Discussion: Favourite Father Figures in Books (Happy Father's Day)

Hello, everyone! Happy father's day 💖

As today is a special day, I have decided to push my discussions schedule back to write about fatherhood. As a daddy's girl, I have to admit that I have a soft spot for my dad. There are certain fatherly figures in literature that you will find in any list about this topic. However, I thought that I would shake things up and create a list that features only non-biological fathers. There is no need for another list that states that Atticus Finch is the best literary father - you already know that!

All these non-biological fathers are a proof that blood-relationships are not essential for the development of a strong bond. In fact, some of them go to great lengths to protect their children and provide for them. A nice father-kid relationship is heart-warming in any book. The following fathers have moved me with their tenderness and devotion.

And with this introduction, let's move on to the list!

1. Jean Valjean

I have a very special relationship with Les Misérables. If I had to pick one book that I have associated with my childhood and my dad, this would be it. You see, my dad has a fascination with this novel, and when I was a kid he used to read it to me. At some time, I was even able to recite parts from the book. 

So, when I decided to compile a list of non-biological father figures, Jean Valjean was the first and most obvious choice for me. Jean Valjean is a troubled character, who goes through a living hell. However, he is a man of conscience and always try to do justice. When he was hiding under the name of Madeleine, he gets acquainted with Fantine and even stands up for her when she gets arrested. When Fantine, ultimately gets sick, he promises to her that he will take care of her eight-year-old daughter, Cosette.

Jean Valjean is an overprotective father to Cosette and comes to love her dearly. When he learns about Marius, he gets furious and tries to stop her. However, he understands her feelings and he goes as far as to risk his life to save him. 

2. Will Freeman

This unlikely father figure comes from the novel About a Boy by Nick Hornby. Will Freeman is not what a father is supposed to be like: he is a bachelor, he has no need or will to work, he cares about pop culture, and he is often after women. One of Will's schemes to meet women is to attend a single parents' meet-up, for which he invents a two-year-old son. In this meet-up, he gets acquainted with Fiona, the mother of the twelve-year-old Marcus. 

Marcus is a socially awkward boy and Will teaches him how to be trendy. The two of them form a bond that is both heart-warming and hilarious.

3. Sirius Black

The godfather of Harry Potter becomes a fatherly figure for the young wizard. Mind you, the relationship isn't always easy. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry, Hermione, and Ron confront Sirius and even try to kill him. However, by the end of the book, Harry and Sirius get closer, with Sirius even asking the young wizard to move in with him.However, later in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Sirius is killed by Bellatrix Lestrange. Nevertheless, he leaves Harry as his heir.

I know that Harry Potter has been a hot topic lately, for all the wrong reasons. Due to this fact, I need to state that I'm separating the work from the author. Under no circumstance, I agree with J.K. Rowlings' statements. I understand all those who cannot see the Harry Potter series under the same light. In fact, I am also reluctant to revisit it, at least any time soon.

4. Abel Magwitch

This character from Great Expectations is more of a benefactor, rather than a fatherly figure. Pip meets Abel when he is just a boy. Abel is a convict and tricks Pip into bringing him the tools he needs to escape, as well as some food. When he escapes, he flees to Australia where he becomes rich. Even though he is far from England, he hasn't forgotten about Pip and provides everything he need to become a gentleman. When Pip later discovers his secret benefactor, he gets disappointed. Nevertheless, Pip warms up to Abel when he learns more about his story. On his deathbed, Pip tells Abel that his daughter, Estella, is alive and that he has feelings for her. Abel dies at this moment with Pip holding his hand. 

5. Hans Hubbermann

If you are looking for a heart-warming and moving father-daughter relationship, you don't have to go any further than The Book Thief. Liesel's foster father supports her and tries to help her in any way he can. He brings her books and they both struggle together with reading and writing. He is a kind and loving father and one of my favourite in literature.

Honorable Mention: Ned Stark

This is more speculation than anything else as in the books we have yet to learn whether Jon Snow is Ned's son or not. If Jon's origins are the same, Ned Stark deserves a spot on this list for carrying this secret for so many years. Since the show has revealed this information, I think that we are one step closer into getting this theory confirmed for the books. 

This was my list! Who is your favourite father figure in literature?

VIXX: The Book Concept Kings (KpopXBooks #4)

Hello, everyone! We are back with another instalment of KpopXBooks. As a Kpop fan, I'm more than thrilled every week that I decide to add a new instalment to this series. The research is always interesting and I always discover some songs that I really like.

