Ash
Format read: Paperback
Reading time: 4-5h
Tags: mystery, adventure, translation, friendship, found family, lgbt (bi, m/m, ace)
Own a copy: yes
Reread likelihood: 1000/10
Summary
As with all the volumes thus far, the book is divided into several cases as follows:
1. ???: After Richard's abrupt disappearance at the end of vol. 3, Seigi is left alone and confused as to what has happened to his boss. Seigi resumes his university life and tries to keep busy, but he is plagued by strange nightmares of Richard that leave him more confused than ever. Seigi decides to go back to l'Étranger and meets Richard's mentor, Saul, who sets him a gemology challenge in exchange for revealing Richard's whereabouts.
2. The Secret of Alexandrite: Seigi now knows where to find Richard; he needs to go to London, but where in London exactly? At the airport, Seigi meets a mysterious foreigner who vaguely resembles Richard, only to find out he's his older cousin, Jeffrey. Trapped on a 20h flight with this man as his companion, Seigi learns about Richard's past and the family curse that haunts him, and his own role in the Claremont family dispute.
3. Follow the Lapis Lazuli: Once in London, Seigi and Jeffrey play tourist all day long, eventually ending up at the British Museum where they go to look at their gem collection. Seigi develops a fever from being dragged around everywhere, and just as he thinks he'll never get to see Richard, clues start appearing in the gallery, which leads him straight to the person he's been chasing all these months.
4. The Gospel of White Sapphire: In order for the inheritance debate to end, and for Richard to be released from his familial duties, a plan is concocted in which Seigi and Richard pretend to be in a civil union so that the pair can inherit Richard's great-grandfather's prized diamond. Seigi, however, has a better idea, and ends up destroying the Claremonts' nefarious plans by putting himself at great risk.
Extra 1 - The Bicolor Tourmaline Tease: Richard is finally back in Tokyo after settling everything with his family in London, and the first thing he does is to present Seigi with a mysterious bicoloured stone meant to represent one's duality.
Extra 2 - Overcast Iolite: Richard explains the ancient use for iolite stones, and how they helped Vikings to navigate their way to England. Seigi decides that Richard is like a compass, too.
Extra 3 - Moonstone's affection: Richard and Seigi have gotten into the habit of going out for dinner after work. On this particular evening, Seigi comments on the moon's beauty, which sends Richard on a tirade about Japanese literature.
Review
How do you translate the phrase “I love you”–words that never existed in the Japanese language in the first place–into Japanese? (...) Souseki Natsume had declared that “I love you” should be translated as “the moon is beautiful.” (p. 310-311)
Nights were the worst because I'd have awful dreams whenever I tried to sleep–for some reason, Richard would be in my apartment, standing next to my bed. I just wanted it to stop already. Seeing someone in your dreams like that was such a bad omen. He'd always have this sparkling jewel-like smile on his face. He'd look like he was trying to tell me something, but it was as if I were watching a video on mute. And for some reason, my body wouldn't move, even when I tried to get up. When I told him I couldn't hear him, Richard would close his eyes and bring his face closer to mine, only to pull away and give me this vaguely cruel smile when I started. And then I'd wake up all alone in my room, drenched in sweat. (p. 9)
“Even though the answer has been staring you in the face all this time, you refuse to see, because it doesn't sit well with you. Are you even aware of it?”
“Aware of... what?”
“That you're in love with Richard.”
I felt like my heart had been torn from my chest with no warning.
No. No, come on. I mean, no. No. Just because I spend every waking moment thinking about him, just because my heart skips a beat every time I lay eyes on him, just because I'm having dreams about him kissing me every night, it doesn't mean I'm in love with him. I couldn't be. I mean. Like–“(p. 21).
Extra Quotations (because there are so many that I can't possibly stop at 2)
always
Format read: KindleReading time: 4-5h Tags: detective fiction, crime, thriller, trauma, police, translation, friendship, found family, enemies-to-lovers, lgbt (bi, m/m)Own a copy: yesReread likelihood: 10/10If you liked this book, then you'll probably like: [b:Guardian: Zhen Hun, Vol. 1 62145801 Guardian Zhen Hun, Vol. 1 Priest https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1687960312l/62145801.SX50.jpg 97934663] by the same author, and [b:SCI Special Crime Investigation (Season 1) 42112981 SCI Special Crime Investigation (Season 1) (谜案集（第一部）) Er Ya https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1538435169l/42112981.SX50.jpg 24826651]SummaryLuo Wenzhou is the director of a small investigative unit that specialises in difficult and unusual crimes. Together with his best friend and vice director, Tao Ran, Luo Wenzhou works tirelessly to bring peace to their city. Enter Fei Du, a carefree young man who has more money than common sense, and who is also a victim from Luo Wenzhou and Tao Ran's first case. Seven years ago, Fei Du's mother committed suicide in mysterious circumstances, and when Luo Wenzhou closed the case, Fei Du never forgave the policeman for dismissing the possibility of murder. Today, Fei Du continues to be a thorn in Luo Wenzhou's side, but the young man proves useful when a difficult murder case arises and his friend is suspected of the crime.ReviewDetective/crime fiction is one of my favourite subgenres, and I'm already a big fan of Priest's novels (Guardian (Zhen Hun) being my favourite by far, but TYK and SPL are way up there too), so it was only a question of time before I picked up Silent Reading (Mo Du). Other reviewers have pointed out the slow pacing for most of the book, but to me this is just a trait of detective novels. The story focuses on the murder of a young man who is found strangled in the slums with no one but an ailing mother and an untrustworthy roommate as companions. Luo Wenzhou is sent to work on this case while also secretly investigating one of the police's higher ups for corruption and drug trafficking. Luo Wenzhou figures out that the two cases are related, and his investigative team works to undo the knots that make the case difficult to crack. In Priest's signature style, Silent Reading is action driven and sprinkled with comedy, which makes for a unique reading experience. Tao Ran is an interesting sidekick to Luo Wenzhou, if a bit milquetoast to Wenzhou's more brazen personality. Fei Du, on the other hand, matches Wenzhou's intensity step for step, and their initial dislike of one another adds to the tension of the crime narrative. Wenzhou suspects that Fei Du has an inclination for crime, and Fei Du does not trust the policeman in the slightest ever since he dealt with his mother's case. The two often headbutt, with Tao Ran stuck in the middle, trying to pacify both. Even though Tao Ran also worked on Fei Du's case, the two have a close, almost brotherly relationship, while Luo Wenzhou singlehandedly suffers Fei Du's hatred and distrust. Fei Du's expectations were such that he believed Wenzhou would solve his case, but when the policeman is unable to, Fei Du's disappointment and heartbreak is too great for him to accept the result of the investigation.[Luo Wenzhou] thought he was overflowing with talent, Number One in the world–Number Two being an English fellow named Sherlock Holmes.Wenzhou's number one suspect in the more recent case happens to be Fei Du's close friend, Zhang Donglai, so naturally this causes more tension to build up between the two. Fei Du is an idle aristocrat who inherited his father's company at a young age; however, despite his appearance as a carefree loafer, he is gifted in crime psychology and eventually becomes an important consultant in Wenzhou's team. Not only is he determined to prove his friend's innocence, Fei Du is all to happy to show Wenzhou that he is not as mighty as he believes. This results in a battle of the minds more often than not.[Fei Du] was like a person living sealed in a castle, surrounded on all sides by an iron fastness with only one clear window, from behind which he quietly observed the people outside. Only by remaining very composed could you make him cautiously open the window a crack.While the detective-consultant duo do not see eye to eye for most of the novel, they slowly start to warm up to each other the more they learn about each other's thoughts and reasons for what happened seven years ago. Though they are not exactly friends by the end of book 1, they are at least more tolerant towards one another.All in all, if you start this book with the idea that you'll be thrown into a danmei from the get-go, that's not going to happen. It is first and foremost a crime novel, and if you're not particularly inclined to like or read crime stories, this one may seem slow compared to other types of danmei. That being said, the crime aspect is very clever and well developed with many twists and turns (complete with a police car chase scene!) Silent Reading is a compelling read for fans of modern police procedurals.
