Reading not-Wednesday

[oyceter]

What I've just finished: Yotsuba 11! It is as cute and cheerful as all previous volumes in the series, and it encompasses dramatic events like Yotsuba's first experience with pizza, Duralumin getting slobbered on by a dog, Yanda bringing over bubble blowers, and bugs.

I also read Aliette de Bodard's On a Red Station, Drifting, which I enjoyed. I didn't really see the Dream of the Red Chamber connections until I read the author's notes, with the exception of a spaceship named after one of the characters. There's a comforting familiarity to the importance of magistrates and government officials and civil service that reminds me a lot of Chinese literature—I know the world is Vietnam-based, not China-based, but Wiki notes that the civil service examination system was modeled on China's. I also love the mention of fish sauce brewing as a fine art, and that one of the key conflicts happens while a character is writing poetry at a banquet. I didn't entirely understand all the shifts in the two main characters' attitudes, but overall, I prefer this to de Bodard's "Immersion," which won the Nebula. "Immersion" strikes me as being a little too on the nose, and while it makes a good point, I prefer how On a Red Station, Drifting incorporates more Vietnamese themes and background.

What I'm currently reading: I started book one of Alis A. Rasmussen's (aka Kate Elliott) Highroad Trilogy, but I haven't been able to track what's going on very well. I got a bit annoyed right off bat when I realized the martial-arts-practicing heroine is the lightest person in her brown family (I think she is POC? But she is described as pale so I am confused?), as well as when she rescues a robot early on and it devotes itself entirely to her. Still reading, and hopefully I will figure out what's happening soon.

I also started Jeffrey Brantley's Calming Your Anxious Mind, which is about using mindfulness to help with anxiety and fear. So far it's mostly been explanation of what mindfulness is and how it's effective as opposed to actual instruction, so I have no idea if it works or not.

I also started 7 Seeds volume 2 but am not very far into it.

What I'll read next: If I manage to finish book one of the Highroad Trilogy, probably book 2. Also, I keep meaning to read the latest Skip Beat chapter, so maybe that.

Comments

[lnhammer]

I WANT YOTSUBA&! 12! That's when we reach Halloween and then get to the camping trip.

---L.

[oyceter]

Ooooo! I have been so behind on manga that now I have a lot of new Yotsuba to read! This makes me very happy.

[lnhammer]

We have to wait till November for the official volume 12, alas. (The scanlators are, of course, thoroughly up to date.)

---L.

[jinian]

Ooh, Yotsuba! That sounds like a great antidote to thesis madness.

ObCheerleading: *\o/* 7 SEEDS *\o/*

[oyceter]

Yes! CB bought it when we were out for dinner/checking out Petco so I could pet a rat as a way to cheer me up. Yotsuba: best mood lifter ever.

[jinian]

I had to go all the way to Uwajimaya for it, and then I was waylaid by an Okami art book too. :)

[hebethen]

I haven't read OaRSD yet, but "Immersion" worked for me because of... hum, the author described it as a sort of rant, and I'm going to describe the feeling as "sympathetic rantsonance" ("sympathetic vibrantion"?).

[oyceter]

nods That makes sense! I often flip flop between wanting a good, ragey reaction to racist things and wanting something that isn't always a reaction to white people being annoying, depending on mood, what's been going on of late, and other random stuff.

[torachan]

Yay for Yotsuba and 7 Seeds! :D Two of my favorite series. :)

[oyceter]

\o/! 7 Seeds has just gotten to a reveal that made me perk up, so hopefully the story is really going to take off now!

[torachan]

Yeah, as much as I went into it expecting to love it based on my love for the author's previous works, I did find the first volume a little slow. But believe me, it gets really, really good.

[lnhammer]

As in, really, really, REALLY good.