abeldo.blog

Yesterday, I had dinner with an old friend. The thing is, although we are technically old friends–we’ve known each other for years. 10 years in fact. This was the first time we’ve hung out one-on-one. Before, it was always in the company of the mutual friend we’d shared.

It was quite the serendipitous arrangement. I was walking home from a haircut. I saw him at the train station gates. I said hey. We had a brief chat. He mentioned catching up for drinks before running off to catch his train. I walked home without thinking much of it because, usually with this kind of thing, the suggestion of drinks is just politeness. Like agreeing to watch a movie recommendation, you nod politely and then forget immediately. However, this time it was different.

By the time I had gotten home, he had sent a message. Not only was it a polite, “Nice bumping into you!” but he had escalated the drink suggestion even further. Giving dates and times and venues. And I agreed! And it wasn’t painful. I was excited.

It’s not uncommon to hear that making and keeping friends in your 30s is hard. And although I’ve always thought of myself as a reclusive type, lately, I have been feeling the chill of loneliness. I’ve been yearning for a community of like-minded people who get excited about the same things. Who challenge each other. Who encourage each other. Who accept each other.

Anyway, the day came and we had dinner. I had always known that we had similar interests but this was the first time my dumb neanderthal brain could finally comprehend it. I had a good time. So, I guess, I have to say thank you.

Thank you for being a friend.

Feast Your Eyes

A Book and Movie Review Column

When I started this blog, I had this vision of what my posts would eventually look like. I wanted a corner for book and movie reviews. I wanted to include what I’ve been listening to.

Yesterday, my friend asked me for some manga recommendations since I’ve been reading so much over this summer.

So, I guess, this is as good a time as any.

top five manga to read this summer

In no particular order

20th Century Boys by Naoki Urasawa

A mysterious cult has risen to power and strange disasters are occurring all over the world. A listless man in his 30’s, Kenji Endo, realises that this cult bears many striking similarities to a game he and his friends invented in their childhood. So, in order to save the world, Kenji must search his memories and reunite his childhood friends.

The story is great. The mystery of the cult and the question of who’s behind is a page turner. If I were to describe it, I would call it a blend of Lost and Stephen King’s IT. It’s like Lost for its deep unraveling mystery. And it’s like IT for the nostalgia of reuniting childhood friends.

Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo

Set 30 years after a mysterious disaster destroys the world. Powers begin to awaken in a rebellious teen and the world is threatened with destruction once more.

Another classic. I read Akira years ago when I was still in High School. And I’ve watched the movie more times than I can count. The art is truly mind-blowing. The detail and precision is on another level. Otomo illustrates entire cityscapes from a cyberpunk Neo-Tokyo future. It’s astonishing. Every page is a masterpiece.

The story is well paced and captivating, reflecting how Otomo must have felt growing up as a disenfranchised youth in Post-War Japan.

Blue Giant by Shinichi Ishizuka

A young boy dreams of becoming the greatest jazz saxophonist in the world. Simple as that.

I was struck by the art in this one, Shinichi Ishizuka found a way to evoke the emotional power of jazz. Without sound, with still sequential images. It’s great.

Hirayasumi by Keigo Shinzo

A slice of life story about an aimless 30 year old loafer who befriends a lonely old woman and inherits her house. His cousin, who dreams of becoming a mangaka, comes to live with him. We follow them through their struggles and day to day lives.

Clean and cute illustration with amazing use of white space.

The Walking Man by Jiro Taniguchi

A series of vignettes of a man walking about town. The stories are simple and cute and the illustrations are breathtaking. There’s one where he walks to the hardware store to buy a sun shade and he carries it back home in the summer heat. They’re simple stories but they remind you to take in the simple pleasures of life.

Earworm

A listening recommendation

Anyway, that’s all I have for now. Hopefully, I can keep this up.