Book Review: Novelist as a vocation by haruki murakami

Title: Novelist as a Vocation

Author: Haruki Murakami

Rating: 4/5 stars

Publisher: Harvill Secker (Penguin Books)

Synopsis:

A unique look into the mind of a master storyteller.

In this engaging book, the internationally best-selling author and famously reclusive writer shares with readers what he thinks about being a novelist; his thoughts on the role of the novel in our society; his own origins as a writer; and his musings on the sparks of creativity that inspire other writers, artists, and musicians.

Readers who have long wondered where the mysterious novelist gets his ideas and what inspires his strangely surreal worlds will be fascinated by this highly personal look at the craft of writing.

Review:

You don’t have to be an aspiring novelist to read this. If you love Murakami’s writing and want to learn some fun facts about him as a writer, I’d highly recommend!

Murakami may be known for his brief, snappy prose that we all know and love (he even goes in depth about this in his book, what his method is like, which is super fascinating). In “Novelist as a Vocation”, while a non-fiction, his talents in writing truly shines, stemming mostly from analogies about novel writing; its processes, hardships, and triumphs. I made a bunch of annotations in general. They are SO good to read… So vivid and so satisfying, so easy to follow.

There is something very human about this book. The insights he gives are clear and evident in his works. It’s fascinating to see what his thought process is like and, frankly, a bit bizarre to read something so grounded from a man who has the ability to extract unthinkable magic from mundanity.

One caveat: I’d personally recommend staying away if you want to go into “Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki” completely blind, but that is the only exception as far as I am aware. Murakami made brief remarks about his books here and there, for obvious reasons…

I can guarantee that this will be a pure delight for Murakami fans 🙂

Thank you so much to Penguin Books for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review ❤

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Book Review: tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow by gabrielle zevin

Title: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

Author: Gabrielle Zevin

Rating: 5/5 stars

Publisher: Chatto & Windus (Penguin Books)

Synopsis:

On a bitter-cold day, in the December of his junior year at Harvard, Sam Masur exits a subway car and sees, amid the hordes of people waiting on the platform, Sadie Green. He calls her name. For a moment, she pretends she hasn’t heard him, but then, she turns, and a game begins: a legendary collaboration that will launch them to stardom. These friends, intimates since childhood, borrow money, beg favors, and, before even graduating college, they have created their first blockbuster, Ichigo. Overnight, the world is theirs. Not even twenty-five years old, Sam and Sadie are brilliant, successful, and rich, but these qualities won’t protect them from their own creative ambitions or the betrayals of their hearts.

Spanning thirty years, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Venice Beach, California, and lands in between and far beyond, Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a dazzling and intricately imagined novel that examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love. Yes, it is a love story, but it is not one you have read before.

Book Review:

Wow. What a novel. I’ve never read any other book with gaming as the main centerpiece before, and I’m assuming the parallels of a fictional world and our own world is constantly compared in books like these (escapism, perfection, controllability, etc), but Tomorrowx3 feels so much more than that. You don’t just get told about the comparison between a perfect fictional world and our own’s – the book talks you through all the details of it. Being able to just explicitly compare the ability to escape to another world is one thing, but pinpointing all the things that make people crave escapism, crave a “better reality”, crave controllability and perfection, is another thing. You are convinced of the games that the MCs create. You read their thought process behind it all. It’s not about two people who create a world just because they seek escapism. There is a source of love in that as well. A love for games. A love for art, for connection, for people. A love for money, fame, recognition.. but there’s also a source of fear, anxiety, insecurity… this whole concept of gaming AND creating games encompass both the perfect and imperfection of our MCs. Their best and worst traits bleed into their own games and the whole process of producing them.

We always watch about people indulging in the art, but never the process of creating and producing that art in the first place. Where does the inspiration come in? Why does the art consist of a warm color palette? Why feature certain cultural themes? Can you see the artist in their own art? Why or why not? I am beginning to understand (and also relate) to the struggles of other creators in different industries (particularly in the game industry). It’s eye-opening and refreshing. As a reader, you may criticise on the simplistic nature of all the issues explored between the arguments of two game enthusiasts in college, but remembering that they are fighting their own demons, remembering their immaturity as teens, their backgrounds and their main motivations in the first place… nothing is really that simple in this book, even if it may look like it is.

The best part of this book though is that you’re going through this journey of life with the characters. This journey of maturity, going through different phases of love, loss, grieve, identity, failure… the story does a good job of going into the details of teens growing up. And at the end of the story, it feels like you’ve come full circle. This is a book about life, love, success, art, loss, failures. Every single phase that we go through in life is touched on in this book, and I commend the author for doing so in a raw, beautiful, and bittersweet sort of way.

In case you’re unaware, this has now become one of my favorite books of all time. I love the author’s previous work (The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry), but not as much as I love Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Oh, and the title to the book has a really clever meaning to it too :’) But I’ll just stop the review here and say: read it. Read it if you love games. Read it if you don’t love games. Read it if you love reading about art, the creation of it, the indulgence of it, the critic of it. Just read it.

