clairivia

[clairivia]

Bunny by Mona Awad

This book follows Samantha, who gets sucked in by the allure of being part of a popular friend group in her literature class. There's also exploding bunnies & weird stuff going on that ultimately has little pay off. Despite it's riveting plot, it has no message to send, no meaning that I could discern. It was a fun read, but absurd.

SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT

I've read reviews that it's "all in Samantha's head" and "no character exists because she's recreating those who rejected her" and that "the bunny boys are a metaphor for writing" If so, why is there such a large emphasis that they have male genitals if they're meant to be a representation?

Moreover, it's meant to comment on inequality, but it's not very nuanced or explored? The message was like: "Rich people bad because boring writing! They haven't suffered through anything!" but simultaneously, "Poor people write about being poor! It's so annoying!" So, like I'm confused. If it's meant to be a satire, why can't I discern that it is?

If Ava is a swan, how could she have talked to Eleanor? If Samantha asked Eleanor what she was saying to Ava (a bird), then I suppose it's all in Samantha's mind. I hate to think that the plot holes can be easily covered up by the fact that it's "all in Samantha's head". That's such a cop out. Moreover, let's assume that everything is in her head, then the boy that she liked got turned into a stag & then injured all the girls? Or is that in her head too?

I think this book should have went harder with the magical realism. It has fantastical characters, e.g Bunny boys, Swan Girl, Stag boy, but could have been better? I just wanted more, to be honest.

There was this prose I liked that described the stag, but the Awad ruined it by saying: "He's beautiful." I can tell that he is beautiful you were describing him to me a second ago! I'd prefer it if it was show not tell. Another but that I didn't like, was when Samantha was entering the apartment of one of the girls and it goes: "There's an ax in the corner. Wait an ax?" I think it would have been more interesting that Samantha didn't question it. Or at least foreshadow more subtly what was to come. You could also say that since the book is written in first person perspective, these critiques of I have is simply the character of Samantha showing out. And you're right.

I don't really remember any of the Bunnies. Like, they switched names so frequently through the book I had trouble remembering them, however I did find it interesting when Samantha called them different names, for example to scorn them, or to show her acceptance of them.

[clairivia]

Nightwing (2016) - why I dislike Barbara Gordon

Barbara Gordon is the love interest of Nightwing. Also she's the daughter of the Police Commissioner in Gotham, Jim Gordon. Please keep in context of this review that I've only read fully, Nightwing, Leaping into the Light, and even then it is not completed. Please comment if you disagree or agree with me, but I think that the characterization of Barbara Gordon in this comic specifically is poor.

Do not send death threats and/or harass me. If you do not agree with this post, block me & continue with your day!! Thank you very much.

SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT

I feel like Barbara Gordon is a Mary Sue. I feel like the other love interests that Nightwing had were so much better in terms of writing, and hotter.

I remember Fear State, is it not part of canon? I feel like the threat of someone abusing Oracle and all it's information would really shake Barbara's mentality of using information for the sake of good. But if she admits that, then the DC writers would be forced to remove Oracle from the rest of the comic series, which I guess they don't want to do. I feel like she would have at least, not just updated Oracle, but at least feel more conflicted at staying Oracle than anything. They briefly mention how Barbara was using some technology on her spine so that she could continue walking, I feel like it would have been interesting to explore the possibility/fear that it does actually break. Then she would have to rely on a wheelchair again. It could have resonated with those who are disabled who may think that they're not living up to their full possibility? Perhaps Barbara feels like she doesn't belong in the Bat family anymore, or whatever. But then again, it's called Nightwing, not Oracle/Batgirl.

The reason why I am obssessed with Barbara Gordon is because Nightwing is, basically, a Gary Sue, so when he has relationships with flawed women, it makes the overall story more interesting, especially how he reacts to them. But if they're both perfect people, it makes it boring. Can Oracle and Nightwing please fight, or like something. Please I'm begging you, can they misunderstand each other and not talk it out like healthy adults.

