Ash
I tried reading this book twice. The first time, I made it to 30%, lost interest, and didn't go back to it. The second time, I read up to 20%, lost interest, and here we are. As much as I loved the TV series, I don't gel with the book at all. I love historical fiction, fantasy, fairy tales, etc., but the writing here is what slows me down. There are too many very long passages that say and add nothing to the plot, and it takes way too long for the action to build up.
I'm really sad that I can't bring myself to read this book in it's entirety, but c'est la vie.
Art: 4Characters: 4Plot: 4Total: 4I've been a Takarazuka fan and scholar for many years, so Imagine my surprise when I stumbled across this manga that deals with this exact topic: all-female theatre in Japan! This manga is a prequel to the [b:Kageki Shojo!! Vol. 1 56550461 Kageki Shojo!! Vol. 1 Kumiko Saiki https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1612742425l/56550461.SX50.jpg 88294611] series which follows the lives of newly admitted Kouka theatre students. The prequel introduces the main characters, Sarasa and Ai, as well as a slew of classmates, seniors, and teachers at the school. Ai is an ex-idol with little to no motivation in life other than to be in a place far from men (hence why she chose to join Kouka). On the other hand, Sarasa has always dreamed of being a Kouka actress, especially in the iconic role of Oscar in [b:The Rose of Versailles, Omnibus 1 28577172 The Rose of Versailles, Omnibus 1 Riyoko Ikeda https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563516388l/28577172.SX50.jpg 50114452]. Soon, we discover that these two have many secrets and often dark reasons for joining the school, as do the other girls in their class. Above: The girls attend a Kouka show of Romeo and Juliet and are dazzled by what they see.I was surprised that this manga introduced hard-hitting topics such as eating disorders, sexual abuse, and the dark world behind the glitzy façade of entertainment. The girls at Kouka all have different motivations for being there, but they are all unified by their love of Kouka theatre and the allure of the stage. Even though they don't always see eye-to-eye, the girls can agree on the fact that Kouka is all but lifesaving to them.All in all, I really enjoyed this volume, and I'm excited to read the main series from here on out. If you're already a Zuka fan, then this is a must-read or you. If you're new to the glamourous world of showbiz in Japan, then maybe this will be a good entry point for you to discover this fairly niche cultural area.
Why is this book so popular? Seriously, why? Was everyone knocked on the head or something?
The fact that this book is hailed as being the next big modern classic, and that it's listed on the Times Next 100 is an insult to actual modern classics and all the other books on that list that are really deserving of the high praise and title.
First of all, the blurb is nothing like the story at all. Where it's supposed to be a “great romantic story,” it becomes a plotless, sex-filled story with detestable characters who have no redeeming qualities. Every other page contains a fairly vivid depiction of sex between teens and later, between young adults, that adds zero value to the story and doesn't advance the plot in any way. Furthermore, the frequent comments on female characters' bodies is gross and unnecessary. Do I really need to read about Marianne's breast every two minutes? Obviously no. The male gaze is strong with this one, even though it was written by a woman (misogyny strike 1?).
The characters themselves are incredibly flat and underdeveloped. Marianne and Connell, our main characters, are one-trick-ponies who continuously repeat the same mistakes and never learn nor grow as people. Connell in particular is incredibly infuriating. These characters are supposed to be representations of today's world, but news flash, they really aren't. Real people don't casually fantasize about beating their (abused) girlfriend. Real people don't walk around in shame of their partner for no apparent reason. Real people aren't insufferable a-holes who treat their mother like a third class citizen.
Both Connell and Marianne are constantly pegged as being “smart” and “different” in a I'm not like all the other girls/boys way which is annoying as hell. Marianne is super smart and knows everything, but Connell is even smarter still and outshines everyone because he reads and knows about books (seriously, this is the main reason why he's soooo smart). Marianne is quick to sing his praises and tell everyone how smart he is and how much smarter than her he is... okay then (misogyny, strike 2!).
The plot in this book is nonexistent. Nothing happens in this story; instead, Marianne and Connell simply orbit around one another and go through rince and repeat cycles of emotional abuse for reasons?? Plus, outside of these two, the other characters are basically just background props because they had no value to the story, serve no purpose in terms of teaching or helping the MCs, and are so woefully underdeveloped that I barely remember their names. For example Rachel, the stereotypical high school mean girl (misogyny, strike 3!): what is her point? Why is she even there (other than to serve as a contrast to poor (but smart) little Marianne who is unjustly bullied and mistreated by her classmates?
