This book is a clever examination of the modern world that materializes and lives in the age of the internet. The author employs irony and humor in her prose to explore the randomness of the online world where ideas and events meet at odds, at intersections when all is said and very little is heard and where either polarized or completely out of context notions are observed and addressed.

However, the novel’s primary focus on the absurdity of the online experience, supplemented by disjointed and random writing has left little room for reflection and introspection. On a few occasions I felt completely disconnected from the storyline and read the book merely for the fun of it.

The second half of the book revolves around a family tragedy and inspires the reader to reflect on the mercuriality of life. This being said, it is very much in stark contrast to whatever the author was on about in the first part. The storyline bends between two genres, one part a satire and the other autobiographical. I would have liked it better had there been a more seamless blend between the two parts.

Rebirth by Jahnavi Barua

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 46%.

Lost interest

Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams

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Did not finish book. Stopped at 50%.

Writers & Lovers by Lily King

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

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

5.0

Oh how deeply I adore and admire this book.

The writing is thoughtful, holding in its words a tender intimacy that reaches out to you during dreary moments, calling out in prayer to hope for better days. It doesn’t merely insinuate that tis too shall pass, it carries you through the bridge and until the gate. A heart that is carrying grief, is bruised with heartbreak, and unsure of potential will find Casey’s journey rewarding.

While painting the picture of a starving artist the author does away with the glamorisation of pain and solitude and instead focuses on tending at the creative process with honesty. Essentially, this book is about writing, not so much of the craft but of one’s relationship with the written word. The reader remains unaware of the contents of the novel for it stays personal to Casey even beyond the scope of the narrative. We’re an audience to the events that bring the artist to the art.

The sudden loss of her mother leaves Casey truly alone and without answers to the many questions that she must ask to keep moving forward. One grows to admire the organic growth of our main character as she navigates the treacherous waters of self-doubt, complicated relationships, anxiety about an unfulfilled future and more. I took pride in her unwavering determination to write her story and was humbled by all that is demanded by the pursuit of art that is personal and requires a close examination of self.

It’s been sometime that I’ve read this beautiful book and I think about it often. If you enjoy accessible writing about the many struggles of the contemporary adult and heartwarming moments that instil hope in a world that’s not so comforting, this book will make an excellent read.

There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura

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funny hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

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

3.75

“Nobody's life was untouched by loneliness; it was just a question of whether or not you were able to accept that loneliness for what it was. Put another way, everyone was lonely, and it was up to them whether they chose to bury that loneliness through relationships with other people, and if so, of what sort of intensity and depth.”

I read this one in January, on cold winter mornings, while nursing a crippling dread of having lost my way around life. I speak in large terms of things that were of little consequence but how else do I cajole myself. At its core, the book offers comfort, is serene and thoughtful, leaves room for the reader to translate the narrator’s experiences into their own.

The main character leaves her highly demanding and equal parts exhausting job in search of one that is mindless and without substance. A job that would meet her financial needs and would not implore her to do anything beyond the daily grind. Throughout the book she switches from one odd job to another only to learn and express that there indeed is no such thing as an easy job.

Our nameless main character is funny and her deadpan commentary emanating from quiet observation of her workplace and the many people she interacted with had me laughing with amusement and relief. The reading experience was akin to sharing personal anecdotes inspired by the oddities of workplace over an evening meal with a friend. While she was very good at all the jobs that she’d picked up over the course of the novel, she found it hard to do away with the habits and things that had made her quit her previous job. To reject the need of getting involved and feeling affected by the proceedings of an event that consumes much of our life is hardly an easy task.

There is an unconventional weirdness to this book, a quiet introspection that slowly encroaches sadness buried underneath layers of loneliness and solitary affairs.

My mind was mercurial, heavily disturbed by matters of the heart and plagued by longing for better days. This isn’t a heartwarming story that could have brought joy to my soul, instead it was more like a soft breeze that would whisper every now and then that you’re not alone to feel this way. Sometimes, it is more nourishing than joy that comes bursting into your life like sun beams of earliest mornings of spring.

How Do You Live? by Genzaburō Yoshino

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hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

3.5

"If it means anything at all to live in this world, it's that you must live your life like a true human being and feel just what you feel"
How Do You Live is a well loved Japanese classic for good reasons. Despite being intended for a younger audience, I found the prose to be insightful with beautiful messages about life, friendships and one's own humanity.
I am very much excited for Miyazaki's magical take on this tender and introspective read that advocates lessons on philosophy and human greatness through simple and relatable text.

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.25

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dreaminfables's reviews 271 reviews

dreaminfables's reviews
271 reviews