Sanguinity

P.G. Wodehouse, Mike and Psmith (1909)

(known variously as "The Lost Lambs", Enter Psmith, or the second half of the novel Mike.)

I confess, this didn't take me strongly. Part of it, no doubt, was the focus on English institutions that mean little to me (public schools, cricket). A greater part is that the main characters are such asses, who always manage to elude getting what they have coming to them -- I spent a good deal of time sympathizing with the other boys who had to deal with them. (It isn't everyone else's problem that Mike and Psmith consider themselves too good for the place!) Happily, our protagonists do eventually get over themselves to some degree, at which point it was easier to enjoy the shenanigans.


P.G. Wodehouse, Psmith in the City (1910)

(aka "The New Fold")

Weirdly, for as poor an impression as these two made on me in the previous book, I enjoyed them greatly here. Mostly I shake my head, sympathizing with the managers and senior clerks who are charged with taking these two in hand and teaching them to at least pretend to be good employees. I am also bemused by Psmith's favored technique of defusing any criticism by yes-and-ing it. (How old was he when he learned that strategy, do you think? Eleven? It occurs to me that in his own day, Psmith was absolutely one of those horrible small boys that so infest Wodehouse's work. Hmmmm.)

Anyway, it was fun! But alas, they're off to Cambridge now. I have never yet enjoyed a comic novel about Oxbridge, so I am not optimistic.


Ryoko Kui, Dungeon Meshi | Delicious in Dungeon, Vol 1-14 (2014-2023)

When I began this series, the D&D adventuring party that survives on monsters that they kill, cook, and eat mostly seemed a cute and harmless gimmick. Each issue would see our heroes defeating and preparing a monster, culminating with a recipe and nutritional info, in between pursuing their quest of recovering and reviving a dead party member. I enjoyed the fancy and the imaginative exercise of how exactly one might best prepare various classic monsters.

As the story continued, more and more lore was introduced about the dungeon, the demon that powered it, and its lord. While I was initially pretty meh about the lore (and the ever expanding cast of characters!), by the time the story climaxed in volumes 12 and 13, it all had become a tightly woven, well-developed, and suspenseful exploration of power and desire, with monster-eating elevated from an amusing gimmick to a key and thematically-relevant mechanic. Watching it all come together into a coherent whole was immensely satisfying, and from Volume 11 onwards I itched with impatience while waiting for the library to bring me each new volume.

I'm pleased to say that Volume 14 was an extended denouement, permitting us a leisurely good-by to the world and its characters -- with an extended "monster tales" coda to show us how the characters were adjusting in the aftermath. I don't feel like I often get a leisurely "wind-down" like that anymore, and it was a luxury to have it here.

All in all, a satisfying read, and makes me want to check out the mangaka's other work!