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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
aurora lector has commented on (10) products
Blue
by
Kiriko Nananan
aurora lector
, December 03, 2017
In the past, I've read a couple "light" novels, a type of sparse novella that commuters in japan could theoretically read on their phones*. Specifically, I've read some of those that inspired the manga, anime and probably other stuff, called Strawberry Panic!. Which occupy a nebulous area of romantic fantasy about a barely physical relationship, a platonic, fiercely romantic friendship between (frequently) two highschool girls a year or two apart*. In hearts and minds they are a sort of 'starter' relationship, a test-run and a safe space for emotions run rampant**. These relationships may lead to kissing or even groping, but rarely last long, typically never past graduation.** I wonder how that might feel to a girl more like myself. I think this is where Blue comes in. Though at first the relationship seems sparse, as the artwork is, you feel the connection between the girls as something that might last a long time, you can imagine them moving to Tokyo and starting a life together, as in the Korean tv-movie Daughters of Bilitis Club, or the Japanese manga Girlfriends by Milk Morinaga (no review as yet). Eventually, a couple moments after I'd closed the volume, a single relationship told in just over 200 illustrated pages, I was reminded of Strawberry Panic! and the patina of temporary circumstance. Though I believe both girls cared for each other very much, and that the feelings were real, and that the sentiments that pushed them apart were sincere, I ultimately think that one of the girls saw the relationship as more tangible and able to last longer than the other did. In my mind this raises the single volume story above the glittering anthology omnibus of SP! to something more literary, cruel and beautiful in its honesty. But I probably shouldn't believe everything fiction tells me about society. Add.: Reading about Kiriko Nananan on wikipedia leads to learning about la nouvelle movement in manga, which is also interesting reading. *Barely researched supposition. **I'm speculating.
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Honey and Clover, Vol. 10: Volume 10
by
Chica Umino
aurora lector
, December 03, 2017
The series was very bittersweet, and perhaps if you don't want a lingering unfinished romance set during college years, among artists, it's probably not for you. But I really enjoyed the soul-searching of a young architect who finds solace in temple restoration, and a petite sculptor who wants nothing more than to paint gigantic landscapes and flowers instead. There are others, and they all have their own journeys. It's slice-of-life, and there are some meandering romances, but I don't think any of them is ever really resolved. There's also a fairly bizarre parody of Peter Jackson/George Lucas that transported the series into Sci-Fi territory just to give a breath of air... I think.
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Honey and Clover, Vol. 9, 9
by
Chica Umino
aurora lector
, December 03, 2017
The series was very bittersweet, and perhaps if you don't want a lingering unfinished romance set during college years, among artists, it's probably not for you. But I really enjoyed the soul-searching of a young architect who finds solace in temple restoration, and a petite sculptor who wants nothing more than to paint gigantic landscapes and flowers instead. There are others, and they all have their own journeys. It's slice-of-life, and there are some meandering romances, but I don't think any of them is ever really resolved. There's also a fairly bizarre parody of Peter Jackson/George Lucas that transported the series into Sci-Fi territory just to give a breath of air... I think.
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Honey and Clover, Vol. 8, 8
by
Chica Umino
aurora lector
, December 03, 2017
The series was very bittersweet, and perhaps if you don't want a lingering unfinished romance set during college years, among artists, it's probably not for you. But I really enjoyed the soul-searching of a young architect who finds solace in temple restoration, and a petite sculptor who wants nothing more than to paint gigantic landscapes and flowers instead. There are others, and they all have their own journeys. It's slice-of-life, and there are some meandering romances, but I don't think any of them is ever really resolved. There's also a fairly bizarre parody of Peter Jackson/George Lucas that transported the series into Sci-Fi territory just to give a breath of air... I think.