The KpopXBooks series consists of posts that are dedicated to Kpop music videos and songs that have some sort of bookish concept. The first instalment of the series was Book Recommendations from Kpop MVs, while the next ones featured specific artists. We have seen The Fairy Tales of IU and The Bookish Concepts of SHINee.

This week, we are continuing our single artist/group focus and we will discuss a group with undoubtedly some of the most impressive concepts. We are talking about VIXX, a group that is often characterized as The Concept Kings. VIXX debuted in 2012 and they made a name for themselves when they adopted some darker concepts. Some of the MVs we are going to discuss today have a similar vibe.

So, with further ado, let's begin!

Shangri-La

I begin this list with probably my favourite song and music video of VIXX. I actually had a really hard time picking out a screenshot, since every frame is so beautiful.

Shangri-La is a fictional place that appears in the novel Lost Horizon, by James Hilton. The author has revealed that for the creation of this place, he used Tibetan material that he found in the British Museum. In the book, Shangri-La is described as a utopia. It is an enclosed place in the Himalaya, where there is a lamasery. The people there live for hundreds of years and they don't seem to age that much. In recent years, Shangri-La is used as a synonym to a hidden paradise, where people live an enlightened and happy life. 

However, even before Lost Horizon, there has been a reference to such a place. The first one comes from the fable The Peach Blossom Spring by Tao Yuanming. According to this story, a fisherman stumbles upon a grove filled with peach trees in full bloom. There, people live happily, away from the troubles of the world. When the fisherman returns to his home, he reveals this place to the others, but no-one is able to ever find it again. Even though there is not a connection between the story of this tale and that of the music video, we clearly can see a silver peach. Moreover, we get the lyrics "Even peaches/ Under the fluttering petals".

Furthermore, there is Shambhala, which according to Tibetan Buddhism, is a realm of harmony between man and nature. There is a high chance that Hilton was influenced by Shambhala since the location for Shangri-La can be found in the Shambhala Sutra.

Scentist

So, I've spent a really long time thinking that this song was titled Scientist, which isn't. Its title is SCENTIST and it makes total sense when you learn that it's based on a book. Of course, I'm talking about The Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. As you can clearly see in the image, the members of the group are making perfumes. The lyrics of the song (as expected) talk about scents, flowers, losing control, and madness taking over.

I have to admit that I was impressed that they chose a book like this one as their concept. It is an excellent book that I would recommend you, but it's not one that I would ever think of becoming a song/music video!

Hyde

This is probably the most VIXX song on the list! It's one of the dark concepts that we've got to love them. As the title suggests, the inspiration for this song is the Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson. In fact, the whole album is titled Hyde. Both in the music video and the lyrics, we see the members of the group be torn between their two shelves. They realize that inside them lives a mad person and we see them try to hurt the woman they love. However, they snap out of it and try to apologize. The lyrics also leave no room for doubt:

Don’t leave me, please... (No, leave me alone!)

‘Cause I love you, dear... (No, I hate you one!)

I am both Jekyll and Hyde, don't run away from me.

I’m not so bad. I love you…

Don’t do such frightened eyes.

Please, believe me – there is a different person that is not me inside of me,

There is a different me that is not me inside of me.

Just can’t control

Dynamite

Dynamite is a part of a series of songs that are inspired by ancient Greek gods. As a Greek, I was very happy when I discovered them. The first song of the series is Dynamite, the song inspired by the daemon of jealousy and rivalry, Zelus or Zelos.

Fun fact: the word "zeal" originates from the name of this deamon.

The only imagery that I've found on the MV that can be interpreted as jealousy is the one you can see on this image. The mannequins that encircle the woman are the competition for her heart. The lyrics of the song, on the other hand, state clearly that this is a song about jealousy.

All mine, her mind

Maybe I’m jealous

what are you looking at? let me go! don't tell me to relax

what's the use of it?

it's already obvious, I see the end

Fantasy

Fantasy is the next song in the ancient Greek Gods series. This song is inspired by Hades, the god of the underworld. As it's expected, this is a song where the members of VIXX lament a lost love. The lyrics don't have a clear reference to Hades, but the music video does. From the above picture, you see that they are in a boat. According to the ancient Greek myth, when people died has to cross the river Acheron on a boat to reach the realm of the underworld. However, this is not the only river that the underworld has. In fact, there are 5 of them:

1. Acheron - the river of sorrow and woe
2. Cocytus - the river of lamentation
3. Phlegethon - the river of fire
4. Lethe - the river of oblivion
5. Styx - the river of hate

Even though there is no indication that they used this myth, the fact that they are running in misty woods and the lyric "Exhausted, I’ve lost my way", remind me of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice.

