Ting Z.'s bookshelf: all en-US Tue, 15 Apr 2025 01:47:35 -0700 60 Ting Z.'s bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Palaver: A Novel 222376682 A life-affirming novel of family, mending, and how we learn to love, from the award-winning Bryan Washington.

In Tokyo, the son works as an English tutor, drinking his nights away with friends at a gay bar. He＊s entangled in a sexual relationship with a married man, and while he has built a chosen family in Japan, he is estranged from his family in Houston, particularly his mother, whose preference for the son＊s oft-troubled homophobic brother, Chris, pushed him to leave home. Then, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, ten years since they＊ve last seen each other, the mother arrives uninvited on his doorstep.

Separated only by the son＊s cat, Taro, the two of them bristle against each other immediately. The mother, wrestling with memories of her youth in Jamaica and her own complicated brother, works to reconcile her good intentions with her missteps. The son struggles to forgive. But as life begins to steer them in unexpected directions〞 the mother to a tentative friendship with a local bistro owner, and the son to cautiously getting to know a new patron of the bar〞the two of them begin to see each other more clearly. Sharing meals and conversations and an eventful trip to Nara, both mother and son try the best they can to define where ※home§ really is〞and whether they can find it even in each other.

Written with understated humor and an open heart, moving through past and present and across Houston, Jamaica, and Japan, Bryan Washington＊s Palaver is an intricate story of family, love, and the beauty of a life among others.]]> 336 Bryan Washington 0374609071 Ting Z. 2 queer-yess *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Palaver is a rueful read that focuses on the main narrator Chris and his found family in Tokyo, as well as his complex relationship with his blood family represented by his mother's unexpected visit. We learn more about the two characters throughout, with the novel having a dual POV and a mixed timeline of both the past and the present. The book has an uneven pacing and drags at times, however Washington's signature strength in rendering his characters real and complex are still clear here. I appreciate this book for its ruminating story and the interesting main setting of Japan.
]]> 3.86 Palaver: A Novel
author: Bryan Washington
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.86
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2025/03/29
date added: 2025/04/15
shelves: queer-yess
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Palaver is a rueful read that focuses on the main narrator Chris and his found family in Tokyo, as well as his complex relationship with his blood family represented by his mother's unexpected visit. We learn more about the two characters throughout, with the novel having a dual POV and a mixed timeline of both the past and the present. The book has an uneven pacing and drags at times, however Washington's signature strength in rendering his characters real and complex are still clear here. I appreciate this book for its ruminating story and the interesting main setting of Japan.

]]> And They Were Roommates 214438316
Romance is the last thing on Charlie＊s mind.

On his first day at Valentine Academy for Boys, Charlie＊s carefully crafted plan to hide his identity as the school＊s only trans student is set in motion. Only to be immediately destroyed. Charlie has been assigned the worst roommate in the world (possibly the universe): Jasper Grimes, the boy who broke Charlie＊s heart the year before he transitioned.

Except, Jasper doesn＊t recognize Charlie.

Who knows how long until Jasper realizes the truth? Charlie has one shot at freedom and a dorm room all to himself, but only if he helps Jasper write love letters on behalf of their fellow students first. No problem. Charlie can help Jasper with some silly letters.

Long nights spent discussing deep romantic feelings with Jasper? Surely, no unintended consequences will arise＃]]> 320 Page Powars 1250347653 Ting Z. 2 queer-yess *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

2.5 stars -- And They Were Roommates bases its titular cliche for its attention-grabbing synopsis; coupled with the twist of the main character being a trans boy, the novel should be a romp. The execution, however, leaves more to be desired as I felt neither butterflies nor giddiness while reading. Instead of being absorbed in Charlie's predicament and immersed in the school setting, I felt detached and disconnected from the characters and story. A reason could be that we don't learn much about Charlie as a person especially pre-transition unless it's somehow related to Jasper and their past summer together. While the school setting is understandably intense yet unexpectedly welcoming, towards the end it reads like a bet to see whether Charlie will get to stay at St. Valentine's, while also coming across as quite juvenile. Although there are certainly good moments, I wouldn't say I liked reading this, but it's definitely an important one representation-wise and a lot of people will love it--especially for its trans rep in the current landscape/hellscape.]]> 3.91 2025 And They Were Roommates
author: Page Powars
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2025
rating: 2
read at: 2025/04/11
date added: 2025/04/15
shelves: queer-yess
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

2.5 stars -- And They Were Roommates bases its titular cliche for its attention-grabbing synopsis; coupled with the twist of the main character being a trans boy, the novel should be a romp. The execution, however, leaves more to be desired as I felt neither butterflies nor giddiness while reading. Instead of being absorbed in Charlie's predicament and immersed in the school setting, I felt detached and disconnected from the characters and story. A reason could be that we don't learn much about Charlie as a person especially pre-transition unless it's somehow related to Jasper and their past summer together. While the school setting is understandably intense yet unexpectedly welcoming, towards the end it reads like a bet to see whether Charlie will get to stay at St. Valentine's, while also coming across as quite juvenile. Although there are certainly good moments, I wouldn't say I liked reading this, but it's definitely an important one representation-wise and a lot of people will love it--especially for its trans rep in the current landscape/hellscape.
]]> Vanishing World 219300660 From the author of the bestselling literary sensations Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings comes a surprising and highly imaginative story set in a version of Japan where sex between married couples has vanished and all children are born by artificial insemination.

Sayaka Murata has proven herself to be one of the most exciting chroniclers of the strangeness of society, x-raying our contemporary world to bizarre and troubling effect. Her depictions of a happily unmarried retail worker in Convenience Store Woman and a young woman convinced she is an alien in Earthlings have endeared her to millions of readers worldwide. Vanishing World takes Murata＊s universe to a bold new level, imagining an alternative Japan where attitudes to sex and procreation are wildly different to our own.

As a girl, Amane realizes with horror that her parents ※copulated§ in order to bring her into the world, rather than using artificial insemination, which became the norm in the mid-twentieth century. Amane strives to get away from what she considers an indoctrination in this strange ※system§ by her mother, but her infatuations with both anime characters and real people have a sexual force that is undeniable. As an adult in an appropriately sexless marriage〞sex between married couples is now considered as taboo as incest〞Amane and her husband Saku decide to go and live in a mysterious new town called Experiment City or Paradise-Eden, where all children are raised communally, and every person is considered a Mother to all children. Men are beginning to become pregnant using artificial wombs that sit outside of their bodies like balloons, and children are nameless, called only ※Kodomo-chan.§ Is this the new world that will purify Amane of her strangeness once and for all?]]> 240 Sayaka Murata 0802164668 Ting Z. 3 *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Sayaka Murata's Vanishing World offers a fascinating look into a possible future where sex is obsolete, romance and family take on new meanings, and pregnancy/the birth rate is--more than ever--everyone's business. I enjoyed the novel's fast pace, effective worldbuilding without info-dumping, and the themes and dilemmas raised, the latter of which are ever more relevant considering the climate of today's world. However, I think the execution could be more impactful by exploring more nuances and topics, as the book's scope is currently quite narrow and one-toned, shoehorning only certain aspects of childbirth, sex and love repeatedly without delving into more depth. Overall, this is an interesting book but no doubt not everyone will enjoy it.]]> 3.50 2015 Vanishing World
author: Sayaka Murata
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.50
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/31
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves:
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Sayaka Murata's Vanishing World offers a fascinating look into a possible future where sex is obsolete, romance and family take on new meanings, and pregnancy/the birth rate is--more than ever--everyone's business. I enjoyed the novel's fast pace, effective worldbuilding without info-dumping, and the themes and dilemmas raised, the latter of which are ever more relevant considering the climate of today's world. However, I think the execution could be more impactful by exploring more nuances and topics, as the book's scope is currently quite narrow and one-toned, shoehorning only certain aspects of childbirth, sex and love repeatedly without delving into more depth. Overall, this is an interesting book but no doubt not everyone will enjoy it.
]]> Spent Bullets 223614386 Set in Taiwan and the Silicon Valley, a collection of linked stories that explore the meaning of success and the purpose of existence, centered on the short life and long shadow of an engineering genius who descends deeper into despair while rising higher on the professional ladder.

The hard-working geniuses of Spent Bullets are the cr豕me de la cr豕me of the meritocracy. Educated in the best schools in Taiwan, they move to lucrative positions in America＊s big tech, reaching the pinnacle of career prestige. Yet there is a dark side to their relentless focus and achievements.

In an age that idolizes success, Terao Tetsuya＊s piercing novel explores the grotesque contortions of psyches shaped by hyper-competitive systems, where the measure of one＊s worth is a capacity for suffering〞witnessed through the brief, shining life of Jie-Heng, a prodigy who can solve any logic problem〞but not the problem of human relations. Jie-Heng mostly does what is expected of him, even if it means diminishing his individuality. A young man with no center to ground him, he tries to fit in, yet fails to connect because of other people＊s fear, misunderstanding, resentment, and obsessive adoration.

His most vital deviation is a perverse, longstanding relationship with Wu Yi-Hsiang, a tormentor turned lover who offers a thin tether to reality. Wu Yi-Hsiang is fascinated by Jie-Heng＊s intellect and, with his own anxious need to please, carefully tends to Jie-Heng's desire for debasement. When Jie-Heng＊s yearning to embrace the void is tragically realized, he leaves behind a host of unanswered questions, complicated feelings, and cohorts who carry his memory like a bullet in a glass case that will never tarnish.

A searing look at our time and culture, Terao Tetsuya exposes the absurdity of to make money, to be a better person, to be someone you're not. With cool, calculating precision, he illuminates the promise and peril of gifted young people who patiently bear the burdens of their fate.

Translated from Chinese by Kevin Wang]]> 208 Terao Tetsuya 0063435918 Ting Z. 3 queer-yess *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

3.5 stars - Spent Bullets chronicles the lives of Taiwanese intellectual elites in both their homeland and Silicon Valley, ultimately asking whether the seemingly endless pursuit of success is worth the brutal emotional, mental and physical tolls.

I think this theme is ever relevant and Tetsuya (still weird to call a Taiwanese author by their Japanese pen name) explores it quite deftly through the narrative, stylistic choices and structure. The latter is particularly compelling with the author's intentional obfuscation of who each chapter's narrator is. I also enjoyed the book's melancholic yet chaotic tone, and how unpredictable the story and characters can be through a single word or action.

Overall, this was an interesting read, though readers should be warned that its content features a whole host of trigger warnings.]]> 4.00 Spent Bullets
author: Terao Tetsuya
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/21
date added: 2025/03/22
shelves: queer-yess
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

3.5 stars - Spent Bullets chronicles the lives of Taiwanese intellectual elites in both their homeland and Silicon Valley, ultimately asking whether the seemingly endless pursuit of success is worth the brutal emotional, mental and physical tolls.

I think this theme is ever relevant and Tetsuya (still weird to call a Taiwanese author by their Japanese pen name) explores it quite deftly through the narrative, stylistic choices and structure. The latter is particularly compelling with the author's intentional obfuscation of who each chapter's narrator is. I also enjoyed the book's melancholic yet chaotic tone, and how unpredictable the story and characters can be through a single word or action.

Overall, this was an interesting read, though readers should be warned that its content features a whole host of trigger warnings.
]]> The King's Messenger 213570828 ?
1613: ?King James 每 sixth of Scotland, first of England, son of Mary, Queen of Scots - has unified both countries under one crown. But the death of his eldest son, Henry, has plunged the nation into mourning, as the rumours rise the prince was poisoned.
?
Andrew Logan＊s heard the rumours, but he＊s paid them little heed. As one of the King＊s Messengers he has enough secrets to guard, including his own. In these perilous times, when the merest suggestion of witchcraft can see someone tortured and hanged, men like Andrew must hide well the fact they were born with the Sight.
?
He＊ll need all his gifts, though, when the king sends Andrew north to find and arrest Sir David Murray, once Prince Henry＊s trusted courtier, and bring him a prisoner to London to stand trial before the dreaded Star Chamber.
?
A story of treachery, betrayal and love＃
?

Praise for The Vanished

＆Fascinating and immersive＃ I love a novel that deals with the many ways in which people keep their secrets＊? DIANA GABALDON

＆A hugely engrossing book and a complete world created＊? IAN RANKIN

＆The Vanished Days is an absolute tour de force of historical storytelling, tender and dramatic, gripping and authentic. Kearsley manages effortlessly to balance the epic sweep of the drama with telling moments of gentle characterization, all delivered in pitch-perfect style. I thoroughly enjoyed a perfect escape in these dark days＊? JANE JOHNSON , author of The Salt Road and The Tenth Gift
?
＆An engrossing and deeply romantic novel of Scotland＊s Jacobite rebellion＊? RACHEL HORE

＆This novel tells of a tender love story set amid the Jacobite rebellion. For readers unfamiliar with the twists and turns of this period of Scottish history, author Kearsley provides a helpful map, along with rich details of the protagonists. Courage in this era lies not in acts of heroic daring, but in steadfast pursuit of truth and justice. Perfect for fans of Diana Gabaldon＊s Outlande r＊ WOMAN & HOME
?
?]]> 352 Susanna Kearsley 149268905X Ting Z. 3 *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

The King's Messenger is a compelling novel with interesting storytelling through a dual POV, and I found the historical setting that teems with political intrigue and mystery a nice change of pace from my recent reads, though really not too many things happen. The slowburn romance between Andrew and Phoebe is quite a treat, and I liked the latter's relationship with her father as well; it's not something seen as often in fiction, especially historical fiction. Even without the author's notes, one can tell that Kearsley did detailed research for the story. ]]> 4.17 2024 The King's Messenger
author: Susanna Kearsley
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/20
date added: 2025/03/19
shelves:
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

The King's Messenger is a compelling novel with interesting storytelling through a dual POV, and I found the historical setting that teems with political intrigue and mystery a nice change of pace from my recent reads, though really not too many things happen. The slowburn romance between Andrew and Phoebe is quite a treat, and I liked the latter's relationship with her father as well; it's not something seen as often in fiction, especially historical fiction. Even without the author's notes, one can tell that Kearsley did detailed research for the story.
]]> Separate Rooms 217482296
He travels through Europe where past and present overlap, years merge and faces emerge - and where reminders of the life he and Thomas shared are on every corner. Leo's memories become clearer with every road he takes, much as he wishes he could simply forget. While alive, and wanting to preserve the passion of their relationship, Leo had forced Thomas to live separately: in separate rooms, separate towns, with separate lives. But now, face to face with true solitude, Leo must finally reckon with the impossible striving of memory to recreate life and, ultimately, cross an ocean to find the strength to go on.

Andr谷 Aciman's Call Me by Your Name meets Ocean Vuong's On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous: Separate Rooms is a singular and unforgettable meditation on almost-ideal love, told in three musical movements, by a fiery and unforgettable literary talent.]]> 256 Pier Vittorio Tondelli 1638932085 Ting Z. 4 queer-yess *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

I enjoyed Separate Rooms more than expected. Tondelli's deceptively rhythmic writing is given a worthy translation by Pleasance, where the atmosphere and rumination are retained. One of the novel's most interesting aspects, in my opinion, is how Leo's constant, seemingly adventurous moves within Europe and to America are juxtaposed with his muted inner reflection and struggles, achieving an almost impossible balance. Though there are periodic rambles and the first two parts flounder a little, everything culminates beautifully - albeit melancholically - in the titular third part, where Leo's musings ring surprisingly, deeply true, a feat quite amazing to me, to see my personal thoughts paralleled in a character written in the late 80s.]]> 3.56 1989 Separate Rooms
author: Pier Vittorio Tondelli
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.56
book published: 1989
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/19
date added: 2025/03/19
shelves: queer-yess
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

I enjoyed Separate Rooms more than expected. Tondelli's deceptively rhythmic writing is given a worthy translation by Pleasance, where the atmosphere and rumination are retained. One of the novel's most interesting aspects, in my opinion, is how Leo's constant, seemingly adventurous moves within Europe and to America are juxtaposed with his muted inner reflection and struggles, achieving an almost impossible balance. Though there are periodic rambles and the first two parts flounder a little, everything culminates beautifully - albeit melancholically - in the titular third part, where Leo's musings ring surprisingly, deeply true, a feat quite amazing to me, to see my personal thoughts paralleled in a character written in the late 80s.
]]> I Can't Even Think Straight 217223402 Big decisions and messy relationships. It's all part of life for Kai. A must-read queer coming of age story for fans of Sarah Crossan and Sex Education, written in verse by Stonewall-Award-winning, Carnegie-shortlisted author Dean Atta.

Kai is going into a new school year with some big decisions to when to come out as gay, what he wants to do in life and who he wants to date. Is it any wonder he can't think straight?

Best friends Matt and Kai made a promise to each other to stay in the closet. Matt isn't ready to come out, but Kai wants nothing more than to write his own story. He decides it's time to break his promise and show his true self to the world.

Now out and proud, Kai starts dating super-hot Obi, but it's far from smooth sailing. Is love closer to home than Kai realises?]]> 304 Dean Atta 0063158035 Ting Z. 2 queer-yess *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

I Can't Even Think Straight is a well-meaning book, but I wish I liked it more. While the novel deals with challenging yet realistic themes such as coming out, racism, dating pressure and sexual assault, I think the story's juvenile tone hinders its execution and overall nuance.

And while I don't think it's a requisite for main characters to be likable, I'm not really a fan of Kai due to him having almost no character development throughout the story, a major example in my opinion being his constance reiteration that Matt "knows how to handle [him]" instead of him bettering himself in some way.

There's almost no plot as well, the book seemingly being amalgamation of vignettes of Kai with his mom at the weekend markets, time at school especially the lunch table, moments in his bedroom, and hanging out with Obi and friends/acquaintances. The novel has potential, however Atta has yet to grasp it.]]> 3.76 2025 I Can't Even Think Straight
author: Dean Atta
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2025
rating: 2
read at: 2025/03/10
date added: 2025/03/10
shelves: queer-yess
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

I Can't Even Think Straight is a well-meaning book, but I wish I liked it more. While the novel deals with challenging yet realistic themes such as coming out, racism, dating pressure and sexual assault, I think the story's juvenile tone hinders its execution and overall nuance.

And while I don't think it's a requisite for main characters to be likable, I'm not really a fan of Kai due to him having almost no character development throughout the story, a major example in my opinion being his constance reiteration that Matt "knows how to handle [him]" instead of him bettering himself in some way.

There's almost no plot as well, the book seemingly being amalgamation of vignettes of Kai with his mom at the weekend markets, time at school especially the lunch table, moments in his bedroom, and hanging out with Obi and friends/acquaintances. The novel has potential, however Atta has yet to grasp it.
]]> <![CDATA[Paper Doll: Notes from a Late Bloomer]]> 219486384 An instant New York Times bestseller!

"Dylan makes me laugh and makes me brave.?I love?Paper Doll,?and I love this woman.§?〞Glennon Doyle, #1?New York Times?bestselling author of?Untamed

Actress and content creator Dylan Mulvaney＊s honest account of her journey through girlhood〞an instant New York Times bestseller!

When Dylan Mulvaney came out as a woman online, she was a viral sensation almost overnight, emerging as a trailblazing voice on social media. Dylan＊s personal coming-out story blossomed into a platform for advocacy and empowerment for trans people all over the world.

Through her ※Days of Girlhood§ series, she connected with followers by exploring what it means to be a girl, from experimenting with makeup to story times to spilling the tea about laser hair removal, while never shying away from discussing the transphobia she faced online. Nevertheless, she was determined to be a beacon of positivity.

But shortly after she celebrated day 365 of being a girl, it all came screeching to a halt when an innocuous post sparked a media firestorm and right-wing backlash she couldn＊t have expected. Despite the vitriolic press and relentless paparazzi, Dylan was determined to remain loud and proud.

In Paper Notes from a Late Bloomer, Dylan pulls back the curtain of her ※It Girl§ lifestyle with a witty and intimate reflection of her life pre- and post-transition. She covers everything from her first big break in theater to the first time her dad recognized her as a girl to how she handled scandals, cancellations, and . . . tucking. It＊s both laugh-out-loud funny and powerfully honest〞and is a love letter to everyone who stands up for queer joy.]]> 272 Dylan Mulvaney Ting Z. 3 non-fiction, queer-yess *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Paper Doll is a fun yet wise memoir about Dylan Mulvaney's both pre- and post-transition. I think she's had a very unique comeup, what with the age of social media, becoming famous during the pandemic and being a trans celeb and all, which makes for an interesting book. However, I wish there were more a little more substance, instead of a huge portion of it basically recapping her TikTok clips. ]]> 4.25 2025 Paper Doll: Notes from a Late Bloomer
author: Dylan Mulvaney
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/07
date added: 2025/03/10
shelves: non-fiction, queer-yess
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Paper Doll is a fun yet wise memoir about Dylan Mulvaney's both pre- and post-transition. I think she's had a very unique comeup, what with the age of social media, becoming famous during the pandemic and being a trans celeb and all, which makes for an interesting book. However, I wish there were more a little more substance, instead of a huge portion of it basically recapping her TikTok clips.
]]> Ten Incarnations of Rebellion 218460368 From the New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi comes an epic and daring novel that imagines an alternate version of India that was never liberated from the British, and a young woman who will change the tides of history.

Kalki Divekar grows up a daughter of Kingston〞a city the British built on the ashes of Bombay. The older generation, including her father, have been lost to the brutal hunt for rebels. Young men are drafted to fight wars they will never return from. And the people of her city are more interested in fighting each other than facing their true oppressors.

When tragedy strikes close to home, Kalki and her group of friends begin to play a dangerous game, obtaining jobs working for the British while secretly planning to destroy the empire from the inside out. They found Kingston's new independence movement, knowing one wrong move means certain death. Facing threats from all quarters, Kalki must decide whether it＊s more important to be a hero or to survive.

Told as ten moments from Kalki＊s life that mirror the Dashavatara, the ten avatars of Vishnu, Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is a sweeping, deeply felt speculative novel of empowerment, friendship, self-determination, and the true meaning of freedom.]]> 320 Vaishnavi Patel 0593874765 Ting Z. 3 *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is a good book overall, though I wish I enjoyed it more as a result of my few caveats with it.

In a speculative history where Britain still reigns over India until the 60s, Patel reimagines the struggle for independence, competing methods and approaches towards that goal, while also including real forms of repression by the British on local populations.

While I appreciate the good intention behind the novel, however, I personally could not connect to the characters and instead feel detached from many of them despite the myriad of traumatic events and emotional moments that happen throughout. Rhe book also reads as surprisingly juvenile for its subject matter, while also being quite narrow in its scope of examination on various issues.]]> 4.24 2025 Ten Incarnations of Rebellion
author: Vaishnavi Patel
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2025
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/28
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves:
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Ten Incarnations of Rebellion is a good book overall, though I wish I enjoyed it more as a result of my few caveats with it.

In a speculative history where Britain still reigns over India until the 60s, Patel reimagines the struggle for independence, competing methods and approaches towards that goal, while also including real forms of repression by the British on local populations.

While I appreciate the good intention behind the novel, however, I personally could not connect to the characters and instead feel detached from many of them despite the myriad of traumatic events and emotional moments that happen throughout. Rhe book also reads as surprisingly juvenile for its subject matter, while also being quite narrow in its scope of examination on various issues.
]]> <![CDATA[The Ashfire King (The Sandsea Trilogy, #2)]]> 60910208
Neither here nor there, but long ago＃ After fleeing a patricidal prince, legendary merchant Loulie al-Nazari and banished prince Mazen bin Malik find themselves in the realm of jinn. But instead of sanctuary, they find a world on the cusp of collapse.

The jinn cities, long sheltered beneath the Sandsea by the magic of its kings, are sinking. Amid the turmoil, political alliances are forming, and rebellion is on the rise. When Loulie assists a dissenter〞one of her bodyguard＊s old comrades〞she puts herself in the center of a centuries-old war.

Trapped in a world that isn＊t her own and wielding magic that belongs to a fallen king, Loulie must decide: Will she carry on someone else＊s legacy or carve out her own?]]> 544 Chelsea Abdullah Ting Z. 4 *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

The Ashfire King is a worthy installment to the Sandsea trilogy, with as much adventure as its predecessor, more expansive worldbuilding and exploring, as well as great characters - both old and new.

The novel is tense, leaving the reader afraid of the inevitable catchup by and confrontation with the antagonists, but the constant scattering and games of cat-and-mouse can be a little tiring after several loops. We learn more about the Sandsea, however, and the worldbuilding and magics are quite a delight. My favorite thing about the novel, though, is the characters' growth and development, and the many humane moments throughout the book, which truly demonstrate the heart at the core of the story.

I look forward to the last book, and it's going to be a difficult wait.]]> 4.24 2025 The Ashfire King (The Sandsea Trilogy, #2)
author: Chelsea Abdullah
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/24
date added: 2025/02/23
shelves:
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

The Ashfire King is a worthy installment to the Sandsea trilogy, with as much adventure as its predecessor, more expansive worldbuilding and exploring, as well as great characters - both old and new.

The novel is tense, leaving the reader afraid of the inevitable catchup by and confrontation with the antagonists, but the constant scattering and games of cat-and-mouse can be a little tiring after several loops. We learn more about the Sandsea, however, and the worldbuilding and magics are quite a delight. My favorite thing about the novel, though, is the characters' growth and development, and the many humane moments throughout the book, which truly demonstrate the heart at the core of the story.

I look forward to the last book, and it's going to be a difficult wait.
]]> <![CDATA[Behind the Painting: And Other Stories]]> 1327071 Behind the Painting, with three short stories highlighting the plight of the underclass: "Those Kind of People," "Lend Us a Hand," and "The Awakening."

Behind the Painting is the story of a Thai student studying in Japan who becomes infatuated with an older Thai woman. The novel reflects postwar Thai society in the vanity of the aristocracy and the pragmatism of the new elite; in the social more of concealing one's true feelings; and in the restricted existence of unmarried women and the resulting pressure to marry, whatever the circumstance. Paralleling these Thai cultural themes are the universal themes of the fear of aging and the vagaries of love.

Siburapha (Kulap Saipradit, 1905-1974) has enjoyed a checkered reputation in the Thai literary world. A popular and accomplished writer of romantic novels in the late 1920s, his later work tackled themes of social injustice and inequality. Imprisoned from 1952 to 1957, Siburapha subsequently sought asylum in China, where he remained for the rest of his life.]]> 160 Siburapha 9747551144 Ting Z. 4 school-destined 3.61 1936 Behind the Painting: And Other Stories
author: Siburapha
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.61
book published: 1936
rating: 4
read at: 2014/12/26
date added: 2025/02/23
shelves: school-destined
review:
Contrary to my initial expectation, I love this novel. The language is so happy sigh-worthy, the characters are complex, the world-building is exquisite..I like the ideas, beliefs, and philosophy presented by the author, especially those that are embodied by the two main characters who are complete opposites. Despite the ultimately tragic conclusion (that made me tear up..), I still relish the story.
]]> Well, That Was Unexpected 59382071 An outrageous, laugh-out-loud YA rom-com about a girl who's whisked from LA to her mother's native Indonesia to get back to her roots and finds herself fake-dating the son of one of the wealthiest families there, from the author of Dial A for Aunties.

After Sharlot Citra's mother catches her in a compromising position, she finds herself whisked away from LA to her mother's native Indonesia. It'll be exactly what they both need. Or so her mother thinks.

When George Clooney Tanuwijaya's father (who is obsessed with American celebrities) fears he no longer understands how to get through to his son, he decides to take matters into his own hands.

To ensure that their children find the right kind of romantic partner, Sharlot's mother and George's father do what any good parent would do: they strike up a conversation online, pretending to be their children.

When the kids find out about their parents' actions, they're horrified. Not even a trip to one of the most romantic places on earth could possibly make Sharlot and George fall for each other. But as the layers peel back and the person they thought they knew from online is revealed, the truth becomes more complicated. As unlikely as it may seem, did their parents manage to find their true match after all?]]> 352 Jesse Q. Sutanto 0593433971 Ting Z. 3 3.70 2022 Well, That Was Unexpected
author: Jesse Q. Sutanto
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2024/08/09
date added: 2024/12/06
shelves:
review:
this is a fast, lighthearted read thats often laugh-out-loud hilarious, tho the plot is ofc ludicrous and certain elements mindbogglingly unrealistic, a prime example being sharlot knowing nothing abt indonesia and blaming it on her mum, as if the internet and books dont exist. i wanted to like this more but upon further reflection, i dont even like either of the main characters; sharlot's just neutral + self-sabotaging, while george's a doormat. the climax and ending are also a lil too corny and abrupt for me. a lot of ppl would unsurprisingly love this, but the execution leaves me wanting a bit more despite enjoying this
]]> Keya Das's Second Act 56300859
Shantanu Das is living in the shadows of his past. In his fifties, he finds himself isolated from his traditional Bengali community after a devastating divorce from his wife, Chaitali; he hasn＊t spoken to his eldest daughter Mitali in months; and most painfully, he lives each day with the regret that he didn＊t accept his teenaged daughter Keya after she came out as gay. As the anniversary of Keya＊s death approaches, Shantanu wakes up one morning utterly alone in his suburban New Jersey home and realizes it＊s finally time to move on.

This is when Shantanu discovers a tucked-away box in the attic that could change everything. He calls Mitali and pleads with her to come home. She does so out of pity, not realizing that her life is about to shift.

Inside the box is an unfinished manuscript that Keya and her girlfriend were writing. It＊s a surprising discovery that brings Keya to life briefly. But Neesh Desai, a new love interest for Mitali with regrets of his own, comes up with a wild idea, one that would give Keya more permanence: what if they are to stage the play? It could be an homage to Keya＊s memory, and a way to make amends. But first, the Dases need to convince Pamela Moore, Keya＊s girlfriend, to give her blessing. And they have to overcome ghosts from the past they haven＊t met yet.

