寻觅你最明媚的四月天

Yes, AO3 is down but I've mostly been reading books, webtoons, and webnovels recently. It hasn't been as big an impact on my life as it might've been in years past. So many books on my TBR!

Also slowly watched the cdrama New Life Begins, which was slower-paced and more slice-of-life with mini arcs that were easy to dip in and out of. My favorite parts were the female friendship and female empowerment; the romance was frankly kind of boring. Two perfect people who are in love with each other but a little shy...but then fall deeper in love and overcome obstacles to be together. I guess? I'm here for the girl crew and how supportive they were of each other; deep love and friendship for each of their own journeys and growth. Yes.

( Books, October 2026 )

I now have all six volumes of Run Wild/Sa Ye so I'll read that at some point before the end of the year. Perhaps a reread of Persuasion is in order as well.

Have watched more dramas and have a lot of feelings about A Winter Sun Wakes the Wind in Spring Hills' Dream (Chinese BL, Thailand production). Also some feelings about Revenged Love (Taiwanese BL) and Payback (Thai BL, adaptation of a Korean webtoon). It's hard to articulate coherently and I can't even gif about it; mostly I have watched edits and clips on Instagram and Threads. But also the full shows.

In non-BL dramas, I gave up on Blossoms of Power because I didn't like the FL (as she was acted -- in theory her written character would be entirely my cup of tea), but did enjoy (well, it's fine) mini-drama Spring Over Phoenix Pond, mostly because of the actors for the FL and ML. The writing got substantially worse in the second half.

I loved the vertical drama Hong Luan Yin, which is a transmigration reverse harem trope in which our cunning and beautiful FL collects a harem of four beautiful men who trip themselves over her and she dog walks them. It's insanely iddy. I love her so much. I love the sexy ab-touching and leg-touching and her borderline incesty vibes with her (not blood related) "younger brother". She literally collars him. Actually, let me correct that: he collars himself for her and hands her the leash. And then there's the general who's the ex-husband, the secret prince posing as male courtesan/entertainer, and her childhood friend who loves to bicker with her. I love the Crown Prince who is just watching all the drama eating melon seeds. I desperately need a season 2. Somehow with their budget they made the sets look luxe and the costumes look great. Everyone is pretty. I'm so on board.

Vertical drama means each ep is 2 minutes and there are 92 eps...but really you can watch it all as a 3.5 hour movie. Worth it.

Anyway, classes are back and students and events are back. I'm so busy. I read some stuff in August, I'm trying for September...we'll see.

( Books, August 2026 )

June went by too fast, though I did enjoy my two week ASL class. Had an all-American July 4th weekend at a friend's cabin/camp as well, though also grateful to be home with my mattress and central a/c.

Reading a lot in June but also getting through some cdramas! Since the semester ended: Pursuit of Jade, Secret Lover, Gemini, To My Shore, Threads of Destiny, The Double, kinda Advancing Bravely (I fast forwarded a lot). Now almost done with Sammy's Children's Day. What's after that? Who knows.

In sports news, Canes won the Stanley Cup (omg) and we're deep in the World Cup now. F1 continues as well, I guess.

( Books, June 2026 )

The semester is over and graduation is tomorrow! My schedule will finally free up to read more and even watch dramas! I can't wait.

For May, my personal goal is only to read Asian/Asian diaspora authors, to try to get me to work through my unread books. Exception being any library holds that come in.

( Books, April 2026 )

It's March! Which someone feels crazy to me. Lots going on in April so most of this month is going to be geared toward planning and prepping for that month, plus our first trip back to Houston since we've moved. Cramming a lot into 4 days but excited to see people and eat things, and be Too Warm. Spring finally creeping into Rochester, with our giant piles of snow finally melting, but Houston is already Hot. Of course.

Many things I want to read still! But also read some good things so far this year. And some interesting things. And some less interesting things.

( Books, February 2026 )