‘Educated’ might just be one of my favourite books this year; even though it is only January, I can tell. I am surprised at how long it has taken me to read this book. For some reason, I had a completely different impression of what the book was about. 

‘Educated’ is brilliant. The incredible bravery of Tara Westover in writing details of her life, growing up as she did, suffering both abuse and being shrouded from learning about the world, is beyond inspiring. I am short of the right words to address how learning about her journey into education made me feel. 

Tara’s family is a survivalist family. Based on their religious teachings and personal philosophies, her parents believe astutely that the world could end soon, are constantly preparing for a doomsday scenario, and also regard the government as a threat to the continuation of such a life. As a result, she and her siblings do not have government records of their birth, did not attend school, and did not go to hospitals or take medicines for any ailments and injuries. She talks with great detail of incidents where this has indeed been a highly problematic stance to hold, concerning health and safety. 

Her account is very honest, it speaks of her own thoughts shaped by this belief system. For the longest time, she genuinely believed in this stance, and as she grew up within its fold, it is but natural. 

I am so inspired by how she emerged from this space to learn about the world outside of her reality, how she affirmed her growing knowledge with deeper educational practice, and how her love for family remained regardless of the difficult space it became as her thoughts shifted apart from theirs. I cannot imagine going through such an experience, and despite the heaviness of the narrative, there is a lightness, a gentleness, to her recall and retelling of her life. 

I am so grateful I read this book. 

Thank you for reading my review. 🌻

‘Want’ is significantly unique in terms of the fact that it is an anonymous anthology and it has such stature that it has been widely considered as a highly regarded book, and I can see why. 

I find that this is a book that will appeal to me in different ways at different times. Reading the fantasies contributed by so many opened me up significantly to understanding sexuality, purely because this is not informational, but pure first person perspective. At times bewildering to see how fantasies could be so imaginatively different from what I could construed, and at times comforting to know that even my deepest thoughts and wildest fantasies are not entirely alone in the realm of thought that binds us all in one way or another. 

The only reason my rating is lower than 4 is because of what the reading experience provided. Perhaps I am not ready to rate this as I would a traditional book, because each fantasy differed quite from one to another and as a reading experience, it became a collective that didn’t always lead me through a narrative. I am not sure if this is a negative for the book itself, but for my connection with the book. 

But I have genuinely so many thoughts that I am hoping to sit with and unravel within myself as I think more about what this book had to say. I love that this was such a wide range of fantasies, contributors from every part of the world, with varying demographic attributes, sexualities, gender identities (men excluded), and that they felt so liberated in their fantasies. There was such a reflection of confidence and I wonder what that feels like, because I am aware of my shyness in writing elaborately on this. I will sit with it, and see where it takes me too. I am very thankful for this book. 

Thank you for reading my review. 🌻

I just finished reading this book, and I feel like I miss it immensely. 

I think what this book helped me realise that romance in literature has changed, and for the better. While I growing up, stories on romance between supernatural species and especially werewolves seemed to make the male character seemingly attractive but very territorial and possessive. This was the case in non-supernatural romance novels too. But I see better men in this genre now, and that makes them more attractive. 

I loved the chemistry between Lowe and Misery, and relationships between all associated characters within this tale, for that matter. It has been a long while since I read a story involving werewolves and vampires, and this one had an enemy to lovers and arranged marriage trope, and both were well-written and developed. 

I think I wish for a sequel or a spin-off sequel. Like I said, I do miss the characters. There was also a funny note within many dialogues and interactions and I appreciate light-hearted banter within such intense romance plots. 

I think I also greatly liked the world-building within this novel. I was thinking about how fascinating it is that each author adopts and adapts different traits of werewolves and vampires to fit within their tale. Vampires in this novel are not bloodthirsty (well, literally, yes, but not in a “must feed on every human in my vicinity way), and that shapes well into the premise that this is a world where humans, vampires and werewolves are three species, all known to each other. But it’s interesting how politics is a strong focus of this plot, as the three do not trust anyone but their own selves. 

I really liked this book and I am looking forward to reading other books by the author too. 

Thank you for reading my review. 🌻

I was hooked, but cautious, from the blurb. Serial killers, gory descriptions, and not to mention the content warnings, all made me wonder why I might think this book is for me. It is, perhaps, the farthest from my conventional genres, saving perhaps horror. But I was taken in quite soon after starting the book - I do like it when a person falls hard, and fast, and expresses. 

