Thursday, April 11, 2024

Books I Want to Read This Month

As expected, I didn't read any physical books last month. I'm trying to do better now that I moved 3 crates full of light novels and manga over lol.

  1. Solo Leveling vol. 1 by Dubu & Chugong
  2. Solo Leveling vol. 2 by Dubu & Chugong
  3. Wotakoi Love Is Hard for Otaku vol. 1 by Fujita
  4. Wotakoi Love Is Hard for Otaku vol. 2 by Fujita
  5. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
  6. Bailin and Li Yun by Jayessart
  7. The Rising of the Shield Hero vol. 1 by Aneko Yusagi
  8. The Rising of the Shield Hero vol. 2 by Aneko Yusagi
  9. The Rising of the Shield Hero vol. 3 by Aneko Yusagi
  10. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Familia Chronicle Novel vol. 1 by Fujino Omori
  11. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Familia Chronicle Novel vol. 1 by Fujino Omori
  12. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? vol. 15 by Fujino Omori
  13. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? vol. 16 by Fujino Omori
  14. I Name Him Me by Ma Yan, translated by Stephen Nashef
  15. Home Body by Rupi Kaur

Monday, April 8, 2024

March in Retrospect

I feel like March passed by really fast. 

As usual, life has been pretty busy, especially with house stuff. We found mold underneath the kitchen cabinets right before we left on vacation near the end of the month. Such joy. Now that we're back, we've been waiting on quotes and finally decided on a company, who's in the middle of blocking off our kitchen right now before cutting through our cabinets. 

However, even though life has been crazy, I still managed to find time to read more Chinese webnovels lol. Alec and I also felt the urge to rewatch Haikyu!! again, so that's been fun.

I read: 

  • After Crossing Through Ten Worlds, I Failed To Run Away by 啾咪啾咪兔
  • Villain’s Strategy by 萝卜花兔子
  • O Pretends to be B For The Violent Admiral by 公子柔
  • Marriage of a Sickly Villain and a Fortune Hunter by 玄鹿游原 
  • The Eldest Daughter was Reborn by 袖侧
  • After Rebirth, I was Entangled by a Second Generation Rich Guy Again by 袖侧
  • The Villain Female Supporting Role in the Sweet Pet Article by 二恰


I watched: 

  • Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? IV (2022)
  • Haikyu!! (2014)  [rewatched]
  • Haikyu!! 2nd Season (2015)  [rewatched]

Friday, March 22, 2024

Mini Reviews: A Wolf in Doctor's Clothing -Why is His Touch so Good?- vol. 1, Dressed as the Younger Sister of the Male Protagonist of Shuangwen in the Entertainment Industry, Don’t Think About Hindering My Studies

Title: A Wolf in Doctor's Clothing -Why is His Touch so Good?- vol. 1
Author: Rion Nanao 
Chapters: 7 chapters 
Publication: 2016
Summary from Renta:

Those fingertips, that tongue... They're not enough anymore...!

Yuri is dating the upperclassmen of her dreams and life has never been better! Or it should be, but she has a secret... She can't get turned on by his touch in bed.

So, Yuri goes to get help from a specialist, but that doctor...!! To make matters even worse, she climaxes!! But, she's in love with her boyfriend... Yet, she can't get that doctor out of her head!

Dr. Narumi and Yuri's secret sessions are underway...!

2.5 STARS - IT WAS OKAY

MY REVIEW: 

If you read this for the smut and are willing to overlook general stupidity, then you're fine. Don't come here looking for a completely healthy relationship, especially in the beginning. 


Title: Dressed as the Younger Sister of the Male Protagonist of Shuangwen in the Entertainment Industry
Author: 顾无痕
Chapters: 241 chapters + 14 extras
Publication: 2021
Summary from jjwxc:

Jiang Meng read a refreshing article on the entertainment industry before going to bed.

At first, she thought that the male protagonist was the real and wise boss who would lock people into a dark room at every turn, while the female protagonist was the newcomer in the entertainment industry who ran with the ball.

Later I learned that the real protagonist of this book is Xiang Lin, the son of a wise boss and a top figure in the entertainment industry.

As soon as Jiang Meng woke up, she found that she had entered this entertaining novel about the entertainment industry and became the... ball in it, the biological sister of the male protagonist Xiang Lin.

