Booknotes: October 2024
In which I briefly comment on the books I read each month, so a few years from now when I’m trying to remember one of them, I’ll be able to find it here. I’m a media omnivore, too, so this immediately evolved into more than just books; I’m sticking with the book-first theme for now but will probably change it up next year.
Do we have similar tastes, or will you be questioning how we ever got connected? Let’s find out!
Book Notes
Marketing: Manga for Success by Takashi Yasuda
- (2.5; print) Decent but awkwardly translated marketing 101 explainer manga combined with a bizarre fictional story (marketing angels?!?) depicting some of its core themes in action. A very weird book, originally published in Japan in 2014 (at which point its superficial coverage of digital marketing was already dated), this translated edition came out in 2023 from Wiley, so I’m not sure who the audience for it is, especially considering they also publish the more traditional For Dummies explainers.
Even Though We’re Adults Vol. 1 by Takako Shimura
- (3.5; print) A Mangasplaining recommendation from their first season’s “Best Books” episode, it took a while to get around to, but it’s another winner! An adorable read that deftly balances some heavy themes, I was unexpectedly hooked by the end and want more, especially after listening to their full episode about it that surfaced some nuances I’d missed. I wasn’t initially sure I wanted to read it in multiple slim volumes, but it stuck with me for days afterwards and it might be a binge candidate in the future.
Kaiju No. 8, Vol. 1 by Naoya Matsumoto
- (4.0; print) I’ve pretty much accepted that Shonen manga simply isn’t for me, but every now and then one pops up and takes me by surprise, like Clock Striker. This was another successful Mangasplaining recommendation (actually an upcoming Season 5 pick they teased but haven’t released yet); a great premise, surprisingly entertaining and funny without feeling too juvenile, with a great cliffhanger ending. I’m looking forward to more of this one.
Media Notes
Agatha All Along (Disney+)
- I didn’t love WandaVision, and really hated its resolution in the terrible Multiverse of Madness movie, but there’s something about Kathryn Hahn that made me curious to see what they’d do with her character. Similar to WandaVision, there’s a strong cast, some interesting ideas, and a handful of great scenes, but like so much of the MCU’s post-Endgame output, the whole felt less than the sum of its parts, and the ending didn’t have the emotional impact it was clearly going for.
Only Murders in the Building S4 (Hulu)
- This show has been in danger of overstaying its welcome since the end of the second season, and I fully expected it to fall apart with this season’s hyper-meta plot, but… it mostly worked! The killer twist was arguably the dumbest one yet, but it ultimately works because they did an unexpectedly good job of fleshing out Jane Lynch’s Sazz Pataki into a much more interesting character and tying it all back to an earlier storyline. I’m still not sure the underlying premise can (or should) be stretched into another season, but I’ll probably be there for it when it happens.
Persona 3 Reload (Xbox)
- October was a busy month at the day job, and then there’s this damn game that I still haven’t finished and may actually be playing ME at this point! I’m now 130+ hours into what’s supposedly a 90-hour game FOR COMPLETIONISTS, and after an initial fake-out ending ~90 hours in, I’m pretty sure I’m finally at the endgame. I’m still enjoying the hell out of it and refusing to look up anything helpful, but there’s no way I would have started playing if I’d have known how long it actually was going to take to finish. On the other hand, it’s SO DAMN GOOD that I’m looking forward to jumping into Metaphor ReFantazio even more now, understanding that likely means another 100+ hour immersion to the detriment of everything else. I may need to take a break carve out some time for reading before diving back in, though, as my TBR has been giving me the stink eye for several weeks now.
Your Notes?
If you’ve engaged with any of these, let me know what you thought. And if you have any related recommendations, drop ’em in the comments or on the socials! Some of you prefer email, which is cool, too. You do you!
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Good to have this head’s up on Agatha. I’m overwhelmed ahead of the election but thought you might like this book and its sequel. A parable on where we are now, but also a funny and thoughtful read. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40864002-a-psalm-for-the-wild-built
Oh, that sounds really interesting! I’ve been curious about solarpunk but hadn’t come across a specific recommendation yet; I’ll definitely check this one out. Thanks!