Friday, June 17, 2022

January - June 2022: A Recap

It has been a long while since I've made one of these! 2022 has been a busy year so far, and I can't believe it's practically halfway over. In the past 6 months, I honestly haven't read very many books, but I have done a variety of other things. I wrapped up university in the past month, and I am now a university graduate with a B.S. in Biochemistry! I've also spent the past 6 months discovering and deepening my love for creative writing, and also learning for the first time what creative writing entails. I never thought I could be a writer of any sort, but here I am taking creative writing workshops and learning from some of the most insightful writers ever. I also got COVID during the past month, which definitely wasn't fun, but I've since recovered well, just in time to not miss my very last week of undergrad classes.

So, yes, I haven't read very many books, per se, in the past 6 months, but I have been reading. I've also been listening to new music (read: not just Taylor Swift) and discovering a love for poetry as well. I've never really been much of a poetry person, but some great collections have me rethinking this. Maybe I can become a poetry person. And it wouldn't be me if I wasn't reading some fanfiction, and I have some really great recs for you all. I've, of course, been reading manga as well and watching anime whenever I have free time, and I've come across some really great ones that I'm excited to recommend to you all as well!

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favorite books of 2022 (so far)

There honestly aren't a lot of books to choose from, given my sparse reading habits this year, but most of the books I've read in 2022 are some of my absolute favorites. 


Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

A wonderful exploration of family set during the Japanese occupation of Korea and the effects of it on future generations. It follows a family through many generations, and we watch the main character, Sunja, from when she is a child all the way to when she is an elderly woman with children and grandchildren of her own. Pachinko is heartbreaking; it’s a very honest and realistic depiction of a family torn apart by war, personal circumstance, and poverty, and how each of them react to very real threats against their family. Min Jin Lee transitions through time extremely smoothly, and spends just enough time with each person and in each time frame to inspire love and sympathy from the readers for each of her characters. It is hard not to feel for these characters when you watch them grow up from when they were infants. One of the most amazing things about this novel is how Min Jin Lee explores different facets of identity and all of their nuances. I loved the exploration of motherhood and womanhood during this time period, as well as the discussion of what it means to be a minority in the country you have always thought of as home. 



The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee

I breezed through Jade War and Jade Legacy, the second and third books of the saga, in record time. I read Jade City a while back in 2020, but I couldn’t find the time and the headspace to read Jade War since Fonda Lee’s world building and politics are always so complex, I felt it important to read Jade War with a mind that has the energy to sift through every detail and allow it all to marinate in my brain. Both Jade War and Jade Legacy were unputdownable. Jade War admittedly started off a little slow. New characters are introduced, the world expands beyond Janloon to include the many nations surrounding it, and it is all a little overwhelming at first. But once all the information began to settle, I found myself really enjoying how large-scale the story became. 

It was really amazing how I came to really love and care for such a large cast of characters. Jade Legacy spans years and years and grows to cover the next generation, and though it moved through time so quickly I grew to care for these characters too. We watch them grow from infancy to adolescence to adulthood, and we watch the characters we started with learn to grapple with parenthood and its additional responsibilities. It was a marvelous ending to this saga, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt more satisfied with a series in my life. I laughed and wept throughout Jade Legacy, and it was truly a testament to how amazing Fonda Lee is at developing her characters and the world.

The Green Bone Saga has quickly become one of my favorite series of all time, and I highly recommend this series to anyone and everyone.


 

Know My Name by Chanel Miller

Wrapping it all up with yet another book by an AAPI author. Proof that women really are killing it out there. I don’t really read a lot of non-fiction, and that includes memoirs, but reading this one makes me feel like I really should because it was that amazing. Know My Name is wonderfully well-written and full of extremely poignant and cutting prose. There were lines that really took my breath away, or really gutted me where it hurts. Chanel Miller is truly such a wonderful writer and such a strong soul, and she doesn’t hold back from letting us know exactly how much this experience has affected her. She tells us everything—from her good times to the absolute worst. And it is truly frustrating to read how people have treated her, both the media and the American Judicial System. I highly recommend everyone read Chanel Miller’s memoir, it is truly amazing and eye-opening and profoundly harrowing.


favorite short stories of 2022 (so far)


I don't read short stories very often. That has changed lately, given that I've been taking writing workshops centered around the short story. I never thought it could be my medium of choice, and I'm still not sure that it is. But I've read some absolutely amazing pieces during my studies (many of them the works of my classmates, but those are unpublished even though I wish everyone could read those), and I thought I'd share some of my favorites with everyone. 