Overall, I do not recommend this to any living soul. Do yourself a favour and save your eyes (or ears) by reading something, anything, else. This book isn't worth the paper it's printed on.
Who in their right mind gave this manga such a high rating? This was undoubtedly the worst manga I ever read. First of all, the manga is a collection of very short stories that clearly do not have enough room to be expanded into something palatable.
The first story, that shares the title of this collection, had a decent premise, but it derailed completely after the first few pages when no one seems to be rightfully worried about the extremely odd situation of a boy shrinking down to the size of a doll for no discernable reason. The doctor just shrugs and tells him to go to school anyway? Like what?? Also, the “romance” aspect of the story made no sense and wasn't believable in the slightest.
As for the other stories, I don't remember them. No, seriously, they were so bad and uninteresting that I actually cannot remember a single plot element from either of the other stories. I'm trying really hard to recall anything at all, but nope. My brain is empty. I have a good memory by the way; this is entirely the manga's fault.
Bottom line: Zero character development, zero plot, and zero desire to recommend this to any other living being.
Scalzi does not disappoint with this latest novel! Personally, I'm a big fan of everything that he writes, so maybe I'm a bit biased, but one thing I'm not overly excited about is Jurassic Park/Godzilla/monster-type narratives. But, that being said, Scalzi made me love this kind of story.
The world was imaginative and the events were exciting. I loved the characters, especially Martin Satie (give it up for my fellow Québécois! He was such a badass, I love him) and Jamie Gray (who supposedly just “lifts things” but is obviously much more useful and helpful than that). Jamie's friends at Tanaka Base were all colourful and interesting to read about (except Niamh–they were too whinny and annoying to my taste).
The Kaiju themselves were characters in their own right. The naming tradition was so banal that it made it hilarious (a several hundred-foot tall monster named Kevin? Let's go!!). The whole mating scene with Bella and Edward (yes, that Bella and Edward) was so funny and irreverent, I think I'll remember it forever.
Despite the seriousness of the situation behind some of the scenes in the book, the characters find a way of being snarky and funny throughout, which lightens the mood and makes giant Godzilla-like creatures seem like moody Pomeranians rather than monstrous killing machines. As I said at the beginning of this review, I don't particularly like monster movies like Godzilla, but the fact that Scalzi's story doesn't take itself seriously makes it much more fun and exciting than a typical Hollywood cash-grab.
All in all, this is a great book amidst pandemic anxiety (which is constantly referenced in the novel) with the signature humour and frequent pop culture references that readers of Scalzi will be accustomed to.
3½ starsI had a long break between the last volume, [b:I Hear the Sunspot: Theory of Happiness 36595534 I Hear the Sunspot Theory of Happiness Yuki Fumino https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1513851079l/36595534.SX50.jpg 50798243], so maybe my lower rating this time is influenced a bit by the passing of time. Still, I think that this volume (#1 of 3 in the “Limit” arc) was pretty cute, if only a little bit slow compared to the other previous two. We didn't get to see much of Kohei in this volume, and even less of Kohei and Taichi together, which works well with the underlying anxieties of the story (i.e., when you leave an environment, like graduate from school or change jobs, relationships tend to fall apart). I hope we'll get to see more of them spending time together in the next volumes.I liked seeing Taichi's work life. All his coworkers are so colourful, and I especially like Chiba-kun. You can tell that he takes his job very seriously and, even though he's harsh with Taichi, he cares for him like a little brother. The new character in this volume, Ryo, seems like an interesting contrast to Kohei. Where Kohei is concerned with the complete loss of his hearing, Ryo embraces his disability and wears it proudly, even encouraging Kohei to do the same. I'm interested to see whether Kohei will follow him down this path of self-acceptance, or continue to fight who he is for Taichi's sake (or so he thinks).All in all, I'm looking forward to volume 2!
Look, is this the best book ever written? No.
Are there editing mistakes all over the place? Yes.
Did I still enjoy reading it? Absolutely.
Sometimes, you just want to read something that's light and easy; something that can pass the time when you're sitting on a plane or in an airport lounge. This is that kind of book.
Lord of Eternal Night is a cross between Bram Stoker's Dracula and de Villeneuve's classic fairytale, Beauty and the Beast. Even though the themes between these works and LEN are similar, the quality of this book is no where near them, but it still reads as a fun romp around a dark, haunted castle. The comparison between this book and Armentrout's From Blood and Ash series is also unfair, in my opinion, because they are as similar to one another as day and night. However, despite this disclaimer, LEN is just fun.
