Book Review: I Got Reincarnated inn a (BL) World of Big (Man) Boobs, Vol 2

I Got Reincarnated in a (BL) World of Big (Man) Boobs, Vol 2    

Author: Tsukiji Nao 

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

American release date: September 3, 2024

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Yaoi Manga//256 pages 

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★ 

 As Otogawa continues his journey through the BL world he has been reincarnated into, he receives a warning from Takanashi, who tells him that Onizuka has baggage! Not a good sign in BL terms! He is dismayed that not only is Sakura a fujoshi, but she writes and posts fanfic! Just then Onizuka comes along and insists on *taking* Otogawa to the infirmary – but no one is there! Oh no, another trope triggered! To his surprise, Onizuka tells him not to bother with him anymore, he isn’t worth it! Wth?

 Otogawa decides he needs to act immediately and make a confession to Sakura. But somehow something always seems to get in the way. Otogawa cries, “ Did I reincarnate into the world of Donky Kong?” Oh no, thanks to his actions, Otogawa may have made him and Onizuka official as a couple? Really? Seems like he just can’t win for losing!

 Now it’s time for the school festival, and Otogawa has a horrible memory of his stint as a colon-flower in the school festival when he was a young otaku. But now he’s been selected to play Momotaro, the main character in the school production! Oddly, the rest of the cast consists of stereotypical hunks, including Onizuka. As if that isn’t bad enough, something unexpected happens during the play, leaving Otogawa wondering about a lot of things. 

Wow, so much going on in this volume as Otogawa gets deeper and deeper into the BL world. The more he fights against what is happening, the more he learns about himself, and his true feelings. All the boys seem to be after Otogawa – naturally. Are these feelings becoming too much for him to resist? In this volume, we learn about Onizuka’s backstory. Will that create a barrier between them or endear Onizuka to him more? Only time will tell. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find where there is a next volume, so all we can do is watch and wait. Don’t leave us hanging, bro! Even so, well worth reading.

Book Review: I Got Reincarnated in a (BL) World of Big (Man) Books, Vol 1 by Tsukiji Nao

 

I Got Reincarnated in a (BL) World of Big (Man) Boobs, Vol 1    

Author: Tsukiji Nao

Publisher: Kodansha Comics

American release date: March 26, 2024

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Yaoi Manga//256 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Nagare Otokawa is a gloomy otaku whose life is cut short, his dying wish being that he had been able to squeeze some big boobs. Otokawa unexpectedly finds himself reincarnated as a good-looking young man – but there’s a catch. He has been brought back in a BL (Boys Love) world, and the boobs he craves belong to men? Something is definitely wrong here. Even more so when he realizes he’s supposed to be the uke! He spots a young lady with large bosoms and he’s in heaven! He is about to make his move when an accident begins to occur right before his eyes, and it’s Otokawa to the rescue! Only he hasn’t fallen into the arms of the girl of his dreams – he’s nestled in the man boobs of a guy named Ryuji Onizuka! Otokawa knows he’s just tripped a flag in the BL world. But wait, it gets worse! When he gets to class, he has to take a seat – beside Onizuka! And, to his surprise, Otokawa learns that Onizuka is the uke! Who saw that coming?

Every time Otokawa finds himself in a position to make his otaku dreams come true, he ends up with another point for BL! Even Sakura, his dream girl, turns out to be a fujoshi! Seems like Otokawa’s new looks are like catnip to the lovely boys of the school… and he can’t deny how attractive they are. Damn the title god for making the situation increasingly difficult to avoid! Otokawa finds himself being held hostage on the roof by some delinquents, including their leader, Ginga Yubuki, and his right-hand man, Sacchio Takanashi.  And when Otokawa goes to Onizuka’s home, he meets his little brother, Yuto, who is very cute – and very aggressive. He wants Otokawa too!

This book is seriously funny, I love it to death! If you enjoy yaoi, you will love this, as Otokawa keeps getting tripped by all the flags the Title God is throwing. He will have to acknowledge at some point that he does like guys, and I can only hope he’ll choose Onizuka. I made the mistake of reading this at work and the scenes with the Hammochin just cracked me up! This volume actually contains the first two books of the series, although it’s just labeled as Volume 1. I’m looking forward to the next book to see what will happen.  I highly recommend this book!

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 26: Adventure on Kami's Island by Eiichiro Oda

 

One Piece, Vol 26: Adventure on Kami’s Island       

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: January 5, 2010

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/200 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Luffy and the others not only manage to evade the Blackbeard pirates, under Marshall Teech, but they find themselves in the Knock Up Stream! Huzzah! They’re sailing on a sea of clouds! Chopper thinks he spied a ship but it disappeared -  however there is a bull running right toward them! Then out of nowhere an old man in a suit of armor appears, calling himself the Sky Knight. He saves them from the bull, for which they are grateful. He refers to them as Blue Sea people, because they come from the Blue Sea, rather than the White Sea. He warns them of guerillas who will target them, but he can protect them – for a price. He offers one whistle for 5 million extols. Of course, they have no idea what he is talking about. When he learns that they actually came via the Knock Up Stream (apparently there are other ways to get to Skypiea), he is impressed and gives them one whistle, warning them to use it wisely.

