How I did with Nonfiction November and manga
How did I do with Nonfiction November and 30 in 30 Manga Reading challenge?
In my opinion? Great! I read 4 nonfiction books, 1 for each of the prompts, and 6 volumes of Food Wars! … That’s it, 6 volumes. I know that’s no where near 30 but I do remember it being said that the point is just to read more manga than you usually do, and I succeeded in that. Sure, more woulda been nice but I didn’t fail either. And hopefully this time I won’t stop reading Food Wars and will actually finish it! I initially read the first 12 volumes, loved them, and then … well i’m bad at series ok? So I need to read 6 more and i’ll be where I was at before. There are 36 volumes. Wish me luck.
The Nonfiction Books I Read
I read Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff for the prompt Record. I gave it 3 stars. I listened to it on audio book and it was very interesting. I’m just bad at processing audio books and I know it didn’t really get into my brain, but that’s a me problem. I did like it.
I read The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs: A New History of a Lost World by Stephen Brusatte for the prompt Element. I loved this! It was so fascinating (and I have it physically) and understandable and there are pictures and DINOSAURS. I have a newfound love for dinosaurs now. I gave it 5 stars. My review on Goodreads states:
“Dinosaurs are fascinating! I learned so much. Very well written and accessible.
My favorite dinosaur, is penguin. Confused? Read the book. If you are remotely interested in Dinosaurs, read it.”
I read Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake for the prompt Border. I gave this 4 stars. This was also very fascinating, and unexpectedly thought-provoking! I read it on kindle.
I read Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell for the prompt Secret. I gave this 4 stars. This both is and is not what you’d expect. Once you read it you’ll see it everywhere. But is that really terrifying? Yes and No. It depends. Read it if you want to understand what I mean. I listened to it and did really enjoy the narration and it kept my attention.
30 in 30 Manga Reading Challenge – November POP
30 manga volumes in 30 days, can I do it? PLUS Nonfiction November?! Who the hell knows but imma have fun trying.
Here is RealmofComics announcement video
Yes I did a Nonfiction November POP (pile of possibilities) and now i’m doing this, also for November. I will see what I get through, if I don’t complete anything that’s fine as long as I have fun trying. At least that’s what i’m telling myself. Here are some manga options I have.
Food Wars! Quite awhile ago I read the first 12 volumes (out of 36) of Food Wars and … stopped for some reason, despite loving it! So I want to reread them and finish the series, I have all 36 volumes ffs! I’m sure I won’t finish it in November, unless I decide to not break it up and go on a super Food Wars binge. But if after whatever I get to in November I read a few volumes a month i’d get it done, so that’s the plan.
Dance in the Vampire Bund Similar to Food Wars I read the first 8 volumes and I should have everything that’s been released (in English in the USA) so far (there are more series to it than just the main one) but it’s been awhile so I want to reread the first 8 and then continue and catch up.
Citrus Plus Vol. 4 is due out Nov 22nd and I have it preordered! So assuming I get it before December i’ll be reading this! I miss Yuzu and Mei! (cover links to Goodreads)
Other potential manga (covers link to Goodreads)
Obviously some of these are the start of a series that if I like i may decide to continue, meaning I might be buying manga in November lol. I have Girl Friends Collection 1 but there is a collection 2 as well. Giant Spider & Me I only have volume 1 of. That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime … I originally bought what I thought was the first 3 volumes BUT at the time I was a noob and had NO IDEA about “light novels” so what I got was volume 1 and 3 of the manga and volume 2 of the light novel! Ugh. But i’ve borrowed volume 2, the manga, from comixology.
I have 3 volumes of Love me for who I am, which is not all of them. I’ve read the first one but it’s been awhile so … I have all 5 volumes of Fluffy, Fluffy Cinnamoroll. I only have volume 1 of Franken Fran and Boys Run the Riot.
I have 16 volumes (which is all that’s out at the moment, volume 17 has been pushed back so many times at this point i’ve lost track) of Monster Musume and have been reading it (slowly, since my initial goal was to catch up about the same time volume 17 was released but at this point i’m not sure it ever will be so fuck it). I’ve read 9 volumes of Monster Musume so far so I could read volumes 10 – 16. I’ll probably pick up at least a volume or 2. Of course all this is assuming I don’t pick up any of these before November lol.
I only have volume 1 of Spy X Family. And yes I have all 3 volumes of After Hours as it shows. Have I read any of them? No. And no, I haven’t watched any of the anime’s, except Citrus.
July 2022 Wrap Up
What I Read
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt – I absolutely loved this! This book means so much to me now! I felt so much of what Tova was going through for my own reasons. And felt for Cameron. And Marcellus the Octopus is amazing, all three of these characters are amazing. I loved so many lines. It made me cry. I found so much depth in these pages personally. And I had to hug the book! I wanna give it more than 5 stars!!
More than a month after finishing it I still wish I could give it more than 5 stars.
Monster Musume, Vol. 7 by Okayado – Funny manga and I enjoy the characters. Not much to say. 5 stars
Monster Musume, Vol. 8 by Okayado – 4 stars
Saga, Volume 5 and 6 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples – 5 stars each. Rereads since volume 10 is finally coming out in October (last I checked)!