Thank you so much to the publisher (Penguin Books) for sending over a free copy in exchange for an honest review! ❤

Book review: the unhoneymooners by christina lauren

Title: The Unhoneymooners

Author: Christina Lauren

Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis:

Olive is always unlucky: in her career, in love, in…well, everything. Her identical twin sister Ami, on the other hand, is probably the luckiest person in the world. Her meet-cute with her fiancé is something out of a romantic comedy (gag) and she’s managed to finance her entire wedding by winning a series of Internet contests (double gag). Worst of all, she’s forcing Olive to spend the day with her sworn enemy, Ethan, who just happens to be the best man.

Olive braces herself to get through 24 hours of wedding hell before she can return to her comfortable, unlucky life. But when the entire wedding party gets food poisoning from eating bad shellfish, the only people who aren’t affected are Olive and Ethan. And now there’s an all-expenses-paid honeymoon in Hawaii up for grabs.

Putting their mutual hatred aside for the sake of a free vacation, Olive and Ethan head for paradise, determined to avoid each other at all costs. But when Olive runs into her future boss, the little white lie she tells him is suddenly at risk to become a whole lot bigger. She and Ethan now have to pretend to be loving newlyweds, and her luck seems worse than ever. But the weird thing is that she doesn’t mind playing pretend. In fact, she feels kind of… lucky.

Review:

I honestly don’t remember when I last picked up an Adult Romance novel. Normally I would go for a college setting with characters around that age, but I was particularly drawn to this one because it had the word “enemy” in the blurb, and if you know me, I am literally obsessed with the enemies to lovers trope :’)

Overall I was very pleasantly surprised! Christina Lauren’s writing is just stunning. The way they capture emotions and the relatability of all the situations they described always makes my heart flutter a little. I saw myself in all these situations, so it was nice to be able to put to words the complexity of all the emotional turmoil! I was overall genuinely impressed by the author’s impactful emotional writing. Everything was so accurately portrayed, especially the scenes that had lots of tension and frustration.. which leads me to the minor bits of the book that SERIOUSLY irked me (and caused me to dock a whole star).

I won’t spoil anything, but a lot of disagreements that happened in the book felt so frustratingly unfair. I can normally empathise with both sides of the argument pretty well, but in this book, it was so painfully clear how childish and ignorant one side was being, which had me FUMING. The reason behind this side’s behavior was not even very well justified either. There were attempts to “brush off” the behavior, but the reasons weren’t convincing enough. Reading about how the characters are just spewing nasty things for something that they’re supposed to be taking responsibility for was unbelievable. Weirdly though, these terrible character development emphasised on Olive’s strong personality traits, which made me appreciate her so much more. I’m unsure if this is the author’s intended usage of the terrible character portrayals that would in a way “cushion” the MC’s development, but it worked REALLY well for me. Olive was the only character I adored, and everyone else is end up being such huge disappointments. There’s this connection that I have with Olive in that she takes every blow given to her and remains standing strong. I just love this part of her. The author did a fantastic job framing this cool, collected and headstrong female character that is still soft in every way and loves fiercely.

Overall though, I enjoyed the book. I literally flew through the second half of the story in a few hours. I stayed up REALLY late to finish it and by the time I was done, I was literally fuming in my sleep :’) Nonetheless, I did have a lot of fun reading this book. It was sweet, mature, super fun, and emotionally draining all at the same time. I’ve come to really admire Christina Lauren’s effortless (yet effective) writing style though. There’s something so satisfying about it, and I can’t wait to explore more of their works in the future! If you’re in the market for a super quick and (albeit slightly frustrating) book that you can finish in 1-2 sittings, this is it! I highly recommend picking it up!

Book Review: Circe by Madeline Miller

Title: Circe

Author: Madeline Miller

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Synopsis:

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child – not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power – the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.

But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.

Review:

There is something so exceptionally soft and gentle about the writing, from the way Circe treats plants and humans and animals and gods and goddesses alike with utter kindness. She only ever expects kindness in return, but when she is constantly met with mockery, degradation, and eventually exile, that’s when the writing becomes more fiery. The softness and gentleness that embodies Circe is still there, but it is coupled with fierceness and power. The writing perfectly represents the heroine Circe as she transforms from a little flower bud to a rose with thorns. It is beautiful and magical in its own way. The plot is very character-driven, and only follows Circe as she shapes herself, forms relationships, struggle with betrayal, and finally finds her own voice. We go through epic journeys with her as she tricks monsters, tames them, and hones her power and witchcraft. She realises the fear that her powers induce on other people and relishes in it. However, she loses herself in the process and has to find her way back.

