“An Idea is Nothing if it is Not Shared”

I am not a true perfectionist. If you saw my room and my bookshelves, you would know this right away. But when it comes to my writing, my art, or anything I take very seriously (i.e., anything truly important to me), my usual carefree, spontaneous self completely disappears. Instead, I become fixated on the tiniest of errors, the smallest details in my work that suggest to me how worthless and flawed it really is.

I have always been like this.

As a child, I would agonize over any creative work, editing and redoing until there were holes in my paper or I threw my work away in a rush of passionate hatred for whatever idea I had dared to put down in words.

When I am in a more reasonable state of mind, I regret the multitudes of trashed work that I can’t pull out to laugh over now, as an adult. And yet, I haven’t changed all that much.

Of course, this hasn’t stopped me from writing, painting, drawing, etc. Not really. But for the past several years, my creative output lagged, and even died for a time, due to multiple factors (school and restaurant work). But now, living in a place I love, and working at a job I generally enjoy, with most of my weekends at my own disposal, my creative brain has been waking up and ready to start again.

So what was holding me back?

Earlier this year, I was having a soul-searching session in a small hanok (Korean traditional house) in Seoul over the Lunar New Year’s break. I spent a lot of time riding bikes and thinking over those few days, and I realized that my perfectionism and my fear of failure were holding me back from doing what I love the most: writing and art.

Why did I start drawing, or why did I start a story? It was always because I had some burning need to communicate images or ideas that I found worthwhile. Even if no one saw them but me. But if I never even attempted to share them, were they really worthwhile? This question was gnawing me, and I thought suddenly of a tweet I had read in late 2021. Tablo (Twitter @blobyblo) is the frontman of Epik High, one of my favorite groups. He is also one of the wisest, funniest, and most interesting people online. In the thread I’m referring to, he was addressing exactly what I had been thinking about. You can read the thread below:

If I couldn’t believe in my art, turn my “fancies” into real ideas, how could I expect anyone else to?
Tablo’s words became a challenge to me, and finally, I decided to do something about it.

I am not all that good at communicating. I am terrible at keeping in touch, and I tend to disappear and reappear with my moods and energy levels. At this time in my life, I don’t have it in me to pursue agents, traditional publishing, or take the huge amount of time to self-publish something I can put my name on without regrets. So that left free, internet publishing. Still too many options.

Newsletter? Nah.

Serialize on my blog? Nah.

Pass around to friends and family? Nah.

Finally, I decided to publish the same way fanfiction and random drabble make their way on the internet: Wattpad. Why? Because I wanted to share a story, and turn a fancy into an idea. I admit that my biggest fear is that no one will read it. My second biggest fear is that someone will call me out, tell me may work is actually as terrible as I tend to fear. But that is still better than it never being read. And if even one person read it and enjoyed it or gained something, that would be enough.

When I realized this, I was reminded of a webtoon (internet comic) I read called The Omniscient Reader/전지적 독자 시점. The main character is not particularly good at anything other than reading, and he has faithfully read “Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse,” since the first chapter. Eventually, he became the only reader. When the world is upended and people are suddenly fighting for their lives in “scenarios” that are streamed to viewers (think video game as real life meets The Hunger Games), Dokja (the hero) realizes that the story only he read told the exact way things would unfold. He uses this knowledge to gain literal power as he is the only one who knows what will happen. That story was so important to him and the writer, and I find the metaphor incredibly powerful. To one reader, a story could be everything, and to one writer, one reader can be everything.

If even one person can be entertained, comforted, or empowered, or if any dark power can be dismantled, to paraphrase Tablo, by sharing an idea, isn’t that the real endgame? Isn’t that more important than numbers, popularity, or exposure?

Of course, this conviction isn’t enough to dispel self-doubt. And I don’t really write the sort of thing that could become a lifeline. But writing and telling stories has been a lifeline for me, when I was in the darkest, deepest parts of my head.

So . . . Wattpad.

After all this agonizing, I finally decided on The Last Coffee Shop (frequently referenced on this blog) as a first. It’s completed and generally polished/edited. And no matter how hard I try, I can’t hate it.

So . . . Wattpad. I posted it. Flames didn’t consume my computer, and I didn’t acquire an anti-fan. No one accused me of being the worst writer in the world. I also don’t know if anyone other than my family has been reading it. I don’t know because no one has commented other than my sisters. I am extremely grateful to them and their constant support. But my heart still wants someone to discover it on their own, organically. To read it and connect with an idea that speaks to them. This is still my dream.

I guess I’ll keep posting on Wattpad, because, as I said, the world didn’t end when I put up a chapter online. It’s a challenge to myself, to hone my craft and stick to my own deadlines. To bare my face to anyone who might be looking. To risk revealing myself.

But even if they don’t like what they see, I can be confident that my fancies really are ideas. And ideas were meant to be shared.

<3

Rebekah

P.S. If you read this far and you’re interested, you can find me on Wattpad as WinterFlower

 

 

 

The Quarantine Diaries Part Three

We all know that time is a construct – but never have I felt the truth of that more than in quarantine. Days, times, and time measurement all seem vague and disconnected from reality. And honestly, they haven’t been too important. It’s a strange way of living, and I don’t know if it feels long or short. Like I said, time is a construct. But I’ll pick back up with the 4th of July . . .

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Saturday, July 4th

Happy Birthday America! Thanks to my younger sisters and brother, I was able to enjoy some of the fireworks displays back in the States. I absolutely love fireworks, and the virtual participation wasn’t half bad. However, at my brother’s place in Tennessee, it sounded more like a warzone and I had trouble hearing anything he was saying! Other than calling family, I did nothing remarkable on Saturday and just kept reading Scythe, so more on that later.

Sunday, July 5th

My first Sunday in Korea, so it felt strange to know it was Sunday and not have church in the morning. Of course, due to Covid, my home church hasn’t been meeting in person since March, but I was participating in the morning via livestream and Zoom (for fellowship time) like the rest of the church. However, due to the time zone difference, that meant my church service would start at 11 pm (23:00 KST)! In the meantime, I  worked out and read some more. Livestreaming church late at night, while not ideal, worked fine, though I went to bed right after. It was good to see familiar faces of my pastor, the worship team, and other leadership members, and to know I was worshiping at the same time as all of them, despite being halfway around the world. On a side note, the 5th was also my grandparents’ 68th wedding anniversary – which is absolutely crazy to think about. 

Monday, July 6th
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CR: Simon and Schuster – Purchase here

Monday marked a week since I left the States. However, the main thing I did (in addition to eating and working out), was finish reading Scythe, by Neal Shusterman. Scythe was one of the most unique and interesting stories that I have read in a long time, about a future where “natural death” has been eradicated, and death is now dispensed without bias or malice (in theory) at the hands of specially trained individuals known as Scythes. The world is now ruled by a benevolent AI that sees all but doesn’t pass judgement, and war, poverty, and disease have been defeated with death. If people die, they are brought back within days. In other words, life is safe, peaceful, and a little bit bland. Far from the typical dystopian future, the world of Scythe is one of peace and prosperity, which was unique, and even though there is corruption in the Scythe ranks (naturally, because they are the only beings separate from the law and self-governed), most of the world is generally unbothered. The story follows two teenage Scythe apprentices (Citra and Rowan), both reluctant to be Scythes but who accept for different reasons. The pacing is slow at first, and I felt that I was observing the characters rather than getting to know them for most of the book. However, the world and world-building made me too fascinated to care. The concept and execution were both fantastic, and once the story got going, it took off, careening into unexpected places. I would highly recommend it to fans of Enders GameThe Giver, or writers like Neil Gaiman or Eoin Colfer.

Tuesday, July 7th

Tuesday, I did my quarantine workout routine (lots of toning/minimum cardio), and binge-watched several episodes of The Arthdal Chronicles (more on that later). But most importantly – I WAS GIVEN SOMETHING TO DO! I believe that I mentioned that my quarantine is taking place in my new living space, and that other teachers live there (separate from where I’m at, but on the same floor). Anyhow, other than FB messenger chats and the occasional conversation through the door (so strange), I haven’t really interacted with the other teachers. But Tuesday night, the head teacher contacted me with a request: could I make a sample diorama for the school’s English camp coming up in August. Of course, I was thrilled to do it. I would have been excited even if it was something I didn’t already like doing, just because I finally got to feel a little bit useful. After all, I came to Korea to work – not to sit in a room 24/7! While there wasn’t a hurry, I immediately set to sketching a draft so I could visualize what I wanted to do. The theme was dinosaurs, and I already had the book I was supposed to use, so I looked through that a few times for inspiration. Once I planned out what I wanted, I started on the background and basic design of the box, so I could have glue dry before the following day.

Tuesday night, I was also able to meet other teachers via Messenger , and participate in the meeting about the camp. It was nice to see some other people, even if I was separated, but talking about the camp made me want to get out of my room even more. I ended up taking on planning the scavenger hunt as well as doing the diorama. I love puzzles, mysteries, and clue based games, so I’m hoping to incorporate some of that into the hunt (although it needs to be simple enough for English learners, of course).

Finally, Tuesday night marked a week since I started quarantine. I was bored, and sick of being inside (minus my excursions to the roof), but still hanging in there.

Wednesday, July 8th

I spent most of Wednesday finishing the diorama, and I was pretty pleased with the results. While I was limited to what the other teachers could get me/what was on hand, I managed to make something I was satisfied with. I also took some time to work on logistics of a scavenger hunt. I did this up on the roof, despite it being a little hot! Still, it was nice to be outside. I have a feeling that the building’s roof will continue to be one of my favorite places going forward. I can’t wait till I can go up there at night and look at stars or watch the sunset. I’ll have to buy a cheap chair so I have something better to sit on too.

Thursday, July 9th

I spent most of Thursday working on the scavenger hunt and cleaning up my room after the whirlwind of diorama making. This time, I put on the anime of Howl’s Moving Castle (but in Korea with the English subs on) in the background, which was nice. I also found some Korean radio stations to listen too later. I need to be practicing, I know, but I can’t seem to make myself do it yet! So this was the least I could do. By this point, quarantine was really starting to wear on me. I was working out every morning (with my sister back in Michigan via Google Hangouts!), and trying to move around as much as possible, but it has been getting to me. I have never spent so much time inside in my life, and I have found it so fatiguing. Also, my food supplies have dwindled down to the bare minimum, and I am tired of eating canned food. As nice as it is to have, I want to eat something fresh! But truly the worst part is how confined living has both sapped my energy and taken my will to accomplish things. This is made worse by the fact that I finally have tasks to complete for the school! Still, I have no choice but to plug on, so I have been trying to keep a regular schedule in preparation for starting work next week. Although it hasn’t been a fun week and a half, I am glad for the time to acclimate to the time change, at the very least!

What I’ve Been Reading/Watching:

I mentioned Scythe above, but I have also started Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron

CR: HarperTeen, Buy it here

Set in a West African fantasy world, so far it has been refreshing and well-written. I’m only about a third in, so it’s early enough to know that I’ll finish it, but too soon to know. The world is complex and layered, with lots of characters, cultures and gods to keep track of, but it is shaping into an interesting read.

CR: New World Library, Buy it here

I am also reading No Greater Love, a collection of Mother Teresa’s wisdom, writing, and musings. It’s a calming, soothing read, and perfect for when I’m feeling a little anxious due to being trapped inside. She truly had a heart full of service and compassion, and she’s been one of my biggest inspirations since childhood. I am not too far into it, but I plan on finishing it in quarantine!

Ba điểm trừ trong bom tấn truyền hình Asadal Chronicles - Ảnh 2.
This man has not aged in at least 10 years, maybe 15. (CR: Netflix)

As for TV, I finished the first season of Netflix’s epic Korean fantasy The Arthdal Chronicles, and I have a lot of feelings. A lot. While the show took forever to get going, and is super complicated (speaking of bajillions of characters and gods to keep track of), with a mythology to rival any epic fantasy series, it still somehow kept me watching past the first two 1.5 hour long episodes of story-building confusion. And wow – after the third episode, I was completely hooked on the story and the characters and I had to know how it ended. The final third, in particular, was a whirlwind of twisting plotlines and plot twists . . . and then it ended before the confrontation we’ve all been waiting for. Obviously, it was meant to take up again in a second season, but with Covid (again) and it’s shaky reception in Korea, a second season of The Arthdal Chronicles is an uncertain thing. But. I. Have. So. Many. QUESTIONS!

