#TheColourOfMagic: Revisiting the first #Discworld novel was… interesting. The humour comes off a little half baked and you can tell that he hadn’t quite worked out his style just yet.
Twoflower and Rincewind’s friendship is actually really quite good, Twoflower is a great foil for Rincewind and constantly pushing the story forward.
Breaking the story into several pseudo-short stories was an interesting choice but I think it just upsets the flow of his writing.
#PaperGirls vol. 3: Continuing to be a wild adventure through time filled with confusion and excitement, Paper Girls is absolutely excellent. I cannot say how relatable the general mundane experiences really are for young girls (not having that life experience) but it feels natural and genuine.
Mac and KJ have the best conflicts so far and I am on the edge of my seat for every development. Erin and Tiff are also great and I look forward to their sections as well.
#Neuromancer: I had so much trouble getting into this book. I got around a hundred pages into the book and felt like I had no idea what was going on, what anyone’s motivations were or why I should care about anything.
After discussing with some friends on the BrewCrew discord server I’ve decided that I will consider trying it again after I have read some more in the #Cyberpunk genre. I am going to try Snow Crash, When Gravity Fails and Burning Chrome before going back to it.
#ChainsawMan Vol 12-13: A great start to the second arc, it’s really cool to see the world of Chainsaw Man from another prospective. Asa is a fantastic, introspective character for the job and Yoru makes for a good character for to bounce off. Asa’s relationship with Yuko is great, but could have used a little more build up.
I’m not quite sure what’s going on with Denji right now, where his head is at. I’m hoping his character development hasn’t been undone.
Favourite books of the year (in no particular order):
- Yumi and the Nightmare Panther
- The Children of Hurin
- Jade Legacy
- Hogfather
Favourite #Manga series:
- Neon Genesis Evangelion
- Full Metal Alchemist
Favourite #GraphicNovel (though I didn't read many graphic novels this year):
- The Sandman
#Hogfather: An absolute delight to read coming up to Christmas. I adore Death in the role of #Fantasy Santa, his interactions with Albert are insightful, heartwarming and hilarious.
Susan’s story is interesting, I’d forgotten how much of this book is wrapped up in her identity, her relationship with the children she is governess to is wonderful.
I love the exploration of the meaning of Christmas outside of religion and its links to the Winter solstice.
#JadeLegacy: A fantastic conclusion to an amazing trilogy. Fonda Lee has a great skill for creating an overarching narrative, drawing so many plotlines together in a satisfying manner.
It is honestly surprising how well developed so many of the more minor characters ended up being despite having so few POV chapters.
Hilo, Anden, Shae and Wen made wonderful core cast, their relationships with each other and the rest of the cast brought the series to life.
#PaperGirls vol 3: Continues to build a mystifying story, adding tension and intrigue, leaving you never sure who to trust outside of the core cast. The art is excellent at conveying the story and bringing the characters to life.
I’m starting to see some of the core themes come to the forefront, mainly around generational divides and maintenance of the statue quo. I am looking forward to continuing the story and seeing where it goes with these themes.
#AttackOnTitan: I finished AoT this week, and I’m left with an uncomfortable feeling. It incorporates harmful stereotypes, and I wonder what the intent was.
At times it reads as an anti-authority narrative, other times it feels like it is justifying the villain's actions.
AoT explores trauma in interesting ways but it is far from perfect, IMO it fails in some crucial ways.
I can't recommend AoT in good conscious without knowing more about the author's intentions.
#SoulMusic: I’ve a special place in my heart for pTerry’s #Death series, I don’t think I have come across a more real depiction of the anthropomorphic concept of Death. It is a depiction that brings me comfort and a sense of peace.
I loved so much of the humour of this book, Susan is such a fantastic protagonist and I love the journey that she goes on. The Band is a hilarious take on a rock band. Albert and the Death of Rats make for a wonderful supporting cast.
GreatIrishElk