It's a simple story; Jak, a magician, is sent to a mansion on the outskirts of town as a “Claim,” an offering for a bloodthirsty beast that dwells in the mansion. The beast, Marius, is a gracious host to his hostage despite Jak's resistance, and slowly, Jak realises that “the beast” is not as evil as what he was taught to believe.
If you're familiar with both Dracula and Beauty and the Beast, then there is very little mystery in how the plot in LEN will enfold. The Claim falling in love with the Beast is a given, but add to that the element of vampirism, ghosts, and elemental magic (and smut—a fair amount of it).
Overall, if you have a penchant for retellings, vampires, and low-effort reading, this is for you. I think it would be even better to read this during spooky season to fully enjoy the atmospheric setting of the story.
Art: 3½Plot: 4Characters: 4Overall rating: 4I went into this manga not knowing anything about the story, but it turned out to be such a nice experience! The concept of this one revolves around being perceived as dirty by society. Hama, a homeless man, is seen as dirty, unsanitary, and scary despite his good heart and willingness to help others. Shouji, the owner of a liquor store, is also seen as being dirty, but that is because of his homosexuality. While many people in Shouji's life support him, his boyfriend, Hiro, treats him as something gross and dirty. Hama and Shouji meet one day by chance and, even though Shouji has prejudices against Hama, he quickly learns to see past his dirty exterior to the kind and gentle man inside.Hama and Shouji's relationship develops very slowly, and Hama struggles with his feelings as he is used to being let down and mistreated by people. As for Shouji, he learns to value himself more and that his feelings are not something to be ashamed of. The other characters in the story all contribute to the warm and fuzzy feelings of the manga, and everyone's openness towards Shouji eventually translates into acceptance of Hama as well. Old man Kaji's side story all pulls at the heartstrings, and Mita and Hanao's relationship immediately recall strong family love (see Gorou Kanbe's spin-off [b:Don't Call Me Daddy 51768779 Don't Call Me Daddy Gorou Kanbe https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1589257209l/51768779.SX50.jpg 76287185] for more on these two).This manga was honestly very refreshing in the themes it explored, and the characters were all lovable and memorable. I love that this is not a typical BL by the fact that it tackles important social issues such as homelessness, old age, and homosexuality in a clear, non-judgemental approach. All in all, this is a really nice, quick read that is sure to make you smile!
Art: 3½Plot: 4
Characters: 4Overall rating: 4
Click here for my review of vol 1 [b:Don't Call Me Dirty|48888144|Don't Call Me Dirty|Gorou Kanbe|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575831918l/48888144.SY75.jpg|74276045] !
Vol 2, or perhaps better labelled as the spin-off of vol 1, focuses on Shouji's dad, Ryuuji, and his childhood friend, Hanao. The story follows closely the timeline set in Don't Call Me Dirty, which is nice, and shows how the two “dads” of the story overcome their insecurities to be together.
When Shouji was born, Ryuuji had no clue what to do so he relied on his best friend's help in raising the child. Hanao stayed with them and took care of Shouji until the age of 6, when Shouji started displaying signs that he was gay. Frightened that Shouji was being influenced by the adults in his life, Hanao decided to leave the household–and his love–behind in favour of a career in a law firm. Fast forward 20 years, Hanao and Ryuuji are reunited, but Hanao's old feelings for his friend are too much to bear, causing a fresh rift to open up between the friends.
This volume did a lot of things really well. It dealt with the topic of unrequited love in a poignant way, it presented an older couple at the centre of the narrative, and it showed how perceptions of oneself are entirely based upon the opinions of society. Hanao struggled most of his life with his feelings for his friend because of the social stigma attached to loving someone of the same sex, as well as his fear of losing his friendship all together should his friend be suddenly revolted by him.
Hanao's perception is entirely built up through a six-year-old child's innocent outlook on life. When Shouji tells his school friends that Hanao and his dad are “married” and that they all “play together and eat together,” this triggers Hanao's fears that what Shouji sees in him will be seen by the outside world. Even though he loves and cares for Shouji, he cannot stand to see himself reflected in the boy and laid bare in front of the society he lives in.
The manga does a great job of showing this tug and pull of Hanao's feelings and the result of his eventual admission is both satisfying and a relief. After everything that Ryuuji and Hanao have been through, they definitely deserve their HEA.
If you liked the first volume, then you should definitely read this one too. Even though we don't see Hama in this one, past and present Shouji make up for it in how he helps Hanao (and his dad) in becoming more honest with himself.