The book started out a little slow at first though. I always have to adjust to Madeline Miller’s lyrical prose, and I always find myself putting the book down every so often to reach for lighter reads instead. But once I started getting into the rhythm of Circe’s story, I was flying through it. The moment I started rooting for Circe was when the story picked up for me. Circe is always being put in the most difficult situations, so I was hungry to know if she would succeed in the end. There’s also a type of bluntness and clarity in the writing that makes it so believable. I like that there was no flowery language to make the writing and story beautiful. The characterisation itself does the job.

I will leave the review at that 🙂 If you are remotely interested in Greek myths, the author, or even Circe herself, please pick up this book. It’s not necessarily a story that you will get through in one siting, but it is one worth pacing yourself out for ❤ It is empowering and magical, and I’ve never read anything like it before. With that, I will end this review with my one favorite quotes out of the whole book:

“I was drunk, as the wine and nectar in my father’s halls had never made me. No wonder I have been so slow, I thought. All this while, I have been a weaver without a wool, a ship without a sea. Yet not look where I sail.”

Purchase ‘Circe’ by Madeline Miller here!

Book Review: Malibu rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Title: Malibu Rising

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Rating: 5/5 stars

Publisher: Hutchinson (Imprint of Penguin Books)

Synopsis:

Malibu: August, 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together, the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer, Mick Riva.

The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud—because it is long past time to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.

Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.

And Kit has a couple secrets of her own—including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.

By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come bubbling to the surface.

Review:

After reading 2 books by her, I can confidently say that Taylor Jenkins Reid is the best at emotional writing. It’s not angsty teen drama. It’s all real life issues with relatable human reactions, and there isn’t an ounce of fluff in her writing – it’s all hard-hitting rawness that makes you feel so much at once. That’s what I admire most about her books – it’s that she does not use fancy words to spice up her writing. She does not exaggerate her stories or overdramatise them. She writes about people like us, who go through the same cycle of growing up, having family, falling in love, getting hurt, feeling lost… it feels oddly nostalgic reading her books, because even though you don’t go through the same exact things as her characters, you go through the same exact emotional turmoil as them, as if you yourself have, some time in the past, experienced something very similar.

Malibu Rising is all of this and more. I may have much stronger feelings about the book personally because I relate to the trauma and emotions that the characters went through (meaning I have a similar past to the characters), but even without this notion, the story would still hit close to home in some form.

Taylor Jenkins Reid writes about characters who are famous. What’s amazing is how real these characters are and how relatable their issues are. She does this thing really well where she justifies that absolutely none of her characters are morally good or bad. Everyone has two sides, no matter how much of a saint or piece of gunk you are. Taylor Jenkins Reid captures this very well. Too well. It’s almost as if these characters are her own family and friends.

That said, Malibu Rising is largely a character driven novel. Or should I say characters driven? We follow mainly 4 people but get to know so much more in the process. It’s about 300+ pages long, but it feels like I’ve read about 10+ different life stories from just the short cameo of each minor character. It’s fantastic. Everything about it is fantastic. Sure, not every issue introduced in the novel gets resolved or addressed thoroughly, but it just goes to show that life is not all about getting the right answers at once. There’s a time and place for everything. Malibu Rising (and all her other books, really) perfectly encapsulates this.

What more can I say? This book is freaking amazing. It’s personal and real, and that’s the best kind of books.

Thank you so much to Penguin Books Australia for sending over a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: Only a Monster by Vanessa Len

Title: Only A Monster

Author: Vanessa Len

Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis:

It should have been the perfect summer. Sent to stay with her late mother’s eccentric family in London, sixteen-year-old Joan is determined to enjoy herself. She loves her nerdy job at the historic Holland House, and when her super cute co-worker Nick asks her on a date, it feels like everything is falling into place.

But she soon learns the truth. Her family aren’t just eccentric: they’re monsters, with terrifying, hidden powers. And Nick isn’t just a cute boy: he’s a legendary monster slayer, who will do anything to bring them down.

As she battles Nick, Joan is forced to work with the beautiful and ruthless Aaron Oliver, heir to a monster family that hates her own. She’ll have to embrace her own monstrousness if she is to save herself, and her family. Because in this story . . .

. . . she is not the hero.

Review:

Wow, this was really good. I don’t remember the last time I properly enjoyed a YA novel from the beginning till the end this much. Granted this was quite slow at first, it picked up gradually when the conflict started. This book also has one of the most unique plots ever. The way the monsters’ powers worked and the quirks of all the monster families were so interesting to read about! I also found the world-building to be very well done. For a first installment, you’re given just enough to understand the magic system and follow through without asking too many questions, while at the same time wanting to learn more of the characters, the history, and the magic.

