A review by capy
Now Go: On Grief and Studio Ghibli by Karl Thomas Smith

informative reflective fast-paced

3.75

The world works hard to beat out of us the things about which we care the most – to dilute our passions and temper our reactions. The world at large, to its great shame, is scornful of people who live deeply. And that scorn is not just a benign clucking of the tongue. It is white-hot and razor sharp. It is painful and precise enough to leave not just a lasting sting but also, if not properly treated, a permanent scar of self-doubt: a reminder to think again before exposing yourself to a world in which the done thing is to simply bury the light of those feelings until they are extinguished by a lack of air. 

i loved the reflection on grief as a sort of universal loss, not just the loss of a loved one but something in ourselves — memories, traits, interests —  and how accepting grief as change doesn't have to be a negative experience
anyone picking this up might want to adjust their expectations: it's not an in-depth/academic exploration of the intersection between studio ghibli movies and grief. it was, to me, a well-measured mix of autobiographical reflective writing and light movie analysis. this book definitely needed tighter writing and editing at times but, regardless, it's a good read to accompany the movie collection 

But the films of Studio Ghibli make some effort to close that gap – to treat children and young people as whole human beings, deserving of respect and honesty, but also of care and a gentler touch. They do not need to be lied to – in fact, they can and should be told the entire truth lest they stumble upon that truth themselves and are hurt more deeply than they should have been. Still, the delivery is everything.