Vol 1 rating: 4Vol 2 rating: 3
I thought that vol 2 was a little bit less enjoyable than vol 1 (hence the 1 star drop in rating from the previous volume). To me, Fynn was too whiny and demanding in this volume. The plot revolved around his desire to learn Niko's secret(s), but he was too pushy to my taste. I felt bad for Niko who had to give in to avoid Fynn's tantrums and keep him from storming out mid-conversation. I like Fynn despite all of this, but I definitely sympathise more with Niko.
The star/astronomy theme was much less prevalent in this volume, which is a pity considering it was so important in volume 1. I would have liked to see the boys spending more time up on their hill top, admiring the heavens like in vol 1.
Regardless of this criticism, I still enjoyed this volume, and the art was just as gorgeous in this book as it was in the last. It's too bad there are only two volumes in this series. I think it would make for an interesting long-term story. Regardless, this was definitely cute and heartwarming. I'm happy I discovered it!
Art: 4Plot: 3½
Characters: 3½Total rating: 4
This manga was so pretty to look at, wow. The soft watercolours on the art pages are so beautiful, and the style lends itself really well to the overall theme of the story. Anna Backhausen is a very talented artist. Plus, thanks to the excellent character design, the two leads were unique and stood out from one another, which made them memorable and endearing.
In all honesty, I'm a sucker for anything that has to do with stars/astronomy/space, so when I saw this title I knew I absolutely had to give it a go. I'm happy to say I wasn't disappointed, and I was happy to see that the space-theme was central to the plot (as opposed to being just a quirk of one of the characters).
The story revolves around Fynn, an unmotivated, chain-smoking, lazy student who was recently dumped by his girlfriend, Zoe, and Niko, a newbie in school who has a passion for astronomy and who is surprisingly friendly and popular in school despite his appearance. The two randomly meet one night on a hill top and become friends despite their obvious differences. Eventually, Fynn makes a move, but Niko's turbulent past keeps him from giving in and sabotages his hopes of having a relationship with Fynn. Both are damaged in their own way, but together they make one another better. Fynn gives up his smokes and starts to attend his classes again, and Niko learns to trust someone with his heart even though it's a scary process.
Niko's past remains obscure throughout the manga, which I assume will be the focus of volume 2 instead. However, this doesn't keep him from his HEA with Fynn, and all of this is cemented through their shared love of the night sky (and the Perseid in particular).
I look forward to reading the next volume and seeing where their relationship goes. Even though the pacing was off in some places, the plot was interesting enough to keep me hooked and wanting more of Fynn and Niko.
Art: 4Plot: 2½Characters: 3Total rating: 3One-shots are always hard to write and can be very hit or miss, in my opinion. Trying to squeeze an engaging plot, interesting character development, and make the story memorable into 200-odd pages is a feat in itself, and I understand why it might be difficult for manga artists in particular. Still, I expected a bit more “oomph” from a TokyoPop title, and instead I got a “meh, it's okay” feeling out of it. The story isn't particularly engaging, and the characters don't have much depth to them, but I guess that's because of the format of a one-shot instead of a series. For those wondering, this is a very light BL (this is not a yaoi manga, contrary to what the tags on this site say) that focuses more on Christian's obsession infatuation with Daniel, and his need to defy his dad all the time. The story starts with Chris as a child and his meeting with a teenage Dan, and follows their growth as friends, then servant and master, and finally as lovers (by then, Chris is 18 and Dan is 26). Personally, I liked Dan just a little bit more because he was the mature and level-headed one whereas Chris was often petty and childish.The art is definitely pretty. I don't know how to describe it exactly, but Dan and Chris' “empty” pale eyes were especially interesting in terms of the art. Weirdly enough, this style reminded me of Yuu Watase, particularly in [b:Ayashi no Ceres 01 6881912 Ayashi no Ceres 01 Yuu Watase https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327880486l/6881912.SY75.jpg 1034786] (maybe it's because of the stringy, spaghetti hair?).All in all, it wasn't a bad manga by any means; it just didn't grab my attention all that much.
Rating: 3½
Tanya Huff's 1990 fantasy novel is a fairly quick read with an interesting cast of characters and a soft magic system.
The Worldbuilding
Perhaps this is a kindle problem, but I would have liked to have a map of the world to visually situate the different countries. Also, many of the elements about this world were glossed over or mentioned briefly which, to me, showed that the world wasn't fully fleshed out. However, the details that were present were interesting and piqued my curiosity about this world.
