book recommendations: pt. ii

i haven't had much time to read recently which is a major bummer, but that's okay! in the meantime, let's go through some more of my top book picks of all time

if you're looking for a quick (and i mean quick) read, try the dog who dared to dream. it took me a couple of days to finish the book but i'm sure it's possible to go though it within a day! originally written in korean by sun-mi hwang, the book strikes an interesting balance between adult and children's fiction. honestly, i was pretty reluctant to begin reading. i mean, it's an animal story - it's either going to be extremely kiddish or painfully saccharine like some kind of parable of modern, human life. but i was wrong. instead, sun-mi told a simple yet beautiful story of life. even though the sentence structures and word choices were a little on the simpler side (this could possibly be because of the translation), the themes in this story were pretty deep, covering topics like betrayal and sacrifice

all in all, a lovely, well-paced novel about the trials and joys of life from a unique perspective. i give it a 3/5


if you're looking for something more mentally and emotionally engaging, try everything i never told you. i've read this book twice and both times, author celeste ng completely blew my mind. there were so many things i loved about this thrilling masterpiece: the plot, the character development, the structure, the writing style, the list goes on and on! the story begins just like any other psychological thriller: a child suddenly goes missing in a quiet town, and the lee family is in the middle of it all. with every page, you'll discover the painful intricacies of racial fissures, the crushing impact of an identity crisis, and the haunting weight of family secrets

apparently, ng took about 6 years to complete this book and i must say, all her hard work has paid off! a resounding 5/5 from me :)


if you are looking for a feel-good novel, i suggest you read the rosie project by graeme simsion. simply put, don is on a hunt for a wife, an endeavor also known as the wife project. his approach to love is a little different: it's logical, scientific, and involves a specially curated questionnaire?? then along comes rosie, a character who easily flunks don's questionnaire, but she's on a different mission: the father project, a quest to find her biological father. don offers his expertise as a genetics professor and the two embark on a whirlwind of a journey where don ultimately learns that love may not always be what looks good on paper

the rosie project was one of the few books i actually laughed out loud reading. it's warm and casual, a perfect reminder to always see the funny side of human behavior. final verdict: 4/5

so, there you go, some of my favorite reads! do let me know which you've read and which you'd love to read :)

book recommendations: pt. i

books have always been a constant in my life, but i've never really actively fuelled this interest until recently. i guess life just got in the way... anyways, here are some of my all-time favorite books so grab a cup of tea/coffee and let's get into it!

if you're looking for an easy-breezy read, try where'd you go, bernadette? it's a comedy novel written by maria semple about an agoraphobic architect and mother named bernadette. bernadette is an extremely interesting character and i loved how the author creatively brought out all her little quirks. here's the context to the whole story: before a family trip to antarctica, bernadette suddenly goes missing and her daughter, fifteen-year-old bee, attempts to track her mother down by sorting through and chronologically arranging all the documents, emails, and other notes her mother has left behind

it's a lighthearted and engaging story about a mother-daughter bond that i couldn't put down. i rate this a 3.5/5


if you are looking for something interesting and maybe a little more serious, pick up eleanor oliphant is completely fine by gail honeyman. this book is fun and very relatable. i mean, very, very relatable. the main character, eleanor, is kind of an oddball who loves to mind her own business - she's awkward around people and struggles with putting her thoughts into words. her (mis)adventures told through her unique perspective makes for a hilarious read. but there is a deeper side to this whole story too. the author explores loneliness and kindness in a very heartfelt way and shows the readers that everyone is fighting their own battles...

to all those out there who think that "getting by fine" is all there is to life, give this book a try! i rate this a solid 4/5


if you're looking for some sisterly advice, give so much i want to tell you a go. written by youtuber/actress anna akana (one of my biggest inspirations, tbh), it's a witty and honest book full of relevant, useable advice on literally everything. i feel a lot of self-help books are very similar but anna's is different. her experience and warmth shine through her words and never cease to inspire and empower. by the end of the book, you'd feel like getting off your lazy bum and start hustling just like anna did

all in all, if you feel a little stagnant in life and want a shove, read this. heck, even if you feel you're doing alright now, read this; it'll give you a fresh, new perspective and motivation. an easy 4/5


if you are looking for something deeper, try we never asked for wings by vanessa diffenbaugh. it took me some time to get into the book, but when i did, it was pretty intense. this story tackles a myriad of issues: motherhood, young love, and, most interestingly, undocumented immigration. the main thing that stood out to me was how different and difficult life was for undocumented people, especially families. honestly, it is something that has never weighed heavy on my privileged, ignorant mind... the real pains and fears of a family trying to "live under the radar" woven into a capturing narrative made this a rather impactful read.

this book really opened my eyes to the struggles of undocumented immigrants... excellent themes and a decent storyline, i rate it a 3/5


hope you enjoy these reads as much as i did :)