Drama 2019] Arthdal Chronicles, 아스달 연대기 - Page 32 - k-dramas ...
Spoiler – Song Joong-Ki again – and I don’t know how he pulls this off but HE DOES

A very minimal outline of the story is that it is set in a mythical land called Arth (which is  based on the earliest Korean foundation myths, I suspect), and predominantly in a city called Arthdal (In Korean -아스달 – very similar to Asadel/아사달 – the name of the city founded by Dangun/단군, legendary king of Gojoseon/고조선 – the earliest Korean Kingdom). Anyhow, this fantasy land is a little foundation myth of Korea, a little Bronze Age fantasy, and a lot of other elements all thrown in a blender. There are the Neanthals, an extinct (or are they?!) tribe of superhuman warriors who were wiped out by the deceit of Saram (사람- People/Person in Korean), as well as the mixed blood children of both peoples (called Igutu), at least eight mentioned distinct tribes, and plenty of deities to go with them.

Kim Ok-Vin | Tumblr
The talented and insanely beautiful Kim Ok-bin

However, the primary story line focuses on two groups: three children born on the night of a comet (Eun-seom, Tan-ya, and Saya) – their followers and families, etc., and Tagon, a warrior of Arthdal, his band of warriors, and Tae-alha, a spy that Tagon loves. Again, the story is just too complicated to get into here, but it is a mixture of political drama and fantasy, with sweeping cinematography and beautifully choreographed action sequences. The lead cast is particularly good, with standouts Song Joong-ki (from Descendents of the Sun) as the hero (or the most heroic character, lol), the innocent Igutu Eun-seom who just wants to save his adopted tribe, and Jung Jae-won as Tagon, the complicated warrior with a deadly secret, and even deadlier ambitions. Kim Ok-bin as Tae-alha is also fantastic as the beautiful but duplicitous spy with a tragic and complicated past (think Black Widow meets Madame de Pompadour), and I found the way her character was handled/portrayed to be particularly interesting.

arthdal chronicles – Song Joong-ki
Tagon – a fantastic character that I sympathize with but kind of hate at the same time

Anyhow, at this point I don’t know if I should recommend it to anyone or not, because of that second season thing! But it was a fun (generally speaking) watch and different from anything else I have seen in a while (the dismissive comparisons to GOT are unfair and misplaced – they have little in common). Also, as a side note, Tagon’s warriors (the Daekan Forces) are a complicated mixture of horrifying, scary, and cool, but more importantly, they all look like a strange punk rock band and I find that delightful ^^.

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Meet Yang-cha – I love him, but he is terrifying. Fights with a chain

I also picked up My Country on Netflix again. I was watching it at work back a few months ago, but then it got too violent, so I have started over! So far, the acting, costumes, score, and fight choreography is excellent, but it’s too early to tell much else.

my country | Tumblr
I’m a sucker for tragic bromances, I know

I think I also mentioned the music I am listening to last time, but as this post has already run long (again), I will save that for another time. It honestly surprises me that I have had so much to write about considering how little I have been doing – but that’s better than the alternative, I guess.

In the meantime, I will keep reading and working on that scavenger hunt, and hopefully be able to push through the apathy and finish out strong!

Until next time, <3

Coming Next Post:

  • Quarantine Workouts! 
  • First lesson plans
  • A general update

Thank you for reading!

My Last Two Weeks In Books (featuring the return of THORN!!)

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We’re all having me parties these days

Well, social distancing continues (please stay safe and stay home, everyone!!), and I have (easily) managed to read more books in one week than I read in the first two months of 2020. Reading is my favorite refuge from the chaos and confusion outside and on the news, and while I don’t have the mental energy or inclination to review everything I read, here is a summary version featuring reaction gifs and random ramblings <3

Image Credit: Indiebound.com

First off – I read and reviewed The Silence of Bones by June Hur. You can read my review here, and read more about Ms. Hur (she seems like such a sweet, genuine person, so please support!!) here. My review gives my in-depth thoughts and feelings about this title, but most importantly, I loved it and can’t wait for more from her!

This book is a definite bullseye – 10 out of 10

Image Credit: Indiebound.com

My next favorite pick of the week was also YA, as I’ve been striking out in the adult novels lately. Honestly, Not Even Bones is actually more of a New Adult title, as the characters skew older, and the plot concerns illegal trafficking of body parts and non-human creatures, as well as a fair amount of violent content (content/trigger warning here). Not Even Bones is the first in the Market of Monsters series by Rebecca Schaeffer. I decided to read this after discovering the webtoon (read here), which I loved instantly. Not Even Bones tells the story of teenage Nita, who disects bodies of “unnaturals” (i.e., nonhumans/monsters with special abilities) for her mother (who was a cross between Dexter, Van Helsing, Black Widow, and an old-fashioned serial killer). Nita rationalizes this by the fact that the bodies her mother brings back are always dead and generally dangerous, and Nita has had nothing to do with their demise. And her mother is . . . intimidating, to say the least. While dissecting to her Disney playlist, Nita dreams of going to college and becoming a famous scientist.  After Nita decides to defy her mother by helping the first living body her mother brings home, things naturally, don’t go as planned. I’ll avoid spoilers, but I loved the complex morality of the story, Kovit (the Thai antagonist (or is he?) who eats pain), Nita’s sociopathic consistency, and the book’s fresh take on monsters and monster legends. If you like Dexter, SherlockVan Helsing, Tokyo GhoulRot & Ruin, or Attack on Titan, I’m pretty sure you will also enjoy this book. (Also – if you join Scribd.com with a free month of membership right now, you can read the ebook for free!) I am currently reading the sequel, Only Ashes Remain, and it continues to be strong so far.

I feel like half the characters in this book were telling themselves this at intervals 

Image Credit: booksbyintisar.com
Image Credit: booksbyintisar.com

Next up is a book that I first discovered in 2015, which has been on quite the journey in the past few years. Thorn, by Intisar Khanani, first caught my eye on Goodreads due to the gorgeous cover art. When I found it was an indie retelling of The Goose Girl fairytale, I bought a copy and fell in love with Khanani’s prose, worldbuilding, characters, and gift for beautiful storytelling. You can read that review here. Anyhow, I was thrilled for Intisar when I heard that Thorn had been picked up by HarperTeen in 2017, and I have been patiently waiting for it to be re-released in an updated and revised version. I preordered the e-book as soon as it was available, and I finally was able to re-discover the story back on March 24th, its release date (order here!).

Now, my original (and ONLY) critique of Thorn was this: “It was too short! I would have loved to read more about this world and its people, and I want to know more about the mentioned Fair Folk. There were so many elements hinted at in the story that, while not bearing on the plot, intrigued me.” (Copied from my original review). Imagine my delight when the re-release of Thorn expanded on the world, characters, and side plots! Roles of certain characters are also expanded (but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, so I won’t tell you!!) In other words, the re-release of Thorn  was a solid five out of five stars for me. If you haven’t read it, Thorn is the story of Alyrra, a princess who is abused and underestimated by her family, but finds comfort and friendship in spending time with the servants and ordinary folk in her kingdom. When she is betrothed to a foreign prince and sent away, things go terribly wrong, and eventually Alyrra must choose between doing what she wants and doing the right thing. If you like fantasy, folklore, strong heroines, good plots, beautiful writing, or adventure stories, then you should read Thorn ASAP.

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Need it fast? Get the ebook 🙂

Finally, I read a bunch of novels I had sitting around, but none of them were good enough to mention here. I’m trying to sort through my books and stuff and keep only what I really need, just in case. As a side note, two of the books were mysteries, and one was a thriller, and they all had the same problem: fizzling out in the third act. When you read a mystery or thriller (or horror), there is the crucial build up to the big reveal, the face-off with the killer, or the moment the main character realizes something huge that changes the whole story. And then it should quickly unravel and tie up whatever ends it needs to, while leaving an element of lingering unease. At least, this is my opinion. This is a huge problem in both books and movies I have seen lately – when a story promises an epic climax but delivers a mediocre peak that flattens to a  little dead line of a resolution.

Disappointed Harry Potter GIF - Find & Share on GIPHYGhost stories and murder mysteries are some of the worst offenders. You find out what/who the ghost is, and why it is haunting/causing havoc, or you find out that the murderer has been fooling you all along and is someone you thought you could trust, but in either case, their is a risky plan in motion to trap the murderer (or defeat the ghost), and the reader is flipping pages as fast as possible, almost afraid to read the words . . . But then, it all easily unties- the ghost turns out to be your best friend and lets you go without a fight, or the murderer trips on a rock and goes unconscious and then the rest of the police force closes in and cleans it up while the detective watches. Disappointing, right? Now, I’m sure there are authors out there who could make this work somehow. But that’s not the majority of us. Most of us need more weight to our novel’s climax, higher stakes, and to put the reader in a little more agony. But I’m not getting that. It has been a long time since I read a thriller with a really good third act, and if anyone can think of one, let me know!

Well, that was it for me – but I want to know if you read anything interesting in the past two weeks? How are you spending your social distancing time? Let me know in the comments. In the meantime, stay home if you can, stay safe, and remember to be kind.

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5 Ways I am Using My Time While Social Distancing

5 Ways I’m Keeping Busy Right Now

Social Distancing has been trending for a month on social media, and has caused everything from moderate panic to job loss to downright insanity (has anyone figured out why everyone thought massive amounts of toilet paper should be hoarded??)

Covid-19 isn’t dysentery, folks. But all that goes to say, we are living in strange times. I know a lot of people are quite reasonably afraid – whether of getting sick, or their relatives getting sick, or the ramifications of losing their job for weeks or indefinitely, etc., etc – and this is the same all over the world. I myself will be without income until who knows when, and the outbreaks might stop me from getting the job I really wanted (teaching English in Korea!) for some time yet, as I mentioned in my previous blog post. I can’t wait tables from home, and I’m looking into teaching ESL on line. So I am also uncertain. However, I do have one advantage in this situation: I’m an introvert.

Image result for introverts unite separately meme
Sourced from https://louderminds.com/introverts-unite-separately/

Since my brain has been over-stimulated by social interaction for the past 6 months and counting (10-13 hr shifts waiting tables combined with school), I have found that my creative energy is low most days – until the last four days where I have been mostly in my house with just my sister for company. My brain reawakened, and now I have 1000+ projects all wanting my attention. I suspect many introverts currently feel the same. But how about my extroverts out there? Make sure you facetime people, text your friends, and let people know if you are having a hard time being alone!!

SO, how am I using my time? Anyone who has ever read my blog knows that I like lists, so here are my top 5 recommendations for how to use your time in relative isolation:

Be (stay!) Active

Whether it is walking around the block twice a day, or doing morning yoga, or even doing a virtual fitness class , you will feel better if you are active. Doctors back this up, therapists back this up, and I myself have found, personally, that keeping up with my fitness routine does wonders for my mental health. And hey – what if you could come out of this time looking AND feeling better? YouTube is my go-to for workout routines and inspiration, and I usually switch up my daily routine between cardio, strength-building, and calisthenics.

So for the “virtual fitness class,” I’ve been facetiming my younger sister (who still lives with my parents but frequently works out with me), and setting up a YouTube playlist that we both access from our respective TVs, and then we do the routines together but separately in real time. It’s more fun, and keeps us both motivated. If you have offline friends who are also missing weekly Zumba, yoga, or gym meetup, etc., then you should definitely consider doing this so you can still work out “together.”

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-x0Xl4bh4rGZ5sxFcGx7ceVH6-M4bd7y
A Link to My Current Workout Playlist – I usually workout for 45 minutes to 65 minutes a day with Sunday as a rest day, and alternate yoga days with cardio + yoga

My favorite and most used YouTube Fitness channels are Blogilates (pictured above), Yoga With Adriene, Leilah Isaac (Bellydance/Dance Fitness), Kpop Fitness (Puts fitness videos to kpop), Cardio Party Mashup (Cardio set to music), Emi Wong (General routines), Mark Kramer Pastrana (Dance Fitness/Zumba), and Chris Heria (Calisthenics and strength-building). Let me know if you have any recs in the comments! (Or if you try any of these out)

Get Creative – Pull out those projects

Working on something I love is not only therapeutic, I love to see things accomplished. Even if you aren’t “creative,” now is the time to work on a project that interests you. Organizing the garage? Building a shelf? Coloring a page in that adult coloring book you received as a gift three birthdays ago? Especially if you have kids, getting out some paper and colored pencils or watercolors is a great way to flex your creative muscles. Use some plain white cardstock and draw pictures or decorate your letters to make cards to send to friends and family also self-isolating. Bloggers and pinterest boards have literally thousands of ideas for all skill levels and attention spans.You might discover a new passion or hobby – who knows?

I love words and typography art, and I used to draw all the time. I combined that with my love of textile and clothing design, and I have been using a plain pair of cream-colored jeans as a canvas for the type of collage/word-art stuff I used to do in high-school. Not only is it fun, it’s nostalgic and something I haven’t had much time for in the past few years. I put on my crafting playlist (see the end of this post), and just start where I feel like it.

