Recommended Reading 2

Pilu of the Woods

I wanted to read Pilu of the Woods from the second I saw the cover. It’s got a lovely, analog, earthiness to it. And the book as a whole did not disappoint – every inch of it is nothing short of gorgeous. And the story is so touching – especially if you have no idea what it’s about. Willow loves the woods near her house. They’re calm and quiet, so different from her own turbulent emotions, which she keeps locked away. When her emotions get the better of her one day, she decides to run away into the woods. There, … Continue reading

This Was Our Pact

I just received & read this book (in one sitting, of course) on Saturday. And I have not been able to get it out of my mind since. Speaking of my mind, it exploded repeatedly while reading the book – one that I bought on slighty more than a whim. Last week was one of those weeks where one thing kept popping up over & over, which is usually the universe’s way of getting your attention. The book popped up on Instagram, and in discussions with my peers at Kids Comics United (<– a kickass social network for peeps who … Continue reading

Crowded

I dig speculative fiction, ever since my child mind got blown by the 1968 Planet of the Apes – especially the ending. I’m a particular fan of real life being extrapolated into the future – kinda like how we’re living through Idiocracy right now. Remember the old Marvel What If series and DC’s Elseworlds? I ate all that up. Crowded is a story set in the near future where the gig economy and publicly social, app-directed lives have taken over. Imagine a world where any job is a gig AND there’s an app for it. That’s the Crowded universe in … Continue reading

Murder Falcon

I often run into stories that make me think I wish I’d thought of it. Sometimes these are simple twists or changes to tropes that are stunningly obvious; sometimes they’re clever concepts or conceits. A story like Wayward, which is a great example of traditional myth in modern times, one of those the myths are still true stories like Grimm that’s an automatic like for me. Or stories like Pacific Rim (a great kaiju film) or 30 Days of Night (a neat wrinkle on the vampire genre). But every so often I come across something special, something unique, that I … Continue reading

PTSD

After returning home from an unpopular war, Jun becomes an outsider in an indifferent world. Alone, desperate, and suffering from wounds both mental and physical, she seeks relief in the illicit drugs she manages to purchase or steal. Jun’s tough exterior served her well in combat, but she’ll need to nurture her vulnerability and humanity to survive at home. With the support of her fellow vets, the kindness of a stranger who refuses to turn away, and the companionship of a dog named Red, Jun learns to navigate the psychological trauma that she experienced in the war. Singelin’s PTSD is … Continue reading

I was Their American Dream

I was Their American Dream is a great title – like insanely great. I never thought of immigrants’ children in that way until now. But it’s true that we are our parents’ dreams. Every immigrant has their own views of America and what it stood for. Malaka’s parents came to America to either avoid civil unrest (her mom) or because they had romantic ideas about America (her dad). My dad saw America as a place to make his own way, without being thwarted by nepotism and bribes. America is the land of opportunity. And while that opportunity looks different to everyone, there seem to … Continue reading

The Witch Boy

In thirteen-year-old Aster’s family, all the girls are raised to be witches, while boys grow up to be shapeshifters. Anyone who dares cross those lines is exiled. Unfortunately for Aster, he still hasn’t shifted . . . and he’s still fascinated by witchery, no matter how forbidden it might be.When a mysterious danger threatens the other boys, Aster knows he can help — as a witch. It will take the encouragement of a new friend, the non-magical and non-conforming Charlie, to convince Aster to try practicing his skills. And it will require even more courage to save his family . … Continue reading

Scott Pilgrim

Scott Pilgrim has a life that’s totally sweet. He’s 23 years old, in a rock band, “between jobs,” AND dating a cute high school girl. Everything’s fantastic until a seriously mind-blowing, dangerously fashionable, rollerblading delivery girl named Ramona Flowers starts cruising through his dreams and sailing by him at parties. Will Scott’s awesome life get turned upside-down? Will he have to face Ramona’s seven evil ex-boyfriends in battle? Scott Pilgrim is write what you know at its finest. Bryan Lee O’Malley took everything he knew at the time – manga, anime, video games, indie rock band-hood, post-collegiate/career-avoiding limbo, 20-something life, young … Continue reading

Wayward

Rori Lane, a young woman, moves to Tokyo from Ireland where she starts school and tries to establish herself and re-connect with her mother. She is quickly caught up in supernatural events, forming alliances and trying to defend herself and her loved ones from mythical monsters. I don’t know how people read monthly comics. I tend to forget details and end up wondering wtf is going on. That’s why I much prefer reading TPBs & collected editions, so I can binge through a series or story arcs. I’m like Marvin Gaye – I wanna know what’s going on. (Sorry, that … Continue reading

Sakana

SAKANA is a slice-of-life, romantic comedy (a sli-li-rom-com, if you will) that takes place in the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, Japan. If follows the lives of a few 20-somethings working at the market, their friends and family, and all the wacky situations they constantly find themselves in despite their best efforts. Basically they all want to date each other, but they’re all terrible at it, and also there’s lots of seafood involved. I only started reading Sakana last night after having it bookmarked for over a year. (I bet I’m not the only who has a WTR folder that gets … Continue reading