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kkwannntn's review
5.0
✳︎my 2023 reads✳︎
note: I started reading on June after my uni grads ˙ᘧ ͜ ˙
/01-05/
no read
/06/ 3 books
-Throttled ★★★
-Icebreaker ★★★
-Abstract Bar และ เรื่องสั้นอื่นๆ ★★★
/07/ 4 books
-The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo ★★★★★
-A Good Girl's Guide to Murder ★★★★★
-Good Girl, Bad Blood ★★★★★
-As Good As Dead ★★★★
/08/ 1 book
-Book Lovers ★★★★
/09/ 4 books
-Fourth Wing ★★★★
-The Monster Piece : ไม่มีใครครบ ★★★★★
-Once Upon a Broken Heart ★★★★★
-twenty-eight forever ★★★
/10/ 8 books
- DIVINE BEING ไม่ใช่มนุษย์ และตัวตนอื่นๆ ★★★★★
- The Ballad of Never After ★★★★★
- Kill Joy ★★★★
- It Ends with Us ★★
- สิ่งมีชีวิตในโรงแรม เล่ม 1 ★★★★
- Untitled Case: Human Horror ชมรมคนหัวลุก ★★★★
- The Midnight Library ★★★★
- The Why Café ★
/11/ 4 books
- ภาพวาดปริศนากับการตามหาฆาตกร ★★★★
- THE EMOTIONAL MAN มนุษย์อารมณ์ ★★★
- Vicious ★★★★★
- Five Survive ★★★★
/12/ 7 books
-Shatter Me ★★★
- A Curse for True Love ★★★★
- The Ex Hex ★★★
- คดีฆาตกรรมในบ้านสิบเหลี่ยม ★★★★
- มันมากับความเหมียว ★★★★
- The Silent Patient ★★★
- Heaven ★★★★
Total : 31 books ♡
my fav: agggtm, ouabh series, Evelyn Hugo
worst: The Why Café, It Ends with Us
Cheers to a new year ˙ ͜ʟ˙!
note: I started reading on June after my uni grads ˙ᘧ ͜ ˙
/01-05/
no read
/06/ 3 books
-Throttled ★★★
-Icebreaker ★★★
-Abstract Bar และ เรื่องสั้นอื่นๆ ★★★
/07/ 4 books
-The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo ★★★★★
-A Good Girl's Guide to Murder ★★★★★
-Good Girl, Bad Blood ★★★★★
-As Good As Dead ★★★★
/08/ 1 book
-Book Lovers ★★★★
/09/ 4 books
-Fourth Wing ★★★★
-The Monster Piece : ไม่มีใครครบ ★★★★★
-Once Upon a Broken Heart ★★★★★
-twenty-eight forever ★★★
/10/ 8 books
- DIVINE BEING ไม่ใช่มนุษย์ และตัวตนอื่นๆ ★★★★★
- The Ballad of Never After ★★★★★
- Kill Joy ★★★★
- It Ends with Us ★★
- สิ่งมีชีวิตในโรงแรม เล่ม 1 ★★★★
- Untitled Case: Human Horror ชมรมคนหัวลุก ★★★★
- The Midnight Library ★★★★
- The Why Café ★
/11/ 4 books
- ภาพวาดปริศนากับการตามหาฆาตกร ★★★★
- THE EMOTIONAL MAN มนุษย์อารมณ์ ★★★
- Vicious ★★★★★
- Five Survive ★★★★
/12/ 7 books
-Shatter Me ★★★
- A Curse for True Love ★★★★
- The Ex Hex ★★★
- คดีฆาตกรรมในบ้านสิบเหลี่ยม ★★★★
- มันมากับความเหมียว ★★★★
- The Silent Patient ★★★
- Heaven ★★★★
Total : 31 books ♡
my fav: agggtm, ouabh series, Evelyn Hugo
worst: The Why Café, It Ends with Us
Cheers to a new year ˙ ͜ʟ˙!
crystalstarrlight's review
4.0
This year's wrap up might look different than usual. Firstly, I'm starting this in December, and there's time to add more to this last. Secondly, this year has been punctuated with lots of loss for me, so I don't know that I can give the same snarky awards like I've done in years past.
April 27th was her last day on earth. Our last conversation was in the end of February; the last time we saw each other in person, January 2022. Now she resides in the stars. She was only 44 years old, but up until the very end, she would tell me, "We are going to live until we are 122, so we are still figuring out what to do with the rest of our lives". If there is one thing I will regret to my dying day, it's not spending more time with her.
May 24th, I got the call from my boss' boss that my boss was found in his apartment. He had just returned from a vacation to Mexico. He loved traveling - but his voyages are now over. The last time I saw him in person was May of 2020.
July 1st, my dear coworker and friend's wife called me to tell me that he had passed away that morning. Without this man in my life, I would not be the woman I am today. He had confidence in me when I had none, and he spoke up for me, when I didn't have the words to speak for myself. He had a heart for animals, an ear for music, and would call himself Shrek. He was more than just a friend/colleague. I thought of him almost as a second father, an uncle, a brother. He wanted me to visit Las Vegas and drive out to Ely - I regret not doing so while he was alive. The last time I saw him was September of 2019.
