The sanctity of the lifecycle. Treasure the earth's treasures.
Monday, 27 June 2016
Scribble #33
In any story, the only character worse than the villain is one who is a villain by accident.
Non-Fiction Book Review - 'Wicca for Beginners: A Guide to Wiccan Beliefs, Rituals, Magic, and Witchcraft' by Lisa Chamberlain
The guide 'Wicca for Beginners' acts as a basic introduction to the history, beliefs and practices of the Wicca religion and the Craft.
Such a friendly voice Lisa Chamberlain writes with! And Wicca is a very unusual and obscure religion in that there are no definite texts, structures and rules to follow. Or there shouldn't be, not really. Some Wiccans in a coven/circle or in solitary do follow traditional or "old" practises, in order to give thanks to and positively improve the earth and their lives. Wicca is also an extremely flexible, ever-changing, ever-growing, and personal lifestyle for many. This teacher’s guide tells us that Wicca is, for the most part, self-taught. Nothing is set in stone.
Magic is energy; it is a part of nature, and within all of us: to use individually and independently.
Whatever you believe in, whether you consider yourself a witch or a Wiccan or both, whatever magical correspondents (mindsets, colours, seasons, divine lifecycles etc.) and tools (stones, herbs, natural symbols etc.) and ritual practises best suit you, whatever you spiritually connect with, and whichever divinity and deity (Goddess and God) you resonate with and feel a personal affirmation towards, it is all entirely up to you. Wicca is all about nature (the sun, the moon, earth, sky, water, wood etc.) and spirituality (layers/higher planes of the universe, the mind and the energy matter of everything). There is no right way or wrong way to be a witch, so long as you have no intention to cause harm.
'Wicca for Beginners' - Very brief at 100 pages, but an effective starting point. Lovely stuff.
Blessed be.
Final Score: 4/5
Such a friendly voice Lisa Chamberlain writes with! And Wicca is a very unusual and obscure religion in that there are no definite texts, structures and rules to follow. Or there shouldn't be, not really. Some Wiccans in a coven/circle or in solitary do follow traditional or "old" practises, in order to give thanks to and positively improve the earth and their lives. Wicca is also an extremely flexible, ever-changing, ever-growing, and personal lifestyle for many. This teacher’s guide tells us that Wicca is, for the most part, self-taught. Nothing is set in stone.
Magic is energy; it is a part of nature, and within all of us: to use individually and independently.
Whatever you believe in, whether you consider yourself a witch or a Wiccan or both, whatever magical correspondents (mindsets, colours, seasons, divine lifecycles etc.) and tools (stones, herbs, natural symbols etc.) and ritual practises best suit you, whatever you spiritually connect with, and whichever divinity and deity (Goddess and God) you resonate with and feel a personal affirmation towards, it is all entirely up to you. Wicca is all about nature (the sun, the moon, earth, sky, water, wood etc.) and spirituality (layers/higher planes of the universe, the mind and the energy matter of everything). There is no right way or wrong way to be a witch, so long as you have no intention to cause harm.
'Wicca for Beginners' - Very brief at 100 pages, but an effective starting point. Lovely stuff.
Blessed be.
Final Score: 4/5
Wednesday, 22 June 2016
In rememberance of Jo Cox MP
Never forget - Keep supporting, keep fighting for equal rights across the board, keep moving forward. Keep loving.
Wednesday, 15 June 2016
Graphic Novel Review - 'Zodiac Starforce: By the Power of Astra' by Kevin Panetta (Writer), Paulina Ganucheau (Artist)
‘Zodiac Starforce: By the Power of Astra’
“How is a star formed? It begins with a collapse.”
I have waited for over half a year for this comic to come out in my country. Seems fitting then that the book’s themes orbit around the zodiac star signs - Gemini wins out!
There are many reasons why this was perhaps my most highly anticipated graphic novel to date, whose hype miraculously exceeded my expectations. Mainly it’s because, and this should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me, I love the Magical Girl genre. I love or at least guilty pleasure-watch a lot of anime about magical girls - not limited to ‘Sailor Moon’; for there’s also ‘Madoka Magica’, ‘Princess Tutu’, 'Revolutionary Girl Utena', ‘Cardcaptor Sakura’, ‘Tokyo Mew Mew’, ‘Wedding Peach’, really I could go on. In the West we have shows like ‘Winx Club’, ‘W.I.T.C.H.’, and ‘Steven Universe’. Even ‘The Powerpuff Girls’ was a response to the Magical Girl-type anime of the nineties as well as a parody of superheroes.
