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kai3cll's reviews
182 reviews
A Clean Marriage by Sayaka Murata
4.0
May I laugh?
Sayaka Murata writes abnormalities in such a simple way that I become aware of how much I've been judging myself over nothing.
In this tale of sex-less (clean) marriage, we dig into the sexual minority. A husband and wife living like roommates or brother-sister decide it is time for them to conceive a child. How they try to do that without changing the clean state of their marriage is the challenge.
This book is just as awkward to read as any other of Sayaka Murata. Some would even find the scenes to be yucky. To my surprise, I found myself giggling at some of them. The sincerity of their awkward situation was entertaining to me.
As for the confusing ending, I did think of various reasons that could have brought disgust to the husband but the base of them all was that he felt disgusted by the thought of having tainted their clean marriage.
A bit more clarity would have been great. Overall, Sayaka Murata's works are an acquired taste.
Sayaka Murata writes abnormalities in such a simple way that I become aware of how much I've been judging myself over nothing.
In this tale of sex-less (clean) marriage, we dig into the sexual minority. A husband and wife living like roommates or brother-sister decide it is time for them to conceive a child. How they try to do that without changing the clean state of their marriage is the challenge.
This book is just as awkward to read as any other of Sayaka Murata. Some would even find the scenes to be yucky. To my surprise, I found myself giggling at some of them. The sincerity of their awkward situation was entertaining to me.
As for the confusing ending, I did think of various reasons that could have brought disgust to the husband but the base of them all was that he felt disgusted by the thought of having tainted their clean marriage.
A bit more clarity would have been great. Overall, Sayaka Murata's works are an acquired taste.
Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal
4.0
The spice of India
·India is a country of Spice. The 'masala' is something we enjoy in our dishes, cinema, and also stories (apart from ghee and aubergines). This book is packed with them. It is a masala book as one would say.
First, with the underwhelming aspects:
· The pace:
The book although bite-size at times feels longer than it is. Perhaps due to the font or the choice of words. The story slows you down but doesn't lose its grip.
·The Crowd:
This book tries to be a lot at the same time. It covers every genre apart from Sci-fi. It rubs into society, its norms (ups and downs), love of many kinds, happiness, joy, grief, guilt, misunderstanding, regret, depression, zest, understanding, and many more. This is a lot to take in even when presented well. So, that provoked me to take tea breaks in between.
Now, to the good parts:
·The stereotypes
The book follows stories of people whose roots are from Punjab (A state of India). So, the book has a plethora of stereotypes associated with them but none of them is exaggerated, just a bit more chaotic than everyday life.
·The erotic stories.
The book is indeed erotic and it is the main plot as well. Just the stories lead to more things than orgasm. In short, it is varied enough to fulfill its purpose.
·The culture, and the women.
This is probably the best book I have read covering Indian culture and the women of it. At first glance, it can come off as rigid, oppressing, orthodox, even frightening but the down-to-earth togetherness and the warmth of community shines. I don't need to speak more the book speaks for itself.
·India is a country of Spice. The 'masala' is something we enjoy in our dishes, cinema, and also stories (apart from ghee and aubergines). This book is packed with them. It is a masala book as one would say.
First, with the underwhelming aspects:
· The pace:
The book although bite-size at times feels longer than it is. Perhaps due to the font or the choice of words. The story slows you down but doesn't lose its grip.
·The Crowd:
This book tries to be a lot at the same time. It covers every genre apart from Sci-fi. It rubs into society, its norms (ups and downs), love of many kinds, happiness, joy, grief, guilt, misunderstanding, regret, depression, zest, understanding, and many more. This is a lot to take in even when presented well. So, that provoked me to take tea breaks in between.
Now, to the good parts:
·The stereotypes
The book follows stories of people whose roots are from Punjab (A state of India). So, the book has a plethora of stereotypes associated with them but none of them is exaggerated, just a bit more chaotic than everyday life.
·The erotic stories.
The book is indeed erotic and it is the main plot as well. Just the stories lead to more things than orgasm. In short, it is varied enough to fulfill its purpose.
·The culture, and the women.
This is probably the best book I have read covering Indian culture and the women of it. At first glance, it can come off as rigid, oppressing, orthodox, even frightening but the down-to-earth togetherness and the warmth of community shines. I don't need to speak more the book speaks for itself.
How Do You Live? by Genzaburō Yoshino
5.0
It takes a life to read life.
How Do You Live? Is a recently translated Japanese Classic that is dear to Hayao Miyazaki (Ghibli Studio).
The book follows the coming of age story of Junichi Honda (Copper). It is divided into two sections– one that follows Junichi's experience and A letter-cum-essay section of his Uncle discussing topics of Spirituality, poverty, courage, history, and other wisdom of life.
This book could be a great influence on kids that are of similar age to Junichi but also to people of all ages (we never stop learning).
The book although short in pages requires much more attention and time to go through. It's a book about life rather than merely a story hence it asks for you to be interactive instead of just reading what the characters are thinking.
The factual information shared through Uncle's letters-cum-essay is accurate which is great as you get to know details of varied subjects. But It is only enjoyable if you have some curiosity or interest in the subject being discussed otherwise, it can turn into a textbook lesson that makes you sleepy.
In summary, it is a hard read. It demands you, your thoughts, opinions, and understanding. What makes it worth all that is its capability to shape someone's view of life and that's a big thing.
How Do You Live? Is a recently translated Japanese Classic that is dear to Hayao Miyazaki (Ghibli Studio).
The book follows the coming of age story of Junichi Honda (Copper). It is divided into two sections– one that follows Junichi's experience and A letter-cum-essay section of his Uncle discussing topics of Spirituality, poverty, courage, history, and other wisdom of life.