Figuring out how to navigate through loss is one of the hardest things I've had to deal with. I go to work, and I'm hit in the face with a brick over the loss of my boss. I read a book, particularly a fantasy book with romantic elements, and think of a new star that has appeared in the Andromeda galaxy. Half the music I listen to are recommendations from my colleague/friend.
So arguing over books seems REALLY effing stupid these days. Who frakking cares what a person is reading, why, what their stupid star rating is or whether they wrote that review for a vendetta or not. IT DOES NOT MATTER.
We have ONE GUARANTEED CHANCE on this planet. One chance to read what we want to read, learn what we want to learn, meet the people in our lives we want to commune with, to absorb the things we want.
(If you believe in an afterlife, then I'm sure this is different for you. What is true is that the afterlife is unlikely to be like what we have today)
What matters is the people around us. Are you a good person? Do you try to build up the world or destroy it? Do you read the books that bring you joy? Do you have a bucket list and if so, how much have you ticked off?
I don't know how much longer I have in this world, but I know this year is only the beginning of the loss I will experience, as my parents age, as everyone ages around me. It's instilled the most humbling, frantic urge to try to absorb the most out of the people I have left, the things I have not yet done, the books I've not yet read.
Crystal's Year End Review:
These are the books that remind me of the people in my life. I probably didn't read them this year, and I neither recommend nor discourage you from reading.
The Hippopotamus Marsh
Tinker
Binti
The Night Circus
Cloud Atlas
Ocean at the End of the Lane
Flowers on the Moon
Clarity & Connection
Pageboy
Quarter Share
Legendborn
The Lightest Object in the Universe
The Midnight Library
Wicked
The Walking Dead: Compendium One
The Humans Vol 1
Monstress, Vol. 1
Hyperbole and a Half
Solutions and Other Problems
The Gospel of Loki
Welcome to the Universe
Coda Vol 1
Ubik
Clan of the Cave Bear
The Pink Motel
Anne of Green Gables
April 27th was her last day on earth. Our last conversation was in the end of February; the last time we saw each other in person, January 2022. Now she resides in the stars. She was only 44 years old, but up until the very end, she would tell me, "We are going to live until we are 122, so we are still figuring out what to do with the rest of our lives". If there is one thing I will regret to my dying day, it's not spending more time with her.
May 24th, I got the call from my boss' boss that my boss was found in his apartment. He had just returned from a vacation to Mexico. He loved traveling - but his voyages are now over. The last time I saw him in person was May of 2020.
July 1st, my dear coworker and friend's wife called me to tell me that he had passed away that morning. Without this man in my life, I would not be the woman I am today. He had confidence in me when I had none, and he spoke up for me, when I didn't have the words to speak for myself. He had a heart for animals, an ear for music, and would call himself Shrek. He was more than just a friend/colleague. I thought of him almost as a second father, an uncle, a brother. He wanted me to visit Las Vegas and drive out to Ely - I regret not doing so while he was alive. The last time I saw him was September of 2019.
Figuring out how to navigate through loss is one of the hardest things I've had to deal with. I go to work, and I'm hit in the face with a brick over the loss of my boss. I read a book, particularly a fantasy book with romantic elements, and think of a new star that has appeared in the Andromeda galaxy. Half the music I listen to are recommendations from my colleague/friend.
So arguing over books seems REALLY effing stupid these days. Who frakking cares what a person is reading, why, what their stupid star rating is or whether they wrote that review for a vendetta or not. IT DOES NOT MATTER.
We have ONE GUARANTEED CHANCE on this planet. One chance to read what we want to read, learn what we want to learn, meet the people in our lives we want to commune with, to absorb the things we want.
(If you believe in an afterlife, then I'm sure this is different for you. What is true is that the afterlife is unlikely to be like what we have today)
What matters is the people around us. Are you a good person? Do you try to build up the world or destroy it? Do you read the books that bring you joy? Do you have a bucket list and if so, how much have you ticked off?
I don't know how much longer I have in this world, but I know this year is only the beginning of the loss I will experience, as my parents age, as everyone ages around me. It's instilled the most humbling, frantic urge to try to absorb the most out of the people I have left, the things I have not yet done, the books I've not yet read.
Crystal's Year End Review:
These are the books that remind me of the people in my life. I probably didn't read them this year, and I neither recommend nor discourage you from reading.
The Hippopotamus Marsh
Tinker
Binti
The Night Circus
Cloud Atlas
Ocean at the End of the Lane
Flowers on the Moon
Clarity & Connection
Pageboy
Quarter Share
Legendborn
The Lightest Object in the Universe
The Midnight Library
Wicked
The Walking Dead: Compendium One
The Humans Vol 1
Monstress, Vol. 1
Hyperbole and a Half
Solutions and Other Problems
The Gospel of Loki
Welcome to the Universe
Coda Vol 1
Ubik
Clan of the Cave Bear
The Pink Motel
Anne of Green Gables
534534564587654323456789's review
➣ Reading goal: 111
➢ number of units of publication read: 216
✯ “real” Books read:120
⚔ books that took me less than an hour or read for pure entertainment value: 96
☸ It’s surprising to see that on average I read 1 book every 3 days. I read multiple books simultaneously and have tons of books TBR, so I always felt I was a slow reader.
