Status Updates From El zoo de papel y otros rel...

i cried on the bus from newport to cardiff reading the story about hiroto.... #notokay

had to pause because i was crying so hard after reading the paper menagerie but. wow.

picture book - 4.5/5, this is a promax version of the first story with actual characters

the paper menagerie - 5/5, so deservedly, makes sense that this is the eponymous piece, this made me cry it was good

the regular - 4.5+/5, it was really good but those like two paragraphs at the end felt too overt, I liked that this story was longer which really helps mitigate the issues i've felt with the earlier short stories (basically that they're too short and some ideas could have been expanded on more), or maybe it just helps me get into the rhythm of the story better

the literomancer - 3.5/5, is ignorance a crime? what is the cost of freedom? i dont really know how to feel about this one

simulacrum - 5/5, not 'creepy' in the strictest sense that i feel like most stories about this topic are, which was nice. ending was a bit confusing. (spoiler) does anna simulate her dad? i dont really get it

btw 4/5

good hunting - dark and hopeful at the same time somehow

No matter how many times I reread The Paper Menagerie, it gets me every single time :‘(

It exposes the guilt that many 2nd gen immigrants struggle with and if you don’t expect it, like I was the first time, it will break your heart :(