IndyPL_TimothyV's Completed Shelf
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The Easy Life in KamusariThe Easy Life in Kamusari, Unknown
by Miura, ShionUnknown - 2021Unknown, 2021
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Aug 30, 2023
Novelist as A VocationNovelist as A Vocation, Book
by Murakami, HarukiBook - 2022 | First edition.Book, 2022. First edition.
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Aug 08, 2023
Comment:
Murakami's approach to writing is personal, disciplined, and highly intuitive. Several stories, especially of Murakami's abrupt start to his career, may already be known by his loyal readership, but fresh insights are abundant throughout. Fans of Murakami will enjoy his musings on the craft and aspiring writers may derive a sense of companionship in the common pursuit.Murakami's approach to writing is personal, disciplined, and highly intuitive. Several stories, especially of Murakami's abrupt start to his career, may already be known by his loyal readership, but fresh insights are abundant throughout. Fans of…
The Girl From the Other SideThe Girl From the Other Side, Graphic NovelVol. 1, Siúil, A Rún
by NagabeGraphic Novel - 2017Graphic Novel, 2017
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Aug 08, 2023
Comment:
A quiet, haunting, and melancholy tale. It is a fairy story in the older sense of the word; terrifying mysteries lurk in the shadows and a happy ending is far from certain. The art style complements this theme well and invites a leisurely contemplation.A quiet, haunting, and melancholy tale. It is a fairy story in the older sense of the word; terrifying mysteries lurk in the shadows and a happy ending is far from certain. The art style complements this theme well and invites a leisurely…
Giant Spider & MeGiant Spider & Me, Graphic NovelA Post-apocalyptic Tale. 1
by Morino, KikoriGraphic Novel - 2018Graphic Novel, 2018
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added May 08, 2023
Comment:
An endearing, post-apocalyptic slice of life story about a girl who adopts and cooks for a large, spider-like creature.
Dissolving ClassroomDissolving Classroom, Graphic Novel
by 伊藤潤二, 1963- author, artist • Itō, JunjiGraphic Novel - 2022 | First hardcover edition.Graphic Novel, 2022. First hardcover edition.
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Apr 24, 2023
Comment:
Junji Ito is a master of unsettling horror that goes beyond typical slasher fare. Unlike his masterpiece Uzumaki, this story has a pair of villains bound together by codependency and loathing. The presentation is episodic, but a slender narrative thread binds it together.Junji Ito is a master of unsettling horror that goes beyond typical slasher fare. Unlike his masterpiece Uzumaki, this story has a pair of villains bound together by codependency and loathing. The presentation is episodic, but a slender narrative…
A Death in TokyoA Death in Tokyo, BookA Mystery
by Higashino, KeigoBook - 2022 | First U.S. edition.Book, 2022. First U.S. edition.
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Mar 06, 2023
Comment:
A compelling murder mystery that focuses as much on the impact of the crime, and its enduring influence, as on solving the crime itself. Further insight is provided into detective Kaga's past and his familial relationships, an element largely absent from the first two translated novels.A compelling murder mystery that focuses as much on the impact of the crime, and its enduring influence, as on solving the crime itself. Further insight is provided into detective Kaga's past and his familial relationships, an element largely absent…
Added Feb 22, 2023
Comment:
Dr. Shaw examines the origins of wicked behavior and how we perceive and categorize both the behavior and the appearance of people who make us feel uncomfortable. Significantly, she urges an empathetic approach that seeks to understand rather than condemn.Dr. Shaw examines the origins of wicked behavior and how we perceive and categorize both the behavior and the appearance of people who make us feel uncomfortable. Significantly, she urges an empathetic approach that seeks to understand rather than…
A Billion Wicked ThoughtsA Billion Wicked Thoughts, BookWhat the World's Largest Experiment Reveals About Human Desire
by Ogas, OgiBook - 2011Book, 2011
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Jan 08, 2023
Comment:
Anonymous internet proclivities form the basis for an array of observations, sometimes unsettling, concerning the sexual mores and values of humanity, along with some interesting comparisons with sexuality in primates.