❃ Favorites discovered this year:
[b: Bouguereau|416138|Bouguereau|Fronia E. Wissman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387748199l/416138._SX50_.jpg|405306], Too academia, maybe, but the lights! I love the way nymphs are depicted.
[b: The City of Belgium|40121944|The City of Belgium|Brecht Evens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581967656l/40121944._SX50_.jpg|65437594], beautiful, whimsical, relaxed yet precise
[b:ダンジョン飯|28950980|ダンジョン飯 2 Dungeon Meshi 2 (Delicious in Dungeon, #2)|Ryoko Kui|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1454824971l/28950980._SX50_.jpg|49175707], creative, consistent, genre-bending, leave no loose thread, take stereotypical tropes then make a twist, love love love
[b: 老妓抄|7267748|老妓抄|岡本 かの子|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1496148849l/7267748._SX50_.jpg|8377568], this is why we need writing from marginalized people, in this case (gendered) women, this book takes beauty and feeling and all the delicate unspeakable as what it is, and just be with them with honesty and openness; in contrast to as something to be commented on, or to be modified, or to be enjoyed for the observer's gratification like in (most of) Japanese men’s writing.
❀ Starting to read manga.
Sadly the copies most available to me are in translated English, there’s a lot of humor and characteristics lost in Jap-Eng translation.
☟Mangas I made past the first volume:
Aforementioned [b:ダンジョン飯|28950980|ダンジョン飯 2 Dungeon Meshi 2 (Delicious in Dungeon, #2)|Ryoko Kui|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1454824971l/28950980._SX50_.jpg|49175707]
[b: 血の轍|36009825|血の轍 1 Chi no Wadachi 1 |Shuzo Oshimi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1514415068l/36009825._SX50_.jpg|57580340], a lot of visual cues and the lines of vision were very prominent. It’s horror but not to me, I’d rather categorize it as a ‘slice of life’, or maybe I just don’t respond well to psychological horror.
[b: 宝石の国|26238641|宝石の国 3 Houseki no Kuni 3 (Land of the Lustrous, #3)|Haruko Ichikawa|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441563111l/26238641._SX50_.jpg|46230014], 1~8, love it, all the shadings were done with solid grey blocks, very soothing to look at, and the story’s good too, non-binary-coded characters.
[b: 光が死んだ夏 1|60536672|光が死んだ夏 1 Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu 1 |Mokumokuren|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1646235125l/60536672._SX50_.jpg|95406270], BL done right, love it, can’t wait for more, supposedly horror but not to me.
[b: Phoenix, Vol. 11: Sun, Part 2|457879|Phoenix, Vol. 11 Sun, Part 2|Osamu Tezuka|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349062788l/457879._SX50_.jpg|446394], nah, I’m done with the legendary [a:TEZUKA OSAMU|44697906|TEZUKA OSAMU|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], but I might still check out other volumes in Phoneix when I get to it.
☄ Discovered books I wish I could’ve read when I was younger or as a child.
[b: Tales from the Inner City|37825535|Tales from the Inner City|Shaun Tan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1518102455l/37825535._SX50_.jpg|59503762], such original stories, many of them emit a sense of nostalgia, one of them made me cry.
[b: The Tea Dragon Society|34895950|The Tea Dragon Society (Tea Dragon, #1)|Kay O'Neill|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1653239288l/34895950._SX50_.jpg|52579959], vibrant yet mellow colors, soft pen strokes, beautiful images, nice-feeling paper
[b: Snapdragon|44280844|Snapdragon|Kat Leyh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562010523l/44280844._SX50_.jpg|68794400], everything I wanted as a child? maybe now as well
[b: The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic|34076952|The Language of Thorns Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic (Grishaverse, #0.5, 2.5, 2.6)|Leigh Bardugo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1491842507l/34076952._SX50_.jpg|55087763], not the typical fairytales, and I relate to this storytelling a lot better than the traditional ones.