A story of redemption and righting the wrongs of the past, Keya Das＊s Second Act is a warmly drawn homage to family, creativity, and second chances. Set in the vibrant world of Bengalis in the New Jersey suburbs, this debut novel is both poignant and, at times, a surprising hilarious testament to the unexpected ways we build family and find love, old and new.]]> 288 Sopan Deb 198218549X Ting Z. 3 queer-yess *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Keya Das's Second Act is a surprisingly touching read that deftly explores its themes, though I'm personally not too fond of the writing and some of the story decisions.

I like the premise of this novel, how the titular 'second act' isn't merely for Keya but for her family and their do-over as well. The characters are mostly fleshed out - I particularly enjoy the Dases and their character development - but my favorite aspect of the story is the nuance with which family relations are portrayed, especially the strained, complex nature of estranged families. Some scenes also have a surprising amount of emotional impact, and the musings on guilt, grief, and loss ring true.

However, I dislike the writing, especially in the beginning where it reads particularly clunky and awkward, and doesn't flow well at points. The strange focus - or lack thereof - on certain aspects of the story also befuddles me: Deb sometimes points out the smallest, most irrelevant details - like the minutiae of what lines a kitchen shelf - but then completely glosses over more important things, such as how Neesh re-contacts Sandeep and of course the biggest cop out: the play's ending. How'd you make a hard-to-please Tony-award winning jerk of a director love a play's ending and not reveal what it is? Despite the fact that the play's the very premise of which is the very focus of the novel?

A book's emotional impact is an important part of the reading experience for me, and the fact that this story succeeds in the aforementioned respect is the only reason why it's gotten 3 stars despire my misgivings.
]]> 3.97 2022 Keya Das's Second Act
author: Sopan Deb
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/07/05
date added: 2024/09/28
shelves: queer-yess
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Keya Das's Second Act is a surprisingly touching read that deftly explores its themes, though I'm personally not too fond of the writing and some of the story decisions.

I like the premise of this novel, how the titular 'second act' isn't merely for Keya but for her family and their do-over as well. The characters are mostly fleshed out - I particularly enjoy the Dases and their character development - but my favorite aspect of the story is the nuance with which family relations are portrayed, especially the strained, complex nature of estranged families. Some scenes also have a surprising amount of emotional impact, and the musings on guilt, grief, and loss ring true.

However, I dislike the writing, especially in the beginning where it reads particularly clunky and awkward, and doesn't flow well at points. The strange focus - or lack thereof - on certain aspects of the story also befuddles me: Deb sometimes points out the smallest, most irrelevant details - like the minutiae of what lines a kitchen shelf - but then completely glosses over more important things, such as how Neesh re-contacts Sandeep and of course the biggest cop out: the play's ending. How'd you make a hard-to-please Tony-award winning jerk of a director love a play's ending and not reveal what it is? Despite the fact that the play's the very premise of which is the very focus of the novel?

A book's emotional impact is an important part of the reading experience for me, and the fact that this story succeeds in the aforementioned respect is the only reason why it's gotten 3 stars despire my misgivings.

]]> <![CDATA[You are Eating an Orange. You are Naked.]]> 58494785
You Are Eating an Orange. You Are Naked. is an intimate novel of memory and longing that challenges Western tropes and Orientalism. Embracing the playful surrealism of Haruki Murakami and the atmospheric narratives of filmmaker Wong Kar-wai, Sheung-King＊s debut is at once lyrical and punctuated, and wholly unique, and marks the arrival of a bold new voice in Asian-Canadian literature.

Praise for You Are Eating an Orange. You Are

※Sheung-King has written a wonderfully unexpected and maverick love story but also a novel of ideas that hopscotches between Toronto, Macau, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Prague. It is enchanting, funny, and a joy to read.§
〞Kyo Maclear, author of Birds Art Life]]> 192 Sheung-King 1771666447 Ting Z. 3 you are eating an orange. you are naked. is a contemplative, unpredictable, subtly funny book that has an understatedly quiet quality to it, even in the more rambunctious scenes.

the incorporation of eastern folktales - particularly interesting, these - literary works, and other forms of art also thought-provokingly explores philosophical questions, a reason why this book couldnt be read quickly; i particularly like the discussion of orientalism and racist microaggressions.

the setting of various global cities that the characters visit is enjoyable as well. and in terms of characters, though i find "you" unlikable, the relationship between her and the narrator is oddly fitting despite their differences. overall, this is a slim book thats surprisingly thematically meaty.]]> 4.08 2020 You are Eating an Orange. You are Naked.
author: Sheung-King
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2022/07/07
date added: 2024/09/28
shelves:
review:
you are eating an orange. you are naked. is a contemplative, unpredictable, subtly funny book that has an understatedly quiet quality to it, even in the more rambunctious scenes.

the incorporation of eastern folktales - particularly interesting, these - literary works, and other forms of art also thought-provokingly explores philosophical questions, a reason why this book couldnt be read quickly; i particularly like the discussion of orientalism and racist microaggressions.

the setting of various global cities that the characters visit is enjoyable as well. and in terms of characters, though i find "you" unlikable, the relationship between her and the narrator is oddly fitting despite their differences. overall, this is a slim book thats surprisingly thematically meaty.
]]> <![CDATA[The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate]]> 18626847 62 Ted Chiang 1596064463 Ting Z. 3 shorts finally got around to reading ted chiang. this was interesting; the story's coiled w/ layers upon surprising layers, and chiang's mastery is shown thru the countless reveals that happen even towards the end, despite the story's short length. ig i kinda get the acclaim around the author, but i dont think this is even his best work.]]> 4.36 2007 The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate
author: Ted Chiang
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2007
rating: 3
read at: 2021/11/07
date added: 2024/09/28
shelves: shorts
review:
finally got around to reading ted chiang. this was interesting; the story's coiled w/ layers upon surprising layers, and chiang's mastery is shown thru the countless reveals that happen even towards the end, despite the story's short length. ig i kinda get the acclaim around the author, but i dont think this is even his best work.
]]> <![CDATA[I Hope We Choose Love: A Trans Girl's Notes from the End of the World]]> 52982389
In a heartbreaking yet hopeful collection of personal essays and prose poems, blending the confessional, political, and literary, Kai Cheng Thom dives deep into the questions that haunt social movements today. With the author's characteristic eloquence and honesty, I Hope We Choose Love proposes heartfelt solutions on the topics of violence, complicity, family, vengeance, and forgiveness. Taking its cues from contemporary thought leaders in the transformative justice movement such as adrienne maree brown and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, this provocative book is a call for nuance in a time of political polarization, for healing in a time of justice, and for love in an apocalypse.]]> 144 Kai Cheng Thom 1551527766 Ting Z. 5 i hope we choose love is a rare feat, jam-packed w/ brutal honesty, startling vulnerability, tentative love and hope, and reflective rumination on mental illness and rarely examined topics such as queer community and its internal issues, today's social justice landscape, and ofc trans identity and community, seen through the author's complex lens as a trans woman of color. once in a blue moon, a book comes along, parts the veil in front of my eyes, and completely changes the way i view things. this is such a book and it's a marvel.]]> 4.47 2019 I Hope We Choose Love: A Trans Girl's Notes from the End of the World
author: Kai Cheng Thom
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2022/05/07
date added: 2024/09/27
shelves:
review:
my first 5-star read of the yr, and it's simply incredible. i hope we choose love is a rare feat, jam-packed w/ brutal honesty, startling vulnerability, tentative love and hope, and reflective rumination on mental illness and rarely examined topics such as queer community and its internal issues, today's social justice landscape, and ofc trans identity and community, seen through the author's complex lens as a trans woman of color. once in a blue moon, a book comes along, parts the veil in front of my eyes, and completely changes the way i view things. this is such a book and it's a marvel.
]]> Severance 38472277 Maybe it＊s the end of the world, but not for Candace Chen, a millennial, first-generation American and office drone meandering her way into adulthood in Ling Ma＊s offbeat, wryly funny, apocalyptic satire, Severance.

Candace Chen, a millennial drone self-sequestered in a Manhattan office tower, is devoted to routine. With the recent passing of her Chinese immigrant parents, she＊s had her fill of uncertainty. She＊s content just to carry on: She goes to work, troubleshoots the teen-targeted Gemstone Bible, watches movies in a Greenpoint basement with her boyfriend.

So Candace barely notices when a plague of biblical proportions sweeps New York. Then Shen Fever spreads. Families flee. Companies cease operations. The subways screech to a halt. Her bosses enlist her as part of a dwindling skeleton crew with a big end-date payoff. Soon entirely alone, still unfevered, she photographs the eerie, abandoned city as the anonymous blogger NY Ghost.

Candace won＊t be able to make it on her own forever, though. Enter a group of survivors, led by the power-hungry IT tech Bob. They＊re traveling to a place called the Facility, where, Bob promises, they will have everything they need to start society anew. But Candace is carrying a secret she knows Bob will exploit. Should she escape from her rescuers?

A send-up and takedown of the rituals, routines, and missed opportunities of contemporary life, Ling Ma＊s Severance is a moving family story, a quirky coming-of-adulthood tale, and a hilarious, deadpan satire. Most important, it＊s a heartfelt tribute to the connections that drive us to do more than survive.]]> 267 Ling Ma 0374717117 Ting Z. 3 severance's deliciously satirical apocalyptic tale seems - considering the current times - depressingly prophetic in hindsight.

i rly like how society and human behavior bend in all surprising directions here when aspects of society at large consequentially start to collapse. calling dibs on shops in a mall for personal rooms? moving into the office when public transport stops? like, it doesnt get more capitalistic and american than that. the titular theme - in all its various forms - provides an intriguing examination of the ensuing loneliness of modern society as well. anddd it also makes me rly rly rly miss new york in all its barmy, yucky, yet freeing glory.

this is def a thought-provoking and mysterious read that subtly keeps one guessing, though i wish the writing was just a lill bit more polished.]]> 3.93 2018 Severance
author: Ling Ma
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2022/03/02
date added: 2024/09/24
shelves:
review:
3.75 stars -- this was quite an interesting read...severance's deliciously satirical apocalyptic tale seems - considering the current times - depressingly prophetic in hindsight.

i rly like how society and human behavior bend in all surprising directions here when aspects of society at large consequentially start to collapse. calling dibs on shops in a mall for personal rooms? moving into the office when public transport stops? like, it doesnt get more capitalistic and american than that. the titular theme - in all its various forms - provides an intriguing examination of the ensuing loneliness of modern society as well. anddd it also makes me rly rly rly miss new york in all its barmy, yucky, yet freeing glory.

this is def a thought-provoking and mysterious read that subtly keeps one guessing, though i wish the writing was just a lill bit more polished.
]]> Portrait of a Thief 58611246 Ocean＊s Eleven meets The Farewell in Portrait of a Thief, a lush, lyrical heist novel inspired by the true story of Chinese art vanishing from Western museums; about diaspora, the colonization of art, and the complexity of the Chinese American identity.

History is told by the conquerors. Across the Western world, museums display the spoils of war, of conquest, of colonialism: priceless pieces of art looted from other countries, kept even now.

Will Chen plans to steal them back.

A senior at Harvard, Will fits comfortably in his carefully curated roles: a perfect student, an art history major and sometimes artist, the eldest son who has always been his parents＊ American Dream. But when a mysterious Chinese benefactor reaches out with an impossible〞and illegal〞job offer, Will finds himself something else as well: the leader of a heist to steal back five priceless Chinese sculptures, looted from Beijing centuries ago.

His crew is every heist archetype one can imag?ine〞or at least, the closest he can get. A con artist: Irene Chen, a public policy major at Duke who can talk her way out of anything. A thief: Daniel Liang, a premed student with steady hands just as capable of lockpicking as suturing. A getaway driver: Lily Wu, an engineering major who races cars in her free time. A hacker: Alex Huang, an MIT dropout turned Silicon Valley software engineer. Each member of his crew has their own complicated relationship with China and the identity they＊ve cultivated as Chinese Americans, but when Will asks, none of them can turn him down.

Because if they succeed? They earn fifty million dollars〞and a chance to make history. But if they fail, it will mean not just the loss of everything they＊ve dreamed for themselves but yet another thwarted at?tempt to take back what colonialism has stolen.

Equal parts beautiful, thoughtful, and thrilling, Portrait of a Thief is a cultural heist and an examination of Chinese American identity, as well as a necessary cri?tique of the lingering effects of colonialism.]]> 384 Grace D. Li 0593186079 Ting Z. 1 portrait of a thief has an intriguing premise, but the suspension of disbelief, the writing thats unsuited for the story, and heavy-handed approach to its themes are simply not for me.

the book's built on a flimsy foundation, and how things develop just dont make sense. for example, that a billionaire art thief chooses will for a $50 mil job literally just bc he's chinese-american - having not an idea whether he'll have the skills to pull it off - is ludicrous to me. some of the crew agreeing to the job bc of will's sheer charisma is also far-fetched bc he has no charisma whatsoever.

moreover, this is a heist story, but the writing's totally unsuited for it. there are wayyy too many ~reflective~ moments - most of them being the same thing said over and over again in a slightly modified way - and it's all overdramatic and lamentative. tbh this book's more like a volume of the characters' emo introspection peppered w/ some action, so infrequently we ever get out of their heads. there's way too much boring stuff and not enough of the fun ones. i also think this book's written in a very amateur way, a playbook of a failed show-not-tell esp when the phrase "it goes like this..." is a given in almost every chapter.

as a result, the whole story falls flat for me, including the characters who im impartial to; i simply dont feel anything reading this. again, the tell-not-show approach also means li couldnt be more heavy-handed w/ the themes, which could benefit from more subtle exploration.

although the last couple chapters are markedly better than the rest of the book, they arent enough to save it. this is a novel brimming w/ potential, one that could def be sth better in more adept hands. alas, that cant be helped and this is what we get.]]> 3.54 2022 Portrait of a Thief
author: Grace D. Li
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2022
rating: 1
read at: 2022/05/20
date added: 2024/09/24
shelves:
review:
i had an inkling a few pgs in that i wouldnt vibe w/ this book, and unfortunately i was right. portrait of a thief has an intriguing premise, but the suspension of disbelief, the writing thats unsuited for the story, and heavy-handed approach to its themes are simply not for me.

the book's built on a flimsy foundation, and how things develop just dont make sense. for example, that a billionaire art thief chooses will for a $50 mil job literally just bc he's chinese-american - having not an idea whether he'll have the skills to pull it off - is ludicrous to me. some of the crew agreeing to the job bc of will's sheer charisma is also far-fetched bc he has no charisma whatsoever.

moreover, this is a heist story, but the writing's totally unsuited for it. there are wayyy too many ~reflective~ moments - most of them being the same thing said over and over again in a slightly modified way - and it's all overdramatic and lamentative. tbh this book's more like a volume of the characters' emo introspection peppered w/ some action, so infrequently we ever get out of their heads. there's way too much boring stuff and not enough of the fun ones. i also think this book's written in a very amateur way, a playbook of a failed show-not-tell esp when the phrase "it goes like this..." is a given in almost every chapter.

as a result, the whole story falls flat for me, including the characters who im impartial to; i simply dont feel anything reading this. again, the tell-not-show approach also means li couldnt be more heavy-handed w/ the themes, which could benefit from more subtle exploration.

although the last couple chapters are markedly better than the rest of the book, they arent enough to save it. this is a novel brimming w/ potential, one that could def be sth better in more adept hands. alas, that cant be helped and this is what we get.
]]> The Girls in Queens 61028331 A MOST ANTICIPATED SUMMER READ FROM HARPER'S BAZAAR, BUSTLE, NYLON, THE MILLIONS, MS. MAGAZINE, and THE SKIMM

An unforgettable debut novel about the furious loyalty of two Latinx women coming of age in Queens, New York, an emotionally resonant novel infused with the insight, power, and poignancy of Angie Cruz's Dominicana, Jacqueline Woodson's Another Brooklyn, and Sally Rooney's Conversations with Friends.

Growing up in the '90s along Clement Moore Avenue in Queens, Brisma and Kelly are two young Latinas with an inseparable bond, sharing everything and anything with each other. The girls are Brisma is sweet, sensitive, and observant, whereas Kelly is free-spirited, flirtatious, and bold. But together, they binge on Sour Patch Kids, listen to Boyz II Men cassette tapes, and dance to Selena and Mariah Carey where no one can see them.

In high school, their friendship starts to form cracks when Brisma finds herself in a relationship with Brian, a charismatic baseball star. Brisma is thrilled to finally have something--someone--to herself. But Kelly wasn't built to be a third wheel.

Years later, the Mets begin a historic run for the playoffs, and Brisma and Kelly--now on the cusp of adulthood--reconnect with Brian after years of silence. But then Brian is charged with sexual assault. Brisma and Kelly find themselves on opposite sides of the accusation, viewing their past and past traumas from completely different vantage points, and the two lifelong friends will have to decide if their shared history is enough to sustain their future.

Told in alternating timelines, Christine Kandic Torres's incredible debut explores the unbreakable bonds of friendship, complications of sexual-abuse allegations within communities of color, and the danger of forgetting that sometimes monsters hide in plain sight.]]> 304 Christine Kandic Torres 0063216795 Ting Z. 3 *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

3.75 stars. The Girls in Queens is an interestingly structured book that simmers with tension and buildup throughout to culminate in a thematically explosive conclusion.

This has both pros and cons. For the latter, the mounting tension means at least the first 60% of the book is a little slow, with some chapters and scenes that I feel could be tightened up more to improve the pacing. While some significant scenes do happen in the 1996-2001 timelines, they come in fits and starts amid otherwise seemingly typical days of youth. Brisma and Brian's will-they-won't-they in the 2006 timeline also gets old pretty quick because it feels like an endless loop.

Another thing that really irks me throughout the book is the overly liberal line breaks for dialogues - despite them being said by the same character - and the lack of mention of which quotes is said by whom, making reading certain interactions very confusing at times; I had to try to make sense of them by reading the previous and next lines, and I wish this aspect of the writing would be less sloppy.

Nonetheless, the novel has an interesting - and effective - structure that helps amp up anticipation and mystery, in addition to providing much insight and clarity to the characters and their growth. The characters are also multidimensional, which is a notable feat especially considering how, despite knowing some of them are flat out wrong in their heinous actions and viewpoints, I also understand where they're coming from.

My favorite thing about this book is perhaps how deliciously complex it is, whether it be the depiction and exploration of the patriarchy at work: how messed up views and actions both big and small encountered by women since young in every imaginable environment essentially socialize and desensitize them to the awfulness of it all, most unfortunate of all how some - like Kelly - resort to this as an ironic survival mechanism that also makes them blind or indifferent to other disturbing actions. I also like how Torres illustrates the complexity of sexual assault and allegations in communities of color, where intersectionality is always at play.

Overall, despite its few shortcomings, this is a great debut novel with complexity - be it in terms of characters, structure or themes - and a stirring yet disturbingly relatable story.]]> 3.84 2022 The Girls in Queens
author: Christine Kandic Torres
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/03/24
date added: 2024/09/23
shelves:
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

3.75 stars. The Girls in Queens is an interestingly structured book that simmers with tension and buildup throughout to culminate in a thematically explosive conclusion.

This has both pros and cons. For the latter, the mounting tension means at least the first 60% of the book is a little slow, with some chapters and scenes that I feel could be tightened up more to improve the pacing. While some significant scenes do happen in the 1996-2001 timelines, they come in fits and starts amid otherwise seemingly typical days of youth. Brisma and Brian's will-they-won't-they in the 2006 timeline also gets old pretty quick because it feels like an endless loop.

Another thing that really irks me throughout the book is the overly liberal line breaks for dialogues - despite them being said by the same character - and the lack of mention of which quotes is said by whom, making reading certain interactions very confusing at times; I had to try to make sense of them by reading the previous and next lines, and I wish this aspect of the writing would be less sloppy.

Nonetheless, the novel has an interesting - and effective - structure that helps amp up anticipation and mystery, in addition to providing much insight and clarity to the characters and their growth. The characters are also multidimensional, which is a notable feat especially considering how, despite knowing some of them are flat out wrong in their heinous actions and viewpoints, I also understand where they're coming from.

My favorite thing about this book is perhaps how deliciously complex it is, whether it be the depiction and exploration of the patriarchy at work: how messed up views and actions both big and small encountered by women since young in every imaginable environment essentially socialize and desensitize them to the awfulness of it all, most unfortunate of all how some - like Kelly - resort to this as an ironic survival mechanism that also makes them blind or indifferent to other disturbing actions. I also like how Torres illustrates the complexity of sexual assault and allegations in communities of color, where intersectionality is always at play.

Overall, despite its few shortcomings, this is a great debut novel with complexity - be it in terms of characters, structure or themes - and a stirring yet disturbingly relatable story.
]]> The Laughter 59478158 An aging white male college professor develops a dangerous obsession with his new Pakistani colleague in this modern, iconoclastic novel that is as powerful, riveting, and disturbing as Lolita, Disgrace, and A Little Life.

Dr. Oliver Harding, a tenured professor of English, is long settled into the routines of a divorced, aging academic. But his quiet, staid life is upended by his new colleague, Ruhaba Khan, a dynamic Pakistani Muslim law professor.

Ruhaba unexpectedly ignites Oliver's long-dormant passions, a secret desire that quickly tips towards obsession after her teenaged nephew, Adil Alam, arrives from France to stay with her. Oliver becomes a mentor to Adil, using his friendship with the boy to draw closer to his aunt. Getting to know them, Oliver tries to reconcile his discomfort with the worlds from which they come, and to quiet his sense of dismay at the encroaching change they represent--both in background and in Ruhaba's spirited engagement with the student movements on campus.

After protests break out on campus demanding diversity across the university, Harding finds himself and his beliefs under fire, even as his past reveals a picture more complicated than it seems. As Ruhaba seems attainable yet not, and as the women of his past taunt his memory, Harding reacts in ways shocking and devastating.

Sonora Jha has created a complex character both in tune and out of step with our time, an erudite man who inspires and challenges our sympathies. As the novel reaches its astonishing conclusion, Jha compels us to reexamine scenes in a new light, revealing a depth of loneliness in unlikely places, the subjectivity of innocence, and the looming peril of white rage in America.

An explosive, tense, and illuminating work of fiction, The Laughter is a fascinating portrait of privilege, radicalization, class, and modern academia that forces us to confront the assumptions we make, as both readers and as citizens.]]> 320 Sonora Jha 0063240289 Ting Z. 4 *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Frankly, this book exceeds my expectations. The Laughter is a sharp, biting, irreverent take on America's cultural firestorm and Islamophobia through a tense and compelling academia lens.

Aside from the story and characters themselves, the novel's structure and ending also especially lay bare the reader's own biases and subverts expectations. The hints throughout the book fool you into thinking where it's all heading, only for Jha to pull the rug under your feet in a simple yet so effective a manner.

I also really like how all the characters are imbued with complexity even though it would have been so easy to paint one side completely one-dimensional in service of the other. The book being from the POV of white man in a position of power reveals how messed up the old guard's logic and thought processes can be as well. I lost count of how many times I gasped or thought, "You did not just say that" while reading the book.

Above all, however, this book illustrates for me, for the first time, how intensely claustrophobic and repressive Islamophobia is through Adil and Ruhaba alike. What the former endures, especially, is downright enraging and I admire how Jha is able to make me feel so deeply from her story. I hope this book garners the wide readership it so deserves.]]> 4.06 2023 The Laughter
author: Sonora Jha
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/03/03
date added: 2024/09/21
shelves:
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Frankly, this book exceeds my expectations. The Laughter is a sharp, biting, irreverent take on America's cultural firestorm and Islamophobia through a tense and compelling academia lens.

Aside from the story and characters themselves, the novel's structure and ending also especially lay bare the reader's own biases and subverts expectations. The hints throughout the book fool you into thinking where it's all heading, only for Jha to pull the rug under your feet in a simple yet so effective a manner.

I also really like how all the characters are imbued with complexity even though it would have been so easy to paint one side completely one-dimensional in service of the other. The book being from the POV of white man in a position of power reveals how messed up the old guard's logic and thought processes can be as well. I lost count of how many times I gasped or thought, "You did not just say that" while reading the book.

Above all, however, this book illustrates for me, for the first time, how intensely claustrophobic and repressive Islamophobia is through Adil and Ruhaba alike. What the former endures, especially, is downright enraging and I admire how Jha is able to make me feel so deeply from her story. I hope this book garners the wide readership it so deserves.
]]> Idol, Burning 59069949 The novel that lit the Japanese publishing world on fire: From a breathtaking up-and-coming writer, a twenty-first century Catcher in the Rye that brilliantly explores toxic fandom, social media, and alienated adolescence.

Akari is a high school junior obsessed with ※oshi§ Masaki Ueno, a member of the popular J-Pop group Maza Maza. She writes a blog devoted to him, and spends hours addictively scrolling for information about him and his life. Desperate to analyze and understand him, Akari hopes to eventually see the world through his eyes. It is a devotion that borders on the religious: Masaki is her savior, her backbone, someone she believes she cannot survive without〞even though she＊s never actually met him.

When rumors surface that her idol assaulted a female fan, social media explodes. Akari immediately begins sifting through everything she can find about the scandal, and shares every detail to her blog〞including Masaki＊s denials and pleas to his fans〞drawing numerous readers eager for her updates.

But the organized, knowledgeable persona Akari presents online is totally different from the socially awkward, unfocused teenager she is in real life. As Masaki's situation spirals, his troubles threaten to tear apart her life too. Instead of finding a way to break free to save herself, Akari becomes even more fanatical about Masaki, still believing her idol is the only person who understands her.

A blistering novel of fame, disconnection, obsession, and disillusion by a young writer not much older than the novel＊s heroine, Idol, Burning shines a white-hot spotlight on fandom and ※stan§ culture, the money-making schemes of the pop idol industry, the seductive power of social media, and the powerful emotional void that opens when an idol falls from grace, only to become a real〞and very flawed〞person.]]> 144 Rin Usami 0063213303 Ting Z. 3 *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Idol, Burning is a short book that nevertheless packs a punch. The story is an immersive and at times dark character study that delves into the main character's psyche and obsession.

I have to preface by saying that I myself am engaged in fandom culture - though of course not to such an extreme extent like Akari - and am personally familiar with the Japanese idol culture presented in the book. With that said, I am impressed by how spot-on Usami's portrayal of both general ubiquitously-online idol and fan behaviors are. This is easier said than done - as many less-than-stellar efforts have shown - so the authenticity and acute understanding of this critical part of the story by the author is certainly something to be praised.

The character study and exploration of the protagonist's psyche, reasoning and internal logic are also thought-provoking. We live in a misogynistic world where female interests are often scorned (though men are heavily involved in Japanese idol culture as well), thus it is refreshing to see a story that views a young woman and her interest - and the motivation behind it - seriously, instead of brushing it all off as something shallow and typical.

However, some parts of the novel are a little forgettable, and the ending - particularly in regards to Akari's character development - feels too abrupt. Currently, there are also a number of typos and missing words that warrant further proofreading.

I also think it would be beneficial if some explanation is provided for the book's specific cultural context, whether it be in the form of footnotes or a separate section at the end altogether. This would certainly aid readers who are unfamiliar with Japanese idol culture and cultural codes present in the novel (some examples being the strict silence on idol dating, ring on the middle finger, etc.).

Overall, I enjoy this book for its interesting subject matter and the author's acute understanding of the former (the cover art is also gorgeous), though I think many Western readers might have a more difficult time wrapping their heads around the novel's quite-specific - if not niche - context.]]> 3.24 2020 Idol, Burning
author: Rin Usami
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.24
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2022/05/27
date added: 2024/09/21
shelves:
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Idol, Burning is a short book that nevertheless packs a punch. The story is an immersive and at times dark character study that delves into the main character's psyche and obsession.

I have to preface by saying that I myself am engaged in fandom culture - though of course not to such an extreme extent like Akari - and am personally familiar with the Japanese idol culture presented in the book. With that said, I am impressed by how spot-on Usami's portrayal of both general ubiquitously-online idol and fan behaviors are. This is easier said than done - as many less-than-stellar efforts have shown - so the authenticity and acute understanding of this critical part of the story by the author is certainly something to be praised.

The character study and exploration of the protagonist's psyche, reasoning and internal logic are also thought-provoking. We live in a misogynistic world where female interests are often scorned (though men are heavily involved in Japanese idol culture as well), thus it is refreshing to see a story that views a young woman and her interest - and the motivation behind it - seriously, instead of brushing it all off as something shallow and typical.

However, some parts of the novel are a little forgettable, and the ending - particularly in regards to Akari's character development - feels too abrupt. Currently, there are also a number of typos and missing words that warrant further proofreading.

I also think it would be beneficial if some explanation is provided for the book's specific cultural context, whether it be in the form of footnotes or a separate section at the end altogether. This would certainly aid readers who are unfamiliar with Japanese idol culture and cultural codes present in the novel (some examples being the strict silence on idol dating, ring on the middle finger, etc.).