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Nov 14, 2022
Comment:
Mishima's usual themes are here - an obsession with death, physicality, aging, and the contrast of ugliness with beauty. Interwoven through these themes, communicated through terse prose, are also poignant insights into the production, philosophy, and emotional burdens of making movies.Mishima's usual themes are here - an obsession with death, physicality, aging, and the contrast of ugliness with beauty. Interwoven through these themes, communicated through terse prose, are also poignant insights into the production, philosophy,…
Spirited AwaySpirited Away, DVD
DVD - 2017DVD, 2017
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Nov 07, 2022
Comment:
A nearly perfect movie, Spirited Away employs the laws and logic of fairy tales to tell the story of a young girl who must navigate the harsh realities of a bathhouse for spirits in order to save her parents who, due to their gluttony, have been turned into pigs. Incredible visuals and music complement the memorable, multi-faceted characters. Spirited Away is the first animated movie from Japan to win the Academy Award for best animated feature in 2003.A nearly perfect movie, Spirited Away employs the laws and logic of fairy tales to tell the story of a young girl who must navigate the harsh realities of a bathhouse for spirits in order to save her parents who, due to their gluttony, have been…
There's No Such Thing as An Easy JobThere's No Such Thing as An Easy Job, Book
by Tsumura, KikukoBook - 2021Book, 2021
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Oct 16, 2022
Comment:
At times quirky and somber, we follow along with a narrator who is moving from temp job to temp job as she gradually comes to terms with her trauma from her previous full-time employment. Each chapter, and each different job, is like an entirely different genre, and each time she is taken further afield from the security of her home until, in her final job, she is alone in the woods of a park.At times quirky and somber, we follow along with a narrator who is moving from temp job to temp job as she gradually comes to terms with her trauma from her previous full-time employment. Each chapter, and each different job, is like an entirely…
NewcomerNewcomer, Book
by Higashino, KeigoBook - 2018 | First U.S. edition.Book, 2018. First U.S. edition.
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Sep 11, 2022
Comment:
Perhaps the warmest of Higashino's novels, Newcomer reveals the character of the detective Kaga from the viewpoints of the citizens of a tightknit business community. Intricate and insightful, the narrative focuses as much on the emotional impact of the crime as much as it does the process of solving it.Perhaps the warmest of Higashino's novels, Newcomer reveals the character of the detective Kaga from the viewpoints of the citizens of a tightknit business community. Intricate and insightful, the narrative focuses as much on the emotional impact of…
The Constant RabbitThe Constant Rabbit, Book
by Fforde, JasperBook - 2020 | First American edition.Book, 2020. First American edition.
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Aug 15, 2022
Comment:
The Constant Rabbit is a clever, quotable, and wryly-written satire that provides a critical perspective of humanity through a leporine lens. Fforde has committed considerable and insightful attention to the many ramifications of the Event (cultural, biological, and especially legal) as well as the distinctive society that the rabbits developed.The Constant Rabbit is a clever, quotable, and wryly-written satire that provides a critical perspective of humanity through a leporine lens. Fforde has committed considerable and insightful attention to the many ramifications of the Event…
Only Lovers Left AliveOnly Lovers Left Alive, DVD
DVD - 2014DVD, 2014
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Jul 24, 2022
Comment:
This is a vampire art film. Expressions of the supernatural are seldom; instead, we are treated to the slow, sumptuous story of two old vampires who reconnect after living years, and continents, apart. Their nightly lives unfold in a leisurely, laconic pace, revealing how they survive, and socialize, and stave off the tedium of their eternal existences. Only Lovers Left Alive is a rare, introspective gem in a genre dominated by monstrosities.This is a vampire art film. Expressions of the supernatural are seldom; instead, we are treated to the slow, sumptuous story of two old vampires who reconnect after living years, and continents, apart. Their nightly lives unfold in a leisurely,…
MaliceMalice, Book[a Mystery]
by Higashino, KeigoBook - 2014 | First English edition.Book, 2014. First English edition.
