A JET Reader (Year 3, Autumn)

Autumn: September 1st-November 30th

And thus starts both my last year in Japan and (hopefully) the last year before grad-school when I'll have no time for reading again.

But during this time, I was getting everything together to apply for grad school, so apparently I didn't read much (although, the lack of reading in September is almost entirely Fire Emblem's fault... and more of the lack of reading in October should be attributed to procrastination-manga-binges than to actual application progress...). And what I did finish was mostly in Elantra, good grief.
BUT! I made significant progress in The Way of Kings, and I had been trying to save The Book of Enchantments and Shadow and Bone since they're the last portable books I have now that my Kobo has died... (fall semester is always a struggle)


4 Total:     2 New Books     2 Re-reads

READ:
Cast in Shadow
Cast in Courtlight
The Book of Enchantments
Raven Flight

READING:
The Way of Kings
Shadow and Bone
Cast in Honor

PLANNING TO READ:
Bitterblue
Cast in Secret
Wanderlust
Doubleblind
The Caller

(someday...)


Cast in Shadow (The Chronicles of Elantra, Book 1)
Well, I'm off to a terrible start, as this is the first book I've finished and it's already halfway through the season. And it's a re-read. But oh well. The 11th in the series is coming out at the end of this November, and so Katie and I have been toiling away to transfer the information on our now absurdly large Google Doc to the tumblr we created.
Reading this for only the second time, after two years and its nine other installments, felt like I was reading a completely different story. I was able to pick up on and appreciate so many more of the subtle nuances in behavior. I'm also realizing that I'm a complete sap for certain characters *cough*Severn*cough* (as if there was ever any doubt...). While I have many new books I'm supposed to be reading, I'll probably continue with these for a few more volumes yet~

Cast in Courtlight (The Chronicles of Elantra, Book 2)
And so it continues. I ended up being late to a party on a Friday night because I couldn't put it down; and then spending five hours on the following Saturday (after spending the entire morning at the elementary school's 学習発表会, which was very much worth waking up early on a Saturday) finishing it in one go.
I'm quite the broken record but there were so many things I hadn't remembered. I'm particularly glad for the interactions with the Hawklord (in the previous book as well) and the more thorough introduction to Lord Sanabalis (oh Sanny...). Lord Andellen's character is so interesting in that he very much serves Lord Nightshade but that he also seems to grudgingly respect Kaylin. And of course, the Lord of the West March and the Consort are always great since they're so different from the usual Barrani High Lords.
I'm also going to cut this rambling off here and really try to read something new from my growing list...

The Book of Enchantments
I found this little book in the used book section at Schuyler's when I was exploring it with Kathryn during my trip home last May. Even though there's only one story tying it to the characters I love from the Enchanted Forest Chronicles, I do love Patricia Wrede's writing and all of the stories were lovely in their own way. I appreciated that some took place in the modern world, some in the Enchanted Forest world, and some in new worlds all together. I kept this little book in my purse as my "on the go" book, so it took longer than normal to finish it, but I was also trying to savor one of the few paper-and-ink books I have left to read here.

Raven Flight (Shadowfell, Book 2)
A much appreciated birthday present <3
I love being wrapped up in Juliet Marillier's writing. She takes her time, and while some may call the pacing slow I appreciate how it allows me to sink into her worlds. This installment of the story was heavily tied to the seasons and I appreciated that Neryn's training took so much time. In spending months and months I can believe that she actually gained the knowledge her power requires. The length of time training and the turning of the seasons also highlighted how fleeting and precious anytime spent with her dear friends was.
This is also, incidentally, exactly the sort of heroine and story I would have eaten up when I was an adolescent and teenager. So even though I've never read it before it feels strangely nostalgic and familiar. And as always with her books, I have become entirely too emotionally attached to these characters and weep for the tragic setbacks to their cause. But somehow, I still feel hopeful for the last book.

A JET Reader (Year 2, Summer FINAL)

Summer: June 1st-August 31st

Over all, I read over twice as much this "year" as I did last year thanks to a lot of splurge reading and good recommendations. Not bad considering I tried to spend most of my time with the four friends who left Japan during this time period. But I think we all know reading became my coping mechanism for that...
Except now with my Kobo dead, reading out-of-home is either going to become impossible or expensive...


45 Total:     33 New Books     12 Re-reads

READ:
Shadow of Night
Chronicles of Elantra: Cast in Ruin
The Book of Life
Hyperbole and a Half
Chronicles of Elantra: Cast in Peril
Insurgent
___________________(Autumn)___________________
Chronicles of Elantra: Cast in Sorrow
Albrecht Durer: A Biography
Allegiant
Clockwork Angel
Death Comes to Pemberley
The Alloy of Law
Clockwork Prince
Clockwork Princess
The Blood of Olympus
Poison Princess
___________________(Winter)___________________
Endless Knight
Chronicles of Elantra: Cast in Flame
Dead of Winter
Ready Player One
Son of the Shadows
Sabriel
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Tithe
Beauty
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
The Hunter's Moon
Rose Daughter
The Summer King
Valiant
Ironside
___________________(Spring)___________________
Bellman & Black
Graceling
Fire
Cold Mountain
The Slow Regard of Silent Things
The Third Kingdom
The Third Sister
Red Rising
Grimspace
Poison Study
Spindle's End
The Night Circus
Shadowfell
The Thief 
___________________(Summer)___________________


READING:
Sourcery
The Book of Enchantments

STALLED:
Child of the Prophesy

PLANNING TO READ:
Life, the Universe and Everything
Abhorsen
Shadow and Bone
The Way of Kings

(someday...)