Overall, I enjoy this book for its interesting subject matter and the author's acute understanding of the former (the cover art is also gorgeous), though I think many Western readers might have a more difficult time wrapping their heads around the novel's quite-specific - if not niche - context.
]]> Funny Boy 25215785 329 Shyam Selvadurai 1551997193 Ting Z. 4 queer-yess funny boy is the coming-of-age of a main character marginalized by his queerness and ethnicity, while also offering an enlightening look into sri lankan history and society.

a sense of melancholy borne from bittersweet end of innocence or realization of stark reality permeates throughout all 6 of the novel's sizable, chunky chapters - each of which rly functions like short stories - and things only get more serious as the story goes on. as the narrator, arjie maintains a childlike yet strangely wise voice, and it's satisfying yet a lil sad to see him mature - or being forced to as a result of circumstances - through the events in his life, but his eventual acceptance and embrace of his identity is quite precious.

i learn so much about its sri lanka and its culture, society, politics and history through this book. things ive only previously known of in passing w/o any context or deeper understanding are shed greater light here through selvadurai's complex and nuanced portrayal through not only larger societal and historical events but also - perhaps to an even more impactful extent - the characters, their relationships, and how they grapple w/ their place in the world, which are explored in numerous aspects. while reading, i couldnt help but think how important historical novels are, for they render more serious or seemingly uninteresting subjects tangible and approachable, even human.

this is a revelatory, sad yet tender novel w/ a sense of inevitability and complex, nuanced portrayal of both its characters and the world they inhabit, and i look forward to reading more of the author's works.]]> 4.07 1994 Funny Boy
author: Shyam Selvadurai
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.07
book published: 1994
rating: 4
read at: 2022/08/24
date added: 2024/09/21
shelves: queer-yess
review:
tender and sad with a childlike yet wise narrative voice, funny boy is the coming-of-age of a main character marginalized by his queerness and ethnicity, while also offering an enlightening look into sri lankan history and society.

a sense of melancholy borne from bittersweet end of innocence or realization of stark reality permeates throughout all 6 of the novel's sizable, chunky chapters - each of which rly functions like short stories - and things only get more serious as the story goes on. as the narrator, arjie maintains a childlike yet strangely wise voice, and it's satisfying yet a lil sad to see him mature - or being forced to as a result of circumstances - through the events in his life, but his eventual acceptance and embrace of his identity is quite precious.

i learn so much about its sri lanka and its culture, society, politics and history through this book. things ive only previously known of in passing w/o any context or deeper understanding are shed greater light here through selvadurai's complex and nuanced portrayal through not only larger societal and historical events but also - perhaps to an even more impactful extent - the characters, their relationships, and how they grapple w/ their place in the world, which are explored in numerous aspects. while reading, i couldnt help but think how important historical novels are, for they render more serious or seemingly uninteresting subjects tangible and approachable, even human.

this is a revelatory, sad yet tender novel w/ a sense of inevitability and complex, nuanced portrayal of both its characters and the world they inhabit, and i look forward to reading more of the author's works.
]]> Beating Heart Baby 61748791 From debut author Lio Min comes BEATING HEART BABY, a tender love letter to internet friendships, anime, and indie rock, perfect for fans of HEARTSTOPPERWhen artistic and sensitive Santi arrives at his new high school, everyone in the wildly talented marching band welcomes him with open arms. Everyone except for the prickly, proud musical prodigy Suwa, who doesn＊t think Santi has what it takes to be in the band.But Santi and Suwa share painful pasts, and when they open up to each other, a tentative friendship begins. And soon, that friendship turns into something more. . . . Will their fresh start rip at the seams as Suwa seeks out a solo spotlight, and both boys come to terms with what it'll take, and what they'll have to let go, to realize their dreams?]]> 339 Lio Min 1250819105 Ting Z. 3 queer-yess *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

3.75 stars: Tender yet emotional, Beating Heart Baby is a raw and real story of found family and growing into oneself, and a love letter to anime, art, and music.

This book bursts with youth, the trials and triumphs of it and the people one meets along the way, like Santi and Suwa do; it is impossible for more mature readers to not feel a sense of melancholic nostalgia reading it. The found families in this novel are also touching: for queer youth who face difficulties from not only the world but also their very own blood family, found families are life-saving and it is so great seeing them here.

As for the characters, it is satisfying seeing them grow. I have to admit, the book covers more ground/encompasses longer time period that I initially expected. Though I do feel like throttling both Santi and Suwa at times, their characterization is great, complex and nuanced, and I love how both protagonists are queer boys of color, which is still hard to find these days. Beating Heart Baby is also a love letter to anime, music, and art; Min's sincere love for the aforementioned are very apparent and I enjoy all the relatable references.

However, I have a few issues with the novel. Considering how important Memo is to Santi and how the latter spirals for years after their online friendship ends, it is a little confusing that Santi suddenly ceases to think about Memo after settling in LA until he suspects Suwa's identity. How he messes up prior to Suwa's audition also feels gratuitous, added in just for some drama, making all the character growth Santi's had seems all for naught.

Santi and Suwa's reunion also feels too sudden, one minute they are weary then all over each other the next, and their inner thoughts often seem like the same thing repeated over and over, going nowhere, making the narrative repetitive at times. The pacing of the book's second half is a little weird, in my opinion. I also wish the coda explained more about how the main characters grapple with their distance; obviously they still make it work four years later, but how do they do it exactly, especially since both were anxious over it?

This is a novel that brims with youth, one that deftly explores themes of found family, the arts, and achieving one's dreams. It is refreshingly, effortlessly queer (with the main characters being queer men of color), though there are aspects I wish were handled better.]]> 4.28 2022 Beating Heart Baby
author: Lio Min
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/08/27
date added: 2024/09/20
shelves: queer-yess
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

3.75 stars: Tender yet emotional, Beating Heart Baby is a raw and real story of found family and growing into oneself, and a love letter to anime, art, and music.

This book bursts with youth, the trials and triumphs of it and the people one meets along the way, like Santi and Suwa do; it is impossible for more mature readers to not feel a sense of melancholic nostalgia reading it. The found families in this novel are also touching: for queer youth who face difficulties from not only the world but also their very own blood family, found families are life-saving and it is so great seeing them here.

As for the characters, it is satisfying seeing them grow. I have to admit, the book covers more ground/encompasses longer time period that I initially expected. Though I do feel like throttling both Santi and Suwa at times, their characterization is great, complex and nuanced, and I love how both protagonists are queer boys of color, which is still hard to find these days. Beating Heart Baby is also a love letter to anime, music, and art; Min's sincere love for the aforementioned are very apparent and I enjoy all the relatable references.

However, I have a few issues with the novel. Considering how important Memo is to Santi and how the latter spirals for years after their online friendship ends, it is a little confusing that Santi suddenly ceases to think about Memo after settling in LA until he suspects Suwa's identity. How he messes up prior to Suwa's audition also feels gratuitous, added in just for some drama, making all the character growth Santi's had seems all for naught.

Santi and Suwa's reunion also feels too sudden, one minute they are weary then all over each other the next, and their inner thoughts often seem like the same thing repeated over and over, going nowhere, making the narrative repetitive at times. The pacing of the book's second half is a little weird, in my opinion. I also wish the coda explained more about how the main characters grapple with their distance; obviously they still make it work four years later, but how do they do it exactly, especially since both were anxious over it?

This is a novel that brims with youth, one that deftly explores themes of found family, the arts, and achieving one's dreams. It is refreshingly, effortlessly queer (with the main characters being queer men of color), though there are aspects I wish were handled better.
]]> Notes of a Crocodile 34225567 Set in the post-martial-law era of 1990s Taipei, Notes of a Crocodile depicts the coming-of-age of a group of queer misfits discovering love, friendship, and artistic affinity while hardly studying at Taiwan s most prestigious university. Told through the eyes of an anonymous lesbian narrator nicknamed Lazi, Qiu Miaojin s cult classic novel is a postmodern pastiche of diaries, vignettes, mash notes, aphorisms, exegesis, and satire by an incisive prose stylist and countercultural icon.
Afflicted by her fatalistic attraction to Shui Ling, an older woman who is alternately hot and cold toward her, Lazi turns for support to a circle of friends that includes the devil-may-care, rich-kid-turned-criminal Meng Sheng and his troubled, self-destructive gay lover Chu Kuang, as well as the bored, mischievous overachiever Tun Tun and her alluring slacker artist girlfriend Zhi Rou.
Bursting with the optimism of newfound liberation and romantic idealism despite corroding innocence, Notes of a Crocodile is a poignant and intimate masterpiece of social defiance by a singular voice in contemporary Chinese literature."]]> 256 Qiu Miaojin 1681370778 Ting Z. 3 queer-yess notes of a crocodile is a queer classic.

my rating merely reflects my own personal liking for the book, and is in no way indicative of the novel's actual great quality. it's wonderfully written, provocative, and unapologetically queer. never have i read a book that so masterfully captures the deep longing, passion, and self-loathing of a lesbian; sometimes it's like qiu reaches into the depths of my inner self that are unknown even to me, seizes whatever that thing is, and just tosses it right out.

the characters are also imbued w/ depth and complexity, and i find their personal rationale fascinating, even if they're oft warped. the pendulum-like swings of lazi's alternately reclusive and wildly busy periods in college are weirdly familiar, as are the musings on college life and growing up that are relatable and quite nosgalgic.

this isnt a book i would ever reread, however, as it's too emotionally exhausting. like, none of the romantic relationships in this book are happy or non-toxic/problematic; thats so sad/depressing. the novel ventures into the slice-of-life (or in this case, sh!ttyness-of-queer-life) territory too far for me. like this is def some good - hell, undeniably classic - stuff, but not so good for the heart.]]> 3.63 1994 Notes of a Crocodile
author: Qiu Miaojin
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.63
book published: 1994
rating: 3
read at: 2022/06/21
date added: 2024/09/11
shelves: queer-yess
review:
dense, visceral, contemplative, though a lil too eclectic story-wise for my taste, it's undeniably apparent why notes of a crocodile is a queer classic.

my rating merely reflects my own personal liking for the book, and is in no way indicative of the novel's actual great quality. it's wonderfully written, provocative, and unapologetically queer. never have i read a book that so masterfully captures the deep longing, passion, and self-loathing of a lesbian; sometimes it's like qiu reaches into the depths of my inner self that are unknown even to me, seizes whatever that thing is, and just tosses it right out.

the characters are also imbued w/ depth and complexity, and i find their personal rationale fascinating, even if they're oft warped. the pendulum-like swings of lazi's alternately reclusive and wildly busy periods in college are weirdly familiar, as are the musings on college life and growing up that are relatable and quite nosgalgic.

this isnt a book i would ever reread, however, as it's too emotionally exhausting. like, none of the romantic relationships in this book are happy or non-toxic/problematic; thats so sad/depressing. the novel ventures into the slice-of-life (or in this case, sh!ttyness-of-queer-life) territory too far for me. like this is def some good - hell, undeniably classic - stuff, but not so good for the heart.
]]> <![CDATA[More Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet]]> 2973780 True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet comes this incredibly fun sequel.

Just when Morgan Carter is falling in love with the simple life she built incognito in Fort Wayne, Indiana, her true identity as an infamous Hollywood starlet is outed and she＊s forced to return to LA.

While most girls would give anything for a life filled with celeb-studded parties, constant press coverage, and mega-fame, for Morgan going home is more complicated than it seems. Hollywood holds deep, dark secrets that Morgan has yet to confront. Secrets that could ruin everything.

]]> 224 Lara Deloza 1595141294 Ting Z. 2 y-u-let-meh-down 3.40 2005 More Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet
author: Lara Deloza
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.40
book published: 2005
rating: 2
read at: 2011/08/01
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves: y-u-let-meh-down
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Around the World in Eighty Days]]> 54479 252 Jules Verne 014044906X Ting Z. 3 3.95 1872 Around the World in Eighty Days
author: Jules Verne
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.95
book published: 1872
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2024/08/07
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Captive Prince (Captive Prince, #1)]]> 20878022 "This was Vere, voluptuous and decadent, country of honeyed poison"

Damen is a warrior hero to his people, and the truthful heir to the throne of Akielos, but when his half brother seizes power, Damen is captured, stripped of his identity and sent to serve the prince of an enemy nation as a pleasure slave.

Beautiful, manipulative and deadly, his new master Prince Laurent epitomizes the worst of the court at Vere. But in the lethal political web of the Veretian court, nothing is as it seems, and when Damen finds himself caught up in a play for the throne, he must work together with Laurent to survive and save his country.

For Damen, there is just one never, ever reveal his true identity. Because the one man Damen needs is the one man who has more reason to hate him than anyone else...]]> 209 C.S. Pacat 0698155084 Ting Z. 2 still-rollin, queer-yess captive prince was def character-driven book--a nicely written one at that--and i loved the giant middle finger to heteronormativity at the veretian court, but it felt too short, like it was supposed to be the first part of a longer book. the controversial stuff w/ sex and slavery wasnt too big a deal for me: the former was a lil jarring initially, but it wasnt sth gratuitous and def made sense for the cultural context of the story's setting; same goes for the latter. the politics and court intrigue were interesting at times, but most were predictable. i do like damen tho, he's def one of the few w/ a moral compass, and prolly the only one who felt like a multidimensional character, whereas the others--laurent included--fell flat. ig my main issue is i didnt rly feel anything reading this, which is awkward bc then i dont get why so many ppl are super passionate abt this series. im hoping it's bc books 2 and 3 are much better, and will be checking them out bc i believe there's quite a lot of potential yet to be explored here. ]]> 3.90 2013 Captive Prince (Captive Prince, #1)
author: C.S. Pacat
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2013
rating: 2
read at: 2021/11/09
date added: 2024/07/31
shelves: still-rollin, queer-yess
review:
huh, considering the fervor this series elicits, its first book was kinda underwhelming. captive prince was def character-driven book--a nicely written one at that--and i loved the giant middle finger to heteronormativity at the veretian court, but it felt too short, like it was supposed to be the first part of a longer book. the controversial stuff w/ sex and slavery wasnt too big a deal for me: the former was a lil jarring initially, but it wasnt sth gratuitous and def made sense for the cultural context of the story's setting; same goes for the latter. the politics and court intrigue were interesting at times, but most were predictable. i do like damen tho, he's def one of the few w/ a moral compass, and prolly the only one who felt like a multidimensional character, whereas the others--laurent included--fell flat. ig my main issue is i didnt rly feel anything reading this, which is awkward bc then i dont get why so many ppl are super passionate abt this series. im hoping it's bc books 2 and 3 are much better, and will be checking them out bc i believe there's quite a lot of potential yet to be explored here.
]]> The Details 62593601 An acclaimed Swedish author makes her English language debut with this intoxicating novel in the vein of Rachel Cusk and Sheila Heti, about a woman in the throes of a fever remembering the important people in her past, her memories laid bare in vivid detail as her body temperature rises.

A woman lies bedridden from a high fever. Suddenly she is struck with an urge to revisit a novel from her past. Inside the book is an inscription: a get-well-soon message from Johanna, an ex-girlfriend who is now a famous television host. As she flips through the book, pages from the woman's own past begin to come alive, scenes of events and people she cannot forget.

There are moments with Johanna, and Niki, the friend who disappeared years ago without a phone number or an address and with no online footprint. There is Alejandro, who gleefully campaigns for a baby even though he knows their love has no future. And Brigitte, whose elusive qualities mask a painful secret.

The Details is a novel built around four portraits; the small details that, pieced together, comprise a life. Can a loved one really disappear? Who is the real subject of the portrait, the person being painted or the one holding the brush? Do we fully become ourselves through our connections to others? This exhilarating, provocative tale raises profound questions about the nature of relationships, and how we tell our stories. The result is an intimate and illuminating study of what it means to be human.]]> 136 Ia Genberg 0063309734 Ting Z. 2 queer-yess *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

2.5 stars -- If someone were to ask me how to describe this book, I wouldn't know what to say because I honestly have no idea. The Details contains 4 chapters with each focusing on a person who's played an important role in the narrator's life. It's reminiscent to a memoir; it could also be auto-fiction. We learn a lot about the aforementioned focused characters, but not nearly as much on the main character herself.

I don't think this book is for me, but it's undeniable that the writing definitely hits, at times amazing me with how the author manages to capture such personal - though now I realize they're perhaps universal after reading this book - thoughts and feelings. Ultimately, Genberg's novel is a compilation of obscure vignettes with no plot, whose strengths, in my opinion, lie largely in the writing that can pierce deeply, as well as the unpredictability of the story whose little twists and reveals can be surprising and evocative.]]> 3.88 2022 The Details
author: Ia Genberg
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2022
rating: 2
read at: 2023/07/03
date added: 2024/07/22
shelves: queer-yess
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

2.5 stars -- If someone were to ask me how to describe this book, I wouldn't know what to say because I honestly have no idea. The Details contains 4 chapters with each focusing on a person who's played an important role in the narrator's life. It's reminiscent to a memoir; it could also be auto-fiction. We learn a lot about the aforementioned focused characters, but not nearly as much on the main character herself.

I don't think this book is for me, but it's undeniable that the writing definitely hits, at times amazing me with how the author manages to capture such personal - though now I realize they're perhaps universal after reading this book - thoughts and feelings. Ultimately, Genberg's novel is a compilation of obscure vignettes with no plot, whose strengths, in my opinion, lie largely in the writing that can pierce deeply, as well as the unpredictability of the story whose little twists and reveals can be surprising and evocative.
]]> Digital Fortress 6881639
Seville, Spain: the creator of the code, Ensei Tankado, is found dead. And with him has died the secret to an impregnable code-writing formula that threatens to obliterate the post-cold war balance of power. Forever.

From the underground hallways of power to the skyscrapers of Tokyo to the towering cathedrals of Spain, a desperate race unfolds. Caught in an accelerating tempest of secrecy and lies, betrayed on all sides, Susan Fletcher finds herself fighting not only for her country but for her life, and in the end, for the life of the man she loves...]]> 510 Dan Brown 0552159735 Ting Z. 2 3.78 1998 Digital Fortress
author: Dan Brown
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.78
book published: 1998
rating: 2
read at: 2021/11/18
date added: 2024/06/29
shelves:
review:
[2021 reading]: this book's so dated; not bc of the tech, but just...it was just rife w/ microaggressions?? and racial undertones, and w/ its portrayal of the main character ("brilliant and beautiful"--yet the latter's more focused on than the former somehow), u could totally tell a guy wrote it. the book just gave me all the wrong vibes, i frowned and cringed despite flying thru it. i know nothing abt code stuff so that stuff was interesting and i def learned sth from reading this, but many of the reveals were hella predictable. i just couldnt get past the characters and their relationships/dynamic, they were simply grimace-inducing. (also tankado and numataka are NOT jpn names ffs)
]]> <![CDATA[Naruto, Vol. 57: Battle (Naruto, #57)]]> 13121243 192 Masashi Kishimoto 1421543060 Ting Z. 3 artsy-art 4.21 2011 Naruto, Vol. 57: Battle (Naruto, #57)
author: Masashi Kishimoto
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2024/06/26
shelves: artsy-art
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Lost Symbol (Robert Langdon, #3)]]> 7947003
When Langdon's mentor, Peter Solomon - prominent mason and philanthropist - is kidnapped, Langdon realizes that his only hope of saving his friend's life is to accept this mysterious summons.

It is to take him on a breathless chase through Washington's dark history. All that was familiar is changed into a shadowy, mythical world in which Masonic secrets and never-before-seen revelations seem to be leading him to a single impossible and inconceivable truth...]]> 670 Dan Brown 0552149527 Ting Z. 3 3.62 2009 The Lost Symbol (Robert Langdon, #3)
author: Dan Brown
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2024/06/23
shelves:
review:

]]> A Treasury of Asian Folktales 3278703 128 Linda Gan 9810101546 Ting Z. 3 artsy-art 3.67 1992 A Treasury of Asian Folktales
author: Linda Gan
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.67
book published: 1992
rating: 3
read at: 2021/11/25
date added: 2024/06/11
shelves: artsy-art
review:
a compilation of folktales across the asian continent--w/ the majority from southeast asia--that has stunning, diverse, and at times jaw-dropping illustrations that so vividly capture the stories it's lowkey unbelievable that they're all drawn by one illustrator. my fav story was "the chess player" from mongolia. however, and this isnt the book's fault per se, most of the stories reek of sexism (as to be expected) and the objectification of women and the commonization of men's mediocrity dampen my enjoyment, no matter--or perhaps bc of--how ingrained they are in cultural tradition.
]]> <![CDATA[Angels & Demons (Robert Langdon, #1)]]> 7557392
The Vatican, Rome: the College of Cardinals assembles to elect a new pope. Somewhere beneath them, an unstoppable bomb of terrifying power relentlessly counts down to oblivion.

In a breathtaking race against time, Harvard professor Robert Langdon must decipher a labyrinthine trail of ancient symbols if he is to defeat those responsible - the Illuminati, a secret brotherhood presumed extinct for nearly four hundred years, reborn to continue their deadly vendetta against their most hated enemy, the Catholic Church.]]> 620 Dan Brown 0552161268 Ting Z. 4 4.17 2000 Angels & Demons (Robert Langdon, #1)
author: Dan Brown
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2000
rating: 4
read at: 2021/03/28
date added: 2024/05/22
shelves:
review:
[2nd reading]: a pulse-racing, unstoppable page-turner filled w/ twists and turns, interesting historical facts, info, speculation, and thought-provoking debate on science and religion and their roles in modern society, though its writing abt women does turn me off quite a bit. 620 pages of this felt like a short novella tbh; thats how engrossing the book was. i havent read a lot of thrillers to make an adequate compariaon, and idk how historically and factually accurate this book is, but as a casual reader it was pretty damn good.
]]> Ghost Season 61089464

Amid the paradoxes of identity, art, humanitarian aid, and a territory riven by conflict, William, Layla, Dena, Alex, and Mustafa must forge bonds stronger than blood or identity. Weaving a sweeping history of the breakup of Sudan into the lives of these captivating characters, Fatin Abbas explores the porous and perilous nature of borders〞whether they be national, ethnic, or religious〞and the profound consequences for those who cross them. Ghost Season is a gripping, vivid debut that announces Abbas as a powerful new voice in fiction.]]> 320 Fatin Abbas 1324001747 Ting Z. 2 ghost season is not a bad book by any means; in fact it's good from a storytelling and technical POV, however i cant fully say that i enjoyed the book, hence the <3 stars.

the sudanese setting of both the metropoliton khartoum and rural saraaya w/ its vulnerable yet strategic position for strife are eye-opening. the characters are realistic w/ depth, and it's good to see how they develop thru the book. abbas also depicts the local life and tension w/ detail -- sometimes too much detail that it drags the story, resulting in uneven pacing. imo the novel would be even better has a balance been struck between setting details and story; currently the latter comes too late, tho the climax's def compelling.

the last one third of the novel's the best part from my pov, w/ a lot of development and action, as well as that dramatic, melancholic ending. it's a bit of a waste that the book's remaining portion doesnt quite measure up, taking too much time and focusing on too many details at the cost of the actual story.]]> 3.98 2023 Ghost Season
author: Fatin Abbas
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2023
rating: 2
read at: 2024/05/01
date added: 2024/05/01
shelves:
review:
2.5 stars - ghost season is not a bad book by any means; in fact it's good from a storytelling and technical POV, however i cant fully say that i enjoyed the book, hence the <3 stars.

the sudanese setting of both the metropoliton khartoum and rural saraaya w/ its vulnerable yet strategic position for strife are eye-opening. the characters are realistic w/ depth, and it's good to see how they develop thru the book. abbas also depicts the local life and tension w/ detail -- sometimes too much detail that it drags the story, resulting in uneven pacing. imo the novel would be even better has a balance been struck between setting details and story; currently the latter comes too late, tho the climax's def compelling.

the last one third of the novel's the best part from my pov, w/ a lot of development and action, as well as that dramatic, melancholic ending. it's a bit of a waste that the book's remaining portion doesnt quite measure up, taking too much time and focusing on too many details at the cost of the actual story.
]]> A Place Called No Homeland 31945135 96 Kai Cheng Thom 1551526794 Ting Z. 3 non-fiction, queer-yess a place called no homeland is a solid collection of poetry, and - as always - sublimely, tenderly written by kai cheng thom. the poems delve into trans identity, diasporic cultural ties, relation to whiteness, self-love, some so aching while others insightful and technically impressive.]]> 4.39 2017 A Place Called No Homeland
author: Kai Cheng Thom
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2017
rating: 3
read at: 2024/04/20
date added: 2024/05/01
shelves: non-fiction, queer-yess
review:
3.5 stars - a place called no homeland is a solid collection of poetry, and - as always - sublimely, tenderly written by kai cheng thom. the poems delve into trans identity, diasporic cultural ties, relation to whiteness, self-love, some so aching while others insightful and technically impressive.
]]> One Hundred Days: A Novel 124950939 256 Alice Pung 0063313022 Ting Z. 2 *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

While One Hundred Days is certainly good from a technical standpoint, I cannot say that I enjoyed or liked it, as this is perhaps one of the most emotionally exhausting books I have ever read.

Mar's emotional manipulation and warped reasoning were endless and relentless throughout the book, making it a bleak, exhausting read despite the complex characters, Pung's adept character study of Karuna, and the depiction of how adults and people with power almost always let young people and those seeking help down. The small, all-too-brief moments of joy or light and the constant barrage of frustrating development and plot loops make the resolution too little and too late for me, though realistic.

There will definitely be people who enjoy or relate to this novel and find it maybe even an essential read, but the book is just not for me.]]> 3.93 2021 One Hundred Days: A Novel
author: Alice Pung
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2021
rating: 2
read at: 2024/01/27
date added: 2024/01/28
shelves:
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

While One Hundred Days is certainly good from a technical standpoint, I cannot say that I enjoyed or liked it, as this is perhaps one of the most emotionally exhausting books I have ever read.

Mar's emotional manipulation and warped reasoning were endless and relentless throughout the book, making it a bleak, exhausting read despite the complex characters, Pung's adept character study of Karuna, and the depiction of how adults and people with power almost always let young people and those seeking help down. The small, all-too-brief moments of joy or light and the constant barrage of frustrating development and plot loops make the resolution too little and too late for me, though realistic.

There will definitely be people who enjoy or relate to this novel and find it maybe even an essential read, but the book is just not for me.
]]> Hypericum 149153712
Die intime Liebesgeschichte von Ruben und Teresa wird parallel mit der Geschichte Howard Carters erz?hlt, dem Entdecker des Grabes von Tutanchamun, und entfaltet sich zwischen dem Tal der K?nige und dem rasanten Leben im Berlin der Nachwendezeit.]]> 144 Manuele Fior 3964450936 Ting Z. 1 artsy-art *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

1.5 stars - Unfortunately, I did not particularly enjoy this graphic novel. While Hypericum attempts to frame its narrative and explore its themes through the two interconnecting storylines of the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb and an early 2000s upcoming exhibition of the aforementioned tomb in Berlin, in my opinion the effect lands quite flat as the overall story seems to exist in a vacuum, bereft of any other connections or real examination of both the before and after of the events and characters.

I was not moved or affected by the story as I did not feel connected to any of the characters, even the main ones such as Teresa or Ruben. I did not learn much about them as characters, and thus did not care what happened to them. The main so-called romance of the two characters - rather than romantic - comes off as puzzling and befuddingly spontaneous. What do those two see in one another? Why should I care about their relationship when even Teresa herself acknowledges that she knows nothing about Ruben? Throughout the book, the couple viscillates between making love and breaking off, but it is not even ezplained how they get back together in the end. I also thought Fior's approach to Teresa a bit weird and at least mildly objectifying.

The art, however, is pleasant especially when it comes to the scenes in Egypt and Berlin's metropolitan architecture, and I admire how Fior is able to paint the novel wholly in watercolor especially in so much detail. Overall, this graphic novel is great visually but not so much story-wise.]]> 3.27 2022 Hypericum
author: Manuele Fior
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.27
book published: 2022
rating: 1
read at: 2024/01/22
date added: 2024/01/22
shelves: artsy-art
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

1.5 stars - Unfortunately, I did not particularly enjoy this graphic novel. While Hypericum attempts to frame its narrative and explore its themes through the two interconnecting storylines of the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb and an early 2000s upcoming exhibition of the aforementioned tomb in Berlin, in my opinion the effect lands quite flat as the overall story seems to exist in a vacuum, bereft of any other connections or real examination of both the before and after of the events and characters.

I was not moved or affected by the story as I did not feel connected to any of the characters, even the main ones such as Teresa or Ruben. I did not learn much about them as characters, and thus did not care what happened to them. The main so-called romance of the two characters - rather than romantic - comes off as puzzling and befuddingly spontaneous. What do those two see in one another? Why should I care about their relationship when even Teresa herself acknowledges that she knows nothing about Ruben? Throughout the book, the couple viscillates between making love and breaking off, but it is not even ezplained how they get back together in the end. I also thought Fior's approach to Teresa a bit weird and at least mildly objectifying.

The art, however, is pleasant especially when it comes to the scenes in Egypt and Berlin's metropolitan architecture, and I admire how Fior is able to paint the novel wholly in watercolor especially in so much detail. Overall, this graphic novel is great visually but not so much story-wise.
]]> A Magical Girl Retires 197448259 A millennial turned magical girl must combat climate change and credit card debt in this delightful, witty, and wildly imaginative ode to magical girl manga.

Twenty-nine, depressed, and drowning in credit card debt after losing her job during the pandemic, a millennial woman decides to end her troubles by jumping off Seoul＊s Mapo Bridge.

But her suicide attempt is interrupted by a girl dressed all in white〞her guardian angel. Ah Roa is a clairvoyant magical girl on a mission to find the greatest magical girl of all time. And our protagonist just may be that special someone.

But the young woman＊s initial excitement turns to frustration when she learns being a magical girl in real life is much different than how it＊s portrayed in stories. It isn＊t just destiny〞it＊s work. Magical girls go to job fairs, join trade unions, attend classes. And for this magical girl there are no special powers and no great perks, and despite being magical, she still battles with low self-esteem. Her magic wand . . . is a credit card〞which she must use to defeat a terrifying threat that isn＊t a monster or an intergalactic war. It＊s global climate change. Because magical girls need to think about sustainability, too.