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Jun 13, 2022
Comment:
Although Malice is the first Detective Kaga novel to be translated into English, it is actually the fourth in a series of nine books. Most of the narrative is communicated through written documents such as investigation notes and detailed accounts; this may occasionally detract from the immediacy of the story, but the structure is essential to how the plot unfolds. And unlike traditional mysteries, the important question is not who committed the crime or how it was done, but why.Although Malice is the first Detective Kaga novel to be translated into English, it is actually the fourth in a series of nine books. Most of the narrative is communicated through written documents such as investigation notes and detailed accounts;…
The Delusions of CrowdsThe Delusions of Crowds, BookWhy People Go Mad in Groups
by Bernstein, William J.Book - 2021 | First edition.Book, 2021. First edition.
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added May 01, 2022
Comment:
Bernstein has written a dense, academic text that describes with considerable detail how ordinary people were caught up in financial and religious manias that devastated lives and erased fortunes. A careful reading will elicit both enlightenment concerning human behavior and a sense of despair that these manias will continue in cycles despite the lessons of history.Bernstein has written a dense, academic text that describes with considerable detail how ordinary people were caught up in financial and religious manias that devastated lives and erased fortunes. A careful reading will elicit both enlightenment…
SilenceSilence, DVD
DVD - 2017DVD, 2017
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Apr 30, 2022
Comment:
This film is based on a 1966 novel by Shūsaku Endō, a Catholic Japanese writer.
It is the mid 17th century. Christians in Japan, once tolerated, are now brutally persecuted. Two Portuguese Jesuit priests travel to this country to minister to the faithful and to seek information about Ferreira, a priest rumored to have apostatized.
Silence is a cinematically beautiful and well-acted film that, like the novel, does not allow for easy answers. The torture and brutality are historical realities of this time and are integral to the story, but may make some viewers uncomfortable.This film is based on a 1966 novel by Shūsaku Endō, a Catholic Japanese writer.
It is the mid 17th century. Christians in Japan, once tolerated, are now brutally persecuted. Two Portuguese Jesuit priests travel to this country to minister to the…
Sadako-san and Sadako-chanSadako-san and Sadako-chan, Graphic Novel
by Tsutsumi, AyaGraphic Novel - 2021Graphic Novel, 2021
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Mar 21, 2022
Comment:
Sadako-san, the vengeful spirit of the Ring franchise, befriends a telepathic girl who is locked in a room by her mother. Together, they begin streaming cursed videos and quickly attract a large audience! Short vignettes and charming artwork propel the narrative of this adorable, and only slightly scary, parody. Can Sadako-san ever adapt to a world without CRT TVs?Sadako-san, the vengeful spirit of the Ring franchise, befriends a telepathic girl who is locked in a room by her mother. Together, they begin streaming cursed videos and quickly attract a large audience! Short vignettes and charming artwork propel…
The Power of StrangersThe Power of Strangers, BookThe Benefits of Connecting in A Suspicious World
by Keohane, JoeBook - 2021 | First edition.Book, 2021. First edition.
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Feb 28, 2022
Comment:
The Power of Strangers is a thorough and well-researched exploration of the benefits that being open to the experiences and viewpoints of other people can provide. Keohane acknowledges our natural hesitancy to talk with strangers and proffers a variety of methods to overcome that reluctance. He also makes an excellent case for why respectful communication is important to the sustainability of a peaceful and equitable society.The Power of Strangers is a thorough and well-researched exploration of the benefits that being open to the experiences and viewpoints of other people can provide. Keohane acknowledges our natural hesitancy to talk with strangers and proffers a…
The Lost BoysThe Lost Boys, DVD
DVD - 2004 | Special edition, widescreen.DVD, 2004. Special edition, widescreen.