The ship arrives at Heaven’s Gate and its wizened old inspector, Amazon. She demands an entrance fee of one billion extols per person. Nami asks what if they have no money (which they don’t) and Amazon says they can pass. Seems suspicious but on they go, only to find themselves on the famous Lobster Express of the White Sea, even as Amazon reports to her superior that seven people have illegally entered Godland Skypiea!

Our fearless group arrives on the shore of a beautiful island and immediately begin to explore their surroundings. There they meet an angel named Conis, and Sanji is instantly smitten! (Is anyone surprised?) Then her father arrives. He resembles a slug and he’s riding on a strange small vessel they call a waver. Chopper and Luffy attempt to ride the waver but fail. Then Nami takes over and she’s off! She quickly disappears, even as Luffy and the others are invited to eat with Conis and her father. But when Luffy learns of a place where no one is allowed to go, it’s inevitable that he will want to go there… especially if, as they suspect, Nami is headed there too! What challenges await them there?

So Skypiea, the island in the sky, exists! Is anyone really surprised? Although it’s best not to examine the mechanics of such a place too closely and simply accept it for what it is! I have to confess that with the ever growing cast of characters, sometimes it’s hard to remember who’s who. Even so, things are getting really interesting. Another great volume, looking forward to the next one!

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 25: The 100 Million Berry Man by Eiichiro Oda

 

One Piece, Vol 25: The 100 Million Berry Man    

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: January 5, 2010

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/216 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Luffy and crew are seeking the way to the sky island known as Skypiea. They travel to the east coast of Jaya Island to speak with a man with big dreams – Mont Blanc Cricket. On arrival, they are impressed by his huge home, until they discover it is just a façade for a much smaller building. Is this a warning about the kind of man he is? There they find a children’s book called Noland the Liar. Sanji remembers hearing the story as a child in the North Sea. They are confronted by Mont Blanc Cricket himself – the Last Boss of the Monkey Mountain Allied Force! Thinking they’re after his gold, he attacks! Turns out the monkeys they ran into previously are under Cricket’s command. They learn that Cricket is a descendant of Noland the Liar, and he is determined to clear his family name!

Cricket tells Luffy and the others what he knows about the island in the sky, beginning with a strange phenomenon known as the Imperial Cloud, when “day suddenly turns into night.” Then he explains about the Knock Up Stream, which is their only chance of getting up to the sky island, but sounds very risky! Usopp is all for giving up the attempt, but is Luffy swayed by the danger involved? Of course not! According to legend, they need to find the South Bird in order to find the Knock Up Stream, which is located to the South. Unfortunately, their compass won’t work there, which is why they need to rely on the South Bird! Good luck in finding it!

Of course, as with any enterprise Luffy is involved in, there are challenges to be overcome. The Knock Up Stream only appears so often, as Mont Blanc Cricket tells them they need to find the bird before sunrise! Which, of course, entails trying to locate it in the dark! In the meantime, the two monkeys have offered to repair the Merry Go before they will need her to find Skypiea. Luffy and the others break up into teams, to have a better chance of locating the mysterious bird, but time is not on their side!

Meanwhile, back in Mocktown, the pirates are beginning to figure out just how valuable Luffy is! And some familiar figures make an reappearance.

This volume of One Piece is certainly action packed. Luffy is fixated on the idea of going to the island in the sky – and what Luffy wants, he usually gets! I thought it was hilarious that when anyone mentioned Noland the Liar, people would look at Usopp! I have no doubt this island exists and that they will get there! Seeing some old friends was the icing on the cake! Another great volume, looking forward to more!

 

 

 

Parable of the Talents      

Author: Octavia E. Butler

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

American release date: August 20, 2019

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Dystopian Fiction/448 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★

 

Five years have passed since the establishment of the Earthseed community known as Acorn. Although off the beaten path, the residents are still unhappily aware of what is happening in the rest of the world, including the Dovetree massacre which took place too close to home for comfort. A disturbing new player on the political scene is the senator from Texas, Andrew Jarret, who is a throwback to an earlier time and does not like current times or religious tolerance Olamina knows this man will be a nightmare if he ever steps into the national political arena.

Despite everything, Acorn is thriving, and the community is becoming stronger, acquiring new vital equipment, such as a truck, as well as new members, their numbers swelling. Olamina’s husband, Bankole, who is 57 to her 18, is a physician, a skill much in demand. He wants to move to a larger, more established town where they will be safer, especially once Olamina learns she is with child. But she refuses to leave Acorn, and he won’t go without her.

Olamina is shocked to learn one of her brothers is alive and begins to search for him. She is able to find him, and he is not doing well. She buys him from the slaver who has him and takes him back to Acorn. Eventually she learns the story of what happened the day their lives fell apart. But he has changed—he doesn’t care for Earthseed… and he has his own Destiny.

