Monthly Reading Report (2022/07)

number of readings

The total number of readings in July 2022 is 27.

Novels: 7

Essays: 1 copy

Picture book: 2

Comics: 8 sets, 15 in total

Picture books: 2

Topic reading

The theme of July is disaster, so I read "Disaster Sightseeing Tour" and "The Future I See". In "The Future I See", the author has always been able to predict dreams and predict that a major tsunami will occur in 2025. On the one hand, I feel scared, but on the other hand I know that worry will not come. Some people avoid disasters, but in "Disaster Tour Group", there is a travel agency that makes money by organizing disaster tour groups, and writes a novel with a very interesting point of view.

Are disasters really inevitable? Why do we sometimes stay where we are, knowing that disaster is going to happen?

In addition to "disaster", I also read two of the first prizes in the novel category of the Taipei International Book Fair Awards, "Dear Accomplice" and "Zero Degree Separation", the former is very beautiful, the latter is not my cup of tea at all.

novel

"Disaster Tour Group"

Author: Yoon Go Eun

Likes: ★★★★★

Short comment: This "Disaster Tour Group" felt a little dull at first, but it became more and more compact in the later stages, and it was completely shocking when I saw it at the end.

The author wrote a terrifying story with calm brushstrokes. I was so calm that I never knew I was reading a terrifying novel. In the end, I was completely knocked down because I was not mentally prepared. I haven't tried reading a novel so shocking for a long time. Award works.

The story tells the story of a travel agency in South Korea specializing in disaster tour groups. Where there has been a major disaster, there will be business opportunities. The heroine, who has worked in a travel agency for ten years, originally planned to resign, but was persuaded to participate in disaster tourism in the name of a business trip. After analyzing whether the tour group should continue to operate, the heroine chose to go to Mui Ne, Vietnam, to embark on an unexpected journey.

I don't want to continue the introduction, because there will be more surprises (scared) when reading this way.

All in all, this is one of the most recommended books for July.

"Dear Accomplice"

Author: Chen Xue

Likes: ★★★★☆

Short comment: Chen Xue's novels are all well written, and this "Dear Accomplice" won the first prize in the novel category of the Taipei International Book Fair Award. The standard is definitely guaranteed.

After the baptism of "Skyscrapers", I knew that Chen Xue's novels use multi-angle narratives, and this "Dear Accomplice" is also the same. It started with a kidnapping case, and then kept changing perspectives. Everyone in this family also detailed a story. Fan, of course, there is a police officer's mental journey to investigate the case.

If you look at it from the point of view of mystery novels, you will feel that the narrative angle is too scattered and too repetitive. The statements of several characters do not actually make any amazing progress, but the too detailed mood just interrupts the tension in investigating the case. Of course, the psychological It's well written, the ending is sad, and the reading process is heavy.

But if I say it, I still think Skyscraper looks better.

The Messenger: The Missing Man

Author: Tsujimura Fukasuki

Likes: ★★★★

Short comment: Like the first episode of "The Messenger", it is a very gentle novel.

The messenger is the intermediary that allows the living and the dead to meet. The living can only meet one dead person in their life, and the dead can only see one living person. If this opportunity is used, there will be no next time.

This book consists of five short stories, all of which can be regarded as independent short stories, but run through the protagonist's mental journey.

There are always many regrets about life and death. Let the living and the dead meet, and you can always eliminate a little regret.

The book has always emphasized "destiny". I hope you have the fate to read this book. Of course, it is better to read the first "Messenger" first.

"Invite you to every funeral of mine"

Author: Domefish

Likes: ★★★☆

Short comment: The protagonist died unexpectedly early, and the god of death proposed a contract to allow him to return to the world to make up for the prematurely ended life, but he could only live on a dying person every seven days and be a strange "traveler", so fifteen Over the years, he has been a billionaire, a female star, a hamster... Just when he was tired of such a life, he fell in love with a university lecturer at first sight, but no matter what he looked like, the other party recognized him.

I am attracted by this setting, especially the unexpected development in the latter part. Although it is not a big surprise, it is also a very thoughtful setting.

"Forbidden Crossing"

Author: Xiu

Likes: ★★★☆

Short comment: Let’s put it this way, in fact, Yan Xiao has a certain guarantee, that is, the story is smooth and simple, so after I read a novel that I couldn’t understand, I specially found a Yan Xiao to balance it.

