“Now that my life has gotten a little more settled, I’m getting around to some reading. A few months ago I picked up a copy of Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere and I didn’t actually read it, so now it has taken up residence on my bedside table to read when I crawl into bed, exhausted from attempting to be an adult. I’m only a few chapters in, but I’ve already descended into London Underground and it’s been terrifying and amazing. My only complaint so far is that Richard is sort of a male Bella Swan, though I’m sure he’ll actually start to develop as a character as the story progresses. I’m excited to learn more about the worlds and see what the Lady Door has to conquer to avenge her family.”
– Christina Casano, TV & Film Writer
“I’ve been so addicted to RISK! lately, it’s not even funny. The podcast is hosted by Kevin Allison, a writer and performer from MTV’s cult 90s sketch show The State, and with the slogan “where people tell true stories they never thought they’d dare to share,” it’s essentially an edgier, more risque version of This American Life. The show is comprised of radio style stories (which are recorded off-site and then edited together) and stories told at live shows, and each episode makes you feel something, often more than one emotion at once. I’ve gone from laughing at one story to being shocked and uncomfortable at the next, and then tearing up by the finale. Each show focuses around a single theme, and something I find really awesome is the fact that listeners are constantly encouraged to send in their own pitches for stories, and have often appeared on the show alongside comedians and actors. Allison is a perfect host for the show; whenever he talks, it almost always sounds like he’s smiling or laughing, and just really enjoying what he does. RISK! shows just how powerful storytelling can be, and I definitely think it’s something anyone who loves stories or the spoken word should check out.”
– Allison Racicot, Audiobook Reviewer
“There’s nothing like a re-read, and lately I’ve been re-reading the last few volumes of Inuyasha, the first manga I read when I was starting high school. Like a lot of shounen manga I’ve read, it’s action-based and a quick read, but reading the manga took me back to summer camp and hiding books on my lap under the table at dinner. Takahashi’s art and storytelling style always appealed to me, and one of my favorite parts about Inuyasha as a series is how it handles youkai — not as inherently bad, but as culturally so different from humans that they’re hard to understand. Re-reading Inuyasha definitely made me want to re-read Takahashi’s newest manga, Rin-ne, which is probably next up on my list.”
– Feliza Casano, Editor