Bellman & Black
Diane Setterfield is one of my favorite storytellers. She weaves language in such a way that the imagery reaches out and wraps itself comfortingly around me. Subtle nuances and turns of phrase elegantly tip their hats and wink an eye at the thematic presence flitting through the pages. Her previous book, The Thirteenth Tale, did this is magnificently and my high expectations were far from disappointed this time.
The story follows William Bellman, highlighting the events in his life since he was 10 years old and he shot a rook out of a tree with a slingshot. The premise for this Victorian haunting started humbly and progressed delicately, ever giving the increased sense that something was just off until I looked back and wondered how I never noticed how high he was being built up for a fall. But then it was so beautiful and un-malicious and actually quite relieving at the end, because I didn't want to wish him any ill will when he had struggled through so much. I will definitely be keeping this story in my Thought and Memory.

Graceling
I blame Katie for starting Bitterblue. And Red Rising for being so hard to get into. But whomever the culprit, I'm glad to finally have a second read-through of this story. The first time I read it, I think I had too many expectations for what I thought the story would be, and so I couldn't help feeling disappointed. This time around, I really feel like I'm discovering things I completely overlooked before. It's very different in style from Bellman & Black, which I read concordantly for part of Graceling. But it delves much more into the personal motivations of its characters so it was actually easy to switch between them.
This time around, I wasn't trying to rush through the story and instead it unfolded naturally before me. I was less upset by Katsa and Po's relationship, and the state of things at the end, and I attribute that to simply being older (even if only by a scant 3 years since I initially read it). I'm excited to indulge myself further and check out Fire next. Because even though the characters are different, I remember liking it even more than Graceling. So it'll be interesting to see if that has also grown over time~

Fire
...And oh, how I like it more. Dare I say Fire is reaching Poison Study levels of endearment with me? And more so than Graceling because I can relate to Fire more? Because I like the strong quiet image of Brigan over Po's joviality? Because they accept the fact that they care about each other so wholly and don't question that even though being together is going to be difficult it's what they're willing to work for? Because, "Your sadness is one of the things that makes you beautiful to me. Don't you see that? I understand it. It makes my own sadness less frightening."
I can't explain the reason, I just know I appreciate her willingness to love and be loved as opposed to Katsa's defiance and stubborn insistence of "freedom" (that all being said, I still like Graceling and Katsa, even for her sense of freedom. I'm just on quite the high from reading Fire so other books are looking a bit pale...)

Cold Mountain (Originally recommended by and received from Sheri)
Well over a year later I've finally gone back to this story. Part of the reason was because I've had so many strong inclinations to drop Red Rising. But I realized that I cared more about the characters and the writing in Cold Mountain than I did in Red Rising, and that I couldn't in good conscience leave it stagnant when I was determined to power through Red Rising (eventually). I'm also in a much different place emotionally and psychologically than I was when I initially "dropped" it, so I was better prepared to invest in the final hundred pages I had left.
This book is worth so much, I think. Not only is the prose poetic and captivating, expressing the flight of a bird or the growing of a tree around an arrow-head embedded in its trunk so that I could feel it, but the growth in the characters that became so dear to me was beautiful, too.
This book is about a lot of things. It's about struggling through patiently but also about taking hold of your fate with your own two hands. It's about the depth of loss and war but also about the fullness a day's hard work and the wholeness we find in others. It's a journey, and I think back on all of the adventures I had while reading it and can only be grateful that I have at the very least one more day left of my own journey.

The Slow Regard of Silent Things (Borrowed from Barry)
(but both Barry and Anna as well as Courtney and Ryan have been waiting for me to read this)
I adore Auri's character, so I was delighted by the prospect of a novella dedicated to her. In the author's end-note (his "story about a story"), he expressed his worry that no one would like this story since it didn't follow any of the proper elements of proper stories. But his friend had said it well when she said there are stories upon stories out there like that for people who want them, what about stories for people like her?
Auri is both shattered and circle-perfect, both lost and true, alone and surrounded by those dear to her. There's something so profoundly beautiful about her existence, and I think it's something that resonates deep.

The Third Kingdom (The Sword of Truth series #13; Richard and Kahlan series #2)
It's rather a toss-up if I was afraid to read this book or... yeah, no. I was /definitely/ afraid to read this book. The change in the over-all tone this series has taken since expanding from the original story has made them a bit harder to be excited for than their predecessors. I was warned this one especially would slink into much darker places than I was perhaps comfortable with.
And while it was more gruesome than previous installments, that wasn't its highest mark against it. It seems that this series has come to a point where there isn't much story left to tell, and so in an attempt to continue in the lives of these characters, a new and greater evil is introduced. But the original compelling method of storytelling has fallen away to dialogue and descriptions that feel repetitive and laden with forced shock value. 
I finally got excited about three-quarters in when what I felt were the true personalities of the characters began to show (such as when Richard mocks his captor's plan to resurrect a thousands year old king in saying, "I don't know. He still looks dead to me" and having it explained that his blood is what they need: "You, Richard Rahl, are the one." "So I've been told.") and I began to feel curious about possibly reading the sequal. THat is, until irreversible events took place pages from the end that I don't think I will soon get over...

The Third Sister
This wonderful little novel has been on my "To Read" shelf for a while. I think my mom happened to find it used somewhere and thought it sounded interesting. As a continuation of Sense and Sensibility following Margaret (the third Dashwood sister), I was delighted to be re-acquainted with old friends and to share the happiness in how their lives had progressed. 
I think I have always strove to overcome my natural "Marianne" romantic tendencies in favor of Elinor's patience and forbearance, and therefore found the similar struggle in Margaret quite relatable. She was wary of the overly-forward addresses and open manner of a certain gentleman, thinking back on how her poor sister had been caught up all too easily in an infatuation in the same way by a man of duplicitous character. As for Margaret, perhaps she let her prejudiced opinions take her too far from believing his open and honest affection.
Perhaps others wouldn't find this story very exciting, but I appreciated the author's dedication to Austen's use of language and the integrity of the characters. The message was a welcome twist of Marianne's situation in the last book in the sense that yes, it is sensible to get to know a person before allowing yourself to become too attached to them. But it is also alright to form that attachment. And it is especially important not to allow past injuries to alter opinions on new acquaintances or to decide/believe that all open natures are false. 