I was a huge fan of girl power shows and books long before I knew what feminism was. I’ve just always loved seeing girls kick butt and save the world, usually through compassion and empathy - non-violent solutions. They would solve major conflicts and other problems through talking and expressing emotions openly without fear. Having emotions is a source of strength for these characters, not a weakness. Yeah it’s sexist, and the girls have to fit traditional, skinny beauty standards, and get boyfriends in the form of “true love”. But similar to the early days of ‘Wonder Woman’, the magical girls strike a pose and make a stand for femininity as a positive thing, a force for good to all man-and-woman-kind.
The typical Magical Girl themes of friendship and love may seem really cheesy, sappy and juvenile, but they are in fact important principles to live by in reality. Outside of all the magic stuff - which I also love - these girls can help to teach valuable lessons about life and hope; nobody should have to struggle alone, and people can be kind and generous enough to be by your side no matter what. This resonated with me personally growing up, and watching these young women conquer evil while being a female-centered team made me feel no longer so alone.
What can I say, I am a softy at heart who adores these sorts of characters. It’s why I also love superheroes and heroines who come from a planetary-wide diversity prism, reflecting real people - heroic in their own way -in our mundane, scary, harsh, but varied and rewarding world.
This review became an essay on the Magical Girl genre without my intending it to. So to get back on track I’ll actually talk about ‘Zodiac Starforce’. It’s a modern tribute to the whole genre, and to female heroes in general. A love letter that clearly knows what it is and knows who would want to read it - someone like me, who grew up in the nineties surrounded by girl power imagery.
The creators love magical girls, and it shows on every colourful and beautiful page. ‘Zodiac Starforce’ is everything I love about a much underappreciated genre and more: A sympathetic lead (with mad and great hair); female friendships (this is a HUGE theme here); a female villain with a compelling backstory and understandable motivations; morals about the importance of love, family, and free will; and that having faith alone won’t solve anything, but as long as you stay strong on the inside, persevere and never give up on hope, you’ll eventually succeed.
‘Zodiac Starforce’ doesn’t outright parody or deconstruct the ‘Sailor Moon’ formula into extremely dark places (like ‘Madoka Magica’). More like it analyses the tropes with an affectionate eye, and through a self-awareness that’s neither cynical, lazy nor jaded, it conducts its own original twists and ideas. It has depth, it has intense and exciting moments where the stakes get higher and higher - and the reader cares because they care about the characters.
Ahh the characters. I remember each and every one of them:
The “leader” of the Zodiac Starforce team is Emma, aka Gemini, a sensitive soul who has been dealing with a lot of tragedy and grief. But she is not as soft as she seems, and through all her tears she is no doubt the heart of the group and the whole comic. Yes her signature colour is pink, and her hair turns pink when she transforms into her magical girl self, but she isn’t white, and that’s a bloody big plus. Quite a stylish girl too, is Emma. Her design looks akin to that of Jem from a certain band of holograms.
Kim, aka Taurus, is a boisterous “tomboy” who acts as the big sister of the group. She cares deeply for her friends and wants nothing more than to get the team back together after two years out of action (this book isn’t an origin story, so it gets right into the action, with information sprinkled here and there to avoid confusing the readers). Kim possesses super strength as a magical girl, and both defends and rushes into battles like a bull (she even calls her magical armour, “Heavenly Bull Armor”). If Emma is the heart, then Kim is all the muscles pumping the life force and spirit into the heart. She also has a nice boyfriend who doesn’t get in the way of the story at all.
Savanna “Savi”, aka Pisces, is a freckled, quick, nimble, pixie-like bisexual who like Kim is funny in her own manner. Her sexual identity is explored and developed wonderfully throughout; nothing seems forced, and it is remarkable to behold.
Molly, aka Ares, at first appears to be a typical aloof, sullen and sarcastic girl. She is the most reluctant to join the Starforce again, and gets into arguments at a hair-trigger (she resembles both the manga and anime personalities of Sailor Mars). But like the others, Molly is always concerned for her friends, and is incredibly tough and competitive. She is also Asian, adding to the diversity well.