We Didn’t by Stuart Dybek

This is a very evocative short story about decisions and what-ifs that continuously haunt the characters and eventually lead to the dissolution of their relationship. The very beginning of this story was honestly very shocking to my delicate sensibilities (LOL) and I had no idea where it was going at first, but then the story took a dark turn that I wasn't expecting at all and it turned into a story about lost loves. It was quite heartbreaking, honestly. 



Why Don't Women Just Say What They Want by Danielle Evans

Danielle Evans writes some of the most interesting stories I've ever read. I had the honor of meeting her in person, actually, and she is such an insightful person it has made me appreciate her works that much more. This story is about an artist who creates these very public art pieces as apologies to the women in his life he has wronged, and he has wronged a lot of them. It's very much a commentary on performative actions, and how people often try to profit off of other people's pain. It's a very interesting piece, especially since most of the characters are not named and are referred to by their relationship to the artist. This stylistic choice just adds another layer of distance between the reader and these women, and also is a commentary on ownership. These women are not given identities beyond their relationship with the artist who has wronged them, yet this story is about them. Danielle Evans is truly a wonderful writer, and I recommend her short story collection The Office of Historical Corrections


poetry collections I've enjoyed

I've never been much of a poetry enjoyer. I think a lot of poetry goes over my head, a testament to my lack of understanding of the English language. I've been enjoying poetry a lot more now, though, since a lot of my classmates are both prose writers and poets, and they've been introducing me to the world of poetry. So here are some that I've really enjoyed recently:




Crush by Richard Siken

definitely cheating with this one. We all know how well-loved Siken's poetry is, and I am no exception. I've reread this poetry collection several times. I honestly don't fully understand every single one of them, but the ones that I do understand have really stuck with me.

"So maybe I wanted to give you something more than a catalog/of non-definite acts,/something other than the desperation."

 Siken's poems are so full of yearning. A yearning that is desperate, a yearning that is violent. I love the way he strings together words. I love the metaphors he uses, sometimes so blunt they're jarring. 



Obit by Victoria Chang

Obit has such a creative structure. Each poem is an obituary to something that has died in Chang's life, whether that be a someone, or a feeling, or a something, or herself.

"The Future--died on June 24, 2009...The way grief is really about future absence. The way the future closes its offices when a mother dies. What's left: a hole in the ground the size of violence"

This is a poetry collection about grief. About Chang grieving over her father, though he is still living. About Chang grieving over her departed mother. It is also about Chang's experience on motherhood, and her relationship with her children going hand in hand with her relationship with her own mother.

 


The Renunciations by Donika Kelly

This collection is full of just so much. It's about romantic love. It's also about trauma inflicted upon her by her father. 

"I will bear him wherever I am taken and no one will kill him and he will not die"


favorite manga of 2022

I read a decent amount of manga this year. Lately I've mostly been reading romance manga, because they really just hit different in times of stress and grief. Here are some of my favorites of the year so far:


Sasaki to Miyano by Harusono Sho

This manga is a wonderful coming of age story about two boys whose deep friendship has them finding out a lot about themselves. Miyano likes to read BL manga, and in Sasaki's quest to learn more about Miyano, he picks up some of Miyano's manga recommendations and they form a friendship that revolves around discussing the stories they've read. It was all very sweet, and extremely wholesome, and so very heartwarming. 