Oh and also I'm bias I prefer Starfire & Nightwing together.

[clairivia]

Kpop Demon Hunters (2025)

A film that follows Huntrix, an idol band, featuring our protagonist, Rumi & her two friends Zoey and Mira. They're demon hunters, who use the power of song to protect the world from demons. Things get complicated & messy when the demons form a boyband, Saja Boys, in order to combat Huntrix.

SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT

I loved the animation, especially the scene where Zoey's eyes turned into corn, then popcorn and Mira was eating the popcorn that was coming out of Zoey's eyes. It's wonderfully comedic & utilizes 3D animation. This can be said the same for the scene where they visit the doctor and his eyeballs enlargen & swell up. My favourite scene that used animation well, is when the Saja Boys' are singing Soda Pop and the city is washed with a pretty shade of purple as they sing. The first song and the animation was just, ugh. The action pairing with the music was soooo good.

I also really liked the character designs for all the girls, I think my favorite was definitely Rumi's. I loved her hair. The songs are super catchy and my favorite is TAKE DOWN. (Perhaps in the future I will do a review of the songs).

My biggest complaint of KDH, is that it was simply too short. I think that it would have been better if it was a series, since the exploration of the KDH universe is too much for a movie. I felt a few times whilst I was watching, it seemed like the movie was talking to me. I remember the moment where Rumi was talking to Jinu about her scars fading because of him, and I was like "when did that happen? I didn't even see that".

Instead of Jinu saying "Ah the voices are disappearing", I think it would have been more interesting if we had a moment where the voices literally manifested into his sister and mother. Or like when he looked at the girl who gave him the drawing, he saw his sister momentarily. Or maybe shadows that haunt him constantly that receed when he can't hear the voices anymore. Or maybe his scars glow, like Rumi's, because he's accepted himself. I wish the theme of shame was like.. since in the beginning, Jinu told Rumi that he left his family and she comforted him, his scars started glowing temporarily. And then when he admits the truth that he left them, his scars return back to being dark. It could have been an interesting message of, how lying to yourself about the brevity of your actions causes more pain in the long run.

Also, how did Jinu get the music for TAKE DOWN? I feel like Zoey wasn't fleshed out as much as the other girls, aside from when they were at HAN clinic & the doctor was talking about how her "eagerness to please". I think the moment where Rumi was talking about the lyrics of TAKE DOWN being too harsh & cruel and Zoey pulling out all her notebooks. I feel like there could have been a scene, where Zoey felt a bit useless since all her lyrics weren't helping. I really liked how Rumi felt conflicted, because it's almost speaking to her, a half-demon. I loved how it was used at the end to really hurt her.

The passing comment of Mira saying that "I guess I don't deserve a family", really struck me. I wish it was expanded, maybe Mira has a locket of the three together, or maybe her mom calls her and Mira ignores it.

Most of the Saja boys are ugly, aside from Jinu, and like, I don't even know their names.

I wish they expanded more on the theme of identity & shame, I think that the message is good, like embrace every part of yourself, because even if others shun you for something, you can't do anything about it. About Rumi's scars, I remember thinking why didn't she go to Celine initially, since her scars were growing and affecting her voice. Moreover, did her scars also affect her arms/the rest of her body? If it can affect her voice, why not the rest of her body?

Anyways, I probably have more thoughts, I just haven't thought of them. Please reblog & comment!!! I'd love to talk to other people and what they feel too. If anyone is knowledge about Korean culture & how it influenced kdh, please comment! I'd love to know more.

[clairivia]

Le Tigre by Le Tigre

Le Tigre is the debut album of, well, Le Tigre. It was released on October 25, 1999. REVIEW UNDER THE CUT

Deceptacon

By far my favorite song, it packs a punch & comments on Le Tigre's politics with its' seemingly nonsensical lyrics. Aside from "let me hear you depoliticize my rhyme", no one would suspect a thing. I quite like the analysis of the song from this comment on a Reddit post. Anyhow, I love singing this song for karaoke!! No wonder it's the most popular song from the album.

