Hiromi Goto

A great look at getting old and reflecting on the life you lived. The protagonist here, Kumiko, refuses to give in to old age. She's insistent to live on her own, despite the difficulty & protests of her children, and also engages in a very real fight against the manifestation of death. I really enjoyed how the book only touched on Kumiko's past, referencing events that made her who she is today instead of being bogged down in flashbacks.

I don't think every supernatural element worked for me, but I definitely recommend this book to anyone who thinks it sounds even slightly interesting.… (more)

So I'll be honest - while the writer and the reader in me agree that this collection is beautifully, even masterfully written, many of its subtleties are completely lost on me. It's not a collection to sit down and read in a sitting or two - though it was assigned as a reading assignment for a graduate class to be completed in a week. This one takes digesting and contemplation and several re-reads. While I generally appreciate that kind of complexity - I think this collection is missing balance.

I would recommend this to friends who like to tackle very complex fiction and like a challenge but I'd suggest reading one story at a time and waiting for that story to process before moving on.… (more)

THIS WAS MY FAVORITE READ FROM MY EXPERIMENT OF READING ALL THE NOMINEES FOR THE IGNYTE AWARDS' BEST COMICS TEAM, I LOVED IT SO MUCH.

This is the story of Kumiko, who moves herself out of assisted living when she feels death all around her. Kumiko is a fantastic and lovable protagonist who takes joy in life's small pleasures, sees value in what others discard, and keeps a matter-of-fact attitude even when fighting off Death's shadow itself. The story takes places in an urban Canadian neighborhood, with a diverse cast of supporting characters. The illustrations are simple and beautiful and fit the story so well. There is magic and messy families and reclaiming old relationships and queer happy endings and so much charm and humor and good-naturedness that I teared up at the end.

Easily one of my favorite books I have read so far this year.… (more)