[b: Book of Questions|23183|The Book of Questions|Pablo Neruda|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924625l/23183._SX50_.jpg|279794], (El libro de las preguntas), nice paper and interesting
[b: Wash Day Diaries|58739572|Wash Day Diaries|Jamila Rowser|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1634635000l/58739572._SX50_.jpg|92456274], natural (racialized) black hair, friendship among (gendered) women
⚛ Exploration:
so this year I started reading more art books, getting myself acquainted with some excluded art traditions, intending to get into poetry, flipping some photobooks
[b: Legacy of the Masters: Painting and Calligraphy from the Islamic World|44239101|Legacy of the Masters Painting and Calligraphy from the Islamic World|Will Kwiatskowski|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1672360553l/44239101._SX50_.jpg|68769076]
[b: 病例|57910943|《隐秘的医案》細雨資料 細雨著作 細雨社出品 超心理學臨床病例記錄，未公開的第一手醫生秘密手記。最真實的案例，難以置信的異度空間傳奇 本書代碼：YM (Traditional Chinese Edition)|细雨|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1619882683l/57910943._SX50_.jpg|90725801]
[b: Bernd & Hilla Becher: Basic Forms|1243318|Bernd & Hilla Becher Basic Forms of Industrial Buildings /anglais|BECHER BERND & HILLA|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1182202923l/1243318._SX50_.jpg|1232017]
[b: Unveiled: New Art from the Middle East|6894873|Unveiled New Art from the Middle East|Lisa Farjam|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1264081959l/6894873._SX50_.jpg|7116549]
[b:Flowers|984024|Flowers|Robert Mapplethorpe|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387701909l/984024._SX50_.jpg|969519]
✵ Informative and potentially worldview-changing books:
[b: What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma|58214328|What My Bones Know A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma|Stephanie Foo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1644336652l/58214328._SY75_.jpg|91253723], put C-PTSD into perspective,
[b: How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence|36613747|How to Change Your Mind What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence|Michael Pollan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1545030338l/36613747._SY75_.jpg|58370652], Psilocybin can teach us a lot, it helped me understand mindfulness among many other things
[b: Bullshit Jobs: A Theory|34466958|Bullshit Jobs A Theory|David Graeber|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1523865380l/34466958._SY75_.jpg|55587029], sometimes lived experiences of individuals reflect a certain time and space
[b: Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art|102920|Understanding Comics The Invisible Art|Scott McCloud|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328408101l/102920._SX50_.jpg|2415847], I love learning the technical part of a media I enjoy
[b: A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching: Getting to Know the World's Most Misunderstood Bird|56271339|A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching Getting to Know the World's Most Misunderstood Bird|Rosemary Mosco|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1618165545l/56271339._SX50_.jpg|87662651], all street pigeons were once cherished pets
[b: Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving|20556323|Complex PTSD From Surviving to Thriving|Pete Walker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389830032l/20556323._SX50_.jpg|38688458], how many "personality traits" are trauma response
[b: A Cloud a Day|42904292|A Cloud by Day, a Fire by Night Finding and Following God's Will for You|A.W. Tozer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542822532l/42904292._SY75_.jpg|62706765], beauty and mechanism and coincidence and appreciation
[b: Regarding the Pain of Others|52373|Regarding the Pain of Others|Susan Sontag|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1623544466l/52373._SY75_.jpg|430074], the ways we look
❂ Honorable mentions:
[a:Li Juan|7375980|Li Juan|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] delivers every time, she doesn't disappoint.
[b: CAMP: Notes on Fashion|42290417|CAMP Notes on Fashion|Andrew Bolton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553305292l/42290417._SX50_.jpg|65932429], always meant to read and finally did, this edition gives examples.
[b: 漫长的余生：一个北魏宫女和她的时代|61784292|漫长的余生：一个北魏宫女和她的时代|罗新|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1659191081l/61784292._SX50_.jpg|97416185], genre-bending history, history-story without arbitrary narrative presumption.
[b: An Introduction to Literary Chinese: Revised Edition|837857|An Introduction to Literary Chinese Revised Edition|Michael A. Fuller|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1256769804l/837857._SX50_.jpg|823439], first-time grammary grammar that didn’t bore me to death and left me with zero retention.
[b: Ingredients: A Visual Exploration of 75 Additives & 25 Food Products|23492335|Ingredients A Visual Exploration of 75 Additives & 25 Food Products|Steve Ettlinger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1523323152l/23492335._SX50_.jpg|43082603], most food additives are there to change some physical properties to make it easier and more consistent to work with, this book is biased even it claims the opposite.
[b: The Dancing Plague|4903669|A Time to Dance, a Time to Die The Extraordinary Story of the Dancing Plague of 1518|John Waller|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1329927970l/4903669._SY75_.jpg|4969183], embroidered images in graphic novel
[b: Junction True|26013087|Junction True|Ray Fawkes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1438318808l/26013087._SX50_.jpg|45933648], eerie
❅ Disappointment:
♨ Done with [a:Junji Ito|8483|Junji Ito|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1590271033p2/8483.jpg], [b: Uzumaki|204042|Naruto, Vol. 1 Uzumaki Naruto (Naruto, #1)|Masashi Kishimoto|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435524806l/204042._SY75_.jpg|197436] was a masterpiece, that’s about it.
⚜ Read a few books because they kept showing up on my feed and TL, all of which are a miss for me. (Although they still have entertainment value as audiobooks.)
❁ Another year of saturated unavoidable shitty Romance (BG and BL both), normie stuff, hetero-cis-white-male stuff (ps. white = member of or pass for the ethnic group in power within a given geopolitical border, not necessarily of European descent).
➢ number of units of publication read: 216
✯ “real” Books read:120
⚔ books that took me less than an hour or read for pure entertainment value: 96
☸ It’s surprising to see that on average I read 1 book every 3 days. I read multiple books simultaneously and have tons of books TBR, so I always felt I was a slow reader.
❃ Favorites discovered this year:
[b: Bouguereau|416138|Bouguereau|Fronia E. Wissman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387748199l/416138._SX50_.jpg|405306], Too academia, maybe, but the lights! I love the way nymphs are depicted.
