anfendy's reviews
148 reviews

Must I Go by Yiyun Li

challenging emotional reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Beach Read by Emily Henry

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

It was okay

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

hopeful reflective slow-paced

2.75

The book was slow and I didnt really connect with the book until half way. It feels like you’re growing up with that girl you never really connect in high school until at the end you realize you might have something in common w that person. 

Black Panther, Vol. 1: A Nation Under Our Feet, Book 1 by Ta-Nehisi Coates

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

Incredibly fast paced and theres an elegance to Coates writing. Its dense with  history and gives a far more depth to T’Challa’s  character. 

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The first 100 pages, It felt so emotional that I cried through the pages. Despite being fiction, it somehow a real story esp when we are talking about the realities of America. The thought of an actual human going through that is so dehumanising its gut wrenching. This also reminded me of Baldwin’s story but Jones brings focus towards the anxiety that happens after. What happens to you after spending years behind bars from something you didnt do. It was an essential topic of discussion. 

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

dark emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

This brought me memories. Memories which I forgot thanks unending trauma that I endure. There were stuff here that I could relate and I wishes I had picked this book earlier when I was in this situation. I never identified myself as someone to have gone through an abusive relationship because… like Carmen says, you r still wrapping your head over your own queerness and then to wrap your head with the kind of trauma that you went through. 

This book is to those who is open to receive. It is amazingly beautiful, every chapter captures the pain, the joy and the unending turmoil you experience when you’re in this kind of situation.

Thank you for telling your story, Maria

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Dense with history, written in a way that enraptures the nuances and complexities of what its like to be a Korean in Japan - this was an enthralling read. 

The theme that got to me was always about belonging; when you deserve to belong but never could truly belonged. I felt that there so many characters that I was attached to, from Sunja, Hanso, Isak, Kyungjee, Noa and Solomon. This was a writing that capture intergenerational trauma, the complexities of our choices and persevering through humanity at such a difficult hour. This book had also triggered our own personal story when we were occupied by the Japanese. The trauma we carried and how we persevere through this trauma. Its so well written and it was such an honour to have read these pages. 

Fav line from the book was by Isak,”Living every day in the presence of those who refuse to acknowledge your humanity takes great courage”. 

Honor by Elif Shafak

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Incredibly poetic, there’s a whole lot of discussion on inter generational trauma. It started off slow, it took while for me to read due to the intensity of the subject. Discussion on patriarchy, The power dynamic that exist in a conservative migrant family - there’s a lot of great issues being highlighted. But i am more drawn to the author’s word - which was incredibly poetic and poignant. 

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez

3.0

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

3.0