This week… friends. What a foursome of books! Let’s go to a magical market for a new life, visit some ideas of afterlives, hang out with Junji Ito, and finish with a serial killer. Sooooo many choices, so little space on the TBR.
THE RAINFALL MARKET
By: You Yeong-Gwang
Translated: Slin Jung
Release: 1/21/25
Page count: 224
KU: No Hoopla: No
Synopsis: Serin dreams of a better life and gets the chance to swap hers. With the help of a magical cat, Issha, Serin hunts for the perfect orb with her new life. Serin only has one week to find it but will it be as easy as she hopes?
First line: “Somewhere far outside the Big City was a place called Rainbow Town.”
Favorite line: “It may not look like much, but this is the most previous plant in the Garden.”
Thoughts: Imagine Willy Wonka’s golden ticket with Goldilocks and the Three Bears but make it deep with philosophy. Sprinkle magical realism and characters that will stay etched on your heart forever. I loved this universe and I need to go back ASAP.
Rating: 4.5/5
Other recommendations: N/A
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SUM: Forty Tales from the Afterlives
By: David Eagleman
Release: 2/10/09
Page count: 110
KU: No Hoopla: No
Synopsis: Eagleman gives the reader something afterlives for thought; ranging from heartwarming and sweet to depressing and miserable.
First line: “In the afterlife. You relive all of your experiences but this time with the events reshuffled into a new order; all the moments that shared a quality are grouped together.”
Favorite line: “… we all watch for that one thing: evidence of our residual influence in the world, the ripples left in our wake… These are the fingerprints left on the world, you may be gone, but your mark remains.”
Thoughts: This book is emotionally heavy. You are left with a fear of the unknown but a longing for your favorite option to be real. The stories force you to face the fact that afterlife is even more up for interpretation that before you read this.
Rating: 5/5
Other recommendations: INCOGNITO, THE RUNAWAY SPECIES
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THE LIMINAL ZONE - Vol. 2
By: Junji Ito
Release: 3/25/25
Page count: 224
KU: No Hoopla: No
Synopsis: Four strange tales told from one of the greatest graphic storytellers of our time.
First line: “I live in a hot springs resort town.”
Favorite line: “His head is empty, though. In a past life, he was a peeping Tom.”
Thoughts: Ito just ages like fine wine with his art and stories. Much like ALLEY, this feels mature. It is much more centered on the story and creating a sense of unease and dread versus going for the grossout. Papa Ito is my favorite Ito.
Ratings: 5/5
Other recommendations: ALLEY, TOMIE
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THE DEVIANT - Vol. 1
By: James Tynion IV
Release: 10/29/24
Page count: 152
KU: No Hoopla: Yes
Synopsis: When a young author and comic artist interviews a sadist found guilty of Christmas killings in 1970, Michael has more than his sexuality in common with him.
First line: “Are you there, Michael?”
Favorite line: “I think you should call that lawyer.”
Thoughts: What a killer (ha) graphic novel. You can’t help but kinda like the Deviant Killer enough though his crimes are atrocious. I have to finish this series because WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?!
Rating: 4.5/5
Other recommendations: SOMETHINGS KILLING THE CHILDREN, W0RLDTR33
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