Red Rising
I really wanted to like this book. I was excited to read it, despite the fact that it was a male-led first person Sci-Fi. And while the beginning seemed so promising, I was disappointed (and bored, quite frankly) from about the third chapter until halfway through the book. The concept wanted to be intriguing. The writing wanted to be memorable and clever. But I found myself liking the supporting characters over the lead more than I can think of in any other story I've read, and they weren't featured enough for me (especially after martyring his wife...) And not necessarily because the side characters were so great themselves, but because the main character was just so un-appealing to me.
Things finally did pick up nearly 40% through the book, but I could have honestly done with out the first third of it. It's a shame, because there ended up being some things I really liked (the characters Roque and Sevro, who were like his shadow king and wolf-lord, as well as when he shifted his tactics and stopped trying to conquer everything but rather created loyalty). There were, however, several things I didn't like, foremost being the destruction of several great side characters, in addition to Darrow's and others' overall dark mien. I was relieved to get to the end with at least one favorite character intact, but I don't think I'll be continuing this series. There's a terrible reckoning coming for Darrow and his rebellion, and I don't care to stick around to see him further tear things apart.

Grimspace
I first found this novel while shelving books back in Special Collections. The novelty of a female led Sci-Fi (with an interesting cover and title...) compelled me to add it to my list of books I'd found while working there that I'd love to investigate someday. Fast forward nearly two years exactly to when I visited the US this past May and on a whim reserved it at Schuler's (well, is it any surprise considering I was "browsing" with my mom? So many of my favorite stories and authors have been uncovered thus). It was new uncharted territory, being neither recommended from a friend or by hype online nor a familiar author. A rarity on my never ending reading list.
It turned out to be a wonderful foil to Red Rising (that book really colored a lot of the other books I was reading concurrently...If you'll excuse the weak pun): instead of a male-written-male-first-person-protagonist-Sci-Fi, it was a female-written-female-first-person-protagonist-Sci-Fi. And while both were sought after for differing roles in their respective revolutions and came from tragic pasts and years of indoctrination, I felt that at least Jax in Grimspace was appropriately flawed but working past her old self. Grimspace, while not the best written book I've ever read, was definitely entertaining. It's a rather unoriginal comparison but I couldn't help myself thinking of Firefly as the story bounced from desperate situations to sarcastic banter without missing a beat. It also reminded me a bit of the Chronicles of Elantra in Jax's act-first-think-later tendencies.
I was worried it would become, for lack of better expression, too "trope-y" and wasn't gratified to be right in that respect. Having characters be physically intimate before they've had a chance to become emotionally intimate is never a selling point for me. I was, however, still able to enjoy most of the story by maintaining a bemused attitude towards it. It's fast paced, seemingly random at times, and I look forward to perusing the rest of the series.

Poison Study
I can have self-control anytime I want and not compulsively re-read my favorite books in the middle of a huge To-Read list....I just didn't want to, that's all~ (the phrases "Can't Stop, Won't Stop", "I Do What I Want", and "Sorry Not Sorry" come to mind haha) This was originally started on New Year's night and kept "open" as an in-between/ book-hangover remedy. But of course I couldn't resist properly diving into it once I passed halfway.
This book is very full for me. Like other favorites of mine, I can flip my copy open on its creases and immediately come across favorite scenes and dialogue. Reading it is less of the compulsion it is for most of everything else I read, and more like coming home to old friends that I'm constantly learning new things about and who always make me feel comfortable. Yelena is able to overcome so much darkness and find herself again. And being out here on my own, I find that necessary and beautiful.

Spindle's End
Yet another favorite re-read. A story about love in all of its forms for a time when I'm feeling rather lonely. With the final departure of my friends leaving Japan this year, it was the perfect companion book as I set out solo (in so many ways...) to climb Mt. Fuji. This story, rich in its telling and full in its characters, is one I will always come back to for the sense of wholeness it gives me.

The Night Circus
Well, that was impulsive. After completing Poison Study (and wanting to save all of Spindle's End for my trip) I went to my library's online lending service to hopefully find a book on my miles long To-Read list and happened across this one. I've been meaning to read it for years, even though no one among my acquaintance has recommended or read it. And to tell the truth, I wanted to read it solely based on it's cover and title.
All I really wanted was a story of Star-Crossed Lovers to tide me over and help me get through the book-hangover I could feel coming from finishing one favorite and moving on to another. What I didn't anticipate was such a delicate story woven across years and countries. The haunting timelessness in the storytelling was quite reminiscent of Bellman & Black, and the finale was just as resonating. I loved following their story and seeing the the way they refused to give in regardless of the terrible hand they'd been dealt.

Shadowfell
My second "YA" book by Juliet Marillier (the first being Wildwood Dancing, recommended and loaned by Katie at the beginning of all this chronicling). Will there ever be a story told by her that I do not love? This tale is simple in its formula and sets up the rest of the series, but conveyed so beautifully. I wonder if it's just my penchant for her stoical heroes and determined heroines, especially when they take care of each other (begrudgingly or not). This was another impulsive find on my library's website (and unfortunately the only book by Juliet Marillier they have) and now I'm adrift with out the rest of the series. I might cave and consign this series to being digitally owned, as much as I'd rather hold out to when I can own physical copies, because it might be the only thing to really spark me reading again lately...