Format read: PaperbackReading time: 6-7h Tags: reread, wuxia, xianxia, translation, politics, historical fiction, Chinese history, friendship, fantasy, disability, lgbt (bi, m/m)Own a copy: yesReread likelihood: 10/10If you liked this book, then you'll probably like: [b:Stars of Chaos: Sha Po Lang, Vol. 1 62145799 Stars of Chaos Sha Po Lang, Vol. 1 (Stars of Chaos Sha Po Lang, #1) Priest https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1682111621l/62145799.SX50.jpg 97934661]SummaryAfter 10 years of seclusion, Yan Wushi reenters the cultivation world to find that his old enemies are dead and have been replaced by new talent. One such talent is Shen Qiao, the number one Daoist sect leader, but Yan Wushi doubts this man's abilities when he finds him at the foot of a cliff, near death and with his spiritual power all but destroyed. Yan Wushi decides that Shen Qiao is the perfect blank canvas for him to corrupt and bring onto the path of demonic cultivation. However, Shen Qiao proves to be a worthy opponent after all, and the two embark on a battle of wills, good versus bad, the corrupt and the incorruptible.ReviewFirst of all, the official translation is fantastic. Everything is explained clearly, and the extra information at the end of the book helps to situate the story in its historical context. Meng Xi Shi is very skillful at detailing the sociopolitical realities of ancient China, and much of the first volume is dedicated to explaining the complex relationships between the different clans, courts, and regions in and around sixth-century China.Thousand Autumns is set in an age of political unrest as the ruling Zhou dynasty vies for more territory to the north where the Göktürk live. This historical background is juxtaposed to the wuxia world inhabited by Yan Wushi, Shen Qiao, and a host of other equally colourful characters. Yan Wushi's purposes are nebulous. As a member of the imperial court, he has a political interest in what happens in the world, but he is equally interested in the development of the Jianghu. Yan Wushi's primary mission is to best all other cultivation masters and to collect techniques from sacred scrolls, the Zhuyang Strategy, that have been scattered around China. When he first meets Shen Qiao, his initial interest is fueled by his desire to understand why this weak and disabled man is the heir to one of the greatest martial artists of his generation. Furthermore, by regularly sparring with Shen Qiao, Yan Wushi can absorb parts of the secret technique from Shen Qiao's clan, making him stronger day by day.If he had died in defeat, all his troubles would have died with him. But now, when he wakes up and realizes that he is not only alive, but that he's also lost everything he once had–grievously injured, his strength destroyed, and his martial arts no more. How will he feel, then? The greater one's prestige and authority, the less they can withstand such a blow. His heart and mind will certainly break. And when they do, I will take him under my wing. –Thousand Autumns, p.25True to his strict Daoist training, Shen Qiao is an upright and righteous young man. Despite his horrible defeat at the hands of the Göktürk leader that left him blind and severely injured, as well as all the betrayals he experiences, Shen Qiao remains steadfast in his belief of fairness and forgiveness for all. This often causes Yan Wushi to question his sanity, and the more that Shen Qiao remains pure in thought, the more Yan Wushi seeks to break his convictions.Shen Qiao doles out justice on two notable occasions where villains truly deserved retribution, showing that Shen Qiao is not above punishing those who deserve it. However, when it comes to himself, he more easily lets things slide. When Yan Wushi pushes him to his physical limits by having him fight despite his injuries, Shen Qiao says nothing and endures it all. He has no desire to seek vengeance for what was done to him, and wishes instead to live peacefully, whereas Yan Wushi is ambitious and wants to take over the world or see it burn. In this way, Yan Wushi and Shen Qiao are diametrically opposed, which makes their relationship uneasy and tense from the get-go. Overall, this first volume is a good start to the series. The first half is heavy with background information, but it is necessary to understand the motivations of each character. If you enjoy a politically-focused narrative, then Priest's [b:Stars of Chaos: Sha Po Lang, Vol. 1 62145799 Stars of Chaos Sha Po Lang, Vol. 1 (Stars of Chaos Sha Po Lang, #1) Priest https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1682111621l/62145799.SX50.jpg 97934661] has a similar take on the traditional wuxia story. Thousand Autumns's grey-zone characters make for an interesting read in which the concepts of good and evil are muddled, and where everything is politically motivated.
[edit 1]
3rd reread, and it's still as amazing as the first time. Thx Meatbun for all the pain. You're a wizard.
———————–
NEW READERS OF ERHA BEWARE
Format read: paperback
Reading time: 1 day
Tags: wuxia, xianxia, rebirth, translation, trauma, found family, friendship, fantasy, magic, lgbt (bi, m/m)
Own a copy: yes
Reread likelihood: 1000/10
TW: I don't usually put TW on books, but I think that here it's really warranted.
Torture, non-con and dubious consent, abuse, major and minor death, suicide
Summary
Mo Ran aka Taxian-jun is the leader of the cultivation world and its self-appointed emperor. After the death of his beloved sect brother and one true love, Shi Mei, Mo Ran rises to power by squashing everyone and everything else in his path, including his once favourite shizun, Chu Wanning. Believing that Chu Wanning is the cause of Shi Mei's death, Mo Ran stops at nothing to torture his shizun in an act of retaliation. When Mo Ran dies after this long battle, his resentment is so strong that he finds himself reborn into his 16-year-old body, a year before Shi Mei is fated to die. Determined to avoid the past from happening again, Mo Ran fights to protect Shi Mei and to stop Chu Wanning from committing the worst sin of killing his disciple.
At this moment, all those things had yet to happen. Irrevocable mistakes had not yet been committed, and that person... still lived. There was no need to walk the same cruel path. He could do it over. –Erha, p.35
Review
Mo Ran (Mo Weiyu, Taxian-jun)
If Shi Mei was the pure white moonlight of his heart, then Chu Wanning was the piece of fish bone stuck in his throat. He would pull it out and crush it, or swallow it and let it be dissolved by his stomach acid. In this reborn life, he could forgive anyone. But he would absolutely never forgive Chu Wanning. –Erha, p.106
No, Mo Ran. Think about it. Let go of your vicious hatred and look back properly. He once trained your cultivation and martial arts, trained you in the art of self-defense. He once taught you how to read and write, taught you poetry and painting. He once learned how to cook just for you, even though he was so clumsy and got cuts all over his hands. He once... He once waited every day for you to come home, all alone by himself, from nightfall... till the break of dawn... –Erha, p.25
Chu Wanning (Shizun, Yuheng Elder, Beidou Immortal)
Chu Wanning was aware of the throbbing deep in his own heart and loathed himself all the more for it. He clenched the soft pouch tightly in his hand and slowly closed his eyes. He couldn't accept these feelings, which he had long held toward Mo Ran. His only wish was that he could dig out his own heart and cut out the despicable thoughts inside–tear, rend, and throw them away. –Erha, p.260
Shi Mei (Shi MingJing)
Shi Mei was kind to him, yet he always seemed to maintain a certain indiscernible distance. Shi Mei was right in front of him, but he was also like the illusion of the moon in a mirror, a flower reflected in water, in sight but unattainable. –Erha, p.268
Xue Meng (Xue Ziming, Darling of the Heavens, Phoenix of Sisheng)
Xue Meng was dumbstruck for a moment before he snarled, furious, “What kind of god even are you? If cultivating into an immortal means ending up like you, I won't deign to so much as touch another sword for the rest of my life!” –Erha, p.470
Final Thoughts
Erha
Erha
**
DNF @ 250 pages/ 30%
Reading Notes
p.250/30% mini review:
1. Where. Are. The. Dragons.
Seriously, where??? How am I 200+ pages in and dragons have been barely present? Also, dragon names: Fýredel? Cool, epic-sounding. The Nameless One... what? Really? The most evil and murderous dragon is called the Nameless One??? I'm seeing a trend... (He Who Must Not Be Named, the Evil One, etc.) How original.
2. Sabran is so damn annoying. She is actually the worse person in the book. How can someone so vain, selfish, and stupid ever be the queen of a country and figurehead of a major religion is beyond me. Why is most of the focus on this character? Her kingdom is easily the most boring one out of all of them.
3. There's been a minor character death so far that was so underwhelming, I had to read the passage twice just to make sure he was actually dead and not just chilling. I liked this character, but I didn't get to see him enough to develop strong emotions upon his dying (very anticlimactically, btw). He died too soon in the story to have any emotional effect whatsoever, which seems rather pointless.
