Reading Log, January—June 2021
Everything that I read in the first half of 2021, with some annotations.
It's been a while! In 2020 I maintained the habit of posting these lists (almost) every month, but when my workplace returned to in-person in January all my project habits fell apart. I did, however, manage to keep records of what I read. Here is a big-ass list; because I wasn't able to reconstruct a nice chronological list like I usually do, everything is split into categories this time. Here's hoping for shorter lists posted more frequently in the coming months.
A ⌛︎ before a title indicates that I have not finished reading it.
Novels & Novellas
- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie (reread for work)
- Merchanter's Luck by C.J. Cherryh
- The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (reread for work)
- Non-Player Character by Victoria Corva (3 chapters, pre-publishing preview)
- Zofloya; or, The Moor: A Romance of the Fifteenth Century by Charlotte Dacre
- Pattern Recognition by William Gibson
- ⌛︎ Oblomov by Ivan Goncharov
- Queen City Jazz by Kathleen Anne Goonan
- ⌛︎ With My Dog Eyes by Hilda Hilst
- Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
- Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee
- The Giver by Lois Lowry
- City of Red Midnight: A Hikayat by Usman T. Malik
- Crystal Line by Anne McCaffrey
- In an Absent Dream by Seanan McGuire
- Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire
- Down Among the Sticks and Bones by Seanan McGuire
- How to Murder Fate by Kimberly A. Riley (chapter 1, ongoing)
- Allegro by D. Moonfire (39 chapters, ongoing)
- Second-Hand Dresses by D. Moonfire
- Sand and Blood by D. Moonfire
- Sand and Ash by D. Moonfire
- Sand and Bone by D. Moonfire
- ⌛︎ Floornight by nostalgebraist (reread)
- The Longest Night by E.E. Ottoman
- Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson
- Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin
- Night by Elie Wiesel (reread for work)
- ⌛︎ From the New World by Yusuke Kishi trans. eerabbit (reread)
Light Novels
- A Wild Last Boss Appeared! vol. 1 by Firehead
- A Wild Last Boss Appeared! vol. 2 by Firehead
- KonoSuba: God's Blessing on this Wonderful World! vol. 1 by Akatsuki Natsume
- KonoSuba: God's Blessing on this Wonderful World! vol. 2 by Akatsuki Natsume
- A Lily Blooms in Another World by Ameko Kaeruda
- Sexiled: My Sexist Party Leader Kicked Me Out, So I Teamed Up With A Mythical Sorceress! vol. 1 by Ameko Kaeruda
- Sexiled: My Sexist Party Leader Kicked Me Out, So I Teamed Up With A Mythical Sorceress! vol. 2 by Ameko Kaeruda
- Roll Over and Die: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword! vol. 1 by kiki
- Roll Over and Die: I Will Fight for an Ordinary Life with My Love and Cursed Sword! vol. 2 by kiki
- A Sister's All You Need vol. 1 by Hirasaka Yomi
- A Sister's All You Need vol. 2 by Hirasaka Yomi
- Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon vol. 1 by Hirukuma
- Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon vol. 2 by Hirukuma
- Otherside Picnic by Miyazawa Iori (1 arc/chapter in 2021)
- Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash vol. 2 by Jyumonji Ao
- Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash vol. 3 by Jyumonji Ao