Things go from bad to worse when Jarrett is elected President. What was once a bad dream becomes a true nightmare in every sense of the word. Jarrett’s Crusaders are fanatics who are determined to stamp out the unholy – aka those who don’t agree with Jarrett’s vision. Olamina knows of the collars, and how people are controlled through their use. But she learns firsthand how they work when Acorn is raided by those who stand for Christian America, and the people of Acorn are sent to a re-education camp. But it’s really a prison, and they are all cruelly collared, a distinct form of torture. The children are separated from the adults and sent to places unknown, including Olamina’s baby Larkin. Some people die. And life just got incredibly difficult.

Parable of the Talents is the sequel to Parable of the Sower, in which Olamina’s tale continues. In this book, for the first time we get to hear other voices, including those of Larkin, Bankole, and Marcos. It is an eerily timed vision of some of the things that are happening in America today. I’ll be honest and say I almost gave up reading halfway through the book. I felt triggered for reasons I won’t go into. I think it’s safe to say this is not an easy read. And honestly, the more I read, the more I came to dislike Olamina and Earthseed. There are no heroes here, I think everyone sucks.

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 24: People's Dreams by Eiichiro Oda

 

One Piece, Vol 24: People’s Dreams    

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: January 5, 2010

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/216 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Now that Sir Crocodile has been defeated, and Alubarna can begin to heal, and the Marines under Captain Smoker and Tashigi head on their way, the Straw Hat gang face a new challenge, in the form of a stowaway.  None other than Nico Robin! Most surprisingly, she wants to join the crew! There is some resistance to the idea from the members of Luffy’s crew – until mention is made of Nico having some of Crocodile’s gems and opinion is swayed to her side.

As they continue their journey, the crew sees something rather extraordinary – a ship that is falling out of the sky. Literally out of the sky. How is that even possible? To Nami’s dismay, the log pose is pointing upward and not moving! Nico tells her it’s been captured by a sky island!

Luffy runs across a map – of the sky island, Skypiea! They decide to search the ship that fell from the sky for records of the floating island. Of course, that ship sank to the bottom of the ocean. Luffy, Sanji, and Zolo become deep sea divers in order to explore the wreck. But they hadn’t figured on encountering Masira, the Salvage King, who has his eye on the wreck as well. And oh, he’s a monkey.

Luffy and the others are conflicted regarding their next destination. If they go anywhere else other than the island in the sky, the log post will reset and they will be unable to get to Skypiea. Luckily Nico Robin has a solution to that problem, so it’s on to Jaya Island! When they arrive on the island, they find themselves in a place that seems prone to violence, especially between two rival pirate gangs!

Nico Robin’s presence was a surprise, not sure how I feel about that, not sure if she will stay with them any length of time or not. Naturally, Sanji is on board with her joining the crew.  lol The idea of a sky island is intriguing, if true, but how does that even work? Guess we’ll find out. The monkey was also a surprise. I’m sure we’ll see him again.

Another great volume of One Piece, looking forward to the next!

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 23: VIvi's Adventure by Eiichiro Oda

 

One Piece, Vol 23: Vivi’s Adventure      

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: December 1, 2009

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/232 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Just when they think they have disabled the bomb that threatens the people of Alubarna, things get worse. Turns out it has a built-in fallback position in the form of a timer! Now Luffy et al have to scramble to try to overcome this new obstacle. It doesn’t help that the Marines are there and so is Baroque Works. And Crocodile, of course. And the rebels. That’s a lot between them and victory!

Once the danger from the bomb has been handled, there are new questions – such as how can the Straw Hat pirates get past the Marines and sail away? And will Princess Vivi sail with them, as she has been invited by Luffy to join the crew.

This volume sees the end of the Alabasta arc, time to move on. It’s a very satisfying ending, and we can see clues as to what is coming. I am sure we have not seen the last of the Marines – esp Captain Smoker and Tashigi. A blast from the past appears having assumed a new role – you’ll never guess who! And the scene in the bath is hilarious! I’m ready to move on with Luffy and the others. Great volume!

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 22: Hope!! by Eiichiro Oda

 

One Piece, Vol 22: Hope!!      

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: October 6, 2009

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/216 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

As Princess Vivi faces down Crocodile, who has taken possession of the Palace, the Kicking Claw Force arrives! Dedicated to the kingdom, they will do whatever it takes to defeat him!  Meanwhile, Zolo’s battle is done and he has emerged victorious! Sanji is pushing forward himself, along with Chopper and a heavily bandaged Usopp riding on a camel.

Another country has now been heard from in the form of Koza, the rebel leader. Vivi doesn’t want news of the impending explosion to get out, knowing it will only serve to cause chaos. Listening to Vivi’s impassioned plea, Koza tells the rebels not to fight and shed more blood. But his efforts are met with unexpected results.