Xi Qian should be regarded as a famous writer of words, although I don't see much. This book tells the story of a girl who was taken from her house when she was 18 years old. Ten years later, the other party took the initiative to withdraw from her body to give her a chance to return to her original body. The senior she had a crush on back then became her boyfriend. years, and he broke up with her as soon as he met her...

The story doesn't have too many surprises, it just flows smoothly, without surprises or disappointments.

"My Everyday Reasoning"

Author: Wakatake Nanami

Likes: ★★★

Short Commentary: Consists of 12 separate short stories, but in the end the 12 stories are put together again like a puzzle to develop another set of reasoning.

However, when I read those 12 short stories, I didn't find it interesting at all. Although they were daily reasoning, those reasonings were completely beyond the ordinary and beyond the cognitive scope of ordinary readers, so I couldn't participate at all.

Although it is said that I admire the author's idea a little when I see it at the end, but none of the 12 main articles amazes me, so even if I am a little surprised at the end, I still can't really like it.

"Zero Separation"

Author: Igor

Likes: ★★☆

Short comment: I bought this book early in the morning. Later, I found out that this book won the first prize of the Taiwan Literature Golden Award, so I found it.

Let me tell you honestly, I don't understand it. This is the third science fiction novel that makes me feel like I have to read it until I finish it, and then I come to the conclusion that I don't like science fiction. (Hey, should we look at Wesley?)

In the form of a book, the whole book is a fictional six interviews of a 23rd-century author. Probably because I jumped automatically when it was beyond my understanding, I insisted on reading it but never understood it. I understand, but I don't really like it.

Well, this book won the grand prize, and it is also well received on the Internet, but I am not good enough. I'll go back and review myself.

prose

"City of Change"

Author: Liu Zijie

Likes: ★★★☆

Short comment: Liu Zijie's books have always been good-looking. More than half of this book is travel notes. Although I don't like to read travel notes, I still think she writes well. In the middle section, I wrote a lot of movies and TV shows that I have never heard of. Let’s just look at it as a story. Of course, she has a strong ability to tell stories. Later, writing about life and writing is the most fascinating to me, after all, it is the subject that is most likely to resonate.

Because of the subject matter, I didn't like this "Huacheng" very much, but the book is still a good book.

picture book

"The Future I See"

Author: Ryuuki Ryo

Likes: ★★★★

Short comment: This is not just a comic, there are many text explanations for the dream diary.

The first half is the "Future I See" comics and dream commentary, and the second half is the author's horror comics.

When I bought this book, of course, I wanted to read the prophecy, so I wasn't very interested in the second half. In fact, the second half didn't have any amazing stories, but the first half was very attractive.

The comic "The Future I See" is actually very short. The author draws the process of finding her dreams come true. The comic finally mentions that she dreamed of a tsunami, and a date appeared in the dream when it was released. The cover says "The disaster happened in March 2011", because it corresponds to the 311 Japan earthquake that occurred later, so everyone suddenly took her prediction seriously.

However, in the full version published this time, it is stated that the tsunami she dreamed of did not happen in March 2011, but in July 2025, and involved Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Originally thought that this prophecy would only be mentioned lightly in the book, but it turned out that there was a lot of space to discuss this matter, because the author thought that she republished this book just to inform everyone of this prophecy, so that everyone can take precautions.

I certainly hope her prophecy doesn't happen, but sometimes it's still interesting to read the prophecy.

"Escape! Feet are for running

Author: Shinsuke Yoshitake

Likes: ★★★★

Short comment: The main point is to teach people to escape from people who will hurt you, and to find important people and important things at the same time, whether you see something "miserable" or "like", act quickly.

Although it is a very simple concept, Shinsuke Yoshitake's pictures and words are powerful, warm and thought-provoking.

Yes, we have a pair of legs so that we can escape from people and things that hurt us, so don't just stand in place and be bullied by others.

This picture book is of course suitable for children to read, but adults will still feel that their hearts are filled with happiness.

comics

"Dream Pain"

Author: Pain

Likes: ★★★★☆

Short comment: Before reading this book, I had never heard of the cartoonist Wei Huan.

This book tells how the author started from scratch and realized the process of chasing his dream of becoming a cartoonist.