According to this myth, Orpheus and Eurydice are happily married. One day, Eurydice is dancing in the woods with the nymphs, when she is bitten by a snake and dies on the spot. Orpheus immediately decides to go to the underworld and bring Eurydice back. He plays his lyre and attracts Hades. The god tells Orpheus that Eurydice will return to the overworld with him on one condition: Orpheus should not look at her before they reach the light. If he does he will lose her forever. Everything goes smoothly, but a few steps away from the exit. Orpheus turns to look at Eurydice and she immediately returns back to Hades. Orpheus tried to return to the underworld, but no human can enter the realm twice while alive. 

The Closer

VIXX's ancient Greek gods series closes with the song The Closer. This song is inspired by Kratos, the daemon of strength, might, sovereign, rule, and authority. Kratos is, in fact, the brother of Zelos. The video doesn't have clear imagery that connects it to this daemon, even though we could say that the members of VIXX are dressed in some kind of military outfits. The lyrics of the song describe the feeling of possessive that comes with wanting someone.

The thing about love, I’ll close your doubt

The thing about love, I’ll give you something you’ve never experienced

When the storming night is gone

It will be disappeared with me

Let me control you

Fun fact: In modern Greek, this word means nation. 

Beautiful Liar

Beautiful Liar is a song by the sub-unit VIXX LR, taken from the album Hyde. Like the title song, it is inspired by Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson. For this song, Leo and Ravi play the two facets of a personality. This is another sad song, where the lyrics are about a guy hiding himself. By this, he is trying to protect his lover. 

Jekyll

Jekyll is the title of the repackaged version of the Hyde album. For this album, VIXX has added the intro song Jekyll. In the lyrics, they repeat again and again "I'm still here forgive me", which is fitting with the character of Doctor Jekyll.

This was it for today! Which bookish concept was your favourite?

Which is your favourite VIXX song?

Stay tuned for more KpopXBook lists!

The Bookish Concepts of SHINee (KpopXBooks #3)

Hello, everyone! This is another instalment of the KpopXBooks series and... SHINee's Back (Shawols out there are going to love this 💖💎).

The KpopXBooks series consists of posts that are dedicated to Kpop music videos and songs that have some sort of bookish concept. So far, we've seen Book Recommendations from Kpop MVs, as well as a closer look at The Fairy Tales of IU. 

Today, I am more than happy as we are exploring the music of SHINee! They recently had their 12th anniversary as a group and as a fan, it was very emotional. SHINee is a group with unique sounds and concepts. With every comeback, they bring something new to Kpop. A few years ago, they went through a tragedy with the passing of their leader, Jonghyun. The rest of the group managed to stay strong and keep it together.

In this blog post, we are going to explore the MVs of SHINee that have a bookish concept. Moreover, I went through all of their back catalog and spotted a couple of songs that have been definitely inspired by books.

So, with further ado, let's begin!

Dream Girl

A bookish concept that is very common in Kpop music videos is Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (one of the future instalments of this series is going to be about that). So, I wasn't surprised to find that Dream Girl had elements that indicated that this book inspired the MV. 

No, the members of SHINee aren't dressed as Mad Hatters and Red Queens. This MV focuses more on the scene where Alice becomes small and large and small again. In Dream Girl, this scene is reflected in dimension-bending sets and shots that make one member seem larger than the other. It's fun and rather whimsical! I wouldn't expect anything else!

Why So Serious?

Ok, I will admit it - including Why So Serious? in this list was rather a stress. However, I do believe that there must be a connection to Joker, the Batman villain. The music video's story is about a zombie who falls in love with a human. Maybe it has a Warm Bodies influence? 

Anyway, Why so serious is a super famous quote from the movie The Dark Knight. Even though Joker clearly says it there, I couldn't find any reference to any comic book. The closest lines come from The Killing Joke, where Joker says "Why don't you laugh" and "Why can't you see the funny side". 

Another thing the makes me believe that there is a connection between this MV and Joker is the subtitle of this album, which is The Misconception of Me. I find that this subtitle is perfect for Joker.

