“As long as the critical event still happens… history will play out as it’s supposed to.”
Reading this is so different from watching the donghua, b“As long as the critical event still happens… history will play out as it’s supposed to.”
Reading this is so different from watching the donghua, but it still makes me just as emotional. I think it’s the fact that I could take my time with it as well and really soak it all in. The art is beautiful, and everything is translated well. The full color pages are everything and I just love Cheng Xiaoshi so much. He reminds me of me in a lot of ways. Highly empathetic, extremely emotional, and tends to act before he thinks because he wants to help as many people as he can. He is selfless almost to a fault. His flashbacks to his childhood and his parents made me cry and I just wanna hold him forever and keep him safe ...more
We get our first glimpse into married life with the Kabakuras! They live together now, but are basically the same as ever. During their first video caWe get our first glimpse into married life with the Kabakuras! They live together now, but are basically the same as ever. During their first video call with NaruHiro they rag on each other and talk about how weird it is to be doing this lol. The fact that the both of them are on their own separate screens behind one another is funny. The fact that Hirotaka just woke up and wasn’t wearing any pants was even funnier. Nao doting on him like a mother hen is too precious.
And then there’s the chapter where Tarou comes home absolutely wasted and she takes care of him. Changes his clothes, helps him when he pukes, and drags his ass to bed. Then he says all this cute shit to her about how he felt like they were a true married couple when she said welcome home after he said he was home ...more
AHHHHH IT’S HERE. HANAKO AND TAROU’S WEDDING IS FINALLY HERE AHHHHHH!
Best looking couple tbh. Hana looked absolutely radiant in her wedding dress and AHHHHH IT’S HERE. HANAKO AND TAROU’S WEDDING IS FINALLY HERE AHHHHHH!
Best looking couple tbh. Hana looked absolutely radiant in her wedding dress and Tarou looked fucking handsome in his tux. His hair looks really good in that style too. Also the way he compliments her and tells her she looks beautiful and is way too good for him had my heart fluttering. And the fact that he let her cosplay at the reception absolutely killed me lol. We stan a man who supports his wife’s hobbies. Best fucking husband of all time no contest. They were made for each other and I love them.
Yes I know Narumi and Hirotaka are still the main romance, but I don’t care lol. I love them too, but my love for HanaTarou is in a whole ‘nother stratosphere.
They do have their cute moments though, like when Harumi invited him over to feed him lol.
As for our third romance, they seem to be going through a rough patch as Ko has finally realized her feelings for Nao while he remains completely oblivious to his own heart. Will her avoidance of him finally knock some sense into his head? What will he do about it? I guess we’ll see....more
Another cute fucking volume. Nao and Ko go on their first date that they don’t realize is a date and she wears a skirt for the first time in front of Another cute fucking volume. Nao and Ko go on their first date that they don’t realize is a date and she wears a skirt for the first time in front of him and completely floors him. My man knows she’s beautiful. I can only imagine how cute she must have looked in her hs uniform when she was younger. They watch a movie and then go to the arcade. So cute. They genuinely remind me of Haruhi and Tamaki so much, but a million times more innocent. They both have zero experience with love and romance and are absolute trash at even admitting their feelings to themselves. You would think it would be painful to read the slow burn, but they’re so damn cute it’s ok.
Also Hirotaka’s little talk with Ko was absolutely precious. Both so similar, yet so different in many ways. I know he’s not great at expressing emotions, but it was so precious when he thanked Ko for being Nao’s friend because he could tell that she changed his life for the better. Even with the big age gap, you can tell he genuinely loves his brother.
I adore the random scenes that break up the plot every once in awhile. Narumi trying to spend time with Hirotaka when he’s just gaming on their day off lol. Kaba struggling over being a good adult and getting his work done or leaving early to buy the latest manga lol. All relatable things for me, except I just read my manga online....more
It’s the company trip! It’s always fun seeing them outside of their office or even the bar. The fact that the girls got to unwind and relax while the It’s the company trip! It’s always fun seeing them outside of their office or even the bar. The fact that the girls got to unwind and relax while the guys managed to challenge each other into a game of all things lol. I’m pretty sure both of them tapped out from the sauna at the same time to avoid dying from overheating lmaoo. Also not Hirotaka picturing Narumi in the hot springs ...more
Completely in love with this manga. Nothing but fluff, good times, and nerding out. This is such a relatable comic for nerds and geeks. Going to cons Completely in love with this manga. Nothing but fluff, good times, and nerding out. This is such a relatable comic for nerds and geeks. Going to cons and the stress of getting to the right booths in time so you can get what you want before it sells out. Wanting to meet your fave comic book artist, author, or actor. As a huge geek/nerd/weeb who goes to NYCC every year and drags her bf with her, it was nice to read this in a manga lol.