Park Seolyeon reimagines classic fantasy tropes in a novel that explores real-world challenges that are both deeply personal and universal: the search for meaning and the desire to do good in a world that feels like it＊s ending. A fun, fast-paced, and enchanting narrative that sparkles thanks to award-nominated translator Anton Hur, A Magical Girl Retires reminds us that we are all magical girls〞that fighting evil by moonlight and winning love by daylight can be anyone's game.

Translated from the Korean by Anton Hur]]> 147 Park Seolyeon Ting Z. 3 queer-yess *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

A short, fast-paced read, A Magical Girl Retires is ostensibly lighthearted yet surprisingly thoughtful with hidden depth and dark themes. The main character's plight should be relatable to countless young people with her economic woes in a seemingly hopeless world.

Park is very clever in her use of the machinations behind magical girls and their magic that subtly, succinctly reflect the harsh reality faced by girls and women, which is especially relevant for her feminist-hating and incels-coddling native South Korea. The novel's underlying dark themes are threaded with some humor and sparkles, and I like how the most alarming disaster is concluded to be climate change, not some aliens, criminals or monsters.

While the book's current short iteration works alright, I think Park could have expanded the story even more. A longer length would certainly make the characters, wolrd and themes more fully fleshed out, as well as reducing the currently almost dizzying and frenetic pace of the novel. Hur's translation, as always, is great and I also like the illustrations by Kim, though I do find it quite ironic that no woman prominently contributes to the English version.]]> 3.58 2022 A Magical Girl Retires
author: Park Seolyeon
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2024/01/18
date added: 2024/01/19
shelves: queer-yess
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

A short, fast-paced read, A Magical Girl Retires is ostensibly lighthearted yet surprisingly thoughtful with hidden depth and dark themes. The main character's plight should be relatable to countless young people with her economic woes in a seemingly hopeless world.

Park is very clever in her use of the machinations behind magical girls and their magic that subtly, succinctly reflect the harsh reality faced by girls and women, which is especially relevant for her feminist-hating and incels-coddling native South Korea. The novel's underlying dark themes are threaded with some humor and sparkles, and I like how the most alarming disaster is concluded to be climate change, not some aliens, criminals or monsters.

While the book's current short iteration works alright, I think Park could have expanded the story even more. A longer length would certainly make the characters, wolrd and themes more fully fleshed out, as well as reducing the currently almost dizzying and frenetic pace of the novel. Hur's translation, as always, is great and I also like the illustrations by Kim, though I do find it quite ironic that no woman prominently contributes to the English version.
]]> Selamlik 185127010 240 Khaled Alesmael 1642861480 Ting Z. 3 queer-yess *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Selamlik centers around the life of a gay Syrian man called Furat and his life both before and after the Syrian civil war, living in Syrian cities such as Aleppo and Damascus, as well as seeking refuge in Sweden.

It is quite an intense book, both in its homoeroticism and war brutality. The writing about Furat's fear, guilt, desire and pleasure that are vivid and compelling, while evocative even in its non-grauitous, factual retelling of the violence and brutality of the war. Another thing I really appreciate is Alesmael's depiction of modern Syria that sheds light on daily life before the conflict, and especially the lives of gay men in the cities, which are surprisingly culturally rooted yet quite liberal, defying any preconceptions.

Although I wish the ending was less abrupt, it was fitting nevertheless. I recommend this novel for those who don't shy away from sexual and war content, and there is much to learn from it.]]> 4.02 Selamlik
author: Khaled Alesmael
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.02
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2024/01/13
date added: 2024/01/19
shelves: queer-yess
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Selamlik centers around the life of a gay Syrian man called Furat and his life both before and after the Syrian civil war, living in Syrian cities such as Aleppo and Damascus, as well as seeking refuge in Sweden.

It is quite an intense book, both in its homoeroticism and war brutality. The writing about Furat's fear, guilt, desire and pleasure that are vivid and compelling, while evocative even in its non-grauitous, factual retelling of the violence and brutality of the war. Another thing I really appreciate is Alesmael's depiction of modern Syria that sheds light on daily life before the conflict, and especially the lives of gay men in the cities, which are surprisingly culturally rooted yet quite liberal, defying any preconceptions.

Although I wish the ending was less abrupt, it was fitting nevertheless. I recommend this novel for those who don't shy away from sexual and war content, and there is much to learn from it.
]]> <![CDATA[Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire]]> 60746110
Gaza, home to two million people, continues to face suffocating conditions imposed by Israel. This distinctive anthology imagines what the future of Gaza could be, while reaffirming the critical role of Gaza in Palestinian identity, history, and struggle for liberation.

Light in Gaza is a seminal, moving and wide-ranging anthology of Palestinian writers and artists. It constitutes a collective effort to organize and center Palestinian voices in the ongoing struggle. As political discourse shifts toward futurism as a means of reimagining a better way of living, beyond the violence and limitations of colonialism, Light in Gaza is an urgent and powerful intervention into an important political moment.

Table of Contents

Map: Gaza strip and Gaza district before 1948
Foreword (Jehad Abusalim, Jennifer Bing, Michael Merryman-Lotze)

- Introduction (Jehad Abusalim)

- Gaza Asks: When Shall This Pass? (Rafaad Alareer)

- On Why We Still Hold Onto Our Phones and Keep Recording (Asmaa Abu Mezied)

- Breaking the Vicious Circle of Permanent Temporality (Shahd Abusalama)

- Don't Step on My Feet Again (Basman Aldirawi)

- Lost Identity: The Tale of Peasantry and Nature (Asmaa Abu Mezied)
- Why Are You Still Here? (Basman Aldirawi)

- Ethical Implications of Experimental Design on Affected Communities in the Gaza Strip (Salem Al Qudwa)

- People's Light In Gaza's Darkness (Suhail Taha)

- Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for Restoring Palestinian Rights and Improving the Quality of Life (Nour Naim)

- Exporting Oranges and Short Stories: Cultural Struggle in the Gaza Strip (Mosab Abu Toha)

- In the Haze of Fifty-One Days (Dorgham Abusalim)

- Travel Restrictions as a Manifestation of Nakba: Gazam the Path Backward is the Path Forward (Yousef M. Aljamal)

- Let Me Dream (Isram Mohammed Jamal)

- Gaza 2050: Three Scenarios (Basman Aldirawi)

- A Rose Shoulders Up (Mosab Abu Toha)

Notes
Index]]> 300 Jehad Abusalim 164259699X Ting Z. 4 non-fiction light in gaza offers a relevatory look into gaza, its history, present, future and inhabitants, both from inside the area and those in the diaspora. i esp appreciate how the authors of the various essays included in the book each focus on a different aspect of the occupation and resistance, examining the past and present with their implications, as well as imagining a better future.

while im not at all knowledgable abt certain topics explored - such AI and architecture - they are nevertheless enlightening and offer a truly unique, fresh perspective. i also particularly enjoy learning abt the deep bond between palestinians and their land thru peasantry, and the importance of humanitarianism that instead focuses on liberation and return. this is def a collection to be read and learned from, straight from palestinians themselves.]]> 4.70 2022 Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire
author: Jehad Abusalim
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.70
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2023/11/08
date added: 2023/12/29
shelves: non-fiction
review:
light in gaza offers a relevatory look into gaza, its history, present, future and inhabitants, both from inside the area and those in the diaspora. i esp appreciate how the authors of the various essays included in the book each focus on a different aspect of the occupation and resistance, examining the past and present with their implications, as well as imagining a better future.

while im not at all knowledgable abt certain topics explored - such AI and architecture - they are nevertheless enlightening and offer a truly unique, fresh perspective. i also particularly enjoy learning abt the deep bond between palestinians and their land thru peasantry, and the importance of humanitarianism that instead focuses on liberation and return. this is def a collection to be read and learned from, straight from palestinians themselves.
]]> Where the Wind Calls Home 123950862 168 Samar Yazbek 1642861405 Ting Z. 1 *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book. Where the Wind Calls Home focuses on Ali as he reflects on his life in the Syrian countryside while hanging between life and death.

While Yazbek's novel subtly and at times lyrically deals with themes of nature, community, identity, family and loss amid the backdrop of Syria's war and corruption, the prose and story as a whole comes off as endlessly rambling, needlessly detailed and overly obfuscated to me.

The novel would have been more impactful had it been more concise; with the current version, it took me nearly 4 months to muddle through such a slim book. The foundation for a good read was there, but in my opinion the execution hampered its potential.]]> 3.42 2022 Where the Wind Calls Home
author: Samar Yazbek
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.42
book published: 2022
rating: 1
read at: 2023/12/28
date added: 2023/12/29
shelves:
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book. Where the Wind Calls Home focuses on Ali as he reflects on his life in the Syrian countryside while hanging between life and death.

While Yazbek's novel subtly and at times lyrically deals with themes of nature, community, identity, family and loss amid the backdrop of Syria's war and corruption, the prose and story as a whole comes off as endlessly rambling, needlessly detailed and overly obfuscated to me.

The novel would have been more impactful had it been more concise; with the current version, it took me nearly 4 months to muddle through such a slim book. The foundation for a good read was there, but in my opinion the execution hampered its potential.
]]> Like This Afternoon Forever 42412662
For the last fifty years, the Colombian drug cartels, various insurgent groups, and the government have fought over the control of the drug traffic, in the process destroying vast stretches of the Amazon, devastating Indian communities, and killing tens of thousands of homesteaders caught in the middle of the conflict.

Inspired by these events, Jaime Manrique＊s sixth novel, Like This Afternoon Forever, weaves in two narratives: the shocking story of a series of murders known internationally as the ※false positives,§ and the related story of two gay Catholic priests who become lovers when they meet in the seminary.

Lucas (the son of farmers) and Ignacio (a descendant of the Bar赤 indigenous people) enter the seminary out of a desire to help others and to get an education. Their visceral love story undergoes stages of passion, indifference, rage, and a final commitment to stay together until the end of their lives. Working in a community largely composed of people displaced by the war, Ignacio stumbles upon the horrifying story of the false positives, which will put the lives of the two men in grave danger.

A novel on our Kaylie Jones Books imprint.]]> 224 Jaime Manrique 1617757187 Ting Z. 3 queer-yess like this afternoon forever is a compelling, memorable novel and character study of its 2 protagonists and their relationship thru adolescence and priesthood, set against the backdrop of the colombian civil war and its dark underbelly. lucas and ignacio couldnt be more different yet they find joy and solace in one another, though their relationship is not w/o its challenges, esp those brought abt by the latter.

i find the seminarian education and priesthood undertaken by the main characters to be informational, revelatory and even surprising by the open-secret nature of gay priests, inner politics and business side of things. lucas and ignacio's respective rumination on faith, religion, community and their own purposes are also thought-provoking, as well as helpful to fleshing out the characters into multidimentional ones w/ depth.

manrique demonstrates masterful storytelling thru this book, and tho the end result might be a lil uneven at points, it's nonetheless a melancholic yet moving one that will stay w/ me for a long time to come.]]> 3.76 2019 Like This Afternoon Forever
author: Jaime Manrique
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2023/12/24
date added: 2023/12/25
shelves: queer-yess
review:
3.75 stars - like this afternoon forever is a compelling, memorable novel and character study of its 2 protagonists and their relationship thru adolescence and priesthood, set against the backdrop of the colombian civil war and its dark underbelly. lucas and ignacio couldnt be more different yet they find joy and solace in one another, though their relationship is not w/o its challenges, esp those brought abt by the latter.

i find the seminarian education and priesthood undertaken by the main characters to be informational, revelatory and even surprising by the open-secret nature of gay priests, inner politics and business side of things. lucas and ignacio's respective rumination on faith, religion, community and their own purposes are also thought-provoking, as well as helpful to fleshing out the characters into multidimentional ones w/ depth.

manrique demonstrates masterful storytelling thru this book, and tho the end result might be a lil uneven at points, it's nonetheless a melancholic yet moving one that will stay w/ me for a long time to come.
]]> ?????????????????????????? 61242734
"????????" ????????????????? ? ???????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????? ??????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ? ??????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????...]]> 278 Kim Ho-yeon 6161848856 Ting Z. 5 books-of-my-heart ?????????????????????????? exceeds my already-quite-high expectations, becoming the best book i read so far this yr for its heart, themes, great storytelling, effective structure and how all the aforementioned elements and chapters come tgt at the end and crescendo into an unforgettable, hopeful and touching - albeit never manipulative - piece of work.

one of my fav things from the novel is how kim adeptly explores both personal and systemic social issues in south korea thru the characters and their stories (tho the writer using tokko's story as basis for her play doesnt rly sit well w/ me). the titular convenience store is a safe haven for many who are struggling in private and public spheres of life, providing a home - even if a temporary one - nightly manned by a previously homeless man. like, the story elements, symbolism and themes just play on each other so nicely. the structure imo is very effective as well, actually contributing positively to the book instead of obsfuscating the reader, and showing things thru the main character tokko's POV and reiterating the theme of 'u never know what someone's going thru' in a very non-corny, nuanced way.

this book def has that korean ? element, and its msgs of choosing to live on, family, power of kindness could go so wrong and corny handled by the wrong hands. in kim's hands, however, they make the novel a safe haven similar to the titular convenience store, one that i'll surely go back and visit again. ]]> 4.33 2021 ??????????????????????????
author: Kim Ho-yeon
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2023/09/19
date added: 2023/11/13
shelves: books-of-my-heart
review:
?????????????????????????? exceeds my already-quite-high expectations, becoming the best book i read so far this yr for its heart, themes, great storytelling, effective structure and how all the aforementioned elements and chapters come tgt at the end and crescendo into an unforgettable, hopeful and touching - albeit never manipulative - piece of work.

one of my fav things from the novel is how kim adeptly explores both personal and systemic social issues in south korea thru the characters and their stories (tho the writer using tokko's story as basis for her play doesnt rly sit well w/ me). the titular convenience store is a safe haven for many who are struggling in private and public spheres of life, providing a home - even if a temporary one - nightly manned by a previously homeless man. like, the story elements, symbolism and themes just play on each other so nicely. the structure imo is very effective as well, actually contributing positively to the book instead of obsfuscating the reader, and showing things thru the main character tokko's POV and reiterating the theme of 'u never know what someone's going thru' in a very non-corny, nuanced way.

this book def has that korean ? element, and its msgs of choosing to live on, family, power of kindness could go so wrong and corny handled by the wrong hands. in kim's hands, however, they make the novel a safe haven similar to the titular convenience store, one that i'll surely go back and visit again.
]]> <![CDATA[We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir]]> 43383506 SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2020 EDNA STAEBLER AWARD FOR CREATIVE NON-FICTION
NATIONAL BESTSELLER
2020 LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD WINNER
ONE OF BOOK RIOT'S 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL QUEER BOOKS OF ALL TIME

How do you find yourself when the world tells you that you don't exist?

Samra Habib has spent most of their life searching for the safety to be themself. As an Ahmadi Muslim growing up in Pakistan, they faced regular threats from Islamic extremists who believed the small, dynamic sect to be blasphemous. From their parents, they internalized the lesson that revealing their identity could put them in grave danger.

When their family came to Canada as refugees, Samra encountered a whole new host of bullies, racism, the threat of poverty, and an arranged marriage. Backed into a corner, their need for a safe space--in which to grow and nurture their creative, feminist spirit--became dire. The men in Samra's life wanted to police them, the women in their life had only shown them the example of pious obedience, and their body was a problem to be solved.

So begins an exploration of faith, art, love, and queer sexuality, a journey that takes them to the far reaches of the globe to uncover a truth that was within them all along. A triumphant memoir of forgiveness and family, both chosen and not, We Have Always Been Here is a rallying cry for anyone who has ever felt out of place and a testament to the power of fearlessly inhabiting one's truest self.]]> 220 Samra Habib 0735235015 Ting Z. 2 non-fiction, queer-yess we have always been here is a memoir focused on the intersection of habib's queerness and muslim identities. while it's good to see habib's gradual growth and self-discovery thruout the yrs - thru the different ppl, places and experiences she encounters - imo the book isnt as compelling as it could be. there are moments of brilliance here and there, but for such an interesting and rarely exploted subject matter of the life of a queer muslim woman, i expected it to be a bit better.]]> 4.16 2019 We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir
author: Samra Habib
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2019
rating: 2
read at: 2023/11/05
date added: 2023/11/07
shelves: non-fiction, queer-yess
review:
2.5 stars -- we have always been here is a memoir focused on the intersection of habib's queerness and muslim identities. while it's good to see habib's gradual growth and self-discovery thruout the yrs - thru the different ppl, places and experiences she encounters - imo the book isnt as compelling as it could be. there are moments of brilliance here and there, but for such an interesting and rarely exploted subject matter of the life of a queer muslim woman, i expected it to be a bit better.
]]> Blood Over Bright Haven 192316191 MAGIC HAS MADE THE CITY OF TIRAN AN INDUSTRIAL UTOPIA, BUT MAGIC HAS A COST AND THE COLLECTORS HAVE COME CALLING.

An orphan since the age of four, Sciona has always had more to prove than her fellow students. For twenty years, she has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fueled by a mad desire to achieve the to be the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry. When she finally claws her way up the ranks to become a highmage, however, she finds that her challenges have just begun. Her new colleagues will stop at nothing to let her know she is unwelcome, beginning with giving her a janitor instead of a qualified lab assistant.

What neither Sciona nor her peers realize is that her taciturn assistant was once more than a janitor; before he mopped floors for the mages, Thomil was a nomadic hunter from beyond Tiran＊s magical barrier. Ten years have passed since he survived the perilous crossing that killed his family. But working for a highmage, he sees the opportunity to finally understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland, and keep the Tiranish in power.

Through their fractious relationship, mage and outsider uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever〞if it doesn＊t get them killed first. Sciona has defined her life by the pursuit of truth, but how much is one truth worth with the fate of civilization in the balance?

A standalone dark academia brimming with mystery, tragedy, and the damning echoes of the past.


(Content warnings for gore, sexual assault, and suicidal ideation)]]> 517 M.L. Wang Ting Z. 4 blood over bright haven is a powerful book that meditates on important and relevant themes of truth, power and survival through a magic system that makes physically literal the horrors of societal development at the price of human lives.

through her opposing tiranish and kwen characters, wang masterfully explores the warped logic the powerful uses to justify the exploitation of the powerless, and the toxic dynamic between them. it is nuanced and fully fleshed out, satisfying in its truth and takedown of the hypocrisy of it all, as are her main characters, esp sciona. all this is further propped up by the strong writing and distinct worldbuilding.

the novel could be a bit shorter, however, and some of the plot points are surprisingly predictable for me, thus lessening the impact of their reveals overall. this book also makes me realize that dark academia isnt for me - this being my second time reading one - as i find the incessant loop of studying and research dull for the most part. in capable hands like wang's, though, this book is a must read regardless of genre preferences.]]> 4.55 2023 Blood Over Bright Haven
author: M.L. Wang
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.55
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/09/05
date added: 2023/09/17
shelves:
review:
blood over bright haven is a powerful book that meditates on important and relevant themes of truth, power and survival through a magic system that makes physically literal the horrors of societal development at the price of human lives.

through her opposing tiranish and kwen characters, wang masterfully explores the warped logic the powerful uses to justify the exploitation of the powerless, and the toxic dynamic between them. it is nuanced and fully fleshed out, satisfying in its truth and takedown of the hypocrisy of it all, as are her main characters, esp sciona. all this is further propped up by the strong writing and distinct worldbuilding.

the novel could be a bit shorter, however, and some of the plot points are surprisingly predictable for me, thus lessening the impact of their reveals overall. this book also makes me realize that dark academia isnt for me - this being my second time reading one - as i find the incessant loop of studying and research dull for the most part. in capable hands like wang's, though, this book is a must read regardless of genre preferences.
]]> <![CDATA[Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators＊ Revolution]]> 59879803 A new dark academic fantasy by the New York Times bestselling author of The Poppy War

Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.

Oxford, 1836.

The city of dreaming spires.

It is the centre of all knowledge and progress in the world.

And at its centre is Babel, the Royal Institute of Translation. The tower from which all the power of the Empire flows.

Orphaned in Canton and brought to England by a mysterious guardian, Babel seemed like paradise to Robin Swift.

Until it became a prison＃

But can a student stand against an empire?

An incendiary new novel from award-winning author R.F. Kuang about the power of language, the violence of colonialism, and the sacrifices of resistance.]]> 546 R.F. Kuang 0008501815 Ting Z. 3 babel was hands down my most anticipated read of the yr - i pre-ordered a special signed edition 6 months prior to publication and splurged on int'l shipping - and it's def a good read, tho not as great as i'd hoped it'd be, maybe bc of my (perhaps unfairly) high expectations, and now i have complicated feelings abt it. this novel's got a solid foundation w/ its brilliant and ingenious worldbuilding that highly complements its themes, tho i personally wish certain aspects of the storytelling were done differently.

the worldbuilding is nothing short of marvelous, w/ kuang building on and warping history in astonishingly believable ways thru her idea of silver-working. the way language is metaphorically and literally used for the aforementioned is nothing short of genius, and boy does this book explore language, translation, and their connections to culture and history to great effect. it was dense at times yet i learned so damn much about those topics that i have to reread the book soon to truly savor them all. kuang's damn smart and i feel smarter simply reading her work here.

kuang also pulls no punches w/ her themes and criticism of colonialism, ripping colonizers and white ppl to shreds again and again through both academic rhetoric and complex characterization, to my great delight. it's just so damn satisfying and refreshing to read it all on the pg, to see how the themes are examined from various angles, and in such an unconventional way of dark academia as well.

this being a dark academia, however, contributes to my one of my qualms abt the book. the intense focus on campus life and robin & co's grueling studies get old after a while, and the first third of the book's particularly slow. like i dont even rmb what exactly occurs in the first third, since robin's days on campus blur into one another w/o any reprieve to the outside world. this novel's surprisingly predictable as well; i could see some reveals from a mile away, even the ending.

and since babel's so focused on ideas and themes, sometimes i feel like the characters take a backseat. they're def still very complex and layered - kuang paint them all w/ surprising nuance, even the detestable yts - but imo we dont spend enough time w/ them, or dont learn deeply enough abt them bc i bafflingly dont feel as connected to them as i should be, despite the high stakes; it somehow feels muddling even though it should be searing. as such, i wouldve loved some more scenes of actual talking or reflection abt or by the main quartet and less of the sped-up narration. more breathing room and character reflection of crucial events that just transpired wouldve allowed us to get into their heads and process their losses too. this would esp benefit how the novel deals w/ its character deaths, as currently some of them fee gratuitous or even avoidable, and the skipping over robin's thoughts/feelings on them shut the reader out.

i also have issues w/ some of the plot, specifically the cover-up of [redacted]'s murder and [redacted]'s escape from gaol. for the former, i dont understand why the u-know-who try to lie through the whole thing instead of saying that the dude died, when many from hermes society have succeeded going down that route before. surely they knew lying was unsustainable in the long-term esp w/ how flimsy their story was?? and for the latter, why didnt they just use the invisibility bar when they were escaping instead of risking being spotted? griffin had the bar on him the whole time and surely it was the prudent thing to use it instead of engaging in a friggin shoot-out w/ the yt boy?? also that whole shooting spiel was so out of the blue and the immediate aftermath was simply a bruh moment. these two points seem like they couldve been avoided or smarter solutions thought up for them, where rn it feels like theyre written that way simply to speed things along kuang's desired plot direction, to confounding effect.

tbh i wish i liked the book more, and this wouldve gotten less stars if not for the inventive worldbuilding. even so, babel is a deliciously blistering condemnation of colonialism, a surprisingly illuminating read, and a meaty, thought-provoking treatise on the necessity of violence, a question thats still as relevant as ever.

---

[jan 2022: THE COVERRRR i def like the uk one more tho. rly want a signed a copy PLSSSS]

-------

i'll read anything by rf kuang..even if all she inflicts on me is pain, pain, and more pain]]> 4.25 2022 Babel, Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators＊ Revolution
author: R.F. Kuang
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/10/25
date added: 2023/09/12
shelves:
review:
it breaks my heart a lil to give this 3.5 stars. babel was hands down my most anticipated read of the yr - i pre-ordered a special signed edition 6 months prior to publication and splurged on int'l shipping - and it's def a good read, tho not as great as i'd hoped it'd be, maybe bc of my (perhaps unfairly) high expectations, and now i have complicated feelings abt it. this novel's got a solid foundation w/ its brilliant and ingenious worldbuilding that highly complements its themes, tho i personally wish certain aspects of the storytelling were done differently.

the worldbuilding is nothing short of marvelous, w/ kuang building on and warping history in astonishingly believable ways thru her idea of silver-working. the way language is metaphorically and literally used for the aforementioned is nothing short of genius, and boy does this book explore language, translation, and their connections to culture and history to great effect. it was dense at times yet i learned so damn much about those topics that i have to reread the book soon to truly savor them all. kuang's damn smart and i feel smarter simply reading her work here.

kuang also pulls no punches w/ her themes and criticism of colonialism, ripping colonizers and white ppl to shreds again and again through both academic rhetoric and complex characterization, to my great delight. it's just so damn satisfying and refreshing to read it all on the pg, to see how the themes are examined from various angles, and in such an unconventional way of dark academia as well.

this being a dark academia, however, contributes to my one of my qualms abt the book. the intense focus on campus life and robin & co's grueling studies get old after a while, and the first third of the book's particularly slow. like i dont even rmb what exactly occurs in the first third, since robin's days on campus blur into one another w/o any reprieve to the outside world. this novel's surprisingly predictable as well; i could see some reveals from a mile away, even the ending.

and since babel's so focused on ideas and themes, sometimes i feel like the characters take a backseat. they're def still very complex and layered - kuang paint them all w/ surprising nuance, even the detestable yts - but imo we dont spend enough time w/ them, or dont learn deeply enough abt them bc i bafflingly dont feel as connected to them as i should be, despite the high stakes; it somehow feels muddling even though it should be searing. as such, i wouldve loved some more scenes of actual talking or reflection abt or by the main quartet and less of the sped-up narration. more breathing room and character reflection of crucial events that just transpired wouldve allowed us to get into their heads and process their losses too. this would esp benefit how the novel deals w/ its character deaths, as currently some of them fee gratuitous or even avoidable, and the skipping over robin's thoughts/feelings on them shut the reader out.

i also have issues w/ some of the plot, specifically the cover-up of [redacted]'s murder and [redacted]'s escape from gaol. for the former, i dont understand why the u-know-who try to lie through the whole thing instead of saying that the dude died, when many from hermes society have succeeded going down that route before. surely they knew lying was unsustainable in the long-term esp w/ how flimsy their story was?? and for the latter, why didnt they just use the invisibility bar when they were escaping instead of risking being spotted? griffin had the bar on him the whole time and surely it was the prudent thing to use it instead of engaging in a friggin shoot-out w/ the yt boy?? also that whole shooting spiel was so out of the blue and the immediate aftermath was simply a bruh moment. these two points seem like they couldve been avoided or smarter solutions thought up for them, where rn it feels like theyre written that way simply to speed things along kuang's desired plot direction, to confounding effect.

tbh i wish i liked the book more, and this wouldve gotten less stars if not for the inventive worldbuilding. even so, babel is a deliciously blistering condemnation of colonialism, a surprisingly illuminating read, and a meaty, thought-provoking treatise on the necessity of violence, a question thats still as relevant as ever.

---

[jan 2022: THE COVERRRR i def like the uk one more tho. rly want a signed a copy PLSSSS]

-------

i'll read anything by rf kuang..even if all she inflicts on me is pain, pain, and more pain
]]> <![CDATA[NARUTO求瓜伙玄求 市市扑贈 縒鴗怹 [Kakashi Hiden: Hy身ten no Ikazuchi]]]> 24249111 226 Masashi Kishimoto 4087033449 Ting Z. 3 shorts 4.10 2015 NARUTO求瓜伙玄求 市市扑贈 縒鴗怹 [Kakashi Hiden: Hy身ten no Ikazuchi]
author: Masashi Kishimoto
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.10
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2015/08/10
date added: 2023/08/22
shelves: shorts
review:

]]> <![CDATA[NARUTO求瓜伙玄求 扑市穴伙贈 及a卞腹少 [Shikamaru Hiden: Yami no Shijima ni Ukabu Kumo]]]> 24926089 226 Masashi Kishimoto 4087033473 Ting Z. 4 shorts hiden: friendship, trust, true self, etc. Also, the Shikatema and SaIno moments were simply precious. <3 ]]> 4.21 NARUTO求瓜伙玄求 扑市穴伙贈 及a卞腹少 [Shikamaru Hiden: Yami no Shijima ni Ukabu Kumo]
author: Masashi Kishimoto
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.21
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2015/08/11
date added: 2023/08/22
shelves: shorts
review:
Loved the themes in this hiden: friendship, trust, true self, etc. Also, the Shikatema and SaIno moments were simply precious. <3
]]> <![CDATA[NARUTO求瓜伙玄求 扔弁仿贈 佷蟋﹜景餫卞及六化 [Sakura Hiden: Shiren, Harukaze ni Nosete]]]> 25251716 250 Masashi Kishimoto 4087033546 Ting Z. 0 dnf, shorts 4.11 2015 NARUTO求瓜伙玄求 扔弁仿贈 佷蟋﹜景餫卞及六化 [Sakura Hiden: Shiren, Harukaze ni Nosete]
author: Masashi Kishimoto
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/08/22
shelves: dnf, shorts
review:

]]> <![CDATA[NARUTO求瓜伙玄求 扂衖_贈 仱m酵砑 [Gaara Hiden: Sajingens身]]]> 25416085 210 Masashi Kishimoto 4087033643 Ting Z. 0 dnf, shorts 4.31 2015 NARUTO求瓜伙玄求 扂衖_贈 仱m酵砑 [Gaara Hiden: Sajingens身]
author: Masashi Kishimoto
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2023/08/22
shelves: dnf, shorts
review:

]]> Deathless 18231525 352 Catherynne M. Valente 147210868X Ting Z. 1 y-u-let-meh-down like abt it??? then i realized: nothing, it makes me depressed and confused and its fatalism and msg completely overtake the essence of the story. changing my rating to 1.5 stars and it's sad bc i was sooo looking forward to this...