Hot Topic

I found this song quite repetitive & boring. Now reading a review of Hot Topic, I now understand that it's meant to commemorate the feminists before them. They certainly did that, however I don't really resonate with the song. I recommend reading this article, if you're curious.

The The Empty

I love the shrill voice of the main singer. It really portrays like, the desperation to find meaning of a world which what corporations believe the best art is created without political meaning & is perfectly sanitized for consumption. Despite it being slightly repetitive, I feel like the lyrics of "All that glitters is not gold", emphasized the intent. I like the guitar riff in the beginning too!

Phanta

It's okay. I found it a little boring. I read some interpretations of the lyrics & some people claim that the lyrics are about the Doomsday cult of "Children of God" or how it's a comment of society. The song doesn't strike me as particularly interesting or did it illicit any emotions with me.

Eau d'Bedroom Dancing

I love the weary sound of the singer's voice & the pessimistic, like closed off vibe. It pairs nicely with the melancholic and rough guitar. To me, in a way it's almost comforting and longing for something from back then, especially the lyric "no one to criticize me then", but simultaneously discouraging to move from your comfort zone? Like it's wishing for a simpler time, but if you have a simpler time, you're going to stagnate.

Let's Run

Super upbeat! It vaguely reminds me of Deceptacon but more positive & less angry. The lyrics are very optimistic! Even if we fail, we can pick ourselves up again. I love the electronic sounds, that start the song, it reminds me of a heart monitor. My only gripe is that I'd love to see a version where it's more shouty/impassioned.

My My Metrocard

I think this song is completely different to other songs in this album. It opens with bells/jingles & the saxophone, I think? It's a well needed change of pace. I loved the muffled voice in the background. Also I support any encouragement of public transport!! The guitar is yummy in this song, especially at the end.

Friendship Station

I like the beat & the initial lyrics, but it is so very repetitive.

Slideshow At Free University

Meh. The same beat and it's only a voiceover of some unknown male professor. I'd much rather they make new lyrics based off the expository lyrics. I like the sounds of glass crashing at the end, but it gets tiresome after the fifth time. I think this is the weakest song out of the entire album.

Dude Yr So Crazy!!

I think this song is meant as a sarcastic jab to people who are like the lyrics, but it makes the song grueling to listen to. It's the second time in this album where things are listed out, but I much prefer Hot Topic compared to this song.

Les and Ray

This song is really sweet. It's almost, like, twinkly? Like the instruments. It's commemorating Les and Ray. I feel like I'm nostalgic for time I've never experienced.

Overall, most of the songs from this album is a bit meh. I recommend listening to Deceptacon, The The Empty, Let's Run, My My Metrocard & Les and Ray.

[clairivia]

My Year of Rest and Relexation by Otessa Moshfegh

An unnamed, unreliable female narrator who gradually increases her intake of sleeping pills throughout on year. I recommend this book as long as you turn your brain off and/or don't mind being spoonfed.

SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT!!!

The unnamed narrator, (I'll call her X) is clearly meant to be hatd. Maybe I don't "get" it. But I still don't like the book.

She wants to cleanse herself, to feel less apathetic; but the way the book uses an outrageously dangerous and frankly stupid amount of sleeping pills will definitely kill her. Like. I know that America may not have the best regulations regarding food, but they wouldn't release Infermiterol that makes you do things in your sleep. It would be recalled.

I do, begrudgingly, have to give Moshfegh credit about X's unreliability. Especially when X talks about Reva unwilling to buy s*x toy, and when X goes to Reva's apartment, Reva has one. X has a sob story, but I don't really care. A terrible background doesn't justify shitty behavior.

"My sleep worked. I was soft and calm and felt things." I disagree with this, since X tried to conjure up sad memories in Reva's dinghy bedroom before her eternal sleep and she shed a tear. But that's not what you wanted? I think it;s an excuse, honestly. X claims to want to get rid of those feelings, yet she wants to feel things when she comes out of her sleep.

