[Review] The Woman in the Dunes - Kobo Abe

Title of Book: The Woman in the Dunes
Author: Kobo Abe
Translator: E. Dale Saunders
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Publication Year: 2006
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: 240

June 2025 Wrap-Up & Favorites

Source: personal collection

Hi fellow readers! We're now at the midpoint of the year. So far, I have updated my Goodreads reading challenge twice which is a good sign for me. My target is now to read 24 books until the end of the year. Here's the books I read in June.

[Review] A Brief History of Seven Killings - Marlon James

Title of Book: A Brief History of Seven Killings

Author: Marlon James
Publisher: Oneworld
Publication Year: 2015
Language: English
Format: Hardback
Pages: 686

*WINNER OF THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2015*
JAMAICA, 1976 Seven gunmen storm Bob Marley's house, machine guns blazing. The reggae superstar survives, but the gunmen are never caught.
From the acclaimed author of The Book of Night Women comes a dazzling display of masterful storytelling exploring this near-mythic event. Spanning three decades and crossing continents, A Brief History of Seven Killings chronicles the lives of a host of unforgettable characters - slum kids, drug lords, journalists, prostitutes, gunmen, and even the CIA.
Gripping and inventive, ambitious and mesmerizing, A Brief History of Seven Killings is one of the most remarkable and extraordinary novels of the twenty-first century.

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A Brief History of Seven Killings tells a fictionalized version of the attempted assassination of Bob Marley. Although in this book, he’s referred to as ‘The Singer’. The book spans decades with settings from Jamaican ghetto to New York. A Brief History of Seven Killings is divided into five sections. Each section is set during specific date with the first one being in the 70s. The book is mostly set in Kingston, Jamaica. In the beginning of the book, we were given a list of characters and a brief description on who they are. I suggest marking this page because the characters are so many that it could be difficult to keep track of. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a specific character but never the Singer.

This book is complex. It has about 70 characters; some play an important role in the story, some are just there for a section and that’s it. Keep in mind that this book is 686 pages long (at least the edition that I read) so a character who seems like he/she doesn’t play an important role in the beginning, could turn up again later as a plot point. The main story of this book is basically an attempted assassination of the Singer. It did happen in real life to Bob Marley. However, there are still questions regarding the assassination. What Marlon James did in this book is he’s trying to fill in the blanks with politics conspiracy, drugs, and gang rivalry.

Honestly, the only reason I picked this book up was because it’s the winner of the Booker prize. If it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t pick it up because the premise of this book didn’t really pique my interest. In fact, I didn’t even know what the premise of this book until the second I started reading. The length of this book intimidates me. It took me two months to finish this book; because it was so hard for me. I’m sorry but it was such a challenge for me to read, let alone finish this book. For one, the writing style makes it difficult for me to understand the book. Since each chapter is told from the perspective of the characters, when it’s narrated by one of the Jamaican gang member, it's written in a Jamaican-English slang dialect which not everyone understand, including me. What I did is guessing based on context and it was exhausting. Also, some chapters are written in the stream of consciousness style; Often when the narrator senses that something bad is going to happen to him/her. There are pages in which the text has no kind of punctuation marks. I skipped those.

Another problem that I have with this book is the vulgarity. This book is brutal because it follows gang members and supposed to tell the harsh reality of Jamaican ghetto. Still, it doesn’t have to be that explicit. At one point, I almost threw up while reading this book.

It is such a shame though, because when I do understand what the narrators are saying, I actually enjoyed the book. The premise has promise. The intricate plot and conspiracy are thrilling to read. It could help if the writer compressed the story a bit. I don’t think it has to be that long. I feel the first few sections are slow and I got bored. Also, I don’t think all characters get enough conclusion. There are characters that I still don’t get why he/she is in the book at all. Maybe I miss it when I skipped those pages.