The Thief (recommended by Gebbie-san)
This book really surprised me, and not even for being a first-person male protagonist. The reader is given information and since we're party to his thoughts and reactions to the perceptions of others, we don't question it. It was delightful to read from the perspective of a character that reminded me so much of a favorite from long ago (Briar, from the Circle of Magic series by Tamora Pierce).
I also appreciated the allusions to Greek mythology and the world building subtly laid out with mentions of invaders and the foreign relations between the main three countries.
All in all, I thought this was very clever, as well as fun to read. It was also a great lesson against making assumptions or believing everything inferred to you.


STALLED: Child of the Prophesy (Sevenwaters #3)
While I tried starting this on the same day as finishing its predecessor and progressed a mere few chapters before switching to Sabriel, I've made the executive decision to wait before pursuing it any further. It took me four years after reading the first in the series (Daughter of the Forest) to continue the story through the new characters in the second (Son of the Shadows). Considering the emotional and psychological effects theses stories have on me (so many dreams...), it feels like too much to move on to new characters again so soon. I know I will come back to Sevenwaters someday, but the story deserves more care than me bullying my way through it in order to complete it. 

In Which She Finds Herself Full of Much Water...

I don’t even know if I can say that I’m good or bad with goodbyes. It seems that in my life I’ve had many, but I also have quite a subjective view on it. I like to believe that I’ve had just the right amount: not too many that I was left completely adrift, and not too few that I didn’t try and appreciate the time that I was given.

And I do; appreciate the time I have been given, that is. I’ve been so blessed to have crossed paths with so many wonderful people in my life and have been even more blessed to have been able to share even a part of our journeys together.

But it’s been different up until now: I’ve always been the one leaving, the one striking out from home on some new obscure fork leading me away (for a time) from those I built a home with and love. I felt only my own sense of bittersweet loss as I continued forward, or as we all left for different paths, using my new location or new daily routine to help me channel my emotions.

Today I’m at a loss for how to proceed. Yesterday I had to say goodbye to my Hokkaido Bestie as she returns home to Canada. As we adamantly refused to say “goodbye” and continued to promise each other about all of the amazing adventures we’re going to have in the future and hugged each other desperately, I also thought about the other friends gathered to wish her well. For once it wasn’t just my sadness (which I assure you is still quite strong) but everyone’s I was beginning to understand. Courtney is such a loving person that people can’t help loving her, and it was oddly comforting to know that all of us loved her and had our lives changed by her friendship. She means something different to each of us, but she is important to all of us.

I think this parting is particularly hard for me because I’m the one staying behind, and now I have to figure out how to re-order my life without her. Who am I supposed to talk to about all of the silly inconsequential things my students do that I find endearing but don’t seem like anything when they’re out of context? Who am I going to just get in a car with to drive two hours to hike a volcano? Who’s going to invite me for kaiten zushi and onsen on a weekday night because we’re both so done with frustrating Japanese work politics and want someone to complain with?

Logically I know that we’re still going to be friends, and technology will definitely help us stay in contact, and I do have other friends here… but it’s just not the same. And I know and appreciate, from my already seemingly vast experience with goodbyes, that this is just the turning of a page in the multi-volume story of our lives, and that things have to and will always change… but I’m still so sad.

I’m grateful for the time that I’ve been given. I really am so very grateful. It’s as if the more sadness I feel about her having to leave, the more happiness and love I feel remembering what a great friend she is and all of the adventures we were able to have. And hope: hope that this isn’t the end to our journey together, just a temporary splitting of paths. Like my lovely friendships back in the US that have shifted to long-distance temporarily, I’m confident we’ll be able to come out of this stronger and climb many more mountains together in the future.

Thailand:

 Kampo Taikai:

 Asahi-dake:

 Aka-dake

 Wine Festival:

Meakan:

 Noboribetsu:

 Houheikyo Onsen:

See you later <3

A JET Reader (Year 2, Spring)

Spring: March 1st-May 31st
(incorporating both of my jaunts to the US)
(Apparently I went on a Faerie binge with a dash of Sci-Fi to even it out...)

READ:
Shadow of Night
Chronicles of Elantra: Cast in Ruin
The Book of Life
Hyperbole and a Half
Chronicles of Elantra: Cast in Peril
Insurgent
________________(Autumn)___________________
Chronicles of Elantra: Cast in Sorrow
Albrecht Durer: A Biography
Allegiant
Clockwork Angel
Death Comes to Pemberley
The Alloy of Law
Clockwork Prince
Clockwork Princess
The Blood of Olympus
Poison Princess
__________________(Winter)__________________
Endless Knight
Chronicles of Elantra: Cast in Flame
Dead of Winter
Ready Player One
Son of the Shadows
Sabriel
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Tithe
Beauty
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
The Hunter's Moon
Rose Daughter
The Summer King
Valiant
Ironside

READING:
Bellman & Black
Red Rising

STALLED:
Child of the Prophesy
Poison Study
The Third Kingdom


PLANNING TO READ:
Life, the Universe and Everything
Lirael
Abhorsen
Shadow and Bone
Grimspace

(plus a lot of books I want to re-read ><;;; )


Endless Knight (The Arcana Chronicles #2) Rec'd and loaned by Courtney
Well. That was some of the fastest reading I've done in a while. This series is really good about keeping tensions high and creating mini-cliff hangers that keep you tearing forward. Character revelations and changes caused unthinkable allegiance shifts, and now I don't know what to think. I really appreciated the struggle that Evie is having trying to control the murderous impulse of her powers, and that despite his clear unease in the situation Jackson is still an anchoring force to keep her from going "Red Witch" on everyone. But now that Death, the Endless Knight himself, is in the picture I'm really anxious over what will happen next... especially with Jackson captured and about to be tortured... and with the mystery of how Evie escaped Death to try and get to Jackson....

