I purchased so much (again), and the cashier offered my choice of tote bags.
“Could I have the violent one?”
Yes. The answer was a very cheerful yes.
Books: Another Trip to Silver Sprocket
Life / Reading Notes of the moment
- The comics I await most eagerly are:
- I Tamed My Ex-Husband’s Mad Dog (previous review) – I want the heroine to overcome her self-loathing and self-harm and choose to live well, not just to survive and
- The Broken Ring: This Marriage Will Fail Anyway (previous review) – the heroine is finally living a pleasant life, her handsome husband is on her side, and lives are at stake to figure out who is trying to ruin it all (and who may have ruined her past lives so brutally).
- While weekly serialization feels brutal on the artists’ side for being too fast for them to produce the work, this pace remains slow for readers. It is jarring to open a chapter in a middle of a conversation when I can’t remember who was even involved… I’m definitely going to have to re-read many of these to write about them once they are complete. Or delay reading them until I can do so in larger sets of chapters.
- Most of my comics are about women, and that’s because I’m picking those out of the adventure, drama, and romance sections because action heroines are fun (I’ve had decades of male-centered stories!) and prefer their art.
- There is more gender balance in the women-led stories – so many male characters all around in various roles (not just as romantic leads, but also as allies, fans, supported, fathers, villains…) where the reverse isn’t always true for the man-led ones.
- There are more elaborate artsy details in most of the stories I choose. I skim lots of types of comics, and reject many of the heroine stories if the art doesn’t call me (or if they are beautifully drawn but ramble about strategic agriculture!), but I have this problem more frequently with the action hero stories. Those are generally illustrated much more simply, and I’m less interested in those art styles.
- The ‘boys love’ comics I’ve chosen combine drama and adventure successfully with romance elements. (Love IS love!) As I was telling a friend about them, everyone is remarkably good-looking, plus, there is sex, drama, and adventure – what’s not to love?
Reading current Korean comics has become a proper hobby. And I get excited when I see other people reading comics from the same publisher on the train, but am hold myself back from asking for their recommendations… for now.
Book (Manhwa): Winter Wolf by soonmu, cheong yong, rubyche
Winter Wolf
by soonmu, cheong yong, rubyche
published by Tappytoon (2 seasons; 61 chapters, complete)
Undated
I’ve read the first season (through chapter 36) of this spooky mansion romance. Because, as a former redhead, I feel obligated to read manhwa about other redheads. (You know, for the cartoon sisterhood.)
The revolution arrived, and Lysithea is on the losing side. Her family members and others in the nobility have been executed or will be once they are found. She is paying smugglers to get her out of the country by sea, so she can live abroad with a foreign aunt. But while she is exhausted from being in hiding and on the run, her horse takes off, and she finds herself traveling on foot through the snow to an abandoned mansion, where her next ‘broker’ (smugglers are fussy about their professional nicknames) awaits her.
Her broker is expecting her, but her next step required the horse she just lost, plus getting to port before the ice does. Also, the abandoned mansion they are sheltering in has a reputation for being haunted. Her broker insists that the moaning and cries for help she hears at night are just her imagination. As her lack of sleep wears down her sanity, she fears she may need an escape from her own escape plans…
This story has classic horror movie tropes delivered well, and a heroine who is both brave enough to investigate things that go bump in the night and exhausted enough to periodically choose to just stay in bed and pretend not to hear the moaning – I respect her deeply for BOTH of these attitudes. There are very few characters in the story, and they are all suspicious! There is plenty of suspense at the end of the first season. (The fact that there are two seasons is something of a spoiler, I suppose. But: you’ll live.)
Season 1 of Winter Wolf is enjoyable.
Coffee: Potent Slovene-Turkish Coffee
Goodness, this stuff is powerful. And I made myself a double!?!
Turkish coffee is a special beverage: finely ground coffee, boiled repeatedly, and served as a thick brew that settles out, so it needs a moment before you sip it. As a known coffee appreciator, my team member S. brought me back a package of the popular brand of Turkish coffee she enjoys in Slovenia. (She also has sold me on visiting her highly regarded country, and also on visiting the city of Trieste in Italy, just on the border.)