Just when all seems lost, who should arrive on the scene, to Crocodile’s amazement, but none other than Luffy himself! You just can’t keep a good man down! Crocodile maintains that Luffy will never beat him, he is far out of the boy’s league, he is one of the seven warlords of the sea. Luffy replies, “If you’re one of the seven warlords of the sea, then I am the eighth warlord of the sea!” Brave words but can he back them up?

As Luffy and Crocodile battle, Ms. All Sunday, aka Nico Robin tells Cobra he’s going to miss the rest of the fight, and to take her to the ponegliff…. Now!

The tension rises!  A bomb is set to go off and destroy the square and kill a lot of people – but no one knows where it is! One way or another, it seems as though people will die – can Luffy and his crew prevent this from happening!  Onward to the next volume!

Book Review: Assassination Classroom, Vol 21 by Yusei Matsui

 

Assassination Classroom, Vol 21        

Author: Yusei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: April 3, 2018

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Action Adventure Manga//216 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Although he is gone, Koro Sensei’s legacy lives on in his students. He left each student a personalized book containing advice and tips for their future – a huge volume for each of them to peruse! But it’s all they have left of him now. Yanigisawa lived, surprisingly, but he is barely alive, a fitting ending to this horrible monster. The Class E building is torn down, no more students will ever be isolated and shunned there. As a direct result, Principal Asano is let go.

There isn’t a great deal to say about the final volume of Assassination Classroom. We find out what happens to everyone, especially Nagisa, who followed in Koro Sensei’s footsteps and became a teacher. His students have all gained a great deal from their late teacher, and it shows. I still tear up over the last two volumes.

There are also bonus stories that reveal even more of Koro Sensei, as we get our last glimpse of him. He even reveals the secret of his Mach 20! A fitting ending to a remarkable series. Although not what I was hoping for it was what had to be.

RIP, Koro Sensei.

Book Review: Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

 

Parable of the Sower       

Author: Octavia E. Butler

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Reprint edition

American release date: April 30, 2019

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Dystopian Fiction/368 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Lauren Olamina is fifteen years old, the daughter of a Baptist preacher. She lives a sheltered life with her family inside a gated community in the Los Angeles area. But sheltered is a relative term as the world has become something virtually unrecognizable from what it once was. Drastic global climate change and a series of economic crises have proven to be too much for mankind to handle and society has disintegrated into lawless chaos. Mere survival is a struggle and the luxuries of yesterday but a dream. What is left of any government is of no help. If you want police protection, you have to pay for it, and there is no guarantee you’ll receive it. Building on fire? The fire department will charge you for the water to put it out.

Lauren lives with her father and stepmother and three brothers. Her birth mother was addicted during her pregnancy to a drug that caused Lauren to become hyperempathetic – she can feel other’s pain, and that is not a good thing. Even living in a gated community isn’t a perfect solution. There are problems within and problems without. Junkies and others break in to rob and harm people. A new drug, called Pyro, causes those who take it to enjoy setting fires, so that is what they do.

People dream of leaving the state and heading north – to Oregon, Washington, or even Canada. But there is no guarantee that safety lies up North, or that other states will allow people inside their territory.

Lauren has listened to what her father preaches all of her life, but at fifteen, she no longer believes in his religion. She has her own ideas about how things work, and she begins to write them down. She calls it Earthseed, and at the core is her belief that God is change. She keeps her writings secret, and she also prepares a pack of necessities, in case she has to leave in a hurry.  Her forethought proves to be propitious when an unexpected calamity drives her away from her home, heading who knows where. Now it’s a question of how she can survive, and who can she trust?

This is my first time reading Octavia Butler, but it won’t be my last. She is an excellent writer who draws you into her world so that you quickly become immersed.  The dystopian world she describes is eerily similar to the world we now live in, although written in 1993. But the book itself begins in 2024, which is unnerving at times, and continues up through 2027. I have to warn you that it is a bleak story in many ways, where the rich have everything and the poor are fighting for scraps, with little protection or guidance. It’s almost as if she could read the future.

I like the basic concept of Earthseed, but I would make one change in her philosophy. I would not refer to any God, for that term is really outdated and archaic, but I think Life works instead. Life is change. And that we know to be true. If this is our future, it is bleak indeed. Change needs to happen, and quickly. There is a second book in the series, which I intend to read. I’m hoping for a happy, or at least a happier ending. This book is well worth reading. And hopefully someone will come away from it with ideas on how to keep it from happening.

Book Review: Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe

 

Gender Queer: A Memoir       

Author: Maia Kobabe

Publisher: Oni Press

American release date: July 5, 2022

Format/Genre/Length: Hardback/LGBTQ Memoir/256 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

This graphic novel is the memoir of Maia Kobabe. Ey wanted eir family and friends to understand eir being non-binary in a way they could comprehend and hopefully accept. Eir struggle to find an identity for emselves began early, at a time when there were few role models to look up to. Although everyone automatically identified em as female, ey did not feel that way, but it’s very hard to get other people to understand what you yourself don’t completely understand.