Rowan and Sloane have a common hobby - killing serial killers. The moment they meet, there is attraction, and Rowan is completely taken in by Sloane. He proposes an annual game between them, to find (and kill) a specific serial killer each year. Note: they only kill really bad people who’ve been killing and harming others. That fact helped me stomach this whole premise a lot better. 

As they meet each year, they get to know each other better, and their chemistry deepens. 

It’s honestly a very simple love story, if you ignore the specificities of their common hobby. I will admit I was not a fan of some of the gory description - I have a good power of imagination, so I did skim through some paragraphs that existed solely to add to the darkness. But there was fair warning, an entire list of possible triggers, at the very first page, so I was prepared. 

I love that Rowan is a chef. I have so much fondness for cooking (and eating), it was such a delightful note. I also really liked the romance between Rowan and Sloane. I love elaborate expression in romance, and they delivered. 

Thank you for reading my review. 🌻

As a 31-year-old, I should not be reviewing Middle Grade books. Therefore, I am not. I did give it a rating based on my experience to participate in the system, but I would like you to ignore my review, especially if it has any negative-sounding thoughts. 

Although, there are no negative thoughts. I loved reading this book. I think the story and the plot is incredibly interesting. It’s always fascinating to read about magical worlds and the world-building here is detailed and interesting. I am eager to read the sequel. 

This book is about Lavinia “Vin” Lucas. In a world where there are both magical people, and non-magical people called “mundanes”,  children who have the ability to do magic are taught in different magic schools, across the world. Vin has had to change schools repeatedly, as she is unable to control and wield her magic, resulting in possible harm to her classmates and the school property. She gets a last chance, at a school called The Last Hope School. Run by Headmistress Ava Hope, this school is considered a school for magical delinquents, essentially the last chance for such students to learn to control their magic. The book follows Vin’s life within this school, knowing that if she is unable to control her magic here, she would be banished from this world, without her magic. Adding to this that her parents are dung beetle researchers who are completely enraptured by their profession and ignore her and their responsibility towards her in nearly every possible way, this is not a comforting prospect. The tale proceed as Vin, afraid to even use her magic, learns to find a place, and friends, within this school. 

I have no idea how children would receive a book like this, but I imagine it would be both intriguing and delightful for them, at least based on what I remember about my childhood preferences. 

As an adult, it’s actually nice to read a book like this. Some of the themes match at times, the idea of loneliness in a world that seems very different from who you are. I think the author captures the feelings of neglect and isolation that Vin feels, and it’s heartwarming to read a narrative where these feelings are met with warmth from others. As an adult too, sometimes you have “big feelings” that you struggle to cope with. Seeing them so warmly represented in the world of a child can be a source of comfort. I recommend reading middle grade books from time to time, but I would also, humbly, suggest that adults without the understanding of child psychology, could maybe refrain from negative reviews. We aren’t the target audience. Additionally, good middle grade books might just teach us to be better parents and adults for the children around us, might aid us in understanding their struggles and burdens. I appreciate this book for giving me that opportunity. 

Thank you for reading my “review”. 

‘The God of the Woods’ by Liz Moore is based on an incredibly intriguing setting - an annual summer camp, held in the middle of the woods, in a property owned by a rich, elite banking family, the family Van Laar. The thirteen-year-old daughter of Peter and Alice Van Laar, rebellious in her ways, and therefore well understood by her parents, insists on attending the camp, Camp Emerson. The story is set in 1975, and the author has done well to convey the context. The narrative unravels with the disappearance of Barbara one morning, towards the end of the camp days, and then delves not only into the present search for her, but also into the events of the disappearance of her brother, Peter “Bear” Van Laar, who had disappeared without trace about fourteen years ago from this timeline. 

The author uses multiple points of view to narrate the events that took place in the past and the present. This includes campmate Tracy, camp counsellor Louisa, and Barbara and Bear’s mother Alice. I appreciate the author’s insights into how women were treated at the time, even as the storyline focuses on the disappearance of the children. It helps to understand the background, especially concerning some plot points. I was especially taken in by the setting of the book, I could visualise the woods and the property quite well, and the author’s descriptive narrative enabled this. 

As much as I loved the setting of the book, the character interactions and the mystery itself, I have this sense of dissatisfaction with how the story ultimately unfolded. I was definitely surprised by it, and I compliment the author for the sequence and suspense itself, but I think, with the ending it provided, I needed a slower and deeper narrative towards the end, and some closure for several characters, especially for

Alice Van Laar, because she is ultimately so responsible for the events, and yet, you feel bad for what she went through because of others.

