Reading
Momotype, horror visual novel (released 2021)
Momotype is a short, but entertaining game that tackles the topic of existentialism. The game has some interesting routes to go through based on the relationship you have established with Momo.
Due to to the topic and general storyline, the game also feels like a bit of a fever dream, but a fever dream definitly worth experiencing again and again. Not only because there are multiple possible endings :). Momo is basically a creature with existence somewhere between a human baby and a tamagotchi pet (very nostalgic). The idea was so fun to me and since the game was Free to Dowload on Steam, I had to get it and play it/read it immediatelly.
I really emjoy these types of games, they are usuall pretty chill to play and they help me hold my attention spawn on reading, since I find reading "normal books" page after page really exhausting. I spent approximetly five hours playing this game.
Playing it was a fun English reading exercise for me. I knew all the words used, but I had small problem with translating the sentences fluently at some points. Other than that, I think I did a good job reading it.
English used is formal and it could be considered advanced vocabulary, at least some words/phrases.
Purrgatory, 'slice of death' visual novel (released 2021)
Before you question the spelling error I just made there - It is actully spelled with two R'. Another one from Free to play on Steam. According to my reaserch Purrgatory was originally created as an entry to the 'I can't draw' game jam, which it won, earning it a place in the museum of pop culture in Seattle, Washington! It is a 'slice of death' visual novel about passing time in a meaningless afterlife. Players can explore a variety of whimsical environments and get to know the world's various downtrodden inhabitants along the way. Purragtory is very LGBTQ+ friendly game, and the characters are drawn like a typical Gen Z folks. The game has multiple different endings so it will keep you awake trying to get through all of them. There are also a lot of puns! I wrote some of them down while playing so you can read them as well :).
"Oh, a flat box..."
"That's not really flat-tering!"
"...It's a sock..."
"Being in Purrgatory really socks."
"Wires."
"Wire even looking at these?"
*after getting screamed at for digging holes in their garden*
"...I guess it wasn't a very hole-some plan."
And that was just in approximately first fiftheen minutes of playing. I then sacrificed another five hours to this game. Worth every minute.
Purrgatory isn't hard to read, it's entertaing and it just made me love visual novel games even more. I have a hard time focusing reading on actual books, as I mentioned before, but these kind of games keep my attention spawn for hours. I had a good laugh multiple times as well.
Those are screenshots I took while playing it, look how cute it is!
The Body Keeps the Score, published 2014
Yaaay! I did it! I read a book! (I am as amazed as you are.)
This very captivating masterpiece was written by psychologist Bessel van der Kolk who has spent his professional life studying how children and adults adapt to traumatic experiences and has translated emerging findings from neuroscience and attachment research to develop and study a range of treatments for traumatic stress in children and adults.
The Body Keeps the Score is written from thirty years of real-life experience and research giving it a solid grounding. This book paints a comprehensive picture of the different types of trauma as well as how it might affect the mind, brain and body. Examples include attachment trauma, abuse and big T trauma.
This book has the most understandable explanation of the brain and trauma's impact on it of any I've read. Van der Kolk's extensive use of case examples from his therapy experiences powerfully expand this understanding. He uses simple terminology, such as calling the primitive brain the 'fire alarm', which can help us, readers, understand the brain impact of adverse experiences, particularly childhood abuse and neglect.
If you wanna know more about this awesome book, I put a YT video with a brief explanation of what is Bessel dealing with in the book. :)
The Stranger, published in 1942
To add some of the classics, and also one of my favourite books from one of my favourite author - I present to you The Stranger (also translated to The Outsider, orginal title being L'Étranger) by Alber Camus.
This was one of the first books I read voluntarily in English, apart from my reading for school. Since then I re-read it couple times, because of the way Camus writes his novels. The book is simply written and a rather quick read, but the depth Camus manages to convey through this simplicity is astounding. I think a problem a lot of people have with this book is that they fail to look beyond the whole "what is the meaning of life" message. While an interesting question, the book raises so many other philosophical questions beyond this. What I found the most interesting of these is "what truly defines humanity or makes someone human?" During Meursault's trial, the central character is constantly accused of not showing remorse and therefore as being cold and inhuman. He is most definitely human though, just rather detached. This raises the question of whether one should be expected to exhibit certain characteristics in certain situations to "keep their humanity". This theme and philosophical absurdistic questions are a prominent across all Camus' work. Absurdism and existencialism centred novels always interested me and therefore I couldn't help but to add this piece to my portfolio.
To add to my analysis of this artefact I must mention that similes and metaphors are used on practically on every page of The Stranger. The read is rather flowy and light, made me chuckle a few times as well.