- Tearmoon Empire vol. 1 by Mochitsuki Nozomu
- Tearmoon Empire vol. 2 by Mochitsuki Nozomu
- My Next Life as a Vilainess All Routes Lead to Doom! by Yamaguchi Satoru
- My Friends and I Were Granted Three Wishes by a Cat Goddess and I Swear I Got Distracted When My Turn Came Around by Alex Zandra (reread)
- My Friend Took Me To A Feline Therapy Place For My Anxiety And I’m Starting To Wonder Where The Cats Are? by Alex Zandra (reread)
- I Signed Up To Be The Substitute Familiar Of A Struggling Witch To Pay My Bills And I'm Just Now Realizing What I Got Myself Into by Alex Zandra (reread)
Short Stories
- “Champion of the World” by Maya Angelou (chapter excerpted from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings)
- “Gaffe” by Casey Callich (3 chapters, ongoing)
- “I'm Going to Kill You and Eat You for Food” by Henry Hoke
- “Nad and Dan adn Quaffy” by Diana Wynne Jones
- “So your grandmother is a starship now: a quick guide for the bewildered” by Marissa Lingen
- “Flight of the Scions 46: Celebrations” by D. Moonfire
- “A Friendly Game” by D. Moonfire
- U.N. Report On Magical Realism Warns Of Increased Incidences Of Women’s Tears Flooding The Entire World in The Onion
- SCP-4413
- “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan
- “Bisexual Unicorn Vampires Teach Me the Importance of the Vampire Cough” by Chuck Tingle
- “How to make an omelet” by Tricia (reread)
- “Kiss With a Fist” by Mads Viande
- “Jeeves and the Amatory Dilemma” by wholahoop (reread, fanfic, 23647 words)
Plays
- A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry (reread for work)
- Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
- Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (reread for work)
Poetry
- “Caged Bird” by Maya Angelou (read for work)
- “the sonnet-ballad” by Gwendolyn Brooks (read for work)
- “I am reminded via email to resubmit my preferences for the schedule” by Chen Chen
- “I Invite My Parents to a Dinner Party” by Chen Chen
- “Flirtation” by Rita Dove (read for work)
- “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden
- “Dreams” by Langston Hughes (read for work)
- “Harlem” by Langston Hughes (read for work)
- “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes (read for work)
- ” The Quangle Wangle's Hat” by Edward Lear
- “Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti
- “football dreams” by Jacquelie Woodson
- “genetics” by Jacqueline Woodson (read for work)
Manga & Manhwa
- Useless Princesses by Ajiichi (35 chapters)
- Kashimashi ~Girl Meets Girl~ by Akahori Satoru and Katsura Yukimaru (2 chapters)
- A Meaningless Sunday by Akiyama Haru (manga one-shot)
- I Wouldn't Mind Being Loved by Amano Shuninta (4 chapters)
- I Favor the Villainess by Aono Sumire (10 chapters)
- Honjitsu wa Ohigara mo Yoku by Aoume Ao (7 chapters)
- A Classmate Who Recommends Crossdressing by Asazuki Norito (oneshot)
- Tonari ni by Basso (5 manga chapters)
- Mukuchi na Omoi wa Koi to Naru by Edanaka (4 chapters)
- VRMMO de Summoner Hajimemashita by Fujishima Shinnosuke (11 chapters)
- Sono Yo ni Tada Hitori by Fuji Tamaki (8 chapters)
- Otokonoko Doushi Renai Chuu by Fumiko Fumi and Kaoru Ooshima (4 chapters)