Thanks to the magic of Google translate’s photo translation option (so good!), I know that I can boil 7g of powder (my usual French press’ scoop size) for each 100ml of water. S recommends boiling it repeatedly, to let it get thick and frothy. There are disputes online about whether or not stirring is necessary, but I choose to stir a little and swirl a lot in a tiny pot on the stovetop.
It is delicious! It is strong! It is mildly terrifying unsweetened! It should be measured during preparation and consumed in smaller cups than I usually use, to ensure a general sense of moderation. It is not desirable nor pleasant to drink/eat the sediment at the bottom of the cup, so don’t knock back the last bit as you would with espresso (you will not find undiluted sugar, it is quite the opposite sort of surprise).
This Turkish (Slovene-Turkish?) coffee is satisfying to an espresso-fan like myself, though my mouth sounds the alarm when I begin sipping that it might be dangerously strong. If you hang out with me and are a fan of potent caffeine, ask me to prepare some for you when you come over.
(Yes, it does appear that coffee is “kave” in Slovene.)
Life: Facial Graffiti
All the kids are making their eyebrows bolder now. (I want to blame the fabulous eyebrows on Korean drama actors, because those are some very attractive brows, but I doubt it is all their fault.) The women at work have them drawn in geometrically idealized eyebrow shapes with strong verticals and sharp edges, which they create with multiple tools, attention, and skill each morning.
My eyebrows, on the other hand, which have never matched my natural haircolor at any point, are fading from a neutral brown to white. They are mostly curves and awkward (startled or skeptical) angles. I’m not good at ‘multiple tools’ and ‘skill’ in the mornings. So, when I was getting my brows threaded into tidiness, I signed up to have them tinted. Tinting faded brows is the lazy way to roll out of bed and rush off to work without having a graphically important pair of features missing.
Tinting is a delicate professional thing: every box of hair dye you’ve ever seen tells you not to try it with hair products, because they will maim you. Sure enough, the eyebrow places use henna, which stains hair effectively with non-blinding, largely plant-based ingredients. My handler chose light brown, and got to work.
As she was finishing up and fresh, faintly-lemony scents evaporated from my forehead, she told me that the first day of henna is not the way it will really look: it just needs some time to finish setting. I have used henna for hair in the past, and know what she meant. So I wasn’t entirely surprised by the results.
But I was a little surprised.
Surprised in a way that could be seen from a distance.
It looks like my eyebrows have been drawn in with a Sharpie (TM).
I had other plans after my brow appointment, but cancelled them once I realized how bold my brows now (temporarily) are. My mother called, and I described this to my mother in my typical way. She couldn’t. stop. laughing.
Having delighted my mother means that I’ve achieved something worthwhile today.
Book (Manga): Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden by Yuu Watase
Fushigi Yûgi: Genbu Kaiden
by Yuu Watase
published in English by Viz (40 chapters, complete)
2003 – 2013
Teenager Takiko Okuda’s mother is dying of TB, her father only cares about his career, and her love for an older man is unrequited. Both luckily and unluckily for her, her father’s research led him to translate and transcribe a prophesy that can take Takiko into another time and place, the Universe of the Four Gods, where she has the power to save a country and its people.
In the ancient country of Bei Ja, Takiko manifests as the Priestess of Genbu, whose duty is to find and assemble the Celestial Warriors and summon the god Genbu to save the country. This isn’t an easy task: the arrival of either the priestess or the warriors is a sign of disaster to locals. As a result, they are dreaded, shunned – and worse. But our heroine is determined to save this harsh world at any cost, and works hard to persuade the reluctant warriors to assemble and save the country.
With supportive allies who have faith in her, kind strangers, a dragon, and her first and favorite warrior to love at her side, Takiko will give everything to be useful to her comrades in arms and to save her troubled, adopted homeworld.