4. The fact that most of the time we're stuck in the West with Sabran is really disheartening. The East is by far more interesting, but we barely spend any time there. Tané and Niclays have potential as characters, but no, I'm forced to read about snooty Sabran 90% of the time.
5. Am I really going to read 800+ pages of this...? I'm questioning my sanity.
[Edit: No, no I won't. I dropped this book so fast after p. 250. I refuse to keep reading even though, according to some, “it gets better after 50%!!” No, don't care.]
6. If anyone dares compare this to The Lord of the Rings, please give them a stern talking to. LOTR is a masterpiece in every shape and form, and it is definitely unfair to attempt to compare anything else to it, but the fact that Priory of the Orange Tree has been called the “feminist LOTR” is such an insult to the latter. Just.... just don't go there if you don't want your book to be pulled apart and destroyed because of this poor comparison. There is nothing in Priory that remotely resembles LOTR.
Format read: paperback
Reading time: 2-3 hours
Tags: family, friendship, cozy, family drama, emotional trauma, Tokyo, bookish, translation
Own a copy: yes
Reread likelihood: 10/10
Summary
Takako finds out one day that her long-term boyfriend is getting married–to another woman. Heartbroken and confused, she eventually leaves her job to avoid seeing the happy couple, and ends up cooped up in her small Tokyo apartment with no prospects. That is, until her estranged uncle Satoru invites her to come live with him for free in exchange for her help in tending the second-hand bookshop he runs in the famed neighbourhood of Jimbocho. Takako reluctantly agrees and together, uncle and niece learn to heal from their past trauma and grow closer as a family.
Review
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a very cozy and quick read. If you are familiar with Japanese literature, you might recognize specific tropes that are proper to it, such as family drama, emotional distress, apathy in the young, etc. However, you will also find a kind of lyrical beauty and calmness from reading a book that is essentially about books. Morisaki Bookshop feels at times like a love letter to Japanese literature as the references to authors and their works are frequent and even quoted in some passages. Instead of feeling heavy, these references flow into the narrative and highlight Takako and Satoru's personalities by showing us what kinds of books these characters enjoy. The same is true for Sabu, Satoru's most faithful customer. His love of Japanese literature is unsurpassed, and we as readers discover many new authors through his passionate speeches.
The family drama that unfolds around this cozy bookstore is twofold: Satoru's missing wife, Momoko, and Takako's two-faced ex. Both of these secondary characters feel heavy and emotionally charged compared to the uncle-niece duo. The first half of the book focuses on Takako's journey and growth following her breakup, whereas the second half features Satoru's healing journey as his wife suddenly reappears in his life. Where Satoru is a warm and comforting character, Momoko is difficult to understand and sympathize with, but the relationship that develops between her and Takako is heartwarming.
I personally didn't like the shift in the second half as much as the story in part 1, but the sudden change of plotline keeps you interested and somehow lengthens a very short book, giving the impression that it is longer than only 160 pages. The end also felt a bit rushed compared to the slow pace of the rest of the book, which is a bit of a shame.
Overall, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a wonderful little book about books, family ties, and love–romantic, platonic, and otherwise. I'm very happy I discovered this little gem by browsing the shelves at my favourite bookshop.
Format read: hardcoverReading time: 7+ hoursTags: found family, scifi, fantasy, robots, dystopia, post-apocalyptic, quest, lgbt (ace, m/m)Own a copy: yesReread likelihood: 2/10SummaryIn a luscious forest, deep in Oregon, lives Giovanni Lawson, an inventor, father, and android. His son, Victor, is human; an aberration in the world since humans were completely wiped out by the robots they created. Victor is an inventor, like his father, but he is also enjoys tinkering and fixing up old, broken machines. Victor's robot friends, Rambo and Nurse Ratchet, work together to collect scrap metal to help with Victor's and Giovanni's inventions. One day, Vic happens upon a conscious android in a heap of metal and decides to fix him and add him to his family. When Giovanni is kidnapped right before his eyes, Vic has no choice but to travel crosscountry with his friends and the new android to save his father from a fate worse than death.ReviewBefore I jump into it, let me just put out a disclaimer that I love Klune's books. [b:The House in the Cerulean Sea 45047384 The House in the Cerulean Sea T.J. Klune https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1569514209l/45047384.SY75.jpg 62945242] was my favourite book last year, and I still think about it because it was just that good. [b:Under the Whispering Door 53205888 Under the Whispering Door T.J. Klune https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1652374208l/53205888.SY75.jpg 67745728] was super imaginative, and while I didn't like it as much as Cerulean, it still holds a special place in my heart. By contrast, In the Lives of Puppets just didn't hit the mark this time, and here's why:I'm no stranger to sci-fi and android narratives. In fact, it's something I quite enjoy. My favourite book in this genre is [b:Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? 36402034 Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Philip K. Dick https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507838927l/36402034.SY75.jpg 830939], which I can't help but think its title inspired Klune when he named his android city the City of Electric Dreams. This book was a mishmash of literary influences, starting with [b:Adventures of Pinnochio 568989 Adventures of Pinnochio Carlo Collodi https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png 2685281] as per the author's own avowal. However, what no one said is how much this book relies on Mary Shelley's masterpiece [b:Frankenstein: The 1818 Text 35031085 Frankenstein The 1818 Text Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1631088473l/35031085.SY75.jpg 4836639] and Baum's [b:The Wonderful Wizard of Oz 236093 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Oz, #1) L. Frank Baum https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1398003737l/236093.SY75.jpg 1993810]. Of course, the most glaring of all is [b:I, Robot 41804 I, Robot (Robot, #0.1) Isaac Asimov https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1609035271l/41804.SY75.jpg 1796026] in how the world is constructed. Other reviewers have mentioned how there are also similarities with Terminator. All of these influences aren't a bad thing, only that they overshadow Klune's own brand of originality and whimsy. After reading his two other “cozy fantasy” books, I've come to be used to his distinctive form of weaving and storytelling. Puppets didn't have much of that because all I could think of was all the other books in the background that are, as sad as it is to say, infinitely better than Puppets.Puppets falls flat with its characters. Apart for early-book Giovanni and Nurse Ratchet, every one else was either incredibly annoying or just flat and lacking any defining characteristics. In the first category, I place Rambo, and in the latter, Hap. Rambo almost single-handedly made me DNF the book with his constant annoying, nagging chatter. I've seen that many reviewers here really love the vacuum, but I really fail to understand why. As for Hap, he is so one-dimensional that half the time I forgot about him entirely. If it weren't for the mildly creepy “imprinting” on Vic, Hap could have been just any other piece of metal in the book and there wouldn't have been much of a difference.Speaking of creepy, the ‘romance' this time was just weird, honestly. I've read other examples of human/android romances that worked and made sense in the universe they were set in, but Vic and Hap just didn't. To me, they had absolutely nothing in common, and Hap only liked Vic because he saw him as his saviour/creator. The ending kind of shows that again when Vic manages to bring Hap back. Even though he has forgotten almost everything about Vic, we are meant to believe that it's a HEA for this strange duo. Also, the fact that Vic's mortality is never addressed is a huge plot hole. There is no mention of what will happen to Gio, Ratchet, Rambo, and Hap once Vic dies–and he will eventually, obviously. Also, there's no mention of what this will do in terms of humanity. Will earth never be repopulated? Will it forever be a wasteland of rusting robots, devoid of feelings? Who knows.Finally, as many have mentioned, the book is rife with juvenile sex jokes that are really off putting and break the immersion. Whenever the characters face something serious, one of them (usually Ratchet) will randomly drop a sexual innuendo or ‘joke' that does nothing to break the tension (in fact, it ruins it). I don't know why a bunch of robots are so obsessed with sex, genitals, and bodily fluids, but every other page featured a poop joke or a sex joke. It was all very unnecessary and annoying to read after the first handful of times.Overall, it's not so much that I hate the book, but I'm just really disappointed because I expected more. I still maintain that Cerulean is one of the best cozy SFF out there, but Puppets doesn't match up in the slightest. Hopefully, Klune's next novel will be back on track with his signature style.