Why I’m Afraid of Bees by R.L. Stine – 4 creepy fun stars.
Gender Queer: A Memoir Deluxe Edition by Maia Kobabe – ALL THE STARS! ALL OF THEM! I had read the original years ago so it was a reread but in this new edition! Words fail to express the love I have for this book but I did my best in my original review Here and my “review” of the new deluxe edition Here.
Monster Musume, Vol. 9 by Okayado – 4 stars
The Gender Friend: A 102 Guide to Gender Identity by Oakley Phoenix by Oakley Phoenix – I absolutely loved this book! Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for letting me have an advanced copy. This book is so accessible in the language and is also kind. Kind not just to transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary folks (TGNCNB for short) but also to loved ones wanting to support their TGNCNB loved ones. I can’t stress enough I can see someone really trying but it’s not always easy. If someone is truly trying and caring I don’t want them to feel like it doesn’t matter or that they are awful if they mess up. Mistakes happen. Trying is what matters and you’ll get there. I am a nonbinary trans person and it’s generally easy to tell who cares and is trying versus the ones that aren’t. This book is like a hug from a kind friend. It explains gender related thing, answer questions, etc. I am going to have to buy this book when it comes out so I can give it to loved ones. 5 stars
Paradise Club by Tim Meyer – 5 stars I cared for the characters and this has a lot of gorey fun! Horror, slasher, splatterpunk …
Discover – May/June 2022 by Kalmbach Publishing Co. – 3 stars. Magazine.
Other stuff
I have a long way to go still in terms of recovering from surgery. I came home with 2 drains, a left and a right, and initially the left was very active and the right wasn’t doing much of anything. Well … the night before (as I was going to lay down to sleep) I was going to get the right drain out the left one, that was still VERY active, fell out!! Scaring the shit outta me!
Long story short (actually still long, sorry) I still have the right drain in. I was also leaking (and still might be to a degree) via part of my incision down my stomach. Well i’ve had (and still have, as of typing this on Monday August 8th) a lot of gauze and tape over my stomach (and a large hernia belt for compression) because the hole that was left behind from the left drain leaked for awhile but it appears to be closed now. While the hole was leaking the right drain continued doing it’s almost nothing crap, which was scary because they said “in theory the right one should pick up the slack” and i’ve been dealing with low grade fever and swelling (feet, legs …) from retaining fluid, even before the left drain fell out!
Also some heat and pain in my lower stomach from the fluid build up. So i’ve been doing as much as I can of walking and keeping my legs up, which is thankfully helping! And now that the left hole is actually closed it looks like the right drain might be picking up finally? Let’s hope so! And let’s hope it stays in long enough! I’m so afraid of needing to go back to the hospital over this shit. But I have been keeping an eye on myself and I know if I start vomiting or get a high fever to call the Dr or go to the ER.
I haven’t felt like reading much, and that’s ok, but I am reading Haben at least this month and I am enjoying it so far! I’ve been playing Sims 2 and watching Youtube videos
Edit (On August 10th, Wednesday): The right drain stopped holding suction and was not salvageable. Had to come out despite it not being ready yet so they said i’ll probably be ok but ya know, if I start feeling like shit etc. to keep them posted. Right now the hole is leaking but if it’s like the left one within 2 days it’ll be closed and my body wasn’t ready yet. So here’s hoping I leak enough + my body is able to absorb the fluid it needs to.
Weekly Wednesday Wrap Up July 13th, 2022
What I am currently reading
I started this last night. Not far in but i’m liking it so far. I feel awful for the main character!
What I finished in the past week
Monster Musume, Vol. 8 by Okayado – 4 stars
Not much to say. Still enjoying the series. Funny and like the characters.
Saga, Volume 5 & 6 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples – 5 and 4.5 stars
Can’t say much about volume 5 and 6. If you haven’t read Saga yet I highly recommend it! This is me continuing my reread in preparation for volume 10 in October! A wonderful science fiction comic series!
What do I think i’ll read next?
Gender Queer: A Memoir Deluxe Edition by Maia Kobabe – I read this years ago and it meant so much to me! More than words can say, but I did write a review Here. So of course I needed the deluxe edition that just came out!
NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman – like I said last week i’m autistic and this is very highly rated.
The Gender Friend: A 102 Guide to Gender Identity by Oakley Phoenix by Oakley Phoenix – I got this from Netgalley.
A Little Pinprick by Paige Dearth – I also got this from netgalley and have loved a couple books by Paige Dearth before! I’m preparing to be emotionally devastated. Paige’s books tend to do that.
Monster Musume, Vol. 9 by Okayado – Continuing the series.
Other Stuff
I’m having surgery July 18th and will be in the hospital about a week most likely. I am not sure what i’ll be able to do while in the hospital or while recovering, which could take a month or 2. I imagine i’ll be able to blog once I get home even though i’ll still be recovering. Either way, health comes first. I’ll get back to blogging when I can if I have to take a hiatus. I do have a post scheduled for the 19th and the 26th.
Literary Stoner 