Fujita completely embraces life as an otaku and it’s beautiful. I love each couple to pieces, but HanaKura remains my fave. The anime definitely cut some stuff so I’m happy I’m reading the manga to get these snippets. The summer festival is one of those moments! Seeing Hirotaka defend Narumi from those dumbasses made my heart warm. I relate much more to HanaTarou though because my bf also has a scary face and thus I never get hit on when I’m around him lmaoo....more
I’m completely head over heels for HanaTarou. Their origin story is the cutest fucking thing ever. It was basically Haikyuu but shoujo lmaooo. They’reI’m completely head over heels for HanaTarou. Their origin story is the cutest fucking thing ever. It was basically Haikyuu but shoujo lmaooo. They’re like the most stubborn tsunderes I have ever met. All of that arguing, but both so passionate about their mutual interests. When she saw him do that jump serve and immediately lit up and begged threatened him into training her. Pretty sure that was the moment he fell for her lol. And then when she cried after he lost his last game, which officially ended his volleyball career. The two of them confessing on his last day of school ...more
I’m so fucking in love with this manga lmao. I relate so much to all of this as an otaku. Hirotaka and Narumi’s first ‘real date’ was cute af. Good chI’m so fucking in love with this manga lmao. I relate so much to all of this as an otaku. Hirotaka and Narumi’s first ‘real date’ was cute af. Good choice taking her to an amusement park homie. Also the fact that they ran into Hana and Tarou was funny since they admitted to stealing their idea. What was even funnier was Narumi accidentally grabbing Tarou for the scary haunted house ride, forcing Hirotaka and Hana to ride together lmaoo. They were just having a casual conversation about relationships and dating while Narumi and Tarou were scared shitless and fucking dying together lmaooo. Top tier comedy.
We’re also introduced to Kou here! She gives me major Haruhi vibes, except she’s shyer. Nao is basically a pure, non-flirty Tamaki so they’re perfect for each other. I ship it.
I’ve already watched the anime so I’m reading through all of the volumes to relive it, and also to read the stuff the anime didn’t get to since the manga continued after the anime was completed....more
Have I mentioned how much I love this? I know this is one of those manga where there is barely any plot, but I don’t care lol. It’s a cute office romaHave I mentioned how much I love this? I know this is one of those manga where there is barely any plot, but I don’t care lol. It’s a cute office romance with a cute main couple and an even cuter (in my opinion) side couple. I also appreciate how this is the rare shoujo manga that features adults, rather than high school romances. Don’t get me wrong, I love those too, but I can relate more to these guys and their work struggles rather than high school drama. ...more
I just finished the anime (including the OVAs) and loved it so fucking much I decided to jump right into the manga. I’m in the worst reading slump of I just finished the anime (including the OVAs) and loved it so fucking much I decided to jump right into the manga. I’m in the worst reading slump of my life rn, but manga always gets me right out of em so I’m going to keep reading this for now. Plus, it’s nice to know that someone won’t die in this and it’s just cute and fluffy.
While Narumi and Hirotaka make a great couple and are pretty funny together, I got my eyes all on Hana and Kabakura lmaooo. They remind me so much of my boyfriend and I, except we don’t fight nearly as much ...more
“All I know is, it’s dark without you. I close the blinds, you open them and let the light in. You’re my home.”
It’s been almost a decade since I f“All I know is, it’s dark without you. I close the blinds, you open them and let the light in. You’re my home.”
It’s been almost a decade since I first started reading Deadly Class, and I finally got my ship in all of its glory, and it’s for forever this time. I know everyone thought Marcus and Saya would end up together. In the very beginning, I was rooting for them too. But there was just something about Marcus and Maria that made sense. And I wound up loving them. They had a long, rough journey in their relationship, but they found their way back to each other. In between all of the fighting and killing and teen angst they found real love in one another. I mean, adult problems suck ass too. (view spoiler)[Maria’s illness and her lack of insurance makes me wanna cry and scream at the government. (hide spoiler)] It’s kinda funny how this grew up with me because I’m also struggling with surviving and worrying about rent, groceries, and my health. They were relatable when they were teens (minus the killing) and they’re relatable now as adults trying to make ends meet.
Still, I’m so happy my babies made it.
Which is exactly why I am going to be supremely pissed if Remender kills either one of them, or both of them. THEY DESERVE TO BE FUCKING HAPPY!! LET THEM BE HAPPY OK???
Here’s another long ass quote I can’t resist putting in.
“No matter how much they hurt each other that love remains. Even after finding her with another man he couldn’t bring himself to hurt her. But you knew that. Just as I knew that no matter how much came between them… in the end they would be together.”...more
Minor spoilers below! Major spoilers will be hidden!