[b: The City of Belgium|40121944|The City of Belgium|Brecht Evens|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581967656l/40121944._SX50_.jpg|65437594], beautiful, whimsical, relaxed yet precise
[b:ダンジョン飯|28950980|ダンジョン飯 2 Dungeon Meshi 2 (Delicious in Dungeon, #2)|Ryoko Kui|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1454824971l/28950980._SX50_.jpg|49175707], creative, consistent, genre-bending, leave no loose thread, take stereotypical tropes then make a twist, love love love
[b: 老妓抄|7267748|老妓抄|岡本 かの子|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1496148849l/7267748._SX50_.jpg|8377568], this is why we need writing from marginalized people, in this case (gendered) women, this book takes beauty and feeling and all the delicate unspeakable as what it is, and just be with them with honesty and openness; in contrast to as something to be commented on, or to be modified, or to be enjoyed for the observer's gratification like in (most of) Japanese men’s writing.
❀ Starting to read manga.
Sadly the copies most available to me are in translated English, there’s a lot of humor and characteristics lost in Jap-Eng translation.
☟Mangas I made past the first volume:
Aforementioned [b:ダンジョン飯|28950980|ダンジョン飯 2 Dungeon Meshi 2 (Delicious in Dungeon, #2)|Ryoko Kui|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1454824971l/28950980._SX50_.jpg|49175707]
[b: 血の轍|36009825|血の轍 1 Chi no Wadachi 1 |Shuzo Oshimi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1514415068l/36009825._SX50_.jpg|57580340], a lot of visual cues and the lines of vision were very prominent. It’s horror but not to me, I’d rather categorize it as a ‘slice of life’, or maybe I just don’t respond well to psychological horror.
[b: 宝石の国|26238641|宝石の国 3 Houseki no Kuni 3 (Land of the Lustrous, #3)|Haruko Ichikawa|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1441563111l/26238641._SX50_.jpg|46230014], 1~8, love it, all the shadings were done with solid grey blocks, very soothing to look at, and the story’s good too, non-binary-coded characters.
[b: 光が死んだ夏 1|60536672|光が死んだ夏 1 Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu 1 |Mokumokuren|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1646235125l/60536672._SX50_.jpg|95406270], BL done right, love it, can’t wait for more, supposedly horror but not to me.
[b: Phoenix, Vol. 11: Sun, Part 2|457879|Phoenix, Vol. 11 Sun, Part 2|Osamu Tezuka|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349062788l/457879._SX50_.jpg|446394], nah, I’m done with the legendary [a:TEZUKA OSAMU|44697906|TEZUKA OSAMU|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], but I might still check out other volumes in Phoneix when I get to it.
☄ Discovered books I wish I could’ve read when I was younger or as a child.
[b: Tales from the Inner City|37825535|Tales from the Inner City|Shaun Tan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1518102455l/37825535._SX50_.jpg|59503762], such original stories, many of them emit a sense of nostalgia, one of them made me cry.
[b: The Tea Dragon Society|34895950|The Tea Dragon Society (Tea Dragon, #1)|Kay O'Neill|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1653239288l/34895950._SX50_.jpg|52579959], vibrant yet mellow colors, soft pen strokes, beautiful images, nice-feeling paper
[b: Snapdragon|44280844|Snapdragon|Kat Leyh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1562010523l/44280844._SX50_.jpg|68794400], everything I wanted as a child? maybe now as well
[b: The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic|34076952|The Language of Thorns Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic (Grishaverse, #0.5, 2.5, 2.6)|Leigh Bardugo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1491842507l/34076952._SX50_.jpg|55087763], not the typical fairytales, and I relate to this storytelling a lot better than the traditional ones.