-------

original review:

deathless was one of my most anticipated reads this yr, so it rly rly pains me to give it only 2 stars, making it prolly my most disappointing read of the yr so far. i didnt hate it and the book wasnt in any way bad, but it could've been more. the book's dense and got great and affecting--oft even lyrical--writing; adeptly utilizes its fairytale elements, resulting in an organic fusion of russian fairytale and factual history; original worldbuilding esp for buyan and the territorial war (how even a single leaf, a single rock is divided into the country of life's or death's); it's strangely romantic; and important, thought-provoking themes and msgs that are explored in a complex way.

however, i personally feel that this focus on hammering home the themes might have taken a toll on the story and its ~purely story~ aspect. the book's jam-packed w/ themes and while it's indeed--as a review puts it--bold and subversive, it's also confusing and somehow confoundingly lacking. while marya and koschei def deals w/ themes of love and power, i feel that their scope of story is not expansive enough to deal w/ life and death. the story's partly set in russia during world war ii, led by characters who fight decades long battles, yet a majority of it reads like a domestic drama of an open relationship. i wouldve liked more depiction of the gap between the end of part 2 and start of part 3: what was koschei and marya's relationship like during at least some of the interim 13 yrs? how was marya during her first few battles? a lot went into the start of the leads' relationship, but not enough was illustrated of its everyday meat and subtance. it just feels like a good chunk of the book shows things after they happen, and the few action it shows is not very substantial. also i dont truly like any of the characters?? not asking for black-and-white characters who are all good or bad, but somehow they're all at least a lil unlikable lol. and after a winding path towards the end, i dont even rly get the ending either, and idk if it's bc im too dumb to understand or if the msg's too obfuscated at that point. this had a lot more potential and im just very sad that it wasnt explored.]]> 3.91 2011 Deathless
author: Catherynne M. Valente
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2011
rating: 1
read at: 2021/09/06
date added: 2023/08/18
shelves: y-u-let-meh-down
review:
nah, i cant. every time i see this book on my shelf it pisses me off, then it got me thinking: what did i even like abt it??? then i realized: nothing, it makes me depressed and confused and its fatalism and msg completely overtake the essence of the story. changing my rating to 1.5 stars and it's sad bc i was sooo looking forward to this...

-------

original review:

deathless was one of my most anticipated reads this yr, so it rly rly pains me to give it only 2 stars, making it prolly my most disappointing read of the yr so far. i didnt hate it and the book wasnt in any way bad, but it could've been more. the book's dense and got great and affecting--oft even lyrical--writing; adeptly utilizes its fairytale elements, resulting in an organic fusion of russian fairytale and factual history; original worldbuilding esp for buyan and the territorial war (how even a single leaf, a single rock is divided into the country of life's or death's); it's strangely romantic; and important, thought-provoking themes and msgs that are explored in a complex way.

however, i personally feel that this focus on hammering home the themes might have taken a toll on the story and its ~purely story~ aspect. the book's jam-packed w/ themes and while it's indeed--as a review puts it--bold and subversive, it's also confusing and somehow confoundingly lacking. while marya and koschei def deals w/ themes of love and power, i feel that their scope of story is not expansive enough to deal w/ life and death. the story's partly set in russia during world war ii, led by characters who fight decades long battles, yet a majority of it reads like a domestic drama of an open relationship. i wouldve liked more depiction of the gap between the end of part 2 and start of part 3: what was koschei and marya's relationship like during at least some of the interim 13 yrs? how was marya during her first few battles? a lot went into the start of the leads' relationship, but not enough was illustrated of its everyday meat and subtance. it just feels like a good chunk of the book shows things after they happen, and the few action it shows is not very substantial. also i dont truly like any of the characters?? not asking for black-and-white characters who are all good or bad, but somehow they're all at least a lil unlikable lol. and after a winding path towards the end, i dont even rly get the ending either, and idk if it's bc im too dumb to understand or if the msg's too obfuscated at that point. this had a lot more potential and im just very sad that it wasnt explored.
]]> The Dreaming 65000324 Miguel Street.]]> 163 Andre Bagoo 1845235738 Ting Z. 3 queer-yess, shorts the dreaming is a great collection of short stories featuring mostly gay and queer men in trinidad, and characters who are all surprisingly connected to each other. the stories are all different, unpredictable and often veering from expectations, keeping the reader on their toes.

tho some stories are more memorable than others, and overall the whole work's impact isnt as visceral as i think it could be, bagoo's writing nevertheless flows rly well, and rings true for both sth universal and personal. i also enjoy how the crux of each story - be it the theme, main conflict or the characters' circumstances - varies. the most T&T setting can be immersive as well, and im grateful to get to learn more abt the caribbean country and its ppl - esp those who are LGBTQ+ - in various ways thru bagoo's first collection of fiction. ]]> 4.00 2022 The Dreaming
author: Andre Bagoo
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2023/08/10
date added: 2023/08/11
shelves: queer-yess, shorts
review:
3.5 stars - the dreaming is a great collection of short stories featuring mostly gay and queer men in trinidad, and characters who are all surprisingly connected to each other. the stories are all different, unpredictable and often veering from expectations, keeping the reader on their toes.

tho some stories are more memorable than others, and overall the whole work's impact isnt as visceral as i think it could be, bagoo's writing nevertheless flows rly well, and rings true for both sth universal and personal. i also enjoy how the crux of each story - be it the theme, main conflict or the characters' circumstances - varies. the most T&T setting can be immersive as well, and im grateful to get to learn more abt the caribbean country and its ppl - esp those who are LGBTQ+ - in various ways thru bagoo's first collection of fiction.
]]> Yellowface 59357120
So what if June edits Athena＊s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song〞complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? This piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller. That is what June believes, and The New York Times bestseller list agrees.

But June cannot escape Athena＊s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens her stolen success. As she races to protect her secret she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.]]> 329 R.F. Kuang Ting Z. 3 yellowface is a fast-paced read that provides a rare look into the racist, hypocritical and surprisingly cutthroat world of publishing, and i enjoyed it more than i initially expected.

kuang very adeptly inhibits the mind and warped logic + rationale of a self-victimized white woman, and in turn the white dominant publishing industry that enables it, w/ june becoming increasingly twisted. i also like the very nuanced take into online discourse, the canceled and those doing the canceling, as well as how athena is an imperfect victim.

for a supposed satire, however, the novel isnt unhinged enough for me. currently while it's def ridiculous, it's still too close to reality and not absurd enough; i think kuang could push the envelope even further. adding to this, the tense mystery around athena's family also isnt as dramatic as i thought it'd or should be, thus i frankly dont get the fuss patricia kicks up over the notebooks.

the book's an undeniably compelling one - akin to watching a trainwreck happen - and while it's imperfect i still very much enjoy it.]]> 3.84 2023 Yellowface
author: R.F. Kuang
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2023/08/04
date added: 2023/08/07
shelves:
review:
3.5 stars - compulsively readable, yellowface is a fast-paced read that provides a rare look into the racist, hypocritical and surprisingly cutthroat world of publishing, and i enjoyed it more than i initially expected.

kuang very adeptly inhibits the mind and warped logic + rationale of a self-victimized white woman, and in turn the white dominant publishing industry that enables it, w/ june becoming increasingly twisted. i also like the very nuanced take into online discourse, the canceled and those doing the canceling, as well as how athena is an imperfect victim.

for a supposed satire, however, the novel isnt unhinged enough for me. currently while it's def ridiculous, it's still too close to reality and not absurd enough; i think kuang could push the envelope even further. adding to this, the tense mystery around athena's family also isnt as dramatic as i thought it'd or should be, thus i frankly dont get the fuss patricia kicks up over the notebooks.

the book's an undeniably compelling one - akin to watching a trainwreck happen - and while it's imperfect i still very much enjoy it.
]]> Small Worlds 59634120 An exhilarating and expansive new novel about fathers and sons, faith and friendship from Caleb Azumah Nelson, the no.1 bestselling, award-winning author of Open Water

The one thing that can solve Stephen's problems is dancing. Dancing at Church, with his parents and brother, the shimmer of Black hands raised in praise; he might have lost his faith, but he does believe in rhythm. Dancing with his friends, somewhere in a basement with the drums about to drop, while the DJ spins garage cuts. Dancing with his band, making music which speaks not just to the hardships of their lives, but the joys too. Dancing with his best friend Adeline, two-stepping around the living room, crooning and grooving, so close their heads might touch. Dancing alone, at home, to his father's records, uncovering parts of a man he has never truly known.

Stephen has only ever known himself in song. But what becomes of him when the music fades? When his father begins to speak of shame and sacrifice, when his home is no longer his own? How will he find space for himself: a place where he can feel beautiful, a place he might feel free?

Set over the course of three summers in Stephen's life, from London to Ghana and back again, Small Worlds is an exhilarating and expansive novel about the worlds we build for ourselves, the worlds we live, dance and love within.]]> 260 Caleb Azumah Nelson 024157434X Ting Z. 1 *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

1.5 stars -- I am disappointed to say that Small Worlds was not for me, which is unfortunate as I really enjoyed Nelson's debut novella. This novel was a slog to get through - I wanted to DNF it several times - because of the uneven pacing and overly contemplative story, which at times chose to focus on the most boring minute details over the meat of the plot. Meanwhile the writing, which I had found so poetic and enjoyable in the author's previous work, did not stand out to me. The sum of the uninteresting parts thus created a book that I did not particularly enjoy, despite the very real themes and relevant issues it raised and explored. ]]> 4.29 2023 Small Worlds
author: Caleb Azumah Nelson
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2023
rating: 1
read at: 2023/07/31
date added: 2023/08/01
shelves:
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

1.5 stars -- I am disappointed to say that Small Worlds was not for me, which is unfortunate as I really enjoyed Nelson's debut novella. This novel was a slog to get through - I wanted to DNF it several times - because of the uneven pacing and overly contemplative story, which at times chose to focus on the most boring minute details over the meat of the plot. Meanwhile the writing, which I had found so poetic and enjoyable in the author's previous work, did not stand out to me. The sum of the uninteresting parts thus created a book that I did not particularly enjoy, despite the very real themes and relevant issues it raised and explored.
]]> Olga Dies Dreaming 57693171
Despite their alluring public lives, behind closed doors things are far less rosy. Sure, Olga can orchestrate the love stories of the 1%, but she can't seem to find her own...until she meets Matteo, who forces her to confront the effects of long-held family secrets...

Twenty-seven years ago, their mother, Blanca, a Young Lord-turned-radical, abandoned her children to advance a militant political cause, leaving them to be raised by their grandmother. Now, with the winds of hurricane season, Blanca has come barreling back into their lives.

Set against the backdrop of New York City in the months surrounding the most devastating hurricane in Puerto Rico's history, Olga Dies Dreaming is a story that examines political corruption, familial strife and the very notion of the American dream--all while asking what it really means to weather a storm.]]> 369 X車chitl Gonz芍lez 1250786177 Ting Z. 4 queer-yess olga dies dreaming - though not w/o faults - is a book that will stay w/ me as a result of its deep understanding of the main characters and nuanced exploration of puerto rican identity and struggle, both of which come tgt to create an emotional and rich story.

the characters are imbued w/ depth, and w/ olga and prieto, we learn more and more abt them the further into the novel, and the core of the story is them coming to important realization abt themselves, which is hard but ultimately satisfying. surprisingly, i also like olga and matteo's relationship, and enjoy how it veers from my initial expectation.

the setting plays a crucial part in this novel, and both a brooklyn and puerto rico that are rarely portrayed in the mainstream help breathe a lot of life unti the story. the sense of community that persists in both gentrifying brooklyn and struggling puerto rico are uplifting too. another i rly applaud gonzalez for is the portrayal of how the rich and powerful encroach into politics, how a small few can wield so much influence as a result of corruption, so easily holding hostage a whole nation in its hands. the book's depiction of revolution and fight for the better good are thought-provoking as well, and i do hope the 2025 PR shown in this book will become a reality sooner than later.

while the story caps off on a satisfying note, there's still a few loose - or antithetical - ends. the resolution of preito's struggle w/ the selby brothers seems too easy for me; their downfall is only mentioned in broad strokes and i wonder why they didnt make use of bonilla to leak the preito's pics or info on blanca. at times it seems like important stuff happens off-pg, and this is an example. nevertheless, this is a rich, full-bodied book thats thought-provoking, relevant and emotionally impactful.
]]> 3.95 2022 Olga Dies Dreaming
author: X車chitl Gonz芍lez
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2023/04/02
date added: 2023/06/29
shelves: queer-yess
review:
olga dies dreaming - though not w/o faults - is a book that will stay w/ me as a result of its deep understanding of the main characters and nuanced exploration of puerto rican identity and struggle, both of which come tgt to create an emotional and rich story.

the characters are imbued w/ depth, and w/ olga and prieto, we learn more and more abt them the further into the novel, and the core of the story is them coming to important realization abt themselves, which is hard but ultimately satisfying. surprisingly, i also like olga and matteo's relationship, and enjoy how it veers from my initial expectation.

the setting plays a crucial part in this novel, and both a brooklyn and puerto rico that are rarely portrayed in the mainstream help breathe a lot of life unti the story. the sense of community that persists in both gentrifying brooklyn and struggling puerto rico are uplifting too. another i rly applaud gonzalez for is the portrayal of how the rich and powerful encroach into politics, how a small few can wield so much influence as a result of corruption, so easily holding hostage a whole nation in its hands. the book's depiction of revolution and fight for the better good are thought-provoking as well, and i do hope the 2025 PR shown in this book will become a reality sooner than later.

while the story caps off on a satisfying note, there's still a few loose - or antithetical - ends. the resolution of preito's struggle w/ the selby brothers seems too easy for me; their downfall is only mentioned in broad strokes and i wonder why they didnt make use of bonilla to leak the preito's pics or info on blanca. at times it seems like important stuff happens off-pg, and this is an example. nevertheless, this is a rich, full-bodied book thats thought-provoking, relevant and emotionally impactful.

]]> Beijing Comrades 25330114
Arrogant and privileged, Handong is unsettled by this desire, while Lan Yu quietly submits. Despite divergent lives, the two men spend their nights together, establishing a deep connection. When loyalties are tested, Handong is left questioning his secrets, his choices, and his very identity.

Beijing Comrades is the story of a torrid love affair set against the sociopolitical unrest of late-eighties China. Due to its depiction of gay sexuality and its critique of the totalitarian government,?it?was originally published anonymously on an underground gay website within mainland China. This riveting and heartbreaking novel, circulated throughout China in 1998, quickly developed a cult following, and remains a central work of queer literature from the People's Republic of China. This is the first English-language translation of Beijing Comrades.

Bei Tong is the anonymous author of Beijing Comrades. The author's real-world identity has been a subject of ongoing debate since the novel was first published.]]> 384 Beijing Tongzhi 1558619070 Ting Z. 3 queer-yess beijing comrades is a moving novel for sure, albeit also a very sad one. the story moves slowly thru the nearly 10 yrs of on-off relationship between han dong and lan yu, the joys and sorrows they experience, and how they each and tgt cope w/ social pressure and stigma.

the main characters are very fleshed out here, though as confounding as some of their actions are, their characterization and development make it all make sense somehow, and we see them evolving both for better and for worse thru the story. certain things do seem incomprehensible to me, however, as sometimes the characters' thoughts and actions dont match, such as han dong's random hookups despite claiming that he's v much in love w/ han yu, which is particularly disrespectful when theyve never agreed on being open or polygamous. i also feel frustrated w/ han yu's personality in the last quarter or so of the book, tho i suppose it's important to read between the lines too, seeing as it's one of the book's main themes.

the impact of social pressures and stigma are depicted well by bei tong as well. the impossibility of two men being tgt def provides the book w/ its emotional gut punches. bei tong does a fantastic job of capturing the longing, lust, love, despair, hopelessness, physical and emotional aspects of a love forsaken to live in the dark. i teared up at points, lost in the writing and the emotions it encapsulates and provokes on the page. reading this novel, i rly feel for queer folks esp back in that time and esp in a place w/ as rigid a social hierarchy and expectations as china. like if the book shows what a rich dude goes thru bc he's queer, can one imagine what those less privileged than him has to endure, w/o the cushion of financial stability. it's particularly upsetting that official state attitudes in china havent changed much at all thru the decades.

i have to single out myers for the great translation as well; not once did the language feel awkward or floundering, an impressive feat esp considering that he's a yt man. however, the book feels repetitive a lot of the time, w/ han dong going thru the same thought processes, coming to a conclusion, then reversing it several times over. i also wish there were more scenes that break up the monotony a bit; it's just weird that there's no lengthy chapter of them traveling tgt at least once when one of them's loaded af. the lack of communication between the main characters is frustrating too.

overall this is a sad but moving - albeit at times frustrating and repetitive - read. it's emotionally provocative and the beijing it harks back to is vivid, a setting so alive. armed w/ a good translation, it's a novel for anyone down for sth melancholic.]]> 3.99 1998 Beijing Comrades
author: Beijing Tongzhi
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.99
book published: 1998
rating: 3
read at: 2023/06/18
date added: 2023/06/24
shelves: queer-yess
review:
3.5 stars -- well, that was depressing. beijing comrades is a moving novel for sure, albeit also a very sad one. the story moves slowly thru the nearly 10 yrs of on-off relationship between han dong and lan yu, the joys and sorrows they experience, and how they each and tgt cope w/ social pressure and stigma.

the main characters are very fleshed out here, though as confounding as some of their actions are, their characterization and development make it all make sense somehow, and we see them evolving both for better and for worse thru the story. certain things do seem incomprehensible to me, however, as sometimes the characters' thoughts and actions dont match, such as han dong's random hookups despite claiming that he's v much in love w/ han yu, which is particularly disrespectful when theyve never agreed on being open or polygamous. i also feel frustrated w/ han yu's personality in the last quarter or so of the book, tho i suppose it's important to read between the lines too, seeing as it's one of the book's main themes.

the impact of social pressures and stigma are depicted well by bei tong as well. the impossibility of two men being tgt def provides the book w/ its emotional gut punches. bei tong does a fantastic job of capturing the longing, lust, love, despair, hopelessness, physical and emotional aspects of a love forsaken to live in the dark. i teared up at points, lost in the writing and the emotions it encapsulates and provokes on the page. reading this novel, i rly feel for queer folks esp back in that time and esp in a place w/ as rigid a social hierarchy and expectations as china. like if the book shows what a rich dude goes thru bc he's queer, can one imagine what those less privileged than him has to endure, w/o the cushion of financial stability. it's particularly upsetting that official state attitudes in china havent changed much at all thru the decades.

i have to single out myers for the great translation as well; not once did the language feel awkward or floundering, an impressive feat esp considering that he's a yt man. however, the book feels repetitive a lot of the time, w/ han dong going thru the same thought processes, coming to a conclusion, then reversing it several times over. i also wish there were more scenes that break up the monotony a bit; it's just weird that there's no lengthy chapter of them traveling tgt at least once when one of them's loaded af. the lack of communication between the main characters is frustrating too.

overall this is a sad but moving - albeit at times frustrating and repetitive - read. it's emotionally provocative and the beijing it harks back to is vivid, a setting so alive. armed w/ a good translation, it's a novel for anyone down for sth melancholic.
]]> The Court Charade 63363157 114 Flore Vesco Ting Z. 3 artsy-art *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

The Court Charade is a fast-paced, romping read about a girl's time in the palace, the people she meets and how she winds up changing things through her witty, determined, go-getter attitude.

I don't care much for the story or the characters especially as the latter can be one-dimensional, but overall the book still manages to keep me invested because of Serine's hijinks and shenanigans. I do like how the palace staff got Serine's back though, which illustrates the value of kindness and its returns. The story ties up nicely in the end as well, all the hints and plot threads finally coming together to shed light on the big reveal, though I wish the ending was longer and wasn't so abrupt.

The art is very expressive and effective, with the characters, their physical dynamics, the settings and scenes illustrated nicely and very fittingly for the story. My one complaint about the art, however, is how the pages are often so crammed that it's difficult to discern either the text or the art in more detail; the comic would've benefited more from being longer so each page has more room to breathe and space to be utilized with more techniques, as the artist has illustrated they're capable of.

This is a good read for anyone looking for something lighthearted, quick, and not too hung up on story technicalities and plot plausibility.]]> 3.77 2022 The Court Charade
author: Flore Vesco
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2023/05/31
date added: 2023/05/31
shelves: artsy-art
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

The Court Charade is a fast-paced, romping read about a girl's time in the palace, the people she meets and how she winds up changing things through her witty, determined, go-getter attitude.

I don't care much for the story or the characters especially as the latter can be one-dimensional, but overall the book still manages to keep me invested because of Serine's hijinks and shenanigans. I do like how the palace staff got Serine's back though, which illustrates the value of kindness and its returns. The story ties up nicely in the end as well, all the hints and plot threads finally coming together to shed light on the big reveal, though I wish the ending was longer and wasn't so abrupt.

The art is very expressive and effective, with the characters, their physical dynamics, the settings and scenes illustrated nicely and very fittingly for the story. My one complaint about the art, however, is how the pages are often so crammed that it's difficult to discern either the text or the art in more detail; the comic would've benefited more from being longer so each page has more room to breathe and space to be utilized with more techniques, as the artist has illustrated they're capable of.

This is a good read for anyone looking for something lighthearted, quick, and not too hung up on story technicalities and plot plausibility.
]]> Ever Since 62192521
Seventeen-year-old Virginia makes bad choices. In fact, she＊s That Kind of Girl, according to the whispers. But as long as she has her tight group of best friends by her side, she＊s able to ignore the gossipers. Until she finds herself spending time with Rumi, Poppy＊s boyfriend. Breaking with tradition, she doesn＊t hook up with Rumi. Worse, she falls in love with him.

While Virginia and Rumi＊s relationship grows in secret, she discovers that his little sister, Lyra, is being groomed for abuse. The soon-to-be-abuser is a respected member of the community, and only Virginia knows who he is and what he does. If she stays quiet, Lyra will become a victim. But coming forward feels equally impossible.]]> 288 Alena Bruzas 0593616170 Ting Z. 3 *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Ever Since is a tough but ultimately rewarding read about realistic, messy characters that takes place over the course of their last summer in high school, a story of abuse and finding one's voice that is needed but will no doubt be challenging a read to many.

The novel, above all else, illustrates the impact of abuse and trauma, the endless cycle or harm and revictimization, and poses the question of how said cycle could ever be broken, when the victim is also so broken. It also effectively depicts the power of safe space: how the existence of one is akin to a lifesaving anchor, and the contrary perpetuates harm. We always hear about how important it is especially for young people to have a safe roof over their heads, and never have I seen this shown so well in a novel as Bruzas does in her book here.

The majority of characters are multidimensional and messy, especially the main character Virginia, but understandably so, particulatly when their circumstances are shed light on towards the end of the story. Nevertheless, understanding the root of Virginia's destructive actions - both unto herself and her supposed dear ones - does not make it any easier to read. On the contrary, I am personally frustrated by the 'hurt people hurt people' adage so encapsulated in the book, knowing it hurts Virginia more than anyone to do what she does, but seemingly impossible to stop doing so.

Which leads to one of my caveats with the novel: it is never explained - at least clearly or in detail - why many of Virginia's harmful actions are done towards the proclaimed important people in her life. Being abused and traumatized make it understandable but not wholly innocent. In my opinion, Virginia should have taken more accountability about the things she did that hurt her friends, because it seems like she gets off scot-free; being a victim does not make her actions absolvable in themselves.

I also think the change in Virginia's psyche and her sense of self-worth is too sudden, finding her voice in one chapter then suddenly feeling invincible the next, when her growth could be a little more scattered throughout. As for the writing, there are definitely powerful moments that are searing and visceral - especially towards the end - but for the most part the short, choppy sentences and frequent breaks in paragraphs read a little juvenile and affect the pacing, though this could have been done to show Virginia's inner psyche.

All in all, Ever Since is a well-intentioned and compelling book whose story may prove challenging to many. The novel is ultimately rewarding, but it is a tough road getting there, especially with some uneven execution.]]> 4.13 2023 Ever Since
author: Alena Bruzas
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2023/05/26
date added: 2023/05/26
shelves:
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Ever Since is a tough but ultimately rewarding read about realistic, messy characters that takes place over the course of their last summer in high school, a story of abuse and finding one's voice that is needed but will no doubt be challenging a read to many.

The novel, above all else, illustrates the impact of abuse and trauma, the endless cycle or harm and revictimization, and poses the question of how said cycle could ever be broken, when the victim is also so broken. It also effectively depicts the power of safe space: how the existence of one is akin to a lifesaving anchor, and the contrary perpetuates harm. We always hear about how important it is especially for young people to have a safe roof over their heads, and never have I seen this shown so well in a novel as Bruzas does in her book here.

The majority of characters are multidimensional and messy, especially the main character Virginia, but understandably so, particulatly when their circumstances are shed light on towards the end of the story. Nevertheless, understanding the root of Virginia's destructive actions - both unto herself and her supposed dear ones - does not make it any easier to read. On the contrary, I am personally frustrated by the 'hurt people hurt people' adage so encapsulated in the book, knowing it hurts Virginia more than anyone to do what she does, but seemingly impossible to stop doing so.

Which leads to one of my caveats with the novel: it is never explained - at least clearly or in detail - why many of Virginia's harmful actions are done towards the proclaimed important people in her life. Being abused and traumatized make it understandable but not wholly innocent. In my opinion, Virginia should have taken more accountability about the things she did that hurt her friends, because it seems like she gets off scot-free; being a victim does not make her actions absolvable in themselves.

I also think the change in Virginia's psyche and her sense of self-worth is too sudden, finding her voice in one chapter then suddenly feeling invincible the next, when her growth could be a little more scattered throughout. As for the writing, there are definitely powerful moments that are searing and visceral - especially towards the end - but for the most part the short, choppy sentences and frequent breaks in paragraphs read a little juvenile and affect the pacing, though this could have been done to show Virginia's inner psyche.

All in all, Ever Since is a well-intentioned and compelling book whose story may prove challenging to many. The novel is ultimately rewarding, but it is a tough road getting there, especially with some uneven execution.
]]> Freshwater 35412372 Freshwater explores the surreal experience of having a fractured self. It centers around a young Nigerian woman, Ada, who develops separate selves within her as a result of being born "with one foot on the other side." Unsettling, heartwrenching, dark, and powerful, Freshwater is a sharp evocation of a rare way of experiencing the world, one that illuminates how we all construct our identities.

Ada begins her life in the south of Nigeria as a troubled baby and a source of deep concern to her family. Her parents, Saul and Saachi, successfully prayed her into existence, but as she grows into a volatile and splintered child, it becomes clear that something went terribly awry. When Ada comes of age and moves to America for college, the group of selves within her grows in power and agency. A traumatic assault leads to a crystallization of her alternate selves: As?ghara and Saint Vincent. As Ada fades into the background of her own mind and these selves--now protective, now hedonistic--move into control, Ada's life spirals in a dark and dangerous direction.

Narrated by the various selves within Ada and based in the author's realities, Freshwater dazzles with ferocious energy and serpentine grace, heralding the arrival of a fierce new literary voice.]]> 229 Akwaeke Emezi 0802127355 Ting Z. 1 queer-yess freshwater - despite it being interesting at points - too rambling and 'inward' for me.

i find ?gbanje to be fascinating, but the incorporation of it, or rather the way it's incorporated, in this novel is a lil bit too full of misery. this doesnt mean the book is bad by any means - in fact, i find it to be quite well written - but it purely comes down to my personal taste, which simply doesnt rly click w/ it. and while the lack of a plot doesnt bother me, its long-winded and verbose content that seemingly repeats in countless similar loops does.

the structure and lack of enough info/details also confuse me at times as well, w/ the former jumping around timeline and chronology, and the latter resulting in statements indicating some development or sudden change that the reader isnt previously privy to, making things a bit jarring. i'll still be checking out emezi's the death of vivek oji tho, which hopefully will be better than this one.]]> 4.03 2018 Freshwater
author: Akwaeke Emezi
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2018
rating: 1
read at: 2022/03/18
date added: 2023/05/24
shelves: queer-yess
review:
1.5 stars: maybe im not spiritual enough for this book, but i find freshwater - despite it being interesting at points - too rambling and 'inward' for me.

i find ?gbanje to be fascinating, but the incorporation of it, or rather the way it's incorporated, in this novel is a lil bit too full of misery. this doesnt mean the book is bad by any means - in fact, i find it to be quite well written - but it purely comes down to my personal taste, which simply doesnt rly click w/ it. and while the lack of a plot doesnt bother me, its long-winded and verbose content that seemingly repeats in countless similar loops does.

the structure and lack of enough info/details also confuse me at times as well, w/ the former jumping around timeline and chronology, and the latter resulting in statements indicating some development or sudden change that the reader isnt previously privy to, making things a bit jarring. i'll still be checking out emezi's the death of vivek oji tho, which hopefully will be better than this one.
]]> The Death of Vivek Oji 50186319
Many will see The Death of Vivek Oji as a departure from Freshwater in that this is a deeply accessible novel suffused with family life and a tragedy sits squarely at its heart, but it speaks to Akwaeke's earlier work in its call to gender fluidity and the pain of adolescence lived beyond binary constructions of sexuality.