The same comment can be applied to the magic system in the novel. The Wizards of the Nine are definitely an interesting group of people, but very little is said about who they are, how they got their powers, how they trained, etc. We know from the descriptions that there are different classes of wizards, from 1 to 9, but we only ever get to hear about 4, 7, and 9. I would have liked to learn about the other classes as well, and I think it would have made for a much more convincing world.
The Characters
The main trio was pretty interesting, especially Darvish, but I did have issues with all three, such as the emphasis placed on each's weak point. Aaron's constant “walling up,” Darvish's fight with alcohol, and Chandra's insufferable repetition of “I'm a Wizard of the Nine” rhetoric took its toll on me as the story progressed. I feel that a lot of time was spent repeating the same information, such as Aaron's trauma regarding his cousin, and it took forever for the three of them to actually talk to one another (around the 80% mark... that's way too long). Still, I enjoyed reading about their budding relationships to one another.
As for the other characters, Shahin seemed to have the most potential to shine as a cool character, but he had very little “screen time” and little was said about him. His wife, Yasimina, is only ever mentioned by other characters and never appears in the story. I found that rather disappointing and unfortunate as she seemed to be an interesting woman.
The Plot
The story progressed nicely, although there seemed to be a disconnect between the very beginning of the story and the turning point when the stone is stolen. The end felt rushed and anti-climatic, especially the “fight” with the evil wizard. Up until that point, Aaron's skills had been central to the success of their mission, but then they go and just walk into the fight unprepared and out in the open, and somehow survive.
The final enemy, Palaton, was rather weak compared to the other evils the heroes had faced on their journey, which was disappointing as he was supposed to be the archnemesis of the whole kingdom. In any case, despite the lacklustre finale, the story was pretty consistent and interesting throughout the novel.
Final Thoughts
Even though there were problems here and there, I still very much enjoyed the story and read the whole thing in the span of a few hours. The adventure was fun to follow, the world and magic system were interesting, and the characters were endearing in their own quirky ways. When I saw that this was an m/m fantasy, I was excited to read it and see where it would go and, for the time it was written in, I'm guessing it was pretty gutsy. Still, it would have been nice to have an official relationship by the end of the novel, but alas. It's still a HEA ending, but it feels a bit like a cop out for Aaron at the end.
Overall, this was a fun read, and I'm happy I found this book. I'm not sure I'll be rereading it, but I'm glad I did at least once.
This series is so cute and funny! I'm glad it was turned into a LA otherwise I may have never discovered it. Aoki is an interesting character (in more ways than one), but I love Hashimoto best. She's so kind and supportive, and Aida is too (in his own cooky way). Ida is stoic (and dense), which makes him the perfect opposite of Aoki. The four friends make a great team for sure. I'm looking forward to volume 3!
One does not simply review or rate The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. Yet, it earns its 5 stars without as much as a second thought.Seriously, how does one tackle this monumental tour de force? I could enumerate all the goods things about it, but that would be pointless (because it's all good), so instead, I'm going to focus on the negative things that other reviewers have pointed out and try to convey why, in fact, these elements are necessary.1. The pacing (especially in the first 100 pages)Many reviewers have pointed out the incredibly slow start of the book, up until Frodo actually leaves the Shire and starts on his adventure. The general complaints I've seen are that it is 1)too long, 2)nothing happens, and 3)it's painful to get through. Unlike his uncle Bilbo, who is quick to run out of his front door and start on his adventure in [b:The Hobbit, or There and Back Again 5907 The Hobbit, or There and Back Again J.R.R. Tolkien https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546071216l/5907.SY75.jpg 1540236], it is true that Frodo is incredibly slow to leave his hobbit hole and has to think about leaving for a very long time before he actually moves (as in, it takes him years to leave). Honestly, who can blame him? If you were given two options, one of which would be to stay in your perfect little idyllic village, away from harm, or to throw yourself into the unknown and towards certain death, which would you pick?Jokes aside, the purpose of this slow intro is to drive home the fact that once Frodo leaves Bag End, he will never be able to return to it in the same capacity. War is very near at hand, and even the peaceful little village will be damaged by it sooner or later. What is more, Frodo himself will come back a changed man (or Hobbit), and his childhood home will no longer have the same significance to him as it does in the beginning of the story. Frodo's journey is so transformative, dangerous, and unpredictable, that the first slow, uneventful 100 pages reinforces the pain of losing one's country to an unstoppable war. For the rest of the novel, across all three parts, Frodo and his Hobbit friends will refer to Hobbiton as a place of return and as an anchor in dark times. Tolkien masterfully makes us as readers yearn for the Shire just as much as Frodo and his friends do because of those first pages. Even though it seems uneventful and boring, the time spent in the Shire is immensely important for the rest of the narrative as it allows for feelings of melancholy and hope to bloom in readers as they follow Frodo on his heart-wrenching journey. 