Chainsaw Man by Fujimoto Tatsuki

A huge twist from the previously mentioned manga, Chainsaw Man is a dark fantasy story about a world where humans live alongside demons. Some demons are vicious and a danger to humankind, but others work alongside humans to abate the terror of these demons. Fujimoto's art is wonderfully detailed, but also extremely gory so proceed with caution if you are not comfortable with gore. The concept of this fantasy world is extremely interesting, and I really loved many of the characters and their relationships. Denji, Power, and Aki had such an amazing found-family dynamic, and I adored every bit of their domestic shenanigans. Aki and Angel also have such an interesting dynamic, given that Aki hates demons and Angel Devil is one. One thing I would've loved more of from this manga was a focus on some of the other characters introduced, since there are a lot of characters and a lot of deaths and sometimes the deaths felt gratuitous since we never got to really know these characters very well. The deaths of characters we did spend a lot of time with, however, were a punch in the gut. 


recent favorite fanfiction

It really wouldn't be me if I didn't have some fanfiction recommendations on hand. I will always, always be an avid reader of fanfiction and a huge supporter of fanworks. There will always be some piece of fanwork that I need to put on blast, because fan-authors really deserve it.


lamplighter by yamabato -- haikyuu!! (omigiri // sakusa kiyoomi/miya osamu)

I have never read something so magnificently ordinary, yet unordinary at the same time. This story is so atmospheric. I love the setting; the quaint little diner Osamu opens, the neighboring bar that Suna runs, the liminality of these communal spaces that breathe life into the dead of the night. 

"he falls in love with the distance, he thinks: that blank, gleaming sliver of counter space between them. The way that placing a dish there stitches it shut. If only for a moment."

The little snippets of the Miya twins' relationship was so heartfelt; I love a story that shows the depth of their care for each other, but also the snark and biting sarcasm that is so integral to their relationship. The relationship between Osamu and Sakusa was also developed so naturally and so, so well. Just the right amount of tension was applied, enough for the readers to feel it tangibly but not so much that it ruins the delicate atmosphere of the story. I loved each of the people Osamu encounters in his diner, all his regulars and his relationship with each of them. It is truly a beautiful work, and I am now inspired to write something wonderfully ordinary. 


and the snow where you lay, left a bed in your shape by soledads -- chainsaw man (hayakawa aki/angel devil)

I am convinced that most AkiAngel fics have a very similar vibe. They all feel extremely distant, as if I'm watching an old supercut reel of memories, deeply tinged with reminiscence and longing. An outsider privy to observing this world that is only theirs. Also, AkiAngel is just full of so much flavor; they're like bluesey (The Raven Cycle) on crack. Can't kiss the one you love? What if I do you one better: you can't touch the one you love, or you die. Or are delivered that much closer to Death's doorstep. Full of flavor.

"The Angel Devil is neither holy nor sinful, stuck in limbo, breathing down Aki's neck in the forsaken hours of dawn and holding doors open for him when he forgets he's not supposed to be kind."

This fic is no exception. It is full of subtle religious imagery, which is honestly inevitable given Angel Devil, and each instance is extremely potent and really guts you, given context. This story is extremely gentle, yet it skirts on a knife edge of sexual tension that is punctuated by the fact that they can't touch. Just beautiful, lyrical writing all around. This is just one of many of my favorite AkiAngel stories. I think I'm honestly just in love with the vibe of most AkiAngel stories.   


sugar season, summer town by batman -- haikyuu!! (sendai frogs)

Oh, ao3 user batman. We all know I am in love with ao3 user batman. Their series jaywalkers is one of my favorite ao3 collections to date. And ao3 user batman strikes again, this time with frogs 🐸 I have read this fic several times in the past month. It was posted in the middle of May. The main pairing in this story is Koganegawa/Tsukishima, but I personally didn't categorize this as a KogaTsuki fic because I don't really think they are The Point. Yes, this road trip is an exploration on their pining and the relationship that has grown and festered between them, but more importantly it is a story about friendship. It's Kyoutani harboring the weight of his past mistakes, and learning that this doesn't have to be so complicated. Friendship can be simple. Love can be simple. Doesn't mean it isn't any less marvelous.

"Holidays are meant for staying in bed and testing your body, he always says, Yours specifically, I mean. Now get over here."

