hannahgohya's reviews
111 reviews

Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson

emotional hopeful lighthearted 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? It's complicated

5.0

Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey

adventurous emotional inspiring fast-paced

5.0

McConaughey writes like he speaks and it works wonderfully when writing the story of his life. littered with GREENLIGHTS throughout, he navigates life and its challenges just like the rest of us does but with a little more pizazz. the stories he tells feels magical with an edge, the Matthew McConaughey edge, similar to the various characters he portrays on screen. 

many times I could hear his voice narrating these lines put so gorgeously. other than being inspiring for someone like me that has had the travel bug from a young age, McConaughey is also grounded, interesting and drops words of wisdom in his own unique way. i devoured this in a couple of days and this will be one of those biographies that i will keep recommending in the days to come. 

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

dark funny fast-paced

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

5.0

Darkly comic, oddly profound, the story about a deeply miserable woman in her mid-20s hoping for a transformation to happen as she embarks on the journey of sleeping for a year. Coupled with a strange friendship with her former roommate, Reva, who is jealous of the narrator’s beauty and constantly wanting to be something other than herself, this book is addictive and morbidly hilarious. A meditation on grief, privilege and social relationships, this is a story that you’ll make you chuckle to yourself and on those you’ll remember for the days to come. 

All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakami

adventurous dark emotional reflective fast-paced

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

5.0

Kawakami writes wonderfully. The descriptions are magical, painting a dreamy, beautiful setting for a story that was sometimes dark, morbid and a little violent. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, it’s gonna be one of those I think about for a long time to come. 

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Heartwarming, reflective, emotional, poignant. Both the writer and translator managed to write their interesting observations and relatable thoughts beautifully. The story of building a bookshop, chasing your dreams, second guessing yourself and all the other human things we do, this book explores wonderfully. A fantastic read to end out the year. 

Insomniac City: New York, Oliver, and Me by Bill Hayes

emotional inspiring relaxing sad fast-paced

5.0

undoubtedly one of the best reads i’ve had. this is a love story to New York, to the people of New York, to Oliver Sacks and to life. absolutely gorgeous. highly recommend.

Alone With You in the Ether by Olivie Blake

adventurous emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.75

completely, utterly wrecked me. in the strangest, most ugly way, i found myself weeping in the middle of a coffeeshop. 

this is a love story, intertwined with two characters that are flawed, beautiful and altogether mad. a reckless love that reminds us of what love can be like. at the same time, Blake writes gorgeously about math, philosophy and falling in love. 

a really quick read that sucks you in within the first few paragraphs. a great break in between heavy reads and one that’ll definitely make you feel all the feels. 

Trust by Hernán Díaz

mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

an ingenious title for a book that takes you on a ride of broken realities, through four different narratives. Diaz writes about a Wall Street tycoon - Benjamin Rask; glamorous, intimidating, the kind that sucks up all the air in the room. the book kicks off with Harold Vanner’s account of his experience with this man before we are all led to the different stories crafted around this man and his wife, Helen/Mildred. 

immersive, strange and brilliantly weaved into the historical world where the 1929 stock market crash happened, this novel was a fantastic read despite the pace slowing down in the middle (especially at the third story). 

other than exploring the reader’s self-deception, Trust also sweeps us into the marriage between Bevel and Mildred.

“For I’ve come to think one is truly married only when one is more committed to one’s vows than the person they refer to.”

despite the four different narratives, the common thread remains of the comforting yet odd relationship the couple had. sometimes presented as a sweet, quiet love, other times a narcissistic one, this added another dimension to the story that made this another one i couldn’t put down. 

The Crane Wife by CJ Hauser

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

Hauser writes about calling off her wedding, and everything else that comes after. navigating such a big decision, she writes beautifully about self-doubt, anxiety and heartbreak. i find myself relating to her even though i have yet needed to call off a wedding! 

the essays are witty, emotional and poetic, a refreshing take on what can feel heavy sometimes.

definitely one of my favourites of the year, and a great read to recover from a reading slump.

Eat a Peach by David Chang, Gabe Ulla

emotional funny informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

i loved this read so much. having watched David Chang throughout the years, i could almost hear his voice narrating this as i read it. 

Chang recounts the behind the scenes of getting Momofuku up and running, the fall and rise of his mental health and stories of his endeavours outside of his restaurant empire. having always been someone that i admired in an industry that i deeply love, Chang’s stories have something special; poignant and utterly vulnerable from someone that has an on-screen personality that can come across brash. 

he reminds me of the many chefs i’ve worked with and continues to inspire me with his take on life.

i especially loved the list of 33 at the end of the book and found a large part of that list applicable as life lessons, even if you are not planning to become a chef 🧑‍🍳

devoured this within a couple of days by reading every opportunity i had, i could not put it down (see frayed edges). for anyone that loves the industry or is hoping to read real life stories told in a raw, easy way, this is the one for you.