katsudon's reviews
227 reviews

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

informative medium-paced

4.0

Even Cats and Rice Ladles: Wise and Witty World of Japanese Sayings by Yoshie Omata

hopeful informative lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

5.0

The images add to the idioms. I borrowed the e-book so I’m interested in getting a physical copy for myself to reference. 

Behind You Is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

1.5 speed - it was wonderfully done. I don’t know how to describe it otherwise. I just wanted to keep listening to what the characters, Thai family, wanted to say. I didn’t think anything amazing happened, but it felt so relatable and so different - I liked how each chapter just reads. The end was as tied up as you could ever ask it for. 

Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker

informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

It takes the general thing you know and adds studies and history to it. Solidifying your knowledge 

Final Fantasy VII Remake: Traces of Two Pasts by Kazushige Nojima

adventurous dark emotional lighthearted tense 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

4.5

I think this was a great addition to the FFVII lore. It’s not a necessary read, but it surely adds to the experience. 

Abroad in Japan by Chris Broad

adventurous funny informative lighthearted medium-paced

4.5

It’s Chris Broad. If you watch his videos or are in the Trash Taste circle you’ll enjoy it, promise. Even if you’re not it’s a great first person perspective of ALT to another aspect as a foreign worker in Japan 

Cambodia ABC. ABC de Camboya: A Bilingual Book Based on English Alphabet. Un Libro Bilingüe Basado en El Alfabeto Inglés by Lina Zepeda

informative fast-paced

5.0

This is a fun little picture book even us adults can enjoy, especially as someone who is Cambodian-American AND learning Spanish.

Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami

challenging emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

4.5

I got on board with the audiobook without knowing what it was about. I’m the end, it was a deep look at an asexual woman’s experience who happened to be from Japan. I really related with that internal discourse. It was good over all. It’s mirrored to real life, nothing big happens, but almost everything became big. It’s one of those. 

Haikyu!!, Vol. 01 by Haruichi Furudate

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

I’m finally reading the manga. I can hear the JP seiyuu as I’m reading. The only reason I didn’t do five stars is because I don’t really believe in 5 stars. I like how the manga introduces the concepts fluidly between the character establishments. It’s often hard to get into sports MANGA when movement is a key factor to portraying the story. 

The Misinformation Age: How False Beliefs Spread by James Owen Weatherall, Cailin O'Connor

informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

Audiobook at 1.5 speed. 
Quite bite sized and part of a grander discussion so nothing seemed too grand and new, which is good, it means we’re still practicing critical thinking, so that’s great.