Like The Tomato
Nothing here but my musings about daily life, books, anime, and food.
- Title: Craig & Fred
- Author: Craig Grossi
- Genre: Memoir, Nonfiction
- Pages: 288
- Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
- Published: 2018
I always find it challenging to find the words to describe what I feel about a book that I really love. I am having one of those moments right now. I don’t even know how to start talking about this book. All I know is that this book became one of my favorite reads.
I took a War Literature class back in the day, and I really enjoyed that class. The books chosen for the required reading and writing during that class were pretty great. In fact, I found another favorite during that class. So when I found Craig & Fred online, I knew I had to buy it. Sure, it took a while for me to pick it up, but I was finally in the mood to read some nonfiction so I picked it up.
The book chronicled how an Afghan stray dog (Fred) saved a marine (Craig) and vice versa. I enjoyed the book’s semi-linear narrative. The chapters alternate between the times in Afghanistan and a US road trip. We got to see these two meet in Afghanistan during Craig’s deployment, Fred’s moment at the base leading up to his flight home to the US, Craig and Fred’s reunion, and the road trip with a friend. It was a ride.
I am not lying when I say that this book put me on an emotional roller coaster. I was smiling nonstop from when these two met, and in every single interaction Fred had with each marine. I did get annoyed at times because of the need to sneak Fred around because of some misguided BS about dogs being a distraction. I don’t get it and I will never get it. Really, euthanizing the dogs because marines should not get attached to them. Yeah. I just refuse to understand that. And I’m not going to apologize for it.
There were moments that broke my heart and led me to tears. The loss, the PTSD, and the struggle of going back to normal life after being exposed to such a stressful environment. And yes, I got stressed out and my anxiety was triggered when Craig, Fred, and Josh were in the woods. Or any chapter really where they were depicted to be in the woods during their road trip. But that’s because I am not an outdoorsy person. And would never choose camping. And there were moments that restored my faith in humanity – well some faith. I just love the random acts of kindness Craig and Fred received from the people they met.
Honestly, this is just such a heartwarming read and I didn’t want it to end. Yes, I already bought Second Chances because I really want to continue on with their journey. I am glad that I read this book. I was a bit worried that this book would end with Fred being left in Afghanistan. Good thing it didn’t happen or else I would be crying in bed. And this was really the reason why I loved the alternating timeline of this book. This was such a good read. A good reading experience for me. And I was glad that I decided to pick it when I did.
I really cannot complain about my reading for this month. 17 items read is really not bad for me. I read 7 manhwa, 1 memoir, and 9 novels. Again, I have nothing to complain about. I enjoyed most of the things on this list.
Out of the 7 manhwa I read this month, three definitely stood out – The Words in Your Snare, The Big Apple, and The Black Mirror. There were two that I really didn’t like – Link in the Hole and All For 9900 Won. Hold Me Tight and Pleasure Principle were fine.
The Words in Your Snare (manhwa, webtoon). The story follows Lee Jooin, a reclusive cafe owner with some kind of ability who catches the eye of a gangster, Mookya. Mookya also happened to be the only person whose thoughts Jooin couldn’t read. Due to circumstances beyond his control, Jooin got dragged into Mookya’s dangerous world. It was pretty obvious since the beginning that Jooin would be drawn to Mookya. I mean, can you blame him? It would be nice to be with someone whose thoughts he couldn’t read. Anyway, the story was a lot to take in. It has organized crimes, special abilities, romance with a dangerous person…and then throws some kind of incestuous brother in the mix. This was such a wild ride – it was difficult to read especially as the story progressed and we got to see Jooin’s past life that led to him moving to live exclusively in a rural area. For the most part, it was heartbreaking. And I couldn’t stop reading.
The Black Mirror (manhwa, webtoon). Well, I mean I knew that this would be some kind of fantasy when I started reading it. But I did not realize that it would be supernatural and creepy. In this manhwa, we follow Tae-jun who lost his childhood memories. As he was looking for an apartment, he met a handsome writer, Yeon-woo, who recognized him immediately. And as Tae-jun started living with Yeon-woo, his nightmares and hallucinations of bloody, disembodied hands escalated. This was definitely not something that I would normally gravitate towards but I got so invested so quickly that I couldn’t stop reading. I needed to know what the fuck was happening. It was wild. I can say that I was not scared of the hands and the mirrors, I was more scared of the psychological aspect of the relationship between Jun and Yeon-woo. It was definitely a mind-fuck of an experience.