 Maia has a very engaging voice, and a great storytelling style. I liked er artwork as well and appreciated eir honesty as ey bared eir soul in the pages of this book. The people in the United States are going through a difficult time right now, with trans rights being not just pushed aside but discarded. No one seems to matter to the current administration, other than the wealthy. It’s important for everyone to gain a better understanding of transpeople, rather than fearing them and trampling on their rights. This is also an important book for young people who might be struggling with their own identity to know they are not alone.

Book Review: Assassination Classroom, Vol 20: Time to Graduate by Yusei Matsui

 

Assassination Classroom, Vol 20       

Author: Yusei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: February 6, 2018

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Action Adventure Manga//192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Despite all the best efforts of the students, the inevitable end for Koro Sensei has arrived. A giant laser has been put into place, aimed at the teacher in a trap he cannot escape, set to deploy just before dawn. The students urge their teacher to take them hostage and flee, but that isn’t really an option. So what else is there to do but celebrate Koro Sensei’s birthday!

Then, just when they thought the situation couldn’t get any worse, it does – in the form of Yanagisawa and his other creation, the Grim Reaper who took Koro Sensei’s place and who is destined to be the next Koro Sensei! The mad scientist claims that his second monster is twice as powerful as his first. He ridicules the students for bothering to show up to what he sees as a hopeless situation and doesn’t hesitate to threaten them in order to see if Koro Sensei will protect them or himself.

And now the final battle begins….

While there is another volume of the series, to all intents and purposes, this is the last one, at least as far as Koro Sensei’s story is concerned. Not like we didn’t know it was coming, we did, from the very beginning. Doesn’t make it any easier to take or accept.  I’ll admit that I cried, even though I’ve read the books before.  RIP Koro Sensei.

Book Review: Spy x Family, Vol 12 by Tatsuya Endo

 

Spy x Family, Vol 12       

Author: Aya Yajima

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: August 6, 2024

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Comedy manga/208 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Anya is on top of the world! Having finally achieved the receipt of a Stella Star, she refers to herself as Starlight Anya! As Loid drives her to school, Anya thinks about Sy-on Boy and his family, but he mistakes her comments as criticism of his parenting and worries that the mission will be jeopardized because of him. Anya determines to be even nicer to Sy-on Boy, but once she gets to school and receives the accolades of her peers, her intentions go horribly awry.

Thomas Austin, the tutor-in-residence, has had nightmares ever since the school bus hijacking, so the headmaster suggests a good psychiatrist – none other than Loid Forger! Will Loid be able to help him, or will he discover that the root cause of the man’s troubles isn’t what he thinks it is?

Sylvia Sherwood is Loid’s handler, but she isn’t exactly the most tidy of persons or the most organized. Dried pasta on her clothes and files left at home are only the tip of the iceberg.  She’s been living alone for so long that she has really stopped caring. When she goes to meet Twilight for a scheduled briefing, she is dismayed to find Anya there, as well as their dog Bond. Loid apologizes but it couldn’t be helped. Will Anya’s presence be a hindrance to the business at hand?

Yor finds herself drawing closer to her co-workers and actually having conversations with them. But she starts to worry that she isn’t presenting her marriage as a typical marriage, according to what they say to her. So she decides to fabricate details in order to fit in. But will that plan backfire on her? Could it affect her relationship with Loid?

The next day, Yor wonders if she was… inappropriate… with Loid, but she can’t remember. Anya is off to the zoo with Becky but before Yor can say anything to Loid, her brother Yuri pops in and immediately thinks Loid is doing something hurtful to his sister. Loid becomes paranoid, wondering if Yuri knows about his secret identity, while Yor is determined to convince her brother that she and Loid are a normal married couple, complete with arguments!

It was inevitable that a situation might arise in which Loid would find himself pitted against his brother-in-law Yuri, who is a member of the SSS. Will Yuri learn that Loid is the mysterious Twilight he has been so desperately seeking? What if Loid finds himself in a position where he has to kill Yuri? That might make things awkward in the Forger household!

Another great volume of Spy x Family. I love how the author incorporates more than just the main characters, fleshing them all out as well as he does the Forgers. While I want to see Operation Strix succeed, I am hopeful the story will continue afterward. I think the Forgers will become an actual family. I believe Loid and Yor already have feelings for one another. Think of the possibilities of the family as a team! This volume has come cute bonus stories as well.

 

 

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 21: Utopia by Eiichiro Oda

 

One Piece, Vol 21: Utopia     

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: June 2, 2009

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/192 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Sanji has to contend with Mr 2 Bon Clay and his Oh Come My Way nonsense. The swan attempts to cripple Sanji with laughter, but when that doesn’t work, he uses his ability of mimicry to imitate Nami’s face. Can Sanji cause pain to someone who looks just like his beloved Nami?

Princess Vivi has arrived in Alubarna and has made her way to the palace, where she calls for Chaka and tells him her plan – she wants to destroy the palace! He can’t believe she means that, but she is entirely serious. Can she convince him to go along with her idea?