Author and Artist Yuu Watase’s monochrome art style (known to me from the comedy Absolute Boyfriend) is enjoyable (the hair on these characters!), and her work on the regional costumes as the characters travel show a zeal that grounds the mythical (western China-like) continent in its vastness, with its differing cultures and customs. I appreciate great, lovingly-drawn costumes!
The story is serious; the characters are troubled by past traumas and ongoing family dramas; the nation seems doomed; and the stakes are high for all involved. Young people risking – and giving up – their lives for others is touching, and (if the grown-ups were running the world properly) should not be necessary – there are some serious adult mismanagement of the world going on here. The message that how you chose to live matters, and that a life of service can be profoundly meaningful comes through well in this story.
This story took Watase a decade to complete, as the artist (X-gender with she/her pronouns) had many other publishing commitments as a prolific manga artist. I enjoy her notes in between volumes (reproduced in the Viz English editions) about the toll long hours take on her health, and the interruptions to her progress. The story feels continuous and uninterrupted in all the best ways – it is quite an accomplishment!
I enjoyed this as a standalone story, knowing it is a prequel to an even longer work by Watase that was published in the 1990s, Fushigi Yûgi. There is a sequel to FY:GK coming in the future, once Watase recovers from the toll of all of this drawing called Fushigi Yûgi: Byakko Senki. I will wait patiently for it to be complete!
Film: The Creator
The Creator
published by 20th Century Fox
2023
This science fiction film is stunningly beautiful.
The story takes place in a future where robots, synthetic people, and artificial intelligence HAD become part of modern life, until a disaster attributed to artificial intelligence occurred in the U.S. As the U.S. turned against its technology, Asia continued to use it, and this leads to overwhelming U.S. military aggression in pro-technology Asia.
The story centers on the experiences of Joshua, an American soldier who infiltrated a pro-AI group in southeast Asia. While on assignment, he falls in love with Maya, a medical scientist who had helped him with this prosthetics, then loses her due to U.S. military action. As he mourns her, he is called back into action after someone who resembles her is recorded, giving him hope and his own personal mission as he attempts to locate a new AI super weapon.
This film was directed by the Rogue One director, and all the things I loved about the use of locations and landscapes in that film is vastly expanded in scenes that vary from science fiction military bases to tropical beaches and riverside refugee towns. The vastness of U.S. military equipment, the culture of them-versus-us, the determination of Colonel Howell who wishes to get the mission done and avenge her sons… The pace is fast. Flashbacks are used effectively to explain Joshua’s motivations. The focus on the super weapon and Joshua’s private mission keep the action focused. It is intense, high-stakes, persuasively acted, and the world and its technologies are compellingly designed.
It is gorgeous. I purchased it as soon as it was available, and have enjoyed watching this film several times. (I also blame it for putting Dream On by Aerosmith onto my playlist.). I highly recommend The Creator for sci-fi fans.
Book (Manhwa): The King and Me by W.Y.
The King and Me
by W.Y.
published by Tappytoon (74 chapters so far, ongoing)
2022 (?) – present
My subscription page notes that I’m trending into gay male fantasy/adventure stories (known in the industry as “Boys’ Love”), and it’s time for me to write about one!
Li visits an archeology site at Ebiz, and winds up bleeding in an ancient ruin, being set upon by grave robbers, and then rescued by a statue that his blood brought to life. His handsome stone rescuer seems to know and want to communicate with Li, whose interest grows until the man crumbles to dust before him. Somehow, Li finds himself back in time in the ancient (Egyptian-style) city of Ebiz at its peak, where he suspects that the stone man is the handsome but also casually murderous King Mehemis.
If Li can survive the tyrant king’s challenges and earn his trust, perhaps he can get to know why his stone man seemed so sweet toward him in the distant future. Mehemis, meanwhile, has political fights to win, a power-hungry religion to suppress, dangerous rival relatives, and a mysterious army of the dead to defeat, so there is plenty to do!