The Big Apple (manhwa, webtoon). In this story, we follow Joachim – a very talented sniper of an organization called the Secret Intelligence Agency. His work definitely is stressful and his only reprieve is his times with his lover, Juergen. Honestly, I thought this would be some kind of action manhwa that’s why I gravitated towards it. But I was wrong, it was really some kind of urban fantasy with gifted characters and dragons. I did enjoy how the conflict arose and got resolved. I was not invested in the romance as much. I did have some issues with the relationship between the main characters. There was too much possession and toxicity, a lot of games and manipulation. It got really difficult to read at times. However, aside from that, I really enjoyed the plot when it progressed.
Craig & Fred (memoir, physical book). I don’t want to say too much about this. Let’s just say that this book became one of my favorite reads. I mean, it was about a dog and a marine and how they saved each other. What is not to love about this? It was definitely emotional in parts. I was definitely in an emotional roller coaster. I will have a separate reaction post on this book soon.
Lolita (classic, physical book). I just want to say that I read “Lolita”. It was a good read, and I will say this again, you’re not missing anything if you haven’t read this one. I already had a reaction up about this one. Check the post here.
Beta’s Thief, Alpha’s War, Tiger’s Den, Dragon & Flame, Alpha’s Gamble, Alpha Enchanted (novels, eBooks). These are books 3 to 8 of a 10-book Haven City series. Out of these six books, I enjoyed Beta’s Thief and Alpha’s War were my favorite reads. Not the best for sure, but these two had some angsts and a bit of heist in the story. So, of course, I would enjoy them. The other novels were okay. I think I just preferred the characters, dynamics, and conflicts in books 3 & 4. It took a while for me to get into the stories for the latter novels.
Heaven Official’s Blessing Vol 3 and Vol 4 (novels, physical books). I love this series. I have nothing else to say. My heart was fluttering the whole time I was reading these volumes. The interactions between Xie Lian and Hua Cheng made me smile and giddy. I was laughing at certain parts. The story could be really graphic. And the author did not shy away from gore. These were some great reads!
I did enjoy the majority of what I read last month. I really took some time to catch up on some manhwa in September compared to the months prior. I am hopeful that I can keep my reading momentum through October.
And to clarify, the Christmas movies I watch are all romance movies. And yes, these are the only movies that I enjoy with instalove written all over it. And I wouldn’t even complain about it. Usually, I would be complaining too much about this trope. But when it comes to Christmas romance movies, I tend to forgive it. It gives the movie it’s fairytale vibes and it just makes me smile.
Anyway, what have I done these past few days? Aside from watching Christmas movies? I was able to hang out with my man. I watched a few movies. And I read and finished three books.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023). I watched this with my love on Thursday. Granted it was a short hangout but it was okay. This movie was fun. That was all there was to it. It’s not that deep. I think the voice actors did a good job. Except for Chris Pratt as my partner says. I love Jack Black as King Koopa. Oh, I’m sorry, I mean Bowser. My favorite characters are Toad and Lumalee. Toad is just freaking adorable. And Lumalee is just so blue. You cannot beat the lines given to this character, “There’s no sunshine. Only darkness.” I love it. Anyway, we enjoyed this movie, especially the love-struck Bowser singing while playing the piano. Love it.
Now You See Me (2013). I found that this movie is free on YouTube right now, so what do I do? Of course, I watch it. I watched it before and I knew that I enjoyed the movie a lot. I mean, magic? Check. Heist? Check. Not to mention that I love the actors in this movie. I would be using fun again. Because this movie was just fun. Again, I know critics out there would be what? or how? or whatever it is that they like to critic on. I just don’t care. I love this movie.