Cast in Flame (Chronicles of Elantra #10)
Well, now both Katie and I are caught up for the first time and have to wait as they come out (this is going to be really hard ><; ). Thank goodness we got the crazy idea to compile a document of our notes and thoughts on the series (which is now over 50 pages long...).
These books are never what I expect them to be haha. After everything that happened in the West March, I was anticipating a huge confrontation between Nightshade and Kaylin (with Teela and/or Annarion and/or Severn) but instead we got an apartment hunt. But of course that would never be a normal experience for her, and eventually events lead to an all out battle in the streets with all the major players (The Hawklord, Hawks, Swords, the Emperor, the Arkon, the Consort, the High Lord, Evolved!Squawky, everyone except Nightshade). Now, having met the Emperor (and not immediately being incinerated on the spot) and lost communication with Nightshade (who would've thought that'd be cause for alarm) the next book can't come soon enough!

Dead of Winter (The Arcana Chronicles #3) Rec'd and loaned by Courtney
Good grief. And now another series I desperately want more information in and yet must wait on the whims of publishers.
I was surprised by the relative ease at which Jackson was recovered in the beginning, and so was less surprised when The Lovers card wasn't actually defeated. And while it was the usual macho contest eliminating obstacles on the way to the actual lair, the rapport between Evie, Jackson, and Aric didn't feel like out-of-character bravado. While sincere in their desires to raise the other's hackles, they were also sincere in their desires to both respect Evie's wishes and win her over. I'm not a fan of love triangles, but these characters have gotten to me and I don't want any of them to suffer. And of course the ending had to be such a dire cliff hanger ><; I don't want to believe the implied deaths are true... (And I think Jackson must either be the Inactivated card or Minor Arcana...HMMMM......)

Ready Player One (Recommended by Geoff)
What an exciting finish! This is definitely a fun book to read if you're into 80's pop-culture (movies, music, video games, even cereal commercials). It's based in a future of our world where everyone practically lives there life in the OASIS: a virtual reality universe with everything from schools to battle arenas to perfect renderings of fictional worlds ready to explore.
The story was broken up into three "levels", each dedicated to finding one of the three Keys and the three corresponding Gates that would lead the winner to the ultimate prize left as an Easter Egg by the creator before he died. The beginning quarter of the book was a bit tedious, as the main character would frequently break from the current action to dump a history lesson about the creator or some other aspect of a particular game console or of the atmosphere in the Oasis. Once he obtained the first key (I'm sure the fact that the main character passes the first level is as much of a spoiler as someone saying Harry is a wizard...) the story picked up, and after I was halfway I couldn't put it down. I loved all of the references, it was like reading a lot of inside jokes and was just all around really fun. I'm not often a huge sci-fi or virtual reality fan, but I really enjoyed this!

Son of Shadows (Sevenwaters #2)
*cue distressed/resolved Bilbo voice* "I've put this off for far too long..."
Considering that I read the proceeding book for the first time the last time I was in Japan (Shiga, summer of '11) it took me a long time to work up my courage for this book. Mixed feelings of loving Daughter of the Forest so much and not wanting to damage it's "pedestal", but also knowing how emotionally wrecked I am when I read Daughter of the Forest and believing in the author to come back just as strong (if not stronger) in the following books. But I couldn't stay away.
*cue distressed sobbing* I wasn't ready.
While I quickly fell in love with Liaden, the main character of this part of the story, and was given loving moments with old friends, the wheel must turn and I was more than distraught at having to say goodbye. Impossible choice after impossible choice also lent weight to my sense of despair. But through it all, like her mother before her, Liaden's indomitable spirit helped shelter my fragile hope that all would be well. I invested my heart into this story, though I'm still not certain whether it was a conscious choice or the inevitability of wandering Sevenwaters again.

Sabriel (The Old Kingdom/Abhorsen #1)
This was a guilty diversion while gathering my courage to begin the next book in the Sevenwaters saga, but also a long awaited welcome home. Having only been my second read-through I had to discover nearly everything all over again (but I was just as pleased as the first time I visited the Old Kingdom). The writing and characters in these books are so refreshing, and I was pleased to be able to pick up subtle nuances relating to things later revealed in the plot. It was just really nice to be able to read all of the little interactions between Sabriel and Touchstone, and also to appreciate the danger of walking in Death.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's series #1)
Original rec by Kelsey...over ten years ago... Oh am I ever eating my words from three years ago: "My cousin is so dissapointed in me that 'I don't like science fiction' (especially since I cringe at the idea of reading something like 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' that is just disjointed plots and rabbit trails in space)"
While I do feel quite bad not reading this earlier, I'm glad I read it now that I can appreciate the humor in it. The randomness of everything (or I should say, the improbability of everything) was well balanced with the matter-of-fact tone of the narrator. The clever manner of expression I think was the most entertaining, with odd simile and dialogue that remained unfazed through out every exasperating circumstance. It was a fun, diverting read, and I hope the rest continue this style of prose!

Tithe
I haven't picked up these books since I first read them in high school, but after my Cassandra Clare phase I decided I needed to go back to my faerie source material and re-read Holly Black. It's just as bleak as I remember--which is wonderful because she writes true to the cruel nature of the Fae. Of course to be honest I was mostly just delighted to read about Kaye and Roiben, and pleasantly surprised that they had more interactions together than I had remembered. Now to wait for Valiant to come in from Amzon.JP (since my copy was lost in college...).

