Victim-blaming is wrong. It helps nothing. It solves nothing. It is not the victim's "responsibility". Sex offenders and sexual predators are criminals. Rape is bad, sexual assault and groping are bad, and women are people.
It is 2017-coming-on-2018, and all of these are still up for discussion. They are not universally accepted, despite common sense, as truths. They are undermined as "topics" and are widely considered "controversial" issues. This is how deeply ingrained misogyny is in our society and culture.
We can do better. We must.
Tuesday 28 November 2017
Saturday 25 November 2017
Book Review - 'Queens of Geek' by Jen Wilde
2023 REREAD: There's nothing quite like reading a lighthearted, positive, shining, girly and geeky book to cheer me up. 'Queens of Geek' is a quick pick-me-up of a book that can be read in a day. Passionate, understanding, diverse, hopeful, and pink, I adore it.
Final Score: 4/5
Original Review:
'Queens of Geek' was written for all geek girls.
To anyone who has ever felt out of place, abnormal, like an alien, like a freak, an outcast, an unwanted mold on society to be stepped on and then picked away clean, like you shouldn't exist; to anyone who has ever been mocked, ridiculed, humiliated, and made to feel ashamed for liking something, for finding something that makes you happy, or for just being who you are: 'Queens of Geek' is for you. It is a comfort blanket. A spark of hope for the future, coming from the contemporary present where weird is the new normal. Nerds are cool now, and pop culture is a dominant culture in society. It is beautiful.
"Three friends. Two love stories. One convention."
- That blurb does sum up 'Queens of Geek'. Three friends from Australia go to a major pop culture convention in the US, SupaCon, as a pre-high school graduation event, in prospect of attending university together in LA.
Charlie Liang is a Chinese-Australian, bisexual, pink-haired daughter of immigrants, who is a star vlogger on Youtube with a zombie movie under her belt to promote at SupaCon. She is moving on from a disastrous breakup and public humiliation brought on by her arsehole ex, Reese Ryan, whom she is also costar to in her first movie, so avoiding him and keeping her space as her own person is something no one will allow her to do; most of her fans devotedly ship "Chase" and want her to get back together with Reese, never mind her feelings. What Charlie wants and how much she actually cares what others think of her under a starry-eyed, celebrity lens is put to the test when she starts a relationship with another popular vlogger and actor, Alyssa Huntington, whom she's admired and had a crush on for years.
Taylor, the other POV character of the book, is a fat autistic girl with anxiety issues who is passionate about pop culture and escapism. She has many followers on Tumblr, and is secretly in love with her best guy friend, Jamie Garcia, but is too afraid of change and the future to try to develop their relationship into more than friendship. SupaCon is Taylor's first con and her first time cosplaying (as her literary and film heroine, Queen Firestone), and it might be just what she needs in expressing herself more, and finding out that she is not as weird or a "problem human" as she always thought she was.
Pop culture references, commentary on feminism and double standards (for example Reese, when interviewed, is asked questions about his movie and character, while in the same interview Charlie is only asked about her diet and body, plus the director had told her to "run sexier", whatever the fuck that means), commentary on mental illnesses, commentary on the vast spectrum of sexuality, a reflection of how the internet has changed how everything works, especially in the entertainment industry, and all around lovable, candy-sweet geekiness - 'Queens of Geek' has it. It does contain very preachy speeches by characters, but it's warranted. Understanding the importance of representation, of geeks/nerds/outcasts sticking up for and supporting one another, of girls sticking up for and supporting one another, of people on the autism/anxiety spectrum sticking up for and supporting one another, and of not being an entitled bully to anyone who is different from you; how vital these life lessons are cannot be undermined.