Last but not least is the new addition to the Zodiac Starforce, Lily - Libra - a shy Black girl who becomes more confident and trusting towards her new friends through her relationship with Savi. This even becomes a plot point and helps to reinforce the book’s major themes near the end.
The main villain is the ominous dark goddess Cimmeria, coming back from another dimension after her major defeat by the Starforce two years previously. She’s the dark counterpart to Astra, the goddess who assembles the Zodiac Starforce soldiers to save the world from monsters. Astra isn't much better herself, however, but that's another story. Cimmeria’s minion is Diana. In a fine subversion of the high school mean girl clique cliché, Diana is not evil, cruel or manipulative for the sake of it. I won’t say any more due to spoilers, but her character will be difficult to hate by the end.
I am just delighted by the diversity - race, LBGTQ etc. - of these young women’s designs and complex personalities. As well as the magic and portals to other dimensions going on, the characterization of ‘Zodiac Starforce’ is a fantastic, revolutionary crème de la crème.
Flaws include a very fast-pace throughout the book which makes it look rushed sometimes, and with only four issues/chapters in the trade collection it is like a pilot to a much bigger story. The mini web issues, character sketches and cover art at the end are nice, though.
I think I’ve said my piece. ‘Zodiac Starforce’ - A star-studded nostalgia trip, a maximum sate for modern fans of the Magical Girl genre... A celestial celebration of the entire concept of girl power and all it stands for. It’s bright, charming, action-packed, fun, and gorgeous, with a lurking darkness beginning as a shadow, then turning into a total eclipse. Ending in a sparkly, galaxy-sized bang in the form of a message that loudly sings of compassion, companionship, love and hope in the midst of tragedy and loneliness.
I strongly recommend ‘Zodiac Starforce: By the Power of Astra’ to all Magical Girl fans, and girl power fans, and fans of three-dimensional, well-rounded female characters.
This star was formed, and transformed into a gem, made for me.
Final Score: 5/5
“How is a star formed? It begins with a collapse.”
I have waited for over half a year for this comic to come out in my country. Seems fitting then that the book’s themes orbit around the zodiac star signs - Gemini wins out!
There are many reasons why this was perhaps my most highly anticipated graphic novel to date, whose hype miraculously exceeded my expectations. Mainly it’s because, and this should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me, I love the Magical Girl genre. I love or at least guilty pleasure-watch a lot of anime about magical girls - not limited to ‘Sailor Moon’; for there’s also ‘Madoka Magica’, ‘Princess Tutu’, 'Revolutionary Girl Utena', ‘Cardcaptor Sakura’, ‘Tokyo Mew Mew’, ‘Wedding Peach’, really I could go on. In the West we have shows like ‘Winx Club’, ‘W.I.T.C.H.’, and ‘Steven Universe’. Even ‘The Powerpuff Girls’ was a response to the Magical Girl-type anime of the nineties as well as a parody of superheroes.
I was a huge fan of girl power shows and books long before I knew what feminism was. I’ve just always loved seeing girls kick butt and save the world, usually through compassion and empathy - non-violent solutions. They would solve major conflicts and other problems through talking and expressing emotions openly without fear. Having emotions is a source of strength for these characters, not a weakness. Yeah it’s sexist, and the girls have to fit traditional, skinny beauty standards, and get boyfriends in the form of “true love”. But similar to the early days of ‘Wonder Woman’, the magical girls strike a pose and make a stand for femininity as a positive thing, a force for good to all man-and-woman-kind.
The typical Magical Girl themes of friendship and love may seem really cheesy, sappy and juvenile, but they are in fact important principles to live by in reality. Outside of all the magic stuff - which I also love - these girls can help to teach valuable lessons about life and hope; nobody should have to struggle alone, and people can be kind and generous enough to be by your side no matter what. This resonated with me personally growing up, and watching these young women conquer evil while being a female-centered team made me feel no longer so alone.
What can I say, I am a softy at heart who adores these sorts of characters. It’s why I also love superheroes and heroines who come from a planetary-wide diversity prism, reflecting real people - heroic in their own way -in our mundane, scary, harsh, but varied and rewarding world.
This review became an essay on the Magical Girl genre without my intending it to. So to get back on track I’ll actually talk about ‘Zodiac Starforce’. It’s a modern tribute to the whole genre, and to female heroes in general. A love letter that clearly knows what it is and knows who would want to read it - someone like me, who grew up in the nineties surrounded by girl power imagery.