2. FrodoMany have complained about Frodo as a character, calling him boring, flat, unremarkable, etc. For a hero, it is true that Frodo doesn't seem to have the appropriate qualities that would make him the focus of the story. However, it is because of his initial unexceptional character that he becomes an interesting choice for the mission. The choice to have Frodo as the ring-bearer comes in two folds: 1) because he is seemingly ordinary and mundane, the Enemy is less likely to notice him and come after him, and 2) the One Ring chose him as its partner. Everyone knows that the Ring has a will of its own and that, once it has decided to follow (or to abandon) someone, there is nothing that anyone can do about it.To counterbalance Frodo's ordinary quality, the Fellowship is sent to accompany him on his mission. Here, the clever composition of characters who make up Frodo's companions gives all the colour and excitement needed for a high fantasy story: Aragorn, the would-be-king, Boromir, the proud warrior, Legolas, the keen-sighted Elf prince, Gimli, the brave and fiercely loyal Dwarf, Merry and Pippin, the comedic best friends, and Sam, the unsung hero of this whole tale. Of course, one cannot forget Gandalf, the fatherly wizard who has known Frodo all his life and who is loved and respected by all. These friends support Frodo in all that he does and serve to help him grow into his own as the story progresses.Initially, Frodo relies heavily on his companions, especially Gandalf and Aragorn; however, as we near the end of The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo clearly takes charge of his mission on his own and decides for himself on his next course of action. Even though he is very much attached to Aragorn, and would follow him anywhere, he is able to put aside his (very much justified) fear of the unknown and to depart for Mordor all on his own. If it hadn't been for Sam's insistence, Frodo would have left alone to tackle Mount Doom (whether he would have survived or not is another question, but he would have bravely persevered until the last). To call Frodo useless, boring, or pathetic is an insult to one of the bravest people in Middle-earth. Frodo is the one who takes on the Ring, willingly, he is the one who volunteers to carry it into Mordor, he decides to leave on his own to protect his friends and keep them from certain doom, and he is, ultimately, the one who must carry the burden of the Ring and the weight of the fate of the world on his shoulders. When Frodo returns from his adventure, he is psychologically scarred for life (undoubtedly a reflection of what happened to the WWI soldiers of Tolkien's life) and yes, he is gloomy and melancholic, but his task is immeasurably difficult compared to what the other characters must do. As much as the Elves, Dwarves, and Men are brave and loyal to one another, none are as determined to see the Ring destroyed as Frodo is, and other, lesser determined characters would have sooner fallen to the Ring's influence than to destroy it (not looking at you Boromir (jk)). 3. AragornFor some reason, many reviewers think that Aragorn is arrogant, haughty, and self-centered. Perhaps this idea is because of his (infrequent) mentions of his lineage and his duty as future king, but in reality, Aragorn is anything but kind, supportive, and loyal to his friends, especially Frodo. Aragorn is a hero in every sense of the word: he fights bravely, stands by his friends when in need, and takes on any foe who dares come his way. When Gandalf wishes to lead the Company through Moria, Aragorn opposes it until it is the last option in fear of what it might do to his oldest friend. Right in his premonition, Aragorn suffers the loss of his friend, but has no time to mourn as he becomes the de facto leader of the Company and must lead Frodo and the others across dangerous lands. Whenever they stop to rest, Aragorn is always by Frodo's side, tending to his wounds or keeping an eye on him and protecting him. Aragorn has issues of his own to worry about, such as his kingship, but he selflessly puts the Company above himself and gives his utmost to the protection of the ring-bearer. Aragorn is known and loved by many across Middle-earth. His name hangs on the lips of those in the highest of seats, like Galadriel, Celeborn, and Elrond, and all who know him love and trust him. Aragorn is always true to his word, and once sworn, his oaths are unbreakable.Surely, Aragorn can be forgiven for his small moments of grandeur, such as beneath the Argonath and on the land of his forefathers. The Númenóreans are an almost extinct race, with Aragorn being one of the last few standing. Naturally, his anxiousness to regain his power is understandable, and yet, he devotes himself wholly to Frodo's cause and this, from the very beginning, long before the Fellowship is even formed. Readers will remember that it is Aragorn who saves Frodo and guides the Hobbits very early on, when they first meet at the Prancing Pony in Bree.Apart for Gandalf and Sam, Aragorn is Frodo's closest and most faithful ally in the fight against Sauron. Despite his own destiny, Aragorn willingly chooses to trek halfway across Middle-earth to help Frodo as much as he can. In this respect, Aragorn is far from being selfish or conceited; on the contrary, he is selfless and kingly in everything that he does. It is no wonder that Aragorn will go on to become a beloved, peaceful king who values his friendships above all else.I could ostensibly continue to write about The Fellowship of the Ring, but I believe that it is difficult to convey just how much this story is important both as a masterpiece of literature and as a piece of collective memory and consciousness. This review is to be continued in The Two Towers...
