ambershelf's Reviews (1.3k)

SWEET BEAN PASTE follows the friendship between Sentaro, a young man who runs a small dorayaki shop, and Tokue, an elderly with leprosy. As Tokue helps at the shop and teaches Sentaro how to make the perfect bean paste, the two form a bond that challenges Sentaro's notions of what it means to live a fulfilling life.

SWEET BEAN PASTE is a meditation on the value of human connection and the importance of finding meaning in our daily tasks, regardless of how mundane they are. Through straightforward yet heartfelt storytelling, Sukegawa challenges our definitions of success and demonstrates that happiness lies in simple acts of kindness.

For those looking for an uplifting story of friendship and life, SWEET BEAN PASTE is the perfect comfort read to get you through tough times.

After a childhood misdeed leading to her father's incarceration in Rome, Maria Lagana and her mother immigrated to LA to escape the increasingly authoritarian government. Maria moves to Hollywood as an associate producer at Mercury Pictures to further reinvent herself. But she can't outrun the past. On the eve of America's entry into World War II, an acquaintance of her father arrives with unsettling news. As Maria's past finally catches up, she must face her childhood transgression, confront her father's uncertain fate, and reimagine a future for herself in a country she now calls her own.

I adore Marra's writing style, which seamlessly blends humor, sorrow, and optimism. Going in, I was a bit skeptical of a WWII read set in Hollywood, but I was pleasantly surprised by its depth. MERCURY explores the meaning of Hollywood as a place for immigrants to reinvent themselves during a tumultuous time when antisemitism was on the rise, German and Italian immigrants were suspected of being spies, and Asian Americans were reduced to stereotypes. Other themes explored in the book include the media's complicity in pushing war propaganda, America's internal racial tensions in a time that requires a united front, and the choices one is forced to make to survive. At 400+ pages, MERCURY is a chunky yet captivating read.

MERCURY is a WWII epic with a cast of different characters told through flashbacks that allow the readers to glimpse a fraction of the past for each character. There are a lot of details, not just on the main protagonists but on supporting characters as well. In this sense, MERCURY reminds me of BEASTS OF A LITTLE LAND (Juhea Kim) and MALIBU RISING (Taylor Jenkins Reid). MERCURY worked well for me because of the scattered time I have to read during year-end, but those looking for a plot-centered read or more focused character developments might find MERCURY to scratch the surface level. With expansive world-building and lyrical writing, MERCURY is a mesmerizing read I'd recommend to those looking for hopeful historical fiction.

After the death of his musician wife, 20 years his junior, Lin grieves for their short marriage, lost time, and the pianos he doesn't know what to do with. Enters the piano tuner, a 40-year-old man employed by Lin's wife, and a balding and unattractive "loser" by any standard. Moving forward and backward in time, our unnamed narrator slowly reveals the secrets he holds. From being a teenage piano prodigy to his insights into Lin's marriage, the readers are treated to a musical feast that explores the sounds of music and the vibrations of our hearts.

At its core, PIANO TUNER is a tender story of finding "your person." With beautiful prose and brilliant plots, Kuo juxtaposes soul and body, talent and hard work, dream and reality, and asks the readers to examine the options we're given and the choices we make in life.

I read PIANO TUNER twice in one sitting, first in Mandarin and then in English. The Taiwanese title 尋琴者 (the piano seeker) is a homophone to 尋情者 (the love seeker) and 殉情者 (someone who dies for love). The multiple layers of the title give a glimpse into how the story is full of metaphors that may or may not be straightforward for the readers. Even after reading the Mandarin version, I still needed to Google analyses of the book to better grasp all the elements in the story. As such, it's quite tricky to write a review without giving anything away or clouding others' interpretations of this book.

I recommend THE PIANO TUNER to those who love translated literature, highbrow books, classical music, and those looking for a short yet poignant read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Arcade for the eARC.

While most 16-year-olds are worried about keeping up with the latest fashion trend or who to go to prom with, Yamilet Flores is concerned that she's not acting "straight enough." Especially when her classmates are primarily white, wealthy, Catholic kids, Yamilet's priority is to take care of her brother, make her mom proud, and not fall in love with her new best friend, Bo. After Yamilet's ex-best friend outed her in their old high school, she clearly won't make the same mistake again, not when Bo is so cute, talented, and perfect, right?

LESBIANA'S GUIDE is an entertaining and poignant coming-of-age story of a Latinx girl navigating an extremely conservative environment. While it's primarily light-hearted, with many moments of laughter, the novel explores heavy topics of homophobia and racism as well. As YA, LESBIANA'S GUIDE also has teenage angst about friendships, coolness, etc. Nonetheless, my heart aches for Yamilet and all the queer kids in the closet, constantly second-guessing if they'll appear "too gay" whenever they show affection towards same-sex friends.

I also adore Yamilet's character development, from desperately hiding in the closet to using her newfound confidence to help those struggling to find a community. Some of my favorite quotes from the audiobook are:
"I know I can't take all that shame away from him, but I can start by showing him how much I'm not shamed."
"I can't make him love himself. The closest I can get is loving myself unapologetically right in front of him."
"You gotta show yourself some love. If not for yourself, for me."

I hope LESBIANA'S GUIDE can be a safe harbor for those feeling lost, misjudged, or unsafe. You are not alone, and you are perfect the way you are.