Now we're getting into more scenes that weren't addressed in the anime, especially as Norman and Ray discuss Mom & Sister Krone, who need to die for tNow we're getting into more scenes that weren't addressed in the anime, especially as Norman and Ray discuss Mom & Sister Krone, who need to die for them to escape. They're galaxy-braining it up, while Emma is still struggling to live up to my hopeful expectations.
Grace Field House looks like a well-maintained orphanage in the countryside, but when you see the children branded with tattoos, you know there's someGrace Field House looks like a well-maintained orphanage in the countryside, but when you see the children branded with tattoos, you know there's something shady going on.
I watched the first half of season one of this anime, drawn in by promises of an interesting female protagonist. I was a little disappointed that Emma was very much the mascot of the three leads, volatile and emotional whereas the two boys did all the intellectual heavy lifting. Even her supposed strength, natural athleticism, was eclipsed by Norman during the terrifying game of tag with Sister Krone.
The manga does a better job of giving her more depth (and their plans a lot more detail), but she is still stuck with in that lamentable Haruno Sakura zone (aka, immense potential with piss poor execution):
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This is, of course, only the first volume and it is otherwise a very interesting narrative, so I'm tentatively hopeful for improvement.
"Why?" "Probably because you asked." The heavy eyelids shuttered open, revealing baleful black irises. "That's all it takes, Griddle? That's all you dem
"Why?" "Probably because you asked." The heavy eyelids shuttered open, revealing baleful black irises. "That's all it takes, Griddle? That's all you demand? This is the complex mystery that lies in the pit of your psyche?" Gideon slid her glasses back onto her face, obscuring feelings with tint. She found herself saying, "That's all I ever demanded," and to maintain face suffixed it with, "you asswipe."
I was so absolutely fucking delighted by this book from the very first page. Surprisingly, for a book chock-full of necromancy, it is the least interesting thing about it (to me). I was taken in by every single character, but Gideon Nav had my heart from the very first time she said "old as balls". Her simmering hatred for Harrowhark Nonagesimus, the heir of the House she is indentured under, added an incredible tension when they are forced to partner up. I am easy to please.
Gideon the Ninth's main story is set up like a murder mystery dinner, where it turns out the guests are the murder victims and everyone has their own agendas. Meanwhile, the main character is desperately trying to figure out what the fuck is going on and stumbling onto clues. This one has a bonus combo of necromancy (with requisite body horror) and sword-fighting. Thank goodness I picked this up after the sequel has been printed because (view spoiler)[Gideon has SACRIFICED HERSELF and I am DEVASTATED by this turn of events. This is even though I suspected she and Harrow were headed toward it with the repetition of "one flesh—one end" once they reconciled their perceptions of one another and the secrets of the Ninth House. STILL. crying & sobbing in the club rn (hide spoiler)]...more
Ito Junji has never disappointed me and this collection is no exception. I know the biggest issue people have with his work is that his endings are abIto Junji has never disappointed me and this collection is no exception. I know the biggest issue people have with his work is that his endings are abrupt or just, you know, don't exist. The fear and suspense just stretch on past the last page with no relief in sight. Marks a successful venture into the horror genre, if you ask me.
As a note: do not pick up his works if you have trypophobia.
I loved the explanations and little anecdotes at the end of each story! It's fascinating to see the mundane things he used as inspiration and the resulting twisted creations we see in Shiver. The only thing that fell a little flat for me was the opening story, "Used Record". It's super difficult to reflect eerie death music with text only, but the harried look of the man pursuing the girl with the record made up for it, a bit.
"Hanging Blimp" was my favorite, for a given value of favorite in this creepy genre.
"It happens at times that men can outlive themselves and persevere, like wraiths, by carrying out the actions they have always carried out; 3.5 stars.
"It happens at times that men can outlive themselves and persevere, like wraiths, by carrying out the actions they have always carried out; their souls are mute but not their voices, and their hands and feet do not stop moving."
A truly creepy commentary on body image and how society as a whole has damaged scads of young men and women into believing that their entire wo[image]
A truly creepy commentary on body image and how society as a whole has damaged scads of young men and women into believing that their entire worth is based on their looks. Our main character, Ririko, is a world-famous model who is slowly starting to break down in more ways than one. Her body and her mind are decaying at an accelerated rate, thanks to the dubious experimental cosmetic surgery regimens she takes part in. She rages and seduces and cries and is very, very cruel to her assistant, the only one who is even moderately close to her. Ririko is a goddamn mess.
This is a novel of three parts - the first is from the point of view of The Vegetarian's husband, the second her brother-in-law and and finally, her sThis is a novel of three parts - the first is from the point of view of The Vegetarian's husband, the second her brother-in-law and and finally, her sister. In the beginning we see Yeong-hye, our titular character, has had an unsettling dream and decides to become a vegetarian from that day forward. It is the beginning of the end for her as everything crumbles - her marriage, her relationship with her parents and even who she is as a person, if we ever knew who that was to begin with.