4.5 magical stars. I admit, I may have hyped this book up a lil“Please, Little Fox, remember.”
Minor spoilers below! Major spoilers will be hidden!
4.5 magical stars. I admit, I may have hyped this book up a lil too much in my brain, but I still loved this. I love this world, I love Evangeline and Jacks, and I love the magic that surrounds them. Garber has such beautiful, lush writing, that is so easy to fall into. You can read a few pages and immediately get swept up into the world of the Magnificent North. I’m getting ahead of myself, though.
The book picks up immediately after the terrible, awful cliffhanger we were subjected to at the end of The Ballad for Never After. Unfortunately, a big chunk of the book is in Apollo’s POV. Lemme tell ya, I was sympathetic for the dude at first. He was hit with curses left and right, but now he erased Evangeline’s memories and has a very twisted idea of love, which is more like an obsession. I felt so gross every time I had to read one of his chapters because he would do the most fucked up things, all while proclaiming it was for her own good and that he had to save her from Jacks because he loved Evangeline. The guy is nuts. I’m glad that Evangeline still sensed something incredibly wrong with their marriage while her memories were lost. Her mind may have forgotten, but her heart remembered.
My biggest critique of the book would be the lack of EvaJacks interactions. Don’t get me wrong, there is still quite a bit, but my romantic ass wanted more. I wanted more tortured love and almost kisses. I think what I missed the most was their banter, and it’s because she spends half of the book not knowing who he is! Or you know, thinking he’s a monster who stole her memories. Still, even when she doesn’t have her memories, she still feels an inexplicable pull towards him. They’re still connected by the tattoo, and he can still talk to her in her mind. Obviously, she doesn’t know that so she thinks she’s just hearing random voices or imagining it. Their interactions are what make the book and the entire series tbh, and I wish we had gotten more.
That being said, what I really wanted was my happily ever after, and I got that! I do think the ending was a bit rushed. I wish we had gotten a long epilogue with Evangeline and Jacks. I just wanted more of them with her with her full memories and him allowing himself to be loved. I am happy with the hint that we will be following a different character in a new series tho... Dark vampire prince, anyone?
Overall, I still loved this, but it was lacking in the romance, which is what makes the first two books so superior. That feeling of "will they, won't they," and tortured pining. I wanted to feel my heart ache even more, that way I could be utterly elated when things worked out in the end! It's still a beautiful story, and will forever be one of my faves, but there could have been more.
Below you will find a few of my favorite quotes~
“To give power was a far easier thing than to take it away.”
“He wasn’t hers to think about and yet she kept picturing the way he’d looked in the hall, and how for a second, he’d seemed almost shy, almost scared, and almost hers.”
“I’m your monster, Evangeline.” - Jacks
“There is never a necessary evil, only poor choices.” - Wolfric
“He’d said he wished their story could have had a different ending, as if they’d already reached the final page. But Evangeline wanted more pages”
“Her memories didn’t feel so much like her past as they did their story.”
“. . . there is the other heart, the second heart, the one that breaks instead of beats, the one that loves so that there is a point to all this living.” - Castor
“Revenge makes me hopeful.” - LaLa
“Well, she’s not a raging bitch like you.” - LaLa
“You are my choice.” - Evangeline
“You are the love of my life. You are mine, Jacks of the Hollow. And you’re not going to be the end of me.” - Evangeline...more
First of all, how dare you?! Second of all, HOW DARE YOU?!?!?!?!
I am so distraught honestly. A cliffhanger hasn’t “We all make mistakes for love.”
First of all, how dare you?! Second of all, HOW DARE YOU?!?!?!?!
I am so distraught honestly. A cliffhanger hasn’t left me this devastated since The Last Graduation and I have to wait a year for the finale??? Pure torture.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I love this more than I love Caraval. I’m absolutely in love with this luscious, magical, fairytale world Garber has created. Pure whimsy laces this book and each new setting has its own personality and flair. I want to live in this world. Well, except maybe Chaos’s castle and the Slaughterwood estate. I’m not down with all the weapons and vampires and whatnot lol. The Hollow sounds like an absolute dream. Super cozy and that clock lowkey reminded me of Molly Weasley’s clock, but with food lol. Winter ain’t my fave season, but I suppose I could deal? I’d imagine it does get warm at some point though.
One of this series greatest assets is the singular romance. In Caraval both Scarlett’s and Donatella’s romances were pivotal to the story. However, it split your attention and you couldn’t truly immerse yourself in either one. The fact that the sole focus here is on Evangeline and Jacks is what makes this stand out. And they’re such fantastic characters too. Evangeline is stubborn, determined, and a hopeless romantic. She loves pretty dresses and getting dolled up, but she has equal amounts of courage and sass. Even with all of the curses and the heartache she still believes in true love. The power of love and its ability to conquer all. While many would see this as naive, I think it is admirable to still have so much faith when the world is telling you the opposite. And Jacks. Oh what can I say? Equally stubborn, painstakingly handsome, and a master at deception and hiding his true feelings. I admit that I didn’t like him in Caraval, but he’s really grown on me here. Don’t worry, I still love Julian and Legend, but Jacks is up there too. I think I just have a soft spot for tortured souls and there is no one more tortured than him tbh.