You’re waiting for me to write that ‘they had me at beautiful men with eyeliner,’ but that merely drew me in: this is a fun adventure story! Li has skills (archery competitions paid off!) and modern scientific concepts; Mehemis has abs forever and yet somehow is convinced that he is disguised while wearing a wig; and Mehemis’ most loyal male servants are an attractive gay couple that offer loyalty, friendship, emotional support, a model of a happy relationship, and even fantastic tactical competence when our boys need it. (Women are visible in the story, but are not central characters.) The drawing style is charming (Li’s sweet facial expressions while looking up at Mehemis are ADORABLE), the costumes are flattering, the hair is long and flowing, the eyeliner colors are specific to the characters, and there are plenty of humorous chibi comedy asides to address awkward moments in the Li-Mehemis romantic tension.
I adore this comic, and look forward to more!
Life: Quiet Reading and Rest
Growing Moth Family
Weblog by A. Elizabeth Graves. iPhone photography and links to science-y and foodie topics.
Slow, deep breath… Ahhh. I am making an effort to have a quiet, peaceful, restful, and restorative weekend, and am partly succeeding. However, internalized pressure to ‘be productive’ and the heaviness of being overworked in my career leave me feeling a bit hollowed out.
I’m being kind to myself: I’ve enjoyed a wonderful bubble bath, slept several consecutive hours, devoted most of a day to reading, ordered in delicious vegan & gluten-free ramen from a local restaurant, played with metallic watercolors, lounged without goals… Yet, I still feel like I’ve taken a beating. Two day weekends just aren’t quite enough.
Reading US News: I’m adjusting to the new political landscape, now that the competition for the White House had a significant upgrade. This has been the topic of excited conversation initiated by colleagues in the nearest kitchen, and we are all feeling a bit better about the future as a result, which is a pleasant change. It makes opening my news apps (The Guardian (UK) and the Washington Post (US)) easier to do without a experiencing a sense of dread.
Reading Books: My pile of non-fiction books is still centered on heavy topics, so the comics I’m reading soften these themes for me through the magic of escapism.
Reading Manga and Manhwa: To be methodical in reviewing graphic novels, I made a spreadsheet of everything I am or was reading. (Yes, this was inevitable, if you know me). I have 73 digital comic series on my apps and subscriptions. Of those that I’m enjoying and want to continue reading, 29 haven’t yet made it into this blog, excluding those that are written about & scheduled but not yet posted. (I’m a posting machine!)
Manhwa subgenre: the contract marriage: Both all-age and mature comics from Korea often have awkwardness around the plot device of contract-based marriages. I’ve given up on several of these – what started as an adventure instead is actually drama over whether or not to kiss someone you’ve been married to for a year, which is neither high stakes nor interesting.
Manhwa Relationship Peculiarities: Ten of the comics I haven’t yet written about are rated “mature,” and range from outright pr0n (an old euphemism), to romances where you see clothing loosened (thrills for the chaste!), to stories in which married couples have their physical relationship (a) implied (they share a room!), (b) illustrated (the floating cartoon word sound effects are hilarious), or (c) discussed (sometimes in a way that results in what sounds like sports injuries, which also amuses me). I’ve learned some things about sexual conventions which are non-standard here.
The more explicit mature stories have strange constraints. For example:
- even the most outrageously sex-oriented heterosexual stories always result in marriage and children, making the ‘how did you two get together’ questions awkward. (My parents forced me into marriage forcing me to impersonate my twin sister… I got married to avoid marrying someone abusive… My family sold me to settle a debt… But that’s all fine, because now we have kids!)
- after several bed scenes, there are often flashbacks to the couple having met as children, so even if the circumstances that brought the couple together in adulthood were strange / violent / inappropriate, it’s somehow all okay, because rather than being strangers / captives / conscripts / servants, they previously bonded meaningfully as toddlers or teens. (!?!?!?).
- in situations where a royal person was abusing a commoner, the commoner is often secretly royalty, which means it wasn’t really an abuse of power. (? What?)