A disturbing surprise awaits Princess Vivi and Chaka as they approach the Palace – the Crocodile is already there! How can they get him out?

Nami and Zolo split up – Nami to deal with Ms. Doublefinger and Zolo to face Mr. 1.  Nami knows she isn’t much of a fighter, so she approached Usopp before they reached Alabasta to ask him to make her a weapon. He gave her one, but she isn’t sure he understood what she wanted and now she doubts whether this so-called weapon will work against Ms. Doublefinger. But she is out of options!

Mr. Crocodile presents an ultimatum to Vivi and thus reveals his true objective! Meanwhile, Zolo has a bit of a problem with Mr. 1 – seems as though the guy is made of steel! How is he supposed to cut through that?  Will this be an exercise in futility, or will words of wisdom from the past serve him in good stead?

We’re getting closer and closer to the end of this arc, but there are still burning issues, even as the fights continue. Where is Luffy? When will Vivi come face to face with Koza? Will this be the end of the evil Baroque Works once and for all? I know that new adventures lie ahead, and I am more than ready for them. Looking forward to the next volume.

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 20: Showdown at Alubarna by Eiichiro Oda

 

One Piece, Vol 20: Showdown at Alubarna   

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: February 3, 2009

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/216 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Luffy and the Crocodile are having a showdown in the desert, as everyone scrambles toward Alubarna. The Crocodile is a tough customer, but Luffy refuses to give up, no matter what. Is it possible he’s met his match? Captain Smoker announces he has other business to attend to and tells Tashigi to decide for herself what she wants to do. What is he up to?

Vivi and the rest of Luffy’s crew utilize a huge crab named Pincers to navigate the desert, but a problem arises when they reach the Sandora River. Oddly enough, this crab doesn’t like water! What are they to do? Looks like a job for Karoo and the Supersonic Duck Squad!  The Rebels are also on the move, but Baroque Works is determined that Vivi and Koza not cross paths. Wonder why?

As Usopp and Sanji race to Vivi’s aid, she encounters someone who looks like Usopp. But luckily she knows the difference.   The real Usopp and Vivi, along with Chopper, come face to face with Mr. 4 and Merry Christmas, and Usopp becomes engaged in a game of Whack a Mole! When things take a turn for the worse, though, he decides to flee…

There is a lot going on in this volume, not gonna lie. I found it confusing at times to remember who is where and doing what. Nonetheless I think we’re approaching the end of this arc, hopefully on to bigger and better things. I imagine we’ll lose Vivi after this, as she will be needed to take care of her kingdom. Perhaps things will work out with her and Koza and they will do this together. I admit I didn’t care for her at first, as a member of Baroque Works, but her real identity and personality have come out and she is much nicer than I thought. Another great volume, on to the next!

 

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 19: Rebellion by Eiichiro Oda

 

One Piece, Vol 19: Rebellion     

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: October 7, 2008

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/216 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Luffy and his crew are making their way to Alabasta, slowly but surely. Since Luffy ate all the bait they need for fishing, they are using Karoo, to Vivi’s shock! When they pass through a steam cloud caused by an underwater volcano, they are surprised to find they have gained an unexpected passenger.  He’s a bit of an oddball and claims to have also eaten the devil fruit. Only when a ship draws near and takes him off do they find out he is Mr. 2 Bon Clay of Baroque Works!

They reach Alabasta at last, only to find, to their alarm, a whole lot of Baroque Works ships behind them! They anchor the ship and Luffy takes off immediately, having smelled a restaurant.  Vivi is dismayed to spot Mr 3’s ship in the harbor. Apparently he isn’t dead after all. Not only that, but Captain Smoker is there as well. Luffy finds food, but then Smoker finds him. Off Luffy goes, Smoker in hot pursuit! Another unexpected arrival turns out to be Ace, Luffy’s older brother! Brother, what?

Meanwhile, Mr. 11 has been captured by a group who calls themselves the “billions”. They see an opportunity to make a name for themselves – at 11’s expense.  As Luffy and the others reunite, Vivi sends Karoo with an important message for her father. Of course, everyone wants to know about Luffy’s brother, who apparently has also eaten the devil fruit. What are the odds? For something that is supposed to be a rarity, they seem to find a lot of people who have partaken of it. Ace invites Luffy and his friends to join Whitebeard’s pirates, but of course he declines.

They set course for Yuba. Vivi intends to reason with the leader of the rebels, intent on avoiding future bloodshed. She is determined to rid her country of Baroque Works as well.  In the meantime, those same people are meeting at their headquarters, at the Spiders Café.

Luffy and the others arrive at Erumalu the Green City – but it isn’t very green!  Vivi explains that it was once upon a time, but that rain hasn’t fallen there in three years!  She also tells them about the King’s Miracle, which provided water to Alubarna – but at a high price. It’s gonna be a long, hot, and dry trip to Yuba across the desert sands!