- Aoi Hitomi no Bakemono by Gamoko Tsuyu (5 chapters)
- Puberty, an All Boys School!? and Nakano-kun by Higashi 385 (5 chapters)
- Ai no su e Ochiro! by Higuchi Misao and Minamijuuji Asuna (1 chapter)
- Osananajimi (♂) to no Arekore by Hoshikura Zozo (1 chapter)
- Exiled From My Old Party For Being A Woman, Me And A Legendary Witch Formed The Ultimate Tag Team by Kaeruda Ameko and Seto Ririura (1 chapter)
- Apron Yankee by Katagiri Lyla (6 chapters)
- Aoi-kun is a Suicidal Girl (♂) by Kobayashi Kina (one-shot)
- The Four Best People in the World by Kobayashi Kina (one-shot)
- My Childhood Friend Changes Daily by Kobayashi Kina (one-shot)
- Genshiken Nidaime by Kio Shimoku (72 chapters)
- Can a Guy Like Me Be a Maid? by Koshou (14 chapters)
- Handsome Girl and Sheltered Girl by Majoccoid and Mochi Au Lait (14 chapters)
- The Small Sage Will Try Her Best In the Different World from Lv. 1! by Misaki Juri and Yume Ayato (22 chapters)
- Sakura-chan to Amane-kun by Norito Asazuki (7 chapters)
- 2DK, G-pen, Alarm clock by Ohsawa Yayoi (9 chapters)
- My Demon Secretary by Ontabahlul (7 chapters)
- For Your Love by Park Nodeok (85 chapters)
- *Form of Sympathy * by Park Nodeok (34 chapters)
- noe67 Warawanai Sekusaloid by Saku Hiro (1 chapter)
- Ichinose-kun wa Itsumo Iinari by Sakura Rico (9 chapters)
- Miss Sunflower by Sugano Manami (3 chapters)
- Ganbare! Nakamura-kun!! by Syundei (11 chapters)
- Kono Koi wa Kataranai by Tadano (2 chapters)
- Kanojo ni Naritai Kimi to Boku by Takase Umi (50 chapters)
- Asagao to Kase-san. by Takashima Hiromi (36 chapters)
- Yamada to Kase-san by Takashima Hiromi (20 chapters)
- Tadokoro-san by Tatsubon (81 webmanga chapters)
- So, Do You Want To Go Out, Or? by tmfly (28 chapters)
- Tatoe Todokanu Ito da to Shite mo by tMnR (38 chapters)
- Ise-san and Shima-san by Tokuwo Tsumu (3 chapters)
- Friday Night Cinema by Usui Shio (one-shot)
- Trying Out Marriage With My Female Friend by Usui Shio (6 chapters)
- Butter!!! by Yamashita Tomoko (34 chapters)
- Zombie Hide Sex by Yodogawa Yuo (15 chapters)
- Between Philia and Eros by Yorita Miyuki (15 chapters)
- Seibetsu “Mona Lisa” no Kimi he. by Yoshimura Tsumuji (6 chapters)
- Kinou Nani Tabeta? by Yoshinaga Fumi (24 chapters)
- Otoko no Ko Tsuma by Crystal no Yousuke (35 chapters)
- My Pure Boyfriend Has an Unusual Dog by yuuryuuuuu (one-shot)
Other Comics
- Witches' Forest by blop (short webcomic)
- Mage & Demon Queen by Color_LES (129 webcomic updates)
- fresh meat by gray Folie/Dupe (completed webcomic, reread)
- “Good ol' Charlie B” by Marina Kittana (short webcomic)
- “A Hole is A Hole” by null_backdoorhoe
- The Queen and the Woodborn Shiniez (webcomic, 4 chapters)
- The Tapestry by Monckat (Homestuck-like, archives start—July 5th 2021)
- Boyfriends. by refrainbow (39 webcomic updates)
Zines
- “I'm Worried About Wine Moms” by Moss B.
- “Grief” by Hanny Weddz
Text-based Games & Writing on Games
- A Shower Story by A. Tony Jerome
- “The Tragedy of GJ237b” by Ben Lehman
- Priority Realignment by Nyx Games
- Dead Wife Game by Em Reed
- Ear Canal Simulator 3000 by Em Reed
- The Iron Hand in the Velvet Glove by Em Reed
- “some game economics for the ancient world” by iolsb
- “d100 Merchants” by Nick LS Whelan
Essays, papers, articles, etc.
