Koko

An anthology of unique, fantasy-taste short manga stories by the author of "Delicious in Dungeon"! You get to enjoy a variety of Kui's imaginative worlds in this one. Of the seven short stories, only one of them have a D&D flavor (= dragons and medieval-Europe-looking people). My favorites may be the heartwarming explorations of how to coexist with mermaids or werewolves in modern-day Japan. It was also fun to see the different art styles including caligraphic drawings. Common to all the stories are (despite the uniqueness of the worlds) adorable ordinary people doing their best to do something difficult (to them). The combo of these often comedic and lovable people in imaginative stories made me smile a lot and awe at the author's creativity. I think this is a really enjoyable anthology to everyone💚

*The original Japanese title was Seven "Children" not "Sons" how dare you :/

If you read all seven volumes (it requires a bit of patience...), the ending is so different from the movie! (Warning that the war violence is more explicit and graphic in the books. The depiction of the unique world is more detailed and beautiful too.) An 80s exploration of survival as humans, nature, and technology in an apocalyptic world. Nausicaä may be almost too idealized, but love her flying with the wind, searching the secret of the world with animals like a squirrel-fox, bird-horses, and sacred insects.

I baaaaawled relating so much to the protagonist's love for his super adorable senior pup. Such a creative way to describe, grieve, and cope with an inevitable stage of life. Given the topic, most of the reading was surprisingly joyful, entertaining, and heartwarming, following the gay single man x doxen duo's adventure. Chapters were short and perfect for reading before going to bed. I loved Lily and this book. I'm sure my intense love of dogs have nothing to do with this review.

Is this a script? Is this one continuous story, or is this a play within a play Or is this a historical account of racism towards people of Chinese and Asian descent in the U.S.? All of the above? This super unique form of the novel, the intriguing story, the deep sarcasm that turns pain into dark humor (maybe remains just as painful depending on how you feel), and Yu's such sharp observation of the world shed light on the racialized experience of Asians Americans in the entertainment industry and beyond. I'm thankful how I was able to see the world as Yu did. This is a great book club book too with so many things to think about and speculate!”

I loooved this intriguing '90s LA story starting on the summer solstice, starring 7 characters that all evade stereotypes of a "minority," crescendoing with mysteries, conflicts, and fantastical events over 7 days. Philosophical, social, and poetic elements sprinkled throughout the book made my mind work and wander. This was such an awesome reading experience.

This could almost be a '90s LA sister to N. K. Jemisin's "The City We Became," a present day NYC story. There are passages that definitely made me feel like LA has a distinct life on its own, with all the people, nature, sounds, and even material things like cars all creating part of that life. The styles are very different though! Somehow it's fascinating to see this cycle of different cities inspiring stories that literally give those cities a "life" within that story.

Does bureaucracy have anything to do with Batman, police, flying cars, Sci-fi, or D&D? Or with human imagination, alienation, and creativity? Graeber amazingly connects all of the above in relation to state power and capitalism. Following this thinking tunnel was so fascinating, and it alarmingly reminded me how easily these oppressive systems can creep in our daily lives and in our mind. This book was such a fun mind sharpener, and a supreme enjoyment if you like thinking!

*Bonus if you read "Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology," where Graeber argues that certain theories on anarchism should be written by anthropologists. Some of those arguments are included in "Utopia of Rules," and it's cool to see how Graeber kept their words to accomplish those works years later!