Y/A Novel by Japanese Author Yoru Sumina "I Want to Eat Your Pancreas" Is also an Animated Feature Film

A quirky name for a coming of age, tear jerky novel about 2 high school classmates; Haruki, a misanthropic male & a vivacious, popular girl, Sakura.  We know know from the start Sakura has died.  The odd couple companionship that forms is told in retrospect with lyricism, youthful energy, sagacity and most of all, with a powerhouse of emotion.  As every war movie is an anti-war movie, every novel about a young person dying is about the gift of life.  Award winning, best selling author Yoru Sumina (b Japan) captures the story of two polar opposites whose serendipitous, symbiotic pairing will capture your heart.  This novel is a true treasure; an utter joy to read.  Haruki is an outsider whose only solace comes from reading.  Sakura spirit lights up a room & whom everyone  wants to befriend.  Having a friend is not something Haruki has ever had or desired.  While waiting to have stitches removed at a hospital, he finds a journal entitled "My book of dying."  Sakura is at the hospital for treatment for a fatal pancreatic disease.  Knowing Haruki has discovered her terminal illness that has been kept secret from anyone outside her family, Sakura feels the freedom of unburdening herself with someone whom she hardly knows who will not become maudlin & permit her to embrace life with normalcy.  A normal day for Haruki is to keep his head down in school, head home & read in his room.  His quiet lonely days are over as Sakura enlists him in sharing new experiences.  Sakura calls him "classmate who knows my secret" and takes him along on a journey of self-discovery. "Sharing connections with other people. I think that's what we call living," Sakura tells Haruki.   You can't help being charmed by both these remarkable characters.  Sumina's skillful storytelling is captivating & up-lifting.  John Donne's "No man is an island entire of itself" was beautifully paraphrased by Haruki "No one was a boat of reeds, not even me.  We choose whether to flow with the currents or turn against them."  This is the rare young adult novel both endearing and profound.  You may think this is just another day in your life?  It's not. It's the one day given you.  It's a precious gift to not be taken for granted.  I loved this book.  I want to see "I Want to Eat Your Pancreas" as an animated feature.

CIRCE a Mythological Fantasy by Madeline Miller - Goddess Circe Considers Mortals v. Gods

CIRCE is a mythological goddess that played a minor role in Homer's Odyssey which is an interminable read about Greek gods getting their thrills through toying with mere mortals.  Circe is the heroine of the novel so named cleverly written by Madeline Miller (b Amer 1978).  CIRCE is Miller's 2nd novel.  Her debut novel "The Song of Achilles" received the Orange Prize for Fiction.  Both novels are immersed in a mythological world the embattles mortals against the immortal gods upon Mt. Olympus.  CIRCE is an entertaining lesson in mythology even for those who do not favor mythology or "The Odyssey" (either Homer or Joyce.)  Regardless, CIRCE takes much of the venom from learning the multitudinous relationships amongst the many Titans and mighty mortals with whom they clash like Athena & her lethal arrows.  Circe is one of Helios' 4 children born to Perse an Oceanid.  Helios is the sun god, given to infinite radiance & rage.  As their child, Circe is a goddess imbued with immortality along with the other almighty gods.  But, she is not quite aligned with the gods.  Circe reminds me of Belle from "Beauty & the Beast".  That goddess is strange, no?  No denying she's a funny goddess that Circe.  Circe as a mortal's softer but discordant voice amongst the gods.  She perpetually ponders what more is there to life than this privileged immortality.  Her independent streak enrages her father who banishes her to an isolated island for all eternity but not before she bestows a secretive kindness towards Prometheus sentenced to a quotidian of pain for giving mortals fire and her malicious, jealous act of magic strewn upon her beautiful sister Scylla.  Circe cast a spell changing Scylla into a hideous sea monster who eats errant sailors and many of Ulyssey's crew. While much of the fantastical odyssey involving Circe centers around water, witchcraft and mystical beings, the novel tends to be dry, arcane & erudite.  But what does reverberate are the perpetual comparisons Circe draws between being born mortal, thereby destined to age & die or bestowed above the heavens born of the preeminent gods.  "Gods pretend to be parents but they are children."  "Vengeance. Lust Hubris. Greed. Power and vanity are attributes of the gods.   Relentless mortals "...could not imagine the scope of gods, the mercilessness that comes of seeing generations rise and fall around you." Circe learns "Gods and mortals do not last together happily."  Circe's final epiphany, "I thought once that gods the opposite of death but I see now they are more dead than anything for they are unchanging."  Admittedly, heretofore not a fan of the never ending mythological clan, CIRCE provided a pleasurable journey through the legacy of the Odyssey and Greek mythology.

The WIFE between US Is a Sub-par Psychological Thriller about Abusive Relationship Signals

The novel "The Wife Between Us" is a psychological chick lit thriller with warnings to women on what to be on guard for as red flags in relationships with men that are toxic, abusive and ultimately fatal.  The messaging is meaningful and broad in scope to serve as a public safety message to women and to friends & family who sense something amiss but are remiss for not running interference.  However, this psychological thriller fails to deliver suspense or surprising twists or credibility for its heroine Vanessa, a.k.a. Nellie.  Vanessa is the unassuming victim for whom we're meant to feel sympathy and then admiration for her innovative empowerment.  Vanessa as the saccharine ingenue from FL who suffered traumatic events moves to the big Apple where she finds friendship, success and a fiancee that seems too good to be true.  As the saying goes, if it seems too good to be true...it's probably not.  It took two authors to collaborate on this comme ci somme ca novel, "The Wife between US."  Greer Hendricks is making her writing debut.  Her writing partner, Sarah Pekkanen is the veteran.  Pekkanen is a columnist & contributor to NPR & E!.  Perhaps, this joint venture was female friendship serving to help other women prevail.  There were noble parables to take away to make other women vigilant about a relationship that is taking a threatening shift and for others not to leave their friends adrift.  A secondary message, but important nonetheless, is to eliminate hazing at sororities & fraternities.  Enough is Enough!  "The Wife Between Us" is fluff with warning signals for perilous stuff.