The creators love magical girls, and it shows on every colourful and beautiful page. ‘Zodiac Starforce’ is everything I love about a much underappreciated genre and more: A sympathetic lead (with mad and great hair); female friendships (this is a HUGE theme here); a female villain with a compelling backstory and understandable motivations; morals about the importance of love, family, and free will; and that having faith alone won’t solve anything, but as long as you stay strong on the inside, persevere and never give up on hope, you’ll eventually succeed.
‘Zodiac Starforce’ doesn’t outright parody or deconstruct the ‘Sailor Moon’ formula into extremely dark places (like ‘Madoka Magica’). More like it analyses the tropes with an affectionate eye, and through a self-awareness that’s neither cynical, lazy nor jaded, it conducts its own original twists and ideas. It has depth, it has intense and exciting moments where the stakes get higher and higher - and the reader cares because they care about the characters.
Ahh the characters. I remember each and every one of them:
The “leader” of the Zodiac Starforce team is Emma, aka Gemini, a sensitive soul who has been dealing with a lot of tragedy and grief. But she is not as soft as she seems, and through all her tears she is no doubt the heart of the group and the whole comic. Yes her signature colour is pink, and her hair turns pink when she transforms into her magical girl self, but she isn’t white, and that’s a bloody big plus. Quite a stylish girl too, is Emma. Her design looks akin to that of Jem from a certain band of holograms.
Kim, aka Taurus, is a boisterous “tomboy” who acts as the big sister of the group. She cares deeply for her friends and wants nothing more than to get the team back together after two years out of action (this book isn’t an origin story, so it gets right into the action, with information sprinkled here and there to avoid confusing the readers). Kim possesses super strength as a magical girl, and both defends and rushes into battles like a bull (she even calls her magical armour, “Heavenly Bull Armor”). If Emma is the heart, then Kim is all the muscles pumping the life force and spirit into the heart. She also has a nice boyfriend who doesn’t get in the way of the story at all.
Savanna “Savi”, aka Pisces, is a freckled, quick, nimble, pixie-like bisexual who like Kim is funny in her own manner. Her sexual identity is explored and developed wonderfully throughout; nothing seems forced, and it is remarkable to behold.
Molly, aka Ares, at first appears to be a typical aloof, sullen and sarcastic girl. She is the most reluctant to join the Starforce again, and gets into arguments at a hair-trigger (she resembles both the manga and anime personalities of Sailor Mars). But like the others, Molly is always concerned for her friends, and is incredibly tough and competitive. She is also Asian, adding to the diversity well.
Last but not least is the new addition to the Zodiac Starforce, Lily - Libra - a shy Black girl who becomes more confident and trusting towards her new friends through her relationship with Savi. This even becomes a plot point and helps to reinforce the book’s major themes near the end.
The main villain is the ominous dark goddess Cimmeria, coming back from another dimension after her major defeat by the Starforce two years previously. She’s the dark counterpart to Astra, the goddess who assembles the Zodiac Starforce soldiers to save the world from monsters. Astra isn't much better herself, however, but that's another story. Cimmeria’s minion is Diana. In a fine subversion of the high school mean girl clique cliché, Diana is not evil, cruel or manipulative for the sake of it. I won’t say any more due to spoilers, but her character will be difficult to hate by the end.
I am just delighted by the diversity - race, LBGTQ etc. - of these young women’s designs and complex personalities. As well as the magic and portals to other dimensions going on, the characterization of ‘Zodiac Starforce’ is a fantastic, revolutionary crème de la crème.
Flaws include a very fast-pace throughout the book which makes it look rushed sometimes, and with only four issues/chapters in the trade collection it is like a pilot to a much bigger story. The mini web issues, character sketches and cover art at the end are nice, though.
I think I’ve said my piece. ‘Zodiac Starforce’ - A star-studded nostalgia trip, a maximum sate for modern fans of the Magical Girl genre... A celestial celebration of the entire concept of girl power and all it stands for. It’s bright, charming, action-packed, fun, and gorgeous, with a lurking darkness beginning as a shadow, then turning into a total eclipse. Ending in a sparkly, galaxy-sized bang in the form of a message that loudly sings of compassion, companionship, love and hope in the midst of tragedy and loneliness.
I strongly recommend ‘Zodiac Starforce: By the Power of Astra’ to all Magical Girl fans, and girl power fans, and fans of three-dimensional, well-rounded female characters.