It may be unwarranted, but I wish for it.

I am really glad I read this book. With every hour since I finished, my appreciation for it has grown. I also loved knowing about the Adirondack mountains and woods. It’s always great when a book takes you to a new place, and this writing definitely does justice to its setting. 

Thank you for reading my review. 🌻

‘The Midnight Feast’ is a generally exciting and tense narrative oriented around a luxury and wellness resort, and the tale is unfolded from the perspective of several lead characters, and also shifts between different times within the whole narrative. So, you are simultaneously reading about events from fifteen years ago, present-day, and two days into the future. Up to approximately 40% into the book, the time jumps are disconcerting. While probably relevant for the storytelling, it takes a while until you note the relevance, and even then, I am not entirely convinced that this was the best option for the storytelling, from my point of view. The mix of characters is interesting, especially as there is suspense and mystery afoot, and you are working your own way through, deciphering which character may just be an unreliable narrator. 

The Manor is an ancestral property, left to Francesca, who firmly maintains herself as a visionary in the field of holistic and luxury wellness. Her husband, Owen is the architect of this property. The story is around the opening of The Manor. Coinciding with the Summer Solstice, the property itself is not appreciated by the locals, as the woods, belonging to the people of the place, are now usurped by the property and privatised for its highly privileged clientele. The Manor has also resulted in loss of livelihoods for members of the local community. There is resentment, and at times, the local communities make their resentment known through words and physical attacks on the property. Bella, one of the guests of the property, clearly has ulterior motives for being there. Eddie is one of the employees of The Manor and is a part of the local community, living with his parents. As the story moves, the relevance of the flashback becomes clearer as there are associations in the past that form a huge part of the present tale. 

As a heritage practitioner, I am always eager to read stories where local community narratives are highlighted. This is what prominently drew me to reading this book. I find what is missing, however, is a deeper look into the context of the local community. The idea that capitalism ignores local livelihoods, usurps territories, ignores traditional wisdom, is well realized. The irony that Francesca herself is deeply into holistic wellness but disrespects traditional place and knowledge is a good note within the tale, but I wish there was more exploration of the specific local community that the tale addresses, because I find it important that these aspects not become a generic tool for telling interesting stories. 

Overall, I enjoyed the book, but as said, there is more I hoped from it. 

Thank you for reading my review. 🌻

‘Convenience Store Woman’ is the book I am reading for December/January with my book club (Feminist Fiction Berlin, Chapter 10). It is a very short read, and I could finish it in entirety within one sitting spanning approximately 3 hours. 

The book is largely character-driven, based on the life and thoughts of Keiko Furukura, who has felt herself to be different from everyone since her childhood. As the book mentions specific incidents as she grows up, this is clearly not only an internal feeling or a difference in interests, she does appear to think differently, and at times, her thoughts can be construed as dangerous. She finds routine and a sense of place as a worker in a convenience store. She devotes her life and time to her employment and continues to work in the same store in the same position for 18 years, after starting to work there as a college student. Due to her interactions with friends, family members and co-workers, she starts to realise that everyone is interested in “treating her” and “making her normal” - and while she does not seem to see this as a personal requirement, there is a part of her that is keen to fit in as well, to stop feeling out of place. This book is an exploration of how she chose to navigate this, the decisions she made in light of this context, and where it leads her in the end. 

I found the book to be a generally lighthearted read, but I am not fond of most of the characters, which also made it a difficult read at times. I love the orientation of the plot around the convenience store. It definitely reminded me of the best of the series ‘Superstore’ and convenience stores are also one of my cherished places to visit and be, so I appreciate the setting even more so. The interaction between the primary characters was at times interesting, a little reminiscent of early moments of Sheldon and Amy from ‘The Big Bang Theory’ but only up to a certain point. My initial impression was that this would be similar to ‘Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine’ by Gail Honeyman but I realised quickly that this is not the case. 

While I find other moments in pop culture that I seek to resonate with this book, I would like to add that this book is based in Japan and I do not intend to compare in order to evaluate. Cultural contexts are an essential part of representative writing and comparing this book to a different context and thus evaluating it would not be completely fair. So, I try to evaluate only on the basis of my reading and the emotions and thoughts induced. 

Thank you for reading my review. 🌻