Lyrics/Quotes Credits: Icarus by Bastille (from “Bad Blood”) , Interlude: Shadow by BTS (From Map of the Soul: 7) – Icarus drawing by me

So maybe this feels too overwhelming? There is a ton of art and literature already out there for us to enjoy, which brings me to my third way of spending time:

Read, read, read

Scribd.com just made their library of ebooks and audiobooks free for thirty days if you sign up at the website (I just did!). Even if you don’t want to sit down and read, consider listening to an audiobook while you’re cleaning or coloring or doing dishes.

Of course, with libraries shut down, it might be harder to find physical books you want to read – but I guarantee you or someone you know has books sitting around waiting to be read “someday.” Just pick one up and start reading. Many libraries also have ebook libraries that members can access, so check out your local libraries’ websites. And hey – ebooks are cheaper than regular books, so why not purchase a book or two if you have a little money you can spend? My go-to is fantasy, as that is the genre I tend to find the most books I enjoy in.

If you like fantasy, fairytale retellings, or paranormal – check out W.R. Gingell’s collection of varied and fun ebooks here. Her ebook titles are under $5 and she is a talented author that will appeal to fans of Jessica Day George, Diana Wynne Jones, and Gail Carson Levine. Alternatively – you should read Wicked Fox by Kat Cho – it’s like a Korean drama YA style that vividly modernizes the Gumiho (tailed-fox) set in Seoul, with a lot of heart and angst and adventure. It also made me hungry (the descriptions of Korean food, lol).

Not a fan of the romance and “happy” endings? R.F Kuang‘s The Poppy War and The Dragon Republic are epic dark fantasy – fantastically written and imagined. But be advised that they contain graphic violence, adult themes and language, and characters that will 100% make you frustrated.

Alternatively, if you want to read but have trouble sitting still and focusing (like me), try Webtoons or comics. I love Webtoons (a little too much – I am subscribed to 30+ series and have stayed up till 2am reading them too many times). It’s a great time to find independent artists, authors, and illustrators to support with your time and/or money. Webtoons.com is available in many languages, and is accessible from any computer, phone, or tablet. Some series I love include Save Me (Drama), Rot & Ruin – The Webtoon (an adaptation of Jonathan Mayberry’s YA series that I LOVE*), Eleceed (Superhero-type individuals and CATS), and Not Even Bones (another YA adaptation that makes me want to read the book 100% more not). There is something for everyone.

Write. Or Start Writing

Whether it is a letter to a friend, a journal of your thoughts and emotions, or that novel you have been sitting on, there has never been a better time to write. I am setting aside time every day to either blog or work on one of my novels-in-progress/editing. Getting words on paper does wonders for my mental health, and I have many friends who also feel that putting a pen to paper (or typing) helps them think better. So if you’re feeling things because of everything going on – write about it, even if it’s just for you to read back on in ten years. If you have a cool hobby, now is a good time to write or blog about it for people who are bored and need something to read (see above).

If you are already a writer (like yours truly), now is a good time to edit, edit, edit! Considering a professional editor, or querying agents, or even looking into self-publishing are things that can all be done in times of social isolation. I am currently looking into self-publishing (so much work, yikes!), and juggling WIPs, so I have a lot of things to do for the next few weeks. I’m grateful for the time to devote to something I love, and I’m trying to think about that instead of what the loss of income means for me.

And you know what – sometimes it is too much to create, or read, or write, or even clean. In those times, video games and streaming services are there. But why not make a party of it – leading to my final way of spending social isolation:

Netflix Party! (Or Disney +, Hulu, Vudu, etc.)

Want to watch a show or movie with friends, but you can’t go sit with them irl? Well, there is a Chrome extension called Netflix party that will let you watch and comment in real time with your friends if they are also using it. Alternatively, watch the same show and use Facebook Messenger chats, WhatsApp, Kakao Talk, Google Hangouts, or any similar method to discuss the show/movie with your friends while watching. You can do this with books too – and have a virtual bookclub. And if you are the person who keeps a running commentary during a movie (this annoys a lot of people, I know), then here is a quiet way of doing just that – but quietly. And no one in your own house will (probably) get mad at you for having your phone screen on while watching. Make it more fun by cooking snacks and sharing photos in the chat. I could write a whole other post on recommendations, but I’ll just my current top 3, and please let me know if you have watched them, or if you have any recommendations!

  • If you like The Walking Dead, Grimm, Supernatural, Return of the King, Train to Busan, Game of Thrones, Underworld, or A Quiet Place, watch Kingdom (Netflix). Kingdom is a historical thriller set in Joseon Dynasty Korea involving both political intrigue and zombies. I could write a post about why it is one of the best shows ever (and maybe I will), but if you like any/all of the above titles, and want to see phenomenal cinematography, costumes, special effects, and writing along with your usual zombie horror, then Kingdom is what you’ve been waiting for. (Note: This show deserves the MA rating – it is frequently violent and disturbing due to the subject matter, and neither the zombies nor the corrupt government officials spare innocents)
The internet is (rightfully) obsessed with the numerous fantastic Joseon Dynasty hats
  • If you like westerns, The Lone Ranger, The Seven Samurai, Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, or Star Wars Rebels, watch The Mandalorian (Disney +). Everyone has seen baby Yoda from this show, but you have to actually watch it to understand how painfully adorable the small alien and his guardian (adoptive father) are together. You too would risk everything for baby Yoda after two episodes. Cuteness aside, the writing and directing are solid, with a western, lone gunman feel that is refreshing and fun to watch. It’s more about character and story than many shows on tv, and also pretty family friendly, hanging out in the PG/PG-13 range. My only complaint is that we all have to wait for a second season now . . .
This man’s mask has more varied expressions than many actors I won’t name . . .
  • If you like Beauty and the Beast (any version), Jane Eyre, Labyrinth, Pride and Prejudice, Goblin (Korean Drama), redemption arcs, The Sixth Sense, Once Upon a Time, Grimm, and costume dramas, watch Hotel Del Luna (Viki.com). With gorgeous costumes, soundtrack, (and actors), and a lot of ghosts, this unusual Beauty and the Beast + Count of Monte Cristo + Sixth Sense-esque drama is thoroughly captivating. While the story starts off slow, the interesting characters, individual ghost stories, and the well-handled themes of redemption and forgiveness made this show really stand out. Also, IU (singer and actress) as the lead antagonist/female lead Jang Man-wol, an immortal (?) and mysterious owner of a hotel for ghosts lost between life and the afterlife, is fantastic. Man-wol is the type of character that is generally male, and the role-reversal (a sensitive, morally upstanding, and brave male lead) makes this show even more fun. Hangs out at solidly TV-14 – with some violence, adult subject matter including suicide and murder, some frightening images, and minor innuendo.
More fantastic hats – joined by fantastic dresses

As a side note – if you haven’t watched Stranger Things (Netflix) yet, I highly recommend it. It’s as good as people say, and a really fun concept. And there are 3 seasons (with a 4th on the way). It’s short and smart and well-written, and deserves the praise.

So there you have it – some advice from an introvert and how I’ll be spending my time during social-distancing. Let me know if you have recs, ideas, or just if you want to Talk 🙂 See you soon!
Eclectic? Naturally. And I update frequently

*If anything, the Rot & Ruin Webtoon reminded me that my torch for Tom Imura will never go out.

A Tentative Return to the Blog with Books I’m Looking Forward to Reading: Featuring Asian & Asian-American Authors

A return to the blog featuring 10 books I really want to read and 1 I already read but haven’t reviewed yet . . .

Well, here I am again, after far too many things have happened to recap!

I don’t even know where to start . . .

While I may have been radio silence on the blog, I have been studying, working, reading, some writing, and being just as crazy busy as usual. However, I did manage to find time to read some books (reviews to come), do art (might write about that later), and frantically skim Twitter periodically to see what books were coming out/what people were up to. Anyhow, I sacrificed blogging for the last few months, and many other things I enjoy, to dedicate time to studying and work, and came out with my best semester (grade-wise) yet, so I guess it was worth it? *Cue nervous laughter* And then I took a summer class, which just finished, and I’ve been working 4 or so days a week. Finally, I’m currently enrolled in a TEFL (teaching English as a Foreign Language) class because I can’t seem to stop studying for less than a week . . .

All this to say, while I’m still pretty busy, I have had a lot more time to read. I basically just binge-read over the Sunday and Monday of Memorial Day weekend, and I’m hoping to get back to blogging and reading over the rest of the summer. And reviewing the pile of books I read recently . . .*

But while I’ve been drowning in the academic world, a lot of books have come out/been announced or otherwise crossed my radar, so here are 11 books that I am really looking forward to getting my hands on!

Wicked Fox by Kat Cho

It even looks like a Kdrama. My heart is happy.

I don’t really read cute books all that often, but this is set in Seoul and I miss Seoul every day. Besides, with Korean folklore and Kdrama vibes, how could I NOT want to read this book ASAP?! Based on the synopsis, we have a gumiho (Korean nine-tailed fox) named Miyoung who hunts the streets of Seoul for evil men to devour their energy, human boy Jihoon getting attacked by a goblin, a star-crossed romance, “murderous forces lurking in the background,” and a feud. And the cover is lovely. As for the author, I follow Kat Cho on Twitter and she is so relatable and funny. Kat Cho is a Korean-American author who loves to read (obviously), and finds a lot of her inspiration for her stories in Kdramas (yes!), as per her website. If you can’t tell, I want to be friends, but I’ll settle for reading Wicked Fox as soon as I can.

Empress of Flames by Mimi Yu

No picture for the sequel because this just came out this year!

I read The Girl King (the previous book) in one sitting, which is a compliment to the Asian-inspired setting and the writing. However, the story itself is pretty generic. I won’t summarize The Girl King here, as I intend to review it, but the genre is YA fantasy and the story centers around sisters Lu and Min and their relationship to themselves and their power(s)/abilities, and a fight for the throne of their kingdom that is (naturally) bigger than they dreamed. As I said, I intend to write a more comprehensive review, but I believed the writing and setting (loaded with references to and inspiration to Asian mythology, culture, and history) to have enough promise to read the sequel. I hope that Empress of Flames takes the interesting points from the ending and strays farther from the mold, and I am intrigued to see where the two sisters end up.

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

This cover is gorgeous though!

I’ve heard a lot of mixed reviews about this book (a lot of people seemed to find it confusing), but I want to read it for myself! The Gilded Wolves is set in 1889 Paris, involves magic and magical artifacts, and HEISTS (which if you have read any of my reviews, you probably know I love heist stories) – so it’s been a must-read for me since I first heard about it. Also, there are the Six of Crows comparisons, and the fact that it is historical fantasy . . . Anyhow, it sounds like a fun summer read, so I’m hoping to get my hands on a copy before I have to go back to class!

The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng

Historical fiction set in 1939 Penang, Malaysia, The Gift of Rain is the story of two young men and their relationship during the Japanese occupation of Malaysia (Malaya). I confess that I have only the basic knowledge of Malaysia and its history (something I would like to change!), and the fact that this novel was written by a Malaysian author is a big interest point for me. Anyhow, reviewers constantly mention the beauty, humanity, and touching qualities of this novel, and it sounds right up my alley. This is definitely another must-read and I’m going to see if I can snag a copy from the library ASAP.

The Dragon Republic by R. F. Kuang

These. Covers. Are. Amazing.

First, a disclaimer: I managed to get an ARC of this, so I’ve already read it. So no spoilers! Also, I’m not going to write anything much about it because I intend to write a !Spoiler Free! review of it ASAP. But for anyone who doesn’t know, this is the sequel to The Poppy War, which is a dark, brutal, scorching but so well-written war/fantasy novel inspired by Chinese history. If you haven’t read it, you can read my mini review here. But if you have, all I will say is that The Dragon Republic picks up with Rin and goes places I didn’t expect, but in a way that 100% lives up to The Poppy War, and leaves me eager for a sequel.

The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo

Another lovely cover

The Night Tiger is also set in Malaysia (Malaya), but this time it’s the 1930s and the story is about a Chinese dance hall girl and a house boy and a severed finger (according to the synopsis), combining mystery, Malaysian and Chinese folklore, and history. I spent a lot of time last semester researching the life of Chinese women, and dance hall girls in particular, which brought this book onto my radar. Again, I really hope I can get this before I go back to school.