Now You See Me 2 (2016). This is also free on YouTube right now. Of course, I would watch it right after the first installment. Again, critics can say whatever they want. I still loved this movie. I mean, the magic or should I say illusions in the first one were outrageous. But the second installment is even more so. And I loved every minute of it. And they even showed the Horsemen doing the heist, unlike the first movie, and it was very much appreciated. Sure, I was sad that Henley wasn’t in this movie. But Lula was a really good replacement.
I did well reading-wise. I finished Heaven Official’s Blessing Vol 4. And let’s just say, I cannot put the book down. This series as a whole was definitely graphic in some areas – the violence, the gore – very descriptive. And I love it. But vol 4 really made my heart flutter. Those kisses. Those closed proximity encounters. Hua Cheng and Xie Lian’s interactions. Yeah. I really enjoyed this one. Planning on starting Vol 5 tomorrow or tonight. I also finished Alpha Enchanted and Alpha’s Cage (books 8 and 9 of Haven City respectively). I liked these ones a bit more than books 6 and 7. Book 9 was the first one to actually have me tearing up. Yeah, that happened. I am starting the last book in the series soon.
- Anime Title: Moriarty the Patriot
- Episodes: 1 Season – 24 episodes, 2 OVAs
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
- Publisher: Bandai Visual
I am not some kind of Sherlock Holmes expert but I am familiar with the world, having read some of the stories and watching those Robert Downey Jr movies. I can’t say what really pulled me to the anime. I just remember watching it one day. And loving it. Yes, love. I watched this anime maybe five times already. Let’s just say that this anime features my ultimate pairing and another strong trio.
As the title suggests, this anime follows Moriarty as he strategies to fix the British Empire’s systemic inequity while evading being discovered by none other than Sherlock Holmes. The first episode was really good in being the hook for me. I mean, I cannot stop watching the anime after that introduction. Then the anime proceeds to keep me entertained as I see how Moriarty planned on fixing the British Empire. The story is really solid – I dare say exciting and exhilarating. Well, it kept me watching multiple times.
Let’s talk about a trio that became an instant favorite for me. The Moriarty’s. The Moriarty Siblings. Moriarty. I would gush over them over and over. Each brother has his own strength that makes this trio work so well. We have Albert James Moriarty – the oldest of the brothers, a lieutenant colonel; William James Moriarty – the middle brother, a crime consultant, a professor; and Louis James Moriarty – the youngest, the quiet but really deadly one. My favorite is William, and my hubby’s favorite is Louis. Out of these three, someone stands out – William. He was the one who had a clear vision, a clear-cut plan of how he wanted to reform the British empire. And his brothers believed and supported him in it. William was the leader and everyone who looked at the brothers could tell that he was the brains of this operation. He was so intelligent. There were so many episodes in this anime that showcased his skills and it was amazing.
Let’s talk about my favorite pair. William and Sherlock Holmes. After watching this anime so many times, these two together are just satisfying to watch. They are friends and rivals. Their intellect is on par with each other. Sherlock sparked William’s interest the moment they met. William thinks Sherlock is one brilliant man. Let’s just say that William chose Sherlock to play a role in his plans. Sherlock on the other hand has no interest in being manipulated by William. There were moments when he had no choice but to play along, but we find him doing things outside of William’s expectations often. My fujoshi heart flutters for these two. They are my one true pairing in this anime because they make sense to me. These two were featured as my desktop wallpaper for quite a while.
I was very hesitant to watch this anime with my partner. Why? I loved this anime so much that I’m really scared of what he would think about it. Spoiler alert: he ended up enjoying and loving the anime. Both of us were on the edge of our seats while watching this movie. Seriously, this has mystery, and intrigue, and is very brainy. It features some really compelling characters – Fred is also one of my hubby’s favorites that came out of this anime. I could keep on gushing about this anime but do yourself a favor and check it out. This anime became one of my favorites after the first few episodes and I would continue to rewatch this over and over and over. I need to get the manga now.
Well, I am not sure yet if I’m sick or not. However, Tuesday just sucked. Chest tightness – check. 2 puffs of my inhaler – check. Tiredness – check. KO’d for about 4 hours in the afternoon – check. The fact that the 4-hour afternoon snoozefest was not enough to curb the fatigue is saying a lot.
