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Prior to borrowing 'Abandon the old in Tokyo' from the library, I was completely unfamiliar with comic artist Yoshihiro Tatsumi. the interior description of this collection of stories really got me though. Introduction by author Koji Suzuki (of Ring trilogy fame) spoke in short depth about the importance and strength of nostalgia, and how nostalgia is commonly viewed as only positive. Instead he poses that a darker nostalgia is present here, that remembering details and smells that result in an unfavorable, yet still welcome memory is more powerful (my inference). Unfortunately, I have no experience living with an elder whom I would consider leaving to die secretly in the city as a way to escape. Other stories equally left me astounded, setting my nostalgia point to NOW as this book I will now compare many newer works against going forward. Highlights of stories: - A man abandons his elderly mother so he can live his own life. - A window washer watches his daughter have a torri...

  My dog Duncan whole heartedly supported the reading and cuddling during this book. Scholastic Books The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall was a quick read, with a young woman named Delia battling for dominance in a home she inherited from her deceased namesake aunt, Cordelia. Learning quickly that the massive property was previously an asylum for 'hysterical women', there are evil secrets it will divulge while attempting to destroy her. Being a teen lit book released by Scholastic, Katie Alender's novel is well suited for most teens and is more thriller than horror.. I learned after completing that this is the same author of Marie Antoinette Serial Killer, which I would also recommend.

  A Good Girls Guide to Murder was awesome. I dont feel like writing a full review, but definitely thought it was enjoyable enough that I followed up and listened to the next two books too.

Picked up a copy of The High Desert by James Spooner through the local library. Lots of music references, lots of confused kids trying to find their place in the universe. James details out his time in high school as a half black skater in rural california just attempting to figure his shit out. I grew up in a predominantly white state/region. Some Mexican and Pacific Island heritage were the bulk of any diversity we experienced. As an adult I have had to play a lot of catchup, so I was grateful for the memoire introspection that the author had throughout. Overall the themes of anger, displacement, racism, fitting in, introspection, and figuring out the world.. All fairly universal, especially factoring in my ex-gothness in a white suburban christian community.

  Pretty good Graphic Novel ;) Cartoonist Guy Delisle dropped this back in 2016- "Hostage", about the abduction of Doctors Without Borders employee Christophe André. André was posted just outside Chechnya in 1997. One night while alone in the team dorms, men with machine guns drag him outside and plop him into a car with a bag on his head. They drive around a bit, walk through the woods a bit, cross an international border a bit, then bolt the man to the floor in a dark room. This begins a comic book that makes a truely exciting story out of a guy sitting in a room eating, drinking, sleeping. Yup, you heard it here fellow nerds... Page after page of André pondering if people are searching for him and weighing the potential of escape somehow comes togethers as a legit page turner. André patiently waits as opportunity after opportunity passes him while he attempts to understand his abductors speaking in a language he does not understand. My only gripe is that a full page is...