[b: Book of Questions|23183|The Book of Questions|Pablo Neruda|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924625l/23183._SX50_.jpg|279794], (El libro de las preguntas), nice paper and interesting
[b: Wash Day Diaries|58739572|Wash Day Diaries|Jamila Rowser|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1634635000l/58739572._SX50_.jpg|92456274], natural (racialized) black hair, friendship among (gendered) women
⚛ Exploration:
so this year I started reading more art books, getting myself acquainted with some excluded art traditions, intending to get into poetry, flipping some photobooks
[b: Legacy of the Masters: Painting and Calligraphy from the Islamic World|44239101|Legacy of the Masters Painting and Calligraphy from the Islamic World|Will Kwiatskowski|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1672360553l/44239101._SX50_.jpg|68769076]
[b: 病例|57910943|《隐秘的医案》細雨資料 細雨著作 細雨社出品 超心理學臨床病例記錄，未公開的第一手醫生秘密手記。最真實的案例，難以置信的異度空間傳奇 本書代碼：YM (Traditional Chinese Edition)|细雨|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1619882683l/57910943._SX50_.jpg|90725801]
[b: Bernd & Hilla Becher: Basic Forms|1243318|Bernd & Hilla Becher Basic Forms of Industrial Buildings /anglais|BECHER BERND & HILLA|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1182202923l/1243318._SX50_.jpg|1232017]
[b: Unveiled: New Art from the Middle East|6894873|Unveiled New Art from the Middle East|Lisa Farjam|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1264081959l/6894873._SX50_.jpg|7116549]
[b:Flowers|984024|Flowers|Robert Mapplethorpe|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387701909l/984024._SX50_.jpg|969519]
✵ Informative and potentially worldview-changing books:
[b: What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma|58214328|What My Bones Know A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma|Stephanie Foo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1644336652l/58214328._SY75_.jpg|91253723], put C-PTSD into perspective,
[b: How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence|36613747|How to Change Your Mind What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence|Michael Pollan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1545030338l/36613747._SY75_.jpg|58370652], Psilocybin can teach us a lot, it helped me understand mindfulness among many other things
[b: Bullshit Jobs: A Theory|34466958|Bullshit Jobs A Theory|David Graeber|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1523865380l/34466958._SY75_.jpg|55587029], sometimes lived experiences of individuals reflect a certain time and space
[b: Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art|102920|Understanding Comics The Invisible Art|Scott McCloud|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328408101l/102920._SX50_.jpg|2415847], I love learning the technical part of a media I enjoy
[b: A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching: Getting to Know the World's Most Misunderstood Bird|56271339|A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching Getting to Know the World's Most Misunderstood Bird|Rosemary Mosco|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1618165545l/56271339._SX50_.jpg|87662651], all street pigeons were once cherished pets
[b: Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving|20556323|Complex PTSD From Surviving to Thriving|Pete Walker|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1389830032l/20556323._SX50_.jpg|38688458], how many "personality traits" are trauma response
[b: A Cloud a Day|42904292|A Cloud by Day, a Fire by Night Finding and Following God's Will for You|A.W. Tozer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542822532l/42904292._SY75_.jpg|62706765], beauty and mechanism and coincidence and appreciation
[b: Regarding the Pain of Others|52373|Regarding the Pain of Others|Susan Sontag|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1623544466l/52373._SY75_.jpg|430074], the ways we look
❂ Honorable mentions:
[a:Li Juan|7375980|Li Juan|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] delivers every time, she doesn't disappoint.
[b: CAMP: Notes on Fashion|42290417|CAMP Notes on Fashion|Andrew Bolton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1553305292l/42290417._SX50_.jpg|65932429], always meant to read and finally did, this edition gives examples.
[b: 漫长的余生：一个北魏宫女和她的时代|61784292|漫长的余生：一个北魏宫女和她的时代|罗新|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1659191081l/61784292._SX50_.jpg|97416185], genre-bending history, history-story without arbitrary narrative presumption.
[b: An Introduction to Literary Chinese: Revised Edition|837857|An Introduction to Literary Chinese Revised Edition|Michael A. Fuller|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1256769804l/837857._SX50_.jpg|823439], first-time grammary grammar that didn’t bore me to death and left me with zero retention.
[b: Ingredients: A Visual Exploration of 75 Additives & 25 Food Products|23492335|Ingredients A Visual Exploration of 75 Additives & 25 Food Products|Steve Ettlinger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1523323152l/23492335._SX50_.jpg|43082603], most food additives are there to change some physical properties to make it easier and more consistent to work with, this book is biased even it claims the opposite.
[b: The Dancing Plague|4903669|A Time to Dance, a Time to Die The Extraordinary Story of the Dancing Plague of 1518|John Waller|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1329927970l/4903669._SY75_.jpg|4969183], embroidered images in graphic novel
[b: Junction True|26013087|Junction True|Ray Fawkes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1438318808l/26013087._SX50_.jpg|45933648], eerie
❅ Disappointment:
♨ Done with [a:Junji Ito|8483|Junji Ito|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1590271033p2/8483.jpg], [b: Uzumaki|204042|Naruto, Vol. 1 Uzumaki Naruto (Naruto, #1)|Masashi Kishimoto|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435524806l/204042._SY75_.jpg|197436] was a masterpiece, that’s about it.
⚜ Read a few books because they kept showing up on my feed and TL, all of which are a miss for me. (Although they still have entertainment value as audiobooks.)
❁ Another year of saturated unavoidable shitty Romance (BG and BL both), normie stuff, hetero-cis-white-male stuff (ps. white = member of or pass for the ethnic group in power within a given geopolitical border, not necessarily of European descent).
scytmo's review
2023 has been an interesting year for my relationship with reading, and with Goodreads. This relationship (these relationships?) are still very much a work in progress - and they relate to a bunch of things around trying to get a handle on who I think I am. I've struggled for a long time with "I am a person who...", as I've never felt that there is much that is a good fit, and this has often left me feeling adrift. For the past 2-3 years, I've been trying out "I am a person who reads", and seeing how it feels. So far, I'm happy with it. For these 2-3 years I've been recording everything I've read on Goodreads - as much to record a library of what I've read than for any other reason (I used to keep a physical copy of *all* of the books that I've read, for this reason, but lifestyle changes have meant that this has become infeasible).
I did make an interesting discovery about my reading, though. My entire life I've gravitated towards Science Fiction - as it's something I've always been consistently interested in. However, I now realise that I read a *lot* of books outside the genre - although I'm still mostly drawn towards characters, situations or storytelling that aren't mainstream, and these are the books that have stayed with me most consistently.