DNF @ 15%Look, I was really into this for the first couple of chapters, but then the POV shifted to the library-dwelling characters, and it was so confusing. The shift lost my interest completely due to a lack of explanation as to what the heck was going on. The library setting itself in interesting, but it's all too [b:Piranesi 50202953 Piranesi Susanna Clarke https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1609095173l/50202953.SY75.jpg 73586702]-esque for my taste.
Barthes' Empire of Signs is a difficult read by the fact that it requires a lot of concentration and careful rereading of sentences to fully grasp its meaning as much of it is quite dense. As a French speaker, I found myself going to the original French-language book to compare with the English version for further parsing (which, in retrospect, didn't change much since Richard Howard's translation is flawless and virtually word-for-word).
That being said, Barthes' discussion of signs and signifiers is one I am already acquainted with, but his choice to bring the discussion to an imaginary Japan (though how imaginary is debatable–Barthes clearly references the real Japan throughout his text) is unique and of particular interest for scholarly work.
The haiku has the purity, the sphericality, and the very emptiness of a note of music; perhaps that is why it is spoken twice, in echo; ... the echo merely draws a line under the nullity of meaning.
Wilde takes on a critical voice in this short story about Shakespeare's sonnets. It's a well known fact that Wilde was a fan of the Bard for a multitude of reasons, and so this short story feels like a fan letter to his favourite writer. A number of Shakespeare's sonnets are analysed in the short story. The premise is that the sonnets were written for Willie Hughes, a boy-actor from Elizabethan times. The traditional interpretation of the intended recipient of the sonnets is usually the Earl of Pembroke or the Earl of Southampton, so the theory that a boy-actor was in fact the true muse behind the sonnets is enticing although farfetched.
I felt as if I had my hand upon Shakespeare's heart, and was counting each separate throb and pulse of passion.
His true tomb, as Shakespeare saw, was the poet's verse, his true monument the permanence of the drama. So had it been with others whose beauty had given a new creative impulse to their age. The ivory body of the Bithynian slave rots in the green ooze of the Nile, and on the yellow hills of the Cerameicus is strewn the dust of the young Athenian; but Antinous lives in sculpture, and Charmides in philosophy.
Format read: paperback
Reading time: 2 hours
Tags: theatre, satire, modern, detective fiction, mystery, drama, comedy, dark humour
Own a copy: yes
Reread likelihood: 7/10
Summary
Andrew, a detective fiction novelist, is an aging gentleman who is at risk of losing his wife to a younger man, Milo. To test Milo's mettle, Andrew decides to play a dangerous game of burglary, murder, and mayhem, and invites young Milo to his house where a series of events take the test of courage to new levels as Milo decides to play the game, too.
Review
I used this play in class in the context of detective fiction writing. The play is a satirical take on the genre as the playwright, Shaffer, mocks the genre's traditions through his characters. Andrew is a man who is bent on playing games, the same way that great literary detectives spend their idle time in between crime-solving. Milo, on the other hand, is much more down-to-earth and realistic. His view of detective fiction is negative as he associates it with class and gender issues, a false sense of superiority, and an all around pompous activity for the rich.
Milo is constantly picked on by Andrew for being ‘foreign' (of Italian and Jewish descent), which is a nod at Shaffer's main inspiration, Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot. Though Poirot is neither Italian nor Jewish, he is also regularly judged on the basis of his non-Englishness. Contrary to Milo, Andrew is more of a Sherlock Holmes kind of character as he sees himself as incredibly clever, more so than Milo, and he comes up with hare-brained ideas and theories worthy of the great detective.
Andrew (Laurence Olivier) and Milo (Michael Caine) in ‘Sleuth' (1972).
I also watched the 1972 movie version of the play in conjunction with the text, and the screen adaptation does a marvelous job at capturing Milo and Andrew's personalities and quirks. The play is a high-paced, action-driven story with many twists and turns that are hard to predict. I would recommend watching the movie after the play as I think they compliment one another very well.
Format read: paperback
Reading time: 4h
Tags: slice-of-life, mystery, short story, Japan, lgbt (bi, ace)
Own a copy: yes
Reread likelihood: 10/10
Summary
As with my previous reviews, here's a summary of each short story:
1. The Sought-After Topaz: The Tamuras visit the jewellery store in search of a topaz to commemorate their 30th wedding anniversary. Teiichi, the husband, is adamant about buying the best stone of the highest quality, while his wife Hagino would prefer a stone that speaks to her rather than of the highest grade. Teiichi is a mineral collector, and his passion for stones overbears his wife's feelings. Frustrations mount with the couple fighting over a stone that is meant to symbolize their love.
2. Unsettling Turquoise: A fellow student at Seigi's university introduces him to a girl from another college who is searching for her missing boyfriend. Before disappearing, the man gave her a single turquoise earring as a token of their love. Okita pleads with Richard and Seigi for their help, and the two uncover a nefarious underground plot to lure young women into buying false stones. Richard plans to go undercover to dismantle this operation, but Seigi is worried for his safety so he tags along as his bodyguard.
3. The Jade Inheritance: One of Richard's old acquaintances, an antiques dealer in Ginza, approaches him with a proposition to buy a unique piece of jade at an auction sale. The piece is estimated to go for 30 million yen, a staggering amount of money, yet Richard expects that the final price will be much higher. Seigi accompanies his boss to the auction where they meet a shady character from Richard's past who tries to scare Seigi away with warnings about his secretive boss. Richard's true identity is uncovered, but Seigi is more concerned with Richard's well-being than this revelation.
4. Angelic Aquamarine: Tanimoto announces to Seigi that she has been set up for an arranged marriage with none other than Mr. Homura, the man whose fiancé ended up leaving him for her long-term girlfriend (see volume 1). Seigi is devastated and heartbroken, and resolves to support Tanimoto in her decision, but Richard convinces him to come clean with her about his feelings before it's too late. Seigi plans on giving Tanimoto an aquamarine as a symbol of his love, but Tanimoto declares that she does not understand feelings of love and romance in the conventional sense.
Extra: Fluorite by Your Side: Richard is at the airport when he meets a distressed woman whose bracelet broke and scattered all over the airport floor. Richard helps her put it back together and explains that fluorite is a special stone that can glow in the dark. The woman reveals that she is travelling to visit her estranged sister in America, and indirectly helps Richard understand that Seigi is not just an employee to him, but rather a friend.