The plot in this is superb. There’s a clear goal of finding each stone (which totally reminded me of the horcruxes in hp) that will unlock the Valory Arch. The journey itself is absolutely wild and there were twists at every turn. Just when you think you have shit figured out, Garber turns it on its head. Once again, no one is who they seem to be. They’re all holding secrets and Evangeline is just not sure who she can trust. She certainly doesn’t trust Jacks after his betrayal, but the budding love she feels for him takes precedence. The book is indeed romance heavy, but it doesn’t take away from the story. It enhances it and lord, I never thought I could read such an honest love story between two people that haven’t even kissed. All of that tension was just building and building and I was here for it. The pull she feels, and that last kiss she still has yet to fulfill. Their banter and snark. We also dive deeper into the history of the Valors and the Houses. The tragic events at Merrywood Manor and we even discover Jacks’ true identity and just how deep his pain goes.
The book ends on the most painful cliffhanger after such a pure, selfless, romantic moment. (view spoiler)[Chaos, who is actually Castor Valor, is finally able to remove his helm after reviving his family. Unfortunately, my man can’t control his urges and immediately bites and kills Evangeline. Jacks rushes in and uses the stones to reverse time to before they arrived at Wolfric Hall so he could prevent her death, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to do so a second time and go back to the moment he kissed Donatella. And she doesn’t even know he did it. Instead of staying and telling her how he felt or what he did he lets her leave. Just when she turns back to confess her love to him, Apollo runs into her and somehow erases her memories??? I didn’t even know he could fucking do that! Who the fuck is he? Another fate? A witch? Wizard if they have those? I need answers!!! (hide spoiler)] My heart hurts so much. Just the thought of Jacks returning to her and finding her in such a state. I’m sure he’ll beat the shit out of Apollo, or just straight up kill him.
Ugh I can’t believe I have to wait a whole year to see how this ends. I gotta stop reading books as soon as they come out ...more
“You’re here, supposedly, in a new land full of opportunity, but somehow have gotten trapped in a pretend version of the old country.”
Minor spoile“You’re here, supposedly, in a new land full of opportunity, but somehow have gotten trapped in a pretend version of the old country.”
Minor spoilers below! Major spoilers will be hidden!
4.5 stars. Metafiction at its finest, Yu earned that National Book Award. Written in second person POV the story is told in the format of a screenplay. Our protagonist, Willis Wu, is a Taiwanese-American who strives to go beyond his role of Generic Asian Man on the crime show Black and White (starring Miles Turner, a black man and Sarah Green, a white woman) that he may reach his dream of becoming Kung Fu Guy, the ultimate role for an Asian man. Sounds weird, right? Well it is weird, and the second person narrative makes it weirder. Second person POV is rare in literature. It’s a tricky form to write in because it forces the reader to be in the protagonist’s place and manipulates you into relating with the protagonist. Even if you, personally, have never experienced these things in real life a successful second person POV will make you feel like you have, and Yu’s masterful writing makes it work beautifully. He forces you to take a good hard look at immigration, assimilation, oppression, perpetuating stereotypes, and the American dream. Granted, this was probably easier for me to absorb since I’m an Asian-American as well and have experienced many of the things Willis and the others have. Of course, much of it is over-exaggerated because this is a satire, but it’s the subtleties hidden within that matter.
Willis has grown up believing that the role of Kung Fu Guy is the pinnacle of success for an Asian man. He’s lived in Interior Chinatown his whole life in a room above a Chinese restaurant, the Golden Palace, and does not know much of the outside world. He’s watched as his mom and dad, Dorothy and Ming-Chen, worked their way through different “roles” in the Golden Palace restaurant. We learn about how the two of them came to America and the ways in which they strived to make a living in their respective fields of expertise. However, the two of them face daily racism and microaggressions in America. Ming-Chen gets lumped together with his friends who are all different Asian ethnicities because “all Asians look the same.” Dorothy is frequently fetishized by American men and groped while at work. Willis doesn’t want to end up like his parents and so he acts in Black and White, which is filmed in the Golden Palace, so that he may one day become Kung Fu Guy and “make it” so he can finally escape Interior Chinatown.