3 ½
Summary
Hester Prynne, the wife of a man long-presumed dead, is found guilty of adultery and sentenced to wear a scarlet badge featuring the letter A on the front of her dress. Upon exiting the jail in which she spent the last few months of her life, pregnant, Hester is made to stand on a platform in the town square with her newborn daughter in her arms, and is heckled by the villagers for a day and a night. They try to convince her to name the father of the child so that he may suffer his penalty alongside her, but Hester refuses and keeps the knowledge to herself.
Set only a few years prior to the Salem Witch Trials, Hester's story is peppered with mentions of witches, witchcraft, and Satan. Her husband, who mysteriously finds his way back to the settlement where Hester lives, takes on a new name, Roger Chillingworth, and makes it his life's mission to unmask Hester's lover.
Chillingworth, a physician by trade, befriends the town's pastor, a young man named Arthur Dimmesdale, and tries to ‘heal' him from his affliction—a heart problem and overall unhealthiness. Chillingworth has a sixth sense when it comes to the pastor and gradually uncovers the secret that Hester guards so fiercely.
I have laughed, in bitterness and agony of heart, at the contrast between what I seem and what I am!
Review
The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlet Letter
Hester and Pearl on the scaffold.
4.5 stars
In 1692, nineteen people were executed for witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts.
The events described in Miller's play are true and historically documented. Yes, Miller took some artistic liberties with some of the people (such as ageing Abigail and having her be in an affair with Proctor), but the core of the play reflects the very real and horrible events of the witch trials.
The play takes place in a small farming community outside of Salem and centres around a group of young girls who accuse their neighbours of witchcraft and of cavorting with the devil. By the end of act I, we clearly see how the accusations and subsequent trials are pure conjecture and nonsense, which women being accused of “sending their spirits” forth to harm others, women killing babies through “supernatural means,” and plain, old-fashioned hearsay and rumours born out of superstitions and ignorance. In this town, the fear of God is ingrained into everything, and people are found guilty based on their level of belief or how many times they go to church. Here, the law is not separate from the Church, which creates a conflict in how people are judged for their alleged crimes. This theocratic society caused pain, torture, and death to its inhabitants because of a mass hysteria brought on by a group of scared and misguided children.
Because of the nature of this play, one should not expect a happy resolution to the problems and, indeed, the conclusion to the play is as bleak and heart wrenching as what you can imagine. To me, Giles Corey's death was the most poignant. Giles had never done anything other than try to protect his land from those who would have him murdered for it; and yet, he was still killed during questioning because he refused to admit to something he didn't do. Giles' line of "more stones" as a response to his torture was, in my opinion, the saddest part of the whole play.
Miller's retelling of this horrific event is masterful in both its execution and the affects it creates. Miller wrote this play during a time of unrest in the United states, and it was originally meant to draw parallels between the witch trials of old and McCarthyism. This shows that “witch hunts” are still very much present in our society, only that they take on different forms each time they appear.
Melville presents complex ideas about society, the work force, and humanity in a short and simple format. The narrator's wavering feelings between affection and exasperation towards his listless employee, Bartleby, makes the narrative all the more compelling as it makes the reader question himself on the right course of actions to deal with a person like Bartleby.
Does one throw him out on the streets based on the fact that he refuses to work, knowing that he has no family, friends, or a home to return to; or does one keep him regardless of his inefficiency, for charitable reasons? The narrator's inaction is ultimately Bartleby's downfall, but can the narrator be blamed for his employee's death? By moving his offices to another location, the narrator effectively condemns Bartleby to the cruelty of society, but the narrator cannot be blamed for trying to restore order to his office and rid himself of a "millstone... a useless necklace" (40).
This novella is an excellent social commentary on what it means to be human, to have compassion and sympathy, as well as the application of the law. Bartleby stands as a symbol of the workforce and how it can be soul-sucking and destructive. Furthermore, the novella touches on the topic of mental illnesses and depression, albeit indirectly, through Bartleby's continued refusal to work and his overall demeanor, such as standing for hours on end in front of a window that faces a brick wall.