This star was formed, and transformed into a gem, made for me.
Final Score: 5/5
Sunday, 12 June 2016
Book Review - 'All the Rage' by Courtney Summers
This book is painful. It is uncomfortable. It is not easy to like. Over half of its characters are downright despicable human beings. It is vivid, dreadful. Devastating.
It is one of the most important pieces of YA literature I've ever read. It could not have been published at a better time. Evoking the colour red for its theme, its symbols, and for burning rage, it is a story that needed to be told in this day and age.
I simply cannot do 'All the Rage' justice. I cannot begin to describe how it eloquently breaks down and exposes rape culture in all its ugly, ugly truth. How it separates the facts from the myths. How it knows the patriarchy is a social system and construct, and how and why it continues to work. No one is immune to it. 'All the Rage' understands all there is to know about double standards, classism and favouritism, and why they're bullshit and harmful. It acknowledges that everyone is capable of doing stupid or "crazy" things when they are desperate. If you take the time to stop and think about it, they may actually have a valid reason - a right - to be desperate, to yell out to people in their own way, "Look at me! I'm begging you, LOOK AT ME! I'm human too! PLEASE LISTEN TO ME!"
The book holds a mirror up to you - and to society as a whole - in order to show you this: Rape is rape. Rape is real. It is never, ever the victim's fault. Misogyny is real, it is alive and kicking: A devil with an entire culture of advocates.
Because yes, 'All the Rage' is about rape. It is the focus of the story, showing how it has affected the life of the teenage victim protagonist, Romy Grey, who has gone silent after a year of accusations of lying and being made into a pariah in her home town. She is called a "slit", a merging of the words "slut" and "shit"; she is seen as a thing to be ignored, mocked, abused and exploited - someone who is better off dead. Because rape culture is a sick, evil curse placed on our society by the patriarchy, which will always take the side and well being of the rapist above everything else.
Rape is not used as a lazy plot device in this novel, nor is it thrown in for shock value without a proper understanding of such a sensitive and largely misrepresented subject matter. And it is sure as fuck not used to "empower" a female character.
It is to reveal, as plain as day, that to be born female is dangerous - a sin with terrifying potential consequences. Widespread culture has unconsciously manipulated our contemporary times so that to be a woman is enough cause for punishment.
In 'All the Rage', this is a character's response to the question of why they didn't believe Romy:
"Because it was easier."
Women cannot be expected to live like this. They cannot keep being targeted, and made the scapegoat for men so that males will never have to be held responsible for their own actions. This needs to change. Now. It is time for society to own up to its faults and respect women, to treat them as equal human beings, and above all support them. Because Romy’s story is just one of thousands - millions - in real life, and that is what makes it all so heartbreaking and enraging. Victim blaming solves absolutely nothing.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. There are many other, more detailed reviews of 'All the Rage' on Goodreads. Those reviewers do a fantastic job of talking about all of this heavy material, and generally they do it better than I could. A book as vital as this should be discussed and reflected upon in the masses, and reviewed to a much, much higher standard. It should be required reading in every high school in existence.
I'll conclude my own review by mentioning some of the highlights to 'All the Rage' I've noted:
It is great that the Young Adult market is finally being put to good use by representing subject matters such as these. Indeed not all YA is about shallow and unhealthy romances, with abusive content masquerading as love, and melodramatic love triangles. Romance is not even one of the main points in 'All the Rage'. Unlike in so many other YA books, the mother of the female lead in this one is a loving, supportive and wonderful person who always tries to be present, for she knows her daughter is traumatized and is not at fault for what had happened to her. The love interest Leon is a POC and is sweet and one the few likable characters. There is also the mother's boyfriend Todd, who is an almost treasure with good intentions. Almost all of the female characters are good people (especially the policewoman Leanne Howard), or at least they change for the better by the end (like the primadonna school bully Tina). The majority of the cast is female. The town gossip is a MAN (subverting gender stereotypes is another gratifying thing the book achieves). Racism as well as sexism politics is added in for good measure.
Final Score: 4/5. Buy it, borrow it, whatever. You just need to read it. You will not be the same afterwards, but that is a good thing. For society to change, individuals within it need to change.