Review
Ahhh the cliffhanger of the century ಥಥ If you watched the anime, you know what happens after Richard's sudden departure, but it still doesn't lessen the blow when you're reading it in the novel. Richard's abrupt departure, and his strained fight with Seigi over Tanimoto just squeezes your heart painfully. Everyone in Seigi's life tells him that there's more than meets the eye with Richard, yet he still remains obstinately blind. Even his estranged mother, who doesn't know Richard and barely knows about Seigi's life, hints at the fact that Richard might have more than friendly feelings for him, but Seigi just dismisses it. The fact that Richard repeatedly pushes Seigi towards Tanimoto because he feels that it's the right thing to do just hits you right in the feels. There were a lot of explosive moments between the two this time. Both Richard and Seigi were incredibly angry with one another at times, without necessarily understanding why.Key moments (spoilers ahead)I couldn't explain it, but for some reason, I felt really on edge. No, that wasn't the right word for it. I was actually pretty angry. Like, on-the-verge-of-losing-it angry. But why? Was the stuff that strange man said getting to me? That didn't make sense. A random stranger being rude to you was like getting unlucky and stumbling on a rock, If I got mad about that sort of thing, I'd be snapping at the gods every time it rained. That was why I thought it had to be something else. Why was I so mad? And at what? ... I was angry because [Richard] wouldn't let me worry about him. (p.120-121)“Thank you for being so considerate. You always were a very sweet person. Almost like a man getting cold feet and pulling back before going in for a kiss.”...“Fine. You wanna know what's pissing me off? I'll tell you. It's not the fact that you hid your identity from me. You think I didn't know that from the start? It's not normal to be with someone this long and not know a single thing about their family. But it's not because I don't care. The opposite, in fact. I just don't want to force you to tell me anything you don't want to.”“I honestly can't tell if you're being motivated by benevolence or cowardice.”“Does it matter?! My point is I'm not the kind of man who gets cold feet and pulls away from a kiss. I just hate the idea of valuing yourself so little that you feel like you have to kiss someone you don't want to. I'm done.”...“What? Why are you making that weird face at me?”“Oh, nothing, I just hadn't realized you felt so strongly about me.” (p.125-126)“I was expecting a deluge of inappropriate compliments from the master.”...He looked so young, all dressed up like that. I almost started laughing.“When you see something impossibly beautiful, it takes your breath away. That's why I didn't say anything. You know, you probably shouldn't just wander around town looking like that–you're liable to cause a multi-car pileup if a driver lays eyes on you.”“You've developed quite the silver tongue.”“You only have yourself to blame for that. I could just say you look incredibly handsome, but you always look incredibly handsome, so I had to get creative. Happy now?” (p.136)Don't you dare insult my boss. He's the best man I know. It doesn't matter if he invites misfortune in his wake or whatever. And I honestly don't care what you call him. I love watching him work, so if you interfere with his business, you're gonna piss me off. (p.145)“Sorry. I didn't mean to make things weird. Just pretend I didn't say anything–““I'm tired of pretending you didn't say things. The next time you're feeling exhausted, you should come see me.” ...When Richard smiled after saying that, I felt like time had stopped. (p.160)“... you could just call her. I'll give you five minutes.”“Call her and then what?”“You figure it out. How stupid are you?”“You're being so mean to me today...“Richard didn't respond. I was so preoccupied with my own problems that I just wanted some distracting small talk, but Richard was being really harsh. Really, it was kind of weird. The normal thing for him to have been doing was telling me to get my act together because I'm at work, but he was following everything I was saying even if he wasn't being very nice about it. (p.175)You're such a bright and charming young man, with a talent for cooking and a mastery of inappropriate compliments, who can be caring to a fault, but I seem to be the only one who knows it. Truly, it's beyond tragic. A great loss for the world as a whole.”Despite what he was saying, it sure didn't feel like a compliment. Richard was, without a doubt, scolding me. He was scolding me while trying to lift my spirits at the same time....“... I am also inclined to believe that those efforts would be best spent on people who truly matter to you. Like, for example, prioritizing the woman you hope to make your girlfriend over your boss at your part-time job.” (p.198)“I know you said you don't want to be my special someone and you don't want to leave your mark on me, but you already are someone special to me, and you've left a mark on me that's never going away.”... I knew he was trying to tell me to go to Tanimoto right now. But I had things I wanted to say, too–to him.“You have told me on countless occasions that you're fond of me, but as I explained earlier, I believe your affection is misplaced.”“You're saying I'm using you as a substitute, right? That's not funny. Why would I? Trust me, I know just how big of a coward I am.” (p.202)Just rereading these sections hurts me right in the feels ಥಥ I can't wait to read the next volume once it's out.
Format read: paperback
Reading time: 4h
Tags: slice-of-life, mystery, short story, Japan, lgbt
Own a copy: yes
Reread likelihood: 10/10
Summary
In volume 2 of the ‘Case Files' series, we have 4 short stories and 1 extra chapter, same as with the first volume. Here's a breakdown of each:
1. The Cat's Eye of Insight: An elementary school boy turns up at Richard's jewellery store looking to buy a cat's eye stone that matches one he already owns. The boy's wish is to protect his unborn baby brother from harm, the same way his beloved cat, Milk, protected the family. Seigi and Richard find out that the cat has mysteriously gone missing, which creates tension between the boy and his family.
2. The Fighting Garnet: A young woman named Yamamoto wishes to purchase a garnet ring for herself after a bad breakup with a long-term boyfriend. Yamamoto is convinced that she is ugly and thus undeserving of a ‘pretty' stone like a ruby or sapphire. Yamamoto puts pressure on Richard as a beautiful person, insisting that he has an easier life than most because of his looks, much to Seigi's disapproval. Seigi and Richard end up helping the young woman in realising that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, and that her ex is not worth her time and attention.
3. The Dance of the Emeralds: Tanimoto introduces her middle school friend, a ballet dancer named Shinkai, to Seigi. Little does he know, Shinkai's boss, Kataura, wants Richard's help in solving a crime at the ballet company, yet Richard is desperately trying to avoid it. One of the costume pieces, a magnificent emerald necklace, has nearly been stolen a few times, and the dancers believe that the piece is cursed. Richard doesn't want to play detective, but Seigi accidentally gets him involved anyway. The two work on solving the mystery so that the ballet performance can take place as scheduled.
4. The Opal of Reunion: Seigi reminisces about an old friend from his karate club when said friend turns up one day at the same train station as him. The two friends reconnect, with Hase taking Seigi out to dinner weekly despite his precarious monetary situation. Seigi recommends Richard's shop to his friend, and Hase takes the opportunity to try to sell a beautiful opal he obtained from an old lady with dementia. Seigi soon realises that his friend is not the same person he once knew, and the two come to odds because of their different ethics and principles. Richard shows a new side of himself when he comforts Seigi over the loss of his friend.
Extra: The Serendipity of Euclase: Seigi finally does good on his promise to make some flan pudding for his boss. Despite Richard's refined palate and picky habits, he praises Seigi's cooking skills and truly enjoys the heartfelt offering.
Review
Seigi and Richard are at it again! The slow burn is so delicious in this volume, especially in chapter 3 at the ballet company. Seigi's inner monologue is more and more honest with regard to his feelings, and even though he doesn't quite understand it himself, he has no qualms with constantly praising and admiring his boss. We're slowly starting to see Richard break out of his shell, too. Even though he is still very much the master of self-restraint, he falters a few times in this volume. I could essentially quote the whole book, but here are a few excerpts that are just too swoon-worthy to pass up. Most of these are just Seigi being an obtuse doofus who doesn't understand himself and cannot read the signs to save his life (I say this lovingly).
Whenever I was near Richard, I kept finding that all the things I'd locked away deep in my heart just started spilling out. He really was an enigma of a man. (p.32)
Richard looked at me and smiled. He has such a nice smile. My body wasn't exactly built to feel joy every time I saw a beautiful person smile, but Richard's smile in particular had a peculiar soothing quality to it. ... His smile in that moment was incredible. It was a stony beauty, like a cathedral painted by an impressionist master with every ounce of passion in their body. I did not voice this thought, of course. (p.56-57)
I stared vacantly at him as he pulled a pair of gloves out of his bag, nimbly put them on, and bowed before picking up the emerald necklace. I thought I'd be used to it by now, but this man–no, this human, no, this creature–was impossibly beautiful. He was beautiful even when he wasn't doing anything at all, but he really shone when he was up against something difficult like this. (p.132-133)
“That's not western script–that's your name! I'm capable of remembering the names of important people in my life.”Richard aggressively averted his eyes, grabbed his cup, and began drinking his water. He must have been really thirsty because he downed the whole thing. (p.143)
“How do I look?”“What?”Richard got my attention and spun around in front of the ticket counter.“It's not terribly strict, but there is a dress code. Do I look all right? Nothing on my suit or in my hair?”“You look perfect like you always do. The most beautiful man in the whole world is standing in front of me.” (p.179-180)
“Sorry, I didn't mean to bore you by talking your ear off about karate.”“I find it quite interesting, actually. I was listening respectfully. However, I must admit, I think I find watching you talk at such length more interesting than the subject matter,” Richard said in a completely flat tone before taking another sip of tea I'd made.” (p.191)
“His jokes were just silly enough and his voice just gentle enough to tell me that even if I wasn't doing a great job of covering it up, he wouldn't mind if I cried a little more. He was the one who told me not to say things that could give people listening to what I saying the wrong idea–like calling him beautiful or pretty. But surely he meant that in the context of when other people were around. We were alone in his car. There was no invisible person sitting in the back seat.“I don't know what the hell I'm saying right now, so just wipe this from your memory in ten seconds. I'm really glad I met you. I feel like I owe those drunks from Yoyogi Park a box of cookies. I'm just so glad I met you... thank you.”Car stereos sure are useful. (p.241)
........ This pairing might just be the death of me.
