An Unlikely Duo: September 2021
Only in hindsight did I realize that this month ended up being predominantly about two things: World War II and video games. While that was not my initial intent, the diversity in topics did help keep things fresh and interesting throughout the entire month.
The second surprise for September was the rich lore and reading material within the video game Black Book. You can see my full breakdown of it and the other stories I read this month below.
They Called Us Enemy
By: George Takei, Justin Eisinger, and Steven Scott, Illustrated by: Harmony Becker
Details: Graphic Novel, Young Adult, Nonfiction, Biography, 2019
ISBN-13: 978-1603094504
Synopsis: This is Takei's firsthand account of the years behind barbed wire, the joys and terrors of growing up under legalized racism, his mother's hard choices, his father's faith in democracy, and the way those experiences planted the seeds for his astonishing future.
My Thoughts: When I was a child, it was rarely mentioned what America did to Japanese-Americans during World War II and I was glad to be able to hear Takei’s first-hand experience. (Hopefully, it is discussed more openly nowadays.) Takei paints a very eye-opening picture of daily life and the reality of living in these camps that I hope no one ever forgets so that it will never be repeated.
Tetris: The Games People Play
Written and Illustrated by: Box Brown
Details: Graphic Novel, Young Adult, Nonfiction, History, 2016
ISBN-13: 978-1626723153
Synopsis: Brown untangles the complex history of the world’s most popular video game and delves deep into the role games play in art, culture, and commerce.
My Thoughts: While I’m not a big Tetris player, I do play a lot of video games and I’d be hard-pressed to deny that it helped lay many foundational blocks for video games today. Tetris: The Games People Play tells a very compelling story of a mostly unknown piece of history. It’s fun, colorful, and an informative read.
The Case of Alan Turing
Written and Illustrated by: Eric Liberge and Arnaud Delalande
Details: Graphic Novel, Adult, Nonfiction, Biography, LGBTQ+, 2016
ISBN-13: 978-1551526508
Synopsis: Alan Turing was the brilliant mathematician solicited by the British government to help decipher messages sent by Germany's Enigma machines during World War II. This graphic novel delves into the portrait of this brilliant, complicated, and troubled man.
My Thoughts: The story gives a good mix of Turing’s life and mannerisms, while also delving into his role as a code breaker and what that was like, which I personally found fascinating. A good example of the extreme prejudice against LGBTQ+ people and anyone who was different. A much faster read than I had imagined.
Black Book*
By: Morteshka
Details: Video Game, Mythology, Folklore, 2021
Where Available: Can be bought on Steam for PC or Mac
Synopsis: Black Book is a dark RPG Adventure, based on Slavic myths, in which you play as a young sorceress. Fight evil forces in card-based battles and explore the world, where humans live alongside mythological creatures.
My Thoughts: Filled to the brim with lore and rich storytelling. Black Book gives plenty of room for exploration and learning about Slavic myths, legends, and folklore, as well as having beautiful voice acting and songs to help you learn pronunciations. I highly recommend this for anyone who is interested in mythology, folklore, and learning more about traditional Slavic beliefs.
*Since this is a video game and not a traditional book, I based the details on the game’s storyline instead of traditional video game genres.