We will start with the pacing – very fast paced and thrilling! I literally flew through 100 pages in a night without even realising and finished the whole thing in a little under a week, which is pretty fast for someone who juggles between books and don’t actually end up finishing any of them. So much happened so quickly. The characters are constantly on the move, along with the plot. The characters are great – lots of backstory that can still be expanded to make them more fleshed out. But I wish the character dialogues flowed more seamlessly. The friendship and romance did not hit me very hard because of the stale communication between the characters. It had SO much potential. There was an even bigger potential for an angsty enemies to lovers romance, which I was really hoping for from reading the synopsis… but it didn’t really happen. There was maybe a twinge of it, but it wasn’t enough! I also wish we got to learn more about Joan’s parents as I was really looking forward to the Asian rep (from her dad’s side). We only got to see her communicate with her dad once in the whole book, and it was a really sad moment too… so I would have liked this aspect of the book to be improved. Hopefully in the next book then!

With all that said, there were quite a few things that made me consider docking another star off.. but the fact that the book kept me up at night and was a thrill to whiz through, I just couldn’t. No YA Fantasy book has gripped me that hard in a long time, and for that, this book deserves its 4 stars. It’s not perfect by any means, but it was highly enjoyable. Plus it has a ton of potential that will hopefully be maximised in the next two books! ❤

Thank you very much to Allen & Unwin for sending over a copy in exchange for an honest review 🙂 You can purchase a copy of the book using the link below – I receive a small commission from it!

Purchase ‘Only A Monster’ by Vanessa Len!

My Favorite Books Of 2021

Hello everyone! I hope you are all having an amazing holiday so far, and if you’re in the midst of exams/uni work, I hope you’re doing well and taking breaks! You got this! 🙂

As the title depicts, I will be sharing with you all my favorite books of 2021! I did not read very many books this year (relatively speaking and as compared to previous years), which was a good and somewhat bad thing! The good thing is that I wasted no time putting down books that did not interest me. Instead, I was picky with my reads and read only books that gripped me from the very beginning. That said, a bulk of the books I read were AMAZING. Out of the 14 books I read this year, there are five books in this list (listed in no particular order apart from my favorite book of the year) that made it to my favorites list.

I really want to do the same thing in 2022 where I don’t pressure myself with the number of books I read, and instead be selective with the books that I continue reading each time I pick them up. What do you guys think about this about this? I know there are still a ton of people out there who sets reading goals for themselves every year (which is sooo amazing!), so I’d love to hear your thoughts 🙂

Anywho, that’s enough with my reading year reflection. Onto my favorite books of 2021!

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1. How Do You Live? By Genzaburo Yoshino

Synopsis:

Anime master Hayao Miyazaki’s favorite childhood book, in English for the first time.

First published in 1937, Genzaburō Yoshino’s How Do You Live? has long been acknowledged in Japan as a crossover classic for young readers. Academy Award–winning animator Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle) has called it his favorite childhood book and announced plans to emerge from retirement to make it the basis of a final film.

How Do You Live? is narrated in two voices. The first belongs to Copper, fifteen, who after the death of his father must confront inevitable and enormous change, including his own betrayal of his best friend. In between episodes of Copper’s emerging story, his uncle writes to him in a journal, sharing knowledge and offering advice on life’s big questions as Copper begins to encounter them. Over the course of the story, Copper, like his namesake Copernicus, looks to the stars, and uses his discoveries about the heavens, earth, and human nature to answer the question of how he will live.

This first-ever English-language translation of a Japanese classic about finding one’s place in a world both infinitely large and unimaginably small is perfect for readers of philosophical fiction like The Alchemist and The Little Prince, as well as Miyazaki fans eager to understand one of his most important influences.

Thoughts:

This one’s a beautiful coming of age story that’s full of charm. It centres around friendship, science, and humanity. We get a glimpse of the wholesome relationship between a boy and his wise uncle, who writes him invaluable advice about life through letters. Oh, and world-renowned director Hayao Miyazaki has also announced that he will be adapting this novel into a film!!! I cannot wait to see what Miyazaki has in store for us. The books is truly delightful, and so wholesome. I highly recommend it if you feel lost and need a gentle, yet impactful pick-me-up (and perhaps a sprinkle of uncle’s magic and wits)! ❤

2. The Girl and The Galdurian: Lightfall Book 1 by Tim Probert

Synopsis:

Deep in the heart of the planet Irpa stands the Salty Pig’s House of Tonics & Tinctures, home of the wise Pig Wizard and his adopted granddaughter, Bea. As keepers of the Endless Flame, they live a quiet and peaceful life, crafting medicines and potions for the people of their once-prosperous world.

All that changes one day when, while walking through the woods, Bea meets Cad, a member of the Galdurians, an ancient race thought to be long-extinct. Cad believes that if anyone can help him find his missing people, it’s the Pig Wizard.

But when the two arrive home, the Pig Wizard is nowhere to be found—all that’s left is the Jar of Endless Flame and a mysterious note. Fearing for the Pig Wizard’s safety, Bea and Cad set out across Irpa to find him, while danger fights its way out of the shadows and into the light.

Will these two unexpected friends find the beloved Pig Wizard and prevent eternal darkness from blanketing their world? Or has Irpa truly seen its last sunrise?