The problem is, the better the role the deeper he’s trapped within Interior Chinatown. He goes to great lengths to get better roles, but they have consequences. And then he meets Karen Lee, another actress on the show, and a relationship blooms. For a time Willis isn’t consumed by his need to be Kung Fu Guy. He has a genuine connection with Karen, who encourages him to be himself, not just Generic Asian Man. (view spoiler)[However, when she’s presented with an opportunity to leave Black and White and thus, Interior Chinatown, Willis refuses to follow her due to his (very obvious) inferiority complex, and instead stays on the show because he’s so close to making his dream of being Kung Fu Guy come true. (hide spoiler)] It’s only when he finally reaches that pedestal does he realize just how lonely he is and how much he is truly trapped. How he’s the one who trapped himself. Yes, society plays a huge part in his emotional captivity, but he is also the one who plays into those stereotypes Instead of staying true to himself, his individuality, and his people he essentially became a sell out.
The book culminates within the last two acts when Willis realizes his mistake and seeks to rectify it. However, it’s not that easy to escape and eventually he must stand trial for his actions. With Older Brother as his defense lawyer, the trial commences. This is where I started getting emotional and crying. Older Brother’s defense causes Willis and the whole courtroom (that is filled with the residents of the Interior Chinatown SRO) to cheer because here is someone who finally had the courage and strength to say what everyone has wanted to say all along. Someone who is forcing Americans to confront their own prejudice. Who shows them that the world is not just Black and White. That Asian oppression should not be compared to Black oppression, but acknowledged as its own thing. That and Willis’ monologue encapsulated everything I have ever felt about being an Asian American. This passage especially hurt me:
“We’re trapped as guest stars in a small ghetto on a very special episode. Minor characters locked into a story that doesn’t quite know what to do with us, [Asians]. After two centuries here, why are we still not Americans? Why do we keep falling out of the story?”
In just four sentences, Yu managed to capture exactly how I’ve felt for most of my life. I grew up in a mostly white neighborhood and went to mostly white schools. Students and teachers alike assumed I was foreign and lesser just because of how I looked. One of my teachers tried to put me in ESL (English Second Language) classes even though I was at a higher reading level than most of my classmates. In fifth grade I even beat the popular white girl in the school spelling bee. That didn’t stop them from being surprised at the fact that my English was so good and that I had almost no accent. It was something I took pride in, knowing I was better than my classmates at something a lot of people assumed I’d be shit at, English. I excelled in the rest of my studies too and was considered a gifted child.
I realize now I was subconsciously feeding into the model minority stereotype and westernizing myself to fit in just like Willis. It was only in high school where I went to a more diverse school with a larger percentage of Asian students that I realized just how much of my culture I had lost. My greatest regret is not being fluent in my first language, Cantonese. I can still understand it perfectly, but speaking takes some effort, and it sucks to be so inferior at such an important part of my Chinese heritage. Willis also laments over his shitty Taiwanese when he says “The great shame of your life [is] that you can’t speak [Ming-Chen’s] language, not fluently.” Something so small but so relatable hit me like a punch to the gut. Willis realizing why he had disappointed his parents and the pride his mom showed when he stood up for himself reminded me of my relationship with my own mom, who has sacrificed so much so I could have the opportunities I received. His own strained relationship with his dad hit a little too close to home for me.
In the end Willis makes the right decision. (view spoiler)[He’s killed off on the show and stays dead. Kung Fu Guy is no more. Now he’s just Phoebe’s dad and Karen’s husband, and he couldn’t be happier. His family is what finally allowed him to move on from Interior Chinatown. (hide spoiler)] It’s an emotional ending, but it made me so fucking happy.
I’m sorry this review is so fucking long, but I just have too many feelings for this novel. The fact that I decided to read this during a time where hate crimes against Asian-Americans are the highest they’ve been in decades makes this hurt even more. Reading articles of old Asian men and women getting attacked and told to go back home when this is their home is painful. I wish I could throw this book at every racist and attacker and tell them to read it, but they’d probably be too stupid to get it.
There’s so much more I can say, but then I’d be staying up all night to write this and I kinda wanna sleep lol. Ok, I will say that the fight scene at the end was funny af and made me laugh after I cried. I can’t front, this book isn’t going to be for everyone. However, if you love literary fiction and want to read more unique writing and perspectives you should pick this up. It’s been a long time since a contemporary fiction has hit me this hard. Lemme end this with a few more memorable quotes.
“. . .the widest gulf is the distance between getting by and not quite getting by.”
“Unofficially, we understood. There was a ceiling. Always had been, always would be. Even for him. Even for our hero, there were limits to the dream of assimilation, to how far any of you could make your way into the world of Black and White.”
“There’s just something about Asians that makes reality a little too real, overcomplicates the clarity, the duality, the clean elegance of Black and White.”
“If black don’t crack then yellow just kind of mellows.”
“She says that telling a love story is something one person does. Being in love takes both of them.”