Near the end, X makes a comment about how Picasso paints his miseries (I find it amusing how she's an art history major, yet this is the only time we get a reference to real artist), but artists nowadays only think about art as a means to cope with death. That they maybe "understood that beauty and meaning had nothing to do with one another." I remember reading this and thinking this book really likes dumping ideas onto the reader. I didn't care when this bit of the book occurred.

Regarding the ending, I feel like the 9/11 mention was so distasteful & used for mainly shock value. It was a bad ending because there was no way the author could have used it to unpack X's full feelings about 9/11 without disrespecting what had happened.

I think this book is really aimed at women who are in a midlife crisis and are very financially stable. I dunno, this book didn't resonate at me at all.

If it helps, my favorite character is Dr Tuttle. She could prescribe me warfarin for my post-apocalyptic neurotic cake-making mania and I'd thank her.

[clairivia]

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki by Haruki Murakami

A guy called Tsukuru is still heavily affected by his highschool friend group cutting him off during his second year of university. He has no idea why, but can't move on, despite being thirty-six. Maybe you should read if you really like the theme of unresolved emotions, social exclusion and a boring narrator.

"The years passed by, quietly, like a gentle breeze. Leaving no scars behind, no sorrow, rousing no strong emotions, leaving no happiness or memories worth mentioning."

SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT!!

Everyone who wasn't the main character was far more interesting. The narrator isn't remotely interesting. I suppose this book was a good read, since it told me to stop wasting my life and start to act and not regret to be thirty-six to resolve highschool issues. I find it slightly amusing that Tsukuru doesn't go and seek answers for himself, but rather has to be told by the woman he's dating to find the answers. It makes me wonder if he really like spectating in his own life.

It's a very annoying narrator, always being influenced by others but never taking action aside from designing his damn train stations. I don't think I could tell you any trait of Tsukuru, which you could say is the whole point of the book (hence "colorless"), aside that he likes trains and music.

I think that it would have been more interesting if Tsukuru, instead of numbing himself from the pain of suddenly being cut off from all his friends and then being thirty-six, Murakami focused on the depression that Tsukuru went into and the aftermath of it. I think it would have been more interesting, that instead of retracing his steps and talking to his old friends, have him grapple with entering a new friendship group and see him become paranoid and overthink about perhaps he would get replaced.

The only reason why I finished this book is because, per usual, Murakami is very good at writing, and I love his writing style. It's just a shame that he spent it on a boring book. Meh.

[clairivia]

Kala by Colin Walsh

Kala follows a group of friends, around twenty years after the disappearance of their friend, Kala. Written in the perspective of Joe, Mush and Helen, it peels back the layers of time that they desperately used to pretend that they no longer cared. But they still do. If you will only read one book in the summer, this should be the book.

"Down the hill, Kinlough is quivering in the light. Ropes of heat turn in the distance and it looks like a tide from which one thing rises to the surface, now another. The sunflash of distant cars. The sounds of nearby laughter. The birds changing formation in the soaring quiet. There's a turning melt of sky above us." SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT:

Everythingabout the characters scream disgustingly real. They're all horribly human, reeling from the unresolved grief they still feel after fifteen years, even Aoife, who copes by acting in the present. To be present. To not get hurt.

I came into this book with the expectations of: "creepy supernatural thing will happen! Wow!", but I was sorely mistaken. It's disturbingly realistic, as in a way of, this could have had happened in my own town. The reason behind Kala's death is exceedingly simple yet complex: a small, tight-knight community, taboo culture and the abuse of power.

Overall, I love the different ways that Walsh had written each of the characters, and I found the way that he wrote Joe's voice as a reflection how he is always the center of his life.

The open-ended resolution of the book made me feel annoyed, as Mush is still in a coma. It makes the book all the more realistic. In my mind, I pretend that he's still okay, that the gang are still okay

[clairivia]

Heya, im Colette xoxo

6teen / girl / her

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