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Honey and Clover, Vol. 7
by
Chica Umino
aurora lector
, December 03, 2017
The series was very bittersweet, and perhaps if you don't want a lingering unfinished romance set during college years, among artists, it's probably not for you. But I really enjoyed the soul-searching of a young architect who finds solace in temple restoration, and a petite sculptor who wants nothing more than to paint gigantic landscapes and flowers instead. There are others, and they all have their own journeys. It's slice-of-life, and there are some meandering romances, but I don't think any of them is ever really resolved. There's also a fairly bizarre parody of Peter Jackson/George Lucas that transported the series into Sci-Fi territory just to give a breath of air... I think.
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Honey and Clover, Vol. 6
by
Chica Umino
aurora lector
, December 03, 2017
The series was very bittersweet, and perhaps if you don't want a lingering unfinished romance set during college years, among artists, it's probably not for you. But I really enjoyed the soul-searching of a young architect who finds solace in temple restoration, and a petite sculptor who wants nothing more than to paint gigantic landscapes and flowers instead. There are others, and they all have their own journeys. It's slice-of-life, and there are some meandering romances, but I don't think any of them is ever really resolved. There's also a fairly bizarre parody of Peter Jackson/George Lucas that transported the series into Sci-Fi territory just to give a breath of air... I think.
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Honey and Clover, Vol. 4
by
Chica Umino
aurora lector
, December 03, 2017
The series was very bittersweet, and perhaps if you don't want a lingering unfinished romance set during college years, among artists, it's probably not for you. But I really enjoyed the soul-searching of a young architect who finds solace in temple restoration, and a petite sculptor who wants nothing more than to paint gigantic landscapes and flowers instead. There are others, and they all have their own journeys. It's slice-of-life, and there are some meandering romances, but I don't think any of them is ever really resolved. There's also a fairly bizarre parody of Peter Jackson/George Lucas that transported the series into Sci-Fi territory just to give a breath of air... I think.
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Honey & Clover Volume 2
by
Chica Umino
aurora lector
, December 03, 2017
The series was very bittersweet, and perhaps if you don't want a lingering unfinished romance set during college years, among artists, it's probably not for you. But I really enjoyed the soul-searching of a young architect who finds solace in temple restoration, and a petite sculptor who wants nothing more than to paint gigantic landscapes and flowers instead. There are others, and they all have their own journeys. It's slice-of-life, and there are some meandering romances, but I don't think any of them is ever really resolved. There's also a fairly bizarre parody of Peter Jackson/George Lucas that transported the series into Sci-Fi territory just to give a breath of air... I think.
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Bloom Into You, Volume 1
by
Nakatani Nio
aurora lector
, July 21, 2017
A kind of naïve foray into highschool girl romance. I haven't read much yuri/shojo-ai/Girls Love (is GL a thing?) manga because so much of it is, basically, porn. Or intended for boys or I don't know... naïve girls. I like reading romance and since coming to grips with my own queer identity, I enjoy seeing examples of girls in relationships. Especially if there is pretty art and fluffy plot. This was not problematic, per se, since both girls admire each other, but one is more physically attracted to the other than vice versa, making it feel as though one of them may not be as sexual as the other another reviewer pointed out. If this leads to, as it occasionally does in manga, a very liberal view on sexual consent, I may have to revisit my optimism for this new series. I, perhaps foolishly, remain hopeful. Pages: 180 Year: January 3, 2017 Publisher: Seven Seas Read: 13 January 2017 Stars: 3 (liked it) I review books at www.auroralector.com
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Kiss Him Not Me 1
by
Junko
aurora lector
, October 22, 2015
Definitely funny stuff. Despite a concept which is probably entirely based in fantasy, the sweet nature of the (admittedly simply constructed) main character is refreshing, her burgeoning friendships as well. I found that as the story progressed, one particularly stubborn character developed more respect for Kae (the heroine) and I hope that a little sniffle of another character foreshadows his own development. Whether or not the boy who recognized Kae immediately after her dramatic weight loss has a dark side to complement his near-perfection, we shall have to see to find out!
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