This book is so positive, so colourful, so cute. Funny, too. But I was also surprised by how often I got teary-eyed reading it. I could relate to a lot in it, especially some aspects of Taylor's character (though if I'm honest, I'm more interested in Charlie's POV chapters - she's great and seems a fantastic friend to have, and is perhaps not as contradictory or inconsistent as Taylor). Being yourself should be how you want to live, no matter what people might think, because nobody can please everybody, it's an impossible goal. One's existence and/or behaviour isn't up for scrutiny, and is not up for any judgement of any kind. Being happy, being who you are in a cruel, conformist, us-vs-them, dickish world is commendable, brave, and really, above all else, healthy and normal. Individuality and expressing passion about all sorts of things, as long as they aren't hurting anyone, is human. It's not weird in any sense. Why criticize that?
I wish I had something like 'Queens of Geek' growing up; it would have saved me from a lot of time and energy wasted on fears and tears.
Yes it is preachy (indeed anyone choosing to pick it up would already be aware of social justice, and sexism, racism, homophobia, biphobia, ableism, fat-phobia, and why they're bad), and there are some moments that are very, very contrived and convenient - plot points straight out of a rom com or teen sitcom. There are a few typos in the writing as well. But I don't care. Like I said, 'Queens of Geek' is an outcast's comfort blanket, a reminder that they are alright. That they are understood. They are normal, they are not broken or sick, no matter who says otherwise. It's not cheesy, it's the truth.
I wanted to meet these characters, give them a big hug, and thank them. More realistically though, in this review I will instead thank the author, Jen Wilde, for creating them, and for writing such a life-affirming novel for weirdos like myself. For anyone who has ever been bullied, and hurt, and felt pressured to not be themselves.
So 'Queens of Geek' is for everyone, really.
Who knew that a few days at a con could be life changing? Could say a lot about living life? There are too many awesome quotes in the book to record.
Again, thank you, Jen Wilde, for writing such an adorkable, sweet, diverse, affirmative, up-to-date, supportive love letter to every fangirl and fanboy (my spellchecker underlines red fangirl but not fanboy, similar to how superheroine is apparently not a word but superhero is. Culture needs to keep changing; technology as well as people need to keep up with the times). I'm happy I bought 'Queens of Geek'. I regret nothing.
The cover is irresistible, too.
Final Score: 4/5
Final Score: 4/5
Original Review:
'Queens of Geek' was written for all geek girls.
To anyone who has ever felt out of place, abnormal, like an alien, like a freak, an outcast, an unwanted mold on society to be stepped on and then picked away clean, like you shouldn't exist; to anyone who has ever been mocked, ridiculed, humiliated, and made to feel ashamed for liking something, for finding something that makes you happy, or for just being who you are: 'Queens of Geek' is for you. It is a comfort blanket. A spark of hope for the future, coming from the contemporary present where weird is the new normal. Nerds are cool now, and pop culture is a dominant culture in society. It is beautiful.
"Three friends. Two love stories. One convention."
- That blurb does sum up 'Queens of Geek'. Three friends from Australia go to a major pop culture convention in the US, SupaCon, as a pre-high school graduation event, in prospect of attending university together in LA.
Charlie Liang is a Chinese-Australian, bisexual, pink-haired daughter of immigrants, who is a star vlogger on Youtube with a zombie movie under her belt to promote at SupaCon. She is moving on from a disastrous breakup and public humiliation brought on by her arsehole ex, Reese Ryan, whom she is also costar to in her first movie, so avoiding him and keeping her space as her own person is something no one will allow her to do; most of her fans devotedly ship "Chase" and want her to get back together with Reese, never mind her feelings. What Charlie wants and how much she actually cares what others think of her under a starry-eyed, celebrity lens is put to the test when she starts a relationship with another popular vlogger and actor, Alyssa Huntington, whom she's admired and had a crush on for years.
Taylor, the other POV character of the book, is a fat autistic girl with anxiety issues who is passionate about pop culture and escapism. She has many followers on Tumblr, and is secretly in love with her best guy friend, Jamie Garcia, but is too afraid of change and the future to try to develop their relationship into more than friendship. SupaCon is Taylor's first con and her first time cosplaying (as her literary and film heroine, Queen Firestone), and it might be just what she needs in expressing herself more, and finding out that she is not as weird or a "problem human" as she always thought she was.
Pop culture references, commentary on feminism and double standards (for example Reese, when interviewed, is asked questions about his movie and character, while in the same interview Charlie is only asked about her diet and body, plus the director had told her to "run sexier", whatever the fuck that means), commentary on mental illnesses, commentary on the vast spectrum of sexuality, a reflection of how the internet has changed how everything works, especially in the entertainment industry, and all around lovable, candy-sweet geekiness - 'Queens of Geek' has it. It does contain very preachy speeches by characters, but it's warranted. Understanding the importance of representation, of geeks/nerds/outcasts sticking up for and supporting one another, of girls sticking up for and supporting one another, of people on the autism/anxiety spectrum sticking up for and supporting one another, and of not being an entitled bully to anyone who is different from you; how vital these life lessons are cannot be undermined.
This book is so positive, so colourful, so cute. Funny, too. But I was also surprised by how often I got teary-eyed reading it. I could relate to a lot in it, especially some aspects of Taylor's character (though if I'm honest, I'm more interested in Charlie's POV chapters - she's great and seems a fantastic friend to have, and is perhaps not as contradictory or inconsistent as Taylor). Being yourself should be how you want to live, no matter what people might think, because nobody can please everybody, it's an impossible goal. One's existence and/or behaviour isn't up for scrutiny, and is not up for any judgement of any kind. Being happy, being who you are in a cruel, conformist, us-vs-them, dickish world is commendable, brave, and really, above all else, healthy and normal. Individuality and expressing passion about all sorts of things, as long as they aren't hurting anyone, is human. It's not weird in any sense. Why criticize that?
I wish I had something like 'Queens of Geek' growing up; it would have saved me from a lot of time and energy wasted on fears and tears.
Yes it is preachy (indeed anyone choosing to pick it up would already be aware of social justice, and sexism, racism, homophobia, biphobia, ableism, fat-phobia, and why they're bad), and there are some moments that are very, very contrived and convenient - plot points straight out of a rom com or teen sitcom. There are a few typos in the writing as well. But I don't care. Like I said, 'Queens of Geek' is an outcast's comfort blanket, a reminder that they are alright. That they are understood. They are normal, they are not broken or sick, no matter who says otherwise. It's not cheesy, it's the truth.
I wanted to meet these characters, give them a big hug, and thank them. More realistically though, in this review I will instead thank the author, Jen Wilde, for creating them, and for writing such a life-affirming novel for weirdos like myself. For anyone who has ever been bullied, and hurt, and felt pressured to not be themselves.
So 'Queens of Geek' is for everyone, really.
Who knew that a few days at a con could be life changing? Could say a lot about living life? There are too many awesome quotes in the book to record.
Again, thank you, Jen Wilde, for writing such an adorkable, sweet, diverse, affirmative, up-to-date, supportive love letter to every fangirl and fanboy (my spellchecker underlines red fangirl but not fanboy, similar to how superheroine is apparently not a word but superhero is. Culture needs to keep changing; technology as well as people need to keep up with the times). I'm happy I bought 'Queens of Geek'. I regret nothing.
The cover is irresistible, too.
Final Score: 4/5
Book Review - 'Castle Hangnail' by Ursula Vernon
2022 EDIT: As good and charming a children's book as ever.
Final Score: 3.5/5
Original Review:
Welcome to Hotel Transylvan-er, I mean Castle Hangnail! It welcomes you, creaky doors and broken staircases and all.
A children's haunted castle parody, with hilarious, cartoony touches like in 'Witch Wars', except containing more nuance and character development. It's also like 'Isadora Moon' in that it embraces both light and darkness and the complex nature of everyone.
'Castle Hangnail' is a fun, cute, heartwarming book that can be gloomy and spooky but never scary, even for kids. There are such memorable characters: Molly Utterback, the twelve-year-old "Wicked Witch" and new owner of Castle Hangnail (or so she says), who is the "bad twin" to an apparently sickeningly-sweet, girly, pink princess twin; the stitched-up, hunchback Igor-figure whom Molly names Majordomo, an initially-distrusting minion of Castle Hangnail who is so used to abuse, dismemberment and lightning rod shocks from his previous Masters that the thing that shocks him regarding Molly, apart from her age, is how considerate and charming she is; Pins the walking, talking burlap sack who is a tailor; Serenissima, a half djinn/half mermaid, resulting in a woman made of steam and vapour; Edward the chivalrous, talking, clanking armour with the purest heart of gold; Cook the Minotaur and her son, Angus; Miss Handlebram, the dark-skinned neighbour of Castle Hangnail and the sweetest, most caring gardener; a donkey that turns into a dragon (why do I get the feeling that Dreamworks would love to make a movie out of this?), thanks to Molly, in order to be freed from an abusive farmer; and a goldfish. The goldfish, Pins's best friend, is a hypochondriac who later on becomes my favourite character. She is actually very brave, and she embodies the cartoony silliness of the book the most fondly.
There are also bats, moles, townspeople, and a host of other odd and whimsical types that Molly interacts with as the unofficial owner of Castle Hangnail. The story is, strangely enough, unimportant as we get to know these creative, awesome characters. 'Castle Hangnail' sets up and explores the difference between being Wicked and being Evil, in terms of the use of power, and how a Wicked Master treats their minions would be nonetheless preferable to how an Evil Master treats them.
The minions of Castle Hangnail are in fact really nice people. So nice that it's sad and, if you think about it, horrifying in light of how they were expected to serve under their previous, devious Masters. Someone like Molly, a witch wanting to learn all the spells she can, plus own her own place and run her life free of others' expectations, and would never think to torture and be mean to anyone (she scares and pranks those who deserve it, who need to learn a lesson), is what they desperately need.
Just because they live in an old, creepy castle doesn't mean they have to conform to conventional expectations and stereotypes. Cleanliness, niceness, generosity and learning with the times can get you far in life. It is a good message for kids.
'Castle Hangnail' is not all fantasy fun with a wholesome moral in the end, however. There is the theme of the mechanics of abuse, i.e. how it works. As well as Majordomo having grown used to life as a tortured, nameless minion, and the animal cruelty inflicted on Dragon the donkey, Molly has had a friend in the past who was nasty to her, who belittled her, who patronised her, and who kept her from reaching her potential as a witch in more ways than one; literally draining her. All the while the "friend" pretended to care about Molly, telling her that what she says and does is for her own good, and that Molly is too weak a witch and will never be better than the older witch. Or Sorceress. The Evil Sorceress. It takes young Molly a long time to realise that the fault is not her own - it never has been - and through the minions of Castle Hangnail she discovers what true friends are.
I don't think I've read a children's book before that directly tackled the subject of abusive friendships - abusive families, yes, abusive romantic relationships to a much lesser degree. But harmful friendships is also a very important issue to let children be aware of; that they can leave unpleasant and toxic people, no matter the pressure to remain. Molly Utterback grows and changes as a character throughout 'Castle Hangnail' via persistence, and believing in herself, away from her Sorceress "friend".
The book misses a star because I thought there could have been a lot more to the climactic ending, which wraps everything up a bit too nicely and conveniently. Problems such as plumbing and paying to have the boiler and pipes at Castle Hangnail fixed are dealt with slowly overtime and are handled as realistically as a children's fantasy can. However, other problems, such as getting rid of a greedy, criminal real estate agent, are solved too quickly and easily. Not every character has more than one dimension to them. And of course the time when the inhabitants of the Castle find out that Molly is not who she says she is does come, and I dislike Majordomo intensely for how he treats her afterwards. I mean, so what if she lied? She's meant to be Wicked, after all. She hasn't hurt anyone. What about all the good she's done? That adds up to nothing now? She even gave Majordomo his name when no other Master did! No one seems to remember that detail. At least the other minions are sympathetic to Molly.
Some clichés aside, I enjoyed 'Castle Hangnail'. I adored learning magic with Molly, whom I could see myself in a myriad of ways, as a lover of the witchy and gothic who at the same time is pretty girly and whimsy, holding kindness and caring for others as my top virtues. I adored being with these funny, sweet yet kind of tragic characters. The book contains strong, important messages without talking down to the reader. It's like a junior edition of 'Wicked' the musical, jovial in its ooky, spooky cast and homely setting, to be consumed relaxing on a couch, drinking a cup of tea.
Final Score: 3.5/5
Final Score: 3.5/5
Original Review:
Welcome to Hotel Transylvan-er, I mean Castle Hangnail! It welcomes you, creaky doors and broken staircases and all.
A children's haunted castle parody, with hilarious, cartoony touches like in 'Witch Wars', except containing more nuance and character development. It's also like 'Isadora Moon' in that it embraces both light and darkness and the complex nature of everyone.
'Castle Hangnail' is a fun, cute, heartwarming book that can be gloomy and spooky but never scary, even for kids. There are such memorable characters: Molly Utterback, the twelve-year-old "Wicked Witch" and new owner of Castle Hangnail (or so she says), who is the "bad twin" to an apparently sickeningly-sweet, girly, pink princess twin; the stitched-up, hunchback Igor-figure whom Molly names Majordomo, an initially-distrusting minion of Castle Hangnail who is so used to abuse, dismemberment and lightning rod shocks from his previous Masters that the thing that shocks him regarding Molly, apart from her age, is how considerate and charming she is; Pins the walking, talking burlap sack who is a tailor; Serenissima, a half djinn/half mermaid, resulting in a woman made of steam and vapour; Edward the chivalrous, talking, clanking armour with the purest heart of gold; Cook the Minotaur and her son, Angus; Miss Handlebram, the dark-skinned neighbour of Castle Hangnail and the sweetest, most caring gardener; a donkey that turns into a dragon (why do I get the feeling that Dreamworks would love to make a movie out of this?), thanks to Molly, in order to be freed from an abusive farmer; and a goldfish. The goldfish, Pins's best friend, is a hypochondriac who later on becomes my favourite character. She is actually very brave, and she embodies the cartoony silliness of the book the most fondly.
There are also bats, moles, townspeople, and a host of other odd and whimsical types that Molly interacts with as the unofficial owner of Castle Hangnail. The story is, strangely enough, unimportant as we get to know these creative, awesome characters. 'Castle Hangnail' sets up and explores the difference between being Wicked and being Evil, in terms of the use of power, and how a Wicked Master treats their minions would be nonetheless preferable to how an Evil Master treats them.
The minions of Castle Hangnail are in fact really nice people. So nice that it's sad and, if you think about it, horrifying in light of how they were expected to serve under their previous, devious Masters. Someone like Molly, a witch wanting to learn all the spells she can, plus own her own place and run her life free of others' expectations, and would never think to torture and be mean to anyone (she scares and pranks those who deserve it, who need to learn a lesson), is what they desperately need.
Just because they live in an old, creepy castle doesn't mean they have to conform to conventional expectations and stereotypes. Cleanliness, niceness, generosity and learning with the times can get you far in life. It is a good message for kids.
'Castle Hangnail' is not all fantasy fun with a wholesome moral in the end, however. There is the theme of the mechanics of abuse, i.e. how it works. As well as Majordomo having grown used to life as a tortured, nameless minion, and the animal cruelty inflicted on Dragon the donkey, Molly has had a friend in the past who was nasty to her, who belittled her, who patronised her, and who kept her from reaching her potential as a witch in more ways than one; literally draining her. All the while the "friend" pretended to care about Molly, telling her that what she says and does is for her own good, and that Molly is too weak a witch and will never be better than the older witch. Or Sorceress. The Evil Sorceress. It takes young Molly a long time to realise that the fault is not her own - it never has been - and through the minions of Castle Hangnail she discovers what true friends are.
I don't think I've read a children's book before that directly tackled the subject of abusive friendships - abusive families, yes, abusive romantic relationships to a much lesser degree. But harmful friendships is also a very important issue to let children be aware of; that they can leave unpleasant and toxic people, no matter the pressure to remain. Molly Utterback grows and changes as a character throughout 'Castle Hangnail' via persistence, and believing in herself, away from her Sorceress "friend".
The book misses a star because I thought there could have been a lot more to the climactic ending, which wraps everything up a bit too nicely and conveniently. Problems such as plumbing and paying to have the boiler and pipes at Castle Hangnail fixed are dealt with slowly overtime and are handled as realistically as a children's fantasy can. However, other problems, such as getting rid of a greedy, criminal real estate agent, are solved too quickly and easily. Not every character has more than one dimension to them. And of course the time when the inhabitants of the Castle find out that Molly is not who she says she is does come, and I dislike Majordomo intensely for how he treats her afterwards. I mean, so what if she lied? She's meant to be Wicked, after all. She hasn't hurt anyone. What about all the good she's done? That adds up to nothing now? She even gave Majordomo his name when no other Master did! No one seems to remember that detail. At least the other minions are sympathetic to Molly.
Some clichés aside, I enjoyed 'Castle Hangnail'. I adored learning magic with Molly, whom I could see myself in a myriad of ways, as a lover of the witchy and gothic who at the same time is pretty girly and whimsy, holding kindness and caring for others as my top virtues. I adored being with these funny, sweet yet kind of tragic characters. The book contains strong, important messages without talking down to the reader. It's like a junior edition of 'Wicked' the musical, jovial in its ooky, spooky cast and homely setting, to be consumed relaxing on a couch, drinking a cup of tea.
Final Score: 3.5/5
Sunday 19 November 2017
Book Review - 'The Snowman' by Raymond Briggs
One of the sweetest, most melancholy and timeless childhood Christmas stories ever, from British children's powerhouse Raymond Briggs. This little gem has wonderful illustrations, as deceptively simple and innocent as the tale.
We're walking in the air, indeed. Walking through life in its good times and dreams. That eventually end.
Final Score: 3/5
We're walking in the air, indeed. Walking through life in its good times and dreams. That eventually end.
Final Score: 3/5
Book Review - 'The Hairy Toe' by Daniel Postgate
"WHOOOOOOOOOOO'SSSS GOT MY HAIRRRRRRRY TOOOOOOE????!!!!"
An introduction to horror for first schoolers, I love it! Hilarious, too!
Also love a classic picture book and folktale with an old woman protagonist (despite her meeting an implied gruesome end).
I will mark 'The Hairy Toe' as a stand-in for all those books from my young schooldays which I remember reading but can't recall any specifics, like their titles and main character names. I can't find them anywhere. Nothing comes up, even when I describe them on Google (dammit, Google! I thought I could rely on you - now what do I have!?)
"YOU'VE GOT IT!"
Final Score: 4/5
An introduction to horror for first schoolers, I love it! Hilarious, too!
Also love a classic picture book and folktale with an old woman protagonist (despite her meeting an implied gruesome end).
I will mark 'The Hairy Toe' as a stand-in for all those books from my young schooldays which I remember reading but can't recall any specifics, like their titles and main character names. I can't find them anywhere. Nothing comes up, even when I describe them on Google (dammit, Google! I thought I could rely on you - now what do I have!?)
"YOU'VE GOT IT!"
Final Score: 4/5
Saturday 11 November 2017
Graphic Novel Review - 'The Tea Dragon Society' by Kay O'Neill
Kay O'Neill, you've done it again!
'The Tea Dragon Society' is one of the most relaxing, heartwarming, gorgeous, and cutest reads ever published. It's like immersing yourself in a cup of sweet, aromatic tea. For anyone who is into anime, manga, and unconventional characters and storytelling, this is a must, for all ages.
Greta is a young blacksmith's daughter and apprentice who, upon finding a little dragon on the street and taking her home to her mysterious owner, Hesekiel, discovers the lost art of taking care of Tea Dragons - the cute little, sensitive dragon types whose leaves make the best tea that lets the drinker experience the dragon's memories; sharing in a special bond, developed overtime.
I love the diversity of the characters. The graphic novel fully embraces the age-old idea that in fantasy an author can and should do whatever they want, with no restrictions on creativity. Greta has dark skin and baby dragon horns. Her new special friend Minette has deer antlers, a small dragon-like horn on her forehead, and pink hair. The Tea Dragon master Hesekiel is... a humanoid dragon, I think? And his partner Erik also has dark skin, and is wheelchair-bound. It's great that we are seeing more disabled characters in comics, especially ones as happy and content with life as Erik is. There is LBGTQ subtext in the relationship between Greta and Minette, perhaps developing into what Hesekiel and Erik have with each other - not surprising from the author of 'Princess Princess Ever After'! I just love these four - together and as their own characters - and they will make a lovely new Tea Dragon society. They are like a family.
While there isn't a plot in 'The Tea Dragon Society' per say, it is divided into each of the four seasons as Greta - along with the reader - learns more about her new friends. There's no conflict, but I don't mind, as I love spending time with these super nice characters as they are when interacting with one another. Plus it is so cute! I can easily see this being adapted into a Studio Ghibli film - it was made for it. 'The Tea Dragon Society' has anime written all over it; heck, the Tea Dragons are like Pokémon (you will want to catch them all by the end of the comic, trust me), and the character designs and relationships remind me of a junior 'Revolutionary Girl Utena'!
The artwork is absolutely wonderful. Every page, every panel is worth framing up on a wall. Or in a museum. Beautiful, cutesy, chibi fantasy galore.
Honestly, what more can I say to convince you, dear reader, to buy this little gem of a graphic novel? I adore everything about it. It may not be as exciting, thrilling or conventionally structured as 'Princess Princess Ever After', but it is meant to be its own unique, charming thing, without the need for a bad guy. It's subtle and dreamlike - an experience - containing themes of old memories and creating new ones, friendship, and never letting ancient, beautiful traditions and crafts die.
I dare anyone to not feel like they want to own a Tea Dragon after reading 'The Tea Dragon Society': O'Neill includes a Tea Dragon "handbook" in the end, on the art of Tea Dragon husbandry! (I personally would like to care for an Hibiscus Dragon).
Now if you excuse me, I'm off to read this magical baby for the 107th time, snugged up in blanket on a comfy armchair, with a nice cup of chamomile tea.
Final Score: 5/5
'The Tea Dragon Society' is one of the most relaxing, heartwarming, gorgeous, and cutest reads ever published. It's like immersing yourself in a cup of sweet, aromatic tea. For anyone who is into anime, manga, and unconventional characters and storytelling, this is a must, for all ages.
Greta is a young blacksmith's daughter and apprentice who, upon finding a little dragon on the street and taking her home to her mysterious owner, Hesekiel, discovers the lost art of taking care of Tea Dragons - the cute little, sensitive dragon types whose leaves make the best tea that lets the drinker experience the dragon's memories; sharing in a special bond, developed overtime.
I love the diversity of the characters. The graphic novel fully embraces the age-old idea that in fantasy an author can and should do whatever they want, with no restrictions on creativity. Greta has dark skin and baby dragon horns. Her new special friend Minette has deer antlers, a small dragon-like horn on her forehead, and pink hair. The Tea Dragon master Hesekiel is... a humanoid dragon, I think? And his partner Erik also has dark skin, and is wheelchair-bound. It's great that we are seeing more disabled characters in comics, especially ones as happy and content with life as Erik is. There is LBGTQ subtext in the relationship between Greta and Minette, perhaps developing into what Hesekiel and Erik have with each other - not surprising from the author of 'Princess Princess Ever After'! I just love these four - together and as their own characters - and they will make a lovely new Tea Dragon society. They are like a family.
While there isn't a plot in 'The Tea Dragon Society' per say, it is divided into each of the four seasons as Greta - along with the reader - learns more about her new friends. There's no conflict, but I don't mind, as I love spending time with these super nice characters as they are when interacting with one another. Plus it is so cute! I can easily see this being adapted into a Studio Ghibli film - it was made for it. 'The Tea Dragon Society' has anime written all over it; heck, the Tea Dragons are like Pokémon (you will want to catch them all by the end of the comic, trust me), and the character designs and relationships remind me of a junior 'Revolutionary Girl Utena'!