As compulsively readable as it is tender and potent, this is a fresh, engaging novel about the innocence of youth and how it clashes with culture and expectation. THE DEATH OF VIVEK OJI tells the story of a Nigerian childhood quite different from the one we might expect - Akwaeke's writing speaks to the truth of realities other than those that have already been seen.]]> 0 Akwaeke Emezi 0571351018 Ting Z. 3 queer-yess the death of vivek oji much more than emezi's previous work. this novel brims with emotion while the writing also deeply touches me at times, and a sense of doom and sadness permeates the whole book even thru - or perhaps esp during - the brief happy moments bc of the inevitable, unfortunate conclusion so obvs touted in the title.

there are def things in the story that i (bombastically) side-eye, however, bc they dont have to do all that to make a point. while the structure adds more mystery to already-known conclusion, it can also be confusing w/ the various timelines and povs. the pacing's quite uneven in the novel's first half as well, being too detailed at points and focusing too much on confusion around vivek's behavior, when more time couldve been given to the friend group's time tgt in juju's house or another safe space, just to make us feel even more for vivek's loss whose happy times are rarely shown in detail.

in sum, tho, this is a story filled w/ emotions and one that shows the struggles of queer ppl that still persist despite popular belief to the contrary and progress elsewhere. it's some sad stuff but it's def the reality for many.]]> 4.13 2020 The Death of Vivek Oji
author: Akwaeke Emezi
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2023/05/11
date added: 2023/05/24
shelves: queer-yess
review:
v happy that i enjoy the death of vivek oji much more than emezi's previous work. this novel brims with emotion while the writing also deeply touches me at times, and a sense of doom and sadness permeates the whole book even thru - or perhaps esp during - the brief happy moments bc of the inevitable, unfortunate conclusion so obvs touted in the title.

there are def things in the story that i (bombastically) side-eye, however, bc they dont have to do all that to make a point. while the structure adds more mystery to already-known conclusion, it can also be confusing w/ the various timelines and povs. the pacing's quite uneven in the novel's first half as well, being too detailed at points and focusing too much on confusion around vivek's behavior, when more time couldve been given to the friend group's time tgt in juju's house or another safe space, just to make us feel even more for vivek's loss whose happy times are rarely shown in detail.

in sum, tho, this is a story filled w/ emotions and one that shows the struggles of queer ppl that still persist despite popular belief to the contrary and progress elsewhere. it's some sad stuff but it's def the reality for many.
]]> Ander & Santi Were Here 57884665 Aristotle and Dante meets The Hate U Give meets The Sun Is Also A Star: A stunning YA contemporary love story about a Mexican-American teen who falls in love with an undocumented Mexican boy.

Finding home. Falling in love. Fighting to belong.

The Santos Vista neighborhood of San Antonio, Texas, is all Ander Mart赤nez has ever known. The smell of pan dulce. The mixture of Spanish and English filling the streets. And, especially their job at their family's taquer赤a. It's the place that has inspired Ander as a muralist, and, as they get ready to leave for art school, it's all of these things that give them hesitancy. That give them the thought, are they ready to leave it all behind?

To keep Ander from becoming complacent during their gap year, their family "fires" them so they can transition from restaurant life to focusing on their murals and prepare for college. That is, until they meet Santiago L車pez Alvarado, the hot new waiter. Falling for each other becomes as natural as breathing. Through Santi's eyes, Ander starts to understand who they are and want to be as an artist, and Ander becomes Santi's first steps toward making Santos Vista and the United States feel like home.

Until ICE agents come for Santi, and Ander realizes how fragile that sense of home is. How love can only hold on so long when the whole world is against them. And when, eventually, the world starts to win.]]> 368 Jonny Garza Villa 1250843995 Ting Z. 3 queer-yess *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Ander and Santi Were Here is undeniably a book with a lot of heart, great message and intentions, giving a much needed humanizing depiction of an undocumented person, unfortunately its execution just does not do it for me.

The novel brims vibrantly with art and culture, a love letter to art that portrays and uplifts the community despite external ideas and pressure, to Mexican food and music that bring people together, and to community that shows up for one another even against state violence. It is a joy to read all the aforementioned and learn how the main character Santi is raised by, fed, thriving in all this, and it is a breath of fresh air indeed.

And of course the portrayal of an undocumented person here is almost monumental for me, so rare it is, let alone a fleshed out and humanizing one as is the case here with Santi. Similar to Ander, the topic of undocumented people seems like a concerning but distanced one from me, never something personal, but this book completely changes that, depicting both the minutiae and pressing aspects of being undocumented, shedding a more revealing and informative light on it.

While the book's intentions are heartfelt and well-meaning, however, I think its execution leaves quite a bit to be desired. The pacing is inconsistent, very slow at times with constant, repetitive internal monologues and reflection by Ander peppered with him doing art, going to Lupe's and hanging out with Santi, and only with rare bursts of development peppered in. It gets boring after a while, waiting for something concrete to actually happen. The last arc also ends too abruptly in my opinion, and more time could have been given to the ending.

The writing is also surprisingly juvenile. I get that this is YA, but at times the language simply does not fit the depth and sometimes seriousness of the story, and could have articulated in a better way. And while Ander and Santi's relationship is a major part of the book, despite it being a mostly health one and effortlessly queer, I am not a fan of the instalove and sometimes fail to comprehend or understand their bond. I think more focus could have been given to Santi's aspirations for the future as well, instead of only focusing on his past.

To sum up, this is a book with good message, with its love for food, culture, art, community, queer love that sheds a rare light on being undocumented, but one whose execution hampers its full potential.]]> 4.21 2023 Ander & Santi Were Here
author: Jonny Garza Villa
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2023/01/31
date added: 2023/04/28
shelves: queer-yess
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Ander and Santi Were Here is undeniably a book with a lot of heart, great message and intentions, giving a much needed humanizing depiction of an undocumented person, unfortunately its execution just does not do it for me.

The novel brims vibrantly with art and culture, a love letter to art that portrays and uplifts the community despite external ideas and pressure, to Mexican food and music that bring people together, and to community that shows up for one another even against state violence. It is a joy to read all the aforementioned and learn how the main character Santi is raised by, fed, thriving in all this, and it is a breath of fresh air indeed.

And of course the portrayal of an undocumented person here is almost monumental for me, so rare it is, let alone a fleshed out and humanizing one as is the case here with Santi. Similar to Ander, the topic of undocumented people seems like a concerning but distanced one from me, never something personal, but this book completely changes that, depicting both the minutiae and pressing aspects of being undocumented, shedding a more revealing and informative light on it.

While the book's intentions are heartfelt and well-meaning, however, I think its execution leaves quite a bit to be desired. The pacing is inconsistent, very slow at times with constant, repetitive internal monologues and reflection by Ander peppered with him doing art, going to Lupe's and hanging out with Santi, and only with rare bursts of development peppered in. It gets boring after a while, waiting for something concrete to actually happen. The last arc also ends too abruptly in my opinion, and more time could have been given to the ending.

The writing is also surprisingly juvenile. I get that this is YA, but at times the language simply does not fit the depth and sometimes seriousness of the story, and could have articulated in a better way. And while Ander and Santi's relationship is a major part of the book, despite it being a mostly health one and effortlessly queer, I am not a fan of the instalove and sometimes fail to comprehend or understand their bond. I think more focus could have been given to Santi's aspirations for the future as well, instead of only focusing on his past.

To sum up, this is a book with good message, with its love for food, culture, art, community, queer love that sheds a rare light on being undocumented, but one whose execution hampers its full potential.
]]> Solo Dance 58987876 An important queer voice from East Asia＊s millennial generation

Cho Norie, twenty-seven and originally from Taiwan, is working an office job in Tokyo. While her colleagues worry about the economy, life-insurance policies, marriage, and children, she is forced to keep her unconventional life hidden〞including her sexuality and the violent attack that prompted her move to Japan. There is also her unusual fascination with death: she knows from personal experience how devastating death can be, but for her it is also creative fuel. Solo Dance depicts the painful coming of age of a gay person in Taiwan and corporate Japan. This striking debut is an intimate and powerful account of a search for hope after trauma.]]> 256 Kotomi Li 1642861146 Ting Z. 3 queer-yess solo dance is a rare book, one whose frank rumination and discussion of death speaks deeply to me. this is a novel abt death, trauma, and queerness, and kotomi explores her themes w/ subtle aplomb, reminiscent of qiu miaojin whose influence figures largely in the text as well.

while it's aptly dark and depressing at times, i enjoy the book's depiction of what it's like to be queer not only in taiwan but in corporate japan as well. it's the seemingly little things that greatly illustrates how heteronormative society is, w/ norie's time in her corporate job being an example. the disconnect between her external confidence and jubilance w/ her internal distance and despair also ring true, if a lil too relatable, too.

while the climax of norie's farewell trip and seemingly last reflections are very powerful, the ending - esp haoxue and jiaozhu's abrupt appearance - is a lil anticlimactic, coming off as too convenient, and i wish it was also less sudden. overall, however, this is a good book, and a particularly thought-provoking one abt death that i rly connect to.]]> 3.66 2018 Solo Dance
author: Kotomi Li
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2023/02/25
date added: 2023/04/27
shelves: queer-yess
review:
3.5 stars - solo dance is a rare book, one whose frank rumination and discussion of death speaks deeply to me. this is a novel abt death, trauma, and queerness, and kotomi explores her themes w/ subtle aplomb, reminiscent of qiu miaojin whose influence figures largely in the text as well.

while it's aptly dark and depressing at times, i enjoy the book's depiction of what it's like to be queer not only in taiwan but in corporate japan as well. it's the seemingly little things that greatly illustrates how heteronormative society is, w/ norie's time in her corporate job being an example. the disconnect between her external confidence and jubilance w/ her internal distance and despair also ring true, if a lil too relatable, too.

while the climax of norie's farewell trip and seemingly last reflections are very powerful, the ending - esp haoxue and jiaozhu's abrupt appearance - is a lil anticlimactic, coming off as too convenient, and i wish it was also less sudden. overall, however, this is a good book, and a particularly thought-provoking one abt death that i rly connect to.
]]> <![CDATA[Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea]]> 75635484 A Good Morning America Buzz Pick

For readers of Outlawed, Piranesi, and The Night Tiger, a dazzling historical novel about a legendary Chinese pirate queen, her fight to save her fleet from the forces allied against them, and the dangerous price of power.

As Recommended By
The TODAY Show * Washington Post * 韁惘軓氈 * LitHub * Real Simple * Time * Popsugar * HuffPost * Los Angeles Times * Ms. Magazine * Book Riot * Elle.com * The Rumpus * Tor.com * Polygon * Debutiful * Electric Lit * Shondaland *

When Shek Yeung sees a Portuguese sailor slay her husband, a feared pirate, she knows she must act swiftly or die. Instead of mourning, Shek Yeung launches a new immediately marrying her husband's second-in-command, and agreeing to bear him a son and heir, in order to retain power over her half of the fleet.

But as Shek Yeung vies for control over the army she knows she was born to lead, larger threats loom. The Chinese Emperor has charged a brutal, crafty nobleman with ridding the South China Seas of pirates, and the Europeans-tired of losing ships, men, and money to Shek Yeung's alliance-have new plans for the area. Even worse, Shek Yeung's cutthroat retributions create problems all their own. As Shek Yeung navigates new motherhood and the crises of leadership, she must decide how long she is willing to fight, and at what price, or risk losing her fleet, her new family, and even her life.

A book of salt and grit, blood and sweat, Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea is an unmissable portrait of a woman who leads with the courage and ruthlessness of our darkest and most beloved heroes.]]> 287 Rita Chang-Eppig 1639730389 Ting Z. 2 *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

I had expectations for this book, unfortunately Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea is a disappointment. One would expect a novel about a legendary Chinese pirate queen to be quite explosive or at least have some thrilling action - as touted by its blurb - but that is in fact hard to find here, and it has been a while since I have felt so distanced from a story and its characters.

I love the novel's concept and premise, but in Chang-Eppig's hands, the story flounders dully and never really finds its footing: the writing truly more of a 'telling not showing' and scenes are rarely given proper room to breathe, the book so focused on Shek Yeung's character study it renders everything that makes her a pirate - the action and emotional impact most readers expect going in - almost inconsequential. And while the themes of power and being female in a patriarchal society are valid and very much relevant, they are hammered in so constantly while offering nothing new, and there is annoyingly little character development.

My biggest peeve about the book, however, is how distant the story and characters feel to the reader. For a book so focused on a main character, it is alarming how indifferent I feel to Shek Yeung despite knowing her backstory and both internal and external struggles. On The Storygraph, I declined to indicate whether I find the characters loveable, as after some deliberation, I realized it was neither yes nor no because I am wholly indifferent to them. Reading this book was not an immersive experience, so removed I felt from the action, development and characters, and as I am someone who highly values emotional impact in my reading, this greatly hinders my enjoyment of the novel.

To sum up, this book has a great premise that is unfortunately hampered by its execution, making it unable to fully reach its full potential.]]> 3.59 2023 Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea
author: Rita Chang-Eppig
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.59
book published: 2023
rating: 2
read at: 2023/04/13
date added: 2023/04/13
shelves:
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

I had expectations for this book, unfortunately Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea is a disappointment. One would expect a novel about a legendary Chinese pirate queen to be quite explosive or at least have some thrilling action - as touted by its blurb - but that is in fact hard to find here, and it has been a while since I have felt so distanced from a story and its characters.

I love the novel's concept and premise, but in Chang-Eppig's hands, the story flounders dully and never really finds its footing: the writing truly more of a 'telling not showing' and scenes are rarely given proper room to breathe, the book so focused on Shek Yeung's character study it renders everything that makes her a pirate - the action and emotional impact most readers expect going in - almost inconsequential. And while the themes of power and being female in a patriarchal society are valid and very much relevant, they are hammered in so constantly while offering nothing new, and there is annoyingly little character development.

My biggest peeve about the book, however, is how distant the story and characters feel to the reader. For a book so focused on a main character, it is alarming how indifferent I feel to Shek Yeung despite knowing her backstory and both internal and external struggles. On The Storygraph, I declined to indicate whether I find the characters loveable, as after some deliberation, I realized it was neither yes nor no because I am wholly indifferent to them. Reading this book was not an immersive experience, so removed I felt from the action, development and characters, and as I am someone who highly values emotional impact in my reading, this greatly hinders my enjoyment of the novel.

To sum up, this book has a great premise that is unfortunately hampered by its execution, making it unable to fully reach its full potential.
]]> Havana Year Zero 57249980
It was as if we＊d reached the minimum critical point of a mathematical curve. Imagine a parabola. Zero point down, at the bottom of an abyss. That＊s how low we sank.

The year is 1993. Cuba is at the height of the Special Period, a widespread economic crisis following the collapse of the Soviet bloc.For Julia, a mathematics lecturer who hates teaching, this is Year the lowest possible point. But a way out the search for a missing document that will prove the telephone was invented in Havana, secure her reputation, and give Cuba a purpose once more.?What begins as an investigation into scientific history becomes a tangle of sex, friendship, family legacies, and the intricacies of how people find ways to survive in a country at its lowest ebb.]]> 172 Karla Su芍rez 1913867013 Ting Z. 2 havana year zero shouldve been more enjoyable for me, alas it wasnt meant to be. su芍rez's novel has a unique enough premise, but pretty quickly it devolves into a strange take of whodunnit, or in this case, 'who has it,' w/ it being meucci's document.

initially julia's gradual discovery and frequent revelations are interesting and bemusingly surprising, but w/ the same cycle repeating over and over for the last 3/4 of the book, it gets old and now i couldnt tell u the order of events in the middle bc thats how mixed up it all seems. it's just one thing after another, but none memorable enough to stick.

still, it's good to learn abt cuban life in specifically 1993, and the complexity of the characters' relationships are indeed compelling, though the aforementioned arent enough to outweigh the negatives.]]> 3.44 2012 Havana Year Zero
author: Karla Su芍rez
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.44
book published: 2012
rating: 2
read at: 2023/02/20
date added: 2023/04/07
shelves:
review:
havana year zero shouldve been more enjoyable for me, alas it wasnt meant to be. su芍rez's novel has a unique enough premise, but pretty quickly it devolves into a strange take of whodunnit, or in this case, 'who has it,' w/ it being meucci's document.

initially julia's gradual discovery and frequent revelations are interesting and bemusingly surprising, but w/ the same cycle repeating over and over for the last 3/4 of the book, it gets old and now i couldnt tell u the order of events in the middle bc thats how mixed up it all seems. it's just one thing after another, but none memorable enough to stick.

still, it's good to learn abt cuban life in specifically 1993, and the complexity of the characters' relationships are indeed compelling, though the aforementioned arent enough to outweigh the negatives.
]]> Gwen & Art Are Not in Love 61885131 Heartstopper meets A Knight＊s Tale in this queer medieval rom-com YA debut about love, friendship, and being brave enough to change the course of history.

It＊s been hundreds of years since King Arthur＊s reign. His descendant, Arthur, a future Lord and general gadabout, has been betrothed to Gwendoline, the quick-witted, short-tempered princess of England, since birth. The only thing they can agree on is that they despise each other.

They＊re forced to spend the summer together at Camelot in the run-up to their nuptials, and within 24 hours, Gwen has discovered Arthur kissing a boy, and Arthur has gone digging for Gwen's childhood diary and found confessions about her crush on the kingdom's only lady knight, Bridget Leclair.

Realizing they might make better allies than enemies, Gwen and Art make a reluctant pact to cover for each other, and as things heat up at the annual royal tournament, Gwen is swept off her feet by her knight, and Arthur takes an interest in Gwen's royal brother. Lex Croucher's Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is chock full of sword-fighting, found family, and romantic shenanigans destined to make readers fall in love.]]> 416 Lex Croucher 1250847214 Ting Z. 3 queer-yess *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

3.5 stars - Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is an enjoyable book that is humorous and poignant in equal measure, giving a much needed and refreshing queer rep to the historical genre that typically deems queer people non-existent.

The characters and their dynamics are what make this book. They all struggle with living up to or reject others' expectations with being true to themselves, the stakes higher with their social positions. We see them wrestle both without and within, and ultimately grow and develop all while relying on one another. Gwen and Art comprise an enemies-to-friends combo that actually lives up to the trope; Gwen and Bridget are smoldering together; Art and Sidney the bro-est besties.

The book is appropriately serious and poignant when it needs to be, but Croucher's use of humor is perhaps my favorite thing about the book. The narrative voice is memorably wry and the characters - especially Art - are effortlessly hilarious, be it with their words, actions or situations they find themselves in. However, while the climax is surprisingly but welcomingly action-packed and dramatic, I wish the ending was at least a little longer. Currently the aftermath of the violent coup is only mentioned offhandedly in the last chapter with only a couple of sentences, inadequate in showing the full aftermath of a significant event that has both high personal and political stakes for the main characters. Art's father, for example, has been shown to be an abusive and despicable man, and I wish we learned what comeuppance he got in the end.

In sum, this is a rollicking book that is equally poignant and humorous, led by a cast of lovable and multidimensional characters, one whose ending I wish was less abrupt.]]> 3.96 2023 Gwen & Art Are Not in Love
author: Lex Croucher
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2023
rating: 3
read at: 2023/03/26
date added: 2023/03/26
shelves: queer-yess
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

3.5 stars - Gwen and Art Are Not in Love is an enjoyable book that is humorous and poignant in equal measure, giving a much needed and refreshing queer rep to the historical genre that typically deems queer people non-existent.

The characters and their dynamics are what make this book. They all struggle with living up to or reject others' expectations with being true to themselves, the stakes higher with their social positions. We see them wrestle both without and within, and ultimately grow and develop all while relying on one another. Gwen and Art comprise an enemies-to-friends combo that actually lives up to the trope; Gwen and Bridget are smoldering together; Art and Sidney the bro-est besties.

The book is appropriately serious and poignant when it needs to be, but Croucher's use of humor is perhaps my favorite thing about the book. The narrative voice is memorably wry and the characters - especially Art - are effortlessly hilarious, be it with their words, actions or situations they find themselves in. However, while the climax is surprisingly but welcomingly action-packed and dramatic, I wish the ending was at least a little longer. Currently the aftermath of the violent coup is only mentioned offhandedly in the last chapter with only a couple of sentences, inadequate in showing the full aftermath of a significant event that has both high personal and political stakes for the main characters. Art's father, for example, has been shown to be an abusive and despicable man, and I wish we learned what comeuppance he got in the end.

In sum, this is a rollicking book that is equally poignant and humorous, led by a cast of lovable and multidimensional characters, one whose ending I wish was less abrupt.
]]> 100 Boyfriends 53317498 An irreverent, sensitive, and inimitable look at gay dysfunction through the eyes of a cult hero

It's like that saying, 'Where god closes a door, he opens a window, ' but in this particular case the window was on the fifth floor and the house was on fire.

Transgressive, foulmouthed, and devastatingly funny, Brontez Purnell's 100 Boyfriends is a revelatory spiral into the imperfect lives of queer men desperately fighting--and often losing--the urge to self-sabotage. His characters solicit sex on their lunch breaks, expose themselves to racist neighbors, sleep with their coworker's husbands, rub Preparation H on their hungover eyes, and, in an uproarious epilogue, take a punk band on a disastrous tour of Europe. They also travel to claim inheritances, push past personal trauma, and cultivate community while living on the margins of a white supremacist, heteronormative society.

Armed with a deadpan wit that finds humor in even the lowest of nadirs, Brontez Purnell--a widely acclaimed underground writer, filmmaker, musician, and performance artist--writes with the peerless zeal, insight, and horniness of a gay punk messiah. From dirty warehouses and gentrified bars in Oakland to desolate farm towns in Alabama, Purnell indexes desire, desperation, race, and loneliness with a startling blend of levity and vulnerability. Together, the slice-of-life tales that writhe within 100 Boyfriends are a singular and uncompromising vision of an unexposed queer underbelly. Holding them together is the vision of an iconoclastic storyteller, as fearless as he is human.]]> 192 Brontez Purnell 0374538980 Ting Z. 3 queer-yess 100 boyfriends is an irreverent, unpredictable book abt messed up gays thats often simultaneously hilarious yet somber. i like the freewheeling, no-holds-barred depiction of gay sexuality, relationships and community, as it's clear purnell has no care for the mainstream, straight, heteronormative gaze. id also find myself frequent struck by how great and effective the author's non-clich谷 imagery and metaphor are, fully able to encapsulate a certain feeling or state. i'll be checking out more of purnell's works for sure.]]> 3.79 2021 100 Boyfriends
author: Brontez Purnell
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2023/03/15
date added: 2023/03/21
shelves: queer-yess
review:
100 boyfriends is an irreverent, unpredictable book abt messed up gays thats often simultaneously hilarious yet somber. i like the freewheeling, no-holds-barred depiction of gay sexuality, relationships and community, as it's clear purnell has no care for the mainstream, straight, heteronormative gaze. id also find myself frequent struck by how great and effective the author's non-clich谷 imagery and metaphor are, fully able to encapsulate a certain feeling or state. i'll be checking out more of purnell's works for sure.
]]> Lonely Castle in the Mirror 54633167
Delving into their emotional lives with sympathy and a generous warmth, Lonely Castle in the Mirror shows the unexpected rewards of reaching out to others. Exploring vivid human stories with a twisty and puzzle-like plot, this heart-warming novel is full of joy and hope for anyone touched by sadness and vulnerability.]]> 355 Mizuki Tsujimura 0857527274 Ting Z. 2 lonely castle in the mirror but im simply not, despite its fantastical elements and supposedly impactful themes of friendship and empathy.

ultimately it boils down to a few things. first, the writing: nothing wrong w/ sparse language normally, but im not a fan of how tsujimura uses it in the novel. it feels like sth's missing, and the overuse of short sentences and the start of new line breaks rly irritate me, as more often than not there's literally no reason for that and it cheapens the impact of moments that truly warrant it. i dislike the translation thats riddled w/ typos, frequent awkward phrasing, and inadequate copyediting as well.

the book feels too long for me too; some scenes could def be cut out or shortened. the first half is hair-wringingly slow and i almost dropped the book. i also feel a puzzling disconnection w/ the characters. we spend so much time in kokoro's head and only learn abt the others at the story's climax. moreover, the scenes we see of the young ppl who spend time in the castle dont rly do much, often theyre repetitive and dont further the characterization. each of them keeps up such high walls over themselves it's hard to connect to them - tho it doesnt render one immune to their plight - thus what we see of them is an incomplete picture that doesnt fill itself in until the very end, and thats way too long of a wait.

as a result of said disconnection, this story has little emotional payoff for me despite the huge potential. this book def has very relevant and important themes, and each piece of the puzzle comes tgt nicely in the end, w/ the last scenes of rion + the wolf queen, him + kokoro, and her w/ aki being well-plotted and a lil touching. the problem is, i wouldve been touched so so so much more if only what precedes those scenes thru much of the book were better. it's like what shouldve resulted in a beautifully flowing fountain turns out to merely be a few measly drops of water from a tap.

tldr: im not surprised this book's liked by many, but its deficient execution leaves me unsatisfied and bemoaning over its wasted potential.]]> 4.25 2017 Lonely Castle in the Mirror
author: Mizuki Tsujimura
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2017
rating: 2
read at: 2023/03/12
date added: 2023/03/12
shelves:
review:
this is def a mindboggling case of "what the hell went wrong???" i should be all over lonely castle in the mirror but im simply not, despite its fantastical elements and supposedly impactful themes of friendship and empathy.

ultimately it boils down to a few things. first, the writing: nothing wrong w/ sparse language normally, but im not a fan of how tsujimura uses it in the novel. it feels like sth's missing, and the overuse of short sentences and the start of new line breaks rly irritate me, as more often than not there's literally no reason for that and it cheapens the impact of moments that truly warrant it. i dislike the translation thats riddled w/ typos, frequent awkward phrasing, and inadequate copyediting as well.

the book feels too long for me too; some scenes could def be cut out or shortened. the first half is hair-wringingly slow and i almost dropped the book. i also feel a puzzling disconnection w/ the characters. we spend so much time in kokoro's head and only learn abt the others at the story's climax. moreover, the scenes we see of the young ppl who spend time in the castle dont rly do much, often theyre repetitive and dont further the characterization. each of them keeps up such high walls over themselves it's hard to connect to them - tho it doesnt render one immune to their plight - thus what we see of them is an incomplete picture that doesnt fill itself in until the very end, and thats way too long of a wait.

as a result of said disconnection, this story has little emotional payoff for me despite the huge potential. this book def has very relevant and important themes, and each piece of the puzzle comes tgt nicely in the end, w/ the last scenes of rion + the wolf queen, him + kokoro, and her w/ aki being well-plotted and a lil touching. the problem is, i wouldve been touched so so so much more if only what precedes those scenes thru much of the book were better. it's like what shouldve resulted in a beautifully flowing fountain turns out to merely be a few measly drops of water from a tap.

tldr: im not surprised this book's liked by many, but its deficient execution leaves me unsatisfied and bemoaning over its wasted potential.
]]> <![CDATA[The Watchmaker of Filigree Street (The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, #1)]]> 22929563
The Watchmaker of Filigree Street is a sweeping, atmospheric narrative that takes the reader on an unexpected journey through Victorian London, Japan as its civil war crumbles long-standing traditions, and beyond. Blending historical events with dazzling flights of fancy, it opens doors to a strange and magical past.]]> 318 Natasha Pulley 1620408333 Ting Z. 2 queer-yess the watchmaker of filigree street doesnt live up to its full potential w/ its lack of focus on stuff that could make it great - ie thaniel and mori's (happier) time(s) tgt - and what it does focus on could be handled even better.

there are a number of plot threads in the novel - yard bomb mystery, mori's ability, grace's conundrum - and imo the way they intersect could be improved. there also loose ends to some of the plot points, such as how grace's experiments in oxford end. things should be elucidated more arent, and pulley spotlights the duller stuff instead.

my biggest caveat, however, is how unsatisfying the book is as a whole bc of its dull focus on mori and thaniel. the story's emotional stakes and reader's engagement, as well as emotional payoff at the end could be much greater and fulfilling if thaniel and mori's interactions are shown more. them ending up tgt isnt surprising but how it gets there doesnt rly have any good buildup; more scenes of their down time tgt or deeper bonding could fix that, but it isnt rly shown in the book. that subtle, gently moving scene in the hospital near the end, i want more of that!

nevertheless, the premise is intriguing and the intellectual, technical stuff is intelligent, if a bit of a mindfvck for my kinda dumb self. the setting that mixes victorian london w/ steampunkish elements and japanese culture is quite original too, tho the latter comes off awkwardly at times. i also enjoy mori and thaniel as characters.

tldr: a potentially good read weighed down by its unwieldy execution and lack of focus on the good stuff.]]> 3.72 2015 The Watchmaker of Filigree Street (The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, #1)
author: Natasha Pulley
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.72
book published: 2015
rating: 2
read at: 2023/02/15
date added: 2023/02/17
shelves: queer-yess
review:
2.5 stars - rly rly wanted to like this more, but the watchmaker of filigree street doesnt live up to its full potential w/ its lack of focus on stuff that could make it great - ie thaniel and mori's (happier) time(s) tgt - and what it does focus on could be handled even better.

there are a number of plot threads in the novel - yard bomb mystery, mori's ability, grace's conundrum - and imo the way they intersect could be improved. there also loose ends to some of the plot points, such as how grace's experiments in oxford end. things should be elucidated more arent, and pulley spotlights the duller stuff instead.

my biggest caveat, however, is how unsatisfying the book is as a whole bc of its dull focus on mori and thaniel. the story's emotional stakes and reader's engagement, as well as emotional payoff at the end could be much greater and fulfilling if thaniel and mori's interactions are shown more. them ending up tgt isnt surprising but how it gets there doesnt rly have any good buildup; more scenes of their down time tgt or deeper bonding could fix that, but it isnt rly shown in the book. that subtle, gently moving scene in the hospital near the end, i want more of that!

nevertheless, the premise is intriguing and the intellectual, technical stuff is intelligent, if a bit of a mindfvck for my kinda dumb self. the setting that mixes victorian london w/ steampunkish elements and japanese culture is quite original too, tho the latter comes off awkwardly at times. i also enjoy mori and thaniel as characters.

tldr: a potentially good read weighed down by its unwieldy execution and lack of focus on the good stuff.
]]> The Love Hypothesis 56819423 384 Ali Hazelwood 0593336836 Ting Z. 5 what-is-air, 2021-favs the love hypothesis was just so damn fun and enjoyable and entertaining and hilarious and squeal/giggle/sigh/swoon-inducing. the characters and their antics were delightful: dynamic olive and grumpy adam make an excellent pair and i loved them both individually and tgt. speaking of adam..dude might be one of my most fav male leads ever: the brains, secret pining, supportiveness, also respect for CONSENT!!!!! which is kinda shitty that it's so rarely seen in books!! and olive and her struggles were relatable 4 sho. also rly liked the glimpse into academia and the depiction of all power plays and issues, like sexiam in STEM, sexual harassment, intellectual theft, abusive environment, etc; it was interesting to see the environment and all the inner workings directly from someone w/in that circle. admittedly, the book could be predictable at times, but it's rly a non-issue when i got so much joy and happiness and giddiness from reading it. yes, this book wasnt perfect (i personally found the sex scene way too long lol), but it's rly a case of a great book w/ the right mood coming into my hands at the perfect time when i needed it most, making me excited to read out of sheer delight for the first time in ages, even becoming a future fav comfort read in the process, and that rly sealed the deal.