Anyway, overall unfortunately a Brief History of Seven Killings is not my cup of tea. I wouldn’t recommend it but there must a reason why this book won the Booker prize. If you are still interested in reading this book, may I remind you that you have to be committed to finish it. Who knows, maybe you end up liking this book more than I do.

[Review] The Ten Loves of Mr Nishino - Hiromi Kawakami

Title of Book: The Ten Loves of Mr Nishino

Author: Hiromi Kawakami
Translator: Allison Markin Powell
Publisher: Granta Books
Publication Year: 2020
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: 208

Over the course of his life, Mr Nishino falls hopelessly in love again and again. One woman is a colleague, another a chance encounter; one is the girlfriend of a classmate, another the best friend of Nishino’s latest conquest. Some are entranced by Nishino, others care more for their freedom, their children (or their cats).
As we come to learn of the torments, desires and delights of each woman, a portrait emerges of a complicated man whose great capacity for love may well be the cause of his downfall.

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The Ten Loves of Mr Nishino is a collection of ten short stories. Each is told from the perspective of a woman who had an encounter with Yukihiko Nishino. In each they told their (somewhat) relationship with Nishino and how he affects their lives. Though told from other person’s perspective, this book is actually about Yukihiko Nishino. Since these women met Nishino at different stage of his life, this book is more like a journey of Nishino’s life. It’s not told in chronological order so as a reader we’re the one who collects bits and glimpses of his life and assembles it into the person Nishino is. Each story could be read on its own, or as a whole.

This book opens with a story titled Parfait. This story is told by a woman who had an affair with Nishino. The affair ended years ago. Back then, she would take her daughter along to eat parfait while meeting Nishino. From the first story, we get the first look of Nishino. Despite appearing as a ghost of the past, at least we learn that Nishino is a womanizer who cannot commit. In the next story, we jump back to Nishino’s younger years and learn that there might be more to his reluctance to be committed.

What intrigues me from this book is this enigmatic figure named Yukihiko Nishino. From what I gather, he’s good-looking which makes it easy for him to attract women. He’s also charming which invites women to open up to him. However, I couldn’t seem to detect ill intention from him. I feel like he’s two timing women because they are attracted to him and he couldn’t help it; like he has this sense of duty to help these women and make them happy. I know he’s a playboy but through some of his interaction with the women I get the sense that he actually wants to be able to commit.

Hiromi Kawakami is famous for her book titled Strange Weather in Tokyo. However, this is actually the first book by her that I read so I had no expectation on how her writing would be. Since this book is structured as a collection of several short stories, it’s easier for me to digest this book. My unfamiliarity with her writing doesn’t bother me at all. In the end, I did enjoy reading this book. In fact, I’m looking forward to read her other books including Strange Weather in Tokyo.

‘It’s a simple enough thing, loving a girl,’ Nishino went on quietly. ‘I wonder it is that I’ve never been able to love any of them.’’ 

May 2025 Wrap-Up & Favorites

Source: personal collection

Hello fellow readers! I finally finished a big book in May. Mind you, a sad and heartbreaking tome but I'm glad I finally read it. Since I did travel a bit, I brought Penguin Little Black Classics with me and I finished two of them. Without further ado, here are the books I read in May.

[Review] Diary of A Void - Emi Yagi

Title of Book: Diary of a Void

Author: Emi Yagi
Translator: David Boyd, Lucy North
Publisher: Harvill Secker
Publication Year: 2022
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: 213

April 2025 Wrap-Up & Favorites

Source: personal collection

Hello fellow readers! Even though I only managed to finish two mangas, I watched a lot of films. I had a trip to the United Kingdom for two weeks so my April was eventful. Here's the books I read in April.

March 2025 Wrap-Up & Favorites

Source: personal collection

Hi fellow readers! In March, I'm back with my comfort read. Although I'm a bit disappointed, I still read a good book afterward. I watch an excellent limited series on Netflix which I'm pretty sure you've heard of. I also continued my personal Academy Award Best Picture project and ended up loving the film. Anyway, here's the books I read in March.

