, Avon, short hair does not look good on Terry. I’m not keen on the very long hair he had in the anime either. He looked like a prima donna. I think Yumiko Igarashi got it right by keeping his hair shoulder length.
Awesome fanart, Ms Puddle!
The restrictions are easing in many parts of the world. Hopefully, this is a wise decision.
Talk to you again soon.
Thank you Lakewood. 😘 Glad you like this variation too!
I’m asking my manager for approval so I can continue working from home for at least another two weeks. I am not sure if it’s too soon to ease the social distancing restrictions. 🙄
How about you? Take care and stay safe!
Hope your request is approved, Ms Puddle. Presumably, your employer should endorse it for another fortnight as so many people have been applying for the same work-at-home requests.
At the other end of the scale, many people are demanding to return to work and easing the lockdown restrictions. Social distancing should be maintained, nonetheless. Many people have been reduced to poverty due to unemployment and I can sympathize with their demands, even though on a scientific basis, I do not agree with them.
What a horrendous dilemma our world has been hurled into..
As for me, I’ve got my office situated in my own home where I handle many legal cases and provide online legal consultation with my clients. I also work at the law firm but we’ve been advised to stay at home until further notice. We’ll probably return to the firm by mid-June the latest.
You take care too and stay safe!
Thank you Lakewood. I understand why many countries are lifting the lockdown restrictions. Some of my friends are laid off (though temporarily for some) due to the pandemic too. 😩
It’s great that you can still work from the comfort of your home office and achieve a lot without leaving the house. By mid-June we should probably get a better idea whether it has been a wise decision to ease the restrictions in May.
It’s just as awful for people who own businesses and struggle to keep them afloat during this massive crisis. A friend of mine co-owns a restaurant with her husband and they’re both apprehensive about the future. They’ve managed to avoid too much loss of profit by providing takeaway services but that can’t last for too long. They had to temporarily let down some of their staff and this has a tremendous impact on their conscience but they have no other alternative.
There are some new polls published which show that the majority of people are far more concerned about poverty than COVID-19 and most people want to get back to work regardless of the cost it may have on their health.
Our world is much more frail than imagined and maintaining a balance is even more difficult.