Alex > Recent Status Updates

The book is interesting but somewhat hard to understand. Sometimes I can't tell if it is regarding actual alternate history or if the KPG manuscript is just a possible history within the book. There are also multiple plots that I am trying to keep track of. The book does interest me and I think I am understanding it more as I go

This book makes me want to strangle each and every character. I need them to communicate. I am having fun but both Jay and Lou need to like discuss being a third wheel or having hoco and the hoedown on the same day (which you are on the hoco committee so you can like move it a day or something). Anyways Albert is very cute and I want him. I think this book is a callout to me cause damn I am the MC but in the Nile.

A lot has happned and I find this book so interesting. The dynamics between the deserters and the Rebels are funky. Looking at how Jebi has to deal with the loss of a friend at the hands of their lover and it was all a test or how they don't know how to trust their sister anymore, who is kinda cutthroat similar to Hanfanden.

I'm a Jebi-truther cause like, they're really trying to find out what happened here and now I'm curious about the relationship between Vei and Issemi cause hmmm? But also, she wrote a pacifist glyph on Arazi for maybe she was deceptive or something?? Idk I want to know what happened and whyyyyy!

This is getting more and more interesting. Learned about Arazi and Issemi's death but I want to see if Vei is sympathetic to the cause or something? I mean, they might have a similar charm as Jebi, which could either be appropriation or maybe its slight defiance and keeping culture? Ooo.

A weird but interesting use of the art style. There's a bit of a grime like feel or something that doesn't seem like a Kdrama idealistic viewpoint. Provides cultural information about queer China at this (?) Time.

I think that the final part with the new store is a good twist. She declares that she is a "Convenience Store Worker" and not human. She has found her purpose in the environment and that is where she fits the best, disregarding Shiraha's village perception. Also the hospital part is a metaphor, imo, for her being reborn into this position. Even if she is not "normal" this is where she is perfect.

The section where she visits the store in the city is interesting. She seems to be revitalized again when entering because of the store's "voice" (all the sounds that are familiar to her). She gets into work mode when she isn't even an employee. "I knew instinctively what this store needed without even having to think about it." She notices how everything is untidy or badly managed and takes on the employee persona.

So now I feel really bad for Furukura. I feel like she was at a place where she was constantly attacked by these questions of getting married and having kids and a job but it seems like without a job, she fell backwards in terms of functioning. She doesn't have a sense of purpose anymore. I also thought it was rude that Shiraha's Brother's In-Law treated Furukura that way and dehumanized her when discussing genes.

I found the twist with Shiraha interesting. I do think that it makes sense that Furukura would be bombarded with new questions about this new man in her life but I can see this as an example of gender roles switching. Now that she is seen as coupled, she is more popular and of value but she still needs to be "cured," both in the eyes of her friends, co-workers and sister. It makes me feel a bit annoyed and lost?

I'm having fun with the book being about half way. I did this for a perspective on Japan college course in the contemporary unit and found it fascinating. I enjoy how the main charater Furukura Keiko seems to be Autistic, if not coded that way, and how her life has revolved around this convenience store for the past 18 years with little to no change.