Plus, there is a reference of Romeo and Juliet in the lyrics.

Sherlock (Clue + Note)

The title of this song is pretty explanatory - it is based on Sherlock Holmes. In the music video, the members are in the hunt of an elusive woman. Furthermore, all the video is sprinkled with Sherlock references. A great example is the above picture, where we can see the violin and even Toby. The lyrics of the song don't refer to Sherlock directly, even though they mention investigations, suspects, etc.

Fun fact: Sherlock is one of the most expensive MVs ever made.

Good Evening

The MV for Good Evening, as well as the following song, are both based on The Little Prince. The members of SHINee decided to do that to honor Jonghyun since this was his favourite book. Good Evening is a chill song. In the MV, we get the scene shown above where Onew has a moment with this fox. Of course, the fox is an important character in The Little Prince.

I Want You

I Want You comes from the second part of a trilogy of albums that SHINee released, after Good Evening. For this music video, they got inspired by The Little Prince. At the very beginning of the video, we see the fox once again, but this time all the members are chasing it in the woods. This video also features the interplanetary travel that we all know that The Little Prince did.  

Romeo + Juliette

It comes as no surprise that there is a song titled Romeo + Juliette. This is probably the most famous tragic love story. Therefore, if you want to make a sad love song, then this is the concept to try. As expected, the lyrics are super sad, filled with regret and lingering feelings. 

Juliette

Juliette is included in the same mini album as Romeo + Juliette. The album itself is titled Romeo. Even though the latter is a sad love song, Juliette is upbeat and it expresses the feelings of love and admiration. In this song, we get some direct references to Romeo and Juliet. In more detail, the first verse is the following:

Song for my Juliette!

The moonlight, as if it’ll spill, is definitely dark

Including the almost exploding torchlight

I need to learn how to shine like she does

If I look at her, I’ll be blinded

Quasimodo

It is so rare to get a pop song that is inspired so openly by The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo. Quasimodo is, of course, named after the well-known character from this novel. Like the character, the lyrics of this song are about a man who is passionately in love, even though he cannot express his feelings. It's a beautiful song from the Lucifer album. 

Shine (Medusa I)

Shine (Medusa I) comes from the Why So Serious? - The Misconception of Me album. It is an album that deals with darker themes, compared to other albums. The lyrics of Shine (Medusa I) talk about someone who is in the dark and finds someone that shines for him. The reason why I have included this song on the list is because of the ancient Greek myth of Medusa. However, there is not a clear connection between the myth and the lyrics. I can only say that Medusa is herself a character that stays away from the light.

Dangerous (Medusa II)

Dangerous (Medusa II) is from the same album as the previous song. However, in this song I have found lyrics that refer clearly to the myth of Medusa. According to the myth, everyone who saw the face of Medusa turned into stone - so danger, danger, danger. The lyrics are the following:

They say the moment our eyes meet is the end,

To them you’re nothing but

Trouble, the rumors are double, they’re running wild

Danger, danger, danger

You’re someone that can’t be approached 

This was it for today! Which bookish concept was your favourite?

Which is your favourite SHINee song?

Stay tuned for more KpopXBook lists!

The Fairy Tales of IU

Hello, everyone! Welcome to my new post series 🎉 Recently, I posted a list of Book Recommendations from Kpop MVs and this should have been a clear indication that this series was coming. So, even though my idea decided to form itself after I had posted that list, I still will count it as the first post of the series. Until I find a better name for it, I will call it the KpopXBooks series.

A brief explanation of the series: KpopXBooks will be a series of various lists. The first one was a list with books featured in music videos. However, as I was digging deeper in this research, I realized that there is a bigger connection between books and Kpop. Some lists (like today's) will focus on a single group or solo artist. Other lists, will focus on a single book that inspired the concepts of various music videos. Lastly, some posts will feature a single MV, as there are some that use multiple references.

This leads us to today's post! IU is an extremely popular Kpop soloist (and one of my favourite). She debuted in 2008 with the song "Lost Child". However, her success came with her follow-up album "Growing Up". Her stage name comes from the words "I and You", meaning that people can become one through music. 

I have always found IU's music videos dreamy and in some of them you can easily identify their concept. However, listening to her back catalogue, I found more songs that derived from fairy tales. So, today we will take a closer look at music videos, songs, and a live performance by IU the come from books and fairy tales. 

