I've watched my fair share of animes that made me cry in my life: Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica, Ano Hana, You Lie in April, Grave of Fireflies, Your Name (not sure about the last one but we'll include it anyway.) Unlike Hotarubi no Mori e, they took more time for me to become invested; it took several episodes or extra minutes for those to tell a story, to develop the plot, and for me to fall in love with the characters. In less than an hour, Hotarubi no Mori e does all that. It had me laughing, uwu-ing, and crying in that timeframe. It delivered so much in so little time, and I'm left hungry for more!
THIS WAS SO FREAKING ADORABLE
Eliza and Her Monsters
by Francesca Zappia
Greenwillow Books | May 30, 2017
Her story is a phenomenon. Her life is a disaster.
In the real world, Eliza Mirk is shy, weird, and friendless. Online, she’s LadyConstellation, the anonymous creator of the wildly popular webcomic Monstrous Sea. Eliza can’t imagine enjoying the real world as much as she loves the online one, and she has no desire to try.
Then Wallace Warland, Monstrous Sea’s biggest fanfiction writer, transfers to her school. Wallace thinks Eliza is just another fan, and as he draws her out of her shell, she begins to wonder if a life offline might be worthwhile.
But when Eliza’s secret is accidentally shared with the world, everything she’s built—her story, her relationship with Wallace, and even her sanity—begins to fall apart.
THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CREEPY?
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
by Shirley Jackson
September 21, 1962
Merricat Blackwood lives on the family estate with her sister Constance and her Uncle Julian. Not long ago there were seven Blackwoods—until a fatal dose of arsenic found its way into the sugar bowl one terrible night. Acquitted of the murders, Constance has returned home, where Merricat protects her from the curiosity and hostility of the villagers. Their days pass in happy isolation until cousin Charles appears. Only Merricat can see the danger, and she must act swiftly to keep Constance from his grasp.
A BOOK REVIEW OF THE MOVIE
Coraline
by Neil Gaiman
Bloomsbury | August 4, 2002
The day after they moved in, Coraline went exploring...
In Coraline's family's new flat are twenty-one windows and fourteen doors. Thirteen of the doors open and close.
The fourteenth is locked, and on the other side is only a brick wall, until the day Coraline unlocks the door to find a passage to another flat in another house just like her own.
Only it's different.
At first, things seem marvelous in the other flat. The food is better. The toy box is filled with wind-up angels that flutter around the bedroom, books whose pictures writhe and crawl and shimmer, little dinosaur skulls that chatter their teeth. But there's another mother, and another father, and they want Coraline to stay with them and be their little girl. They want to change her and never let her go.
Other children are trapped there as well, lost souls behind the mirrors. Coraline is their only hope of rescue. She will have to fight with all her wits and all the tools she can find if she is to save the lost children, her ordinary life, and herself.
CHOSEN CHAMPION COVER REVEAL
by Elise Kova
May 1, 2019 | Silver Wing Press
A princess on the run, with enemies on all sides...
Vi Solaris is on the eve of getting everything she’s ever wanted—her family, her home, her throne—and to save the world she’s going to have to give it all up.
The Empire sees her as their Crown Princess, returning at long last. But Vi only sees visions of fate guiding her to the world’s gruesome end. Across the sea is a man who holds the keys to deciphering her premonitions and thwarting the ancient evil ravaging their world. But to get to him, Vi will have to contend with enemies of the crown, romance she didn’t expect, sorcerer pirates, and a betrayal she never saw coming.
She will learn the hard way that some evils never die... They only bide their time...
Preorder on Amazon
If you have a nook or kobo, you can purchase through Amazon, email Elise a proof of purchase, Elise.Kova.Author@gmail.com, and then she'll send a personalized "read anywhere" link!
MY READING RESOLUTIONS UPDATE
After blazing through my 12-book reading challenge, I have slowed down. In my reading resolutions post, I sought to read 11-12 titles that have been sitting idly on my TBR. I am pleased to say that I have read 10/12 books in four months, 9 of which were included in the list; I have also written reviews for some titles, so keep an eye out! Whenever I make reading resolutions, I don't keep to it—no one does, so I don't feel guilty about it. I'm feeling really proud of myself, and I want to toot my own horn.
Side story: my friend's AB Calc teacher made a packet and included a picture of LOG Lady. He said her name is Ellen, like ln (natural logarithm,) which made my blood boil. Apparently, no one my age has watched Twin Peaks...
THE FAVORITE BOOK OF 2019?!
The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
Harcourt | 1982
Set in the deep American South between the wars, it is the tale of Celie, a young black girl born into poverty and segregation. Raped repeatedly by the man she calls 'father', she has two children taken away from her, is separated from her beloved sister Nettie and is trapped into an ugly marriage. But then she meets the glamorous Shug Avery, singer and magic-maker - a woman who has taken charge of her own destiny. Gradually, Celie discovers the power and joy of her own spirit, freeing her from her past and reuniting her with those she loves.
QUICK MUSIC MONDAY
When I find a new song I like, I listen to it until I hate it. Here are some songs I've been obsessing over. Most songs are Pop or R&B. They're all in Korean... so if you don't like Korean music, this ain't for you.