About half way through this year, I decided to also review all of the books that I've read. This was for two reasons: one somewhat selfish, and the other introspective. The selfish reason was that I discovered NetGalley (free books!) and wanted to work up a profile that might result in me being accepted for ARCs of books I might enjoy; the introspective reason is that I often find it difficult identifying (let alone expressing) what I think or how I feel about a book (or a film, or a lot of things, to be quite honest) and I wondered whether forcing myself to review books would help with this.
It's been a partial success.
So now it seems like I have a good enough profile for NetGalley. I've received, read, and reviewed 15 NetGalley books this year. However, it's been a mixed bag, and I've become a lot more discerning throughout the year as my initial excitement about "free books!" resulted in me trudging through several of my first few NetGalley books, which were a real effort (and I won't get that time back). However, now that I'm applying a better filter (and the "free books!" novelty has worn off a bit), I'm enjoying my NetGalley books a lot more ("The Future" by Naomi Alderman, "Starter Villain" by John Scalzi, "Calico" by Lee Goldberg, "First Lie Wins" by Ashley Elston and "Loot" by Tania James were all excellent).
The instrospective reason... well, the jury's still out on that. I still find it difficult to identify and express how I feel about a book - although I'm pleased to have put at least *something* down in writing for each book I've read. I think, perhaps, that I'm too keen to write a review directly after I've finished a book, and get it out there, along with the updated Goodreads status - to draw a line under that book and start on a new one. This is mixed up with my interest in engaging more with the Goodreads community: I get excited about having produced "new content" when I have written a review, and am keen to see how many 'likes' or comments I get. However, I'm quite conflicted about this, as it seems quite dysfunctional, and at odds with why I'm putting my thoughts down about each book. This desire to quickly write a review is also driven somewhat by my desire to quicklly send feedback on my NetGalley books, in order to make my NetGalley feedback ratio look attractive and increase my chances of getting accepted for future NetGalley books... which is also not a good reason for rushing a review.
I'm also finding it quite difficult to connect with people on Goodreads. I have a small number of friends from "real life" on Goodreads, but their accounts are mostly dormant, so I'm mostly trying to connect with you good people (is anyone actually reading this?). I really enjoy the small number of interactions I have with people on Goodreads, and I'm hoping for this to grow. I love reading what other people think of books that I've either read myself, or are considering reading. But the quantity of reviews that many people post is overwhelming, and I'm finding it difficult to navigate effectively through my feed. I have no idea how to be more effective at this.
So my thoughts for this coming year:
* Try to disconnect from the desire to post reviews quickly. I think this is doable.
* Find a way to connect with people on Goodreads more effectively (any suggestions welcome).
* Read more Science Fiction.
I did make an interesting discovery about my reading, though. My entire life I've gravitated towards Science Fiction - as it's something I've always been consistently interested in. However, I now realise that I read a *lot* of books outside the genre - although I'm still mostly drawn towards characters, situations or storytelling that aren't mainstream, and these are the books that have stayed with me most consistently.
About half way through this year, I decided to also review all of the books that I've read. This was for two reasons: one somewhat selfish, and the other introspective. The selfish reason was that I discovered NetGalley (free books!) and wanted to work up a profile that might result in me being accepted for ARCs of books I might enjoy; the introspective reason is that I often find it difficult identifying (let alone expressing) what I think or how I feel about a book (or a film, or a lot of things, to be quite honest) and I wondered whether forcing myself to review books would help with this.
It's been a partial success.
So now it seems like I have a good enough profile for NetGalley. I've received, read, and reviewed 15 NetGalley books this year. However, it's been a mixed bag, and I've become a lot more discerning throughout the year as my initial excitement about "free books!" resulted in me trudging through several of my first few NetGalley books, which were a real effort (and I won't get that time back). However, now that I'm applying a better filter (and the "free books!" novelty has worn off a bit), I'm enjoying my NetGalley books a lot more ("The Future" by Naomi Alderman, "Starter Villain" by John Scalzi, "Calico" by Lee Goldberg, "First Lie Wins" by Ashley Elston and "Loot" by Tania James were all excellent).
The instrospective reason... well, the jury's still out on that. I still find it difficult to identify and express how I feel about a book - although I'm pleased to have put at least *something* down in writing for each book I've read. I think, perhaps, that I'm too keen to write a review directly after I've finished a book, and get it out there, along with the updated Goodreads status - to draw a line under that book and start on a new one. This is mixed up with my interest in engaging more with the Goodreads community: I get excited about having produced "new content" when I have written a review, and am keen to see how many 'likes' or comments I get. However, I'm quite conflicted about this, as it seems quite dysfunctional, and at odds with why I'm putting my thoughts down about each book. This desire to quickly write a review is also driven somewhat by my desire to quicklly send feedback on my NetGalley books, in order to make my NetGalley feedback ratio look attractive and increase my chances of getting accepted for future NetGalley books... which is also not a good reason for rushing a review.