As a top figure in the entertainment industry, there are always as many women who like Xiang Lin as there are crucian carp crossing the river, and it is not uncommon for some of them to go backstage to chase him.

But as soon as Xiang Lin's performance ended that day, he was blocked by a pretty girl.

With a face that was somewhat similar to his, the little girl shouted: "Brother!"

Xiang Lin said: "...???"

-

Xiang Lin, a top celebrity in the entertainment industry, didn't know his wise father until he was 18 years old. There is also a romantic debt outside, and he also has a daughter.

At first he looked down on the little girl named Jiang Meng, but later he doted on Jiang Meng to the point where the whole internet spread rumors that he was Jiang Meng's sponsor.

Xiang Lin sneered coldly: Financial owner? I am her brother!


#This is a story where having a brother means you have the whole world#

#The heroine CP is not the brother, but Gu Jun. Because the heroine of the main text is underage, and underage people cannot fall in love, the two of them get along as friends in the early stages. This article is not without cp, the specific emotional drama will be placed in the extra chapter after adulthood."

4 STARS - I REALLY LIKED IT

MY REVIEW: 

This was HILARIOUS in the first half as Jiang Meng and Xiang Lin started making fun of each other as they started getting along with each other. They really became typical siblings where only they could bully each other and no one else lol. After they became closer and dealt with their parents, the tone became less humorous and more slice of life as Jiang Meng grew up and how the siblings overcame obstacles stemming from their upbringing together. This was an entertaining but healing family novel with a small sprinkle of romance at the end. 


Title: Don’t Think About Hindering My Studies
Author: 池多鱼
Chapters: 65 chapters + 4 extras
Publication: 2019
Summary from Novel Updates:

When Ning Yi, a young top student, transmigrated and became the white lotus female supporting character who only knew how to go “ying ying ying”1, she discovered that pretending to be pitiful and picking on the female lead was more difficult than getting first place.

Do you know how painful it is for a top student to look at the WuSan2 and not be able to work on it?

Do you understand the despair of clearly knowing the answer yet being unable to fill in the answer sheet?

Such a wonderful period of time, why use it to be jealous and chase men?!

Ning Yi presented the cake with a cold and detached heart: “Nan gege, I made this myself ying~ Can you teach me after you eat it?”

Lu Xu Nan frowned as he looked at the annoying person in front of him: “Not eating, not teaching, get lost!”

Ning Yi, who had completed the storyline, scolded a ‘smelly tr*sh’ in her heart, turned around, and left.

Lu Xu Nan who has the ability to read minds: ??? When she wants something, it’s Nan ­­gege, and when there’s nothing, it’s smelly tr*sh. Did she graduate with a major in face changing?

4 STARS - I REALLY LIKED IT

MY REVIEW: 

This was hilarious in the first half! I loved hearing Ning Yi's rants inside her mind and Lu Xu Nan's reaction after hearing them! Most of the times when he read people's minds were pretty funny lol. The gap between outer appearance vs inner dialogue was too funny! However, as the plot progressed, it focused less on the comedy and more on foreshadowing and mystery. It took out a lot of the original fun, which was a bit disappointing. 

I also liked the author's spin on transmigrators and people involved in the plot. Although it felt like it came out of the left field towards the end, the extra stories helped make up for it with lots of fluff lol.

I thought that this novel sounded similar and found out that it was because the author changed the title three times, so I think I read one of those summaries before. The other titles are: The Noble Cannon Fodder Side Character Doesn't Care About You and I Won't be a Cutesy White Lotus.

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Books I Want to Read This Month

Not sure if I'll be able to tackle much from this list because I only moved 4 books over so far lol. But I will try!

  1. Solo Leveling vol. 1 by Dubu & Chugong
  2. Solo Leveling vol. 2 by Dubu & Chugong
  3. Wotakoi Love Is Hard for Otaku vol. 1 by Fujita
  4. Wotakoi Love Is Hard for Otaku vol. 2 by Fujita
  5. Graceling the Graphic Novel by Kristin Cashore & Gareth Hinds
  6. All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody & Christine Lynn Herman
  7. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
  8. Scum Villain's Self-Saving System vol. 1 Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
  9. Scum Villain's Self-Saving System vol. 2 Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
  10. Bailin and Li Yun by Jayessart
  11. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Familia Chronicle Novel vol. 1 by Fujino Omori
  12. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Familia Chronicle Novel vol. 1 by Fujino Omori
  13. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? vol. 15 by Fujino Omori
  14. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? vol. 16 by Fujino Omori
  15. I Name Him Me by Ma Yan, translated by Stephen Nashef
  16. Home Body by Rupi Kaur

Sunday, March 17, 2024

February in Retrospect

Okay, I knew I'd be busy this in February, but I didn't expecting how hectic and exhausted I would be after moving into the house. Unpacking and organizing takes a lot more mental work than I expected that I had no motivation to even try to blog. 