*ch. 16 adam's pov:
this was hot. and ok i did find ch.16 too long while reading the book but this was from adam's pov and it was just great to finally hear his thoughts. he adores olive so much : ( but also like bro u had 2 yrs what were u doing???? anyways ADAM FRIGGIN CARLSEN!!!!!! enough said.]]> 3.94 2021 The Love Hypothesis
author: Ali Hazelwood
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2021/11/02
date added: 2023/01/23
shelves: what-is-air, 2021-favs
review:
this book was just so...*contented and blissful sigh* it def did what it was supposed to do, and did it a lot better than many of the very few romances ive read. the love hypothesis was just so damn fun and enjoyable and entertaining and hilarious and squeal/giggle/sigh/swoon-inducing. the characters and their antics were delightful: dynamic olive and grumpy adam make an excellent pair and i loved them both individually and tgt. speaking of adam..dude might be one of my most fav male leads ever: the brains, secret pining, supportiveness, also respect for CONSENT!!!!! which is kinda shitty that it's so rarely seen in books!! and olive and her struggles were relatable 4 sho. also rly liked the glimpse into academia and the depiction of all power plays and issues, like sexiam in STEM, sexual harassment, intellectual theft, abusive environment, etc; it was interesting to see the environment and all the inner workings directly from someone w/in that circle. admittedly, the book could be predictable at times, but it's rly a non-issue when i got so much joy and happiness and giddiness from reading it. yes, this book wasnt perfect (i personally found the sex scene way too long lol), but it's rly a case of a great book w/ the right mood coming into my hands at the perfect time when i needed it most, making me excited to read out of sheer delight for the first time in ages, even becoming a future fav comfort read in the process, and that rly sealed the deal.

*ch. 16 adam's pov:
this was hot. and ok i did find ch.16 too long while reading the book but this was from adam's pov and it was just great to finally hear his thoughts. he adores olive so much : ( but also like bro u had 2 yrs what were u doing???? anyways ADAM FRIGGIN CARLSEN!!!!!! enough said.
]]> Evening Primrose 37917815
When Masechaba finally achieves her childhood dream of becoming a doctor, her ambition is tested as she faces the stark reality of South Africa's public healthcare system.

As she leaves her deeply religious mother and makes friends with the politically-minded Nyasha, Masechaba's eyes are opened to the rising xenophobic tension that carries echoes of apartheid.

Battling her inner demons, she must decide if she should take a stand to help her best friend, even it comes at a high personal cost.]]> 160 Kopano Matlwa Ting Z. 3 evening primrose a grimly compelling story thats unfortunately a lil too personally triggering for me, and one where the ending imo is too abrupt.

the majority of characters are different and vivid, though sometimes they can be rendered a lil flat and one dimensional. each of them all got different things going on, and while most of them suffer from at least one form of systemic injustice, the intersectionality of their identities make them realistically imperfect, fully capable of doing injustice to others nevertheless. this is esp relevant to the depiction of black south africans who have triumphed over apartheid yet harbor xenophobia that could devastate lives.

problems in the country's medical system are also vividly depicted through the pov of masechaba, whose gradual indifference and desensitization to patients' sufferings - unfortunate effects of a wholly inadequate system - we witness. her feelings towards her god, their oscillation and her shuffling zeal + rejection from the trials she has to endure are effectively illustrated as well.

i wish, however, that the ending was less abrupt and instead more prolonged to give time for resolution of both internal and external conflicts. it seems strange that the issues, complex thoughts and struggles masechaba harbors throughout most of the book gradually disappear in only a few pgs near the end, all triggered by the arrival of her baby, not to mention my own complicated feelings towards matlwa's utilization of said baby in the book.

overall, an emotional read that could be further improved by its ending.]]> 3.77 2016 Evening Primrose
author: Kopano Matlwa
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2023/01/05
date added: 2023/01/20
shelves:
review:
a blistering critique of the south african medical system, xenophobia, religion and bystander culpability, matlwa weaves in evening primrose a grimly compelling story thats unfortunately a lil too personally triggering for me, and one where the ending imo is too abrupt.

the majority of characters are different and vivid, though sometimes they can be rendered a lil flat and one dimensional. each of them all got different things going on, and while most of them suffer from at least one form of systemic injustice, the intersectionality of their identities make them realistically imperfect, fully capable of doing injustice to others nevertheless. this is esp relevant to the depiction of black south africans who have triumphed over apartheid yet harbor xenophobia that could devastate lives.

problems in the country's medical system are also vividly depicted through the pov of masechaba, whose gradual indifference and desensitization to patients' sufferings - unfortunate effects of a wholly inadequate system - we witness. her feelings towards her god, their oscillation and her shuffling zeal + rejection from the trials she has to endure are effectively illustrated as well.

i wish, however, that the ending was less abrupt and instead more prolonged to give time for resolution of both internal and external conflicts. it seems strange that the issues, complex thoughts and struggles masechaba harbors throughout most of the book gradually disappear in only a few pgs near the end, all triggered by the arrival of her baby, not to mention my own complicated feelings towards matlwa's utilization of said baby in the book.

overall, an emotional read that could be further improved by its ending.
]]> Dead-End Memories: Stories 59892213 Japan's internationally celebrated master storyteller returns with five stories of women on their way to healing that vividly portrays the blissful moments and everyday sorrows that surround us in everyday life.

First published in Japan in 2003 and never-before-published in the United States, Dead-End Memories collects the stories of five women who, following sudden and painful events, quietly discover their ways back to recovery.

Among the women we meet in Dead-End Memories is a woman betrayed by her fianc谷 who finds a perfect refuge in an apartment above her uncle's bar while seeking the real meaning of happiness. In "House of Ghosts", a daughter of a y身shoku restaurant owner encounters the ghosts of a sweet elderly couple who haven't yet realized that they have been dead for years. In "Tomo-chan's Happiness", an office worker who is a victim of sexual assault finally catches sight of the hope of romance.

Yoshimoto's gentle, effortless prose reminds us that one true miracle can be as simple as having someone to share a meal with and that happiness is always within us if only we take a moment to pause and reflect. Discover this collection of what Yoshimoto herself calls the "most precious work of my writing career".]]> 240 Banana Yoshimoto 1640093699 Ting Z. 4 books-of-my-heart, shorts dead-end memories are stories of women who find healing despite past hardships, all lovingly told through simple yet affecting prose.

there's just sth abt yoshimoto's writing that goes straight to the heart somehow. perhaps it's the fact that her works deal w/ the simplest subjects wherein most ppl fail to even consciously be aware of or give a thought to, thus it renders the experience of reading her stories akin to a soothing, cleansing bath, leaving the reader w/ the essential, more clarity and a clearer view of not only themselves but also the world.

while the book can be quite slow and obfuscating at times, overall the stories in dead-end hit me particularly hard for various reasons. "mama!" w/ its articulation of the physical but esp emotional impact of serious illness thats often left unsaid; "not warm at all" for its ability to make me mourn a character despite its very short length; "dead-end memories" w/ its rumination on life and happiness; and all the stories - brimming w/ simple yet healing and happy moments - for the sense of comfort they offer.

yoshimoto can make even the most simple of things or moments miraculous, and im indescribably thankful for her books.]]> 3.94 2003 Dead-End Memories: Stories
author: Banana Yoshimoto
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2003
rating: 4
read at: 2023/01/07
date added: 2023/01/12
shelves: books-of-my-heart, shorts
review:
4.5 stars - it's now concluded that banana yoshimoto is my life's author, such a balm for my soul her books are. in dead-end memories are stories of women who find healing despite past hardships, all lovingly told through simple yet affecting prose.

there's just sth abt yoshimoto's writing that goes straight to the heart somehow. perhaps it's the fact that her works deal w/ the simplest subjects wherein most ppl fail to even consciously be aware of or give a thought to, thus it renders the experience of reading her stories akin to a soothing, cleansing bath, leaving the reader w/ the essential, more clarity and a clearer view of not only themselves but also the world.

while the book can be quite slow and obfuscating at times, overall the stories in dead-end hit me particularly hard for various reasons. "mama!" w/ its articulation of the physical but esp emotional impact of serious illness thats often left unsaid; "not warm at all" for its ability to make me mourn a character despite its very short length; "dead-end memories" w/ its rumination on life and happiness; and all the stories - brimming w/ simple yet healing and happy moments - for the sense of comfort they offer.

yoshimoto can make even the most simple of things or moments miraculous, and im indescribably thankful for her books.
]]> Kaikeyi 62897289 "Patel＊s mesmerizing debut shines a brilliant light on the vilified queen from [the Indian epic] the Ramayana....This easily earns its place on shelves alongside Madeline Miller＊s Circe." 每Publishers Weekly (starred review)

※I was born on the full moon under an auspicious constellation, the holiest of positions〞much good it did me.§

So begins Kaikeyi＊s story. The only daughter of the kingdom of Kekaya, she is raised on tales of the gods: how they churned the vast ocean to obtain the nectar of immortality, how they vanquish evil and ensure the land of Bharat prospers, and how they offer powerful boons to the devout and the wise. Yet she watches as her father unceremoniously banishes her mother, listens as her own worth is reduced to how great a marriage alliance she can secure. And when she calls upon the gods for help, they never seem to hear.

Desperate for some measure of independence, she turns to the texts she once read with her mother and discovers a magic that is hers alone. With this power, Kaikeyi transforms herself from an overlooked princess into a warrior, diplomat, and most favored queen, determined to carve a better world for herself and the women around her.

But as the evil from her childhood stories threatens the cosmic order, the path she has forged clashes with the destiny the gods have chosen for her family. And Kaikeyi must decide if resistance is worth the destruction it will wreak〞and what legacy she intends to leave behind.

A stunning debut from a powerful new voice, Kaikeyi reimagines the life of the infamous queen from the Indian epic the Ramayana, weaving a tale of fate, family, courage, and heartbreak〞of an extraordinary woman determined to leave her mark in a world where gods and men dictate the shape of things to come.

Praise for Kaikeyi:

※Utterly captivating from start to finish. I was immersed in Kaikeyi's world from the moment I opened Vaishnavi Patel's stunning debut.§?求Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch＊s Heart
??
※Patel shines an elegant, incisive lens on an ancient epic and the vilified queen tangled within it. Brave, compassionate and powerful.§ 求Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne
?
※Mythic retelling at its best: entrancing, troubling, and complicated. Kaikeyi is marvelous.§ 求R. F. Kuang, author of The Poppy War
?
※A lyrical and evocative retelling, full of power and grace, which brings forward a traditionally maligned woman of myth. A spellbinding debut.§ 求Ava Reid, author of The Wolf and the Woodsman
?
※Compulsively readable and infinitely compassionate, this is the story I＊ve been yearning for all my life.§ 求Roshani Chokshi, author of The Gilded Wolves?
?
※The best kind of retelling. Deftly weaving fantasy elements with beloved mythology, this brilliant reinterpretation enriches the Ramayana with counternarratives.§ 求Maya Deane, author of Wrath Goddess Sing
?
※A thought-provoking, nuanced new look at one of humanity＊s most foundational stories.§ 〞Shannon Chakraborty, author of The City of Brass
?
※Kaikeyi is a glorious tapestry of a novel. I adored it.§ 〞Lucy Holland, author of Sistersong
?
※The novel is compelling and rich, drawing on the source material while furnishing its characters with new complexity and motivations. Fans of Madeline Miller's Circe will fall hard for this story.§ 求詁棗棗域梭勳莽喧 (starred review)]]> 528 Vaishnavi Patel 0356520196 Ting Z. 4 kaikeyi is a compelling, richly woven tale w/ the marks of great storytelling. despite having almost no knowledge of the ramayana, i enjoyed this novel and retelling, for despite some of its faults its emotional moments are highly affecting and touch me deeply.

as ive never truly acquianted myself w/ the original epic, idk how much work patel's done on crafting the characters in her novel, but theyre def layered and complex. the titular character in particular undergoes quite a transformation from a lonely young princess to a powerful radnyi, shaped by her numerous trials and triumphs. i esp like the relationships between those in the kosalan royal family, how some of them defy stereotypical expectations, and the complex web of motives that each has and impacts their relations w/ one another esp the siblings.

patel does a fantastic job of not only creating the story that occurs prior to the events of the epic, also adding new ones, but putting a fresher spin on the original as well, offering a new look and pov on certain events, relationships and decisions. ofc kaikeyi's decision to exile rama is one of them, but i also like how lakshmana's depicted here, as well as his relationships w/ kaikeyi and his most renowned brother. they all shed a new light and perspective on the epic, and is def a mark of a great retelling.

the last 20% hit me particularly hard, w/ kaikeyi having to choose to literally tear her family apart to avoid a greater disaster, which ultimately proves to be useless. her sense of utter helplessness in the face of the gods' hands and having to bear her family's hatred and wrath - theyre all told very movingly and i rly empathize w/ her plight and the recurring themes of how she tries to forge her own path anyway despite destiny, the gods' indifference, and the repressive patriarchal status quo.

although i do think the book's a lil too long - certain parts in the first 60% have middling pace and are overly detailed - and there are some major plot holes (ex: how could dasharath's promise to kaikeyi not be publicly known w/ how monumental a vow it is?), in addition to the author suddenly introducing then dropping certain plot points (kekaya's former chief lady in waiting, for instance), this is an enjoyable read and esp a must-read for those fond of good retellings.]]> 4.24 2022 Kaikeyi
author: Vaishnavi Patel
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/12/31
date added: 2023/01/03
shelves:
review:
kaikeyi is a compelling, richly woven tale w/ the marks of great storytelling. despite having almost no knowledge of the ramayana, i enjoyed this novel and retelling, for despite some of its faults its emotional moments are highly affecting and touch me deeply.

as ive never truly acquianted myself w/ the original epic, idk how much work patel's done on crafting the characters in her novel, but theyre def layered and complex. the titular character in particular undergoes quite a transformation from a lonely young princess to a powerful radnyi, shaped by her numerous trials and triumphs. i esp like the relationships between those in the kosalan royal family, how some of them defy stereotypical expectations, and the complex web of motives that each has and impacts their relations w/ one another esp the siblings.

patel does a fantastic job of not only creating the story that occurs prior to the events of the epic, also adding new ones, but putting a fresher spin on the original as well, offering a new look and pov on certain events, relationships and decisions. ofc kaikeyi's decision to exile rama is one of them, but i also like how lakshmana's depicted here, as well as his relationships w/ kaikeyi and his most renowned brother. they all shed a new light and perspective on the epic, and is def a mark of a great retelling.

the last 20% hit me particularly hard, w/ kaikeyi having to choose to literally tear her family apart to avoid a greater disaster, which ultimately proves to be useless. her sense of utter helplessness in the face of the gods' hands and having to bear her family's hatred and wrath - theyre all told very movingly and i rly empathize w/ her plight and the recurring themes of how she tries to forge her own path anyway despite destiny, the gods' indifference, and the repressive patriarchal status quo.

although i do think the book's a lil too long - certain parts in the first 60% have middling pace and are overly detailed - and there are some major plot holes (ex: how could dasharath's promise to kaikeyi not be publicly known w/ how monumental a vow it is?), in addition to the author suddenly introducing then dropping certain plot points (kekaya's former chief lady in waiting, for instance), this is an enjoyable read and esp a must-read for those fond of good retellings.
]]> Paradais 59685959
Written in a thrilling torrent of prose by one of our most exciting new writers, Paradais explores the explosive fragility of Mexican society〞fractured by issues of race, class, and violence〞and how the myths, desires, and hardships of teenagers can tear life apart at the seams.]]> 128 Fernanda Melchor 081123133X Ting Z. 1 paradais tries to do, but the eventual execution of its ideas was just not it for me. melchor def delves into many aspects of life in mexico - or a particular kind of the country if u will - be it class, sex, colorism and life under gang control. the novel shows a unfiltered, brutal look into the lives of those rarely given such glaring spotlight in books. moreover, once the action gets going, it becomes a thrilling, rollicking ride thats almost impossible to stop.

w/ that said, a lot of the content can be raw, dark and challenging. this isnt a bad thing, esp as it's a necessity in the book, inseparable from the reality of the world depicted. my issue is when coupled w/ the endless droning narrative - or unending descriptions thats bafflingly detailed to the point of being redundant, to be more apt - of the story's first half, it becomes almost unbearable to trudge on and read.

ig melchor's technical and stylistic choice here is supposed to firmly put readers into polo's and franco's heads, providing a rationale or explanation for two main characters' warped views and choices that ultimately result in the tragic ending, but it simply overwhelms the narrative for me. the entire first half's spent describing and explaining both characters' psyches and situations, and imo for a supposed thriller there's too little action that drives the story forward, w/ the characters' actual plotting and action - which is excellent btw - only taking place in the last 20% or so.

considering the book's rating im obvs in the minority here and i do wish i could like it, but this just isnt it for me.]]> 3.46 2021 Paradais
author: Fernanda Melchor
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.46
book published: 2021
rating: 1
read at: 2022/12/27
date added: 2022/12/27
shelves:
review:
i think i understand what paradais tries to do, but the eventual execution of its ideas was just not it for me. melchor def delves into many aspects of life in mexico - or a particular kind of the country if u will - be it class, sex, colorism and life under gang control. the novel shows a unfiltered, brutal look into the lives of those rarely given such glaring spotlight in books. moreover, once the action gets going, it becomes a thrilling, rollicking ride thats almost impossible to stop.

w/ that said, a lot of the content can be raw, dark and challenging. this isnt a bad thing, esp as it's a necessity in the book, inseparable from the reality of the world depicted. my issue is when coupled w/ the endless droning narrative - or unending descriptions thats bafflingly detailed to the point of being redundant, to be more apt - of the story's first half, it becomes almost unbearable to trudge on and read.

ig melchor's technical and stylistic choice here is supposed to firmly put readers into polo's and franco's heads, providing a rationale or explanation for two main characters' warped views and choices that ultimately result in the tragic ending, but it simply overwhelms the narrative for me. the entire first half's spent describing and explaining both characters' psyches and situations, and imo for a supposed thriller there's too little action that drives the story forward, w/ the characters' actual plotting and action - which is excellent btw - only taking place in the last 20% or so.

considering the book's rating im obvs in the minority here and i do wish i could like it, but this just isnt it for me.
]]> In the Dream House 43317482 251 Carmen Maria Machado 1644450038 Ting Z. 3 non-fiction, queer-yess in the dream house is a singular memoir, one w/ a unique - even ingenious - structure that masterfully distills the volatile and oscillating emotions, particularly tense fear, of the abused.

machado recounts and examines her personal experience of an abusive relationship through the lens of various artistic genres, objects, things, ideas, lending each chapter an eerie, tense, sometimes detached feeling. the aforementioned is also framed against the larger historical backdrop of overlooked and non-mainstream subject of abuse in queer and lesbian relationships, and i learned a lot from the existing canon that's included in the book.

overall, a distinctive memoir on an oft under-discussed experience that's also able to critically discuss larger historical and social contexts]]> 4.41 2019 In the Dream House
author: Carmen Maria Machado
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2022/03/15
date added: 2022/12/25
shelves: non-fiction, queer-yess
review:
3.5 stars - in the dream house is a singular memoir, one w/ a unique - even ingenious - structure that masterfully distills the volatile and oscillating emotions, particularly tense fear, of the abused.

machado recounts and examines her personal experience of an abusive relationship through the lens of various artistic genres, objects, things, ideas, lending each chapter an eerie, tense, sometimes detached feeling. the aforementioned is also framed against the larger historical backdrop of overlooked and non-mainstream subject of abuse in queer and lesbian relationships, and i learned a lot from the existing canon that's included in the book.

overall, a distinctive memoir on an oft under-discussed experience that's also able to critically discuss larger historical and social contexts
]]> <![CDATA[All Princesses Die Before Dawn]]> 63335749 A beautifully illustrated graphic novel focusing on a single day in the life of a family whose issues reach a breaking point on the day following the death of Princess Diana

Three love stories, from budding desire to fading passion, play out within one family on a late summer＊s day〞a day that will change all their lives forever.

August 3, 1997. In the bathroom of his suburban home, eight-year-old Lulu is trying on his mom＊s lipstick. He dreams of kissing his best friend, a neighborhood boy. Meanwhile, his teenage sister, Cam, covers her much-older boyfriend sneaking up to her bedroom by blasting the latest summer hits. In the kitchen, their mother is waiting for their father, who didn＊t come home last night. On TV, newscasters are announcing the death of Princess Diana....

All Princesses Die Before Dawn is a devastating and richly illustrated slice-of-life graphic novel that has already found critical success in France. Topical and relevant to the issues many families in the United States and worldwide face today, it doesn＊t shy away from addressing homophobia, emotional abuse, and broken families, but remains quietly optimistic about the strength of love and the human spirit as it does so.]]> 153 Quentin Zuttion Ting Z. 3 artsy-art, queer-yess *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

All Princesses Die Before Dawn is a slow read, chronicling the lives of a family in suburban France on one fateful day. The story is nice but not impactful enough for me, while the art fits the story with its dreamy style.

There are multiple things happening in this novel, all with the setting and thematic backdrop of Princess Diana's death. Zuttion does a good job of layering the story and its themes, though it can feel a little disjointed at times. A sense of melancholy also permeates the book; coupling with the slow pace, it makes for a moody combination suited for certain readers more than others, with me belonging in the latter. We do not learn much about the characters aside from the one day shown in the novel, and while I am interested in Lulu's story, I do not feel connected enough to or impacted by the other characters and overall plot (or lack thereof). As someone who quite values emotional impact in my reading, needless to say this is not as good a reading experience as can be.

The art fares better in my opinion. It has a certain dream-like, ethereal quality that fits the book's inclusion of fairytales and renders the story with a particular uniqueness. The color scheme is nice as well, maintaining the novel's dreaminess while also portraying the vibrane and tranquility of summer. It can be hard to discern facial expressions at times, however, and the font in the e-book edition is small, making it almost impossible to see punctuations.

This is a nice read overall, but its pace, tone and story are suited for some readers more than others. One has to be in a particular mood to truly enjoy it, but objectively it is nice enough.
]]> 3.89 2022 All Princesses Die Before Dawn
author: Quentin Zuttion
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/12/25
date added: 2022/12/25
shelves: artsy-art, queer-yess
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

All Princesses Die Before Dawn is a slow read, chronicling the lives of a family in suburban France on one fateful day. The story is nice but not impactful enough for me, while the art fits the story with its dreamy style.

There are multiple things happening in this novel, all with the setting and thematic backdrop of Princess Diana's death. Zuttion does a good job of layering the story and its themes, though it can feel a little disjointed at times. A sense of melancholy also permeates the book; coupling with the slow pace, it makes for a moody combination suited for certain readers more than others, with me belonging in the latter. We do not learn much about the characters aside from the one day shown in the novel, and while I am interested in Lulu's story, I do not feel connected enough to or impacted by the other characters and overall plot (or lack thereof). As someone who quite values emotional impact in my reading, needless to say this is not as good a reading experience as can be.

The art fares better in my opinion. It has a certain dream-like, ethereal quality that fits the book's inclusion of fairytales and renders the story with a particular uniqueness. The color scheme is nice as well, maintaining the novel's dreaminess while also portraying the vibrane and tranquility of summer. It can be hard to discern facial expressions at times, however, and the font in the e-book edition is small, making it almost impossible to see punctuations.

This is a nice read overall, but its pace, tone and story are suited for some readers more than others. One has to be in a particular mood to truly enjoy it, but objectively it is nice enough.

]]> Why Not Me? 22716447 Why Not Me?, Kaling shares her ongoing journey to find contentment and excitement in her adult life, whether it＊s falling in love at work, seeking new friendships in lonely places, attempting to be the first person in history to lose weight without any behavior modification whatsoever, or most important, believing that you have a place in Hollywood when you＊re constantly reminded that no one looks like you.

In ※How to Look Spectacular: A Starlet＊s Confessions,§ Kaling gives her tongue-in-cheek secrets for surefire on-camera beauty, (※Your natural hair color may be appropriate for your skin tone, but this isn＊t the land of appropriate每this is Hollywood, baby. Out here, a dark-skinned woman＊s traditional hair color is honey blonde.§) ※Player§ tells the story of Kaling being seduced and dumped by a female friend in L.A. (※I had been replaced by a younger model. And now they had matching bangs.§) In ※Unlikely Leading Lady,§ she muses on America＊s fixation with the weight of actresses, (※Most women we see onscreen are either so thin that they＊re walking clavicles or so huge that their only scenes involve them breaking furniture.§) And in ※Soup Snakes,§ Kaling spills some secrets on her relationship with her ex-boyfriend and close friend, B.J. Novak (※I will freely admit: my relationship with B.J. Novak is weird as hell.§)

Mindy turns the anxieties, the glamour, and the celebrations of her second coming-of-age into a laugh-out-loud funny collection of essays that anyone who＊s ever been at a turning point in their life or career can relate to. And those who＊ve never been at a turning point can skip to the parts where she talks about meeting Bradley Cooper.]]> 228 Mindy Kaling 0804138141 Ting Z. 3 non-fiction why not me? makes me smile and giggle bc mindy can always sneak in a few jokes on almost every pg; she's just funny. it might not have too much substance but it's entertaining enough. i particularly like the harvard law speech and her lil jabs @ white men thru the book. also, that obama staffer story got me on the edge of my seat like i was reading a romcom short story; a will-they-wont-they that beats many romcom books for sure.]]> 3.85 2015 Why Not Me?
author: Mindy Kaling
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2022/09/15
date added: 2022/12/24
shelves: non-fiction
review:
this book's simply an enjoyable, lighthearted, quick read, exactly as it should be. why not me? makes me smile and giggle bc mindy can always sneak in a few jokes on almost every pg; she's just funny. it might not have too much substance but it's entertaining enough. i particularly like the harvard law speech and her lil jabs @ white men thru the book. also, that obama staffer story got me on the edge of my seat like i was reading a romcom short story; a will-they-wont-they that beats many romcom books for sure.
]]> <![CDATA[Drawing on the Edge - Volume 1]]> 63461151 142 Ersin Karabulut Ting Z. 3 non-fiction, still-rollin *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

3.75 stars: Drawing on the Edge is an absorbing memoir, retelling the author's childhood and early years as a cartoonist. What I really like about comics and graphic novels is the fact that they are an excellent way for readers to learn about topics they might otherwise not go for, the visual form fortunately making unfamiliar subjects and/or difficult matters a lot more accessible. Such is definitely the case here with Karabulut's book, delving into the author's early life while also shedding light on the larger political and social context of the Turkish backdrop, the personal and political inexplicably intertwined, impossible to exist without affecting the other.

I like that the book manages to retain its humorous voice despite the heavy, high-stakes atmosphere of its setting, one with intimidation, censorship, religious zealotry, and historical unbridled violence. Karabulut's dreams and everyday life can be a respite from the political backdrop of Turkey, despite also being inevitably impacted by it in turn. The joy from being completely absorbed in a personal passion like art, excitement over the most meager interactions with his cartoonist idols, spontaneity of school shenanigans that are depiected are relatable and oft humorous.

Aside from being able to talk about Turkish political and social happenings in a flowing and easily comprehensible way without info-dumping, what I most like about the book is its emotional core, especially scenes with the author and his comics characters, deeply touching in its illustration of dreams let go and achieved, the power of the latter in not only inspiring Karabulut but also allowing him to inspire others, which the last chapter superbly demonstrates.

The art is great, with the author slightly modifying the style to best fit each scene. Scenic illustrations can be stunning, especially those of Beyoglu, and characters move seamlessly. I have nothing much to say because the art works really well with the story without ever being a distraction. All in all, this is a great, informational and even touching autobiographical book, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the next volume.]]> 4.43 2022 Drawing on the Edge - Volume 1
author: Ersin Karabulut
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/12/18
date added: 2022/12/18
shelves: non-fiction, still-rollin
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

3.75 stars: Drawing on the Edge is an absorbing memoir, retelling the author's childhood and early years as a cartoonist. What I really like about comics and graphic novels is the fact that they are an excellent way for readers to learn about topics they might otherwise not go for, the visual form fortunately making unfamiliar subjects and/or difficult matters a lot more accessible. Such is definitely the case here with Karabulut's book, delving into the author's early life while also shedding light on the larger political and social context of the Turkish backdrop, the personal and political inexplicably intertwined, impossible to exist without affecting the other.