“But the experience of Asians in America isn’t just a scaled-back or dialed-down version of the Black experience. Instead of co-opting someone else’s experience or consciousness he must define his own.”
“This is it. The root of it all. The real history of yellow people in America. Two hundred years of being perpetual foreigners.”...more
“It felt like the world had divided into two different types of peoples, those who had felt pain and those who had yet to.”
This was a very hard bo“It felt like the world had divided into two different types of peoples, those who had felt pain and those who had yet to.”
This was a very hard book for me to read. Not because it was bad, quite the contrary this is one of the best books I’ve read all year. It was hard for me because I have a complicated relationship with my mom, and so much of this book reminded me of her. And it scared me because all I could do was think about what would happen once she passed away. Every once in awhile I had to put this down and watch Friends because I needed something happy to balance out the deep sadness that had encompassed me.
So, I’m not Korean. My last name is typically a Korean last name, but that is the result of a misspelling with immigration. I’m actually Chinese Malaysian and both of my parents are from Malaysia. It’s scary just how similar mine and Zauner’s upbringing was. Most of my connection to my heritage is through food. Through my mom’s cooking. To me, her cooking is the best. Every time we go to a Malaysian restaurant I always tell her that her food is better because it’s true. Out of all of her friends she’s the best cook by far. In a big family with seven siblings, my mom was the family cook and still makes huge portions of food for our meager family of four.
Despite being born and raised in NYC, I spent my middle school years trying to eliminate my otherness surrounded by my mostly white peers. And as I got older I became more fluent in English, but let my Cantonese slip away. Now I can listen and understand Cantonese, but speaking takes a bit more until I eventually hit a wall. It embarrasses me, knowing my knowledge of my native tongue is so supremely lacking. It was high school that made me prouder of my culture. Half of the student population was Asian and I had never felt more like I belonged. It was wonderful.
I spent the majority of my teenage years being difficult and suffering from mental illnesses that I struggle with to this day. My older brother was the picture perfect student who worked hard until he got his PhD. I’m the wild child. I’ve got tattoos, got an English degree, and ultimately live a very different life to my brother. My mom is no tiger mom by any means, but I’ve always had a hard time communicating with her. Our upbringings were very different and I was surrounded by friends who could talk to their parents and they would tell them they love them. I don’t do that with my mom. It took me a long time to realize that her love was shown through her actions rather than her words. Through all of the food she’s cooked, the many doctors appointments she’s driven me to since my condition doesn’t allow me to drive, and the shows we watch together. All she wants is what’s best for me, and it took me too long to get that.
Zauner’s beautiful writing brought all of those feelings to the surface and had me sobbing every so often. The slow death of her mother gave me an irrational fear of my own mom becoming deathly ill and then I’d spiral into thoughts of how I’d live without her. There were even darker thoughts in my mind that told me I might not want to live without her and I did everything in my power to push those thoughts away. Her grief was palpable with every turn of the page and sometimes I felt weird reading something so intimate. At the same time, this has given me the resolve to work harder at my relationship with my mom.
I’m not going to say much else. It feels weird to review such a personal book. I know that’s the whole point of memoirs, but still. For people that have a complicated relationship with their moms, read this. Yes it will hurt and yes you will cry, but you’ll also leave loving your mom more than you already do. This is a book filled with lyrical writing and tasty food descriptions that left me craving all the Korean food lol. For the people like me who very, very rarely read nonfiction you won’t regret reading this. For all of my fellow Asian-Americans, buy this book and read it not only so you can support a fellow Asian-American, but also because you’ll most likely relate to this like I did. Asian hate crimes are rampant across the country. We gotta show those fuckers that we’re proud of who we are. We were born here, and we ain’t going nowhere. Now, before I head downstairs to eat my mom’s homemade jook (rice porridge), here are a few more quotes that caught my eye.
“A new ‘this is nice brand skirt’ she’d found on sale at TJ Maxx.” (My mom does this for me too.)
“How she’d shiver and whisper that she would always suffer to bring me comfort, that that was how you knew someone really loved you.”
“I wanted to embody a physical warning — that if she began to disappear, I would disappear too.”
“I feared whatever contour of color it was that signified that precious half was beginning to wash away, as if without my mother, I no longer had a right to those parts of my face.”...more
Well, this is the end of my favorite sports manga of all time. One of my favorite manga of all time, period. I’m so emotional right now I do“Fly.”
Well, this is the end of my favorite sports manga of all time. One of my favorite manga of all time, period. I’m so emotional right now I don’t even know where to start. I guess I’ll start with the match itself and go from there. So, we find out who wins the MSBY vs. Adlers match and I was correct with my prediction. Story wise it’s what had to happen, but that didn’t make the match any less exciting. I laughed and I cried. We get so much character development in this last volume that it’s insane. Ninja Shouyo is the real MVP; he showed everyone what he’s made of.