The childhood connection tope makes these relationships even weirder to me – I hope there was no one I befriended as a toddler who feels pressure to fulfill some adult relationship obligation to me now! (‘You babbled at me meaningfully as a toddler, a sure sign that fate is bringing us together, so now we must wed.’ [sound of me calling security])
I’m unsure if I should actually review these, as I may not be going into them with the correct attitude.
Reading about books: It would be too meta for me to summarize this.
Reading Letters and Writing Back: I have terrible tendonitis for unknown reasons (other than ‘I use my arms’), and it hurts to write by hand. This is why I’m not posting any images showing off my recent writing with fountain pens – there isn’t much, and what little there is is scrawl. This prevents me from responding properly to recent handwritten letters I’ve received. I hope to resume writing (and flaunting my shapely personal script and pretty pen collection) soon!
Reading about the current COVID Wave: The new wave is real, and affecting my colleagues, though none have been part of the 400 deaths / week I’ve read about, thankfully. Many colleagues are recovering now, just recovered this week, or are nursing someone who was positive last week. Others tested positive while traveling, complicating their self care (and hard-earned vacations) overseas.
This last topic has me dreading the return of additional vacationing colleagues.
I have plenty of masks in each of my bags and tucked into various jacket pockets (as always), but just had to restock my testing kits…
That next booster cannot. come. soon. enough.
Be well and stay safe out there…
Languages Post Script
I realize I posted that I’ve been studying languages with DuoLingo nearly daily for FIVE YEARS, but didn’t write what I’ve studied during that time. It’s time to expand on this enthusiasm further!
German: my most dedicated area of study, and the reason I picked up Duolingo in the first place. I had studied German for four years in high school, stemming from the fact that my father was stationed in Germany with the army, and became strong conversationally: books in our house in German frustrated me in childhood because I couldn’t read them, so this was an easy choice in school. Infrequent use made it weak, and so my work for an employer in Switzerland required real preparation! Duolingo got me back where I needed to be, only to find myself tripping over the unique dialect of Basel Stadt in Switzerland. (Have I written about that?) German is the language of two pen friends, and so I read and write it this several times each month.
Japanese: the language of fun material culture during high school (hello, anime!) and the culture my architecture teachers attributed my design influences to. My mother recently started taking credit for walking me around Japan Center almost daily while I was a stroller-bound infant, which would explain my feelings of home-y comfort when I go there now! While it is easier to visit Japan without Japanese language skills than it was in 1992, I still enjoy being literate – it makes a difference. I brushed up before both of my trips, and found it very beneficial, even though I often lacked the specific words I needed for niche situations (relating to art supplies). I ramped up my studies during the COVID restrictions for a trip that wasn’t possible but will surely happen soonish. Duolingo’s lessons are both challenging and impressive, and include kanji!
French: I love Paris, and French sounds so cool. I know enough to navigate museum explanatory panels – I impressed a friend at the printed fabric museum in Mulhouse, but being a printmaker who has used etching presses and other technologies, the niche vocabulary didn’t scare me. I sometimes bicker with subtitles for French films, but I’m being too literal, while they are being more poetic. I can only say basic transactional things, which I forget instantly. (My big achievement during a business trip was stating that the entree was not my meal, which was instantly understood.). I worry that I will be very effective at buying paint regardless, especially at Magasin Sennelier and Charvin Arts.
Spanish: after understanding the abuelas who needed my help getting things off high shelves throughout my youth, I figured I should learn things non-grandma-related. Maybe even verbs! It doesn’t stick well, because I’m not watching telenovelas anymore, but has improved my eavesdropping.
Hawaiian: it is super interesting, and has so many vowels! The lessons still feel early in development, relative to the subject content of other languages.
Dutch: this was before a trip to the Netherlands, and it had too many random similarities to German UNTIL IT DIDN’T, and this left me more confused than it would have it I hadn’t thought I knew what was happening. If I’m going to be confused, it needs to be a language with clearer dissimilarities, like Icelandic or Swedish.
Somehow, I’m resisting Korean… so far.
Duolingo remains a satisfying way to practice existing language skills AND to develop new ones!