Anyway, my partner and I watched some Ghosts and Twisted Metal over the weekend. We also watched a couple of anime that could be the next anime to watch after Tomodachi Game. We are enjoying Ghosts a lot. It’s funny for sure. It’s for sure a series and has some continuity in it. But I really love the fact that each episode has specific conflicts that get resolved by the end. Again, my hun loves Thorfinn. And I really enjoyed the DND episode.
We are almost done with the first season of Twisted Metal. This show is just a trip. I love Stu who I consider a teddy bear. He is just a softy. Sweet Tooth is just enjoyable to watch. There were some fun times in the ball pit. And Quiet is not so annoying in the episodes that we watched. I love the cameo of her brother trying to kick some sense into her. And I like the fact that she at least is willing to let go of some of the burden that she is carrying.
How about the two anime that we checked out? I really don’t want to put anything in here about Hell’s Paradise and Mashle: Magic and Muscles. I just feel like it’s not fair. My hun and I are both not in the mood for anime right now so it’s a bit difficult to be into any anime right now. So we decided to put anime on the side for a bit. We will revisit this in the future.
My reading has been good. I am still reading the novels that I am working on (Heaven Official’s Blessing Vol 4 and Alpha Enchanted). But I also decided to read some manhwa, well at least catch up on some of the ones that I was reading. Some of my webtoons took a backseat with my reading some novels. But at least I am able to catch up on those series. I even finished a couple of them so I consider that as a win.
We recently just finished Tomodachi Game. Like I said to my partner, I swear, I should not have watched the last episode. It was needed. The only thing that solidified for me was my dislike for Kokorogi. I cannot with that character. Why was she even in this anime? Why was she created? Why? We felt like if she was not there, the storyline would not change. And I would stand by that. I honestly don’t care that this opinion is based on 12 episodes. And honestly, that was enough for me to not like this girl. I have no urge to continue with the story. Not committing to reading the manga right now regardless of how much I enjoyed the psychological aspects of the story.
RANT INCOMING!!!
So, I live in a pet-friendly apartment building, which is one of the reasons why I chose this place. Anyway, for the last few days, I have heard dog cries starting around lunchtime, then in the afternoons, and then at night. Of course, every single time that Paco hears it, he also becomes a bit agitated. So yesterday, I decided to be nosey. I really wanted to find out where the heck those cries were coming from. And I did! And I immediately got annoyed. Because it was a German shepherd puppy in a kennel. Out on the balcony. Now, our area is not the hottest place but it’s far from being chilly the past few days. And even yesterday, it was raining and the puppy was just outside! Honestly, if you’re freaking crate training, do it inside the fucking apartment. Don’t leave the puppy outside exposed to natural elements. Especially when the temperature here changes so often. I feel so bad for the puppy!
As of this time (10:02 PM Saturday 09.23), the puppy is still outside in a kennel. It has been raining all day. Swear, I cannot with some dog owners.
RANT DONE.
I managed to finish two books this weekend. Alpha’s Gamble, which is book 7 of the Haven City series. It was okay. I found that I was having issues connecting to the characters of this book. Like book 6, I really think I just preferred the Black Wolves arc characters and conflicts. Heist was a main thing for that arc too so that could be it. I am continuing on with book 8. I want to finish this series soon.
Heaven Official’s Blessing Vol 3 was a trip. I really enjoyed it. I mean, not surprised because why wouldn’t it? There were parts that made me cry, there were parts that were difficult to read, there were parts that I was annoyed with, there were parts that made me giggle, and there were parts that made me laugh out loud. Of course, I was doing happy dances when Hua Cheng and Xie Lian’s first kiss happened. All I could think of was “AHHH!! Oh my god!!! Finally!!!” It was so good, and Xie Lian’s nervousness after that was adorable. It was so good! SOOOO GOOD. I was way too happy and excited to even put the book down after that. And yes, I started Heaven Official’s Blessing Vol 4 already because I cannot stop. I was too invested to stop!