The process was a bit difficult, but because of persistence, it finally succeeded.

We all don’t know if our dream will come true, but if we don’t persist, it will definitely not come true.

I like to read the story of chasing dreams, so I like this comic.

"Joseph and the Tiger and the School of Fish" Part 1 and Part 2

Author: picture book Nao

Likes: ★★★★

Short comment: I haven't read the original novel, nor the movie or animation.

This manga should be an anime adaptation, not an original novel.

A boy who dreams of studying in Mexico works for a girl who is not good at work. From the beginning of his misunderstanding, he develops love because of mutual company.

Although the latter part of the development is a bit old-fashioned, it is still a beautiful love story.

The Fifth Lesson of War 1–4

Author: You

Likes: ★★★☆

Short Review: A very sad story.

A class of high school students suddenly received news that the fifth class every Friday would send students to the battlefield, but only two students were excluded, and at the end it was revealed what the whole war was, and these two students Why not go to war.

Although it is a war, there are not many positive descriptions, but mostly side descriptions.

This is the author's first original story and her legacy.

The Job Search Diary of a Modern Witch 1–3

Author: Shahu Aizawa

Likes: ★★★

Short comment: Aizawa Shahu's original comics, telling the daily story of a witch who wants to come to the country to practice for a year alone. After reading three books, she is still a witch who is still confused and always unsuccessful, but she has many people around her who help her. Occasionally one or two stories are better, but overall they are too bland.

The Chinese version has not been published until the third volume (the Japanese version has been published until the end of the fifth volume), and it seems that it will not be published.

"Strange Pain"

Author: Pain

Likes: ★★★

Comments: This book is a short and supernatural story. It has a story and can be read.

The story isn't too scary, and it's not too high-quality. Only watch it when you are free.

"My Maid Is Tired Enough" 1–2

Author: Nakamura Kanko

Likes: ★★☆

Short comment: It's not a good-looking comic, but it's not ugly either.

The heroine went to a single-parent family to take care of a lovely girl, but the other party was super resistant to the housekeeper, so she had taken many housekeepers before, and of course the heroine wanted to overcome all odds to make her accept herself.

It would be fine if it was just arranged like this, but somehow the heroine kept saying that she wanted to marry this girl. The more I looked at it, the more dumbfounded it was. What is the plot?

After reading two and a half books, I decided to give up.

"University Slightly Pain"

Author: Pain

Likes: ★★

Short comment: I first read "Dream Slightly Hurts" and thought it was very good, then I was wrong about the author's other books, but this one is really indifferent.

Well, should I say I'm far from college life? Or is my college life so different from the author's college life that it doesn't resonate at all? In short, I have no feeling for the story, and the drawings are really not beautiful. It was difficult to finish this book, so I gave up reading the next one.

"The Sorrows of the White Collar Exorcist Okumura Yukino" 1

Author: Sasaki Mino

Likes: ★★

Short comment: It's a bit baffling to see. Later, I checked it and found out that it was a rumor of "The Exorcist of Blue", and I haven't read "The Exorcist of Blue", so I can't understand it after reading one.

This book focuses on the daily life of Yukino, all of which are short stories, but none of the short stories make me feel good, so it should be because I have no knowledge of those characters at all.

I originally borrowed four books, but I gave up after reading one.

picture book

"Elephant Forgetting"

Author: Wang Yuqingwen; Nan Juntu

Likes: ★★★★☆

Short comment: Elephants have always had the best memory, so when I saw the picture book titled "Elephant Forgetting", I immediately became interested. An elephant who can't remember anything suddenly appeared in the group of elephants. Let's call it Wangwang first. Everyone is very friendly to Wangwang, but Wangwang always behaves strangely, like standing with his feet on a circle. Ishigami balances, like standing upside down with its head on the ground, but it forgot how to feed, and if no one calls, it doesn't even dare to sleep, and it keeps having nightmares in its dreams.

The elephant group tried to help Wang Wang to overcome the scars buried in his heart.

Lovely book, I recommend it.

"Little Red Flower"

Author: An Zhe

Likes: ★★★★

Short comment: A lonely girl originally doted on a little red flower, but one day the little red flower was taken away by the elves, she found the little red flower, but found that the world needs this little red flower more than her...

This picture book will provoke a little thought, so it is suitable for older children or adults.

More great reading: read as you like