A collection of blog posts, short essays, and interviews covering Japanese subcultures, pop culture, and otaku interest points. Macias’ sense of humor and accessible writing makes for a breezy read. If this intrigues you, I also suggest his podcast Pure TokyoScope, which he co-hosts with author Matt Alt. Very funny and informative.

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Super addicting neo-noir. Grimy, brutal, observational. Loved this! I’m hooked on Ryu Murakami now.

I’ve only seen the 1995 film adaptation so reading this provided me with a more expansive look at the GITS universe. Motoko is a lot more sassy and silly-hearted in the manga than Mamoru Oshii’s feature, which I appreciate. I think it’s cool how the two works can stand on their own with different tones. Checked out from the library, but definitely want to get my own copy to spend more time with it. I’m really impressed by Shirow Masamune’s imagination.

Overflowing with images that slither off the page and slice through your brain like hot electric magic. Very grim with glimmers of beauty. Emotionally exhausting in a satisfying way, for me at least! YMMV.

I loved Grudova’s The Doll’s Alphabet, so was happy to learn she had published this novel a few years back that I’d somehow missed. As someone who has worked in independent cinemas for more than a decade at this point, this one hit close to home. A slightly askew portal into the daily challenges and interesting characters you meet while working in these cathedrals of the moving image.

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