Dispatch #02
Days off, the new Kawakami, and Dandadan
It’s been somewhat of a quiet week. Monday through Wednesday, I was able to enjoy time off from work and I actually feel well-rested coming out of it. Most of those days were spent sleeping, though. But it felt so nice having my notifications off for Teams and Outlook while I hung out with Mio.
There isn’t anything significant to share, except maybe that I had another sleep paralysis episode and a relatively bad dream about getting lost in the Backrooms because I haven’t stopped thinking about the trailer ever since I watched it. It’s A24 so I have high hopes for the film. Oh and maybe my spontaneous trip to my dermatologist this week to finally get allergy medication for my cold urticaria. Yes, I break out in hives when it’s cold. It’s ugly and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
What I’m reading: Sisters in Yellow by Mieko Kawakami
Kawakami is one of my auto-buy authors. This is her latest book and I think it came out in 2023 in the original Japanese, but the English translation was released only last month so here I am! The waiting had been long but I’m just happy to have finally started it.
What I watched: ダンダダン / Dandadan
I’m reading the manga as well. But I’m picking up where they left off in season 2 because it ended with a cliffhanger. It has a nice story and a really great soundtrack but what puts me off is how the show (and the manga, I guess, though I have not read much of it yet) sexualizes the characters—who are teenagers, so really what is the point, it’s extremely unnecessary. Shock value? It also frequently uses sexual violence as a recurring theme yet often frames it in a way that almost feels played for humor. To me, this risks desensitizing viewers and, over time, contributes to the normalization of sexual violence in media when it shouldn’t be treated so lightly.
Other than that, I enjoy the actual story. And while I am usually not fond of fight scenes in anime, this one does them really well.
Substack articles I enjoyed reading this week:
A place apart (Girls on the Page) - I always love seeing writers’ workspaces and taking a close look on what is on their desks, what books do they like to read, what notebooks do they use, etc.
The Quiet Luxury, A Manual. (The French Woman by Garance Doré) - I’ve always loved Garance and her writing. Reading this one was a treat!