We're supposed to be unnerved by her behavior as described by her spouse, Mr. Cheong - and I am, but it's not accompanied by the expected sympathy for the confused and frightened man. He's kind of a dick. Scratch that, (view spoiler)[he's a garbage human and a marital rapist. He then gets upset that her expression across the breakfast table "made it seem as though she were a woman of bitter experience, who had suffered many hardships". No shit, fuckwad, you raped her multiple times. (hide spoiler)]
DUN DUN, TWO YEARS LATER.
Yeong-hye's unnamed brother-in-law has an odd sexual fixation with Mongolian marks. He feels the same about his wife as Mr. Cheong does Yeong-hye, without any unusual behavior to "justify" it. What I am getting from this book is that men are never satisfied with what women give them, even if it is their very best. ("She's a good woman," he thought. "The kind of woman whose goodness is oppressive.")
Unnamed brother-in-law ALSO makes his wife cry when they have sex. This is a very uncomfortable theme. He fetishizes Yeong-hye's mental illness, enraptured by her lack of affect & participation in the waking world. He takes advantage of this in the most disgusting of ways. Basically the only male character in this story who isn't entirely repulsive is Ji-woo, who is five.
Lastly, we meet Yeong-hye's sister In-hye after she leaves her husband due to the events in his chapter. Her section is unfocused and confused, almost as if the mental disconnect her sister is experiencing is a contagion she also contracted. I am still unsure about whether or not In-hye's choice to "abandon" her son Ji-woo means that she is temporarily leaving him in someone else's care for the first time since her husband slunk off or if she means in a permanent sense, that she and Yeong-hye are off together, to dream or die or become trees. It is not the most concrete of endings, which is fitting to the somewhat otherworldly tone her chapter takes as she becomes more and more involved in Yeong-hye's care.
Favorite lines: "It seemed enough for [Yeong-hye] to just deal with whatever it was that came her way, calmly and without fuss. Or perhaps it was simply that things were happening inside her, terrible things, which no one else could even guess at, and thus it was impossible for her to engage with everyday life at the same time."
Notes on translation: I want to get this in the original Korean and try my hand at reading it. It sounds a lot more interesting than painstakingly translating newspaper articles or children's books.
- The descriptors and pronouns are more confusing in English than they presumably would be in Korean. Mr. Cheong references his brother-in-law several times, but it's not always clear if he means his wife's brother (Yeong-ho) or his wife's sister's husband (unnamed), who would both hold this title.
- In-hye's unnamed husband calling her "Ji-woo's mom" ... is this supposed to be a commentary on how he sees her or just a literal translation of the Korean? Unclear....more
This is definitely a rating for me, in that I loved it, rather than a rating for how well I think it fits the overall demographic of children's books This is definitely a rating for me, in that I loved it, rather than a rating for how well I think it fits the overall demographic of children's books it falls into. Lemony Snicket does understated creepy so well. There are surely kids who can appreciate that, yeah?
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This is like something right out of Welcome to the Night Vale....more
The opening in a novel is important, yes? But the opening in a short story is a make or break moment.
I didn't stop giving hand jobs because I wasn't
The opening in a novel is important, yes? But the opening in a short story is a make or break moment.
I didn't stop giving hand jobs because I wasn't good at it. I stopped giving hand jobs because I was the best at it.
SOLD.
I have always wondered at the possibility of repetitive stress injuries when it comes (hehe) to sex workers. Thank god Gillian Flynn is here to answer all my questions fictionally.
This was an exceptionally creepy little bit. I'll say no more than that.
Notes: Outside of the sex worker/psychic career path, this character is me.
I read constantly. I think. But I lack formal education. So I'm left with the feeling that I'm smarter than everyone around me but that if I ever got around really smart people - people who went to universities and drank wine and spoke Latin - that they'd be bored as hell by me.
There is something excessively creepy about Ciel and Sebastian's relationship (that something is called pedophilia). The fact that they're involved inThere is something excessively creepy about Ciel and Sebastian's relationship (that something is called pedophilia). The fact that they're involved in some sort of Faustian contract does not make it any better.
[Look, you can argue all you want about how Ciel's elevated station in life means that he is unused to caring for himself at a very personal level (dressing, bathing, etc.) and THAT is why Sebastian is constantly portrayed as so very close to him, but I think we all know how the mangaka meant for this to appear. She's a yaoi artist on the side, guys. Let's not kid ourselves.]
I only wish that I hadn't known (view spoiler)[that Kirk and Wayne were conjoined twins (hide spoiler)] prior to reading this. It would have made the I only wish that I hadn't known (view spoiler)[that Kirk and Wayne were conjoined twins (hide spoiler)] prior to reading this. It would have made the reveal a lot more spectacular. That being said, I loved this as much as anyone can love something so creepy and unsettling. It reminds me of one of my other favorite books, Geek Love, but in a gorier way....more