Beauty
After sleeping in for a change and deciding to play hooky from society, I read this all in one day. Granted, it was broken between the pre-lunch and then post-dinner phases of the day and it was just midnight at the last few pages, but that's the first that's happened in a while and it was /really/ nice. I kept mixing up the details of this and Rose Daughter in my head, and I read them in the opposite order last time, but this was the one written first. Robin McKinley's fairy tale style of writing is so natural and soothing. I know some of the criticism for this story is that the pacing was slow and the characters and plot obvious. Well, of course it seems obvious since the story of Beauty and the Beast is a "tale as old as time" (heh heh). I like this iteration of the story because its unhurried, ethereal nature only enhances the dreamlike quality of truly being swept away by a story.

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (Hitchhiker's #2)
I must say I enjoyed the first half of this book better than the second half, but it was filled many more literary and linguistic tangents than the first one, so that was quite entertaining! (I was mostly just frustrated with the people Ford and Arthur become stranded with and wished the perspective would have swung back to Zaphod more often.)

The Hunter's Moon (Chronicle of the Faerie #1)
(I seem to be committing many acts of impulsive re-reading this season...)
Continuing on in my trend of Faerie stories, I would be amiss not to revisit one that became a personal classic to me (thanks to Katie~). Two cousins adventuring across Ireland in search of the Good Folk and happening across more than they bargained for, but coming into their own and making true friends along the way. For some reason I always want to think the king's second's motives are traitorous, but everything turns out right in the end. I also appreciate that the love/romance aspect of the story isn't used to aggravate more anxiety, but is easy and imperfect yet full of hope for the future.

Rose Daughter
I won't compare this to Beauty even though it is another retelling of the same story and by the same author. Both are dear to me for different reasons.
I adore the sisters in Rose Daughter with their vibrant personalities and unapologetic natures (named Lionheart and Jeweltongue for their respective boldness and cleverness). But I also love that Beauty owns to the fact she's beautiful and still has her own strength and wisdom. I love that she was always running off to the gardens when she was small and that she feeds her energy into saving the dying  roses in the Beast's glasshouse even though she's openly sad. I love how matter-of-fact she and the Beast are about how they want to start their life together not in all of the grandeur of his palace, but with their roses.

The Summer King (Chronicles of the Faerie #2)
This being the loose sequel to "The Hunter's Moon" (see above), I was surprised how different the story felt. While Hunter's Moon was light and airy as the main heroine is chasing the Fairy Court across Ireland and slowly yet surely reveals the darker side of the Perilous Realm, this installment started on a much darker note and continued to explore and fray that thread. Grief, loss, un-belonging, and questions of morality in situations where the distinction between good and evil is as clear as mud made me resonate with this book more so than the simple pleasure its predecessor has always given me (okay, and having bird people never hurts~). I found it very refreshing that even though this was a quest set by and benefiting the Good Folk, they played quite a small role in the actual telling.

Valiant
Maybe it's because I've read two Beauty and the Beast adaptations recently, but I can't help loving this book even more for its subtlety. From Val becoming the Prince Valiant using her sword to defend monsters, to becoming a retched and terrible monster herself who still has the power to use True Love's Kiss to wake the beast. I now recall that this was also the final resounding nail on the coffin burying any (albeit already infinitesimal) inclination to try drugs, and I appreciate it's frankness for that. I waffle between this and Tithe being my favorite in the "trilogy", but currently this one is resolutely on top.

Ironside
Having just finished Valiant, I wish there were more interactions with Val and Ravus in this book, but alas, thus is the way of things. Despite the lack of even Kaye and Roiben interaction, I appreciated Kaye being able to come into herself more and accept that she doesn't have to ignore her human half now that she knows what she is. The situation now seems a bit more precarious than it did after Tithe, however, and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. But I'm still glad for any story about those characters. This series is always going to be my baseline for faerie stories and so far very few have actually measured up.

Mawige is wat bwings us togeder tooday

(Yes, I'm posting this way after the fact. I was emotionally compromised for a quite a while afterwards.)

After hearing the murmurings in the fall, the engagement in the winter, and all of the planning through the spring: I was finally off to Michigan for my best friend's wedding in mid-May.

It was planned so carefully, Valerie's three week break from Vet school rotations and my hoarded vacation days. I arrived two weeks before the wedding and the roomies were re-united in one house to themselves one last time.

Before I arrived, I was afraid that two weeks before the wedding there would be little left for me to help with. And oh, was I mistaken. Not that I myself was terribly helpful, but there were many of the fine details left to finish. Folding and creating the flowers for the centerpieces, arranging table seating arrangements and completing the escort card boards, finalizing bridal shower and bachelorette party details and their execution... fine details that brought friends together for craft nights and working movie marathons where we knocked out detail after detail to the antics of rogue llama emperors and WWII prisoners of war sabotaging the Germans. It was a whirlwind of lists, hot glue, and everyone's preferred caffeinated drinks.

I was so blessed to be able to see and visit with so many lovely people. I had an entire day with (most of) the Gaang; re-united at long last. The Kathryn and I had bookstore wanderings and cafe chats. Katlin traveled an hour after work just for us to have a few hours meandering campus (all three of those outings also included eating sushi, ironically). Golden Harvest with Val and Allegra, the art fair with Kari and Kathryn, family dinner with Geoff and Mama and Papa G, talking with Ashley and Kari until we were all nodding off, crying with Kari after napping and watching The Help, the Mother's Day with the Rupert ladies (+Alex and Uncle Bob, -Caitlyn) and the afternoon with my mom inevitably taking us to a bookstore and adding more books to our never-ending To-Read lists... And of course, every single moment I got to spend with Valerie.