Thoughts:

This is the first graphic novel I’ve ever picked up and it became a fast favorite! I have a whole review of it here, but essentially it is a beautiful tale of a girl and her travel companion who are off on a quest to find her missing grandfather, to which they discover some secrets along the way. The art is breathtaking, with lots of beautiful autumnal themes and warm colors to depict the richness of the world that the author has created (literally and physically!). The anxiety representation is incredible, and the overall story is just so fun and pure. I wish I savored it more.. I really tried my best, but I absolutely devoured it at the end. A fantastic, beautiful, and wholesome read overall. I am so excited for the sequel!

3. The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang

Synopsis:

When Rin aced the Keju—the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies—it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin’s guardians, who believed they’d finally be able to marry her off and further their criminal enterprise; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free of the servitude and despair that had made up her daily existence. That she got into Sinegard—the most elite military school in Nikan—was even more surprising.

But surprises aren’t always good.

Because being a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south is not an easy thing at Sinegard. Targeted from the outset by rival classmates for her color, poverty, and gender, Rin discovers she possesses a lethal, unearthly power—an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of a seemingly insane teacher and psychoactive substances, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive—and that mastering control over those powers could mean more than just surviving school.

For while the Nikara Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lurks across a narrow sea. The militarily advanced Federation occupied Nikan for decades after the First Poppy War, and only barely lost the continent in the Second. And while most of the people are complacent to go about their lives, a few are aware that a Third Poppy War is just a spark away . . .

Rin’s shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people. But as she finds out more about the god that has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her humanity . . . and that it may already be too late.

Thoughts:

This is a pretty recently finished book (to which I have written a book review for here as well. Please note the abundance of trigger warnings that I’ve pointed out within the linked review), and one that I undoubtedly love to bits. This book gripped me from the very beginning. It is intense and unflinching… which is one reason why I think it was such a fast-paced read for me. I literally could not turn those pages fast enough, and every time I pick it up after putting it down for a week or so, its pace just picks up immediately. This is precisely why the book made it to this list. It’s hard for a book to grip me for a long amount of time nowadays due to my short attention span, so for a book to be able to intrigue me at any moment within the story is a clear winner for me. I love literally every second of this book.

4. Born A Crime by Trevor Noah

Synopsis:

Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. Living proof of his parents’ indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, steal him away. Finally liberated by the end of South Africa’s tyrannical white rule, Trevor and his mother set forth on a grand adventure, living openly and freely and embracing the opportunities won by a centuries-long struggle.

Born a Crime is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of that young man’s relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother—his teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life.

Thoughts:

One of my favorite audiobooks ever. Love, love, love every second of it. The narrator is the author himself, and he did such an AMAZING job bringing his own story to life. I love the way he explored apartheid, his childhood, and his pathway to becoming the person that he is today through a tone that is hilarious, witty, impactful, and sad all at the same time. You learn so much, and there is not a dull moment in this book. This is the perfect book for if you’re in a slump (or not.. it’s the perfect book to pick up anytime really!). It’s memorable, brilliant, and entertaining. Love it.

5. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Synopsis:

Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now?

Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband has left her, and her professional life is going nowhere. Regardless of why Evelyn has selected her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career.

Summoned to Evelyn’s luxurious apartment, Monique listens in fascination as the actress tells her story. From making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the ‘80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way, Evelyn unspools a tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love. Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star, but as Evelyn’s story near its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.

Thoughts:

This favorites list is not supposed to be in any particular order, but The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is hands down my favorite book of the year. It’s the kind of book that makes you lose track of time. I remember just plopping down on my bed with my head buried deep in the pages of this book without even realising that 2 hours has passed and I have read 150+ pages. I also successfully read the book without looking at my phone once in those 2 hours, which is sadly very rare for me to do when I read books nowadays… anyway, no other book has had that effect on my since my peak reading days (which probably dates back to 2014-2015.. yikes..). That said though, the book is electrifying and magnetic.. it grips your attention from page one and does not let go. It’s dramatic, sexy, and so fleshed out. You would find yourself second guessing whether or not Evelyn Hugo and her husbands are real or not. It’s bold and, at times, intensely painful to read.. you just go through so much with the characters. It’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions, and overall one of the best books I have ever read.

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And that concludes my favorite books of 2021 list! Did you see any of your favorites? What are some of your favorite book of this year?

I hope you all have the most amazing 2022. Here’s to a gentle new year filled with delightful books ❤ Take care, and happy new year!

xx Cath

(Non-spoiler) Book Review: Aurora’s End by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Title: Aurora’s End

Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Rating: 4/5 stars

Release date: November 9th 2021

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Goodreads Synopsis (CONTAINS SPOILERS):

Is this the end?

What happens when you ask a bunch of losers, discipline cases and misfits to save the galaxy from an ancient evil? The ancient evil wins, of course.

