Somehow it reminded me of Kazuo Ishiguro in terms of how she describes everyday life and events in a seemingly unimportant way, somehow building up toSomehow it reminded me of Kazuo Ishiguro in terms of how she describes everyday life and events in a seemingly unimportant way, somehow building up to meaning. She has a way of describing banal daily events in a very strong way to make you feel very there. Very different from Handmaid's Tale, tho, to be sure!!...more
I was warned before I read this that it might change my life. I thought I was a joke. But I was bored and felt like I'd glance at it... But in the endI was warned before I read this that it might change my life. I thought I was a joke. But I was bored and felt like I'd glance at it... But in the end, fuck, now I feel like maybe I need to read more? Shit. I realized, this is kinda up my alley....and I really don't want it to be. I need more of this bizarro underground surrealism? Why? Okay. I don't know where to place it on my bookshelves yet, but for now I feel it's pretty closely related to eroguro so there you go. ...more
Basically unreadable. I love classics and I don't mind a challenge, but this was just mind-numbingly overwritten, and the story was unnecessarily drawBasically unreadable. I love classics and I don't mind a challenge, but this was just mind-numbingly overwritten, and the story was unnecessarily drawn out and simultaneously overexposed and foggy. The plot had potential, but this was like the most boring man ever mansplaining a horrid story. ...more
Fantastic. Learned a couple new artists I have to acquire now... Sadly no original interview with Maruo - it was taken from an earlier publication. AndFantastic. Learned a couple new artists I have to acquire now... Sadly no original interview with Maruo - it was taken from an earlier publication. And some of the Maruo plates overlap with another book I have. D: I guess that's gonna happen though....more
Somehow it was just as poorly written as Angels and Demons, but less suspenseful and less of a page turner. I feel let down, and my expectations were Somehow it was just as poorly written as Angels and Demons, but less suspenseful and less of a page turner. I feel let down, and my expectations were already low. ...more
So lovely and endearing. I haven't actually read any mihara before despite being such a staple, so I am glad to add some of their works to my collectiSo lovely and endearing. I haven't actually read any mihara before despite being such a staple, so I am glad to add some of their works to my collection. This feels like a fitting beginning, given that it is a collection of one off shorts. I particularly loved the stories "worlds end" and "空気の中を抜ける空". ...more
It was okay, but at many times suspension of disbelief needed (and not in the 'it's a magical world' way). Just a bit shallow. But cute enough. SimilaIt was okay, but at many times suspension of disbelief needed (and not in the 'it's a magical world' way). Just a bit shallow. But cute enough. Similar to Book One. Far less sophisticated than the later ...more
This book was almost so very good. It is certainly beautiful. Gorgeous really. Both the publication / physical form, and the words within. Valente's wThis book was almost so very good. It is certainly beautiful. Gorgeous really. Both the publication / physical form, and the words within. Valente's writing is incredibly interesting and very rich. But overall, the book felt like far more style than substance. It felt like she had a story to tell, but she got too caught up in the telling of it to actually bother with the story. But, despite this, what story there is is told beautifully, so I did not dislike it. I just wanted more. ...more
"I understand that Joyce was trying to recreate the random sound and fury of a human mind at work but I'm not sure why he would want to. Painful and b"I understand that Joyce was trying to recreate the random sound and fury of a human mind at work but I'm not sure why he would want to. Painful and blinding. Trapped in the wheels of another's thoughts." P204
I have never read Ulysses, but this book makes me think that I should. It also makes me think that I would enjoy this one more if I had. That said, without having done so, this book is thoroughly enjoyable. Difficult, though it is. This is what I understand to be true of Ulysses as well, albeit with no information other than this book.
This book is very confusing at first and surreal and quite distracting from reality. It references Ulysses liberally, particularly in how that work makes the reader unsure of what is real and unsure of humanity. Without having read that book, I am not sure of how much I am missing. But even without, this book is very worthwhile. The front jacket calls it "claustrophobic", which is really the best description I could not have come up with myself. This book left me feeling strangely unhinged every time I put it down in the midst of reading. I was OK at the end, but when I took a break midway through, I was, simply put, not OK. A very interesting book to read....more
