bee's brain farts

What happens when you put a schemer, an acrobat, a chemist, a sharpshooter, a witch, and a soldier? You get a very capable band of thieves, perhaps capable enough to break through an impenetrable fortress. If that sounds interesting to you, then the Six of Crows duology is the series for you! Like I said, Six of Crows is about a seemingly impossible heist executed by six people. The series is set in a fictional world called “Grishaverse,” consisting of different nations of people. Six of Crows is mostly set in Ketterdam and Fjerda, but the overall socio-politics of the universe affect the plot adversely.  the crew The leader of the heist is Kaz Brekker. He’s always two steps ahead of everyone. Also, he’s emotionally constipated as hell. In all honesty, he’s a morally dubious character, but it’s hard to hate him when all the odds are against him. He’s also a masterclass in giving vulnerability to characters without having to give up their power & skill. He’s not untouchable, b...

Disclaimer: This was originally written last March 2020. The first book I finished for 2020! I've been meaning to read this book ever since I found out that the book's film adaptation was the first American film to have an all Asian main cast. And it definitely did not disappoint. The book follows the different stories of four mother-daughter pairs. It navigates the differences between generations, which is mainly defined by their upbringings. The book is, ultimately, one of Chinese immigrants. But, I personally loved how it explored the relationships between mother & daughter. How, sometimes, pain is hereditary. The pain of the flesh is nothing. The pain you must forget. Because sometimes that is the only way to remember what is in your bones. You must peel off your skin, and that of your mother, and her mother before her. Until there is nothing. No scar, no skin, no flesh. As someone who grew up in a household full of women, I've realized how... complicated womanhood ...

Assassination Classroom [Anime] This was an anime I started on a whim, but it won my heart so strongly. It's definitely not an anime that deals with super serious themes, but that's not what it's meant to be anyway. At its core, it gives wonderful lessons and does so in such an earnest way, never coming off as condescending. It's just a wonderful reminder to be kind, but to also be steadfast in fighting for one's self. I love how each character (student or teacher) got their own character arc, my favorite being Karma and Karasuma's subplots. But, my favorite character will always be Koro sensei. You can see how much he loves Class E and it shows in everything he does. It just makes the last episodes so much more heartbreaking. Overall, an amazing feel good anime!  The Sympathizer [Book] This book took me so long to read. But, through sheer determination, I finished it, and I'm glad! My favorite part of the book was the movie filming, especially the whole dis...

    In just the span of twelve episodes, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken propelled itself to the top of my list of favorite animes. The premise of the show is simple enough, three girls form their own club and create animation. However, its execution elevates the plot into a profound commentary about what it's like to be an artist and content creator. At first glance      I first encountered Eizouken through its trailer back in January. The unique character designs already caught my eye, especially Kanamori's (more on her later)! From visuals alone, so much about the main trio's personalities were already shown. Combined with the voice acting, Eizouken set itself apart from other animes in the high school genre. But, it's important to note that Eizouken does not coast off uniqueness alone. Walking the tightrope      As a whole, Eizouken shows that animation (and art as a career in general) is a balancing act. The show opens with Asakusa watching...