Here is a bonus. I’ve changed some lyrics to the chorus of the Evanescence song, ‘Sick’, which is about rebellion. I wish to emphasize the rise of women and girls everywhere who are mad as hell and won’t take it anymore:
Sick of it all, sick of it all
I will not calm down
Sick of it all, sick of it all
I will not bow down
Sick of it all, sick of it all
You will understand how-
Sick we are, sick we are!
Of this bottomless, poisonous pit of lies
Behind closed eyes.
It is one of the most important pieces of YA literature I've ever read. It could not have been published at a better time. Evoking the colour red for its theme, its symbols, and for burning rage, it is a story that needed to be told in this day and age.
I simply cannot do 'All the Rage' justice. I cannot begin to describe how it eloquently breaks down and exposes rape culture in all its ugly, ugly truth. How it separates the facts from the myths. How it knows the patriarchy is a social system and construct, and how and why it continues to work. No one is immune to it. 'All the Rage' understands all there is to know about double standards, classism and favouritism, and why they're bullshit and harmful. It acknowledges that everyone is capable of doing stupid or "crazy" things when they are desperate. If you take the time to stop and think about it, they may actually have a valid reason - a right - to be desperate, to yell out to people in their own way, "Look at me! I'm begging you, LOOK AT ME! I'm human too! PLEASE LISTEN TO ME!"
The book holds a mirror up to you - and to society as a whole - in order to show you this: Rape is rape. Rape is real. It is never, ever the victim's fault. Misogyny is real, it is alive and kicking: A devil with an entire culture of advocates.
Because yes, 'All the Rage' is about rape. It is the focus of the story, showing how it has affected the life of the teenage victim protagonist, Romy Grey, who has gone silent after a year of accusations of lying and being made into a pariah in her home town. She is called a "slit", a merging of the words "slut" and "shit"; she is seen as a thing to be ignored, mocked, abused and exploited - someone who is better off dead. Because rape culture is a sick, evil curse placed on our society by the patriarchy, which will always take the side and well being of the rapist above everything else.
Rape is not used as a lazy plot device in this novel, nor is it thrown in for shock value without a proper understanding of such a sensitive and largely misrepresented subject matter. And it is sure as fuck not used to "empower" a female character.
It is to reveal, as plain as day, that to be born female is dangerous - a sin with terrifying potential consequences. Widespread culture has unconsciously manipulated our contemporary times so that to be a woman is enough cause for punishment.
In 'All the Rage', this is a character's response to the question of why they didn't believe Romy:
"Because it was easier."
Women cannot be expected to live like this. They cannot keep being targeted, and made the scapegoat for men so that males will never have to be held responsible for their own actions. This needs to change. Now. It is time for society to own up to its faults and respect women, to treat them as equal human beings, and above all support them. Because Romy’s story is just one of thousands - millions - in real life, and that is what makes it all so heartbreaking and enraging. Victim blaming solves absolutely nothing.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. There are many other, more detailed reviews of 'All the Rage' on Goodreads. Those reviewers do a fantastic job of talking about all of this heavy material, and generally they do it better than I could. A book as vital as this should be discussed and reflected upon in the masses, and reviewed to a much, much higher standard. It should be required reading in every high school in existence.
I'll conclude my own review by mentioning some of the highlights to 'All the Rage' I've noted:
It is great that the Young Adult market is finally being put to good use by representing subject matters such as these. Indeed not all YA is about shallow and unhealthy romances, with abusive content masquerading as love, and melodramatic love triangles. Romance is not even one of the main points in 'All the Rage'. Unlike in so many other YA books, the mother of the female lead in this one is a loving, supportive and wonderful person who always tries to be present, for she knows her daughter is traumatized and is not at fault for what had happened to her. The love interest Leon is a POC and is sweet and one the few likable characters. There is also the mother's boyfriend Todd, who is an almost treasure with good intentions. Almost all of the female characters are good people (especially the policewoman Leanne Howard), or at least they change for the better by the end (like the primadonna school bully Tina). The majority of the cast is female. The town gossip is a MAN (subverting gender stereotypes is another gratifying thing the book achieves). Racism as well as sexism politics is added in for good measure.
Final Score: 4/5. Buy it, borrow it, whatever. You just need to read it. You will not be the same afterwards, but that is a good thing. For society to change, individuals within it need to change.
Here is a bonus. I’ve changed some lyrics to the chorus of the Evanescence song, ‘Sick’, which is about rebellion. I wish to emphasize the rise of women and girls everywhere who are mad as hell and won’t take it anymore:
Sick of it all, sick of it all
I will not calm down
Sick of it all, sick of it all
I will not bow down
Sick of it all, sick of it all
You will understand how-
Sick we are, sick we are!
