QUARANTINE READS: PART 2

It’s been a hot minute since I review the books that I’ve read over the past couple of months! Most of the books came from my Book of the Month selections. BOTM is a monthly book subscription service where you can choose one (or more) book each month for $14.99. That’s amazing for a hard cover!

If you’re interested in joining, click here to sign up through my referral link ;)

ANXIOUS PEOPLE – FREDRIK BACKMAN

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I read this book as part of my work book club for the month of October.

Anxious People is about a bank robber who accidentally held a bunch of people hostage. Yes, accidentally. Because this is a silly bank robber who did not plan this through. I was a bit annoyed during the first half of the book because conversations between characters were quite silly. However, as I got to the second part of the book, I realized there was a reason behind all the silly conversations. The plot starts to get interesting as I flip through the pages, eager to unravel the robbery case.

This is easily one of my favorite books in 2020. My vocabulary is limited to express how I felt towards the end of the book as I reflected on the impact I have towards strangers (and vice versa). The saying “Everything happens for a reason” truly resonates with this story. I give this heartfelt book 4.5 stars because it has impacted me emotionally. I also thoroughly enjoyed Backman's witty writing style as I found myself laughing throughout the book. I recommend Anxious People to those who are looking for a fun and light read!

SLEEPING MURDER – AGATHA CHRISTIE

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If you know me, I am a HUGE fan of Agatha Christie and overall the murder mystery genre. I found Sleeping Murder on my roommate’s bookshelf and decided to spend an afternoon solving for a case that uncovers a crime that occurred over years ago.

Soon after the main character Gwenda moves into a new home, she encounters several odd flashbacks that she finds slightly frightening. With Miss Marple’s help, they work together to uncover the reason behind her sense of terror.

I give this book 3.5 stars because the book is not as challenging as Christie’s other classics because I figured out the culprit early on in the book. Rounding it up to 4 on Goodreads because after all, I am a die hard Agatha Christie fan.

THE VANISHING HALF – BRIT BENNETT

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I had high expectation going into The Vanishing Half and this book did not disappoint! This is a story about the identical Vignes twins, Desiree and Stella, who were separated from a young age. Years later, one sister returns to her southern hometown that consists of predominately Black people, and the other sister is living in a white neighborhood passing as White.

The story has a slow start but it is very intriguing. Brit does an excellent job in engaging readers in two individual journeys between the two sisters. I do, however, enjoy the middle part of the story more because I was invested in the twins’ completely different backgrounds–especially Stella’s story line.The ending kind of left me hanging because I was imagining a different scenario. Nonetheless, I give kudos to Brit for writing such a thought provoking yet poignant story that highlights colorism and sisterhood. 4.5 stars overall!

THE NIGHT SWIM – MEGAN GOLDIN

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I selected The Night Swim as part of my September BOTM selection because of the true crime + podcast element in the story. Also, did I mention I love a good thriller?

Rachel, a popular true crime podcast host whose goal is to set an innocent man free through her personal investigations, sets off to a small town of Neapolis to report a rape trial between a popular high school star and a girl. Strange things begin to happen when Rachel receives several anonymous letters from a girl who urges her to investigate her sister’s murder case that happened over a decade ago in the same town…

I give this book 4 stars because while I enjoyed the podcast element in the story, I found the ending (and the unravel of the case) a bit rushed. I felt that the author could spend more time crafting the ending with a more convincing plot. Overall, The Night Swim is a great read with a raw, powerful story highlighting the rape culture.

THE SILENT PATIENT – ALEX MICHAELIDES

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“The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman’s act of violence against her husband and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive.” – Goodreads

Alicia Berenson woke up one day and refused to talk to anyone after her husband’s death. Evidently, she was a prime suspect and was put into a mental institution. Came Theo, a psychotherapist whose goal is to make Alicia speak again.

This book is definitely a page turner, and I initially gave it 4 stars. However, after some pondering of the plot and greater details, I had to bump it down to 3 stars because there were plot holes that made the ending less convincing. Nonetheless, I was very surprised at the end and I recommend this book because this is one hell of a thriller.

WHAT WE CARRY: A MEMOIR – MAYA SHANBHAG LANG

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*I listened to the Audiobook narrated by Maya Shanbhag Lang, the author herself.

What We Carry was selected as part of my work book club for the month of August.

This is a memoir about Maya Shanbhag Lang’s relationship between her and her mother. Her story highlights topics such as motherhood, immigrants, and depression. I give this book a solid 4-stars as Maya’s story is deeply moving and thought provoking. Though I am not a mother, Maya’s heartfelt journey has made me think of my own relationship with my aging mother and how a mother sacrifices so much for her own children to ensure they have a stable life.

Did you read any of the books above? Leave a comment or DM me to discuss!

Hi, I’M MINA!

I am a San Francisco based photographer and lifestyle + travel blogger. Born and raised in Hong Kong, I’m proud to say I came from a diverse background. I speak fluent Cantonese! Follow my social media to see what I’ve been up to.