I'm also finding it quite difficult to connect with people on Goodreads. I have a small number of friends from "real life" on Goodreads, but their accounts are mostly dormant, so I'm mostly trying to connect with you good people (is anyone actually reading this?). I really enjoy the small number of interactions I have with people on Goodreads, and I'm hoping for this to grow. I love reading what other people think of books that I've either read myself, or are considering reading. But the quantity of reviews that many people post is overwhelming, and I'm finding it difficult to navigate effectively through my feed. I have no idea how to be more effective at this.
So my thoughts for this coming year:
* Try to disconnect from the desire to post reviews quickly. I think this is doable.
* Find a way to connect with people on Goodreads more effectively (any suggestions welcome).
* Read more Science Fiction.
hannahnana73's review
okayy so i'm normally not a person who does smth just coz everyone else does but this does look fun - esp to read back through at the end of the year!
haleymfischer's review
⤷ my 2023 in books ✿
finally finally finally getting around to finishing this!! the biggest thing I learned in 2023 is that reading (like most things) stops being fun when you take it too seriously. I've taken a massive step back this year and letting reading just be a casual hobby and, SURPRISE, I am enjoying everything I read so much more. That said, I am really proud of myself for reading over 100 books in a year for probably the only time in my life, so this is my lil celebration post
finally finally finally getting around to finishing this!! the biggest thing I learned in 2023 is that reading (like most things) stops being fun when you take it too seriously. I've taken a massive step back this year and letting reading just be a casual hobby and, SURPRISE, I am enjoying everything I read so much more. That said, I am really proud of myself for reading over 100 books in a year for probably the only time in my life, so this is my lil celebration post
snowreo's review
now that i actually looked at other people’s to see how they format this let’s set some goals!
general goals
➸ actively maintain a reading journal
➸ read more books from marginalized authors
➸ read at least one book per month
➸ utilize more audiobooks
➸ participate in reading challenges to spice up the year
➸ read 25 books [8/25]
genre goals
➸ read at least 2 horror books [3/2] ✅
➸ read at least 2 nonfiction books [1/2]
➸ read at least 2 mangas from start to finish [0/2]
➸ read at least 2 classics [0/2]
➸ read at least 2 poetry books [0/2]
series completion goals
➸ shades of magic
➸ grishaverse
➸ stalking jack the ripper
➸ pretty little liars
➸ the raven cycle
january
books read: 1
average rating: 2
➸ the final girl support group: 2★
march
books read: 1
average rating: 5
➸ i'm glad my mom died: 5★
may
books read: 2
average rating: 3.5
➸ the secret of the old clock: 3★
➸ the stolen heir (the stolen heir duology): 4★
june
books read: 3
average rating: 4
➸ the red queen (the red queen series): 2.5★
➸ yellowface: 5★
➸ the raven boys (the raven cycle series): 4.5★
july
books read: 3
average rating: 3.66
➸ we had to remove this post: 2★
➸ the dream thieves (the raven cycle series): 4★
➸ beyond the story - 10-year record of bts: 5★
august
september
october
november
➸survive the night: 3.5 ★
december
➸ blue lily, lily blue: 4.5 ★
general goals
➸ actively maintain a reading journal
➸ read more books from marginalized authors
➸ read at least one book per month
➸ utilize more audiobooks
➸ participate in reading challenges to spice up the year
➸ read 25 books [8/25]
genre goals
➸ read at least 2 horror books [3/2] ✅
➸ read at least 2 nonfiction books [1/2]
➸ read at least 2 mangas from start to finish [0/2]
➸ read at least 2 classics [0/2]
➸ read at least 2 poetry books [0/2]
series completion goals
➸ shades of magic
➸ grishaverse
➸ stalking jack the ripper
➸ pretty little liars
➸ the raven cycle
january
books read: 1
average rating: 2
➸ the final girl support group: 2★
march
books read: 1
average rating: 5
➸ i'm glad my mom died: 5★
may
books read: 2
average rating: 3.5
➸ the secret of the old clock: 3★
➸ the stolen heir (the stolen heir duology): 4★
june
books read: 3
average rating: 4
➸ the red queen (the red queen series): 2.5★
➸ yellowface: 5★
➸ the raven boys (the raven cycle series): 4.5★
july
books read: 3
average rating: 3.66
➸ we had to remove this post: 2★
➸ the dream thieves (the raven cycle series): 4★
➸ beyond the story - 10-year record of bts: 5★
august
september
october
november
➸survive the night: 3.5 ★
december
➸ blue lily, lily blue: 4.5 ★
phoebe_the_titan_of_prophecy's review
3.0
my reading year started off bad with shatter me. but it got increasingly better with the discovery of the lunar chronicles, for a couple of months it was the usual fantasy, but then i found romances. after that murder mysteries then i hit a slump. no books were finished for weeks until... the discovery of comic books. i love comic books and superheroes. granted most of the comic books i read this year were D.C, they were still great especially young justice and batman. overall i would say it was a pretty good year.
aaronwarnersbf's review
5.0
I update this a lot so I don't forget so just scroll past it if you see this
2023 Reading Goals:
- Read 232 books (Min) 205/232
- Read more eBooks
- Write better reviews
Key:
2023 Reading Goals:
- Read 232 books (Min) 205/232
- Read more eBooks
- Write better reviews
Key: