im currently reading the yellow dog by geogres simenon (no pages yet)
ive read burnt sugar by avni doshi (so good), reflections in the golden eye by carson mcculler (i must reread), the pumpkin eater by penelopy mortimer (meh), and the palm-wine drunkard by amos tutola (meh)
erm headups this is like, two months of reading i think so dont think i read these all in a week and compare urself to me!!! hopefully ill review em, if i have time im a little busy nowadays (big creative project & what i want to do in the future!)
i cant believe i slept on brooklyn 99 this is so funny .. sorry to my three followers i havent updated in over a week !!! i have been doning things but not... book related movie related or series related right now
Jan-di gos to Shin Hwa High School, a private school for the most wealthy. Enter F4, four very rich, powerful and handsome guys (debatable), which rule over Shin Hwa High!! Oh and then the leader (Gu Jun-pyo) slowly falls in love with Jan-di.
(This is Ji-hoo my fave btw)
SPOILERS BELOW!!!!
I was so sad that Jan-di's initial character of being against the systematic bullying and also standing up what was right slowly be side-lined by the series. I especially liked the beginning where Jan-di stopped a boy's suicide. It shows us immediately what sort of person she was. She's kind, doesn't succumb to peer pressure and is hard-working. I really hated that Jan-di had to lose her love of swimming because of Jun-pyo. Afterall, the chair got thrown at him and she threw herself in front of him so he wouldn't get hurt. But I'm glad that she realized that she wanted to help people and she's becoming a doctor at the end of the season.
I think that Ji-hoo should have ended up with Jan-di. She called him her soulmate, yet she didn't fall for him. I think that if Ji-hoo didn't go to France to go after Min Seo Hyun, they would have ended up together. I thought that it was really sweet, because despite Jan-di having a crush on Ji-hoo initially, she let him go and to be honest, she and I weren't expecting him to come back.
Even when Ji-hoo knew that Jan-di had a crush on Gu Jun-pyo, he always was there for her. For example, when he purposely enticed Jun-pyo to fight him at the ice hockey rink because he wanted to make sure that Jun-pyo was angry at him and not at Jan-di for the kiss at the island resort, or when Jan-di went to Macau to find Jun-pyo and Ji-hoo was too restless to let her go by herself, so he secretly went with the rest of F4, and even when Jan-di tells Jun-pyo's mom that she'll leave Jun-pyo alone, Ji-hoo is the first to find her. He literally encourages her not to give up Jun-pyo, and I think that he knew that when he confessed, he would get rejected. Gosh, I love him so much. My friend said that he was basically emotionless, but I think that Jan-di always brought him out of his shell, like when she had to stay at his house and she helped him wash his car, she started playing with the water and fighting him. The Ji-hoo + Jan-di dance moment was so cute too, she looked so happy dancing with him. I loved the scene where Ji-hoo made a swimming award to commemorate Jan-di's love of swimming, but also to signal the end of an era for Jan-di, so that she could (sadly), find a new love for something.
I hate Gu Jun-pyo. He's selfish and aggressive and super annoying. I started hating him during the arc where he was planning to kick Ji-hoo and Jan-di out of Shin Hwa High and his noona stepped in and told them to figure it out via three competitions (horse back riding/car racing/swimming). When Jun-pyo got frustrated during racing practice, he threw a fit and fired all of the people who had worked on his car. Moreover, when he won the horse back race, he literally over exhausted his horse to the point where it can no longer properly race again. Even after that arc, when he was going to marry Ha Jae-kyung, when he saw the wedding invite, he ripped it up. When he's angry, he's so violent. And you're telling me that when he's in a "good" mood (aka w/Jan-di), he won't be violent??? That's so silly.
I really hated the lack of communication between Jan-di andJun-pyo too. For example, when Jan-di and Ga Eul were on a double date with Gu Jun-pyo and a guy who was only pretending to be interested in Ga Eul, the only reason why Jun-pyo beats up that scummy guy, not because he cared about Ga Eul (Jan-di's best friend, mind you), because he badmouthed Jan-di. And then when Jan-di confronts Jun-pyo, he refuses to tell her why he beat up that guy and it's up to her to find out why, which she finds out coincidentally when she overheards the scummy guy badmouthing Ga Eul later. And at the end, where Jun-pyo loses his memory, Jan-di doesn't tell him that she's his girlfriend, in fact she just looks wistful and sad right until the end where finally, oh gosh I love her personality, she jumps into the swimming pool dramatically and that's how he regains his memory.
Ah, also the reason why he started liking Jan-di was a bit silly to me - this girl is rebelling and tells you that she hates you and you take it as a sign that she does like you? And then he kidnaps her and dresses her up and he still doesn't understand that she doesn't like her? That's harassment oh my gosh. Also the moment where he tries to force a kiss onto Jan-di. Like, no. Don't do that. He was still pretty cute when he waited, like four hours in the snow for Jan-di for their first date though. I thought that was endearing, also the moments where he was spending time with Jan-di's family and wanted to do it again, also when he learnt how to swim for Jan-di's sake.
I really liked how Gu Jun-hee (Gu Jun-pyo's older sister), encouraged him to persue Jan-di. Also, I feel like Jun-hee and Min Seo Hyun should get together (Min Seo Hyun is Ji-hoo's first crush).
Song Woo-bin didn't have much of a backstory and was semi-sidelined for the rest of the F4 boys, I think. Aside from the fact that he is the son of a mafia boss and also, So Yi-jeong has helped him realize that F4 still very much like him. And he pinned Woo-bin to the car, so I think that Woo-bin is gay, coupled with the fact that Woo-bin beat up a guy who had injured Yi-jeong's hand.
So Yi-jeong, I felt really bad for him. He didn't want to end up like his dad, but because he didn't know how to deal with his emotions, he ended up like his dad to protect himself. With the help of Ga Eul and his first love, I think he steadily learnt that it was time to accept himself. I see him as bisexual!!
I loved the initial episodes, where we saw Jan-di's family cheer for Jan-di. I loved especially how there was a culture of "Fighting!" where they'd use the catch phrase to cheer each other on. So lovely. I crave that.
I was very lucky to go be able to go the cinema with my friend to watch Superman!! He's kinda, a dork though. Superman has to beat Lex Luthor and uh, his relationship Lois Lane is going through it!!!
SPOILERS BELOW!!!!
Superman is such a dork! When he was flying to his ice palace and we had a full screen of his face, I found it so funny and a little goofy. I'm glad that the movie didn't take itself too seriously. The dog was probably my favorite character.
I wish that the theme of identity and finding out that his biological parents actually wanted Kal-El to rule over the Earth whereas to him saving people. I think that it was handled well in the beginning when Superman finds out the truth and he's slowly walking through the street and people are throwing trash at him, and also the moment where he's talking to his adoptive father about it, but that's about it. I feel like it's swept away so easily, he doesn't feel as conflicted? Like, or even mad at his biological parents. He just accepts it.
Talking about the second half of the message, I think that it's so odd that 1000 linguistics could decide that yes, they were able to decode the message? Uh, how? Well, Lex Luthor is against Superman, so he probably distorted the message to begin with. Also, wouldn't the public be mad at Supergirl too?
The fight scene where Mr Terrific is at the beach and using his spherical robots to attack whilst protecting Lois was so cool. I think it was my favorite scene.
I didn't really care for the moments where Lois and Clark were interacting, it was still super cute. I found the scene where Lois was interviewing Superman/Clark funny. I feel a bit bad, but I was lowk expecting Batman to show up.
Also, I semi-expected Superman to be more shocked that Lex Luthor had cloned him? Like, in a sense, that is kinda him, like it could have been a brother, but no he got sucked into a black hole so that's never going to happen.
I think that it was really interesting to have Lex Luthor have a very big monologue about his jealousy of Superman, but I wish that it would a bit foreshadowed or something.
Join Miles with his zany hi-jinxes! Again! Buckle in, cos this is so much better than the first movie, you just have to watch it.
SPOILERS BELOW!!!
I am blown away by the creativity of it all. I was so glad that the initial twenty minutes of the movie was of Gwen, not Miles, because it was interesting to finally focus on someone who isn't Miles. I loved the use of color; her dad was saturated in warm colors, but she was saturated in blue colors. And when they hugged, they were both blue. Once she returned to the apartment, it was entirely blue. This also happened in the beginning, where she was leaving her bandmates. She was completely blue whilst they were red, I think. The animation in the beginning was beautiful. I loved especially how when Gwen was entering the window of her apartment, the reflection showed Spider-woman, but when she is forced to return to her apartment as Spider-woman, the reflection showed Gwen. I also really liked between the encounter when Spider-woman reveals that she's Gwen and she's trying to convince her dad. The background becomes steadily and steadily more abstract as she tries to convince her dad that she didn't know that she was killing Peter Parker.
I think that the theme of this movie is "belonging". Rio Morales and Jeff Morales immediately judge Gwen, who calls them Jeff and Rio, and they were saying how she probably didn't speak Spanish. But, Rio eventually tells Miles that Gwen seems to be a "nice" girl and that he should go after her. Moreover, Gwen believes that she no longer belongs in her universe after her dad knows that she killed Peter Parker. If Gwen is revealed to be trans that would be super cool, but I don't really mind since it doesn't change the story. (I'm referring to the monologue where the background is a melting mess of blue, white and pink). Initially, she thinks that being Spider-woman and trying to explain those experienced, that you wouldn't truly understand if you weren't also a Spider-person. I think that her perspective has changed slightly, since she opened up to her dad that being Spider-woman is her "mask", and her way of doing good. She thought that she didn't belong, but her dad was waiting for all this time.
Rio also talks about the "little boy" and that she wants Miles to look after that little boy and no matter what, feel like he belongs anywhere. This is directly contrasted with Miles not being accepted into the Spider-verse community, and the reveal that Miles was the first anomaly. Oh, but at the end of the day, Miles chooses to belong. At first, he wanted to be in this community, but then he rejected it. I might need to rewatch it, since I don't think that's how the movie wanted me to interpret it as. Anyhow, he must have felt so betrayed when he found out that every, pretty much, Spider-person was in this very oh-so secret community and he wasn't. And that Gwen didn't tell him, nor did Peter B. Parker. Near the end of the movie, there was a scene where Miles was swinging through the city of Earth-42 (he wasn't aware yet he was at the wrong universe), and as he thinks about where he belongs and how the wrong Spider bit him, a literal spider crawls on a skyscraper. Moreover, I liked the slight foreshadowing of how the city was bathed in green, showing how Miles wasn't in the right universe.
I also think that the theme of belonging is explored through Miguel O'Hara. I was pleasantly surprised that he was more rational and less cold than I had expected him to be. Miguel O'Hara was harshly rejected by a literal universe and caused the collapse of it. I don't think that Miles was the first anomaly, actually, I think Miguel was the first anomaly. He was aware that what he was doing, replacing himself, was wrong. I think that what he did was worse than what Miles had done, because Miles wasn't even aware that he was being bitten by the wrong spider. Due to this intense rejection and it's consequences, he vowed to never let that happen to any other universe. I'm guessing that canon events distort reality. That everyone has to go through them, but I don't understand why Miles' second canon event needs to be Jeff Morales' death. It's a coincidence that Jeff was the police chef, so hypothetically if he got fired then it wouldn't occur. Anyhow, I think that Miguel was directing all his anger and grief at Miles Morales, and I don't think that Miles started anything. I think that Miguel did since we haven't seen Miles start any holes. I believe that Miguel O'Hara does want to protect the multiverses, even if he says he's unwilling, because he subconsciously believes that is how he can repent.
Another theme of the movie, is, I guess utilitarian? Like, Miguel O'Hara is very much a utilitarian person. (Utilitarianism holds that the most ethical choice is the one that will produce the greatest good for the greatest number.) He decides to capture Miles so that the canon event of Jeff Morales' death can occur and thus Miles' already unstable universe won't collapse. I think, the question is, do the audience agree with that? Peter B. Parker, when he confronts Miles, tells him that if they didn't experience the suffering, they wouldn't be good Spider-people. That the death of a person enables them to be better people. I found this argument pretty stupid, and I think Miles did too lol. I think that suffering doesn't make you a good person, it gives you the ability to empathize with people who have also gone through that too, and it's really up to you what path you take after that. Just because you suffered doesn't mean that you're good.
I wouldn't say that Miles is anti-utilitarian. I would say that he's probably optimistic. I'm really looking forward to what the next movie does. If he allows his dad to die or not. My gut says that his dad won't die though.
Anyways, I loved Hobie and Miles' relationship. I really hope we see more of Hobie in the next movie, but with the amount of side-character there were on the roof of where Gwen was standing, I don't know if that will happen. I would love to see Hobie's universe!! I loved how he was made up of a collage. Even when it seemed like everyone was against Miles, Hobie reminded Miles to use his entire palm to escape from the orange prison thing and basically is the reason why Miles could run away. And he didn't even go and witness what he created. Gosh he's so cool, even when we're first introduced to him, woa. I thought that he would be more condescending, I'm glad he isn't. There were times that I genuinely couldn't understand him, and I'm literally British. I had to rewind and guess what he was saying oh my gosh.
I forgot that Peni Parker's Spider-machine broke in the last movie, and to be honest, I don't really care, but she is very cute.
I already knew that the Prowler was Miles Morales unfortunately. But, the twist was really shocking to me, I totally forgot that the spider that bit Miles wasn't even from his universe. Moreover, I think that Uncle Aaron found out that Miles was a different Miles because of his personality, but also because he didn't have dreads. Miles of Earth-42, if he didn't have dreads, his hair wouldn't fit underneath the Prowler Mask. I bet Miles is living with guilt because he was a "mistake" and basically killed Peter Parker of his universe. But what's done cannot be undone.
Gosh, I love the inclusion of people of color!!!! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!
I put this movie on hold for the longest time because I thought that the third movie was going to come out, but no it's been delayed. Gosh, I wish I watched this movie sooner, when I wake up tomorrow, I'm definitely going to watch Across the Spiderverse, and then read the comics.
This movie's been out since 2018, I don't really think it needs an introduction, but yea, Miles Morales is your average high school-er who has family issues and becomes Spider-man but also meets, like, five other wacky Spider-people. Uh and he has to make sure to bring them back to their universes.
SPOILERS BELOW!!!!
I love the amount of care put into this movie! I loved the music choices, especially when Miles first goes see his Uncle, (Ain't No Love in This Heart of the City), and the song that plays when he finally becomes Spider-man (What's up Danger). I liked the initial scenes where Miles just acquired his Spider powers and the scenes used a comic-book typography. I also liked it when Miles first met the first Spider-man, when the Spider-man was fighting the green ugly monster thing, the booms stylized in a comic book style too. I loved the scene where Miles has been tied up by Peter B. Parker and his dad has just left from talking to the closed door and Miles uses his electricity powers to release himself. Just for one frame, the 3D animation switches to a drawing of Miles breaking the strings attached to his hands. If you blink, you'll miss it. Even the ending credits are beautiful! Gosh.
I love the emphasis of parental figures in this movie: Miles Morales' dad, Jeff, Uncle Aaron & Peter B. Parker.
First, Miles' dad, I think that in the beginning scenes, especially when he forced Miles' to say "I love you, Dad" so publicly, it showed how he needed that reassurance. This is further shown by when he calls Aaron and says that he knows that Miles has a "soft spot" for Aaron. He's aware of it, and he even hesitates before he says it. Then, at the end when he's talking to Miles through the door. It's a leap of faith. He doesn't force Miles to say "I love you" back, even though that is what he really needs. He hasn't seen or talked to his son in a while, and is worried about him, but doesn't force anything. He doesn't even open the door. He was probably doubting himself, thinking what if he's done a terrible job as a parent, forcing Miles to go to a different, better school where Miles' intelligence can be better cultivated. I think that' it's super interesting how his dad says that Miles has "no choice" in staying in that school, but ultimately, his dad gives him the choice to respond to him. And he accepts it when Miles doesn't reason, albeit Miles couldn't possibly respond anyways. His dad eventually became vulnerable to him. But, also, I think that he could grow a little suspicious on how Miles already knew that Uncle Aaron was dead, since he didn't break the news to him.
Second, Uncle Aaron. I think that he was always a source of advice and inspiration to Miles, since Miles went to him in times of stress. When Miles went to Uncle Aaron and was writing that letter about he wasn't sure that he could do it, and it turned out that the Prowler was his uncle, I can't imagine the amount of betrayal he felt. The way that Aaron slowly put the mask back on Miles. It was so gentle. How Aaron always wanted to be cool to Miles. And then he died because he couldn't kill his nephew. I imagine that Aaron saw himself in Miles, that's why he couldn't do it. I found it so intersesting that in the mural, Miles wrote "Rest in Power", not in "Rest in Peace". Maybe in a way it's to reclaim the power that Uncle Aaron lost? Like, in his last moments, he was powerless, but Miles chooses to remember him not as the Prowler but as his Uncle.
Lastly, Peter B. Parker. Where the other parental figures helped Miles grow as a person, I think that it was more of the opposite here. I think that Miles really encouraged Peter. Peter quietly gave up on living life outside of Spider-man, he stagnated from just doing the same repetitive saving-the-city sort of thing. he was so far into his comfort zone that he eventually divorced MJ because he didn't know if he wanted kids or not. He was so willing to give up his life, because he couldn't imagine who he would be if he wasn't Spider-man. Miles helped him, because it remembered that people struggled, and that not everyone was out to kill him. I draw this from the scene where Miles rushes into that tech lab to tell Peter that Kingpin had came and wanted to help him. When they started to run away and leave the scene, Peter told Miles it was "time to learn how to web" or something, and Miles can't do it. Something that Peter had done for ten year or so, Miles couldn't do it, and I think that's when he really realizes that he has to help this kid learn. Peter couldn't be selfish anymore. He couldn't live for just solely himself, but also take in the needs of this random kid. He likes this kid too. That's why he feels guilty when he sees all the other Spider-people pushing Miles when they're in Aunt May's basement and why he also advocates for Miles despite his shortcomings. He likes this kid, that's why he ties Miles up in his own dorm room, so that he doesn't die. Miles teaches Peter that he should too, take a leap of faith. That instead of wallowing in his regrets of what he fumbled with MJ, that he can go back and make things better.
I liked the sense of community in this movie. People know Miles from his old school, and greet him. The Spider-people come and comfort Miles when Uncle Aaron dies and when Miles says that they won't understand, Gwen tells him that they are the only people who will probably understand. It just shows how people aren't alone in their suffering, and it's really nice to see that in a movie. I also really liked that no matter the amount of encouragement that people give you (e.g Uncle Aaron saying that Miles should just continue going "his way", the Spider-people telling Miles to "get up" , Miles' dad saying that he has a "spark), you have to act yourself. Uh, I'm not sure of that was meant to be part of the message of the movie though.
I also really liked how it was the choice of Miles to put on a proper Spider-man suit. He felt like he wasn't ready, and no one else could let him make that choice but himself. Everyone believed in him, but he didn't until the last moment.
Comedy was weaved nicely into this movie, I was giggling like, every five minutes. My favorite was probably when they were infiltrating Kingpin's massive hotel thing, and Gwen said "What a pig" and Peter Porker said "I'm right here." It was pretty funny. Either that, or the scene where Miles is super sweaty and his hand gets stuck in Gwen;s hair and it's just a whole mess. It's like puberty on steroids. Also, I flt so horrible when I started laughing when the first Peter Parker just died, I didn't think that he would die so easily. I assumed he would survive..
I am writing the first draft of my review at 2:00AM. I have somewhere to be in the morning, but alas I need to finish this book. So, Luke intends to storm Camp Half-Blood and Percy and the gang need to venture into the Labyrinth.
SPOILERS BELOW!!!!
I really felt bad for Nico in this book. especially, when we first see him burning his Mythomagic cards for a fire. That's not what a young kid should be doing, he should still be playing games and having fun, not forced to mature up quickly. I wonder how Bianca got the money to send Iris-messages to Percy? Moreover, how did she even make a rainbow in the Underworld to begin with. It's pretty dark down there. I felt relief near the end of the book because Nico was meeting with Percy again, because Nico must feel really isolated. Hades doesn't have a cabin, and it isn't right for a kid to be outcasted for something that he can't change. I giggled when Nico was using Mc Donalds to feed the dead, good for him.
I am a little disappointed that our first confirmed (I mean, I'm assuming with that surname), is Ethan Nakamura and he turned out to be a traitor. To be honest, I was really hoping that he would rejoin Camp Half-Blood. Anyways, Ethan you suck you literally reawakened Kronos. Hoping for a more diverse cast in the future..
I can't believe I called it in my previous post that Luke probably wasn't a half-blood anymore, because he isn't. I think that it's odd that Kronos would use Luke as a vessel, because at some points there are some things that Luke's beliefs wouldn't align with Kronos, for example trying to save Annabeth (in the Chapter "My Brother Duels Me To Death) by delaying the inevitable.
When Annabeth started explaining that she was literally conceived by two geniuses bonding, it made me realise it would be interesting if some half-bloods out there arose from a gay couple. Like, maybe a little boat with a baby washed up ashore when Poseidon was courting his lover, or the petals of a flower unfurled to show a curled baby whilst Demeter and her lover were planting seeds. I think that there's a lot of potential, but to be honest it wouldn't really serve the narrative all that much. I'm definitely headcanonning it though.
I feel like, despite it being Annabeth's quest, she's so sidelined. It's Percy who goes missing for two weeks, it's Percy who people think are dead, it's Percy who finds out what's in the coffin, it's Percy who finds Rachel Elizabeth Dare, it's Percy who "scoops the poop". If I was Annabeth, I would probably throw him into the River Styx because he's doing so much. I think this book would have been more interesting if it was written in the perspective of Annabeth? To Percy, Annabeth might seem a bit silly for holding a crush for Luke still, but writing as Annabeth could explore her relationship with Luke. Mayb it was Luke that showed her the beauty of buildings, so whenever she sees a monument, she recalls him. How much he would have appreciated it too. Or maybe the first people who comes to mind whenever she's facing a monster is Luke and Thaila, but she remembers that they're no longer with her. Maybe the way that she holds a sword is just like how Luke taught her. And the way the sun glints on the blade of Riptide echos Luke. Eh, who am I kidding though? It would have been sooo interesting to see how Annabeth perceived Thaila and Luke. Perhaps she saw Luke as, not like a person, but a savior. And now it's her duty to be the savior this time. Also, when Annabeth "broke" the rules and brought five people instead of three, I was a bit disappointed that no one really got mortally wounded or got a limb chopped off or whatever. I just think that the plot armor was a tad too strong there. W for the Percabeth fans because she kissed Percy. Thank you Annabeth for dissing Hera, but I wouldn't be surprised if it comes to bite you in the bum....
The reveal that Quintus was Daedalus was shocking to me. I totally forgot that Quintus was meant to be important. I mean, I think that it would have made more sense for the mark on Daedalus to be a mechanical beetle, as that's what costed his nephew's life. I found him so annoying when he was like "yea so your camp is going to be annihilated so there;s no point in me helping you", I find those kinds of pessimistic people (they pretend to be realists) frustrating to deal with. I'm glad he's dead now and the labyrinth is gone. But I think that it would be pretty cool if the remnants of the labyrinth still existed somewhere. Mrs O'Leary is a weird name though. In my humble opinion, I think that he should have called his massive black hellhound Asbestos. Bestie for short.
I didn't feel high stakes, during when the army of monsters attacked Camp Half-Blood. there should have been more injuries? Even Kampê should have felt more scary to Annabeth and Percy when they were fighting her head on. But it's okay. There were two minor deaths, so i'll take that.
I really liked the characterization of Tyson and Grover's relationship, it was wholesome to see how in the beginning during the battle against the scorpions that they were hesitant and downright scared to interact with each other, to then Tyson joining Grover on his search for Pan. I also liked how Tyson was fleshed out a little more, that just because she spoke kind of childishly, doesn't mean that he is simple and he's more than capable of logic.
I enjoyed the ideas being thrown around about how immortal beings can eventually die, from either "not believing in themselves", or "fade", when their "sacred places disappear". I'm a bit mean, so I'm hoping that Kronos' master plan to destroy the Olympians include these methods.
I hope that Rachel Elizabeth Dare doesn't show up again. I really didn't care that her dad was super mega rich and that they don't get along. Also for the sake of her sanity because she's not dead??? Surprisingly??
No one can stop me. I am on a roll. The third book within seven days? I've been staying up late reading books.. The third installment of Percy Jackson is basically Percy & Thaila & Annabeth & Grover go to a castle and then they fight a demon and then Annabeth is kidnapped. What the heck. How dare they. So they're going to rescue her. Wait I didn't mention the Di Angelo kids. Oh it's fine this book's been released since 2007, I don't need to explain the book's plot that much.. right?
SPOILERS BELOW!!
To the person who told me that Nico and Bianca were Hades' kids many moons ago. Aw man.. the plot twist would have been good if, y'know, I didn't know the plot twist. Also I can't believe that Bianca is dead. Like I knew someone was going to die, but I'd much rather it be Thaila. Can the oracle please prophecy Bianca out of the Underworld. Then again, I don't like Bianca. As an older sibling, I would never abandon my siblings, even if I had spent a zillion years in the Lotus Hotel and I had been parentified my entire eleven year old life. Personally, I think it was quite manipulative to go up to an eleven year old girl, after she had just faced the horrors of a manticore and offer up immorality. Like, why not give it a few days? At least let her weigh up the pros and cons for a while, like Thaila. Also why did Annabeth have a recruitment magazine of the Hunters? However, I do find it sad that the reason why Bianca died was because she was trying to get the last figure of Mythomagic for Nico (aka Hades), but I also feel like, if she's been told by her immortal mentor and various other people, then maybe she shouldn't keep anything from the very dangerously deadly dump (D.D.D for short)? I am sure that a golden drachma could buy Nico an entire set of Mythomagic five times over.
I didn't like the vibes of Thaila, but she is a good person, I think. I just thought that maybe she could have communicated with Percy more? Especially when she blamed Percy for losing Annabeth, yea I get it, you lost Luke too, but Annabeth wouldn't want you two to fight. And it's not like Percy was trying to pick a fight with Thaila. Also, the moment where they were fighting, maybe Thaila has to feel each emotion fully, to almost make up for the time she lost when she was a tree. Anyhow, I was shocked when she decided to join the Hunters, but in hindsight, with how much Percy kept on saying how Zoë & Thaila were similar, it makes sense that she'd want to be a hunter. I can't help but she probably felt a bit resigned, not wanting to be part of the prophecy, not just her life in general.
I liked Zoë more than I admitted in the beginning. It was brave of her to go up against her sisters all this time and lure the dragon. It must have been hard, being rejected from your family and not really healing from it? Or healing from it and returning and realizing that they were still the same. I found it sweet that she cried for Bianca, despite not knowing her for that long. Oh but I found it a little annoying that she sucked up to Artemis so much. She's dead now so I guess it doesn't matter...
Also what is Athena's problem. If you kill Boy-Wonder (Percy Jackson), this would suck. But I know she didn't kill him cos there are like, at least ten more books about Percy so we're rolling with it.
My prediction of Luke. I think that since in each installment of the books, he keeps on getting grayer and more older, he'll be the body for Kronos. I find him so self-centered, thinking that he can go ahead with this plan of destroying the West alongside keeping Thaila and Annabeth as his friends. Like, that's so selfish. He's built up a second reality where only his goals are fully realized. Like, maybe Annabeth can still be an architect, but she wouldn't be able to make buildings for the Greek Gods, which had been her intention all this time.
How did Dionysus pull a smart wife aka Ariadne? I mean, he literally doesn't care about any of the campers and he always calls Percy Jackson, Peter Johnson - aside from that one time when he helped the gang get rid of the manticore (Dr Thorn) chasing them. If his care is conditional, Adriadne please run away.. why would he treat you well if he treats godlings badly.
I found it a bit funny that Nico was into Mythomagic. I fear you are already in a game of Mythomagic, like forever. I feel so bad for him, since Percy broke his promise and Bianca died. On the plus side, at least Percy has decided that he won't put Nico in anymore pain and complete the prophecy.
Over the past week, I've watched the entirety of Monster High (the web series for G1) , like, two and a half times. I just want to talk about my favorite characters. I have yet to watch the movies. I'm not sure if I want to, since the animation is really not my type. My interpretations/opinions of the characters are solely based on the web series.
SPOILERS BELOW!!
For the sake of convenience, I am reviewing each character alphabetically. If you see a timestamp, that is because I am referring to an outfit from the compilation of Monster High that I really enjoyed. I sound like such a fangirl...
Main Cast!!
Abbey Bominable
I like her blunt but direct nature. It was really sweet how eventually she cleared up her misunderstanding with Frankie & also how she's just a very kind person. I really liked it when Abbey went to visit her cousin, Marisol Coxi in Monster Picchu and adopted Marisol's catchphrase. It was really heartwarming when she said, I think? "Big hair, not so big shoes and big attitude!" Like, aw, she's having sooo much fun. I liked her relationship with Heath, despite Cleo not understanding why she wanted to go to the dance with him, because he made her laugh. It's just so cute.
OUTFITS: 3:07:02 , 5:37:45
Clawdeen Wolf
I liked how the beginning of the series, there was a focus of Clawdeen worrying that she would lose her brother and her best friend if they dated. I found it super interesting how she purposely gave Clawd meat to make Draculaura freak out, like she's willing to use her friends' weaknesses in a fit of insecurity. She's really loyal to her friends, I liked it how when Cleo's cheer routine was taken by Toralei, she was so angry that she hisses at Toralei as her and her cronies disappeared. She's always willing to stand up for her friends and give them advice, like when she encouraged Frankie to tell Jackson how upset she was from him standing her up. The only thing that I didn't like, is that one of her alternate outfits has her with short hair and a green stripe and purple stripe. I remember thinking it was just some other character, but no. when i found out I literally gasped. How could they. To Clawdeen??? She wouldn't. I wish that they had more story about Clawdeen in the web episodes, like more focused on her. I noticed that she didn't go to any exchange programs, nor did she get a love interest, or was really involved in the Fearleading arc. What was she doing??
OUTFITS: 3:28:49 , 4:53:51
Cleo de Nile
I hated her in the beginning, because of that moment when Draculaura came to her for help and Cleo proceeded to tell her that her makeup looked bad and then "helped" her by messing up her makeup. Like, girl how could you, that's so not cool. I didn't like how she treated Ghoulia like a gofer in the beginning. But I really liked how they continued to expand on Cleo. For example, in the Fearleading arc, despite thinking that her team won't win the competition at the cheerleading camp, she refuses Toralei's offer of joining back because of her pride and partially due to loyalty to her friends. I found it really sweet how she uses all her servants to enter the raffle to win the first volume of Deadfast for Ghoulia too, and she didn't want anyone to know that she got it for her since it would "ruin her rep". Moreover, I love how she defended Ghoulia when she added her to the Fearleading squad by saying that Ghoulia "knew all the moves" anyways. Like yes!! That's so wholesome. Let her join. I find it a bit interesting how she corrects herself at others' judgement, e.g at Fearleading she goes: "They've taken my- I mean our, hard work!" She's super sensitive to others but also very prideful and arrogant, if that makes sense. Sensitive in a way of: "how can I regain my influence on people?", shown by the episodes when Cleo worries that her social power is dwindling and is caught up in one of Torelai's schemes: stay in school on Friday the 13th. I also really liked it when she was trying to help Operetta, by teaching her proper manners, because her intentions were good, even though they didn't really help Operetta. This happens again when Frankie is trying to pass her driving test and Cleo offers her an Egyptian amulet. I also really like it when she says "Oh my Ra!!" So iconic. I loved it when they added blue streaks to her hair.
OUTFITS: 5:46:59 , 3:14:55
Deuce Gorgon
He's a good guy. He's also lowk really pretty. I thought it was sweet of him to say invite Jackson Jekyll to his lunchtable. I really liked how they expanded on Deuce accidentally making his pet dragon, Sparkly get turned into stone. It was pretty funny when he was playing a game with Gil to see who would lose the fastest. I don't know how Cleo brings out the best of him, I feel like he would be better off single.
Draculaura
She's kinda gossip-y and it really bothered me initially. I found her sort of boring, but I'm probably going to rewatch monster high because I want to love her. I found it a bit funny how she's a vampire but she's vegetarian. Her and Clawd together are really sweet. I liked the moment where Clawdeen & Clawd & Draculaura were sitting on the steps and were trying to arrange a time for Draculaura to go out with Clawd, but they had tons of family events to go to. She's kinda a crybaby, like that moment where they thought they killed the yellow furry class pet. I loved that moment where she was sitting on the bench and was like "I' having a bad day but I couldn't tell you because I can't see myself in the mirror." Iconic lines. I love her character design.
OUTFITS: 5:47:16
Frankie Stein
She's my favorite character. I loved how she stood up for Jackson and scared Manny away. She's kind and nice. I really liked how she helped Draculaura when she fainted from the sight of meat. I also really liked how she cheered Ghoulia up and encouraged her to to talk to Slow-mo. I also really liked how she apologized to Abbey when she was in the wrong. She cheered up Cleo when Cleo thought it was all hopeless when Nefera demoted them to the second Fearleading team. My only complaint is that I thought her making Hoodoo was so odd. Like isn't he your responsibility? She kinda just made a guy and then.. let him be free? Wouldn't her parents know? I found it super out of left field. She's just, like, ugh. I aspire to be her!!! I loved the moment where she decided to run for class president, for zombies to create a different corridor, but ensured that Slow-mo got the votes instead. I liked how she stood up for Jackson, especially with how cool she was when she grabbed Manny's nosering and then told him to scram or else she would tell his younger sister Minnie that he was harassing a normie. The outfit with the side ponytail is voltageous.
OUTFITS: 3:28:42 , 5:47:53 , 5:53:18
Ghoulia Yelps
Ghoulia is so sweet. I loved how she didn't like Slow-mo because he wasn't smart, but because he was very considerate. I think that it's sort of sad how Cleo treated her as like, "You're not busy", when Ghoulia was helping the school around, like making the pool be hot again, or helping the headteacher or fixing the school wifi. I really liked how she always opposed the stereotype of zombies being slow. I'm thinking of two moments, the first moment where she used math to dodgeball the hell out of Manny and his goons and also the second moment where she went to the catacombs to beat Toralei toget to class faster. I never want to mess with her. I wish she grew a little bit of a backbone towards Cleo in the beginning, especially when Cleo took credit for her science project. Her frienddship with Kjersti Trollson is very cute.
OUTFITS: 3:28:42 , 5:47:01
Lagoona Blue
I thought that Lagoona could so so much better than Gill. She's a good person, I remember when all the ghouls were wondering who was the Ghostly Gossip was, and they started arguing and Lagoona is the one who stopped the argument. The moment when she freed the frogs from class was really sweet too.
OUTFITS: 3:07:01 , 3:34:59
Side characters!!!
Amanita Nightshade
I hate her conceited attitude and her voice. She's so punchable. However, she is super fun to watch when she's annoying Cleo.
OUTFITS: 5:50:29
Catrine DeMew
I don't have a big opinion of her. She was in an art class in the webseries, and that's about it. She also complained about her size of her ears, I think?
Catty Noir
I really like her design and I thought it was so wholesome that she joined the disappearing club with Invisi Billy and Twyla. I wish we saw her more in the web series interacting with the other main ghouls normally. I feel like she doesn't have much of a personality, due too everyone idolizing her.
Clawd
I found the scene where he was cross dressing and pretending to be Elissabat and signing her autographs was funny. Clawd and Draculaura are cute together. Oh but when he got Howleen and Clawdeen to do his chores, that was sneaky...
Gillington Webber
What a wuss! He has to be always encouraged by Lagoona to go against his parents and still date a salt water girl. Like, when he sees the Fearbook when they're holding hands, he tells Lagoona that he just won't show the Fearbook to his parents. Which is ridiculous. She's your girlfriend! If you don't bring it up, then it'd be like this forever. I was so glad when we finally got the episode when he startd telling his parents that he was sick of their prejudices. I was like, finally. Oh my gosh. I thought it was so scummy of him not to talk to Lagoona about what was going on with him and Lorna McNessie, like she's your girlfriend. Also he lives in the school pool. That's uh, weird.
Gooliope Jellington
She's just a showstopper. Freak du Chic as one of the last arcs of monster high. That was so good. I loved it all.
Heath Burns
He kinda pissed me off. He pursued Draculaura, flirted with Gigi & Frankie and then dated Abbey. I'm like. Wow this man is really trying to get a girlfriend. Also he's so mean to his normie cousin Jackson Jekyll when he first joins monster high; like Jackson gets pushes over and Heath doesn't help him. Thank god he's practically a puppy in love with Abbey.
Holt Hyde
I found him super grating. He;s a lovely guy, but there is only so much I can take of "HEYYYAYYYYAYYYY FRANKAAYYYY". I cannot take this guy seriously.
Howleen Wolf
I'm kinda disappointed that our short haired queen got a "glow up". I mean, I do like her redesign, but they don't really look like the same person. I wish her hair was, like curly.
Invisi Billy
He's really sweet, he helped Rochell Gargyole when she was upset about her feet being too heavy. I would have liked to see him interact with Twyla more in the Disappearing Club, without Catty Noir.
Iris Clops
I have no clue why she likes Manny so much. But you do you girl! I found it so touching when she went to her Ghoulfriends to talk about her issues with Manny.
Jackson Jekyll
I found him so annoying when he was like, I have to give Holt a piece of my mind, he's ruining my life, as soon as he found out that he was sharing a body with someone. Before that, I thought he was very caring.
Jane Boolittle
I thought that she was a bit too shy. She really resonated with me, since I used to have a habit of observing people before interacting with them, but when she actually interacted with the main cast, I was glad that the main Ghouls found it weird that she knew so much about her. I think that it could have been emphasized that it's not good to always be observing people and rather just go with the flow, despite your shyness. Also, I found it so annoying that Jane could talk to everyone's pets, but then I never saw any of the cast actually interact with their own pets.
OUTFITS: 5:47:58
Jinafire Long
She's sly? I don't have much of an opinion of her.
OUTFITS: 5:53:22
Johnny Spirit
I really liked the spark that he had with Operetta, I think that they could definitely be good friends, but we don't have any other web episodes that center around him, despite being the "resident bad boy rebel."
Operetta
She's so sassy, and won't tolerate being disrespected, but she also knows when to stop. Most of the time. Like that episode where Cleo confronts Operetta and Operetta scares her with her pet spider. I really liked the episode where she decided that she was going to steal Deuce from Cleo, but then when that didn't work because they were already in a loving relationship, offer to help Deuce write his feelings about Cleo in a song. What I didn't like was the episode where she's trying out for the dance tryouts and she comments on Rochelle's stone feet. She sounded so passive aggressive nice, like "I don't want to hurt your feelings but..", and like. How dare you. Then during the dance she's practically in Rochelle's space so how could she even compete properly if you're actively hindering her. And then before Rochelle's solo, she says that she can't bear to see what's going to happen, so when Rochelle does surprise Operetta, Operetta doesn't even congratulate her or even apologize for all the mean things she's said to her. She's super competitive, like her play off against Johnny Spirit, but yea. I don't like her that much.
OUTFITS: 5:47:58
Rochelle Goyle
She's like, my second favorite. I love her design and I love her personality. It's just the vibes. I have no examples.. but the vibes. Her vibes.
OUTFITS: 3:36:17 , 5:02:52 , 5:53:20
Sirena Von Boo
She's such a vibe. I remember she was saying to Lagoona, "You're like, so totally jealous right? I would be so jealous." Her dialogue is just very, hm. Blunt yet humorous.
Spectra Vondergeist
I wish we had more characterization of her, but we don't. So I don't really have an opinion of her. I think she was good as a plot device, making all the cast fight with each other and who was the writer of ghostly gossip, but aside from that, not really.
Toralei Stripe
I really like how they expand on her character. In the beginning, you just think she's just a regular mean girl. But then you get revealed her tragic backstory, however it does come into question if her backstory is true, since Spectra is writing it under the eye of Toralei, so it could have been partly fiction. But I thought it was still interesting how at least there is a justification why Toralei believes that she has to be at the top of the social hierarchy, or at least be so very cruel. because she grew up in poverty and she had to defend herself in juvie. She's very prideful, as in she doesn't tolerate disrespect. She'll do anything to one up someone as revenge, such as stealing Cleo's cheerleading routine when they were at fearleading camp. She's also very certain of her abilities. Like, when Nefera was using amulets in order to bring Cleo's fearleading team down, Toralei said that they didn't need trickery to win. That's why I think Toralei helped Cleo's team chase off the magic creatures that Nefera had summoned, because Nefera was undermining Toralei and her friends. She does not like being treated poorly, and is always very vengeful. Sometimes it's useful, like in the episode where she's made fun of by a the vampires of the opposing sports team, and competed against them out of spite & won.
OUTFITS: 5:02:04 , 5:59:17
Twyla Boogeyman
She's a cutie.
Venus McFlyTrap
I really liked her relationship with Basty Claro, like they were getting along well. Aside from saving the environment, I don't really remember much about her personality.
Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordian
Reading on the treadmill, reading on the bed, reading at the dinner table. I cannot be stopped. In this one, the tree at Camp Half-blood is poisoned. We gotta save it!! (I meant Percy.)
SPOILERS BELOW!!
I found it so odd that they used the r word in a kids book. Like, twice. I do imagine that if I was any younger, I would be very confused and potentially say it? Or search up what it means, I mean, this book is very old, so maybe it was more acceptable back then? Regardless, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
I wonder why the demon pigeons attacked in the beginning, was it Tantalus's doing? I mean, I really hated him but he wouldn't be that evil right? Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if he was working with Kronos because he so readily ignored how the tree was dying. Speaking of the tree, at the end it worked a bit too well and now we have Thaila Grace. Uh, so. Will the camp be renamed into Thaila Grace? Will the camp no longer be protected, since the girl that is the tree, is no longer a tree? Tree-fific.
I really like how it characterized Clarisse. She might be really unkind to Percy, but she did save them from the Hydra and also her prophecy implied that if she went with friends, she would lose them, so she decided to do it alone. Also, she went and helped her allies when they were injured by the two metal bulls in the beginning. She's cruel, but loyal. If that makes sense? I felt annoyed when Ares was pissed at Clarisse, especially when he said that he should have sent one of his sons instead. Ugh. Also, I'm glad that she was able to prove him wrong and that she did get the Golden Fleece & prove his misogynistic ass wrong. I would not be surprised if Clarisse ever decided to defect, because there could be some harbored resentment from being side character-ed in her own quest. I'm thinking about near the end, Clarisse taunts Polyphemus and results in the Queen Anne's Revenge being sank.
I really liked Percy's and Tyson's relationship. I liked how Percy was initially ashamed to be related to Tyson, but he couldn't bring himself to kill Polyphemus because he was the same race as Tyson. I found it really sweet that Tyson made Percy the watch, and honestly I wish that he didn't leave to go and forge in Poseidon's armory underground. I'm hoping that Tyson returns, rather than as just a one off thing. Aside from cyclops, I wonder if any other magical creatures can be offspring. Afteral, Kronos is Chiron's father but he's probably not a centaur. Also, does this mean that Chiron is related to the other Gods? How does that work, hm.
It's so cute that Annabeth and Percy are getting along better now. She even kissed his cheek! Cute!!!
Unrelated, but why did Poseidon send such an ominious message to Percy. I remember reading the words "brace yourself" and I started giggling. I cannot take him seriously.
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief By Rick Riordan
Devoured that book in a day like I was a starved little peasant gal & it was a gourmet Michelin star dish. I'm practically unstoppable!? HA!!
SPOILERS BELOW!!!
I could feel it in my bones as soon as Luke gave those winged shoes to Percy that Luke was diabolically evil. It's always the pretty ones... Thank GOD he was stupid and forgot that Percy would have become electrified crisp if he actually flew in the sky. I'm lowk kinda sad because he sounded pretty cute. I could fix him.. (joking!!) I was sort of disappointed at the end when he revealed his motivations to Percy. You're nineteen yet you're stupid enough to tell it to a twelve year old boy??? What would Thaila think? Like, so you want the fall of the Western civilization to occur, but not bring back your friend from the dead or something like, more attainable? I guess this is what happens when you get stuck at Half-Blood Camp for five years.
I'm hoping that Annabeth returns to the underworld so that she can play with Cerebus again. It was actually really cute.
I really want to go to Los Angeles and go to that Lotus Hotel that they all got stuck in. I wanna play games forever. It probably would be pretty fun. It's a shame that none of the kids said they were from 1984 (omg!!! Is this a reference?!).
Hoping that Kronos takes over the world or something so I can enjoy reading about Percy's suffering!!!
Also unrelated but Riordian was ahead of his time, labeling Percy w/ADHD and dyslexia. I was pleasantly surprised! W for my neurodivergent folk!!!!
I'm so glad I'm late to the Percy Jackson train because now I can just binge read all the books.
The second novel that Mishima has published. It is a semi-autobiographical story that follows the life of a repressed homosexual man living in Japan.
"Although in later years my self-analysis traversed the rim of the hoop more slowly, when I was twenty it was doing nothing but spin blindfolded through the orbit of my emotions, and lashed on by the excitement attending the war's final disastrous stages, the speed of the revolutions had become enough to make me all but completely lose my sense of balance. There was no time for a careful consideration of causes and effects, no time for either contradictions or correlations. So the contradictions spun on through the orbit just as they were, rubbing together with a speed that no eye could comprehend."
SPOILERS DOWN BELOW!!!
This book was so tough. I'm going to be honest, I assumed it would be an easy read, but it's slowly peeling back Mishima's own ideologies and his own philosophies. This will be less a review, but rather a note to myself to reread it in the future.
I think that it's quite curious that Kochan enjoys violence, even as a young child. Perhaps it's his own way of releasing his desire, as homosexuality is taboo.
Why did he continue to visit Sonoko? To maintain his mask of normalcy? Why did Sonoko continue to visit him?
What an odd book. I think I've read above my maturity level, to be frank.
This book follows Samantha, who gets sucked in by the allure of being part of a popular friend group in her literature class. There's also exploding bunnies & weird stuff going on that ultimately has little pay off. Despite it's riveting plot, it has no message to send, no meaning that I could discern. It was a fun read, but absurd.
SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT
I've read reviews that it's "all in Samantha's head" and "no character exists because she's recreating those who rejected her" and that "the bunny boys are a metaphor for writing" If so, why is there such a large emphasis that they have male genitals if they're meant to be a representation?
Moreover, it's meant to comment on inequality, but it's not very nuanced or explored? The message was like: "Rich people bad because boring writing! They haven't suffered through anything!" but simultaneously, "Poor people write about being poor! It's so annoying!" So, like I'm confused. If it's meant to be a satire, why can't I discern that it is?
If Ava is a swan, how could she have talked to Eleanor? If Samantha asked Eleanor what she was saying to Ava (a bird), then I suppose it's all in Samantha's mind. I hate to think that the plot holes can be easily covered up by the fact that it's "all in Samantha's head". That's such a cop out. Moreover, let's assume that everything is in her head, then the boy that she liked got turned into a stag & then injured all the girls? Or is that in her head too?
I think this book should have went harder with the magical realism. It has fantastical characters, e.g Bunny boys, Swan Girl, Stag boy, but could have been better? I just wanted more, to be honest.
There was this prose I liked that described the stag, but the Awad ruined it by saying: "He's beautiful." I can tell that he is beautiful you were describing him to me a second ago! I'd prefer it if it was show not tell. Another but that I didn't like, was when Samantha was entering the apartment of one of the girls and it goes: "There's an ax in the corner. Wait an ax?" I think it would have been more interesting that Samantha didn't question it. Or at least foreshadow more subtly what was to come. You could also say that since the book is written in first person perspective, these critiques of I have is simply the character of Samantha showing out. And you're right.
I don't really remember any of the Bunnies. Like, they switched names so frequently through the book I had trouble remembering them, however I did find it interesting when Samantha called them different names, for example to scorn them, or to show her acceptance of them.