Rebel Seoul by Axie Oh

I follow Axie Oh on Twitter and she seems smart and funny, and is yet another author I wish was my best friend. *cries to classical music for a moment* But besides that, the synopsis sounds really cool. Rebel Seoul takes place in a post-war “Neo Seoul” and follows ex-gang member Lee Jaewon, a pilot aiming for military glory and success. However, he finds out about a supersoldier project (obviously shady), and gets close to a test subject, and then it apparently all goes to pieces. Rebel Seoul also promises giant robots (a la Pacific Rim), rebellions, moral conflict, and it’s set in a sort of dystopian Seoul. While I didn’t really like Pacific Rim all that much, I liked the idea, so I’m excited to see if this book lives up to my expectations 🙂

The Silence of Bones by June Hur

Okay, this book isn’t coming out until 2020 (it’s tragic), but I want to read it so badly there is no way I could leave it off the list. Korean-Canadian author June Hur is yet another awesome writer I follow on Twitter, and The Silence of Bones is her debut novel about a young woman investigating a murder in 19th century Joseon (Korea). Sixteen and indentured to the police bureau, Seol is tasked with helping an inspector investigate the suspicious death of a noblewoman, but things change when the inspector himself becomes the suspect. Honestly, I would read anything about Joseon Dynasty era Korea (I’m the person who watches dusty history documentaries on YouTube), but a thriller/mystery with a female lead? I am in 100%. I just wish it came out sooner!

The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee

Continuing the parade of beautiful covers

Historical fiction starring a teenage lady’s maid who moonlights as a journalist sounds like a good read, doesn’t it? The Downstairs Girl comes out this August, and I am really excited to read it. Set in 1890s Atlanta, The Downstairs Girl is Jo Kuan, a Chinese American girl who secretly writes the “Dear Miss Sweetie” advice column for “genteel Southern Ladies.” This book sounds like a great read, and I am looking forward to checking it out as soon as it hits shelves.

The Three-Body Problem (Remembrance of Earth’s Past #1) by Liu Cixin

Have to dust off my physics knowledge, I guess

This book isn’t new, and Liu Cixin is a wildly popular sci-fi author in China, but it is only recently that Liu’s works have been translated into English. According to the synopsis, the novel begins in 1967, during the Cultural Revolution, with physics professor Ye Zhetai being killed in front of his daughter Wenjie after he refuses to denounce the theory of relativity. Soon after, his daughter is basically blackmailed into working at a defense facility looking for extra-terrestrial intelligence. According to the Publisher’s Weekly Review, The Three-Body Problem does a good job of integrating complex ideas/scientific topics with character development and action. I’ve always wanted to read Liu, and my interest in this particular novel was further piqued due to recently studying Modern China and the Cultural Revolution in some depth. Anyhow, I always want to like sci-fi more than I do, so we will see how I feel once I get a copy. Here’s to hoping!

Mirror Sword and Shadow Prince (Tales of the Magatama #2) by Noriko Ogiwara

The covers just shout classic fantasy

I read the first Tales of the Magatama novel (Dragon Sword and Wind Child) during reading recess (when we’re supposed to be studying for exams, lol) and fell in love with the world and plot (it’s an 80’s Japanese fantasy novel that follows a rogue water maiden torn between choosing between the Dark and Light – which is not straightforward like it sounds – and is full of plot twists and subversive takes on hero fantasy standards). I am *optimistically* planning on reviewing that book in another post, so I will keep going to the sequel, which I haven’t read yet. While Dragon Sword (the first one) wasn’t perfect, it was beautiful and lyrically written, and translated from Japanese by Cathy Hirano, who also translated the Moribito series (which I love) and Marie Kondo’s books. Naturally, she also translated Mirror Sword and Shadow Prince, and I recently placed it on inter-library loan so I could finally read it. Set thousands of years after Dragon Sword, Mirror Sword and Shadow Prince is steeped in mythology and folklore (like the first on), and follows a young boy on his own hero’s adventure. Sure, it sounds like typical hero fantasy, but I like hero fantasy. And I especially love hero fantasy situated from the typical European/European-inspired setting, so I’m pretty excited to read this.

SO – there we go. Have you read any of these books or authors? Do you have any Asian or Asian-American authors I should read? I’d love the recommendations! LMK in the comments 🙂

I just wanna know, know, know . . .

Mini Fantasy Book Reviews: What I Read in November, December and January (So Far)

So, due to the jet lag (see this post), readjusting (which is so much harder than adjusting to a new place!!), and getting back to work – I have basically just felt like sleeping every time I look at my computer. Though the jet lag wore off after a couple weeks, the general fatigue at getting back into the swing of normal life back in Grand Rapids has just been endless. However, I have managed to get some writing (books, not blogging, obviously) done, and read, and reboot my workout plan – which are all good things. And now, I think I’m feeling awake and aware and with it enough to attempt a few blog posts.

As I mentioned back in December, I FINALLY finished reading The Lies of Locke Lamora, which I started reading over a year ago and never managed to make it very far in. I also read three books by my Twitter mutual W.R. Gingell, and a few assorted other books. This means that it’s time for MINI REVIEWS!

We’ll start with Locke Lamora, since it was a long time finishing, and I have a lot of feelings about it.

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

I started reading this book almost two years ago (I think), and it took me forever (obviously) to make it past the first two hundred pages. However, once I did, I finished the rest (500+ more pages!) in a couple of days. Looking back, I will say this is because the beginning two hundred pages exemplified both of my biggest frustrations with this book, and also what kept me reading. The story is very twisty and jumps back and forth in time and occurrences, and involves a lot of name-dropped characters and places, and references to others. Naturally, any good con/heist story has to keep the reader somewhat confused and disoriented, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be clear or linear, and I think that this book would have been better with a streamlined, linear narrative. Secondly, while this is an origin story (who is Locke Lamora and how did he become a legendary thief and swindler), Locke seemed to be awfully oblivious to many things around him, and more easily tricked and double-crossed than expected. I mean, if I saw some things coming from a mile away . . . but that is beside the point.

Locke Lamora is a friendless little menace of an orphan with a knack for causing extreme amounts of trouble and chaos. I found him hilarious, if not exactly empathetic, and I loved the witty one-liners and observations he made about his world and the people in it. Jean, his best friend and fellow “Gentleman Bastard” (what the band of outlaws call themselves), is grounded, precious, loyal, and humanizes Locke when Locke gets a little too inflated and arrogant to care about. Their friendship was a definite highlight for me. I also loved the rest of the group: twins Galdo and Calo Sanza, and the Oliver Twist-esque orphan Bug. I also loved Father Chains, the corrupt (?) Priest of Thieves who raises Locke and teaches him to steal with finesse AND imagination. Noticeably missing is Locke’s referenced but never “on-stage” love interest, which was an interesting and seemingly important omission.

Anyhow, the story seems to be about Locke’s formation into a Master Thief, and the biggest heist of his life, but very quickly turns into a fight for survival as a mysterious entity known as the Grey King surfaces to leave a trail of bodies – which wouldn’t concern Locke – but the Grey King also seems to be interested in him . . .

Locke’s world of Camorr is a gritty, seamy, corrupt fantasy world that resembles Renaissance Italy and Spain. The world-building was fantastic: you could practically smell the stench in the air, and feel the hopelessness of the world of squalor and theft existing alongside the outrageously rich, extravagant world that Locke plunders. To go with the general smell of filth and despair, the book is very violent and foul-mouthed at times, and the characters are frequently unsympathetic. However, the plot and story were a lot of fun (despite the jumping around in the narrative), and I really did appreciate the witty writing and Locke-Jean bond.

Overall, if it had been a little more straight-forward narrative wise, and been a tad bit tighter, I would have had a much easier time getting to the good parts. Also, I have mixed feeling about books that are fun and hilarious, but where I really don’t sympathize with the characters, or care too much what happens about them . . .

Between Jobs and Between Floors (The City Between #1 &#2), by W. R. Gingell

W.R. Gingell is an indie author one of my favorite people I follow on Twitter, but I had not read her City Between series until just recently. I had enjoyed reading the excerpts on Twitter though, and so I was pretty sure that I would like the book(s). My guess was correct – and I found the City Between novels to be absolutely delightful. The story (which I briefly mentioned in The Fellowship of the Ring Book Tag), centers on a mysterious girl known as ‘Pet’ and the strange adventures and happenings that surround her after she sees a murdered man outside. Pet is an orphan, and her parents died in mysterious circumstances, and she very quickly finds herself sharing her house with three strange nonhuman men- which sounds cliche but isn’t- and she rather begrudgingly serves as their assistant/servant (termed a ‘pet’ by them, to basically justify their keeping a human around). Shenanigans ensue, involve an otherworld of sorts, the faye, more murders, and Pet’s mysterious past. I enjoyed Pet’s first-person POV, as she’s quirky, fun, and slightly unreliable as a narrator. The three non-human characters include Athelas, a Faye who cannot be trusted, Zero, a fierce warrior who may or may not have ties to humanity, and JinYeong, a petulant Korean vampire that may or may not have a brotherly love-hate bond of sorts with Zero. These three show up to solve the mystery of the murder, and since Pet’s house seems to be central, that’s where they decide to stay, which sets even more events in motion.

I enjoyed the worldbuilding and characters, and I especially liked Gingell’s depiction of the other world/dimension. To be honest, my only real complaint is how short the books are! While that made it easy for me to finish them despite being busy, at under 300 pages each, I finished them too soon. 🙂 At any rate, I am excited about the third one, Between Floors, which I pre-ordered immediately. When I finish it, I intend to write a thorough review and post it here.

A Threat of Shadows (The Keeper Chronicles Book 1) by J. A. Andrews

I have been trying to read more unfamiliar (to me) and independent authors, and A Threat of Shadows is both. I found it randomly on the Amazon Kindle store, read the description and decided to give it a whirl.

A Threat of Shadows is about a Keeper (sort of like a Jedi – they keep lore and records and knowledge, etc) named Alaric who has fallen far from his ideals in his fruitless quest to save his wife. His last hope seems to be the knowledge contained in the Wellstone of a previous Keeper. (A Wellstone is a stone infused with memories and knowledge). However, when he meets up with a group of adventurers also seeking the Wellstone, Alaric joins them with a touch of interest and hopelessness, and A Threat of Shadows really starts rolling. It’s a classic quest story, with lovable characters of the old-school: pure of intention and good-hearted. There is a little moral complexity, and many themes of redemption and second chances running throughout the story, which actually made it kind of refreshing and charming in a sea of books trying for grimdark and realism. The characters were quirky, the story kept taking surprising deviations and twists, and ultimately wrapped up with a lot of heart and sincerity.

Overall, this was a fun, charming read for anyone who misses old-fashioned hero tales where anyone can get a second chance, nobility is respected, and friendship and love are the highest values in the land.

Stealing Snow by Danielle Paige

Stealing Snow is a YA retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen by the author of Dorothy Must Die. In this novel, Paige retells the fairy tale as an origin story for the titular queen, who starts this book as our narrator, Snow Yardley, a troubled teenager who has lived most of her life in a mental hospital.

 I will always read a fairytale retelling, and I especially love the dark, creepy tone and depth in the original Snow Queen. Unfortunately, while Stealing Snow did have a really interesting world and premise, it was generally underwhelming. Much of it felt rushed, which was sad, because I felt that Paige had set up a beautiful, deadly, and fascinating world, and we just needed more development and exploration of that world.

The story starts out at the modern-day mental hospital where Snow is confined and routinely kept pliant through daily doses of medication – or she might go a bit crazy like she did once before. My problems started here – with the stereotypical depiction of both mental illness and treatment – and I was disappointed when Snow’s true “issues” turned out to be her hidden powers, and not a serious mental illness or other condition, as I think that would have been more meaningful to explore than just a throwaway plot device. However, the mental hospital was a brief element, and Snow is quickly dragged into another world by an alluring and careless boy named Jagger. Jagger was part of my second problem, as Snow is constantly thinking about her “one true love” Bale, whom she is devoted to, but she is then immediately attracted to and strongly swayed by Jagger, and then another boy within chapters of first meeting Jagger. It’s not that I think people can’t find multiple people attractive, it’s that Snow is so persuaded of her loyalty to Bale, but then she flirts with and entertains ideas of forming relationships with not one other boy, but two (a love square), in a very short time period, and no one seems to question the huge draw she has for these boys she just met. Sigh. It’s a symptom I call the “Mandie effect”* (see below), and it both loses my interest and frustrates me.

The second boy – Kai – is of course the Kai from the original Snow Queen, complete with a Gerda (the heroine of the Snow Queen) that he is loyal and close to. Kai and Gerda’s inclusion was a highlight, despite the love square nonsense, as Kai on his own wasn’t a bad character. Gerda was also given more of a backstory. These two serve the River Witch, who also takes in Snow, and this is where the story seems to start getting rushed. Paige whisks us and Snow all over the place, and what seems to have started as an “origin story” becomes a tangle of characters and places that are not fully fleshed out, and a world that thins the longer it’s on the page.

We have an evil king, three witches, a Robber Queen and her robber girls, Jagger, Kai and Gerda, Bale, the River Witch, and then a couple “plot twists” at the end that made things infinitely more rushed and muddled than it already was. Ultimately, this story was too chaotic and rushed, and full of missed opportunities with world and character building for me. And the love square. Sigh.