Wait … Not. So. Fast. When we last saw Squad 312, they were working together seamlessly (aka freaking out) as an intergalactic battle raged and an ancient superweapon threatened to obliterate Earth. Everything went horribly wrong, naturally.

But as it turns out, not all endings are endings, and the team has one last chance to rewrite theirs. Maybe two. It’s complicated. Cue Zila, Fin and Scarlett (AND MAGELLAN!) making friends, making enemies and making history? Sure, no problem. Cue Tyler, Kal and Auri joining forces with two of the galaxy’s most hated villains? Um, okay, yeah. That too.

Actually saving the galaxy, though? Now that will take a miracle.

Review:

What an epic conclusion to a phenomenal series. It’s rare that I read series anymore, because even if I really enjoyed the book, the long wait for the sequels can really tarnish my reading momentum (and eventually interest). But the Aurora Cycle.. this series, at least for me, is different. The first book was gripping, the second intense, and the third is bold and soft and sweet all at the same time. I haven’t read a series with a great ending in a really long time. What an amazing way to end the Aurora Cycle. The moments that led to that ending were so well written. You go through so much with the characters right from the very beginning, and you go through even more with them in this final instalment. I’ve grown to love them all so much more.

Although there were lots of great elements to the book, there was something in particular (that I cannot mention for spoiler issues) that happened within this book that did not make me love the book as much as the previous books. Let’s just say it really tampered with the pacing of the story, which is a huge contrast to the previous two books because I absolutely flew through them. Aurora’s End was much slower in comparison, which made me lose interest in the plot pretty quickly. The overarching plot line was also a little frustrating, but it made for a great ending, so I honestly can’t really complain much about it.

Another thing that made me dock a star off is the overly excessive banter and character monologues. There was a bit too much unnecessary sass, which made it cringeworthy. I normally love the banters and quick-witted comments from the characters, and I’m honestly still such a huge fan of the duo’s witty writing, but this time it was just a little too much.

Overall though, Kaufman and Kristoff never fail to deliver a story that packs a punch. There were so many moments where I laugh-cried because it was both hilarious and touching at the same time. I love it. I love when books make me feel really mixed emotions (in a good way). I already miss squad 312 so, so much. I can’t say much else apart from the fact that this is a truly memorable series that I would wholeheartedly recommend to everyone, whether you’re a sci-fi/YA fan or not.

Thank you to Allen & Unwin for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review! 🙂

Book Review: The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang

Title: The Poppy War

Author: R.F. Kuang

Rating: 5/5 stars

Synopsis:

When Rin aced the Keju—the Empire-wide test to find the most talented youth to learn at the Academies—it was a shock to everyone: to the test officials, who couldn’t believe a war orphan from Rooster Province could pass without cheating; to Rin’s guardians, who believed they’d finally be able to marry her off and further their criminal enterprise; and to Rin herself, who realized she was finally free of the servitude and despair that had made up her daily existence. That she got into Sinegard—the most elite military school in Nikan—was even more surprising.

But surprises aren’t always good.

Because being a dark-skinned peasant girl from the south is not an easy thing at Sinegard. Targeted from the outset by rival classmates for her color, poverty, and gender, Rin discovers she possesses a lethal, unearthly power—an aptitude for the nearly-mythical art of shamanism. Exploring the depths of her gift with the help of a seemingly insane teacher and psychoactive substances, Rin learns that gods long thought dead are very much alive—and that mastering control over those powers could mean more than just surviving school.

For while the Nikara Empire is at peace, the Federation of Mugen still lurks across a narrow sea. The militarily advanced Federation occupied Nikan for decades after the First Poppy War, and only barely lost the continent in the Second. And while most of the people are complacent to go about their lives, a few are aware that a Third Poppy War is just a spark away . . .

Rin’s shamanic powers may be the only way to save her people. But as she finds out more about the god that has chosen her, the vengeful Phoenix, she fears that winning the war may cost her humanity . . . and that it may already be too late.

Review:

Well, where do I even begin? I have been savoring this particular read for the longest time – only picking it up when I really feel like reading it instead of purging through it in a matter of days. The Poppy War is definitely not one for the lighthearted. It deals with so much war violence, emotional and physical abuse, rape, drugs, and a plethora more trigger warnings that you can find listed here. That being said, this books is not for everyone. It is heavy and very painful to read, but the story.. the characters, the writing.. there is this very otherworldly sensation when you read the book, and it is amazing.

The academia themes start off the book, and I was hooked from the very beginning. I read through the first 100+ pages in one sitting, and it has been a while since I flew through a book like that, especially one this dense. I tried to really pace myself so I do not devour this book in one go, and I ended up taking two months to finish it. I did not want my studies to deter my excitement for the book, so I took my time and savored every single page. Kuang’s way of storytelling is just brilliant. She is able to create such vivid (albeit gory) imagery, and writes with this sense of urgency within the story from the possibility that a huge war could break out at any moment. The intensity of it, the desperation, the pain and horrific realisation that everyone’s life is at stake.. it’s like the author lived through the Poppy War herself, and we’re reading this through her own point of view. It has so much ruthlessness and inhumane cruelty, but it makes the story more real and impactful.