23

I must begin this list with 23. If you are talking about the Alice's Adventures in Wonderland as a Kpop concept (which we will on a later post), this is the MV that first comes to mind. We have the white rabbit and the Cheshire cat. The MV is whimsical and if you look closely, you will find many similarities with the book. There is no denying that 23 draws inspiration from Lewis Caroll's book.

In fact, the whole album is heavily inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, as it is titled Chat-shire. I will show you the cover later, when I will talk about a b-side from it.

Monday Afternoon

Monday Afternoon is another IU MV inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. However, this is not as a well-known fact, as it is in the case of 23. In preparation for this list, I watched all of IU's MVs and I couldn't help but make the connection to this book. In it, a big IU finds a small IU and goes looking for her in a house with long corridors and different-sized rooms. Especially the scene you see in this still, gives off the vibe of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

The Red Shoes

The Red Shoes is the famous Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale that tells the story of a girl who was curse to dance. This story inspired numerous adaptations, one of them being the song The Red Shoes by IU. The music video for the song is cinematic and (to be honest) it reminded me of a movie adaptation of The Red Shoes I had watched a long time ago.  

Cruel Fairytale

Technically, there is no music video for this song. However, I have found a performance that begins with an Alice on stage. This song is a darker version of the fairy tale concept, where IU is crying for a lost love. In the lyrics, IU is using phrases that you usually find in fairy tales ("And forever after/I will live happily"), as well as lyrics that come from pre-existing fairytales ("When the clock rings 12/I will awake from my dreams").

Red Queen

From this point on, we will talk more about IU's b-sides. We begin with Red Queen, which also comes from her Chat-shire album. As you can see from the cover, this album was influenced by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Therefore, there is no denying that The Red Queen comes from this story. In the lyrics, there are also references to a girl with the red hair that used to laugh, but now she has become angry. There are many speculations as to who this girl is, but I will not dig into this here. 

That girl’s scarlet hair

Somewhere something more red

Made her eyes so thinly bloodshot

Is someone going to ask her the reason

Why is she getting angry

Why is she being wicked

That sad girl’s scarlet hair

Somewhere something

More more more more more red

Zezé

Zezé is probably the most controversial song by IU. When it was released it caused a huge backlash for the singer. For this song IU drew inspiration from the Brazilian novel My Sweet Orange Tree by José Mauro de Vasconcelos. The protagonist of this book is 5 years old, and IU reimagined him. Both the lyrics and his depiction in the album cover (the lower left illustration on the cover above) were heavily criticized and it is still considered one of the hot topics. 

The Age of the Cathedrals

This is a bonus track from IU's EP Can you Hear Me? IU, in support of the musical Notre-Dame de Paris performed a song taken from it. The recording of The Age of the Cathedrals ended up as a bonus track in her EP.

Ugly Duckling

Another Hans Christian Andersen has found its way into an IU song. The beloved tale of the ugly duckling who turned into a beautiful swan  has been used as a trope in many movies and series. This song, which is featured in the debut EP of IU Lost and Found, is one sung by the duckling who misses his mother.

Bonus: Fairy Tale - Kim Dong Ryul ft. IU

This music video isn't inspired by a specific fairy tale, but I wanted to share it with you. You can see that the story uses some popular fairy tale tropes, like two kids wandering in the woods. It's a heart-warming video.

 

Recommendations

If you want to dig deeper into IU, then there are many amazing songs to begin. However, since we are interest in books and beautiful stories, I would recommend that you watch her 3 MVs that tell a beautiful story. 

1) You and I - where the lovers promise to meet when the conditions are right (video here)

2) Above the Time - where the lovers begin to find a way to reach out to each other (video here)

3) Blueming - that shows how the relationship is progressing (video here)

This was it! What is your favourite IU song? 

Stay tuned for more KpopXBook lists!

Happy World Book and Copyright Day 2020!

Hello, everyone! Today is the death of anniversary of Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare, and  Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. UNESCO has chosen this particular date to celebrate the World Book and Copyright Day.

I found this the perfect occasion to compile another list (you know that I love coming up with various lists). Today, as it is a day dedicated to books, I have chosen to tell you about my favourite books. If you have been following this blog, my picks will not come as a surprise to you. However, if you are a new reader, then (SPOILER ALERT) you will find a LOT of Japanese literature in there. Tell me in the comments below, which are your favourite books of all time!

So, here is my list!