*The Mandie Effect: From an 80’s-90’s children’s mystery series set at the turn of the century. For whatever reason -every single young male character finds Mandie (a pre-teen) – ridiculously attractive, and the child reader (aka ME) is continuously baffled by this inexplicable phenomenon. For similar concepts – look at Mary Sue and Gary Sue . . .

It’s All Fun and Games by Dave Barrett

This book was published by Nerdist and Inkshares, and won a contest to be the first book officially endorsed/published by Nerdist. It’s All Fun and Games tells the story of a group of kids who plan on a weekend of D & D style intense role-playing, and get far more than they bargained for when the game becomes real. This is a classic, effective plot, and it sets up a fairly straightforward fellowship-quest story that seems aimed at middle school kids. I found the premise entertaining, but it read more like a fictionalized account of someone’s tabletop RPG campaign than a novel, in my opinion. The kids were committed nerds (a la Stranger Things), which I appreciated, but unlike with the children in Stranger Things, I felt like the kids in this book were just roughly drawn character sketches, so it was harder to empathize with them. They were all suitably quirky and charming, but a bit shallow. For example I found their reactions to (SPOILER ALERT) – a major character death – to be a little mild, considering the situation. Sure, they’re kids and they are in shock, but I think something like that would have been far more traumatic and made a much larger impression on them than it seemed to. I know that would have affected me as a kid. Still, other than this, I could see this book appealing to young teens and pre-teens. I just don’t think I’m the target audience.

Overall, it’s a fun premise, but I don’t feel like it brought anything new to the table, and I felt no desire to see if the characters achieved their goal/saved the world.

So there you go – the books I read that had nothing to do with school. Now, if I can just my head back in the game and keep up with my homework . . . then maybe I can blog with some sort of regularity!

Have you read any of these books (and/or will you?) – if so, I want to know 🙂

TTFN

Writerly Ramblings on Autumn, Nostalgia, and Liminal Space

It’s October 30th, which means two things: October flew past, and Halloween is tomorrow.
Halloween, and by Halloween I mean the American mishmash holiday that involves loads of tacky decorations, borrowed and modified traditions, CANDY (!!), and people in costumes, is something the Korean students I’ve met find very interesting. Of all the things I’ve been asked about the States, Halloween wasn’t an obvious one to be asked about this much!

Anyhow, as I answered questions about costumes, parties, and trick-or-treating, it made me think about the fall: seasonally and thematically a time a death, fading, and transitions. Poets, writers, songwriters, and artists have used autumn and autumnal motifs to describe things like mortality, detachment from the world, the loss of youth or innocence, or interest in the world, etc. However, the other side of fall is one of ripened harvests, abundance, family and community gatherings, and the last hurrah of bonfires or cookouts before winter.

This duality is fascinating to me, and as Autumn has always been my favorite season, I spend a lot of time thinking about it. For me, fall is part nostalgia, part adventure. If nostalgia had a smell, I think it would be a mix of the scent of smoke, dry leaves, old wood, wool scarves, and apples that belongs to autumn. And for adventure – I have always associated fall with The Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit. Fittingly, Hobbit Day, or Frodo and Bilbo’s Birthday is on the first  day of fall (in the US). Fall is the best time for grabbing a pair of boots and hiking. The golden light through colored leaves, the crispness of the air, and the crunch of leaves make me want to keep walking until dark. If only, right? (And then you’d build a bonfire, sleep under the stars, and do the same thing in the morning). I think I missed my calling as a Ranger (Tolkien’s famous wanderers of Middle Earth). I’ve never been a homebody, and I think fall just makes my restless feet even more keen to walk out the door and keep going 😉

Gushing about autumn aside, there is something universal in the ideas that arise at this time of year – something even more apparent as I spend it on the opposite side of the world. The transition of seasons is marked by a renewed appreciation for home and family, along with the awareness of mortality. Major Holidays include Chuseok (Korean Harvest Festival that traditionally involves paying respects to ancestors, more on that to come), Thanksgiving (US and Canada), The Day of the Dead (Mexico), Mid-Autumn Festival (China, Vietnam, and more), Diwali (India, regional variations, but generally emphasizes the defeat of darkness and evil by light and good), and many more.

In ancient Celtic traditions, this time of year was when the human world and the fairy world drew closest, and the space between was more easily crossed. This sort of “liminal space,” the point before crossing a threshold, or that disorientation and half-finished, half-begun area in the middle of a rite or a significant process. In folklore, this area is often a dangerous place for humans, since it is incomplete and unfinished. I think people instinctively understand this moment, and in the time of Autumn transitions, even the weather seems caught between the heat and life of summer and the coldness and natural death of winter. That’s why, in my personal opinion, this time of year also seems to create and inspire so much nostalgia and longing.

After all, nostalgia is a dangerous place sometimes. More so than the space between worlds – and part of me wonders if that was the original connection right there. In fairy stories, if a human wandered across the border between the worlds, they might never make it out again. However, if they did make it out, their wits were normally addled, or they came out at a completely different time than they went in (think Rip Van Winkle different). If they had taken gold or gifts from the fae, those gifts normally turned to leaves, twigs, and acorns. Also, the person usually spend the rest of their life trying to get back to fairyland, to no avail. Their brush with the beauty and the wildness left a mark on them that they couldn’t erase, and therefore, they were never at peace in the human world again (similar to the Nazgul blade and Frodo – healed, but never fully part of his world again).

But fae and magic aside – I think many people (myself included) spend a fair amount of time thinking about the past. Whether it’s that conversation you wish had gone differently, or just wishing you were a child again (anyone who works seems to feel this at least once), there are times when you really just wish time went backward instead of forward. There is also the feeling of melancholy that comes with it. This doesn’t have to be from a particular longing or memory though. It is just as likely to hit you when you walk down a wooded path and catch the scent of a bonfire. If you hear distant laughter or conversation that you aren’t a part of, then the feeling might intensify. Other likely places are beautiful old buildings, empty landscapes, and drives home at 2am with the windows down.

That feeling is typically labeled nostalgia: from the Greek nostos – or “return home/homecoming” added to the Latin –algia; a word ending from the Greek algos “pain,” or algein “to feel pain,” and related to alegein “to care about,” but originally “to feel pain.” So we have a word that basically means to care about or feel pain about returning home, homecoming. More interesting still is the reason the word was coined. According to Etymology.comnostalgia” was coined in the 1700’s to refer to a disease heimweh, meaning severe homesickness. I feel like nostalgia is the pain you get when you feel a sharp and vivid longing for “home,” or something familiar and where you belong- but it might not be where you belong at all. Maybe it’s only a place you feel like you belong.

So to take it back to the fae. Those persons who survived and found their way back to the human world were scarred by their encounter. They couldn’t stop their longing for a home that wasn’t their home, to the point of sickness. They went mad, either in the obvious way, or in the sense of obsession, where the desire to get back to fairyland consumed their sense and the rest of their life. In the “real world,” that longing for the past will always be artificial, because we’re longing for a memory of the past. It’s over, so even though it happened, it no longer exists as an accessible point. So we might as well be longing for fairyland. Sink too deep into the longing for an imagined or distorted past, a past that might have been, or even a past that never was (a time you wished to be part of but were not), and it can steal your joy from the present. If nothing else, it can distract you from taking pleasure in the moment.

Now, I’m not an etymologist or folklore expert, or even a psychologist, so you’re quite welcome to dismiss everything I wrote as nonsense – but it does get you thinking, doesn’t it? And I’ll be really surprised if you’ve never been hit with just the sort of nostalgia I’m talking about.

Which brings me back to Autumn and liminal space. Before the year truly dies (with winter), there’s the last gasp of activity and production (harvest), and the energy that crisp fall air can give you. There is time to spend with family and friends (Thanksgiving or harvest festivals), and the celebrations to get out of your system before winter makes you want to just hide inside with a hot drink. In the space between seasons, the threshold between light and dark, day and night, and the death of an old year transitioning to the new, it is easy to see how you could feel that worlds were closer, doors were open, and that a wrong turn could land you somewhere else altogether.

And if you’re me, the possibility of wandering onto the wrong path isn’t enough to stop you from trying to find a new path to somewhere you’ve never been – which is how I explain my obsessive compulsive desire to follow anything that looks remotely like a path in the woods. Because you never know what you’ll miss if you don’t follow it. I admit – I’m pretty darn prone to nostalgia. It shows up in my writing, and is evident in the songs and the characters I like. I fully admit that it can be a problem. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

So now that you’ve heard my jumbled thoughts on the power of Autumn, here are a few classic books and music recommendations to take that path into the woods or just into a different world for a bit. If, and when you surface, does it feel just a little bit bittersweet? If so, that’s the feeling I’m talking about.

Halloween/Fall Books:

  • Joyland by Stephen King – Yes, I know I could have recommended ANY book by Stephen King – but that isn’t the point. Joyland is more about nostalgia than horror (though it does involve some thrills, chills, and a grisly murder), and in many ways, it reads like a tribute to the fantastic Something Wicked this Way Comes. Set at an amusement park in the 70’s, this book is beautifully written and tinged with melancholy.
  • The Pale Blue Eye by Louis Bayard – a historical murder mystery that is both chilling and lyrically written. Set in the mid-1800’s, it does a great job of conveying the setting.
  • Malice by Keigo Higashino – an intricate murder mystery that is about how and why, and not the whom. Beautifully written and spare.
  • Collected Ghost Stories by M.R. James – classic British Ghost stories from the thirties. Creepier than you’d expect, with a restrained writing style hard to find these days.
  • The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. The creepy classic haunted house tale that is just as good as they say it is.
  • Last Winter We Parted by Fuminori Nakamura – an eerie psychological thriller that isn’t for everyone. This story resembles In Cold Blood, but is much more dreamy and introspective, and quite short.
  • The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield – a book for people who love books, general strangeness, and bizarre family drama. Truly chilling toward the end.
  • Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier – a classic gothic novel so good, I almost forgive Ms. du Maurier for writing the most iconic Rebecca as a truly dreadful woman. Tbh, there are no heroes in this one though, just bad people and worse people.
  • And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie – this book is basically the origin of Clue. Ten strangers summoned to a house in Devon, none of them realizing that they are marked for death. Well plotted suspense with just the right amount of twists.
  • The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Marie Pope – Sorry not sorry but I will never stop recommending this historical YA novel. It is my favorite realistic twist on the Faye, and I’ll never get tired of this Elizabethan thriller with its brave heroine and dreamy, eerie re-imagining of fairy lore.
  • The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare – a 50’s  YA classic (before there was YA) that I wore out with rereads as a kid. Basically it’s a story about Puritans in the 1600’s, and Kit, a girl with a penchant for both kindness and disobedience that both end up getting her into trouble. The setting is so vivid, you feel like you are in the village, and I’ve always loved how Speare portrayed both good and bad aspects of all her characters.
  • Coraline by Neil Gaiman – while you could read a lot of Gaiman’s books to get a shiver down your spine, I truly think that Coraline might be his most unsettling novel (and naturally, it’s a children’s book). Trapped souls of children, the other mother, button eyes – it’s creepy stuff, and I love how the lonely but adventurous Coraline handles it with the sense that only a kid would have.

How do I know you’ll keep your word?” asked Coraline.
“I swear it,” said the other mother. “I swear it on my own mother’s grave.”
“Does she have a grave?” asked Coraline.
“Oh yes,” said the other mother. “I put her in there myself. And when I found her trying to crawl out, I put her back.”
― Neil Gaiman, Coraline

Mood Music:
First, here’s a link to my Halloween Spotify Playlist, because you know I have one.

Second, here’s a few select (but slightly less obvious) songs to get you in the seasonal mood:

Baby You’re a Haunted House by Gerard Way – I love, love, love this song. And the lyric video is hilarious (reminiscent of the Star Wars Cantina band, but with skeletons). It’s a dance-y, fun song with a rock edge

Skeleton Band from “Baby You’re a Haunted House”

Ghost by Ella Henderson – Another one of my favorite songs. Ella is talking about the ghost of a relationship, but she carries the metaphor through all the way – banishing demons, “haunting” memories of her ex, and all that, and counterbalances her powerful vocals with a jazzy piano and gospel undertones. I love how upbeat this song is, and

Chained to the Rhythm by Katy Perry – Surprise you? This catchy and subtly political song warns against blindly following the crowd and living in a safe bubble (and becoming what Perry terms a “wasted zombie”), and involves a video of zombie-like amusement park-goers.

“Chase Me” by Dreamcatcher

Chase Me by Dreamcatcher – if you like Leaves Eyes or Amaranth, you might want to check out Korean all-girl rock group Dreamcatcher. They go more in for electric bass and creepy concepts than cuteness, and they’re extremely talented singers and dancers. Chase Me is part of a two-part video story about some ghostly girls. With Supernatural-style effects and some creepy visuals, the video is a lot of fun to watch too.