The characters, oh gosh.. you feel so much for them. I can already tell how badly my heart will be shredded when I read the next two books. There were talks of Gods and Shamans, the study of lore and combat and war strategy.. the emotional battle and trauma that goes through fighting and enduring the war.. everything flowed together so seamlessly and beautifully. The Poppy War is just sensational, and undoubtedly one of the easiest 5 stars I can ever give to a book. What a cerebral and profound novel. Truly cannot wait to read the sequel (I am ready and not ready at the same time!! 😥 ).

Definitely a book I cannot recommend enough, but be warn of the heavy themes contained in the story. Pick this up with the many trigger warnings in mind! I will mention again that this is NOT for everyone, nor is it an easy read (if you do pick it up). But if you do, I thoroughly hope you enjoy it!

Book Review: Dark Rise by C.S. Pacat

Title: Dark Rise

Author: C.S. Pacat

Rating: 3/5 stars

Synopsis:

The ancient world of magic is no more. Its heroes are dead, its halls are ruins, and its great battles between Light and Dark are forgotten. Only the Stewards remember, and they keep their centuries-long vigil, sworn to protect humanity if the Dark King ever returns.

Sixteen-year-old dock boy Will is on the run, pursued by the men who killed his mother. When an old servant tells him of his destiny to fight beside the Stewards, Will is ushered into a world of magic, where he must train to play a vital role in the oncoming battle against the Dark.

As London is threatened by the Dark King’s return, the reborn heroes and villains of a long-forgotten war begin to draw battle lines. But as the young descendants of Light and Dark step into their destined roles, old allegiances, old enmities and old flames are awakened. Will must stand with the last heroes of the Light to prevent the fate that destroyed their world from returning to destroy his own.

Review:

Dark Rise is a solid first instalment to a YA Fantasy series. This is also my first Pacat novel, and I enjoyed it overall! It is not the most spectacular YA Fantasy, but that may be because it is only the first book in the series, so there is still a lot of room for the series to grow. During the first half of the book, I felt that some of the elements were a little all over the place (because there was so much going on), so it made the story a little hard to follow. I absolutely love the character dynamics though! The contrast between the two main characters was amazing. My favourite part of the novel was probably their relationship. Each scene that had them both together was always so well done. I just love how they complement one another despite how different they are. The best thing is that there is nothing romantic about their relationship, which is honestly so refreshing!

The writing was also done well. I was pretty much invested throughout the whole book. The plot twist at the end was!!! Crazy intense. I can tell we have yet to witness even just a sliver of what is to become in the next instalments. I cannot wait! I am moreso excited about the character development. I am already rooting for one of the characters in the book and I am looking forward to seeing them shine in the next one! 

My only issue with the book is just the lack of integration in the storytelling and the world-building. While I enjoyed the book overall, some parts just dragged a bit. I am looking forward to more action in the second book though!

Overall, Dark Rise is an enjoyable YA Fantasy novel. The world-building might be bit too overwhelming, but the characters and the plot are amazing. The story is fast-paced (apart from the first part of the book where it started out a little slow), and the writing is solid. Definitely did not disappoint! If you like Fantasy within an interesting magic system, definitely give this book a go!

Thank you so much Allen & Unwin for sending a copy of this book over in exchange for an honest review! 🙂

Book Review: Lightfall by Tim Probert

Title: Lightfall

Author: Tim Probert

Rating: 5/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

Deep in the heart of the planet Irpa stands the Salty Pig’s House of Tonics & Tinctures, home of the wise Pig Wizard and his adopted granddaughter, Bea. As keepers of the Endless Flame, they live a quiet and peaceful life, crafting medicines and potions for the people of their once-prosperous world.

All that changes one day when, while walking through the woods, Bea meets Cad, a member of the Galdurians, an ancient race thought to be long-extinct. Cad believes that if anyone can help him find his missing people, it’s the Pig Wizard.

But when the two arrive home, the Pig Wizard is nowhere to be found—all that’s left is the Jar of Endless Flame and a mysterious note. Fearing for the Pig Wizard’s safety, Bea and Cad set out across Irpa to find him, while danger fights its way out of the shadows and into the light.

Will these two unexpected friends find the beloved Pig Wizard and prevent eternal darkness from blanketing their world? Or has Irpa truly seen its last sunrise?