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Jan 31, 2022
Comment:
This is a classic vampire movie with several moments of clever comedy and an outstanding 1980s soundtrack. Kiefer Sutherland and the lost boys are vintage vampires, monstrous and alluring, and Sutherland steals nearly every scene he is in. A prequel to this film, showing how the boys had gotten together, would have been a fascinating tale. The reveal of the master vampire is refreshing, but several elements of the confrontation between vampires and hunters feel formulaic. Nevertheless, Lost Boys is necessary viewing for fans of the genre.This is a classic vampire movie with several moments of clever comedy and an outstanding 1980s soundtrack. Kiefer Sutherland and the lost boys are vintage vampires, monstrous and alluring, and Sutherland steals nearly every scene he is in. A prequel…
BabymetalBabymetal, Music CD
by Babymetal (Musical group)Music CD - 2015 | JapaneseMusic CD, 2015. Language: Japanese
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Dec 13, 2021
Comment:
Babymetal pioneered the Kawaii [Cute] Metal genre, melding playful (though occasionally serous) lyrics with a thrashing metal sound. Suzuka, the lead singer, has a powerful voice and delivers impassioned performances. The voices of Yui and Moa are both cute and mildly cloying, counterpointing Suzuka's relative maturity and infusing the music with it's kawaii tone. Every song feels energetic, electric, and unique.Babymetal pioneered the Kawaii [Cute] Metal genre, melding playful (though occasionally serous) lyrics with a thrashing metal sound. Suzuka, the lead singer, has a powerful voice and delivers impassioned performances. The voices of Yui and Moa are…
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Nov 29, 2021
Comment:
This book is a pithy treatise on the philosophy, ethics, and practical considerations of designing things. Nearly everything we encounter has been designed by someone, whether poorly or well, and were all designed to fulfill particular purposes. Scott Berkun explains the process of creating designs that benefit people, the effects of unintended consequences, and the limits of design when confronted with real-world contingencies.This book is a pithy treatise on the philosophy, ethics, and practical considerations of designing things. Nearly everything we encounter has been designed by someone, whether poorly or well, and were all designed to fulfill particular purposes.…
Azumanga Daioh OmnibusAzumanga Daioh Omnibus, Unknown
by Azuma, KiyohikoUnknown - 2009 | First Yen Press edition.Unknown, 2009. First Yen Press edition.
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Oct 25, 2021
Comment:
This four-panel manga follows a group of girls as they navigate all three years of high school, experiencing sports festivals and culture fests and less-than-restive summer vacations. Humorous and endearing, Azuma has a knack for comedic timing, relying on the charming personalities of his characters to drive the narrative.This four-panel manga follows a group of girls as they navigate all three years of high school, experiencing sports festivals and culture fests and less-than-restive summer vacations. Humorous and endearing, Azuma has a knack for comedic timing,…
Weathering With YouWeathering With You, DVD
DVD - 2020DVD, 2020
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Sep 29, 2021
Comment:
Makoto Shinkai's signature style is on full display again; visuals are characteristically lush and vibrant, teeming with detail. Music is critically important to the mood, and the Radwimps band delivers with several emotional pieces that feel inseparable from the narrative. Choices the characters make have consequences, and it feels as though Shinkai is inviting us to contemplate whether the right choices were made. A few light, comedic moments round out an endearing youthful romance that will linger in your memory.Makoto Shinkai's signature style is on full display again; visuals are characteristically lush and vibrant, teeming with detail. Music is critically important to the mood, and the Radwimps band delivers with several emotional pieces that feel…
IkiruIkiru, DVDTo live
DVD - 2004 | Special ed. | JapaneseDVD, 2004. Special ed.. Language: Japanese
IndyPL_TimothyV's rating:
Added Aug 29, 2021
Comment:
Ikiru is a slow, poignant film that is startling in its honesty and insight. Takashi Shimura, a frequent actor in Kurosawa's films, portrays Kenji Watanabe, a dying bureaucrat who attempts to find meaning in his final few months of life. The movie does not end with Watanabe's death; instead, it invests time to explore the legacy Watanabe establishes and examines how the people who knew Watanabe react.Ikiru is a slow, poignant film that is startling in its honesty and insight. Takashi Shimura, a frequent actor in Kurosawa's films, portrays Kenji Watanabe, a dying bureaucrat who attempts to find meaning in his final few months of life. The movie…
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