Skulls by Bastille – The British band’s slightly morbid song about everlasting love is one of my go-to tracks. It’s catchy, easy listening, and full of good vocals and clever lyrics.

I Will Be With You (Where the Lost Ones Go) by Sarah Brightman and Paul Stanley – a surprising pairing from 2008 – the queen of Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals and operatic pop plus the singer from KISS. This song is beautifully sung and written, and since it takes a faded relationship to a slightly more epic level, it hits all the nostalgia buttons.

Jackpot by Block B – another song with a great video, this song by Block B is a slightly ominous song about hitting it rich and the risks of money and success, all with an extremely upbeat and catchy refrain. If nothing else, watch the crazy funhouse video.

“Jackpot” by Block B

Nearly Witches (Ever Since We Met . . .) by Panic! at the Disco – another upbeat but nostalgic song about relationships, but with Brendon Urie’s amazing voice, a lot of surprising key changes, and clever lyrics. This is one of my favorite P!atD songs, and I feel like it doesn’t get much love.

Jack and Sally’s Song by The Hound + The Fox –  a twist on the Nightmare Before Christmas classic by this talented husband and wife duo from Oregon (definitely check out their version of The Parting Glass with Peter Hollens too!). Anyhow, this one is the lowest key song on the list, with Sally’s Song being turned into a glum but beautiful duet that is both nostalgic and Halloween mood music.

Thriller/Heads will Roll (Glee Cast Version)  by the Glee Cast – of course, nothing beats the original Thriller (which is also on my playlist, obviously) but this high energy mash up of it and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs Heads will Roll. The vocals are good, the combinations works well, and its a great song for dancing or cleaning out your basement (which is a lot scarier than most Halloween activities) or even raking leaves.

“Thriller/Heads Will Roll” by the Glee Cast

So there we have it – ten tracks to suit the mood. Have you listened to these songs or artists before?

What about the books; have you read them? And hey – if you really could walk into another world, would you? Or would you just regret not doing it? I think my answer is pretty easy to guess.

The Fellowship of the Ring Book TAG

First off, all credits and second breakfasts go to Nandini Bharadwaj @ Unputdownable Books, who both invented this super creative tag and gave full permission for readers to use it <3 Thanks Nandini!

Second, I finished most of this post back at the end of September – but then I got caught in a vortex of project and internship doom – which further spiraled into midterms of despair since I had only a few hours to study for each one (based on the way the calendar shook down). TT

The good News that my last one was tonight. The bad news? I feel terrible about it (and the one this morning that had everything on the test that the teacher said was *not* on the Test.

But none of that has to do with LOTR (well, except the part where I feel like Frodo crawling up Mount Doom – where is Sam when you need him!!?)

The point is, Nandini made this tag. This tag is awesome. Nandini is also awesome for making it free to use. So please go check out her blog and the original post.

BUT I DIGRESS AS USUAL:

Seeing that LOTR might be my favorite series of all time (at least top 3), I knew I had to participate, even though I haven’t been strictly book blogging or doing tags for awhile. The Power of LOTR, people. ANYHOW – I don’t know if I have any of my former followers, or any – other than the 6 people I know are reading my posts (you know who you are!) – and none of them have complained about me basically writing about being in Korea every/every other post. So instead of writing about spending CHUSEOK in Daegu (which I will do soon – hopefully before the end of October), I decided to  do the tag.

There was a point in there somewhere . . .

Ah, yes – The Fellowship of the Ring Book Tag

So – without further ado (just let me grab my pocket handkerchief . . .):

  1. Gandalf: A Book that Taught You Something

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.”So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” – The Fellowship of the Ring, by J.R.R. Tolkien

Books have taught me so much – and they’re what I always come back to when I need wisdom or encouragement. This actually might be the hardest one for me on this tag! I’m going to go way back and pick one of the books that formed me as a reader and writer (that isn’t LOTR, lol):

The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine is a book I first read about 16 years ago (and I’ve briefly mentioned it on the blog before). I can vividly remember when I bought it: I was a preteen, on a trip to the lake to stay in a rental house up north with my family and Grandparents (who had come up from Arkansas especially for this). At the time, hormones and changes were plaguing me, and all I ever wanted to do was hide away and read. I found The Two Princesses of Bamarre in an independent bookstore (hardcover, expensive), and fell in love with the cover. My grandma bought it for me (we were all allowed one book each), and I raced up to the loft as soon as we got home to devour it. So what did it teach me?: I was a preteen girl who read a lot of hero fantasy – starring male characters who were usually older than me. Two Princesses was about a young princess (near my age!) named Addie, who was scared of everything. She depends on her brave older sister Meryl for everything, until Meryl catches an “incurable” disease, and Addie must find her own courage if she wants to save her sister. As a kid who frequently suffered from crippling awkwardness and self-doubt, this book really touched a nerve in me, and I reread it for years. And since I have a lot of sisters, Addie’s love and self-sacrifice for her sister also moved me. Girls are heroes, and they don’t have to be heroic in the same ways. Sometimes loving someone enough to do the right thing is the bravest thing to do. And sometimes being heroic doesn’t look bold or glamorous, or even get noticed <3

2. Frodo: A book that left a mark on you

Another hard one!

‘Alas! there are some wounds that cannot be wholly cured,’ said Gandalf.

‘I fear it may be so with mine,’ said Frodo. ‘There is no real going back. Though I may come to the Shire, it will not seem the same; for I shall not be the same. I am wounded with knife, sting, and tooth, and a long burden. Where shall I find rest?’

Gandalf did not answer.”
The Return of the King, J.R.R. Tolkien

I think I probably mentioned The Guest, by Korean novelist Hwang Sok-yong, somewhere on this blog. But it is the first book I think of when I think of a scar or mark left by a book. The Guest is narrated by a pastor who goes to visit his family home in North Korea after the Korean War. The book weaves past, present, reality, and thoughts into an interested narrative form that is sometimes difficult to read. Even more difficult are the brutal descriptions of death and chaos caused by all parties during and before the war, and the

wounds it left on the Korean people and their land. This was not an easy book to read, and I don’t think it was meant to be. It made me think, and it challenged my perceptions of military intervention, faith, and international

politics. Haunting and beautiful, but horrifying – The Guest is a book I find myself thinking about a lot, and I don’t think I could ever forget it.

“People hated and killed each other back then. Now even those who survived are dying, leaving this world one by one. Unless we find a way to forgive one another, none of us will ever be able to see each other again. (2007: 88)”
― Hwang Sok-yong, The Guest

3. Legolas: A book you finished in one sitting

“He was tall as a young tree, lithe, immensely strong, able swiftly to draw a great war-bow and shoot down a Nazgûl, endowed with the tremendous vitality of Elvish bodies, so hard and resistant to hurt that he went only in light shoes over rock or through snow, the most tireless of all the Fellowship.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Book of Lost Tales, Part Two

Most recently, I read the indie-published e-book Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox (Amaranthine Saga Book 1) by an author known as FORTHRIGHT. This was an easy-reading fantasy romance based in Japanese folklore, with a different heroine in the Jane Eyre meets Hinata Hyūga (Naruto) combination that is Tsumiko. The story is set in an intricately woven world where powerful shape-shifting immortals (Amaranthine) have reemerged in the world after having been oppressed by humans (called reavers). Tsumiko, the heroine, is a young woman who lives is what is (presumably) a convent school, and she is very skeptical when a man shows up and tries to give her an inheritance from a mysterious relative she didn’t know about. Tsumiko is happy with her life, but something in the letter, and the way it calls her to care for this unknown relative’s estate, awakens her nurturing instinct, and she decides to go see the place for her estate. Of course, the greatest

And it’s pretty

treasure of the estate is a dramatic and beautiful Amaranthine, Argent, who has been enslaved to the family for decades, and a cast of interesting and lovable characters that become the family Tsumiko always wanted. I had mixed feelings about this book, tbh. I loved the world, and the Black Butler meets Naruto meets Inyuyasha meets Japanese folklore aspects. The world building and many of the concepts were really cool (if sometimes uncomfortable, lol). But in the end, it’s the fact that it was such a romance novel that lost me – I just wasn’t interested in Argent and Tsumiko’s relationship, which was so destined and obvious. Since that was a big part of the book, I felt detached, but obviously, I still read it in one sitting! I would definitely recommend this book to those who love romance with a dash of fantasy though ;P

4. Gimli: A book that features an unlikely friendship

I love, love, love, unlikely friendships.

“Speak, or I will put a dint in your hat that even a wizard will find hard to deal with!”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

And while there are so many of these to choose from (and a lot of the choices I’ve already put down have them), I am going to use the classic and trope-defining unlikely friendship in Don QuixoteIf you haven’t ever

made it through this hefty book, I don’t blame you, but it is worth the time investment. The Don is out of touch with reality, determined to be a knight-errant and live in his world of fictions regardless of what goes on around him. His squire, Sancho Panza, is illiterate and knows little of the world, but he has surprising wisdom that grows throughout the duration of the story. Sancho sticks to the Don through many bizarre and humorous episodes, even when everyone else laughs at the aging “knight” and his delusions, and their discussions on their adventures provide many of the best parts of this novel.

Add this to the witty, even self-aware aspects of the story, and you have a brilliant novel with one of the most fantastic pair of unlikely friends to ever exist.

5. Merry: A book that pleasantly surprised you

“Thank you!” said Merry. “But it is a greater honour to dangle at your tail, Gandalf. For one thing, in that position one has a chance of putting a question a second time. Are we riding far tonight?”
Gandalf laughed. “A most unquenchable hobbit! All wizards should have a hobbit or two in their care—to teach them the meaning of the world, and to correct them.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

Style over substance? Maybe – what style <3

This goes to a series, rather than a book: Bride of the Water God by Yun Mi-Kyung. And they’re manhwa, or Korean graphic novels 🙂 Like a lot of people, I picked this up because of the drama, and while I wasn’t too impressed with the first volume (manga/manhwa first volumes are always iffy), I kept reading. The art is lush and beautiful, and the story starts to develop unique nuances around the second volume. I can’t say I was particularly attached to the characters, but they were all interesting and I loved all the nods to mythology and folklore. Basically, since this is a romance (albeit kind of a dark one), I expected to not like it at all, and I really just ended up enjoying the ride. And. The. Art. Those backgrounds are amazing. I was completely immersed in the world. By the end, I didn’t even care what was going on – I just wanted to remain in the gorgeous, mythical world created by the art!

6. Pippin: A book that made you laugh

“Fool of a Took!” he growled. “This is a serious journey, not a hobbit walking-party. Throw yourself in next time, and then you will be no further nuisance.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

I love books that make me laugh. Most recently, Between Jobs, by W.R. Gingell, had me giggling at the cheeky narrator, witty lines or repartee (or just the welcome existence of a mopey Korean vampire). Normally, the idea of a book about a 17-year old girl living as the “pet” of two fae and a vampire would set off red flags, but since this was a novel by my Tasmanian Twitter friend W.R. Gingell (we tend to discuss learning Korean and Kpop, lol), I trusted that the tricky sounding subject would be well handled. “Pet,” a mysterious (and maybe unreliable) orphan who manages to be relatable yet full of secrets, is squatting her house until she is old enough (and has enough money from her very relatable and terrible part-time job at a cafe) to buy it, when a grisly murder upsets her life and brings three “psychos” into her house. The “psychos” (that’s what she calls them), two fae and a vampire, drag her into a mystery that she may or may not be already involved with. Pet is a delightful narrator, and I frequently found myself empathizing with her. Her wisecracks and jabs at the uber-powerful “psychos” were hilarious, and the only bad moment was reaching the final page! As a side note, having a Korean vampire was inspired – as there are plenty of fun ones in Korean shows/manhwa, etc, but I have yet to see one anywhere else. And JinYeong refuses to speak in English, which was also fun (not that Pet understands him, but I did, lol). At any rate, this book was completely good fun from beginning to end, and the sequel was also delightful (if too short!).

7. Boromir: A book/series that you think ended too soon

Boromir! I cried. Where is thy horn? Whither goest thou? O Boromir! But he was gone. The boat turned into the stream and passed glimmering on into the night. Dreamlike it was, and yet no dream, for there was no waking.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

Doesn’t every good book end too soon? I think this one will have to go to Incarceron though. This book was rather faddish among a certain set for a time, but I never met anyone else who had read Sapphique, and many of my online acquaintances didn’t really like it. However, these lyrical, Alice in Wonderland books with quirky characters and stories and prisons-that-aren’t-prisons that will drag you into a very unique world. The sense of wonder they gave me was beautiful, and I only wish there had been a third one to wrap up all the questions and loose ends!! I think that’s why, ten years later (I feel old), they are still the first books I think of when I see this prompt (and hey, like Boromir, I think they’re underrated).