Of this bottomless, poisonous pit of lies
Behind closed eyes.
Manga Review - 'Attack on Titan, Vol. 2' by Hajime Isayama
2023 EDIT: Part of my (latest) 2023 clear-up, of books (and franchises) I no longer like, or am no longer interested in, or remember well as standing out, or find as special anymore, or I otherwise will not miss.
Final Score: 3.5/5
Original Review:
Just a quick read at the library for me.
This is Mikasa's volume; her story, her set piece. All action and fear and anger and the never-fading will to survive, and the consequences of humans ever losing hope and vision. It's quite well-structured, especially in its character development, with not much dialogue getting in the way.
Mikasa rocks, even when it appears she depends on a boy to give her a reason to live. She doesn't. At her lowest point, she keeps going. She is Badass.
Funny how a whole manga volume - the second one at that - can still work when its main protagonist is barely in it. The spotlight is on the female star, while the other male characters are overly emotional and are thus rendered practically useless.
Final Score: 4/5
Final Score: 3.5/5
Original Review:
Just a quick read at the library for me.
This is Mikasa's volume; her story, her set piece. All action and fear and anger and the never-fading will to survive, and the consequences of humans ever losing hope and vision. It's quite well-structured, especially in its character development, with not much dialogue getting in the way.
Mikasa rocks, even when it appears she depends on a boy to give her a reason to live. She doesn't. At her lowest point, she keeps going. She is Badass.
Funny how a whole manga volume - the second one at that - can still work when its main protagonist is barely in it. The spotlight is on the female star, while the other male characters are overly emotional and are thus rendered practically useless.
Final Score: 4/5
Saturday, 11 June 2016
Scribble #32
To write in the middle of nowhere, or among the trees in the sunny, honeysuckle countryside, is a paradise of inspiration. The wood from your cottage, the trees by your window, stroking the glass, and even the feel of the wood of your pencil and lead, is a comfort. A gateway into your free and wild imagination. Mother Nature is warm and welcoming; open your window and let her sense and scent in. Birds sing and hop from branch to branch, and rain cools us and heightens the sense of the earth, its fertile soil. And don't forget the apples, green and red, and that fox peeping through the bushes, then it lies in the sun. That is inspiration. That is a good place to start writing.
You're saying no one is as honest as they appear; that no one is ever honest, not even to themselves. You say no one is at least openly honest, ever. I believe cynicism isn't just about being pessimistic about the world and the people, but thinking everything good in the world is a lie. Everything is a lie, and truth and kindness are illusions created by us, here, on this planet. What are we to you, then? Will you give an honest answer? I at least knew adults who lied always when I was very young.
You're saying no one is as honest as they appear; that no one is ever honest, not even to themselves. You say no one is at least openly honest, ever. I believe cynicism isn't just about being pessimistic about the world and the people, but thinking everything good in the world is a lie. Everything is a lie, and truth and kindness are illusions created by us, here, on this planet. What are we to you, then? Will you give an honest answer? I at least knew adults who lied always when I was very young.
Scribble #31
We can separate the man from the artist, but the man has to be made accountable for his actions.
I only just realised, I love the smell of rain. I've spent so long shutting my doors and windows whenever it rained outside - specifically so I would not experience rain - that I didn't stop to actually pay attention to it when the sky clouded and it poured. Now, sitting at my desk with my window open, I breathe in the rich, cold, watery, earthy scent. It's not dirty, it's natural. It's magical.
I only just realised, I love the smell of rain. I've spent so long shutting my doors and windows whenever it rained outside - specifically so I would not experience rain - that I didn't stop to actually pay attention to it when the sky clouded and it poured. Now, sitting at my desk with my window open, I breathe in the rich, cold, watery, earthy scent. It's not dirty, it's natural. It's magical.
Tuesday, 7 June 2016
I only just realised, I love the smell of rain. I've spent so long shutting my doors and windows whenever it rained outside - specifically so I would not experience rain - that I didn't stop to actually pay attention to it when the sky clouded and it poured. Now, sitting at my desk with my window open, I breathe in the rich, cold, watery, earthy scent. It's not dirty, it's natural. It's magical.
Monday, 6 June 2016
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