Japan Sinks: 2020
TV Shows Dorene Zhou TV Shows Dorene Zhou

Japan Sinks: 2020

I usually like apocalyptic movies when they’re done right…but this anime felt like a hot mess of storytelling. Japan Sinks: 2020 is a 10 episode anime series spearheaded by Netflix and based on a novel that was written in the 1970s.

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The Rape of Nanking
Books Dorene Zhou Books Dorene Zhou

The Rape of Nanking

It’s been awhile since I’ve felt such a deep and profound sadness while reading a book. The Rape of Nanking is a historical recounting of the Japanese invasion of Nanking (a major Chinese city) during World War II, probably one of the most horrific events of the war.

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Euphoria
TV Shows Dorene Zhou TV Shows Dorene Zhou

Euphoria

Euphoria is a HBO drama about high schoolers and their struggles toward identity and self-discovery. It zeroes in on dark and modern themes about drugs, sex, and emotional abuse.

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Circe
Dorene Zhou Dorene Zhou

Circe

Circe is a really well-woven story by Madeline Miller about a misfit goddess - a type of story that our history books would happily ignore. It is a book that is widely beloved and I remember seeing its cover on bestseller/popular book lists for a long time.

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The Fire Next Time
Books Dorene Zhou Books Dorene Zhou

The Fire Next Time

The Fire Next Time consists of two essays by Baldwin, the first being fairly short and the second being much longer. I felt like his first essay to his nephew was easier to understand. The second essay was much longer and feels like Baldwin is writing a lengthy journal entry as a thought experiment.

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Tower of God
Dorene Zhou Dorene Zhou

Tower of God

Tower of God is an action-packed adventure story that will keep you addicted for all 13 episodes of its first season. While it follows a hero story trope that is pretty classic for anime (think Naruto), it’s also really imaginative in its own way.

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Princess Mononoke
Movies Dorene Zhou Movies Dorene Zhou

Princess Mononoke

When I watched Princess Mononoke for the first time a few years ago, I don’t think I even made it through to the end. Watching it now, I really wanted to take it all in - the animation, the story, and the metaphors.

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Dune
Dorene Zhou Dorene Zhou

Dune

Dune is the first book in a series of science fiction epics by Frank Herbert. Science fiction isn’t really a genre I’m drawn to, so maybe that’s the main reason why I wasn’t very invested in this book.

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Insecure Seasons 1-4
Dorene Zhou Dorene Zhou

Insecure Seasons 1-4

Insecure has been on my list of shows to watch for months, and I am so grateful that I am finally caught up with this comedic gem. I remember a particular scene in the first episode that made me laugh out loud, and I’ve been hooked ever since!

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Queer Eye Season 5
TV Shows Dorene Zhou TV Shows Dorene Zhou

Queer Eye Season 5

Queer Eye and the Fab 5 are back again with all of the heart, the feels, the laughs, and most importantly, the incredible heroes. Season 5 was a solid season, and I liked the subtle tweaks that were made to keep the format fresh.

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The Catcher in the Rye
Books Dorene Zhou Books Dorene Zhou

The Catcher in the Rye

It's interesting to read a book that is usually a mandatory part of an English class curriculum. I feel like a teacher isn't holding me responsible for analyzing the deeper themes of the writing and it's up to me to decide how far I want to take my understanding of the literature.

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Fruits Basket 2019 Season 1
TV Shows Dorene Zhou TV Shows Dorene Zhou

Fruits Basket 2019 Season 1

Fruits Basket was one of those stories I absolutely adored as middle schooler, in the days when shoujo anime and manga were my life. Flash forward to 2020, in the midst of Covid-19 lockdowns and finding myself with a lot of time in front of my computer, I’m regressing back into my childhood instincts.

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Daisy Jones & the Six
Books Dorene Zhou Books Dorene Zhou

Daisy Jones & the Six

Daisy Jones & The Six is a story told through all of the voices of its characters, like reading transcripts from a televised interview...When I first started reading, I thought "I'm going to hate this book if it's going to be structured this way..." Surprisingly, I found the book to be thoughtful and engaging.

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Chihayafuru Seasons 1, 2, & 3
TV Shows Dorene Zhou TV Shows Dorene Zhou

Chihayafuru Seasons 1, 2, & 3

Felt inspired to watch more anime after enjoying March Comes In Like a Lion, and so I decided to watch Chihayafuru! Chihayafuru, like March, is a sweet and heartwarming anime about a competitive game, Karuta. Karuta is a Japanese card game that mixes strategy, poetry memorization, and physical agility, played between two people.

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The Half of It
TV Shows Dorene Zhou TV Shows Dorene Zhou

The Half of It

The Half of It is a Netflix movie about a queer Asian-American teenager in a middle-of-nowhere town. It is a romantic comedy, but it sets a more serious tone in its delivery and writing.

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Bojack Horseman
TV Shows Dorene Zhou TV Shows Dorene Zhou

Bojack Horseman

Bojack Horseman is a show of superb quality that, for me, is an example of “never judge a book by its cover.” At first glance, this is an animated TV show comedy for adults, where the main character, Bojack Horseman, has a horse’s head on a human body.

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Never Have I Ever
TV Shows Dorene Zhou TV Shows Dorene Zhou

Never Have I Ever

Never Have I Ever…laughed so hard at a TV show. HAHA ok that was an incredibly cheesy opening line, but Never Have I Ever is one of those comedic gems that can get you laughing and invested from the very first episode. It clicked all the right buttons for me…

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