Got mine this Saturday instead of Halloween like I hoped (for some reason, the post office changed some policy which is why I didn't get my book on the 29th like the last two pre-orders). I went ahead to read it today and just now finished.
It's really getting good, I really was not disappointed. I haven't touched the sound novels for a while so I can't exactly make comparisons (except we see what happens to Rika's mother--we don't get anything in the sound novel), it explains things a lot better than the anime did (no surprise there). It really goes in depth about all that has happened, and the psyches of the characters. We actually get backstory of Ooishi and Hanyuu (that I was surprised about, I thought that was explained in the Dice-Killing arc according to the OVA--but I shouldn't have taken that into account...), and those were a joy to read.
You know... Higurashi really hits home for me, especially when it comes to Keiichi. In Massacre arc, we learn that we should really do all that it takes to get help or at least change fate around by using will and support from people to do it. It continues to come into play here, and it still hits hard. I've been having issues lately when it comes to school and all that, and I worry about how it's been affecting me on the level of psychosis. I worry that my mind will just snap and who-knows-what I'll do. I don't get freak outs, but if I feel like my brain's overloading over something (like I get too obsessed/anxious over something especially school-related), I just shut down and wait for all of my emotions to drain out so I can calm down and breathe easier. I'm like Keiichi in a way when it comes to abstract thought or whatnot. He probably handles it better than I do, but there are things he gets confused over and yet excels at it depending on the question much like I do.
I think that's why I started bawling that one time when I watched episode 10 of Curse Killing when I was in particular having an awful day and was just overloaded with work and stress over my grades. I knew exactly what he was going through, and I really connected with him. While I thankfully haven't plotted out to kill anyone (and pray that it never happens), just having him going over his life as he's digging that hole was enough to get me to understand him. And that's probably why Higurashi speaks to me on a lot of levels, and that I do feel much better when I get anywhere near the story and characters. It being a way to fantasize killing someone is not one of them, I swear, the story makes it perfectly clear murder is still wrong.
There's a lot I really like about this particular volume, I can't choose my favorite part. (Okay, the faces are awesome to look at 83. All of the crazies, especially Takano's crazy faces.) The ending got me, I really do not remember that frightening tidbit at all. Hell, I don't even think the anime had that wham of a moment.
So... now I have to wait until January for the next volume. I should pre-order here soon, especially since it doesn't look like the price is going to drop any further. To think that Higurashi will be fully translated by April of next year, unless they're also going to translate Dice-Killing since it's only one volume. It's both exciting and a bit sad at the same time. But on the plus side of things, it'd give me leeway to focus on Umineko right afterwards. Should be twice the fun.