Tim Lieder

63.The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon - I'm really not sure why all of a sudden I'm reading Japanese books. In translation of course. I did decide to make the pre-determined shelf all Asian women (it was already all women) when I put The Tale of the Genji on the thing. I'm also finally reading Tale of the Genji so it's Hsien Era Japan. Or maybe I just love this book so much and I want it to keep going. I mean I am reading Tale of the Genji and a book about The Pillow Book.

This is the second time I've read this book and it's still a beautiful world where everyone can trade lovers and share poetry. Sure, if I was living in 10th century Japan I seriously doubt I would be in the royal entourage and I might have hated them just the same as I hate rich people in this era, but there's something so wonderful in this lifestyle, the same kind of feeling others get from Jeeves & Wooster or even Jane Austen. The lifestyle is so elegant and so foreign that reading these books feels like inhabiting these better more fun worlds for just a little time. Sei Shonagon is still just as snobbish and nasty as when I first read her, but I find more to love this time. She's also charming and working within this milieu. Her humor and sarcasm are matched with a passion for this world. In a century it's all going to collapse but that doesn't mean she ever has to worry. It's a sweet book that I hope to read many more times.

64.Sensor by Junji Ito - The last Junji Ito book I read was Lovesickness which could be the most Junji Ito of Junji Ito books. Like if someone asked what Junji Ito is like this would be the book to give them. It has the disgusting imagery, the desperation, the humor and the cruelty. Everyone is obsessed and obsessive and the picture of the decaying ghost girl screaming "LOVE MEEEEE!!!!" is both horrifying and hilarious. It's the kind of book that Junji Ito could whip out and still get results.

By contrast, this book is not that kind of book. It reminds me of the movie Silence, which might just because the whole Christian Martyrs in Japan plot but there's also a serious meditation on good and evil as the heroes try to run away from the insurmountable. A woman wanders into a village that's covered in golden hair that makes everyone see things. A volcano erupts and she's the only survivor. Her hair turns gold and then the protagonist turns to a reporter that treats her like a mystery and a savior. At least twice she faces death for the sins of others. This is not the usual Junji Ito fare and it's all the more glorious for its novelty.

65.Komi Can't Communicate vol 4 by Tomohito Oda - Komi and Tadano gave each other key chains!!! It's so damn cute. The rest of this is Komi competing in sports and being embarrassed. There's a little more of the "Komi as others see her/Komi as she is" with the outsiders seeing her as an impossible beauty while she's a bundle of nerves, but the growth of her and Tadano's relationship is still one of those romances that is impossible not to love. Also love the scene where they learn each other's first names but it's way too intimate for them to really use them. Formal vs. Informal address is more of a cultural thing but I do wish that there was more formality over here. I hate being called Tim by complete strangers.

39. Komi Can't Communicate vol 1 by Tomohito Oda - I'm actually quite fond of this book although it's got some strange relationship with modern technology. Mostly due to the fact that Komi is so shy that she can't even make small talk but she can write down the words. Which brings up the fact that she should have an online presence. The introvert/extrovert dynamic almost reverses online. My online presences is all over the place but see me in person and I'm fairly unassuming. Granted that's a lot of ADHD where I'm not very comfortable around neurotypical people, but also I'm shy. Way back when I was first blogging on livejournal, I surprised people by being nice in person. Anyhow if Komi can't talk to people except to write things down, why doesn't she blog or use social media? But beyond that this is a sweet book about a very shy girl wanting to make friends and how her reticence makes people think that she's stuck up. Also there's a trans character so bonus.

40. The Society of Timid Souls or How to be Brave by Polly Morland - This is one of those light tourism of a dynamic books. Morland was a journalist for years so in this book she applies all of her experience to the topic of fear and bravery. So she can talk about performance anxiety, genocide and soldiers. It's an interesting take on many topics. It's one of those books that you enjoy reading and forget about in a few months. But the material about the genocide in Bosnia is seriously not going to go away (especially since those 1/6 motherfuckers were ready to start it up here).

41. Frankenstein: The Graphic Novel adapted by Jason Cobley and Declan Shalvey - SHalvey has a credit for line work. Not artist. Not pencils. Line work. Maybe it's a British thin but it feels appropriate that the artist would get very little credit. THe whole book is perfunctory with a Classical Comics label slapped on so it's like those 60s classic illustrated comics that were more important as Cliff NOtes than actual entertainment. I also forget that Victor has another brother besides William.