Be right back . . . TT . . . *sobbing*

8. Sam: A book with memorable side characters that stole the show

“How would this do: and they all settled down and lived together happily ever after?’
‘It will do well, if it ever comes to that,’ said Frodo.
‘Ah!’ said Sam. ‘And where will they live? That’s what I often wonder.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

I’m a side character girl, and for me, the ultimate case of this was with the Harry Potter Series. The triad of Harry, Ron, and Hermione were never as interesting or compelling to me as the multiple colorful side characters who were always stealing their thunder. This is actually one of the aspects of J.K. Rowling’s writing that reminds me of Dickens – I always like the side characters a lot more than the main characters. It’s not that I don’t like the main characters (I was a lot like Hermione as a kid, tbh), it’s that I just don’t connect. For example, in HP, my favorite characters were hands down Fred and George, followed by Lupin, Molly Weasley, the Marauders (hey, none of us care if they were just in the books through retrospect!!), Luna, Professor McGonagall, and Snape (not a surprise). While a book about Fred and George might not have carried the same gravity, it would have been a lot more fun. The scene in Order of the Phoenix where they turn being expelled into “quitting school” is still one of my favorite moments in kids’ literature. So satisfying.

9. Aragorn: A good book with a bad/average cover

“Thus came Aragorn son of Arathorn, Elessar, Isildur’s heir, out of the Paths of the Dead, borne upon a wind from the sea to the kingdom of Gondor.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

Nothing beats the 80’s editions of LOTR for bad covers. And I’m not using LOTR for this tag (would sort of defeat the purpose!) –

The 60’s called – they want their style back

but I have to put one of the covers up just because.

Seriously. So bad. If we were just talking covers, I never would have picked it up.

The book I did pick – The Iron Ring by Lloyd Alexander, is also pretty bad.

I grew up reading Lloyd Alexander, and I enjoyed everything he wrote – but considering when they were written (60’s-90’s), most of the covers were awful. The Iron Ring is an adventure-packed story inspired by Indian mythology. It’s old-fashioned fantasy, where you’re immersed

in the world and all kinds of random characters pop up to aid or hinder the hero. In other words, a book I would love. The cover does nothing for it.

Anyhow, The Iron Ring begins with Prince Tamar losing a game of chance in a dream, and wakes up with a pesky iron ring on his finger. That’s when the adventure begins, and Alexander fused the Indian setting with a life and vibrancy that made me want to go to India straightaway. Sadly, the cover does not do the same 😛

10. Gollum: A book that had great potential but disappointed you in the end

“Yes, perhaps, yes’ said Gollum. ‘Sméagol always helps, if they asks – if they asks nicely.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

Stalking Jack the Ripper, by Kerri Maniscalco was definitely one of these for me. It was pretty fun until the last third, and that’s when the disappointment came in.  I want to avoid spoilers here – but the way the ending unraveled was very predictable. In addition, the heroine, Audrey Rose, seemed like a girl from the 2000’s transplanted to a different time period. I was all for her being able to dissect cadavers in pursuit of science and knowledge, but her thoughts and attitudes were more 2018 than 1800’s, and it jarred me out of the period of the story.**

The romance was believable, and the premise was very interesting. I liked Audrey Rose, and I loved how well the first few chapters set the mood. It just didn’t deliver on the thrills and chills that every good Jack the Ripper yarn promises.

Okay – so some old books, some new books, and some indie authors. Not too shabby 🙂 Have you read any of these (I mean, other than Harry Potter, because I think its one of the most widely read books in the world). If so, what did you think? Also, I’m not tagging anyone since I wasn’t officially tagged, but please check out Nandini’s blog and join the tag if you like there 🙂 Cheers!

**I term this the Zootopia effect. A perfectly good piece of fun entertainment is nearly ruined by flag waving and hitting you over the head with its (super obvious) message. Even if it’s a message I believe in, I really don’t like having to be reminded every minute.  That’s called preachy.

 

Small, Good Things: September in Review

thankI had really planned on doing Nandini Bharadwaj from Unputdownable Books Lord of the Rings Tag for September (which is Hobbit Month, obviously* ;P) but life and school and my bad memory (for the books I’ve read recently TT) made me drag on with that, and now it is apparently October 1st.

Regardless of the criticism I have for the Hobbit movies – Martin Freeman is a FANTASTIC Bilbo.

I am slightly dismayed, as this means time went so quickly – and I’ve already been in Korea for a month and a half! I don’t even want to think about that.

I DO PLAN ON DOING THE TAG. JUST IN OCTOBER.

Also – the good part is – we are in the best part of the year! From September through December is my favorite time to be outside, inside, and generally alive and a human in this world. For one thing, it is officially autumn (가울/Ga-eul in Korean), which is my favorite season – and that means

leaves changing, sweater weather, hiking!, pumpkins and squash, Halloween, Thanksgiving, food, steaming mugs of tea or cider paired with your favorite book, knitting, and I could go on.

As autumn slides into winter, we have Christmas and winter peace, and more opportunities for sweaters, tea, books, and knitting. Summary: I just really like this time of year. Also, apparently Autumn is the most beautiful time to be in Pohang (this post), according to the friends I’ve made here. Considering it is already beautiful, I’m really excited to see the new dimensions that fall colors bring to the gorgeous Korean landscape.

So now that I’ve gushed a bit about fall – it’s time to look back at September. It was a very busy month for me, but I somehow managed to write 4 involved posts (and start drafts of about 5 more), read a few books, and keep up with school at a new university. I also plan on sharing some of the “small, good things” that helped keep my spirits up as I reentered the blogging world for a whole month, and tried to re-engage with people offline and online. All while studying abroad for the first time. In other words, I have a lot to be grateful for, but I think sometimes I forget that. Counting small (or not so small) blessings is often a way to remember to be grateful, and so that is how I am organizing this September Summary Post.

A Dozen Small, Good Things – with illustrative gifs:

  1. Korean Food

I love food and I love to cook too – so living in a dorm with an upstairs (read: minimal) kitchen space has been a challenge. However, I managed to make kimchi jjigae there with the limited resources. Korean food is sheer comfort food for me, and it is all so delicious. I am really grateful that I am able to eat, enjoy meals with friends, and try so many things while here in Korea. Some of the best so far? Hotteok, Tteokbokki and Sundae, and all the amazing food for Chuseok last week (Chuseok post coming soon!).

2. Umbrellas

I have never been so grateful to the inspired human who decided we need tents on sticks to keep ourselves out of the sun or rain! Just like in Hong Kong, it spontaneously rains all the time in Pohang. But unlike in Hong Kong, the rain here is cold. It chills you and somehow seeps in your clothes.

Can also double as a weapon

Enter the sturdy, thick handled umbrella. Resistant against rain and protective against hot sun, the only thing that will defeat it is a typhoon. (I have it on good authority that most Handong students go through 5 umbrellas a year)**

3. Hot Water Dispensers

Water purifiers are all over campus. In the states, this is also common, but the water is always cold. This is fantastic – unless you want a quick cup of tea or want to make the world’s laziest cup of ramen (and admit it, sometimes we all do). But in Handong, and honestly, most of Korea (restaurants, malls, hostels, etc) are outfitted with handy water dispenser that will give hot OR cold water. So simple but so brilliant. I will miss it terribly.

This gif is therapeutic

4. Wifi

Wifi, wifi, everywhere. I even found it in a gorge once. Koreans are known for their wifi and it lives up to the reputation of being fast and easy to find. This is invaluable if you don’t have a Korean phone number, as apps like WhatsApp, Line, and Kakao Talk let you chat with friends all over the world for no extra fees. WiFi also makes it easier to access maps, bus schedules, dictionaries, addresses, and all the other little details that make navigating a different country so much easier. Sometime connection can be a beautiful thing.

5. Buses

Old, new, grungy, or clean – they are always right on time and so reliable. the public transportation here is a thing of beauty, and I love the ability to hop on a bus and make it anywhere on a map, maybe with a few transfers, and all you have to do is swipe a transportation card. That same card can get you on a subway as well, so its doubly useful. Coming from the States and especially the Midwest, some people may not realize how blindingly brilliant I find public transportation – but it is one of the best things in the world and we need it STAT.

6. Public Parks

Grave mounds

Big, small, National – I don’t care – I am an equal opportunity lover of public parks. Korea, so far, doesn’t seem to have the same sorts of manicured, cultivated parks that randomly sprout out of a city block like in Hong Kong, but they have something even better: mountains that sprout out of city blocks. If you like to hike (and everyone who has visited this blog probably knows what a hiking enthusiast I am), then Korea is a fantastic place to be.

Though not every park has a mountain, there are a proliferation of parks that have everything from national monuments to exercise equipment (yes, just outside and free to use), pavilions, benches, ponds, gardens, and in the case of the wooded park behind my school, a lake AND some random grave mounds. A lot more interesting  than your average park.

Regardless, there is always something to see, and you can get fresh air, exercise, and a change of scenery by basically just walking outside. It is fantastic and I love it so much. If there’s a mountain, that just makes things even better.

7. Blog/Instagram Comments

I sometimes take a long time to answer, and I am lately rather bad at going around and leaving comments of my own, but I really love the dialogue online. It’s not so much that I care if people like to read what I wrote (though that is a nice bonus!), I just really like to chat and interact and hear about others’ experiences too. When I first started blogging, I really just wanted to find a community of people who cared about the same things

Sometimes this is as much as I can come up with ;P

and had the same passions, because I was lacking that in the offline world. So every time someone comments on my posts, or even social media, I know that they “listened,” and are now responding, so then we had a conversation. I love that.

8. Sunlit forests

Yes, I’m a nature girl (See #6), and if I’m stressed or keyed up, my instinct is to flee the crowds and find some trees. There is something so magical about the way sunlight makes patterns though leaves and trees – it never looks the same way twice, and I have actually stood for about an hour watching the change in light and shadow on a forest floor. Really. It’s even hard for me to photograph, since ever minute the light changes, there is a new pattern or design that wasn’t there before.

The Woods of Palgongsan, Daegu, ROK

I think the great love for trees, forests, and the particular way that afternoon sun turns all things to gold, was one of the many reasons I bonded so much with Tolkien’s writing as a kid. His love for forests, for the way they feel alive and almost seem to listen – for the way they can make you feel not so alone when you are by yourself – it always spoke to me. No matter how young I was when my dad started reading the books to us, that was something I understood on the most basic level.

9. Korean Reality TV

Running Man, King of Mask Singer, 2 Days 1 Night, Law of the Jungle, Return of Superman, and all of the many, many random programs found on both the actual TV and on VLive (app/website) are a gift to language learners, and anyone who just wants some innocent gut-shaking laughter. If you have never watching Korean Reality TV, you are missing out – because I’m not talking American made-for-tv-drama called reality, or toddlers in makeup, or wild beach parties – I’m talking about tv hosts with big personalities creating mischief, playing silly but fun games, learning skills or crafts, and the funniest use of subtitles ever. Not only do the frequent subtitles give you Korean language practice, they often add, comment on, or embellish whatever is going on in the program. If you don’t know any Korean, and have no plan to learn, there are a ton of websites that provide English subs as well as other languages, so you can enjoy the programs too (I mean, my 5-year old sister can’t read more than letters, and she’s an avid Running Man fan).

 

10. Remembering New Vocabulary

Every time I think I have mastered a new phrase, conjugation, or word in Korean, I seem to forget about five others. It’s really rough when I am working so hard to understand, but the things I want to say just won’t come out! 생각이 많이 있어서 말 하고 싶어요. 그러나 한국말 하는 것을 좀 어려워요. 단어가 기억할 수 없으면 특히 답답해요. (I have a lot of thoughts so I want to speak. But Korean is a little difficult to speak. It’s especially frustrating if I can’t remember a word) [ Any errors in the sentence are mine].

그래서 (keu-rae-soh), or therefore, when I remember a word, especially at the perfect time, I am always so, so grateful. 진짜요. (Really)

11. Spotify Premium

I’m so glad I signed up for Student Spotify Premium before I left the States. It’s worth the $5 a month to be able to play whatever  I want, whenever I

want it (even if I don’t have WiFi, I can play downloaded playlists). Since SP isn’t available in Korea, I can only use it because I signed up in the US – and it has been a wonderful service to have. I don’t think I have to write any more about why music is a necessary part of my life (see this post), but here are 5 diverse but upbeat tracks I am really into at the moment! ***

Se Vuelve Loca by CNCO – as far as my very rudimentary knowledge of Spanish goes, this is about a girl who loves to be seen when she’s dancing. It’s got a great groove, and those beautiful vocals I always love from CNCO. They’re super talented, and all of their songs make you want to get up and dance (also check out the Tainy Remix of Diganle featuring Leslie Grace!)