- “Tracing Paper” by Mitch Anzuoni
- “An Interview With the Man Who Keeps Uploading My Feet to WikiFeet” by Laura Bassett
- “Yeti Researcher Reconsidered, by a Smarty Pants English Student” by Joshuah Bearman
- ” Everyone Is Beautiful and No One Is Horny: Modern action and superhero films fetishize the body, even as they desexualize it” by RS Benedict
- “68 Slogans of '68” compiled by Casey Callich
- “On Recursive Islands” by Freya Campbell
- “Does yoga have a conspiracy theory problem?” by Joshua Cheetham
- “Distinguishing New York Mustard Weed Species” by Cornell Weed Identification
- “Figures, Doors and Passages” by Robin Evans
- “Web Conversations With the Year 2000” by Paul Ford
- “The Mysterious Case of the F*cking Good Pizza” by Emilie Friedlander
- “Yaoi Tropes: “A Gay Exclusive to You” by Fudanshi Essayist
- “How Did a Self-Taught Linguist Come to Own an Indigenous Language?” by Alice Gregory
- “Thriving Together: Salmon, Berries, and People” by ‘Cúagilákv (Jess Housty)
- “How to bring a language to the future” by Alizeh Kohari
- “A Sex Close to Noise: An Essay about Transgender Women and Music” by Leah
- “The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction” by Ursula K. Le Guin
- “Genre: A Word only a Frenchman Could Love” by Ursula K. Le Guin
- “SERF 'n' TERF: Notes on Some Bad Materialisms” by Sophie Lewis
- “Lebadeia & The Oracle Of Trophonius”, section from Description of Greece by Lucian of Samosata, trans. W.H.S. Jones
- “How the Web Became Unreadable” by Kevin Marks
- “Mushoku Tensei Is Not the Pioneer of Isekai Web Novels, But...” by Kim Morrissy
- “F*ggot As Gender Identity, Detransition As A Form Of Suicide.” by Rani (reread)
- “Post-Ownership” by Em Reed
- “Sexy Times with Wangxian: The internet’s most beloved fanfiction site is undergoing a reckoning” by Aja Romero
- ”'I am not who I was': Michael Rosen on surviving Covid” (excerpt from Many Different Kinds of Love by Michael Rosen)
- “lesbian fascism on TERF island” by Indiana Seresin
- “On Heteropessimism” by Indiana Seresin
- “The Men Who Eat Like Boys” by C. Brian Smith
- “Grunge at Ground Zero: The Story Of Bam Bam” by The Sonic Mosquito
- “Unlocking PinkRabbit” by Jessica Stokes
- ” The Anxiety of Influencers” by Barrett Swanson
- “Plant Flagging and the Queer Ecology Hanky Project” by Caroline Tracey
- “DNA of Giant ‘Corpse Flower’ Parasite Surprises Biologists” by Christie Wilcox
- “Where Do Butts Come From?” by Katherine J. Wu
- “I have one of the most advanced prosthetic arms in the world — and I hate it” by Britt H. Young
Total: 24 novels and novellas plus 43 chapters of novels currently being written; 22 light novels; 14 short stories; 3 plays; 14 poems; 716 manga chapters; 2 full webcomics, 3 short comics, 172 webcomic updates; 2 zines; 6 text games and 2 pieces of game writing; 36 essays, articles, and papers.
NOTE: “work”
I work at a school, so things that I read for work were often read multiple times and had some kind of deep reading/analysis/discussion/teaching component to them.
NOTE: things not included
I have of course read many more things than are on this list because as an online person I am constantly bombarded with text. Anything that made it to this list had some quality such as “good” or “interesting” or “left an impression on me” or “I didn't forget about it immediately” or “I wanted to remember it so I made a note for later”.
NOTE: where to find things
- I tried to link back to stuff that was hosted online, e.g. articles from online publications, works freely offered by the author, webcomics, etc. People are more likely to read something if there's an easy link!
- I would never recommend pirating books from websites like z-lib.org, especially if the book is out of print or the author is dead or the book is old enough that the copyright should be expired in any reasonable country or if you were just going to buy it used from am*zon anyway.
- I read most of my manga on dynasty-scans.com, which is focused on yuri, shoujo ai, and gender-y stuff. You can find almost everything on mangadex.org, but I used a variety of sites of varying qualities when that was down over the spring. If you can't find something feel free to ask me.
- Your websearch is a good as mine.