I've been trying to figure out how to describe everything that I was feeling during that time and what I've felt since the wedding and returning to Japan. It would be easy to say it's some combination of happy/sad, but that's as close to describing it as saying the pond in your backyard can describe the ocean. But that puts in mind Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane, so let's play this out: In my years on this planet I've become familiar with my pool of emotions. I know what will send ripples and I know the storms that frequent it. I'm getting better at choosing which battles to fight and when to seek a safe harbor to ride it out. What I was not prepared for in this event, was how deep the reverberations traveled. I did an okay job keeping the surface together I think (I only cried when it wouldn't effect the ceremony/flow of events), but I'm still recovering and figuring out the depth of what this is. There's an ocean's worth of water mingling and churning and creating currents I wasn't aware of until now and am at a loss to understand or explain.

I was and am so thankful and filled with joy that I was able to be part of such a momentous time in a dear friend's life. I was and am filled with the love of my friends and family that I was able to seek out time with. I fell so incredibly blessed to be able to stay in contact with everyone while I am over here in Japan, and that I'm thought of at all. For every feeling of love, I also struggle(d) with feeling guilty for being given so much when I deserve so little. I struggle(d) with the guilt of being the one responsible for being absent for so long and planning on being absent for yet another year and a half. I struggle(d) with knowing logically no one blames me for that and accepting it's natural and healthy that all of us are spreading out and trying to make our way in the world. I was/am absolutely bursting with happiness for Valerie marrying Sean, because he's someone I respect and know they'll help make the other's strengths stronger. I was/am desolate at the thought that she's not exclusively mine anymore, and feel adrift. I feel guilty realizing I relied on her to anchor me, and frustrated with myself for possibly burdening her. I'm worried I am burdening my other friends with out realizing it. I'm struggling to accept that because they care for me (God only knows why) they don't mind being supportive. I'm struggling with the friends that are leaving Japan in a few short weeks and the fear of the tidal wave that hit me the night of the wedding coming back for round two. I'm also content being in Japan and don't feel like it is a mistake for me to be here for another year. But it's still a struggle every day to get up and remember that God is the source of my joy and not my circumstances or my ocean of feelings.

(All that being said I still don't feel like it's even touching on everything, but that's enough soul-bearing don't you agree? ...)

The wedding was beautiful. Valerie was beautiful. Sean's smile when he saw her for the first time walking down the aisle was beautiful. I feel as if I never have to get married myself since this wedding and the happiness and love I felt for the couple couldn't possibly be matched. I'm so grateful for my stolen time there, and the week in Maryland after (stirring up too many emotions of its own that I will not be going into). I'm resolved to cherish my time here (I refuse to succumb to to my watery lamentations without a fight) and I'm excited to see Valerie and Sean building their lives together.


Bonus! Pictures

Friend Fun Times:

Gaang's all here!

Our hair is strangely the same length...

Happy together~

Eating at a Japanese restaurant, of course~

A Wild Kathryn Appears!

And there is much rejoicing!

Golden Harvest is SO worth getting up early to stand in line for~

Shire <3

An adventurous outing together~

With refreshments!

Wedding:

(And in the unfortunate case you didn't catch the title's reference you should definitely take the time out of your day for some happiness.)

A JET Reader (Year 2, Winter)

Winter: December 1st-February 28th

I seem to have read A LOT more in the winter than in the fall~ Blame it on winter break and allowing myself to be more of a slug I guess haha (and good friends being enablers) <3

READ:
Shadow of Night
Chronicles of Elantra: Cast in Ruin
The Book of Life
Hyperbole and a Half
Chronicles of Elantra: Cast in Peril
Insurgent
_________________(Autumn)__________________
Chronicles of Elantra: Cast in Sorrow
Albrecht Durer: A Biography
Allegiant
Clockwork Angel
Death Comes to Pemberley
The Alloy of Law
Clockwork Prince
Clockwork Princess
The Blood of Olympus
Poison Princess


READING:
Chronicles of Elantra: Cast in Flame
Ready Player One
Poison Study
The Third Kingdom


PLANNING TO READ:
Son of the Shadows
Shadow and Bone

(plus a lot of books I want to re-read ><;;; )


Cast in Sorrow (Chronicles of Elantra #9)
And so concludes the books in the series Katie had read before.
The author's storytelling never ceases to amaze me in that she's crafted contained episodes in each book, but has spread out characterization and plot development through out the series. There are conversations and scenes that you know are important, but then so many little things that add up to two characters' growing relationship (okay, so mostly that's just because every little smile or glance from/to Severn to/from Kaylin makes me grin). And with the return of the "Lost Children", who knows how things will be shaken up now with Nightshade and Teela as well.

Albrecht Durer: A Biography (Recommended and received by/from Lauren W.)
I was so surprised and delighted last February when I found out Lauren also had a strong interest in the Incunabula/Reformation/"Renaissance" era, and particularly in the artist Albrecht Durer. I'm not a huge fan of biographies in general, but it was great taking my time with this one and reading about all of the different "celebrities" he rubbed shoulders with (Martin Luther, Erasmus of Rotterdam, Leonardo da Vinci). I wish I could say I remember all of the facts from it, but alas, I took almost the entire year to read it and thus didn't commit very concrete associations to memory.

Allegiant (Divergent Trilogy #3)
I had a bit of renewed hope for this series after the ending of Insurgent, but that hope slowly faded as the final installment carried on. To preface, I should say that I think these books are rather smart in their portrayal of psychological warfare and what power there is in suggestion. However in terms of enjoyment I don't believe I will be reading this series again. The hopelessness of first the factions, then the city, and then the world is not something I'd like to meditate on any more than necessary.