But I was still able to read a bit in between all of these changes! Also finished watching Marry My Husband with Shelle right after I started living in the new house! It was soo gooood!

I read: 

  • He’s So Sweet After Class by 沽飞双
  • The Girl Who Wears a Book is Very Salty by You Qian
  • This Villainess Wants a Divorce! by AhBin & Nokki
  • The Wealthy Fiance Has the Ability to Read Minds by 秦皇
  • The Real Daughter is Also Trying to Spend Money to Get Rich Today by Cat Fengqi
  • Zombie's Abnormal Love by 长燃
  • How Did It Differentiate From Omega to Alpha? by 水暖鸭知


I watched: 

  • Marry My Husband (2024)

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

DNF Review: I Was the Heroine, and in the Sequel, Even Though I’m a Mob, All of My Stats Are Maxed Out & Salted Fish Plant Department, But Lord of Another World [Infrastructure]

Title: I Was the Heroine, and in the Sequel, Even Though I’m a Mob, All of My Stats Are Maxed Out
Author: 琴子 & 藤丸 豆ノ介
Chapters: 81 chapters 
Publication: 2022
Summary from Novel Updates:

Summoned as a saintess heroine to the world of an Otome game, Nina saved the world with her capture targets and returned to her original world with a grand ending to her friendship.

Two years later, Nina came to the sequel world.

“All the stats are at MAX? Eh, what is this color… How scary.”

This time, she was supposed to be a mob with no role, but somehow, she had inherited her previous saintess stats. The hearts, which represented the level of favorability, were all full, but for some reason, in the case of the prince, they were completely black.

At any rate, there seemed to be a different heroine this time around, and the script might go wrong if I were to be there.

With this in mind, Nina changed her appearance and decided to use her cheat-level magic to live a leisurely, slow life in the countryside.

However, the previous capture targets who inadvertently met again chased after Nina, ignoring the sequel heroine. Rather, even the heroine became attached to Nina.

“Hey, why did you betray me?”

“I won’t let you go again.”

Above all, Prince Alvin’s appearance was strange.

Far from a leisurely slow life, Nina found herself caught up in the game world and the bug that took her life last time.

MY REVIEW: 

I made it to chapter 35 before deciding to quit reading it. The book was just kind of boring. Everything from Nina's POV is so naive and lackadaisical. Because she's already OP from the get go, there's no tension or rush to do anything. Even making money was super simple for her. Her obliviousness of the opposite sex was interesting at first but annoying after a while, even with her love interest's blatant feelings.  


Title: Salted Fish Plant Department, But Lord of Another World [Infrastructure]
Author: 时空篱
Chapters: 150 chapters + 14 extras
Publication: 2022
Summary from jjwxc

Zhuang Jiu died on the eve of victory.

When she opened her eyes again, she was back before the end of the world, and there was an extra book in her mind. Only then did she realize that she was just an important tool in the book, and she was mainly responsible for giving her credit to the hero and heroine.

Zhuang Jiu: ...What kind of unparalleled scapegoat is she!

After a new life, she got tired of fighting and killing, so she ran into the mountains with the supplies she had stocked up, deciding to stay there in peace and contentment until the end of the apocalypse.

As a result, the apocalypse began, and Zhuangjiu, who was quietly waiting for the appearance of violent powers in her previous life, and then used it as a safety wall to isolate zombies, discovered that she had acquired plant-based powers.

Silently looking at a group of strangely growing and squeaking plants that appeared in the ground, Zhuangjiu thought hesitantly: This... can also be used as a safety wall, right?

—In the year 5X23, the apocalypse has come. Half the planet fell in an instant, and zombies are rampant everywhere.

All animals and plants have evolved, and humans have developed special powers, but they are still unable to resist the invasion of zombies. As a last resort, humans have established major safety zones in an attempt to unite and jointly resist the zombies.

However, there are still intrigues in the safe zone, food, water, and supplies are constantly being consumed, and the territory is gradually being eroded by zombies. Everyone lives in endless panic.