February 2025 Wrap-Up & Favorites

Source: personal collection

Hi fellow readers! Hope you all well. Since I have quite some time on my hands lately, I'm going to catch up on my monthly wrap-up post. Here's the book I read in February.

[Review] The Travelling Cat Chronicles - Hiro Arikawa

Title of Book: The Travelling Cat Chronicles
Author: Hiro Arikawa
Translator: Philip Gabriel
Publisher: Doubleday
Publication Year: 2017
Language: English
Format: Paperback
Pages: 256

It's not the journey that counts, but who's at your side.
Nana is on a road trip, but he is not sure where he is going. All that matters is that he can sit beside his beloved owner Satoru in the front seat of his silver van. Satoru is keen to visit three old friends from his youth, though Nana doesn’t know why and Satoru won’t say.
Set against the backdrop of Japan’s changing seasons and narrated with a rare gentleness and humour, Nana’s story explores the wonder and thrill of life’s unexpected detours. It is about the value of friendship and solitude, and knowing when to give and when to take. TRAVELLING CAT has already demonstrated its power to move thousands of readers with a message of kindness and truth. It shows, above all, how acts of love, both great and small, can transform our lives.

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One day Satoru Miyawaki found a cat near his apartment. Being a cat lover, he feeds the cat everyday until the cat got in a car accident. He took care of it and adopted it. He named the cat Nana. Later on, Satoru found out that he couldn’t take care of Nana anymore so he contacted several of his old friends and asked them whether they could adopt Nana. Thus begin Satoru and Nana’s journey on a road trip visiting his friends.

The cat is the main reason why I picked this book. Little did I know that this book holds a tale that will stay with me after. The Travelling Cat Chronicles told from a third person point of view and Nana’s point of view. As a cat, of course Nana has some interesting take on things happening around him. This adds a bit humor into what turns out to be a sad story. Cat is notoriously known to be cold and arrogant towards its owner. However, through Nana’s point of view, we see how affectionate Nana actually is to Satoru. I find Nana and Satoru’s relationship cute and wholesome.

During their road trip, Satoru visited three of his friends before finally went to his aunt Noriko and stayed. Along the way, we learn bit by bit of Satoru’s childhood and his backstory with his friends. We learn that growing up Satoru had a rough childhood. But he has such a positive and pure look on life that inspire people around him. That’s actually what each chapter is about. How Satoru influenced the lives of his friends and aunt.

All in all, I highly recommend the Travelling Cat Chronicles to read. Regardless you are a cat lover or not, I think you will find Nana and Satoru’s story heartwarming and touching. Though the ending is sad, it gives that hopeful tone that will still make you smile and warm inside. This book has been adapted into a movie starring Sota Fukushi as Satoru. I have a feeling that I will cry while watching the movie but I will still watch it. 

January 2025 Wrap-Up & Favorites

Source: personal collection

Hello and happy new year fellow readers! In 2025, I have a mission to finish those literal book stacks on my bed. Yes, I have book stacks ON my bed because I have nowhere else to put them. Those books won't be there if I read them already. I spent most of my 2024 trying to survive and stay alive (I'm not kidding but that's a topic for another day. When I'm ready to share about it) that I don't feel like having enough 'leisure time' to read even though that's one of the activities that gives me joy. So imagine how joyless I was. No more. The books I finished in January are books I started in December 2024 but didn't manage to finish. One is a holiday-themed fantasy book and another one is a short east-asian literature book. Can you see how desperate I was to complete my 2024 reading goal?

December 2024 Wrap-Up & Favorites

Source: personal collection

Finally! One month left and that is it for 2024 wrap-up. Without further ado, here's the books I read in December 2024.

November 2024 Wrap-Up & Favorites

Source: personal collection

Hello fellow readers! In November, I didn't read much but I watched some good series on Netflix.