01. Clout Atlas - David Mitchell

What can I say about Cloud Atlas? This book opened my horizons and changed my worldview. It is a very important book for me and I hold it very dear. It is a challenge read, however I would recommend it with no hesitation. 

Fun fact: One of my first reviews was about Cloud Atlas. Even though my writing has evolved since then, it is still one of my favourite reviews :)

02. The Lord of the Rings trilogy - J.R.R. Tolkien

One of the books of my childhood that I've come back to again and again. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is an epic adventure that needs not an introduction. If you haven't already, it is time to do so! Now that I'm thinking about it, maybe it's time for me to re-read it, as well! 

03. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

The classic romance that we all know and (the majority of us) loves. In fact, it is very difficult for me to choose between Jane Austen's novels, as they all touch me in different ways. I chose Pride and Prejudice only because I have read it countless times.

04. The Housekeeper and the Professor - Yoko Ogawa

I can still remember the way that I was feeling while reading this book. This was my introduction to Yoko Ogawa (maybe to Japanese literature as well) and now she is one of the authors that I read without even reading the synopsis of her books. Back then, I wasn't that familiar with the Japanese culture as I am now (I am learning Japanese fyi), but I could still understand the impact that this type of literature would have on me. I have to admit though that I find this title a bit odd. The original Japanese title, translates The Professor's Beloved Equation, which I find a more fitting title to the story.

05. Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro

If I have to be honest, Never Let Me Go was the first Japanese novel I read. However, I would not classify Kazuo Ishiguro as Japanese literature. No matter if you would or not, I read this book while I was still in high school and I still remember its effect on me. It is so human and emotional. I can't recommend it enough!

06. The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Neil Gaiman

One of my favourite authors that I have still to find a book I disliked is Neil Gaiman. I am fascinated with his work an I find it inspiring. If I have to choose one of his books though, that would be The Ocean at the End of the Lane. It's dreamy, it's whimsical, and it's scary.

07. The End of the Affair - Graham Greene

Oh, how I love a desperate love affair! The End of the Affair is heart-wrenching and I loved every single word of it. It's definitely one of the most emotional books I've ever read!

08. Women in Love - D.H. Lawrence

Women in Love was an eye-opening experience for me. I consider it to be one of the books that has taught me how to feel (if that's even a thing). D.H. Lawrence uses a lot of sex in his books (we all know Lady Chatterley's Lover). However, in this book I was fascinated by the different forms and meanings that sex was expressing. The desire was never meant to be provocative - it stood for something and it enhanced the story. 

09. Kitchen - Banana Yoshimoto

Another Japanese novel that shook me and showed me how much you can convey with simple language is Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto. I'm still amazed by the show, don't tell that these short stories have adopted. The result? Some of the most touching stories you'll ever read.

10. Bottle Royale - Koushun Takami

Battle Royale is brutal, there is no denying about it. For me, it is a must-read. It is full of violence and dares to look it in the eye. This book, explores human nature.

Fun fact: I have also compiled a Play(list) by the Book for this one.

Bonus #1 (Manga): Orange - Ichigo Takano

The list of my favourite books wouldn't be complete without mentioning at least one manga. From all of my favourites, I have chosen Orange because I find it special. It is a small series, with only 5 volumes. However, it's story was powerful. This manga definitely stays with you for a long time.

Bonus #2 (Graphic Novel): Watchmen - Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons

Here I am, trying to talk once again about Watchmen! It is the greatest graphic novel of all time. When I read it, I discovered that it's more than just the greatest...

Bonus #3 (Short Story): All You Zombies - Robert A. Heinlein

I'm not sure that I can talk about All You Zombies without spoiling the story. Believe me, you will get the BEST experience if you read it without having a single idea. I will only say that it is the best time-travel story of all time!

This was my list! Have you read any of these book?

Which are your favourite books?

Book Recommendations from K-pop MVs

Hello, everyone! It's been a bit over three weeks since I've been in a lockdown, and so I thought that I'll try something different. I've done some lists in the past, however this is something entirely new for me. You see, I've been a K-pop fan for awhile (my radio show this season is all about K-pop - if you want to find it, it's Extra-K on Facebook, extrak.show on Instagram, and ExtraKteam on Twitter) and so I found a way to combine K-pop and books. 

In this list, I have spotted various books on K-pop music videos. I did my best to recognize the books shown. So, let's take some book recommendations from some K-pop MVs.