We’ve finally reached the crux of the Alabasta arc and things are falling into place. We have Luffy and the others who are fighting for Princess Vivi, who is fighting both Baroque Works and the rebel forces. We’re seeing the assembled Baroque Works now, in all their “glory”. They have some real characters among them, that they do. There is backstory for Vivi, which yields very interesting information, especially in light of an unexpected reveal. And let’s not forget Captain Smoker, who is hot on Luffy’s heels! Things are really happening, looking forward to the next volume!

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 18: Ace Arrives by Eiichiro Oda

 

One Piece, Vol 18: Ace Arrives               

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: June 3, 2008

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/232 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Luffy and his crew are making their way to Alabasta, slowly but surely. Since Luffy ate all the bait they need for fishing, they are using Karoo, to Vivi’s shock! When they pass through a steam cloud caused by an underwater volcano, they are surprised to find they have gained an unexpected passenger.  He’s a bit of an oddball and claims to have also eaten the devil fruit. Only when a ship draws near and takes him off do they find out he is Mr. 2 Bon Clay of Baroque Works!

They reach Alabasta at last, only to find, to their alarm, a whole lot of Baroque Works ships behind them! They anchor the ship and Luffy takes off immediately, having smelled a restaurant.  Vivi is dismayed to spot Mr 3’s ship in the harbor. Apparently he isn’t dead after all. Not only that, but Captain Smoker is there as well. Luffy finds food, but then Smoker finds him. Off Luffy goes, Smoker in hot pursuit! Another unexpected arrival turns out to be Ace, Luffy’s older brother! Brother, what?

Meanwhile, Mr. 11 has been captured by a group who calls themselves the “billions”. They see an opportunity to make a name for themselves – at 11’s expense.  As Luffy and the others reunite, Vivi sends Karoo with an important message for her father. Of course, everyone wants to know about Luffy’s brother, who apparently has also eaten the devil fruit. What are the odds? Ace invites Luffy and his friends to join Whitebeard’s pirates, but of course he declines.

They set course for Yuba. Vivi intends to reason with the leader of the revels, intent on avoiding future bloodshed. She is determined to rid her country of Baroque Works as well.  In the meantime, those same people are meeting at their headquarters, at the Spiders Café.

Luffy and the others arrive at Erumalu the Green City – but it isn’t very green!  Vivi explains that it was once upon a time but that rain hasn’t fallen in three years!  She also tells them about the King’s Miracle, which provided water to Alubarna – but at a high price. It’s gonna be a long, hot, and dry trip to Yuba across the desert sands!

We’ve finally reached the crux of the Alabasta arc, and things are falling into place. We have Luffy and the others who are fighting for Princess Vivi, who is fighting both Baroque Works and the rebel forces. We’re seeing the assembled Baroque Works now, in all their “glory”. They have some real characters among them, that they do. There is backstory for Vivi, which yields very interesting information, especially in light of an unexpected reveal. And let’s not forget Captain Smoker, who is hot on Luffy’s heels! Things are really happening, looking forward to the next volume!

Book Review: Titus Groan (Gormenghast Trilogy, Book 1) by Mervyn Peake

 

Titus Groan (Gormenghast Trilogy, Book 1)     

Author: Mervyn Peake

Publisher: Weybright and Talley (rev January 1, 1967)

American release date: October 26, 1982

Format/Genre/Length: Hardback/Literary Fiction/543 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Gormenghast Castle is an ancient edifice whose history goes back many years. There has always been an Earl of Gormenghast, and the current holder of that title is the seventy-sixth in his line. He has many people who live in the castle and both depend on it and him to keep it running, but the Earl’s greatest love is for his vast library, which is cared for by a man named Sourdust. However, joy has arrived in Gormenghast with the birth of an heir, who is given the name of Titus.

Not everyone is excited about the birth, however. Lady Fuchsia is fifteen and feels too old to not be an only child.  Petulant and moody, she rejects the birth of her brother. She is an odd teenager, and has her secret places within her room, which leads to the attic, where she can be alone. The person she is closest to is the woman who has actually raised her. Not her mother, the Countess, whose attention is all for her birds and her cats, but Nannie Slagg, who has now become the nanny of the new young lord. Fuchsia is mightily displeased, but no one seems to notice, not even Doctor Prunesquallor, whom she is also rather close to. The good doctor lives with his sister, Irma, who exists in a strange world of her own.

The present Earl has a long, lean servant named Flay who has been with him for many years and sleeps on the floor outside of his lordship’s bedroom door. He is a man of few words and creaking bones. In the kitchen, a corpulent tyrant named Swelter holds sway, abusing the young kitchen workers in his charge, keeping them in a state of fright. One day, one of these abused creatures, a 17-year-old named Steerpike, simply runs away. Caught by Flay, he manages to escape by climbing out of the window and ends up on top of the castle, a perilous position to be in. But he manages to find his way to a safe place – one that just happens to belong to Fuchsia.