There are so many layers to this fic that I love. It's hilarious; Kyoutani's point of view—his voice—is written so accurately. He's brimming with impatience. He's brimming with love. There are also so many recurring things that just make this story that much more memorable. The Boston, The Whorification of Kunimi Akira (thank you, ao3 user batman, really. from the bottom of my heart, thank you), the stock market ballads, Yahaba Shigeru, the roadtrip games. All elements weaved throughout the story that are carried through to completion. Truly a feat. 

"It's not easy being the Greek chorus, actually. Kentarou gets what all the fuss is in dramatic irony now, because the only thing keeping him from grabbing both their scruffs and screaming how fucking dense can you get is that he doesn't have enough alcohol in him yet, so instead of screaming he just grabs the drink and downs a fourth of it in a huge gulp"

Too many quotes and too many parts that I absolutely love. They're ridiculous, all three of them. And the side characters too (Kunimi, I am looking right at you). I have also read this fic a million times because I think there is so much to learn from this fic. All those elements established and carried through, the humor and ease in their conversations, how to write an amazing friendship dynamic. Just wonderful. I think everyone should read this fic at least once in their lives. A new favorite of mine, truly.   


albums i've been listening to

I've honestly never been too much of a music person? I love music, don't get me wrong, but listening to albums has never really been my thing until recently. Probably inspired by the many tiktoks of people listening to an album a week, or an album a month. But recently I've listened to some really great ones that I'd love to share:




Give Me A Minute (2020) and five seconds flat (2022) by Lizzy McAlpine

God I love this album. Very much up my alley--reflective, stripped down acoustic, and full of heart-wrenching ballads. Some favorites of mine off this album: "Same Boat" really stabs me where it really hurts every single time I listen to it (I don't know why every time/ that I think of home/ I can picture you standing in the cold), "Apple Pie" on the other hand is such a heartwarmingly sweet song about finding a home in someone.

I'm also a huge fan of Lizzy's recent album five seconds flat. Some favorites from this album: "ceilings" takes an unexpected twist that is truly debilitating (lovely to sit between comfort and chaos), "firearm" is reflective and takes a disarming turn (i mix you with my vodka/and it turns me on). Lizzy's lyricism really stands out in both albums, and five seconds flat is so different in both vibes and production, and it really really works for her.



Harry's House (2022) by Harry Styles

I know. One of the biggest albums in the pop music sphere right now. It's goddamn Harry Styles. But I've never really listened to Harry Styles before this album? I've heard a decent amount of songs off Fine Line, "She" and "Falling" are two of my favorites off Fine Line, but I never actually sat and listened to Fine Line in its entirety. I felt compelled to listen to Harry's House though, after getting really attached to "As It Was". Some favorites off Harry's new album: "Late Night Talking" makes me want to take a nice midnight drive with someone. "Keep Driving" is so catchy and I'm personally not entirely sure what it's all about, but if feels like flashes and vignettes of small, personal things that are important to this relationship; as a lover of vignettes, I sure am in love with this song. "Love of My Life" is about lost love, and we know I love songs about lost love (maybe you don't know what's lost til you find it).



Punisher (2020) by Phoebe Bridgers

Again, I am so so behind. I should've listened to all of Punisher much earlier than this. Punisher was definitely my quarantine album; it got me through the debilitating stress that was me, desperate to get better so that I can fully bask in the last bits of undergrad life and also walk during graduation. I once heard someone say that Phoebe Bridgers' songs are like a conversation with her, and I'm inclined to agree. Some favorites from this album: "ICU" is about the dissolution of a love, cleverly named to create a very clever double entendre (if you're a work of art/i'm standing too close/i can see the brushstrokes). "I Know The End" is a bold and apocalyptic finale track. "Moon Song" is a heartbreaking ballad about a love that is debilitating and all-consuming (so i will wait for the next time that you want me/like a dog with a bird at your door).

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There are so many things that I have been enjoying these past many months that I've been absent. I've been spending quality time with friends, finding new hobbies, discovering new places, and just having a lot of fun. 

And so I hope everyone has had a wonderful 2022 so far, and I hope everyone is staying safe and happy and healthy!


—璇


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