Format read: paperbackReading time: 4-5 hoursTags: short stories, mystery, romance, slice-of-life, clueless MC, LGBT (bi, wlw), cozy mystery, detective(ish)Own a copy: yesReread likelihood: 10/10SummaryOne evening, on his way home from a nightshift at a local TV station, Nakata Seigi stumbles onto a scene where a beautiful stranger is being harassed by some drunks. After saving him, Seigi learns that the foreigner is Richard Ranasinghe de Vulpian, an Englishman and jeweller newly settled in Tokyo, Japan. Through a series of events, Seigi begins to work for this mysterious man and encounters along the way a host of colourful clients at Bijouterie L'Étranger.ReviewLike most people here, I came across this series first through the anime, then the manga, and now the novels. I started backwards, seeing as how the novels came first, but I think it's actually quite nice to read the novels last as I'm already familiar with the story, but there's so much more detail here that it makes it a pleasure to read.Seigi is, quite possibly, the most unaware and clueless character I've ever read about. This series reminds me a lot of my ultimate favourite Japanese novel/manga series, [b:No.6, Volume 1 11976839 No.6, Volume 1 Atsuko Asano https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1331192827l/11976839.SX50.jpg 16940029] because of how Seigi and Shion are both massive airheads who just blurt out whatever they feel to their counterparts, Richard and Nezumi, respectively. The amount of time Seigi thought or said out loud how beautiful his boss is is staggering. Some of his compliments are so wild, I understand why Richard gets annoyed. At one point, Seigi says that Richard is like “diamond dust or an aurora,” yet he insists he just feels pure admiration for him; his true love is Tanimoto Shoko, a girl at his university... okay. Take this idiotic remark as an example of Seigi's level of unawareness: I lifted my head. Richard was smiling. Ever since I took that trip with him on the Shinkansen, every time I saw his smile, it felt like he has my heart in a vise. His expression was like a precious gem, cut and polished by the world's finest craftsmen. How was he human just like me? Were we sure we couldn't just consider this a natural phenomenon? ‘Today will be partly cloudy with a chance of Richard's smile.'SEIGI. Dude, who says stuff like that? I swear I threw my book across the room when I read it. It's so cheesy, but it's SO Seigi, I can't.Apart for this massive idiot, Richard is not any better, let's be real. He is the definition of tsundere. He's clearly being very disingenuous when he repeatedly brushes off Seigi's words and says he doesn't mind, he's used to it, etc. I love how moody he is and constantly bickers with Seigi in the novels. It shows that he is, in fact, not a marble statue and has feelings like everyone else.The “case files” in the novel can be read as individual short stories, which is a fun format in my opinion. Each one can be read independently, but obviously there's a small linear component to them. If you're familiar with the story already, you could easily read or reread your favourite case without having to read the whole book (kind of like how the Sherlock Holmes stories are constructed). In this first novel, there are 4 main cases and 1 short ‘extra' story at the end. Here's a brief breakdown:1. The Pink Sapphire of Justice: This first story features Seigi and Richard's first meeting, as well as Seigi's personal case about his grandmother's sapphire ring. He asks Richard to appraise the stone, which leads them on an adventure down to Kobe to untangle the mystery.2. The Ruby of Truth: Seigi has started working for Richard when a young woman visits the shop with a magnificent ruby brooch, looking to have it assessed for heat treatment. It turns out the the lady is stuck in a love triangle between her fiancé, a man who works in her office, and her long-term girlfriend, a musician in Shibuya, and the ruby is at the center of this quest for happiness.3. The Amethyst of Protection: the third story is about a nightclub host who desperately wants to recruit Richard as a fellow host. Despite his pushiness and brash exterior, however, the young man is also looking for a gem that can help him protect his girlfriend, a hostess in the same bar where he works.4. The Diamond of Memory: Tanimoto teaches Seigi about diamonds, and encourages him to study them on his own to understand how and why they are so valuable. At the same time, he and Richard receive a new customer who brings them a charred wedding ring belonging to his late wife and asks to have it refashioned into a new piece of jewellery. Extra: To Wish Upon a Rose Quartz: Seigi is looking for a stone that will bring him luck in love, and so he asks Richard to source him some rose quartz. Seigi wants to put all the chances on his side when it comes to winning Tanimoto's affections, but Richard isn't convinced that he's going about it the right way.As you can see, all of the chapters are mini stories that feature a specific gemstone in each one. This is quite nice as you get to learn about many kinds of gems throughout the book. Overall, this is a really fun, feel-good novel that is part cozy mystery and slow-paced slice-of-life too. I'm looking forward to the next novels!
Format read: paperback
Reading time: 2 hours
Tags: theatre, realism, feminism, social commentary, criticism, problem play
Own a copy: yes
Reread likelihood: 8/10
Summary
Nora Helmer is a bourgeois housewife with a dark secret–she has incurred a large debt without her husband's knowledge. When an old school friend comes to visit her, attracted by Torvald Helmer's new high-paying job at the bank, and Nora's creditor surfaces with new threats, Nora tries everything in her power to keep her secret hidden to the detriment of her own freedom and happiness.
“I believe that before all else I am a human being, just as much as you are–or at least I will try to become one”
-A Doll's House, III.555-556
Review
Format read: paperback
Reading time: 7+ hours
Tags: detective fiction, police procedural, mystery, crime fiction
Own a copy: yes
Reread likelihood: 5/10 (once the mystery has been discovered, it's hard to justify rereading a mystery novel!)
Summary
Hercule Poirot is pulled out of retirement by the arrival of a mysterious letter announcing an upcoming murder and signed enigmatically as “ABC.” With the help of his trusty companion Hastings, Poirot goes on a cross-country chase to track down and stop this strange serial killer who murders people in alphabetical order. Poirot must find out his identity and understand the ‘why' behind these murders before the killer reaches the end of the alphabet.
Review
Poirot makes a triumphant return to the world of police work in this very ‘human' novel, The ABC Murders. Poirot's approach to the crimes is slow and methodical; not much happens in this book, and the narrative isn't action-packed. However, Poirot's understanding of the human mind is at the forefront, and the psychology of the killer is what is on display. Poirot's focus in this novel is on the killer rather than the victims. He determines early on that the victims have nothing in common–an unusual occurrence in serial cases–but the killer himself is where the true mystery lies. This person is thought to be unremarkable yet daring, simple yet genius, and shy but charismatic. These contradictions muddle the waters for Poirot and the policemen, but it makes the case all the more interesting to crack. A whole host of characters colour this novel, each with their own reason for wanting to bring harm onto others, but only one person can truly be the criminal mastermind who taunts Poirot with his overconfident letters.
The pacing in this book is very slow and there are no big “a-ha!” moments, but the simplicity of the narrative lends itself well to this very empathetic approach to the criminal mind. Poirot shows his great sense of humanity when he sympathises with the most vicious of men, and his humanistic outlook on how criminals are perceived and treated in society makes us readers ponder deeply about our own morals and ethics vis-à-vis criminals.
This Christie novel offers a self-aware view into detective work and weighs in on the age-old question of what it means to be human.
Format read: paperback (borrowed from a friend)
Reading time: 7+ hours
Tags: fantasy, magical realism, psychological, mystery, magic realism
Own a copy: no
Reread likelihood: 0/10 (not because I didn't like it, but because I don't think I'd ever need to reread it to ‘get it')
Summary
In a maze-like house filled with statues and the ebb and flow of tides lives Piranesi, a self-declared scientist who takes great pains in exploring the infinite labyrinth and writing about his discoveries. Piranesi shares his peaceful existence with another human, the Other, with whom he has weekly philosophical and scientific discussions. When Piranesi starts to read his old journals, he realizes that not all is at it seems in the house of many wonders.
Roman Ruins by Giovanni Battista Piranesi (1720-1778)
Review
[The review will contain spoilers as it is entirely impossible to avoid them with this type of narrative. Proceed at your own risk.]