The artwork is absolutely wonderful. Every page, every panel is worth framing up on a wall. Or in a museum. Beautiful, cutesy, chibi fantasy galore.
Honestly, what more can I say to convince you, dear reader, to buy this little gem of a graphic novel? I adore everything about it. It may not be as exciting, thrilling or conventionally structured as 'Princess Princess Ever After', but it is meant to be its own unique, charming thing, without the need for a bad guy. It's subtle and dreamlike - an experience - containing themes of old memories and creating new ones, friendship, and never letting ancient, beautiful traditions and crafts die.
I dare anyone to not feel like they want to own a Tea Dragon after reading 'The Tea Dragon Society': O'Neill includes a Tea Dragon "handbook" in the end, on the art of Tea Dragon husbandry! (I personally would like to care for an Hibiscus Dragon).
Now if you excuse me, I'm off to read this magical baby for the 107th time, snugged up in blanket on a comfy armchair, with a nice cup of chamomile tea.
Final Score: 5/5
In remembrance
Let's remember, and celebrate via respectful silence a happy, and hopeful, Armistice Day.
Friday 3 November 2017
Book Review - 'Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Library: A Collection of Literary Quotes and Inspirational Musings' by Walt Disney Company, Linda Woolverton
Leave it to Disney to make any bookworm feel woefully inadequate - like a fraud who doesn't read enough classics. Read and then praise, as Mark Twain would say.
I love 'Belle's Library' - I love 'Beauty and the Beast', Belle, and books, so a combination of all of these is genius. Let's delve into some tidy little scraps of Belle's bibliophile brain! It is as delightful as any pearl or adventure.
Linda Woolverton is far from my favourite movie screenwriter (she's responsible for just a few of Disney's recent live-action cash-cow tripe based on their classic animated films, like 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Maleficent'), but her older work at Disney ('Beauty and the Beast', 'The Lion King') was part of my childhood, and her association with Belle and how she thinks - in their shared love of reading - is inspired.
'Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Library: A Collection of Literary Quotes and Inspirational Musings' is as good and pure as it sounds. A nice little grail for fans of both Disney and literature. It is absolutely adorable as well as educational. Important life lessons can be found deep in the treasures of certain classical reads. Live life to the full; seek adventure wherever; be kind and generous; wealth and beauty only matter on the inside - through actions which benefit others; and seek freedom, where there lies true happiness.
As well as getting me to read more Shakespeare, this book of quotes made me love Belle even more than I already did. Now there is a cartoon character that anyone can and should be like.
A beauty of a Disney product.
Final Score: 4/5
I love 'Belle's Library' - I love 'Beauty and the Beast', Belle, and books, so a combination of all of these is genius. Let's delve into some tidy little scraps of Belle's bibliophile brain! It is as delightful as any pearl or adventure.
Linda Woolverton is far from my favourite movie screenwriter (she's responsible for just a few of Disney's recent live-action cash-cow tripe based on their classic animated films, like 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Maleficent'), but her older work at Disney ('Beauty and the Beast', 'The Lion King') was part of my childhood, and her association with Belle and how she thinks - in their shared love of reading - is inspired.
'Beauty and the Beast: Belle's Library: A Collection of Literary Quotes and Inspirational Musings' is as good and pure as it sounds. A nice little grail for fans of both Disney and literature. It is absolutely adorable as well as educational. Important life lessons can be found deep in the treasures of certain classical reads. Live life to the full; seek adventure wherever; be kind and generous; wealth and beauty only matter on the inside - through actions which benefit others; and seek freedom, where there lies true happiness.
As well as getting me to read more Shakespeare, this book of quotes made me love Belle even more than I already did. Now there is a cartoon character that anyone can and should be like.
A beauty of a Disney product.
Final Score: 4/5
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