Death Comes to Pemberley
Okay, okay. I know. "Me thinks she doth protest too much" and all that.
After years of self-righteous indignation over titles such as "Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife" and "The Shades of Pemberley" etc., and the pretentious declaration that I "refuse to read what amounts to glorified, published fanfiction" (despite having no qualms over un-published fanfiction...), I went as far as buying this on eBook (not loaned from the Jackson District Library). I actually had my eye on it for a few years (probably since it came out). But with wanting to be in Austen again (and wanting to watch the mini-series that just came out...) I caved. It was delightful and satisfying and true to the characters while being original enough to feel as if they had been growing and living their lives in the ten year interim after the close of Pride and Prejudice. A fun, short read that was an amusing diversion from the heaviness in Elantra and the Divergent world.

Clockwork Angel (Infernal Devices Trilogy #1) Recommended by many, gifted by Kari
It's been a while (junior year of high school...) since I last read the Mortal Instruments but I always remembered them as a funny and well-characterized trilogy (back when it was only a trilogy...). So I've also been curious about this trilogy set in the past (in Victorian London, no less). Even though it's probably bad to compare them, I definitely feel like I enjoyed this book better than the original trilogy. It was funny and snarky when I needed it to be and also filled with emotional tension and self-empowerment. Tessa's a bit of a wilting flower at first, but she's also earnest and blunt in the face of the crazy world she's been tossed into. I flew through it over winter break (thanks to Kari sending me a physical copy) but now I'm in a bind as to how to read the next two volumes (I'm almost resigned to just order them to myself here but it feels selfish). So, still working on that... (EDIT 1/18: Made and AmazonJP account for the sole purpose of getting the next two books~ I can do cash on delivery and they'll be here in a few days!) (EDIT 1/22: While all three books are now frustratingly different sizes, I've acquired the last too and they're in English, so I'll count the AmazonJP endeavor as a success ;3 )

The Alloy of Law ("Wax and Wayne" series #1) Recommended and loaned by Valerie
This was a fun and sparky change of pace! The concept was interesting: taking the elements from the first series (the Mistborn trilogy) and propelling it into the future to an industrializing-Wild-West-guns-blazing setting. The way allomancy has changed and melded with feruchemy was also interesting, yielding special "Twin-Born"s with aspects of both abilities. Wax and Wayne were a great buddy-cop duo and a welcome reprieve to the angst of YA (without being unnecessarily callous or crude). It appears the author had originally planned on a trilogy of trilogies: set in the past, present, and future of the same world (Sadriel) but this pre-modern story happened to come out (and may become it's own side trilogy). Mistborn was the "past" so I'm still waiting on the "modern" trilogy, and now the rest of this mini-series! (Considering this is the same author who helped finish writing the end of the Wheel of Time series because the original author died, I really hope he's able to finish all he's started ><; )

Clockwork Prince (Infernal Devices Trilogy #2)
Well... So maybe I'm bad at self-control, considering I started and finished this book before finishing three others I had already started (but I have a plan to minimize the book hangover I'd get from anyone of these by getting partway into all of them and then finishing them in succession).
Once again, I find myself more attracted to the side characters. I like Tessa, and I appreciate her voice in the story, but I wish she wouldn't play the field so much...(I was okay with a subtle, hinted at love triangle, but blatant ones bore me...) That aside, I loved hearing more from Sophie and meeting the elder Lightwood brother, Gideon. Magnus Bane's antics remain entertaining, as always. Henry and Charlotte (thankfully) finally reconciled themselves, and with Will's sister Cecily now on the scene I'm excited for the changing dynamic it with bring in the last book.

Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices Trilogy #3)
With a bit of luck and a change of plans I found myself free for an entire evening to finish the last half of this all in one go (for better or worse). I enjoyed it as I had the first one--which is to say more than the second one. In a slight break from the norm, I didn't mind the love-triangle so much because the two guys in this case actually loved each other as their sworn brother, so there wasn't as much unnecessary drama. There were quite a few plot twists I hadn't seen coming (some more welcome than others) but in general I appreciated the humanity that was brought forth in their world of creatures. Overall I really enjoyed the series and the use of literature within it (and I still like Sophie and Gideon best~)

The Blood of Olympus (The Heroes of Olympus #5 (final))
Well, quite the impromptu post-Christmas-self-purchase, I was convinced by Courtney to "treat yo'self" while perusing JLPT study books at Kinokuniya in Sapporo. And now that I think about it, it was a great idea because it's the last in the series and I needed to have it physically in front of me (not listening distractedly to audio, and not flipping through it on eBook). Ironically, it's the first book of the series I've purchased (having borrowed all the others from the Library and a couple from Ariel).
I really don't want to let these characters go. This book isn't a small book, but I'm left wishing it was even longer so I could see everything from everyone's perspective. I'm so glad that Reyna and Nico were given perspective chapters in this book, because I dearly love their enduring strength in the face of all of the heartbreak and difficulty they encounter. I almost wish there was an entire companion series to this series that shared the in-between stories while they were on the Argo II and the lives of the campers back on Halfblood Hill. I was glad it left open a wide future for everyone so I can easily imagine their stories continuing on.

Poison Princess (The Arcana Chronicles #1) Recommended and gifted by Courtney
After everything that Courtney had hinted about this series I was excited to start it--and then was surprised with my own copy!
While a bit slow to start (the first hundred pages as a "slice'o'life" flashback to how things were before the Flash (this story's apocalypse)  were grueling... complete with shallow, football star boyfriend and high school hierarchy snobbery) the meat of the story was unique and entertaining. The Flash burned away all plant life and instantly evaporated all sources of water--as well as burning to ash anyone caught outside. In a world now dominated by savage militia, slavers, cannibals, plague, and Bagmen (zombie-like once-human creatures that mindlessly seek moisture--even if it's human blood) where the few girls and women left are hunted and forced into "marriages", Evie is struggling to find meaning in the strange visions and powers she has. And to her benefit or detriment, a Cajun named Jackson Deveaux has taken an interest in protecting her... (can't wait to see how this develops in the next book!)