It kind of feels like the main function of this volume is to move all the pieces into place for the climax. (But I do love the climax itself! Coming up, volumes 31 and 32.)

( Volume 30 )

The fighting is still tedious, but the threads are drawing together on the backstory of Shandora, making this volume more interesting overall.

( Volume 29 )

At least lots of boring shounen fighting makes for quicker summaries, sigh.

(A few very interesting tidbits scattered in amidst the fighting, though - especially the hints about mantra, and the ancient history of Shandora.)

( Volume 28 )

I find I'm able to appreciate the development of the Skypiea/Shandia plot much better this time through. The first time I read this arc, I think I was just hopelessly confused.

Enel and his agents remain tedious, alas.

( Volume 27 )

Journey to the island in the sky results in overuse of "scare quotes."

I think I just figured out why Skypiea is not my favorite arc -- among other things, way too much fantasy worldbuilding. The hints at future plot developments remain fascinating, however.

( Volume 26 )

Off to Skypiea... after Oda hits us with the firehose, again. (I don't think any two chapters in all of One Piece are as dense as chs. 233 and 234. But wow, so much amazing stuff.)

( Volume 25 )

Running late because I had company over the weekend.

Moving into the Skypiea arc by way of Jaya. I thought I remembered vol 24 being kind of boring, but a lot more happens here than I thought.

( Volume 24 )

Farewell to Alabasta, in all its awesomeness. ;__; (Happy tears! ... mostly.)

( Volume 23 )

Longest. Twenty-nine minutes and thirty seconds. Ever.

(But, I LOVE this volume. The only thing better than volume 22 is volume 23.)

( Volume 22 )

Livy wrote his history in pentads or decads (groups of five-ten books). What's a group of 20 books? Insanity? Anyway, we're starting a new one!

Let's face it: some shounen fights are just more fun than others. A mixed bag in this volume.

( Volume 21 )