6/20/2020

Credit to @instaghibli on Twitter for the images
Who has never watch at least one masterpiece from Studio Ghibli? Some people grew up with the colorful memories and 'drowned' with the fantasy of Ghibli movies. For me sadly, my first ever Ghibli's movie experience was a little bit late, it was when I was in eleventh grade. However, it left a special place in my heart ever since. There is something magical and nostalgic with Ghibli's animation that warms my heart, since most of the movies bring up the relationship of sibling, friends, and in general with human. It also remind me to every animation/cartoon that I watched when I was a kid.  Even though I did not grow up with Ghibli movies, I still grew up with Japanese cartoons or animation in my heart. Until this present time, I watched several of Ghibli movies, from the most popular ones to under-rated ones. And I'd love to share this for you guys who haven't watch any of Ghibli Studio's movies or just simply need a recommendation to watch in quarantine.

I will start with that fist ever Ghibli movie I watched. It was Grave of Fireflies (1988), directed by Isao Takahata. It is a heartbreaking story of Japanese brother and sister, trying to survive through the period of World War I. It depicts the loving relationship between Seita and his younger sister, Setsuka that left me with a big cry in the end especially since I also have big brother. What I got from this movie is depiction of the crisis of humanity created by war, especially the effect it caused to children. 

From Up on Poppy Hill (2011) by Goro Mizayaki still revolves around the theme of world war (II in this case). This one is more focus to the relationship between Umi and Shun Kazama who met through the school's club thing. Not only that, the movie also portrays the transition of Japan into the new brighter era after the World War II. And don't worry, the movie itself is not as bleak and sorrowful like Grave of Fireflies, with a little romance between Umi and Shun.

Country roads, take me home~ The next favorite on my list is The Whisper of the Heart (1995) by Yoshifumi Kondo. Who doesn't love a cute little romance? This has the cutest romance moment ever! The dialogue, the characters are just lovely and give you a warm hug around the heart and soul. There is this scene on the rooftop between thos two that completely melted my fragile heart with such simple and sincere words. It really reflects the innocence soul of the characters and it definitely awaken my child-like part of myself. This has a little but of fantasy going on but it doesn't dominate the entire movie, such as Spirited Away I'd say. 

Well I guest those are my top 3 of Ghibli's movies! What I would like to say about Ghibli's movies is no matter how old you are, it still relevant and timeless. It fuels your nostalgic hunger and old-souls out there.I also watched Spirited Away, Only Yesterday, Ocean Waves, When Marni was There, The Wind Rises. Those are still awesome, mesmerizing movies, and worth to watch. 

Keyword: The best of ghibli movies, favorite movies, ghibli studio

References
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095327/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798188/

6/12/2020



What is it that makes a human have this tendency to make it all about her or himself? To think that everything in this world is revolving around us. To assume that we are the most suffering human being on this planet earth. To win the pitiful competition to find out who has the biggest problem. And then doing nothing to make it better for themselves. Going around in vicious circle of stressing nothing. Yes, I am talking about myself. This past couple of months I am trying to reflect and get it straight that everything that is happening right now is not about me. Yes, I feel miserable, but guess what, it is not just me. Sometimes this simple way of thinking seems so difficult to grasp when my head is clouded. 

That is why I decided to picked up Man's Searching for Meaning by Victor Frankl. It was much needed to be honest. I was not looking for inspirational quotes or sugarcoated phrases, but a genuine experience of someone in the moment of her/his struggle. I wanted to feel connected as a human and Victor Frankl has done it. Through this memoir, Victor Frankl, a Psychiatrist told his experience when he was in concentration camp and exploring the meaning of suffering. The storytelling of his extreme condition is somehow humanly relatable. He, psychiatrist himself cannot always help himself in every difficult situation (mentally) he faced. I could sense the raw feeling of desperation that human being could muster at that time that it made me cry in almost of the description how is life in concentration camp. That it makes me reflect and not bitc*ing or complaining about life all the time.
"Yet, it is possible to practice the art of living in a concentration camp"
I will give three pint five stars out of five for this book. The storytelling is superb however the second part of the book that discuss about the concept of logotherapy is too much repetition of the same jargons and a bit overwhelming honestly with psychology 's term. 

6/01/2020

Hotel World by Ali Smith

Hi. And welcome to my first ever book club discussion. I decided to create this segment on my blog to force myself read more books. Also, it becomes a more meaningful reading experience to at least share my opinion and recommend it to people. I seriously contemplated on how will I present this to you, the format all that things. But I want it to be light, fun, and not becomes a burden to myself like doing college papers. 

For this first book discussion, I will present you a novel called Hotel World (2001) by Ali Smith. Ali Smith is a scottish writer who also writes The Accidental, Winter, Free Love, and may more works.  This particular work of her, Hotel World is one of the finalists of Booker Prize 2001. 

This is my first time (wow so many first time) have a taste of Smith's writing and I must say that her style of writing has a distinctive style. For exemple how there is this one chapter that has no punctuation. Technically only one sentence of train of words.There are several jeux de mots with homophones throughout this book which make it playful. I honestly need some time to adapt and finally at ease reading this book. This also why it took quiet some time for me to finish it. The story is revolving around the accidental death of Sara Wilby, a nineteen years, fell from the lift for dishes of the Global Hotel where she worked.