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QUARANTINE READS: PART 1

Beginning of this year, I made an embarrassing goal of reading 5 books in 2020. Yes, 5 whole books. Ever since college, I just couldn’t find time to read for pleasure like I used to in high school. So, now that I have more time on my hands during quarantine, I set a goal of reading at least 5 books, which I did surpass. I since then increased the number on GoodReads (follow me!) to 10. I’m confident I can surpass the goal again. Baby steps! Below are my reviews on 6 of the books I’ve read so far:

aristotle and dante discover the secrets of the universe – benjamin alire saenz

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I believe it was during high school when I came across this book. I’ve always wanted to read it due to the numerous awards the book has received (clearly by the book cover) and I finally got to it! Aristole and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a coming-of-age novel about a young friendship between Aristotle (Ari) and Dante. Ari is an angry teenager who often bickers with his parents and struggles with his sense of self. One day, he meets Dante by a local pool they hit it off. Together, they explore their friendship and curiosity of the universe.

I give this a 4-star because I thoroughly enjoyed the conversations between Ari and Dante. It’s humorous, pure, and nostalgic. I loved reading how their friendship blossomed since the first day that they met. I don’t want to spoil too much here but the book also touches on LGBTQ. Overall, great and easy read!

UNTAMED – glennon doyle

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My college roommate Lea was kind enough to share this book with me after she finished it. She warned me this book did not live up to her expectations… and she wasn’t wrong. I did not enjoy this book and gave it a 2-star. Untamed, written by popular author Glennon Doyle, is her second memoir. The book is about Glennon and her motherhood while discovering her true identity. Because Glennon is a mother of 2 and the book surrounds her motherhood and relationships, I couldn’t find myself relate to her life. Thus, I lost interest half way in.

Though the words are very well written, I find the story a bit all over the place. There is no flow to her story, it felt like Glennon was spitting out random stories at once while constantly patting herself in the back for being a great mother. Don’t get me wrong, I applaud her for being excellent role model and I know the intention of the memoir is to inspire those who lack a sense of self identity. Unfortunately, I am just not her target market.

where the crawdad sings

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Set in a North Carolina coast in the 1960’s, Where the Crawdads Sing is a coming-of-age story of a young girl named Kya Clark who is often referred to as “Marsh Girl” by the snobby locals. At the young age of 6, Kya has been abandoned by her family members one by one so she has to find ways to survive. Parallel to the story of Kya’s life in the marsh, readers are introduced to a murder plot happened in the late 1960’s. Kya is suspected of murder... but how can someone so timid and kind murder a strong, grown man?

I give this a 4-star because this is different than books that I’ve read in the past. Normally, a plot that is set in the South wouldn’t appeal to me if it wasn’t for Reese’s Bookclub. However, Owens’ writing style is eloquent and beautiful. She vividly paints a picture of the marsh and the nature. I felt like I was Kya herself, frolicking through the marsh and the coast. I loved watching her blossoming into a strong, independent woman. I recommend this book to those who seeks a Southern love story with a splash of murder mystery.

THERE THERE – TOMMY ORANGE

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Set in modern day Oakland, California, There There depicts 12 different Urban Native Americans and how their everyday lives intertwine with each other’s at the end. The story touches on alcoholism, unemployment, depression, family and identity.

I had no idea what the plot was going into the book, however, it impacted me in a way that the story happens in Oakland, a city that is close by geographically yet foreign to me. I ended up learning much more about the history and culture of Native Americans. In just 304 pages, Orange was able to write 12 unique point of views and create a story that connects this cast together at the Big Powow event at the end. I appreciate Orange providing a character list in the beginning so I didn’t feel lost. The first half was slow yet entertaining while you learn about each character. Then the plot starts to pick up!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the Native Americans community and the Bay Area in general.

THE GUEST LIST – LUCY FOLEY

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It wouldn’t be a book review without a murder mystery/thriller. The Guest List ,written by Lucy Foley, introduces an island wedding off the coast of Ireland. Will and Jules are about to get married but right off the bat, readers are told that someone has been murdered. This is a classic Whodunnit novel.

I’m a huge Agatha Christie fan, so I had high expectations going into the book. I give this a 4-star because it is solidly entertaining despite some slow moving parts in the first half due to character development. The end kept me on the edge of my bed. Safe to say I couldn’t guess who the murderer is until the end…. maybe I’m just not great at being detective. I suggest this book if you’re looking for your next murder mystery!

THE RIDE OF A LIFE TIME – ROBERT IGER

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*I listened to the Audiobook narrated by Bob Iger himself and Jim Frangione.

I personally love a good tech book and memoir–this book is the best of both worlds. In The Ride of a Lifetime, Bob Iger reflects on his 40+ years working in the tele-broadcast and entertainment industry until he would become the CEO of Disney. Bob’s story is inspiring. As one may say, he “started from the bottom” and worked his way up to ultimately become one of the most important figures in building a Disney empire. The book is broken down to 2 main parts: Bob’s ladder to success and Disney’s acquisitions such as Pixar, Lucasfilm and Marvel Studios.

I, along with millions of people in the world, grew up with Disney and Pixar films. It’s particularly interesting to see how several mergers in the 90’s transformed Disney into what it is today. I also enjoyed reading about the tech culture, Bob’s relationship with Steve Jobs, and the behind-the-scenes of each significant decision. I give this book a 5-star because of how impactful it is. I will certainly look at Disney and the entertainment industry differently from now on.

Did you read any of the books above? If so, leave a comment below and let’s discuss!

Hi, I’M MINA!

I am a San Francisco based photographer and lifestyle + travel blogger. Born and raised in Hong Kong, I’m proud to say I came from a diverse background. I speak fluent Cantonese! Follow my social media to see what I’ve been up to.

SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG!

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