Author: valleyreading
A fun and enjoyable read explaining many elements of Japanese culture from A to Z. Lots of interesting popular concepts explained from folklore, pop culture and the arts of Japan. I think it is a book that would encourage further studies.
Being a collector of Fountain pens the section on Maki-e and Urushi interested me as an owner of Japanese pens made from those crafts.
The book is beautifully illustrated.
At long last I have read a book by Leonardo Sciascia. This book has long been on my TBR pile and lost amongst the shuffle.
I loved the book from start to finish and it is interesting to see the case built up and the tactics and thought process of the Captain. And how with the politics and influence of people associated with the Mafia a rock solid case melted away like a chocolate teacup. A frustrating and very real occurrence of the past and present.
I own many more books by Sciascia, and a recent biography too, and I am looking forward to getting into those too. This book has helped me break a reading slump.
Aside from reading, video games and books I have an interest in fountain pens and inks. It is something I have always enjoyed and I still have and use my first fountain pen I bought way back in 2008, a lime green Lamy Safari.
It is only recently, the last year or so, that I have fallen down the rabbit hole of inks. Its not the colours that appeal to me but the properties too. Like a shimmer or sheening ink and the inks that alter, fore example Sailor Dategokoro goes on with a blue hue but dries a nice plummy colour.
This past week I decided to have a tidy up and organise my collection of inks and pens to make them more accessible and visual to me. Usually I kept them in a pencil case but I decided to store them in a pen case to preserve and look after them better. It is nice to appreciate them and their differences.
My pens range from the Lamy and cheaper Chinese models and brand like Jinhao and Asvine to more expensive Esterbrook and Platinum pens. Cost doesn’t necessarily mean better in my experience. I have 15 total pens and need a bigger case, as I have only room for 12, the rest live in my pencil case. My favourite brand seems to be Kaweko and I like their Sport model of pen. I also have two dip pens which I use for ink swatching and for a change of pace. A J Herbin glass dip pen and a Sailor Dipton with a fude nib.
For inks I have few from Diamine and J. Herbin. I quite like the 1670 collection from J. Herbin. I do like the Pilot Iroshizuka inks and thought I have two currently (Kon Peki & Yama Buda) I know I will try to acquire the set – they are pricey but God tier in my opinion. I do like the gold flecks in ink though they are a bit annoying with gunking up the nib, thankfully most if not all my pens can be thoroughly cleaned out
Here are my pens (from left to right).
Not pictured are Jinhao 10 (Gradient Dark Blue) Medium Nib, Lamy Safari (Lime Green) Medium nib, Travellers Company (Factory Green) Fine nib and a vintage Golden Star pen made in a cloisonné style with what I assume to be a Fine nib (hard to find info on this pen).
As you can see from the above I do prefer a Medium nib in my pens, especially the Kaweko. Liking inks with shimmer properties you need a nice chunky nib to show off the best of the ink.
All the pens are inked up with different inks and I do switch between them all. My daily carry pen would be the Kaweko Piston and a Tom’s Studio ‘The Wren’ pen. It dawns on me as I write now that aside from a cartridge in the Travellers Company pen (Herbin Perle Noire) that I do not own a bottle of black ink. I do like Blue Black ink though, and blue inks in general. Below shows what is in each pen.
I quite like all the inks, I may change out the inks in three of the pens (Asvine, Kaweko Apricot & Opus 88) soon though.
This is how my shelf looks and I have cleaning utensils in the white pot including syringes, water bulbs and pipettes. All for use in cleaning and inking (along with a TWSBI Pipe).
I think eventually I will do blogs on each pen, and maybe the inks too.
A book I started a year or two ago but returned to recently. I started it afresh and it was a difficult reason for me. Not due to the subjects of mental health and relationships but how the book is structured as a conversation between a mother and her daughters boyfriend.
I expected more from the novel and it seemed to be disjointed and all over the place with the conversations, and it just ended abruptly, it was unfinished at the authors death but I don’t think it should have been published.
As a character I didn’t like Kuno and how he asserted himself to Ineko and her Mother, saying the mother is wrong to commit her to treatment and how marriage is the only way to fix her. Rubbed me up the wrong way.
I think a lot to do with the issues were the death of Ineko’s father and that was the trigger of her ailment. I also think that if the novel was finished the end may be that they both (Ineko & Kuno) are afflicted with mental health issues with him seeing a white rat and white dandelion. Possibly even the mother with her seeing a Sprite.
All in all I am glad to have read it but I wouldn’t come back to it.
Valley Reviews 