This book could be a great influence on kids that are of similar age to Junichi but also to people of all ages (we never stop learning).
The book although short in pages requires much more attention and time to go through. It's a book about life rather than merely a story hence it asks for you to be interactive instead of just reading what the characters are thinking.
The factual information shared through Uncle's letters-cum-essay is accurate which is great as you get to know details of varied subjects. But It is only enjoyable if you have some curiosity or interest in the subject being discussed otherwise, it can turn into a textbook lesson that makes you sleepy.
In summary, it is a hard read. It demands you, your thoughts, opinions, and understanding. What makes it worth all that is its capability to shape someone's view of life and that's a big thing.
The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
4.0
Dictionary
/ˈdɪkʃ(ə)n(ə)ri/
noun
a book or electronic resource that lists the words of a language (typically in alphabetical order) and procures their meanings.
The Dictionary of lost words is a somewhat fictionalized journey of how the Oxford dictionary was built through the lens of Esme Nicoll. She is just as much of the dictionary as the pages of it. The book also touches upon some other notable events of the times.
Although it comes as quite depressing and exhausting, this book manages to compile emotions, time, people, morals, and life.
It is a slow read and which becomes a barrier between the story and reader. If it has been shorter without losing its meaning then it would have better reach.
The highlights of this book for me are the supporting characters, the note by the author at the end (well placed), and the physical copy of the hardbound - it has a richness to its pages and has a map (maps are great!)
So, if you have time, curiosity, and need for a book without plot twist or action. This is a good one (long one).
/ˈdɪkʃ(ə)n(ə)ri/
noun
a book or electronic resource that lists the words of a language (typically in alphabetical order) and procures their meanings.
The Dictionary of lost words is a somewhat fictionalized journey of how the Oxford dictionary was built through the lens of Esme Nicoll. She is just as much of the dictionary as the pages of it. The book also touches upon some other notable events of the times.
Although it comes as quite depressing and exhausting, this book manages to compile emotions, time, people, morals, and life.
It is a slow read and which becomes a barrier between the story and reader. If it has been shorter without losing its meaning then it would have better reach.
The highlights of this book for me are the supporting characters, the note by the author at the end (well placed), and the physical copy of the hardbound - it has a richness to its pages and has a map (maps are great!)
So, if you have time, curiosity, and need for a book without plot twist or action. This is a good one (long one).
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
5.0
As I close this book having read thoroughly within two days and then discussed it with my mum, I wonder what can I possibly write in this review that can add to the ocean of praise this book owns.
I can't contribute anything that can let you know about this book's value but I can share with you that this book has provided me the knowledge of a race, of a culture, of history, and lives that I can better understand them.
It shall be my personal goal to have this on my bookshelf along with Pachinko by Min Jin Lee and The Promise by Xinran.
In summary, If you overcome your uncomfortableness with a narrative that provides a center stage for every character's story while binding them with one thread of lineage, you will love this book.
I can't contribute anything that can let you know about this book's value but I can share with you that this book has provided me the knowledge of a race, of a culture, of history, and lives that I can better understand them.
It shall be my personal goal to have this on my bookshelf along with Pachinko by Min Jin Lee and The Promise by Xinran.
In summary, If you overcome your uncomfortableness with a narrative that provides a center stage for every character's story while binding them with one thread of lineage, you will love this book.
The Magical Language of Others by E.J. Koh
3.0
A painful story of trauma, an eating disorder, and much more that I lost track of due to an abundance of pain.
The narration made me place myself in a position of detached involvement. I was detached as if half asleep while reading but also feeling the emotions. I felt this book more than understood it.
The narration made me place myself in a position of detached involvement. I was detached as if half asleep while reading but also feeling the emotions. I felt this book more than understood it.
An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten
4.0
A peppery book!
This one was a bite-size joy of anti-grandma who does certain degrees of homicides, you know how it is.
Keeping the sarcasm aside- The narration written with simplicity offers a pleasant undertone of humor that you keep turning pages and even cheering for the criminal.
This one was a bite-size joy of anti-grandma who does certain degrees of homicides, you know how it is.
Keeping the sarcasm aside- The narration written with simplicity offers a pleasant undertone of humor that you keep turning pages and even cheering for the criminal.
The Tea Dragon Society by K. O'Neill
5.0
The magic from my childhood returned to me.
This little charming book has all the big three elements that can make a book successful: beautiful art, an engaging story, and lovely characters.
I felt I had lost the magic of imagination and optimistic passion due to being in reality for long but with this, the spark felt reignited. Can't wait to settle down with a warm cup of tea, imagining that it too came from some tea dragon, and dive into the next book of series.
This little charming book has all the big three elements that can make a book successful: beautiful art, an engaging story, and lovely characters.
I felt I had lost the magic of imagination and optimistic passion due to being in reality for long but with this, the spark felt reignited. Can't wait to settle down with a warm cup of tea, imagining that it too came from some tea dragon, and dive into the next book of series.
Hungry Hearts: 13 Tales of Food & Love by Elsie Chapman
4.0
There is a saying in my country that roughly translates to,
Our Beloved Summer by NOT A BOOK
5.0
This webtoon is a prequel to the Korean drama with the same title.
If you have seen the drama → you'd love to see the progress of the leads' chemistry in this prequel.
If you read the webtoon first → you'd want to rush to start binge-watching the episodes.
If you have seen the drama → you'd love to see the progress of the leads' chemistry in this prequel.
If you read the webtoon first → you'd want to rush to start binge-watching the episodes.