Genre: historical fiction

Summary:

An incredible story of enigmatic Dutch dancer and persona: Mata Hari. As told from the perspective of Mata Hari herself during her final days, The Spy recounts the eventful life of a woman who aspired to do incredible things in an unwelcoming world.

Favorite Quote:

"Know what you want, and try to go beyond your own expectations. Set a very high goal, one that will be difficult to achieve. Because this is an artist's mission, to go beyond ones limits... An artist who desires very little and achieves it has failed in life."

Genre: fiction

Summary:

This novel takes place in a magical Japanese coffee shop where, given the right circumstances, customers are able to travel through time. But there is a catch: the time-travelers cannot change the future, nor the past. These four heart-wrenching tales are sure to make you tear up as you get a glimpse of the complicated lives of the cafe's customers.

Favorite Quote:

"Seasons flow in a cycle,[and] life too passes through difficult winters. But after any winter, spring will follow."

Genre: mystery/fiction

Summary:

When what seemed like a heart attack turned into a murder, this quaint little English village's newest foreigner, Eleanor Wilde, makes it her mission to solve the case... even if it means having a few dangerous encounters along the way. A light-hearted mystery intertwining fake magic, pigs blood, and a dreamy romance.

Genre: melodrama (play)

Summary:

A captivating play written in the 1950s based on the 1898 novella The Turn of the Screw. This suspenseful piece tells the shocking tale of a young governess who assumes the guidance of two wealthy orphaned children, but soon becomes absorbed in the horrific past which they endured. This eerie story is filled with twists and will make you question your suspicions until the very last word.

Favorite Quote:

"In sleep she seemed to walk forlorn, till cold winds woke the gray-eyed morn about the lonely moated grange..."

Genre: short story

Summary:

Taking place sometime during the American Civil War, a man is sentenced to death by hanging. Will he meet his fate, or will he find a way to escape? This bizarre short story leaves a lot up to interpretation and will likely have you asking more questions by the end than you originally thought... something worth experiencing at least once.

Category: tv series

Summary:

A lonely young boy moves into a small rundown apartment complex. As he begins to settle into his new life, unlikely friendships begin to form between Kotaro and his neighbors, in particular with the manga artist living next door. Though at first he appears to be a very mature child, the dark truth of Korato's past begins to come to light.

Favorite Quote:

"The trick [about umbrella sharing] is to keep the person next to you dry. A wet shoulder proves how much they mean to you."

Category: tv series

A note before viewing:

I need to begin with this little warning... This story is by far one of the saddest stories I have ever watched. It covers several hard topics and probably shouldn't be watched casually.

Summary:

After suffering the loss of a friend in his childhood, Jinta finds himself uninterested in school and living as a recluse. But that all begins to change when the ghost of his friend reenters his life and begs him to grant her one last wish.

Category: tv series

Summary:

Despite being born with the gift of magic, Hitomi cannot seem to break out of the self-doubt and uncertainty that plagues her. To help her overcome this, her grandmother - a witch herself - sends Hitomi back in time to meet a group of young schoolmates who may be able to help her overcome her biggest challenge.

Category: movie

Summary:

After spending many summers together as the only members of their club "Don Glee", two life-long friends welcome a third member, a mysterious young boy named Drop. After a complicated series of events the three friends find themselves lost, both literally and figuratively. Their shared adventure helps bring them closer together as they each reevaluate what really matters in this one life they have.