Review:

I think this might be my very first graphic novel (and thus review), and I absolute loved every moment of it. I picked it up on a whim in an independent bookstore during a road trip one day because I was so attracted to the cover. When I flipped it opened and was introduced to the multitude of blazing autumnal colors and snippets of of the world-building, I was absolutely sold. I knew I had to get it! I was just so smitten by the art and colors. I couldn’t help myself, and without even reading the synopsis, I went straight to the counter to purchase it. To my delight, the cashier greeted me with: “It’s a really good one! The artwork and colors are just so beautiful, and so is the story.”. Once I purchased it, I practically devoured the whole thing in a few sittings, even though I so badly wanted to savor everything.

The tale of Bea and Cad is a great coming of age story in the world of Irpa. There are amazing depictions of anxiety in the story, which was also interpreted through Probert’s artwork. Bea is very relatable, and for a first installment, her character arc has already developed beautifully. The story is heartwarming, and the world-building is wonderful. You get a sense of the whimsical aspects of Irpa as we follow along the duo’s journey – It is really quite the experience! Each page kept me smiling widely. I could almost smell the delicious vegan omelette and taste the yummy honey scrolls from reading the story. I felt so inspired by it and the themes that the book just stayed with me for days. I wanted to revisit it again right after finishing it!

Honestly, if you are looking for a charming story with beautiful illustrations and color palettes, look no further! I cannot emphasise enough how happy looking at the artwork makes me feel. I am just such a sucker for fantastical-camp concepts where we get to see the supplies that are brought along for the adventure, the food and trinkets discovered along the way, and meeting new characters throughout the journey too. In case I do not already sound like a broken record, the book is full of color and wonder and charm.

I recommend this graphic novel with all my heart! One of my favorite reads ever, no doubt. I absolutely cannot wait for the release of the second installment!

Book Review: Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Title: Daisy Jones & The Six

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Goodreads Synopsis:

A gripping novel about the whirlwind rise of an iconic 1970s rock group and their beautiful lead singer, revealing the mystery behind their infamous break up.

Everyone knows Daisy Jones & The Six, but nobody knows the real reason why they split at the absolute height of their popularity…until now.

Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing at the Whisky a Go-Go. The sex and drugs are thrilling, but it’s the rock and roll she loves most. By the time she’s twenty, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things.

Another band getting noticed is The Six, led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she’s pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road.

Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend.

Review:

This is going to be a long-winded and chaotic book review because a) I haven’t done one of these in a while and b) this book just doesn’t feel Fiction enough for a ‘structured’ book review. I mean this in the best way possible, because it reads a lot like a biography. A non-fiction biography of a band that is NOT real, but seems real. It’s actually scary how relatable and human these characters are that I had to actually remind myself constantly throughout the whole book that, no, Daisy Jones & The Six is NOT real. They are NOT a real band, and these characters are COMPLETELY Fiction, which is what makes this book so gripping. So much that you read about in the story sound completely insane, but they all make sense based on the characters’ personalities and attitudes. You see how different everyone is from one another, but the way their lives and stories intertwine is just.. it all makes sense! It all comes together so well, overall creating a brilliant and emotionally intense story.

There is something about this book that just feels so painfully real. Throughout the whole book, it feels like you’re prying into someone’s diary entries and reading through their raw thoughts and emotions. All the characters were so wonderfully unique and different from one another. Everything from the writing style, the characters, and the format felt so uncensored. It’s written in this interview style where you get a slice of each character’s thoughts and point of view. It’s blunt and wild, and also a little sad. It’s real and painful, and the story is just about real life and how things do not always go the way we want it to even though it seems like it will. It feels so much like an actual biography of the band. Out of context, each character’s point of view is absolutely chaotic. But when you piece them all together, it all just makes so, so much sense. This whole ride was just insane. It was like a party in its different stages – the preparation, guest arrival, dancing to music and getting drunk, waking up with a pounding headache and blurred memories, slowly sobering up, and repeat. It’s exciting and cathartic, fun and wild, then things start to get woozy and slow down a little.. and then you find yourself feeling a little lost and sad, but you go on anyway. So much good and bad mixed in one bag. It was just… crazy (again, in a good way).

You know how people pick up books just so they can escape reality for a bit? I want to say that – in the best way possible, while this book is indeed fiction – it feels so real that it doesn’t even read like a fiction novel. I often have to put it down because it feels so much like real life that I can feel the anxiety of reading about a terrible fate or undesirable outcome for the members and the band in general. It was written that well, and the characters were that fleshed out. Of course I still ended really loving the book, because it kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time, and I saw myself in every single one of the characters, which, again… insanity! How does the author do it?! Truly unlike any other book I’ve ever read before.

If you want a book with characters and stories that you can connect to, Daisy Jones & The Six is for you. I believe that, whatever your opinion is of the story, you will fly through this book, and you will fall in love with at least one of the characters.

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If you’ve read this book, please let me know your thoughts! Otherwise, thank you so much for reading my review. I also wanted to thank Hachette Australia for sending me a free copy of Ninth House in exchange for an honest review!

If you’re interested in buying Daisy Jones & The Six, you can click here to shop the book at Book Depository. I receive a small commission if you use the link! 🙂