The earl also has a pair of twin sisters, Clarice and Cora. Identical in every way and quite self-absorbed. They think and move alike and are generally both in harmony and in discord.  They feel neglected by their brother and they despise their sister-in-law. They also feel that Fuchsia should visit them far more often as they are deserving of her attention – of everyone’s attention. In fact, they are angry that Gertrude, the Countess, has the power which should be theirs. The only people they have any communication with are Dr. Prunesquallor and his sister. But that changes when they meet Steerpike, whom Fuchsia has introduced to the doctor and who has become his assistant.

Gormenghast will never be the same now that Steerpike has arrived…

Titus Groan is the first book in the Gormenghast trilogy. It’s hard to actually define it. Is it gothic, is it horror, is it fantasy…. What is it? It defies genre identification, in my own opinion, being in a class of its own. What I will call it is fascinating. Peak creates this incredible world and its inhabitants so vividly that you can feel them. His prose is very descriptive. His characters are both believable and fantastic. The action moves, not quickly and yet inexorably, from beginning to end. There is a BBC series of the books, starring Jonathan Rhys Meyer as Steerpike, Christopher Lee as Flay and two Harry Potter alumni – Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon) as Swelter and Fiona Shaw (Aunt Petunia) as Irma Prunesquallor. At four hours, it can’t possibly capture the depth of this series, but it does cover the basics, and I found it worth watching. However, I would read the books, whether before or after or simultaneously. This is an amazing series and I am looking forward to the next book.

Book Review: One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji

 

One Piece: Shokugeki no Sanji       

Author: Yuto Tsukuda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: March 12, 2024

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action Adventure/232 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

When a famous gourmand, known as “the tongue that spans the seas”, arrives at the Baratie, she is instantly disdainful of all that she sees and questions how good the food can possibly be. She makes ridiculous assumptions concerning the head chef as well as Sanji and the others. Sanji offers to make a dish for her, but under one condition – if she is pleased by what he cooks, she must clean her plate. Game on!

The crew of the Go Merry run across a castaway adrift on the ocean and bring him aboard, although he is less than thrilled and feels they should have left him. Finding a wedding invitation, Sanji surmises that the man is a chef from a nearby island whose only daughter is getting married and he has gone in search of some special seafood he could make for the occasion, but after catching the Draconic Super-fillet salmon, he got caught in a squall. However the weather is the least of his concerns – once he has the beautiful fish, he is unable to properly filet it! Sanji offers to help, but will this task prove to be beyond even his amazing culinary skills?

In the kingdom of Alabasta, a feast is being held to honor the heroes who saved the kingdom! But with Luffy’s enormous appetite and the chef’s staff being temporarily short-handed, a problem is about to arise. Sanji wants to help, but he doesn’t want to intrude. So he introduces himself and says he wants to see how such a large kitchen works, and he is willing to do anything, such as peel potatoes. They quickly take advantage of his generosity!

Sanji finds himself a hostage of the inhabitants of Kamabakka Queendom – an island comprised of drag queens! They challenge him to earn the rights to the 99 recipes of attack cuisine. But this will be no easy task. Challenge accepted!

Sanji – who now goes by Sangoro – is looking for a powerful samurai to join his crew, so decides to use his culinary skills to attract candidates. But as he and Usopp brainstorm, he discovers a soba noodle vendor who seems to have the market cornered. Sanji is never one to resist a challenge, so he challenges them, but soon learns they do have a monopoly on the best buckwheat flour. Can Sanji work around such a problem?

This volume takes the character of Sanji from Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece and features him in his own set of stories taken from various points in the original manga. It’s not hard to see that these stories were done by the creators of Food Wars, as the style is unmistakable.  I love Sanji, so buying this was inevitable. They did a wonderful job with five interesting stories featuring Sanji, as well as a bonus story. If you love One Piece, particularly Sanji, as well as Food Wars, this book is for you.

Book Review: Lord of Misrule: The Autobiography of Christopher Lee by Christopher Lee

 

Lord of Misrule: The Autobiography of Christopher Lee

Author: Christopher Lee

Publisher: Orion Publishing

American release date: October 1, 2003

Format/Genre/Length: Hardback/Autobiography/392 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Christopher Lee is probably best known for his role as Count Dracula in old Hammer films, alongside his good friend Peter Cushing. In more recent years, you might remember him as Saruman, the wizard who goes wrong in The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings films, and Count Dooku in Star Wars. But did you know he is related to Italian nobility? And he was the model his step-cousin Ian Fleming based James Bond on?

There is so much more to this man than meets the eye. I have been a longtime fan since I first discovered Hammer films. I loved him as Saruman, and as Scaramonga in The Man With the Golden Gun, Count Rochefort in the Three Musketeers.  I recently watched him in the original Wicker Man (much better than the Nic Cage version) But did you know he sang opera? And he was crazy about playing golf?

His autobiography is a must-read for anyone who is a fan. He is a wonderful storyteller, and he has a delightful sense of humor. I’m amazed at the things he remembered throughout his life – I cannot remember most of my childhood, much less in such detail.  He met a lot of people and did a lot of extraordinary things. He had a very interesting life and I highly recommend reading his autobiography.