Credit to Bill Bragg, foliosociety.com (2012)
I am of the opinion that Bartleby must be pitied and looked after, and that the narrator did all he possibly could to help him. The narrator's generosity, gentleness, and caring attitude are credits to his nature as a compassionate man. Melville's commentary tells us that we need to be more attentive the the woes of those around us, lest they stand “like the last column[s] of some ruined temple” (41).
Art: 5* (It's CLAMP, come on)Story: 3Pacing: 3Overall: 3 1/2*So CLAMP wrote another shonen-ai... Somebody hold me please.Why is this series called Legal Drug? No idea. Aside for the fact that the characters work at a pharmacy, there doesn't seem to be a specific link to drugs/medicine just from these first volumes. Knowing CLAMP, however, it'll probably be all explained in a much later volume (that doesn't exist yet because this series has been on a hiatus for way too long).Kazahaya (right) & Rikuo (left), the main ship.The story follows four guys who each have a special ability that normal people don't have. Kazahaya can see residual energy and memories when he touches something or someone; Rikuo can break/destroy small objects with his energy(?) and is also a bodyguard/protector for Kazahaya; Kakei has the gift of precognition and can see into the near future; and Saiga's abilities are kept in the dark, but it's said that he's an excellent investigator. Kazahaya and Rikuo both have a unclear background and are searching for “their most important person;” Kei for Kazahaya (his sister), and Tsukiko for Rikuo (we don't know their exact relationship at this point in the story).Girlriends? Sisters? Who knows.The boys work for Kakei at his pharmacy, but their main job is to go on various missions to find supernatural things/solve problems for mystery clients (think Yuko & Watanuki sort of dynamic).The similarities between this story and CLAMP's other works is quite obvious. Kazahaya and Rikuo are basically foils of Watanuki and Doumeki in [b:xxxHolic, Vol. 1 228063 xxxHolic, Vol. 1 (xxxHOLiC, #1) CLAMP https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388216406l/228063.SY75.jpg 236439], and even have some similarities with Fai and Kurogane in [b:Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE, Vol. 1 13570 Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE, Vol. 1 CLAMP https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386920662l/13570.SY75.jpg 15710]. Kakei, the mysterious pharmacy owner, is very similar to Yuko in xxxHolic. Saiga is the only one I couldn't find a definite look-alike for him, but then again Hisui and Kokuyo from [b:Wish, Vol. 01 936906 Wish, Vol. 01 (Wish, #1) CLAMP https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1406221143l/936906.SX50.jpg 921887] are pretty similar to him and Kakei... Regardless of the similarities, I think that this series is really enjoyable for CLAMP super fans.As with any CLAMP work, the story is pretty confusing when you first start reading it (but in my opinion, this is part of CLAMP's charm). Like with xxxHolic and TRC, you get thrown into a strange world without much foregrounding. The magic of CLAMP though is the crossover between series and the interconnectedness of the plots. I think that this series could be really amazing if ever CLAMP decides to continue working on it (vol 3 of [b:Drug & Drop, Volume 1 17261718 Drug & Drop, Volume 1 CLAMP https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1381292560l/17261718.SX50.jpg 23858335] anyone?)Major Yuko vibes where Kakei is concerned, but also, this scene is realy promising for the future of the series! Kakei opened his shop specifically for Kazahaya, before he even met him. I want to know what Kazahaya's true purpose is in this CLAMP universe.Overall, it's CLAMP; what's there not to love? Sure, it's a bit confusing, but it gets better as the chapters progress. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series (whenever it gets written and published).
Art: 4Story: 3 1/2
Pace: 3*
I'm not the biggest fan of slice of life stories, but I make exceptions for anything BL related. I was drawn into this story by the beautiful art and, even though the pacing is incredibly slow (I'm not sure anything actually happened in vol 1), I'd like to stick with the series and see where it goes. I love slow burns, but this is just slow without the burn ^^; Still, the story so far is enjoyable. I like Yamato and Seki the most. Yuiji is a bit (a lot) of a jerk for the first half of the volume, so it's a bit hard to like him (or ship him with Yamato, even though that's clearly where the story wants to take us).
I'm worried that it took the author 3 years to write vol 2 after the publication of the first one. I hope that it doesn't take another 3 years for the vol 3, or worse, that the series is never finished. If you decide to try out this series, go in knowing that it might be a long wait until it's completed.