I hope everyone is healthy and being safe during this "new normal" we're in.
To say I've had time on my hands is an understatement. Also WHAT THE HELL, 2020?! It's only April and I want this year over already. By the way, is it November yet? But I'm going to focus on more positivity and less negativity. I've been watching less news, and reading more because sometimes it's great to escape from reality. I've been working from home, which my cats have really enjoyed. I mean, I'm glad that they love me, but Library Lady needs to sleep and relax too *wah!* But I digress. Any hoo, with everything going on, I've had to find ways to keep myself occupied and sane. Naturally I'm an introvert so this has not been a challenge for me, and I found myself reading, watching TV (yes I saw Tiger King *oh lawd they a MESS!*), and finding inspiration. So here are some top 3 recommendations that I hope will help you pass the time. Top 3 fiction reads:
Top 3 manga reads:
Top 3 shows/series:
So here are my recommendations. If you would like more recommendations, please feel free to let me know. Until then, stay safe and healthy. Get some fresh air (if you need to) and maintain social distancing. We will get though this.
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Remember the saying, "if it seems too good to be true, it probably is?" And Kyubey, the most cutest incarnation of the Devil ever created? Well, both have returned in Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story. We have Madoka Magica spin-off! WOO-HOO!!!! Based off of the role-playing mobile game, which I'm absolutely addicted to, the story follows a new magical girl, Iroha Tamaki. She's had the (mis)fortune of making a wish with Kyubey and becoming a magical girl. However, she doesn't remember why she made the wish. She knows there's something missing, and she is experiencing dreams about an unfamiliar girl. On top of that, there seems to be a high volume of Uwasa attacks in nearby Kamihama City. These Uwasa are much more powerful than those Iroha has fought before, and her only clue to these happenings is a tiny Kyubey that appears to her during a battle with an Uwasa. After meeting the calm yet stone-cold Yachiyo, the girls discover there is something much sinister happening in Kamihama. Damn. Being a huge Madoka Magica fan, I was excited to learn about this new series. I was able to watch the first two episodes at Anime NYC last November, and it did not disappoint. There is so much going on in this world that it had me wanting more. I started playing the mobile game immediately after and found the story to be even more intense and shocking. The viewer will be introduced to a number of new magical girls, each with a backstory that makes you understand why they made their wishes. One character that stood out for me was Sana Futaba, a neglected girl who makes a wish to be invisble to her family. Her family mistreats her because she is not as successful in school as her older brothers, and refuse to acknowledge her even though she tries and works so hard. They even go as far as to tell Sana to never talk to them and to e-mail if she wants something from them. Even though they're all living in the same house! That's beyond cruel. You feel her isolation and loneliness as she just wants to be accepted. When she encounters Iroha and other magical girls, you feel so relieved for Sana as she finally finds friends who truly care for her. There are so many characters to keep track of and a twist that you will definitely not see coming. It's not an epsiode three twist, but it will knock your socks off. All I can say without spoiling is "absolute power corrupts absolutely." Now, just so you are all aware, season one has just ended in March and the series has been renewed for a second season (YAY!). The first volume of the manga was released on December 31, 2019. The game itself has been out in North America since 2019. Should we expect some differences between the media? Yes. Would it mess up the experience for the viewer? I don't think so. If you look at each version within its own platform, I think you would still enjoy Magia Record. That being said, I give Magia Record, as a whole, a 4 out of 5. Its artwork, storytelling, and originality has enough to keep you hooked. There's a reason why Madoka Magica is considered a memorable series, and this spin-off is just another wonderful addition to this suspenseful masterpiece. Hi everyone! I hope you all are doing well during this hectic time. With the COVID-19 pandemic changing our everyday routine, and many of us practicing shelter-in-place, it has definitely put a lot on our minds. Since I'm currently working from home, I found myself reading a lot of great stories to clear my head and to keep myself positive. One of the books that kept me grounded was the much anticipated book, A Phoenix First Must Burn: Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope. Normally, I avoid fantasy because it gets over-elaborated and I can never relate to the characters. It's very rare to see people of color in fantasy, unless they're the comic relief, servant, or villain. However with recent times, we're starting to see more representation in a positive light and it's being showcased in the marvelous anthology. Even reading the first line of each story had me like, "oh yeah I'm ready for this!" Contributing to Phoenix are amazing authors like Elizabeth Acevedo (The Poet X), Justina Ireland (Dread Nation), and even songstress Amerie, just to name a few. Even as I type this, her song "1 Thing" is playing in my apartment. Love that song!!!! Editor Patrice Caldwell's story, Letting the Right One In, had me smiling from ear to ear. I love a good vampire story and it was just perfect. Were there some misses? Not really, but there was some that just resonated with me more than others. I really can't say any thing negative about this book. It's powerful, detailed (but not to ad nauseam like the others), and just beautifully done. Black girls, especially LGBT Black girls, are being represented as strong and resilient, and to be done so in a variety of genres and worlds is a breath of fresh air. I give A Phoenix First Must Burn a 4.5 out of 5. It's just wonderfully done and much needed during this time of uncertainty. |
Who am I?The Library Lady is a Young Adult Librarian and reviewer. She's also a music, anime, and film nerd. Archives
January 2024
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