A LOT OF MANGA

I read manga when I don't want to read, which is very often, and it's difficult to stop once I start gorging. I picked up mangas I dropped, discovered new gems, and am trudging through many for closure.

1. Killing My Sensei Softly (Sensei no Yasashii Koroshikata) by HANTEN Sharou

After school, Sensei tutors me in secret. My classmates think we have some sort of relationship, but they've got it all wrong. Sensei is a serial killer, and I am his apprentice. "Sensei, please teach me how to murder." A dark love unfolds between a serial killer Sensei and his devoted apprentice!

Starting this list off on a weird start. I don't remember how I found this manga, but it's refreshing because I read a lot of fantasy, fluff, romance, and shoujo. Almost every chapter is about finding a serial killer and murdering them. Some arcs are longer than others. The art is relatively simple/bland, and despite revolving around killing, it's not all the gory. DINER by KAWAI Takanori is still the goriest and most messed up mangas I've encountered. There is an age gap romance subplot, but it's not the romance where you're cheering them on to end up together. It's more so hoping the Sensei character reveals their past with the FL, their MO for killing, etc.

I FINISHED A LITTLE LIFE

FEB 4, 2023 - MAY 5, 2023

I spent my birthday bawling. 

I made immense progress with this book while riding the subway to and from Brooklyn. The subway is the best way to get reading in. That said, this was not the right book choice because I got teary-eyed, and it's fucking heavy. My wrists!

A LITTLE LIFE MIDWAY CHECK IN

I started reading A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara on February 4th; it's April 15th as I type this post. Of the 814 pages, I am on 387, which isn't significant progress considering I've been "reading" this book for almost two months. 

Firstly, why am I reading this book? Frankly, I'm not sure either. It's probably because of all the Jack Edwards videos: celebs' favorite books, most depressing books, this book broke me, and other videos in the same vein. 

Either way, I am late, as usual, to the bandwagon. This book was popular when it came out, and I remember two bookstagram accounts raving about it. Other than the fact that this book has a long list of triggers and isn't for the faint of heart, I knew virtually nothing about the book. 

BOOKS I READ SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR PT. 1

I've been decluttering my shelf and selling books on Pango. If you live in the US and want to purchase some of my books at a low price, please check out my Pango Seller Profile. 

2022 WRAP UP

I began drafting this post in August because it felt like the end of my reading year. The list will not grow if I don't set out time to read, spend most of my time watching videos at two times speed, or just staring into space. 

Then November happened, and I got busy. Some people spend more time together when the weather gets cold, but I spend it alone with books. Both are equally, albeit differently, fruitful by the end of the following year, but I should theoretically have a better sleep schedule than the others. 

I HAVE A TYPE | OOF, THIS MANHWA WAS GREAT

 

A Business Proposal 

Illustrator: Narak

Author: Perilla &p Haehwa

    Ha-ri made a deal—go on one blind date for her BFF and pretend to be a super-vixen to end all of her unwanted marriage set-ups! Unfortunately, instead of easy money, Ha-ri’s got a headache. Her date is Taemu, her company’s hot new CEO, and he’s got his own plans to get his family to back off by marrying whoever shows up on the date. Should Ha-ri accept his proposal to keep playing pretend? Nothing could go wrong with lying about your real identity while dating the boss... right??

BOOK HAUL + REVIEW

BANANA-MANIA

Super late, like 20+ years, to the trend. I adored Kitchen because the writing is beautiful and profound. The book's two stories are about grief: finding people that are also experiencing loss, communicating with them, and overcoming the grief. I was surprised by the fantastical/magical realism aspect. Kitchen was one of my favorite books this year, so I wanted to read more of Banana Yoshimoto's words.

Coincidentally, I purchased the books she wrote/published right after Kitchen. I purchased N.P., Lizard, and Asleep—I listed them chronologically. If I had known that I would read her bibliography chronologically, I also would've picked up Amrita, but I'm glad I didn't because it doesn't sound that great.

MUSIC MONDAYS

In another installment of non-book review content on a "book blog," I will introduce some songs that I've been loving. Let me know what songs you liked or disliked from this list, and comment below what you're listening to at the moment. I truly appreciate song recommendations because I'm stuck and sick of listening the songs below. I need some new stuff!