Where to start with this book? There are so many categories for this book that it can be difficult to classify it. At first, it was very scifi to me, but then the low fantasy and soft magic elements kicked in, and then a psychological/murder mystery topped it all off. Our MC Piranesi spends the entire book clueless about the fact that he is a prisoner of this universe and that, ironically, the exit to the real world is most of the time only a few meters away from him. There were quite a lot of plot holes and loose ends in this tale. For example, why does Piranesi know what crips are, or what type of suits and patterns the Other is wearing, but he doesn't know what "police" means. These choices and gaps in his knowledge seem arbitrary as there's no definite pattern to his way of thinking or seeing the world.The system for dates and for different sections of the maze that he creates for himself makes sense and is structured, but many details about his knowledge make no sense. Why does he recognize the different types of birds that live in the house, but he doesn't know what the constellations are called? Why does he know the conventional days of the week such as Monday and Tuesday, but he doesn't know the names of months and has to rely instead on a system ("the 24th day of the second month of the year when the albatross came," for example)? Piranesi's selective amnesia seems to have no rhyme or reason to it, which makes the story hard to follow and breaks the immersion. The Other is also weirdly constructed. His search for the Knowledge with Piranesi seems to make sense at first, but then he abandons this cause entirely and becomes hyper-focused on the new visitor, 16. If his purpose in kidnapping and imprisoning Piranesi was for them to work out the secrets of the maze, then he has failed spectacularly at his one job. Also, what is the point in keeping Piranesi in this place other than to be comically evil? This whole plot point seems pointless since Piranesi doesn't contribute to this pursuit at all. Instead, Piranesi focuses on measuring the tides, cataloguing statues, and writing in his journal. All of these things, although important within the world of the House, are irrelevant to the Other's mission, so why keep Piranesi around, then? Why even kidnap Piranesi to begin with? He didn't need to stick someone into the House since he is able to visit it any time he wants. Granted, he can't stay too long in the House or else he'll start to forget things, but he still could have done his research without Piranesi (especially since Piranesi is pretty useless to his cause).Laurence, the arch-villain, appears in the novel for a couple of pages, and then is never seen again. What happened to him out in the real world? Was he not arrested for his part in the various crimes and Piranesi's kidnapping? Does he continue to exert his influence on unsuspecting university students? We don't know because there's never any follow up to his arc as a character and villain mastermind."My first great insight happened when I realised how much humankind had lost. Once, men and women were able to turn themselves into eagles and fly immense distances. They communed with rivers and mountains and received wisdom from them. They felt the turning of the stars inside their own minds. My contemporaries did not understand this. They were enamoured with the idea of progress and believed that whatever was new must be superior to what was old."-Laurence, in PiranesiThe House functions as a character itself, but its existence is never explained in a satisfactory way. The magic that sustains this place isn't explained beyond the vague "find a place from before reason appeared," and its rules are also not explained. For example, when someone visits this place, what happens to their physical body? It seems as though the person is transported completely, but there's one exception: Jimmy Ritter. He is found living behind a wall in Laurence's home, covered in his own urine and faeces, yet he was also 'living' in the House (as evidenced by the crisp packets left behind in the House and found by Piranesi). Why is he the only one who is not bodily transported (unless he is, and it's just not mentioned for some reason)?Then, if there is a passageway between this (our) world and the House, how come people don't just randomly stumble upon it? Who are all the dead in the House; random visitors, or Laurence's victims? How do people such as 16, who has never been to the House, navigate the maze and somehow always manage to find Piranesi? The same is true for Laurence who very easily finds Piranesi despite the fact that there are hundreds of halls and vestibules, staircases, floors, etc.Finally, the best question to describe the ending is 'why?' Why did we go through this journey alongside Piranesi only to have him become this strange 3rd version of himself; neither Matthew nor Piranesi, yet still connected to the House despite it all? It seems as though the novel, and the House in particular, is just one long, extended metaphor about mental illness and/or the inability to live in reality. The House offers an escape for all these characters who seek to better humanity by finding some kind of obscure, long-lost form of knowledge. However, the 'lesson' here is that eventually you have to go back and live in the real world. If the message of this novel was to promote the whimsy of the House (and therefore the unconscious mind), then it did not do its job very well. The reality is that the House is a horrific place filled with solitude, death, and constant danger. The real world is a much better place to be in.
Format read: paperback
Reading time: ? (a lot)
Tags: theatre, tragedy, comedy, ancient Greece, classical literature, mythology
Own a copy: yes
Reread likelihood: 10/10
Aeschylus' The Oresteia (Agamemnon, Libation Bearers, & Eumenides)
I read this version of the trilogy with the idea of teaching it in university, which went surprisingly well. The plays have several important themes at their core such as family feuds, generational curses, women's place in society, violence against women, madness, justice and the birth of the judicial system, and religious zealotry, to name a few.
My favourite play of the three is the last one, Eumenides, as the ancient gods are brought to life and made to participate in the very first instance of a murder trial by jury. It's fascinating to have Apollo and Athena's ‘voices' (though I don't necessarily agree with their arguments!) as the primary speakers in the play. Even though the trilogy is very much concerned with the human, the last play reveals that, ultimately, the gods are still the ones who pull the strings behind the scenes (at least, within the context of ancient Greece).
This translation was very clear and easy to follow, but the musicality/poetry was lost most of the time. Also, there were some instances where the translator made use of much too modern language or phrases to convey an idea, which broke the immersion of the text.
Aeschylus gets 5 stars, the translation gets 4.
Format read: paperbackReading time: 4-5 hoursTags:detective fiction, murder mystery, classic, Victorian, high-pacedOwn a copy: yesReread likelihood: 8/10SummaryIn this Sherlock Holmes novel, our heroes work on a mysterious case about an ancient murder, a family curse, and a supernatural hound. Despite Holmes' steadfast opinion that there is no such thing as the supernatural, all things in this case point towards the opposite. Sir Charles Baskervilles, the owner of a large estate, is found dead one morning under suspicious circumstances. His friend, Dr Mortimer, seeks out Holmes to discuss Sir Charles' death. Here, Dr Mortimer produces an old document about the Baskervilles family that talks about a generational curse brought on by Sir Hugo Baskervilles, Sir Charles' ancestor, and the first victim of the Hound. Since Sir Charles' death, Sir Henry, his only living relative and heir, inherits the family fortune and moves back to England to claim his birthright. As one can expect, Sir Henry's life is in danger as someone–or something–is haunting the Baskervilles.ReviewIn true Holmes fashion, he decides to take on the case, but he doesn't work on it directly, sending Watson instead to Devonshire to investigate the murder. During the better part of the book, Watson is our eyes and hears in this case, and he is the ‘lead detective' because Holmes is completely absent. This is rather unusual for Sherlock Holmes stories in which Holmes is always at the forefront of the narrative. I like the fact that Watson takes charge and investigates several leads about the case. He befriends people in the region, talks to several key witnesses (and suspects), travels to other nearby towns, and keeps Holmes informed at all times via wires, letters, and his personal diary.The use of the epistolary in this novel is also interesting. It reminded me of Bram Stoker's [b:Dracula 17245 Dracula Bram Stoker https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387151694l/17245.SY75.jpg 3165724] and how the bulk of the story is told through letters. Readers of Sherlock Holmes are used to ‘hearing' Watson's voice as he is the narrator for all of Holmes' adventures. However, having his thoughts in the written form, especially in his diary, offers a more intimate view into his mind.This novel plays with a few different genres, chief of which is the gothic. The Hound, the mansion, and even the location are all described in a very gothic fashion. However, there is also an element of the romantic here, especially with Watson's personal musings about the place, its people, and its history. Watson shows us in this novel how clever he is and how sensitive and entuned he is with his environment and the people around him. As always, he serves as a great juxtaposition to Holmes' much more practical and clinical character.Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is high-paced and engrossing, which makes it a pleasure to read. It's also always nice to dive back into Holmes and Watson's world. All of their adventures are true comfort reads.