From the brief snippets you see in each of their lives it’s clear how much they’ve changed for the better. These are men who love to play volleyball. There is no backup for them. This is it. And because of that resolve they’re terrifying on the court. Off the court they’re just as weird as they usually are and it’s hilarious. The fact that Tendou is the one that wound up with the documentary and had Ushi make an appearance absolutely killed me lmao. They’re truly besties. Seeing all of them on the Japan Olympic Team made me so fucking happy I was tearing up. I just know they beat Oikawa’s ass lmao.
Throughout this journey, Furudate has managed to give us exciting and dynamic volleyball while also grounding us with heartwarming friendships. This is not just a sports manga. This is a manga about friendship, teammates, loyalty, and being the absolute best you can be. And when that isn’t enough, you work to reach a new level. This is what I read every time I needed something to cheer me up. If I watched or read something hella sad, I would read about my volleyball babies because no one dies in volleyball. Here, I’m safe from the sorrow of death lol. It sucks that I will no longer have my literary happy pill.
I’m gonna miss my babies so much. Furudate gave me the privilege of watching these boys work together, play together, and grow up into the amazing people they are. Not many people stay in contact with their hs friends. It’s natural to drift apart, but when you’re teammates for years you’re teammates for life. They support and love one other (even if they don’t show it in the most conventional of ways). Very rarely do I get attached to so many characters, but Haikyuu is that exception. I’ll miss Hinata, Tsukki, Bokuto, Yams, Hoshiumi, Kita, and Kageyama. Shit I’ll miss all of them. Each boy has my heart. I know I still have the anime to look forward to, but the seasons take forever to come out and I’m already dreading the pain of the Kamomedai match. I can’t imagine what I’ll do when the anime is done and I will truly have no more Haikyuu to look forward to. Prob cry a lot and then binge watch it.
Honestly, even if you think you don’t like sports manga you should read Haikyuu. Truly one of the most developed stories I’ve ever read in a manga. Nothing was rushed or dragged on. Every part is essential to the boys’ growth. You won’t regret it.
Side note: Sakusa’s wrists are hella freaky lmao.
Side side note: Hinata don't you dare cry anymore. You are my sun baby and I hate seeing you cry....more
It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts.
What can I say? I still love this book. Harry Potter will aIt shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts.
What can I say? I still love this book. Harry Potter will always be my favorite series of all time. Rowling’s views will never change that no matter how much I disagree with them. They don’t change what these books mean to me, and a huge part of literary studies is acknowledging an author’s life and examining how they may or may not influence their novels. It does not make their books inherently bad.
With that being said, MinaLima did a fantastic job with this truly breathtaking edition. My bf got me this for Christmas and I picked it up to get me out of a small reading slump. I needed a comfort read and this is what I gravitated towards. The illustrations are gorgeous. The entire book is filled with color and whimsy. Some of the illustrations are interactive, like pop-ups and pull tabs. It adds a tiny bit of magic to an already magical book.
I also saw that they’ll be making the whole series for these editions and I’m ecstatic. I know I’ve already got the other illustrated editions, but these have their own unique art style that brings a different reading experience to the story so I don’t feel too bad about getting them lol. The problem is where to put them since my designated HP shelf is already nearly full lmao. ...more
“All stories are made of both truths and lies. What matters is the way that we believe in them.
Minor spoilers below! Major spoilers will be hidden“All stories are made of both truths and lies. What matters is the way that we believe in them.
Minor spoilers below! Major spoilers will be hidden!
5 stunning stars goes to this book. Garber’s lyrical and utterly magical writing has captivated me once more and with a very familiar character. Imma say right off the bat, no you do not need to read the Caraval trilogy to read this. Garber does a great job of casually mentioning certain events from the trilogy without making it obvious. However, if you do want to read the Caraval trilogy I suggest you do that before reading this because those key events are major spoilers for the outcome of the trilogy. Lemme reiterate this, do not read this first if you plan on reading Caraval. You will have key events spoiled.
For those of you who have read Caraval, yes you will get plenty of Jacks here, but there aren’t a lot of answers for what he’s been doing since Finale lol. As per usual, he is left shrouded in mystery and Evangeline has taken it upon herself to figure him out while she tries to clean up her messes. And oh, how many messes she creates. Evangeline goes through a whole lot of trouble for boys and love in general. She’s convinced her stepmother cast a curse on her bf and makes a deal with Jacks in an effort to stop it. Shit backfires and instead she sets off a chain of events that lead her to the Magnificent North, where a magical dance involving a prince seeking a bride and the Prince of all Hearts awaits.