01. Chuu (from LOONA) - Heart Attack

Book Recommendation: Aphrodite Means Death, by John Appleby

Let's kick off this list, with a recommendation from the song Heart Attack, by Chuu who is a member of LOONA. In the music video, we can clearly see the book and it's title. It's a classic Penguin edition, even though I had never heard of this book prior to compiling this list. 

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVVfMFS3mgc

02. SHINee - Countless

Book Recommendation: The Ruby King, by David Eddings

I love SHINee! So, I was pleasantly surprised that Minho was holding The Ruby King in the MV of Countless. I haven't read this book, and I'm adding it to me TBR list 😉

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lE0AJzOb-I

03. GWSN - Puzzle Moon

Book Recommendation: Song from the Sea, by Katherine Kingsley

Puzzle Moon is a great song. In fact, there is a shot of a library, where the member of WJSN (I'm sorry, I don't know their names) picks up this specific book that you see in this screenshot. The book is none other than Song from the Sea. If you are in the mood for a historical romance, then this is the recommendation for you!

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aNKhuKk7u0

04. Jennie - Solo

Book Recommendation: Everyman's Pocket Classics - Love Stories, by Various Authors

Jennie (from Blackpink), in this video, is holding a collection of love stories. It's so fitting in the video, as this shot is shown when she sings the lyric "This is not a touching love story". 

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b73BI9eUkjM

05. BTS - Blood, Sweat, and Tears

Book Recommendation: Demian, by Hermann Hesse

Ok, so in this video we can't actually see the cover of the book that RM is holding. However, in the middle of the song he recites something (luckily in English). This goes: "He too was a tempter. He too was a link to the second.The evil world with which I no longer wanted to have anything to do". This is a quote from Demian by Hermann Hesse, and so we can take this as a book recommendation. I have in fact already read this book, although it was years ago!

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmE9f-TEutc

06. Hwa Sa - Twit

Book Recommendation: Animal Farm, by George Orwell

This book recommendation comes in the first 3 seconds of the seconds and you cannot miss the title! However, I would recommend that you give this song a listens as it is a bop. Animal Farm is another book from this list that I have already read.

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScSn235gQx0

07. JJ Project - Tomorrow, Today

Book Recommendation: The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

Take a look at the frame I have included here. Do you spot anything familiar? There is no way I could ever mistake the cover of The Catcher in the Rye with any other book! It is an iconic cover that is instantly recognizable. But, as you can see JB is also holding a book. There are shots all through the video, but none of them shows that cover clearly, so I couldn't understand which one it is.

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktdqlQ1zhg4

08. GOT7 - Lullaby

Book Recommendations: The Crime Writer, by Gregg Hurwitz, The Four Forces, by Jenna Rhodes, State of Emergency, by Patrick J. Buchanan, The Ninth Talisman, by Lawrence Watt-Evans

So, JJ Project from above is a sub-unit of GOT7 that we have here (I'm a fangirl and I can't hide it). In this music video (which is really energetic), JB's setting (yes, the same one as above) is that of a library room. In this shot, he goes to pick up a book and we get a close-up of the shelf. I tried to include some of the titles that I could recognize. 

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RUeTYiJCyA

09. The Rose - She's in the Rain 

Book Recommendation: Dead Poets Society, by N.H. Kleinbaum

In this shot of the She's in the Rain music video, we get to see that the protagonist of the video is holding Dead Poets Society. It's an excellent choice as I have already read it and I can't recommend it enough!

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjbftHj6XYU

10. Ha:tfelt - Pluhmm

Book Recommendation: Northern Lights, by Nora Roberts

In this music video HA:TFELT is sitting and waiting surrounded by books. There are so many of them, but there are out of focus. I could make out though that one of them was Northern Lights by Nora Roberts!

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQONKTUFh6g

11. S.I.S. - Always be your Girl

Book Recommendation: Heartbeat, by Danielle Steel

Always be your girl is a cute song. In one scene, the group member (I don't know their names), is trying to reach a book from the school's library, but it's high. Then, her crush steps in and helps her. I just included this book in the list, because we can later see her holding it! I wonder, how could a steamy read such as this be in a school library? 🧐

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B54wPt-vbF0

12. Nell - The Day Before

Book Recommendation: And Our Faces, My Heart, Brief as Photos, by John Berger

I close this list with a great recommendation and one that I'll surely add to my TBR list! 

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6AzbOupbxk

So, this was my list! It was so fun compiling it! Have you read any of those books?

Would you be interested in seeing more content like this?