Just when everyone was in panic, a giant base was suddenly discovered deep in a certain mountain range. All the people living there were people who had been expelled. However, it was technologically advanced and rich in materials, comparable to the alliance before the end of the world. developed.

No, it's even more powerful than the Alliance.

All the security zone leaders who were trying to covet the base, after several threats and force deterrence still failed, and suffered a lot of blows, finally understood the fact that it was impossible for them to occupy Zhuangjiu's base!

What to do?

The people in charge looked at each other.

Hurry up and surrender, become the lord's subordinate safe zone, and maybe even be able to hold him in your arms and enjoy the food and drink!

—In the fifth year of the end of the world, half of the safe zone has become a subsidiary safe zone for the winery.

The winery suddenly had a lot more workload, and the pressure doubled instantly. After working for two days in a row, she finally couldn't stand it any more. She broke into the heavily secured laboratory of the base, grabbed the man's collar and roared: "Hurry up! When will the antidote be developed? I can't hold it anymore!"

Gan Jinxing Pointing to the supercomputer next to him: "Then you have to ask it. When will it finish running and when will mankind be saved?"

MY REVIEW: 

Normally, I don't mind an OP lead if everything else is good. However, this book was pretty boring after the initial hoarding spree. Once sbe gained her powers and started working on her base, she was already too OP that there was no tension or excitement about this phase that I quickly grew disinterested in her development. 

Then, the random mystery suddenly introduced made everything seem too contrived to give Zhuang Jiu the perfect ending later, so I was even more turned off and decided to quit after reading 38 chapters.

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Books I Want to Read This Month

Not sure how much time I'll have to read this month in between being busy with work and moving (I haven't even packed all of my books yet!), but we shall see!

  1. Solo Leveling vol. 1 by Dubu & Chugong
  2. Solo Leveling vol. 2 by Dubu & Chugong
  3. Solo Leveling vol. 3 by Dubu & Chugong
  4. Solo Leveling vol. 4 by Dubu & Chugong
  5. Wotakoi Love Is Hard for Otaku vol. 1 by Fujita
  6. Wotakoi Love Is Hard for Otaku vol. 2 by Fujita
  7. Graceling the Graphic Novel by Kristin Cashore & Gareth Hinds
  8. All of Us Villains by Amanda Foody & Christine Lynn Herman
  9. The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang
  10. Scum Villain's Self-Saving System vol. 1 Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
  11. Scum Villain's Self-Saving System vol. 2 Mo Xiang Tong Xiu
  12. Bailin and Li Yun by Jayessart
  13. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Familia Chronicle Novel vol. 1 by Fujino Omori
  14. I Name Him Me by Ma Yan, translated by Stephen Nashef
  15. Home Body by Rupi Kaur

Monday, February 12, 2024

January in Retrospect

Sorry I've been MIA for the past few weeks. Alec and I started house hunting again last month, looked at houses for one weekend, put in two offers, and got accepted for our second pick house. Since then, we've been busy getting everything in order, planning, packing, setting up utilities and everything just to close last Thursday. 

The upcoming weeks are also super busy with the movers coming this Thursday and Friday for Alec's stuff while we need to figure out when to move my stuff as well. Then, unpacking and reorganizing and cleaning again

Posts will most likely be sporadic until things settle down! We'll see how much time I have for reading or watching anything and compare it to January. Look how well I did last month!

I read: 

  • The Supporting Male Character Just Wants to Be a Tool Man by 林盎司
  • The Meaning of You Season 1 by Tilda Kim, Yeyoung, & Lee Sorock
  • The Meaning of You Season 2 by Tilda Kim, Yeyoung, & Lee Sorock
  • After I Flopped on My Crush by 松子茶
  • My Boyfriend Discovered My Zhihu Response by 杳杳一言
  • After Transmigrating Into a Villain Cannon Fodder Male Zerg by 牧粮人
  • I Can Still Salvage It by 松子茶
  • After Marrying the Evil God by 浮白曲
  • BL Fans LOVE My Brother?! by Mimu Oyamada
  • How to Feed a Little Jiaojiao in the Last Days by 君水益
  • Showing Affection with the Villain in the Abuse by Grapefruit 99


I watched: 

  • Strong Girl Nam-Soon (2023)
  • The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
  • I'm in Love with the Villainess (2023)