This is a gorgeous novel, and wildly entertaining. Evangeline goes from one place to another putting out ever growing fires as she gets wildly entangled in magic, the Fates, and the consequences of her actions. I really like her as a character. She’s got an insatiable curiosity and love for all things fantastical and strange. But her fatal flaw is her desperation for love, or at least the idea of it. She makes the deal with Jacks to stop Luc and her stepsister’s wedding, convinced he needs to be saved and that he truly loves her. When she’s sent to the North, she’s enamored by the idea of the prince and that this could be her new happily ever after, marrying this charismatic prince and becoming his princess. She’s too easily manipulated through her heart. Which is, you know, perfect for Jacks. Still, she’s a smart and determined girl who tries her best to right the perceived wrongs she’s committed. Unfortunately, every time she puts out one fire another one pops up that is even larger than the other. I admire her tenacity though even as she struggles with the increasing paranoia she feels for those around her. She’s not exactly sure who she can trust, from Marisol to Jacks to LaLa. Every time she places her faith in someone there’s a little niggling doubt that leaves her worried. Poor girl has been pulled in so many directions she’s confused af.
She’s got every right to be nervous though as it becomes clear Jacks has an ulterior motive for her being here. Cashing in on the kisses allows him to manipulate her and she figures out that it has something to do with a mysterious arch and what may lie beyond it. Oh Jacks. How do I feel about you now? You’re still lowkey crazy, but his heartbreak clearly hit him hard. He’s even colder now and more ruthless than before. You’re not sure exactly how far he’ll go to get what he wants. Hell, you’re not even really sure of what he wants half of the time. You still can’t help but be captivated by him though. From one look you know he’s terrible news, but you still wanna go to him anyways.
I do like him more here though. He was fanatic and a bit crazed with Tella. However, he’s a bit different with Evangeline. As he becomes more and more entwined with Evangeline something inside him seems to be softening towards her. I wouldn’t call it love or romance. I’m not sure if he’s still capable of that after Tella. Maybe he’s not so sure either, and he wants to keep it that way. Can I see the two of them being together? Hell yeah. They both yearn for love. They’re just looking in the wrong places. I don’t think he’d ever be able to love someone properly as long as he stays a Fate though. Still, I was captivated by their banter and romantic tension. Tension that gets a lil steamy at a certain point in the book. It’s amazing how Garber can write so much angst, passion, and unwanted longing between two people who haven’t even kissed, It’s very much a love/hate partnership thing they’ve got going on right now. Judging by the end of the book though, Evangeline will be leaning on the hate a bit more. I have absolutely no idea what he’s going to do next. Totally guessed who the real killer was though.
Oh, I do need to give a special mention to the setting and world building. The Magnificent North sounds beautiful and utterly magical for a place that’s banned magic. There are little flying dragons that roast your food and all things strange and lovely. It kinda gave me North Pole vibes, but more darkly magical than Santa Claus lmao. Garber just has such a way with her world building. It’s just as lush and enchanting as Caraval was. You wish you were there too.
I’m not sure what else to say. This was basically like reading a fairytale. A fairytale I desperately want the ending to. There are so many questions I need answers to. (view spoiler)[Wtf is behind the Valory arch? Why is Jacks so determined to have it opened? My money is on Evangeline being a long lost Valors since it sounds like her parents found her, or maybe her mom was secretly a Valors but hiding her identity? I dunno. Was it Jacks that opened the secret Valors library door? Now that Evangeline figured out his machinations will she try to play into his game or just straight up confront him? (hide spoiler)] Props to Garber for making vampires actually terrifying and dangerous, and not just brooding and mysterious lol. (view spoiler)[Luc threw me through a loop. I suspect he’ll pop back up. He drank Jacks’ blood, a Fate’s blood. I feel like that makes something special outta you. (hide spoiler)] I already know Evangeline is gonna pay another visit to Chaos even if it’s a terrible fucking idea. Her curiosity is too strong and the knowledge he may possess too tempting. She still owes Jacks one last kiss though. I wonder who he’ll make her use it on next. Maybe him? Also what’s with the Archer and the Fox story? Why does no one know the ending? I just need answers dammit. I’ll probably have to wait a whole year for the sequel, maybe even longer.
If you guys love fairytales or fairytale retellings, read this. If romantic fantasies are your thing, read this. If you loved The Night Circus or Caraval, definitely read this. I got so lost in this world and absolutely devoured this book. Garber’s outdone herself with this and I can’t wait for the sequel. Lemme end this with a few more quotes that caught my eye.
“I’ll never comprehend humans. All of you seem to welcome our lies, but you never like it when we tell the truth.” - Poison
“I believe there are far more possibilities than happily ever after or tragedy. Every story has the potential for infinite endings.”
“You have to have a working heart for it to break. I do not.” - Jacks
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