Format read: ebook (Kindle Unlimited)Reading time: 7+ hoursTags: historical fiction, romance, lgbtq+, enemies-to-lovers, regencyOwn a copy: noReread likelihood: 0/10sigh this had such a good start. The premise was fun (kind of tropey, but that's ok in these types of novels), the first couple of chapters were fun and humorous, but then, the middle of the book happened, and it was so hard to keep reading till the end.SummaryValentine, Duke of Malvern, is set to marry his childhood friend, Arabella Tarleton, because of a long-standing promise between their (now deceased) fathers. However, Arabella has zero interest in marrying the duke, and the feeling is mutual. In between these two is Bonaventure “Bonny” Tarleton, Arabella's twin brother. Being the doting brother that he is, he tries to reconcile the two would-be lovers by embarking with Valentine on a cross-country chase to find his runaway sister. During their time together, however, Valentine and Bonny grow closer until their feelings are unavoidable, creating a hairy situation with regard to Valentine's reluctant bride.ReviewArabella's stunt of running away from her forced marriage made sense when it was first introduced, but was it really necessary to reuse the same trick over, and over again, for 300+ pages? How many times is she going to dramatically run away without giving Valentine a chance of explaining himself? He also really really doesn't want to marry this nut, so why so much unnecessary drama? The fact that she gaslit the hell out of him for the entirety of the novel was beyond disgusting. She brings her melodrama to such an extreme that she very nearly has Valentine killed, to which she expresses regret when he comes out of it alive. On top of being unjustly horrible towards Valentine, she is equally horrible to her brother and abusive towards her partner, Peggy. Peggy does nothing but support all of her whims without complaining once, and yet, Arabella still manages to be emotionally abusive towards her by essentially just using Peggy's love for her as a tool for her own gain. Her presence in the book soured the whole plot. She is one of the most despicable and vile character I've ever had the misfortune of meeting. By comparison, Bonny starts off as much of the same as his crazy sister, but he actually grows and matures during the story. By the time we get to the end (of the overly convoluted plot), Bonny is actually a decent character. The same can't be said for his selfish, bratty, and unlikeable sister.Then there's Valentine. Poor, poor Valentine. What did he ever do to be so demeaned and mistreated at every turn? Everything bad that can happen to him, happens. Valentine essentially just wants to live in peace. He's okay with marrying Arabella just to honor his father's wish, but he expresses from the very start that they can be joined in name only and that she would have complete freedom if she wishes it. Even after he finds her in a compromising situation with her partner, despite being technically engaged to him, he's really chill and open about it? Sure, he loses his temper at times, but who wouldn't when you're faced with a deranged drama queen who constantly makes up lies about you to anyone who will listen? Valentine just wants to go back home and forget about everything, but people around him just won't leave him be until he becomes as exuberant (and crazy) as them.The main romance between Valentine and Bonny is also pretty laughable. In two days' time, they go from hating one another, to shacking up. Valentine, who until this point in his life had no romantic inclinations of any sort, suddenly finds himself head-over-heels for the carbon copy of the lunatic he's desperately trying to avoid marrying?? Their relationship makes no sense, and it feels as though Valentine is forcing himself to be out of character for the sake of the plot.Speaking of which, the so-called ‘plot' was so boring and repetitive. The novel could have easily been 100-150 pages shorter, and it wouldn't have taken anything away from the story. The events were essentially the same: Valentine tries to reason with Arabella, Arabella runs away dramatically, Bonny convinces Valentine to go after her, and thus the cycle repeats itself for another 4-5 times until the end of the book. The whole middle section when Bonny and Valentine end up in a cottage occupied by two ladies, and Arabella makes them believe that Valentine is a maniac, so they tie him up to a chair for the whole night, threaten him with a gun, and lock him up in a cellar until the next morning could have been eliminated entirely. That whole bit was really uncomfortable to read and, though it was meant to be funny, it was anything but. Overall, this was a disappointing read from such a well-loved and famous author. I haven't read his other series, [b:Boyfriend Material 50225678 Boyfriend Material (London Calling, #1) Alexis Hall https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575987260l/50225678.SX50.jpg 73590298], and now I'm not sure I want to, especially if it's anything like this one.
Format read: paperback
Reading time: 2 hours
Tags: historical, war, female agency, proto-feminism, politics, ancient Greece, theatre, comedy
Own a copy: yes
Reread likelihood: 8/10
Summary
The Peloponnesian War has been going on for too long, according to the women of Sparta and Athens, the two warring city states. Lysistrata, a young Athenian woman, decides one day that enough is enough; the war must end, and the women are the ones who will stop it. To achieve this, Lysistrata comes up with a brilliant plan that will drive the men to their knees: withhold sexual favours until they give up on the war. At first, the women are unsure of whether this will actually work, but, as Lysistrata and the others seize the Acropolis, the seat of power in Athens, they come to realize that they hold much more power than what they originally thought. Through a battle of wills, the women of Sparta and Athens prove themselves capable of ruling the city and, if men aren't happy about it, they can just leave.
Review
If you've never read Aristophanes, get ready. As the father of Greek comedy, he is, of course, very witty and funny, but his brand of comedy is bawdy and crude throughout the play. However, even though it seems as though this story isn't very deep because of its language, the bawdiness hides a very important political and social critique: women are capable politicians and strategists, and society has done them wrong by assuming that they cannot accomplish what men do.
Written over 2000 years ago, this play presents ideas and themes that are still very much relevant today. Why can't women be allowed to be in positions of power? Why should war be a man's undertaking? How can countries listen to and respect all of their citizens' voices? These, and more, are things that are developed in this play, but they are camouflaged by comedy.
Aristophanes weaves these ideas throughout the play, and his main character, Lysistrata, is a true politician and war general in how she rallies her troops, takes command of the city, and ultimately gets the men to bow down and give up on the war. She is, of course, a pacifist who does not believe in bloodshed for the sake of gaining territory or power. She is also an idealist who wishes for her city to be more embracing of the different people who make up its numbers. Lysistrata is a hero for her people; she wields a weapon–that of men's sexual desires–to obtain what she wants, which is peace.
By comparison, the other characters in the play pale significantly. The other women are not as brave and clever as Lysistrata; they nearly abandon her plan entirely because they, too, need to have their sexual needs fulfilled. However, Lysistrata rallies them all under the promise that if they stick together, they have a chance at having a better future.
By the end of the play, we have a happy resolution for Sparta and Athens, and men and women alike. The chorus, which had previously been split into a men's chorus and a women's chorus, is united as a single entity of Athenian citizens, showing that the city is also united, unlike before. The soldiers on both sides of the war come to a peaceful arrangement, and the men are permitted to return to their wives and their homes.
Ultimately, Lysistrata proves herself to be a true heroine, a mortal Pallas ruling from beneath the great goddess' shadow at the Acropolis.
Format read: hardcoverReading time: 1hTags: historical fiction, trauma, Greek mythology, retellingOwn a copy: yesReread likelihood: 0/10What a strange read. Like most people, I'm a fan of Miller's work (especially [b:The Song of Achilles 13623848 The Song of Achilles Madeline Miller https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1357177533l/13623848.SY75.jpg 16176791]), but this short story was just weird and off the mark. Miller's story is a contemporary retelling of the Pygmalion myth. In the original myth, Pygmalion, a sculptor, creates the perfect woman out of ivory as a response to his disdain for prostitutes. Aphrodite brings his creation to life, and the two marry and have a child (and live happily ever after).By comparison, this short story is told from the perspective of Galatea (the statue-turned-human) as she is interned in what appears to be a psychiatric hospital. We learn that her husband, Pygmalion, has put her there after she tried to escape from him. Pygmalion is shown to be an abusive, controlling man with a penchant for young girls below the age of 15 (yikes).This story is hailed by many as a feminist take on the myth, but Galatea's brand of feminism is strange at best. She grovels, begs, and apologizes to the male doctor and her husband continuously, which you could argue that she's “playing the game” when she does so, but it comes off as cringeworthy instead. She often returns to her ‘original state' of being a stone statue as a sort of defense mechanism, but this only seems to be contrary to the feminist message she is supposed to embody. As for the ‘twist' at the end, I'm not sure it's as impactful as what it pretends to be. Galatea sacrifices herself for her own freedom, which is ironic. Murder is hardly the feminist response we want to encourage. Though she is portrayed as a loving mother throughout the story, the ending contradicts this as she now leaves her daughter orphaned. All in all, this short story just wasn't it for me in terms of what I've come to expect out of Miller's work.
I'm progressively becoming more and more annoyed by Aoki. He's very emotional, which is fine, but he tends to be overdramatic about everything, which makes him really mismatched with Ida. Ida is so level-headed and calm that I don't know how these two could actually ever get along, let alone date. I still think this series is very cute and funny, but I hope that Aoki matures more in the next volumes. Meanwhile, Hashimoto is the best since day 1. Honestly, she can do so much better than Akkun, but we'll see how that goes.
DNF @10%
Such a pretty cover... such little appeal on the page. I wanted to love this, but I couldn't get past the first 50-odd pages. The fact that this book is 500+ pages long is kind of worrying. I don't see how there can be that much material to cover. The MC was very unlikeable to me, and the whole thing read like a bad bodyguard trope fanfic. This one is not for me!