All Time Low by Straight No Chaser – the brilliant men of acapella pop-cover group Straight No Chaser take on Jon Bellion’s 2016 hit, adding some on point vocalizing and beatboxing. Catchy, a little eerie, and somehow still dance-worthy, it’s been a frequent go-to for me this month.

Way Back Home by SHAUN – It says a lot about this song that I still love it even though I heard it before it was popular, and now I can’t go anywhere in Korea without hearing it at least once! SHAUN’s voice is smooth, effortless, and the soft cry to his falsetto is magic with the gentle island beat and guitar that back them up in this smash hit from his first EP. He’s also a DJ and producer – so, yeah, talented guy.

Lonely (feat. Max) Steve Aoki Remix by Matoma- Norwegian DJ/Producer of house and tropical-vibed dance music, Matoma, teams up with my much-loved Max, and they get added gloss from Steve Aoki in this pulsing, broody anthem that still makes you feel good somehow. Max just wants to know where you were when he was lonely? Is that such a hard question?

Up All Night by David Archuleta – Not a name you’ve heard in a while? Me neither. I randomly stumbled across this 2017 track by the former American Idol while gearing up a play queue for a long study session. It’s also dance-y, but David Archuleta has the voice of an angel, and its brilliant paired with a dance-pop track reminiscent of early-2000’s Céline Dion in the best kind of way.

12. Instant Coffee

Last, but never least – COFFEE. Sure, there are cute cafes everywhere in Korea, and I could walk down a block, buy an Americano every 3 shops, and be broke by the time I made it back to campus. Instant coffee, while not the same quality level, is still a must when you live in a dorm without a coffee pot for 4 months. And when there are instant hot water dispensers (see #3), then you never have to be out of reach of coffee. I actually managed to find some pretty decent tasting stuff here, and it’s already helped propel me through a couple late group-project nights.

There are a lot more than a dozen things to be thankful for, especially now that it is the best time of year (my unbiased opinion). What are some small, daily reminders to you that show you how much you have, and how blessed you are? Have you taken time to be grateful today? Please tell me in the comments (#7, wink, wink, nod, nod). And as always, thanks for reading!

*September is Tolkien Month/Hobbit Month because I (and some other people) say so. But Hobbit Day (September 22nd, Bilbo and Frodo’s Birthday, is verified by the most trustworthy Wikipedia)

**True story. My friend said that the average Handong student goes through 5 umbrellas a year, and that is why you often see battered, ruined umbrellas in trashcans after really terrible storms.

***ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ But no, not today, 그 때가 오늘은 아니지

 

Mini Book Reviews (and The Handong Adventure Begins)

All too soon, it was time for me to bid Seoul goodbye *sob* (or 안녕히 계세요!) I left my hostel early in the morning, hopped on a bus (well, as much as you can hop while dragging heavy bags), and then camped out in Seoul Station for an hour until my train was ready to leave.

Seoul Station is a large and busy but well-organized place, and everything is clearly marked, making it easy to navigate whether you can read Korean or not. Reading and understanding Korean too just makes things faster! While I waited, I had some gimbap and read some of The Lies of Locke Lamora, which I have finally picked back up again after several years. However, I was frequently distracted by 1. adorable babies, and 2. the multitude of languages and people. Either way, the time passed pretty quickly, and I had no trouble finding my train and boarding on time.

Gimbap (김밥) is a seaweed roll with rice and various cooked or pickled fillings. It looks like sushi, but it tastes different!

The KTX, or Korea’s high-speed train system, is a thing of beauty (and I thought the subway was good!).  One way from Seoul to Pohang cost about $48 US, and took 2 and a half hours. The trains have ample storage space for luggage, comfy seats, built-in charging ports and WiFi, and far more leg room than a plane has. Also, you could see some of the Korean countryside flashing past from the train, which was nice. The ride was so smooth that I could read, even though I tend to get motion sick.

Reading has been something that I have had to cut back on ever since I went back to school. Other than textbooks, I am usually too tired or busy to try something fictional. However, I knew with all the travel time I was taking that I would have a perfect opportunity for some reading. Before I left the States, I also crammed in some reading – so here are a few mini reviews for you book lovers (with gifs, because I still love them):

Everland by Wendy Spinale

Pretty, isn’t it?

A post-apocalyptic/steampunk Young Adult retelling of Peter Pan set in a destroyed London, Everland was a quick read at just over 300 pages. While the setting, concept, and idea were fantastic, most of the book just felt flat to me. Told alternately in Gwen (Wendy) and Hook’s first-person perspectives was an interesting decision, and I think that third-person might have been a better way to tell the story, since most details (what is Everland, what is the virus, etc) aren’t even added until later. Gwen’s POV makes her seem like a bland, moody, moderately relatable teenage girl, but her interactions with her siblings gave her more personality. Hook was boring, and I honestly found his parts unnecessary. The characters were very stereotypical teenagers, with all sorts of mood shifts and sudden hostility, but the story and concept were fascinating enough to finish the book. I loved the darker setting, worldbuilding, real peril, and the virus concept, and all of the gadgets were great. However, I couldn’t become invested in the characters or sympathize with them.

How I felt at the end.

Final verdict: 5 out of 10 stars – A+ setting, C everything else

The Harvest Man, by Alex Grecian

Number 4 in the Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad series, The Harvest Man was still easy to follow though I hadn’t read any of the rest of the series. Inspector Walter Day, a new father with a happy marriage, but put on a desk job after his encounter with Jack the Ripper (see the previous novel), and his friend Nevil Hammersmith, who has been released from the Yard for reckless endangerment of his life, are both scarred and physically damaged from their Jack the Ripper case. Hammersmith continues to investigate on his own, while Day tries to pretend that both a desk job and himself are fine and what he wants. However, a gruesome string of murders gets them both involved, and leads into what was a pretty decent thriller. The titular Harvest Man is a psychologically damaged man who is always “looking” for his family. He mutilates his victims in hopes to see his lost parents. An interesting narrative device was showing the murders from the Harvest Man’s perspective. Though he is never excused or exonerated for the terrible acts of violence he commits, you do understand his elements of humanity and his motivations. That makes him far more chilling than many antagonists of similar novels. In addition, both of the main characters are developed and empathetic, with flaws and struggles that felt real. My biggest complaint is that it wasn’t quite “thrilling” until the last third, and then there was a sort of cliffhanger. However, it was a solid story with good characters and well-written, if rather gruesome. I also felt that some of the setting/elements/character behaviors seemed too modern for Victorian England, but it didn’t detract from the story.

He might read murder mysteries?

Final verdict: 7.5 out of 10 stars. B+ characters, A+ story, B plot

The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

I admit it – I have read every one of these books (Iron Fey series and The Call of the Forgotten spin offs). I have always picked them up when I’m having a rough day and can’t focus, as they’re easy reads. And I always keep them cover down since, well . . . the covers are all dreadful.

Same.

Ew.

Pros: a dazzling world of the Fae that is just as dark, alien, and scary as it should be. I love all the fantastic creatures, real peril, and how Julie Kagawa depicts the Fae themselves. Her worldbuilding and descriptions are excellent, and I think that is why I keep reading, even if I tire of the romance-driven narratives and teen drama.

Cons: ^^Teen drama and angst isn’t my thing – but this is a YA book, so it’s a con and not a flaw. It’s just something you have to accept if you read Young Adult. The biggest problem for me were the four lead characters. Ethan is sympathetic but over the top, in my opinion. His attempts to be “bad and dangerous” to distance himself from people seem more melodramatic than real, but I did find him the best of all four. Kenzie, who has (SPOILER FOR FIRST BOOK) – cancer – seemed two-dimensional and more concerned about asserting her ability to think as an independent woman than considering how her illness might affect her and the people she loves. Plausible, but she wasn’t well-developed enough to truly know.  Kierran drove me crazy though. A little Attack of the Clones Anakin meets Byronic hero who believes himself to be smarter and more well-equipped than every other character, he has zero common sense and I found it hard to sympathize with they way he basically put everyone at risk and made stupid decisions every two seconds to “save” his dying girlfriend, Annwyl, against her will. Annwyl was the least developed of the cast, and though she had zero personality, she was a lot smarter than Kierran. Their romantic relationship was written on the page but never believable or evident otherwise.

Summary: If you like romance-driven books with really cool worlds and worldbuilding, but you don’t care if the characters are good or not, then you might like this book just fine. It’s just not my cup of tea, and I probably won’t read any more of the spinoffs. I miss Ash and Puck (my favorite part of the previous series), and tbh, if they hadn’t shown up for the final third, I probably wouldn’t have finished this one.

Bonus gif

 

Final verdict: 5 out of 10 stars. A+ world, C- characters, C plot, B+ descriptive writing

Different Class by Joanne Harris

Love this cover

A thriller by the author of Chocolat, this book had a very promising beginning and slowly dried up into a very lackluster ending. Told mainly from the perspective of Roy Straitley, an “old-guard” English Grammar school master who feels that the times are leaving him, discipline, the classics, and common sense behind in the education system,  Different Class is a twisting story that had me confused until about half way through. Unfortunately, that was where the story derailed a bit as well, and lost the creeping eerie mood. There was one major plot twist that got me for a while (the nature of the villain), but I found the story got less believable as it went on. It’s hard to say why without spoiling the story, but I feel like the author’s own beliefs/agenda got in the way of her spinning a better tale. The ending was not satisfying, as the suspense was gone, and ultimately, I expected better and wanted more. As a side note, I found the fact that in the 2005 parts (the book travels about in time quite a bit), that the gay student is basically targeted by the school administration and not the students,  to be a bit far-fetched, but I sympathized with Roy’s worries and aggravation with the changing system and its aggressive political correctness being prioritized over quality of learning and instruction. Sigh. I really thought I was going to read a book that would linger and give me the chills, and that probably made me dislike it more.

Valid question.

Final verdict: 6 out of 10 stars. B+ setting and premise, A+ plot twist, B delivery, C ending.

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

Arguably one of the most important South African novels, this has been on my to-read list forever. I obtained it at a book exchange (so much fun!), and read the majority of it while sitting in the Qingdao airport. I always find classics hard to review, and Cry, the Beloved Country is no exception. The story is about aging, rural Zulu pastor Stephen Kumalo who goes to the city in search of his son and his sister in the city of Johannesburg after hearing that the latter is sick. Set before Apartheid, the story frankly describes the racial tension, the injustice toward the black Africans to whom the country belongs. Paton was himself white, but his work at a reformatory seems to have given him a perspective different from many during his time (1948 was when it was published). Cry, the Beloved Country could serve as a summary of the story as well as the title, since Paton beautifully depicts a land full of the cries of injustice, want, poverty, and spiritual emptiness, but also love, faith, and family ties. The style is old-fashioned, and dashes (-) in front of the dialogue instead of quotation marks threw me at first. However, I was quickly drawn in by the lyrical writing and Stephen Kumalo’s plight. Every character in this book was deeply human, believable, and a complicated mixture of good and bad. I don’t know that I’ll ever read it again, but I am glad I read it and would highly recommend it to anyone, as it is just as relevant today as it was in 1948.

One of the major themes of this book

Final verdict: 10 out of 10. A compelling, if sad and sometimes difficult book that deals with important themes and real humans, not heroes.

So now that I’ve proved I read something . . .

The train ride wasn’t long enough to finish The Lies of Locke Lamora (which is over 600 pages), and I was definitely distracted by announcements in Korean and the scenery. I finally did make it to Pohang though, and after figuring out which bus to take, I finally found my hostel. That was harder than navigating Seoul, tbh. Pohang is beautiful, with all kinds of boats, beaches, and you can see mountains (or foothills, not sure) if you look the right direction.

Anyhow, I wanted to see a bit of Pohang before I went to Handong (my school), so I stayed in a hostel for one night and explored a bit. If you ever find yourself in Pohang, SK – I highly recommend staying at Youngildae Guesthouse. It is close to everything and very reasonably priced. More importantly, you host is the kindest woman ever – she went out of her way to help me out, and took pity on me and my heavy bags. I actually couldn’t believe it, but she gave me a ride to school in the morning because that was her definition of proper hospitality. I only stayed there one night, which is a shame, but I wanted to shout out this wonderful lady and her kindness.

My trip would have been a lot more onerous if I hadn’t gotten a ride (or a taxi, but taxis cost money) – but as it was, I arrived safe and sound at Handong Global University (HGU) right on time for Orientation – and that is another blog post!

Whew! Another long post! Thank you for reading to the end 🙂 Have you ever read any of the books/authors above? What are some books you’ve enjoyed or read recently? Have you ever eaten Gimbap?