I like that the book manages to retain its humorous voice despite the heavy, high-stakes atmosphere of its setting, one with intimidation, censorship, religious zealotry, and historical unbridled violence. Karabulut's dreams and everyday life can be a respite from the political backdrop of Turkey, despite also being inevitably impacted by it in turn. The joy from being completely absorbed in a personal passion like art, excitement over the most meager interactions with his cartoonist idols, spontaneity of school shenanigans that are depiected are relatable and oft humorous.

Aside from being able to talk about Turkish political and social happenings in a flowing and easily comprehensible way without info-dumping, what I most like about the book is its emotional core, especially scenes with the author and his comics characters, deeply touching in its illustration of dreams let go and achieved, the power of the latter in not only inspiring Karabulut but also allowing him to inspire others, which the last chapter superbly demonstrates.

The art is great, with the author slightly modifying the style to best fit each scene. Scenic illustrations can be stunning, especially those of Beyoglu, and characters move seamlessly. I have nothing much to say because the art works really well with the story without ever being a distraction. All in all, this is a great, informational and even touching autobiographical book, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the next volume.
]]> Detransition, Baby 48890225 A whipsmart debut about three women〞transgender and cisgender〞whose lives collide after an unexpected pregnancy forces them to confront their deepest desires around gender, motherhood, and sex.

Reese almost had it all: a loving relationship with Amy, an apartment in New York City, a job she didn't hate. She had scraped together what previous generations of trans women could only dream of: a life of mundane, bourgeois comforts. The only thing missing was a child. But then her girlfriend, Amy, detransitioned and became Ames, and everything fell apart. Now Reese is caught in a self-destructive pattern: avoiding her loneliness by sleeping with married men.

Ames isn't happy either. He thought detransitioning to live as a man would make life easier, but that decision cost him his relationship with Reese〞and losing her meant losing his only family. Even though their romance is over, he longs to find a way back to her. When Ames's boss and lover, Katrina, reveals that she's pregnant with his baby〞and that she's not sure whether she wants to keep it〞Ames wonders if this is the chance he's been waiting for. Could the three of them form some kind of unconventional family〞and raise the baby together?

This provocative debut is about what happens at the emotional, messy, vulnerable corners of womanhood that platitudes and good intentions can't reach. Torrey Peters brilliantly and fearlessly navigates the most dangerous taboos around gender, sex, and relationships, gifting us a thrillingly original, witty, and deeply moving novel.]]> 337 Torrey Peters 0593133374 Ting Z. 4 queer-yess detransition, baby is a relevatory and provocative novel, one which i delight in its intriguing premise, great execution, brilliant emotional characterization and telling of a trans experience.

peters incisively and grippingly examines motherhood, the trans experience, gender, identity politics, sex and sex work in this book, stripping layer upon layer of complexity thats enmeshed in a dash of political correctness, making her characters bare all, voicing taboos and things that are oft unspoken - representational politics be damned - to exhilarating effect. indeed, there were moments that simply stupefied me of how good this book is. and i learned a lot abt transness, this book having depicted in a humane sense many terms i merely know of but have never truly understood in depth.

meanwhile, the characters (and esp reese) are a hot mess - in a sense that theyre all each deep in a certain level of shit - specifically life shit - and trying to navigate thru a surprise pregnancy in different ways, each forced to face their own issues in the process. the ability to make readers empathize w/ characters who they sometimes also want to throttle is certainly a hallmark of a great writer, but peters, imo, goes above and beyond here. this esp pertains to ames/amy, whose story connects w/ me in a visceral way; we couldnt be more different, but her story deeply affects me in a way fiction rarely ever does, reading it was def sth else. it's indeed a lil baffling that her accidental outing plotline's suddenly dropped near the end: whatever happens after katrina's advice-seeking w/ reese and her friends? whats ames' reaction upon finding out the company supposedly knowing her secret?

and the book's last 15% and ending are less stellar than the rest, imo. the former feels awkward to me, like the author's trying to tie it all up but ends up veering into a slightly strange territory. i also wish we heard more from ames aside from that bit near the end. as for the ending, it does annoy me w/ how vague and slightly ~kumbaya~ it is, its tone a lil jarring w/ the book's irreverent tone.

even so, this is an undeniably thought-provoking, impactful, and even humorous novel, one that reads like a queer classic, and an amazing and welcoming addition to mainstream trans lit.]]> 3.94 2021 Detransition, Baby
author: Torrey Peters
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2022/12/17
date added: 2022/12/17
shelves: queer-yess
review:
what a read. detransition, baby is a relevatory and provocative novel, one which i delight in its intriguing premise, great execution, brilliant emotional characterization and telling of a trans experience.

peters incisively and grippingly examines motherhood, the trans experience, gender, identity politics, sex and sex work in this book, stripping layer upon layer of complexity thats enmeshed in a dash of political correctness, making her characters bare all, voicing taboos and things that are oft unspoken - representational politics be damned - to exhilarating effect. indeed, there were moments that simply stupefied me of how good this book is. and i learned a lot abt transness, this book having depicted in a humane sense many terms i merely know of but have never truly understood in depth.

meanwhile, the characters (and esp reese) are a hot mess - in a sense that theyre all each deep in a certain level of shit - specifically life shit - and trying to navigate thru a surprise pregnancy in different ways, each forced to face their own issues in the process. the ability to make readers empathize w/ characters who they sometimes also want to throttle is certainly a hallmark of a great writer, but peters, imo, goes above and beyond here. this esp pertains to ames/amy, whose story connects w/ me in a visceral way; we couldnt be more different, but her story deeply affects me in a way fiction rarely ever does, reading it was def sth else. it's indeed a lil baffling that her accidental outing plotline's suddenly dropped near the end: whatever happens after katrina's advice-seeking w/ reese and her friends? whats ames' reaction upon finding out the company supposedly knowing her secret?

and the book's last 15% and ending are less stellar than the rest, imo. the former feels awkward to me, like the author's trying to tie it all up but ends up veering into a slightly strange territory. i also wish we heard more from ames aside from that bit near the end. as for the ending, it does annoy me w/ how vague and slightly ~kumbaya~ it is, its tone a lil jarring w/ the book's irreverent tone.

even so, this is an undeniably thought-provoking, impactful, and even humorous novel, one that reads like a queer classic, and an amazing and welcoming addition to mainstream trans lit.
]]> <![CDATA[Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston]]> 60323939 In a magical medieval world filled with dragons, shape-shifters, and witches, a twelve-year-old hero will search for their place as an impending war threatens. A thrilling middle-grade series opener that stars a nonbinary tween and explores identity and gender amid sword fights.

My name is Callie, and I'm not a girl. I am here as Papa's squire, and I want to train as a knight.

In a world where girls learn magic and boys train as knights, twelve-year-old nonbinary Callie doesn't fit in anywhere. And you know what? That's just fine. Callie has always known exactly what they want to be, and they're not about to let a silly thing like gender rules stand in their way.

When their ex-hero dad is summoned back to the royal capital of Helston to train a hopeless crown prince as war looms, Callie lunges at the opportunity to finally prove themself worthy to Helston's great and powerful.

Except the intolerant great and powerful look at Callie and only see girl.

Trapped in Helston's rigid hierarchy, Callie discovers they aren't alone--there's Elowen, the chancellor's brilliant daughter, whose unparalleled power is being stifled; Edwyn, Elowen's twin brother, locked in a desperate fight to win his father's approval; and Willow, the crown prince who was never meant to be king.

In this start to an epic series packed with action, humor, and heart, Callie and their new friends quickly find themselves embedded in an ancient war--the only hope to defeat the dragons and witches outside the kingdom lies in first defeating the bigotry within.]]> 389 Esme Symes-Smith 0593485777 Ting Z. 3 queer-yess, still-rollin Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

3.75 stars: This was an enjoyable read. Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston is a rollicking adventure full of heart and wisdom, tactfully tackling its very relevant message and themes.

The fantasy setting is nothing new, but Symes-Smith uses it cleverfully to literally but also symbolically reflect the real world and explore the book's themes. The symbolism is perhaps my favorite thing about this novel: it elevates the story on technical, character and emotional levels. I also like how there are constant important information and revelations revealed throughout the book; it keeps things surprising and adds depth to the story. The characters and their individual arcs are great as well, each different, some with more privileges than others, yet all have been affected by Helston's rigid hierarchy and now band together to change the place for the better. Neal and his story are a favorite.

And while I mostly like how the characters are handled, I have minor qualms with Callie and Peran. For the former, they're overly brash at times, their impulsive actions without thought for consequences + initial dislike for all things remotely feminine are annoying. I wish we learned more about how they realized they were non-binary, especially as the concept should be almost alien in the rigid world of the story. It's also relevant to how others treat them, as I don't think repeatedly saying "I'm not a girl" -- even though outwardly they look like one -- to people who have never known of anything aside from the binary was helpful. It's like talking about astrophysics to a bunch of kids. I also think Peran could've been more nuanced. He's certainly evil through and through but the lack of nuance makes him a boring character, let alone the villain. The middle chunk of the book was a little repetitive as well, dragging the pacing.

Nevertheless, this is a fun yet wise book with a lot of heart, whose themes of family, courage and identity are precious. I'm happy that many young people will get to read this book, not only comforted by seeing it reflect themselves but also see how diverse the world truly is.]]> 4.40 2022 Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston
author: Esme Symes-Smith
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/12/10
date added: 2022/12/10
shelves: queer-yess, still-rollin
review:
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

3.75 stars: This was an enjoyable read. Sir Callie and the Champions of Helston is a rollicking adventure full of heart and wisdom, tactfully tackling its very relevant message and themes.

The fantasy setting is nothing new, but Symes-Smith uses it cleverfully to literally but also symbolically reflect the real world and explore the book's themes. The symbolism is perhaps my favorite thing about this novel: it elevates the story on technical, character and emotional levels. I also like how there are constant important information and revelations revealed throughout the book; it keeps things surprising and adds depth to the story. The characters and their individual arcs are great as well, each different, some with more privileges than others, yet all have been affected by Helston's rigid hierarchy and now band together to change the place for the better. Neal and his story are a favorite.

And while I mostly like how the characters are handled, I have minor qualms with Callie and Peran. For the former, they're overly brash at times, their impulsive actions without thought for consequences + initial dislike for all things remotely feminine are annoying. I wish we learned more about how they realized they were non-binary, especially as the concept should be almost alien in the rigid world of the story. It's also relevant to how others treat them, as I don't think repeatedly saying "I'm not a girl" -- even though outwardly they look like one -- to people who have never known of anything aside from the binary was helpful. It's like talking about astrophysics to a bunch of kids. I also think Peran could've been more nuanced. He's certainly evil through and through but the lack of nuance makes him a boring character, let alone the villain. The middle chunk of the book was a little repetitive as well, dragging the pacing.

Nevertheless, this is a fun yet wise book with a lot of heart, whose themes of family, courage and identity are precious. I'm happy that many young people will get to read this book, not only comforted by seeing it reflect themselves but also see how diverse the world truly is.
]]> <![CDATA[The Bone Shard Daughter (The Drowning Empire, #1)]]> 57322405 Magic. Revolution. Identity.

The Emperor's reign has lasted for decades, his mastery of bone shard magic powering the animal-like constructs that maintain law and order. But now his rule is failing, and revolution is sweeping across the Empire's many islands.

Lin is the Emperor's daughter and she spends her days trapped in a palace of locked doors and dark secrets. When her father refuses to recognise her as heir to the throne, she vows to prove her worth by mastering the forbidden art of bone shard magic.

Yet such power carries a great cost, and when the revolution reaches the gates of the palace, Lin must decide how far she is willing to go to claim her birthright - and save her people.

The Bone Shard Daughter is an unmissable fantasy debut - a captivating tale of magic, revolution and mystery, where a young woman's sense of identity will make or break an empire.]]> 438 Andrea Stewart 0356514951 Ting Z. 3 queer-yess, still-rollin the bone shard daughter has an interesting premise, but the execution leaves more to be desired.

my fav things abt this book are its unique and compelling magic system - w/ constructs and bone shard magic, one that contains very real consequences for the common folk, w/ real political implications - and, imo, its star character, jovis, a reluctant hero w/ humanity, heart and depth, and whose rapport w/ his 'pet' mephi i find very cute.

other aspects, however, i find a lil lacking still. the worldbuilding comes in stops and starts, glimpses that dont quite yield real depth. many things that would shed more light on the empire and its workings are glossed over, such as how, exactly, the constructs communicate back to imperial, what their relationships w/ real soldiers are like. in short, the world seems like quite a big one, but the setting and story feels surprisingly spare, sparse, and narrow in scope.

im also impartial to many of the characters, particularly lin, whose story isnt as exciting esp considering she's the titular character. this thereby affects my emotional investment, leaving me unaffected by the story. often, i also find the characters' actions illogical and frustrating; esp the weird not-killing-despite-knowing-they'll-come-back-to-bite-your-a55-later reasoning, and poorly planned fights, esp the one in the palace w/ the emperor. basically i feel like the characters dont use their heads enough even though they def should.

though i seem to have quite many complaints, it cant be denied that this book has its high points, and it can get very fun and adventurous. for that - and its interesting magic system - i might check out the sequels.]]> 4.05 2020 The Bone Shard Daughter (The Drowning Empire, #1)
author: Andrea Stewart
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2022/03/14
date added: 2022/12/07
shelves: queer-yess, still-rollin
review:
this isnt a bad read, but i simply expected more. the bone shard daughter has an interesting premise, but the execution leaves more to be desired.

my fav things abt this book are its unique and compelling magic system - w/ constructs and bone shard magic, one that contains very real consequences for the common folk, w/ real political implications - and, imo, its star character, jovis, a reluctant hero w/ humanity, heart and depth, and whose rapport w/ his 'pet' mephi i find very cute.

other aspects, however, i find a lil lacking still. the worldbuilding comes in stops and starts, glimpses that dont quite yield real depth. many things that would shed more light on the empire and its workings are glossed over, such as how, exactly, the constructs communicate back to imperial, what their relationships w/ real soldiers are like. in short, the world seems like quite a big one, but the setting and story feels surprisingly spare, sparse, and narrow in scope.

im also impartial to many of the characters, particularly lin, whose story isnt as exciting esp considering she's the titular character. this thereby affects my emotional investment, leaving me unaffected by the story. often, i also find the characters' actions illogical and frustrating; esp the weird not-killing-despite-knowing-they'll-come-back-to-bite-your-a55-later reasoning, and poorly planned fights, esp the one in the palace w/ the emperor. basically i feel like the characters dont use their heads enough even though they def should.

though i seem to have quite many complaints, it cant be denied that this book has its high points, and it can get very fun and adventurous. for that - and its interesting magic system - i might check out the sequels.
]]> Iron Widow (Iron Widow, #1) 52459864
When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister's death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected〞she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.?

To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia?. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and infamy to survive attempt after attempt on her life, until she can figure out exactly why the pilot system works in its misogynist way〞and stop more girls from being sacrificed.]]> 394 Xiran Jay Zhao 0735269939 Ting Z. 2 iron widow feels both too much and not enough in certain aspects, and now im left grappling w/ some confusing thoughts. a chinese-influenced fantasy by an asian author w/ a heroine who takes no sh!t and is out to figuratively and literally smash the patriarchy? if i read this book when i was younger, i wouldve loved it. and i still like it now, just not to the extent i should despite the myriad of things i enjoy.

things i like: the deep-rooted culturally enforced sexism and misogyny are painfully familiar, and zetian's rage and exasperation of it all are very relatable. it's also my first time reading a book w/ polyam characters and i enjoy the trio's refreshingly non-toxic dynamic, though i wish the trio was firmly established earlier so we'd get more interactions like i was led to believe by the pre-publication hype (like they literally go into battle right after..). the merging of gender dynamics w/ mecha is interesting as well.

despite the aforementioned, i feel like the book could simultaneously tone it down yet push it up a notch. in terms of characters, i wish we learned more abt zetian as a character beyond her righteous fight w/ the patriarchy (she does give weird "im not like other girls" vibes sometimes and i do find the "nightmare" lines cringey..), as well as some actual scenes or info abt her dead sister who we're supposed to care abt. certain plot threads also feel like mere tools that seem to get dropped right after, like the media deal w/ gao (no further mentions of it after like 2 chapters) and other army ppl's hostility towards zetian & shimin. i feel like the worldbuilding could be better as well; we rly dont learn much abt huaxian society beyond scraps of history and the confines of zetian's limited worldview (granted, she's a peasant and her access to the outside word's limited, but still). focus on certain things and not on others also befuddle me a bit, as some important stuff get merely short mentions. and maybe bc ive read quite a lot of YA, the book's a lil predictable.

this is an entertaining enough book that interestingly explores the patriarchy and gender thru sci-fi mecha, though i wish it does so w/ a lil more depth and nuance in both its themes, main character, and story.

-------

THIS SOUNDS FCKING FANTASTIC HOLY FVCK. PATRIARCHY- AND MISOGYNY-SMASHING W/ MECHA ROBOTS AND A POLY RELATIONSHIP. IN Y??? A??? IS THIS REAL?????????]]> 4.03 2021 Iron Widow (Iron Widow, #1)
author: Xiran Jay Zhao
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2021
rating: 2
read at: 2022/07/31
date added: 2022/12/07
shelves:
review:
2.75 stars: my feelings abt this book are...perplexing. iron widow feels both too much and not enough in certain aspects, and now im left grappling w/ some confusing thoughts. a chinese-influenced fantasy by an asian author w/ a heroine who takes no sh!t and is out to figuratively and literally smash the patriarchy? if i read this book when i was younger, i wouldve loved it. and i still like it now, just not to the extent i should despite the myriad of things i enjoy.

things i like: the deep-rooted culturally enforced sexism and misogyny are painfully familiar, and zetian's rage and exasperation of it all are very relatable. it's also my first time reading a book w/ polyam characters and i enjoy the trio's refreshingly non-toxic dynamic, though i wish the trio was firmly established earlier so we'd get more interactions like i was led to believe by the pre-publication hype (like they literally go into battle right after..). the merging of gender dynamics w/ mecha is interesting as well.

despite the aforementioned, i feel like the book could simultaneously tone it down yet push it up a notch. in terms of characters, i wish we learned more abt zetian as a character beyond her righteous fight w/ the patriarchy (she does give weird "im not like other girls" vibes sometimes and i do find the "nightmare" lines cringey..), as well as some actual scenes or info abt her dead sister who we're supposed to care abt. certain plot threads also feel like mere tools that seem to get dropped right after, like the media deal w/ gao (no further mentions of it after like 2 chapters) and other army ppl's hostility towards zetian & shimin. i feel like the worldbuilding could be better as well; we rly dont learn much abt huaxian society beyond scraps of history and the confines of zetian's limited worldview (granted, she's a peasant and her access to the outside word's limited, but still). focus on certain things and not on others also befuddle me a bit, as some important stuff get merely short mentions. and maybe bc ive read quite a lot of YA, the book's a lil predictable.

this is an entertaining enough book that interestingly explores the patriarchy and gender thru sci-fi mecha, though i wish it does so w/ a lil more depth and nuance in both its themes, main character, and story.

-------

THIS SOUNDS FCKING FANTASTIC HOLY FVCK. PATRIARCHY- AND MISOGYNY-SMASHING W/ MECHA ROBOTS AND A POLY RELATIONSHIP. IN Y??? A??? IS THIS REAL?????????
]]> Pardalita 62675030
Then, from afar, she sees Pardalita, a senior and a gifted artist who＊s moving to Lisbon to study in the fall. The two girls get to know each other while working on a play. And Raquel falls in love.

From author/artist Joana Estrela comes Pardalita, a beautiful slice-of-life story that is This One Summer meets Ursula K. Le Guin＊s Very Far Away from Anywhere Else, told in flashbacks and present day action. Using a gorgeous blend of prose poems, illustrations, and graphic novel format, Estrela captures the feeling of being a teenager in a way that feels gentle, joyful, and real.]]> 216 Joana Estrela 164614256X Ting Z. 2 queer-yess, artsy-art *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

2.5 stars: Pardalita is a graphic novel w/ an interesting structure as text is intermittently mixed with art, though I personally want more from the story.

On one hand, the story is mostly relaxing as it chronicles the main character Raquel's school life and time with friends, interspersed with her home life; I enjoy the banter and like the natural inclusion of Europe's immigration issues. Raquel and her feelings for Pardalita, however, are not as effective for me. There's a lot of (understandable) internal reflection, confusion, and yearning on Raquel's part, but I don't really feel emotionally connected to it at all.

The main issue, in my opinion, is despite the fact that this graphic novel isn't plot-driven, neither is it character-driven enough to make an impact on the reader. It feels like a series of vignettes pieced together, only to abruptly, bafflingly end. Again, there's nothing wrong with a simple and slow story with a relaxed pace, but there needs to be at least some payoff in terms of either plot or emotional stakes, and neither is present even by the end of this book.

I have no qualms about the art though; it's effective and fitting for the story, and the occasional double pages are great. The black-and-white lineart allows for some interesting things visually, and I particularly enjoy the scenes of the town and the city, where the sense of space allows the reader to feel quite enveloped and immersed in the story.

In sum, this is a slow, relaxing read that chronicles a teenage girl's everyday life and her burgeoning - for lack of a more fitting term - gay awakening. It's got nice lineart and an interesting structure, though it could've ended better.]]> 3.62 2021 Pardalita
author: Joana Estrela
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2021
rating: 2
read at: 2022/11/30
date added: 2022/11/30
shelves: queer-yess, artsy-art
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

2.5 stars: Pardalita is a graphic novel w/ an interesting structure as text is intermittently mixed with art, though I personally want more from the story.

On one hand, the story is mostly relaxing as it chronicles the main character Raquel's school life and time with friends, interspersed with her home life; I enjoy the banter and like the natural inclusion of Europe's immigration issues. Raquel and her feelings for Pardalita, however, are not as effective for me. There's a lot of (understandable) internal reflection, confusion, and yearning on Raquel's part, but I don't really feel emotionally connected to it at all.

The main issue, in my opinion, is despite the fact that this graphic novel isn't plot-driven, neither is it character-driven enough to make an impact on the reader. It feels like a series of vignettes pieced together, only to abruptly, bafflingly end. Again, there's nothing wrong with a simple and slow story with a relaxed pace, but there needs to be at least some payoff in terms of either plot or emotional stakes, and neither is present even by the end of this book.

I have no qualms about the art though; it's effective and fitting for the story, and the occasional double pages are great. The black-and-white lineart allows for some interesting things visually, and I particularly enjoy the scenes of the town and the city, where the sense of space allows the reader to feel quite enveloped and immersed in the story.

In sum, this is a slow, relaxing read that chronicles a teenage girl's everyday life and her burgeoning - for lack of a more fitting term - gay awakening. It's got nice lineart and an interesting structure, though it could've ended better.
]]> How to Read Now 60018643 How to Read Now explores the politics and ethics of reading, and insists that we are capable of something better: a more engaged relationship not just with our fiction and our art, but with our buried and entangled histories. Smart, funny, galvanizing, and sometimes profane, Castillo attacks the stale questions and less-than-critical proclamations that masquerade as vital discussion: reimagining the cartography of the classics, building a moral case against the settler colonialism of lauded writers like Joan Didion, taking aim at Nobel Prize winners and toppling indie filmmakers, and celebrating glorious moments in everything from popular TV like The Watchmen to the films of Wong Kar-wai and the work of contemporary poets like Tommy Pico.

At once a deeply personal and searching history of one woman's reading life, and a wide-ranging and urgent intervention into our globalized conversations about why reading matters today, How to Read Now empowers us to embrace a more complicated, embodied form of reading, inviting us to acknowledge complicated truths, ignite surprising connections, imagine a more daring solidarity, and create space for a riskier intimacy--within ourselves, and with each other.]]> 340 Elaine Castillo 0593489632 Ting Z. 3 non-fiction how to read now is a satisfyingly fierce and blistering commentary on colonialism, white supremacy and their impact on ppl's current reading of both books and the world. the book starts and ends very strongly, tho i find the middle section - esp the literary criticism - unending, a lil dull and out of place despite being at times interesting and informative.

nevertheless, it's undeniable that this is a relevatory, informative and insightful read that def challenges my earlier presumptions on consuming works by POC authors: representation doesnt matter as much as how it's represented; how it exists under the machinations of the ever corporeal yet omnipresent white supremacy and effects of colonialism; the unspoken emotional labor expected of and burdened on POCs. im also excited to check out the abundant works by POCs as referenced and included in this book, and will def be rereading this.]]> 4.03 2022 How to Read Now
author: Elaine Castillo
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2022
rating: 3
read at: 2022/11/24
date added: 2022/11/27
shelves: non-fiction
review:
3.75 stars - elaine castillo's how to read now is a satisfyingly fierce and blistering commentary on colonialism, white supremacy and their impact on ppl's current reading of both books and the world. the book starts and ends very strongly, tho i find the middle section - esp the literary criticism - unending, a lil dull and out of place despite being at times interesting and informative.

nevertheless, it's undeniable that this is a relevatory, informative and insightful read that def challenges my earlier presumptions on consuming works by POC authors: representation doesnt matter as much as how it's represented; how it exists under the machinations of the ever corporeal yet omnipresent white supremacy and effects of colonialism; the unspoken emotional labor expected of and burdened on POCs. im also excited to check out the abundant works by POCs as referenced and included in this book, and will def be rereading this.
]]> Shut Up You're Pretty 41810931
Shut Up You're Pretty is the first book to be published under the imprint VS. Books, a series of books curated and edited by writer-musician Vivek Shraya featuring work by new and emerging Indigenous or Black writers, or writers of colour.]]> 135 T谷a Mutonji 1551527553 Ting Z. 3 shorts shut up, you're pretty def didnt disappoint.

the series of interlinked stories were wholly unpredictable; one doesnt know how the story would go, what the crux of it is, or how the next one would be like after the previous one's unanticipated ending, and i relished that.

characters aside from loli come and go, each weaving in and out - a lil incorporeal - thru the whole text, so it was difficult to learn more abt many of them, but what one does learn is fine enough, sometimes w/ a certain scene or sentence shedding enough light on a character.

the content's quite dark w/ many tws - drug abuse and sexual content for instance - but i enjoyed this collection nevertheless and hope to read more from mutonji in the future.]]> 3.55 2019 Shut Up You're Pretty
author: T谷a Mutonji
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2019
rating: 3
read at: 2022/11/04
date added: 2022/11/24
shelves: shorts
review:
3.5 stars: been wanting to read this for a while, and shut up, you're pretty def didnt disappoint.

the series of interlinked stories were wholly unpredictable; one doesnt know how the story would go, what the crux of it is, or how the next one would be like after the previous one's unanticipated ending, and i relished that.

characters aside from loli come and go, each weaving in and out - a lil incorporeal - thru the whole text, so it was difficult to learn more abt many of them, but what one does learn is fine enough, sometimes w/ a certain scene or sentence shedding enough light on a character.

the content's quite dark w/ many tws - drug abuse and sexual content for instance - but i enjoyed this collection nevertheless and hope to read more from mutonji in the future.
]]> Against the Loveless World 55302664 384 Susan Abulhawa 152661880X Ting Z. 4 against the loveless world tells an important, often silenced story, and is one that's fortunately told well, much to all our benefit. it's a sprawling story of a palestinian woman and refugee, and a moving tale abt palestine and its courageous resistance, all brimming w/ love and empathy.

i like how the novel chronicles the personal, individual story - that of the main character nahr, specifically - in a way that nevertheless relays the bigger tale of palestine and its culture. nahr goes thru a lot of ups and downs, her incredibly difficult decisions shaped by larger political forces out of desperation for survival. her growth from a naive teenage girl, to a woman free of shame or care for social conventions, to a hardened political prisoner is a tumultuous one that im sure is similar to those of many palestinian refugees'. i also rly like her relationship w/ bilal, who's almost unrealistically understanding and loving, and the ending gives me much hope.

what touches me most abt this book, however, is the love so clearly seen and felt it has for palestine and its ppl. my fav scenes are those in palestine, particularly ones that take place in and around hajjeh um mhammad and bilal's home: the serene, expansive nature; the sense of community from everyone coming tgt for harvests, celebrations, homecomings; the culture lovingly relayed thru food, cooking, customs. despite the ever encroaching israeli settlements and violent political + military forces, palestinians survive and persist both above- and underground, finding joy in the small things, their love for their community and country ever present even in the face of outrageous injustice and hatred from both israel and the world that simply looks on.

i'd say that the novel's major weakness is the political activities by bilal and co, esp pertaining to the underground city. the covert activities occur thruout the second half in stops and starts, w/ too lil action imo for the amount of prep taken. the underground resistance always lurks on the fringes, and is perhaps a very fitting symbolism, but nahr's connection to it is too obscure for me personally. the last showdown also seems an uncharacteristic misstep on bilal's part esp considering not only the high stakes but his personal stakes in it all, and im still a lil confused at the timing and why it went down like that.

nevertheless, this is an important story - not only bc it's a voice from an oft silenced group of ppl whos been facing continuous oppression and colonization, but also as a story on its own. told from a fierce narrator who's inspiring in her no-fvcks-given ways, the novel brims w/ love for its community, culture and country, and would hopefully spur many of its readers into action, like it did me. last but not least, fvck israel.]]> 4.46 2019 Against the Loveless World
author: Susan Abulhawa
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2022/11/15
date added: 2022/11/15
shelves:
review:
against the loveless world tells an important, often silenced story, and is one that's fortunately told well, much to all our benefit. it's a sprawling story of a palestinian woman and refugee, and a moving tale abt palestine and its courageous resistance, all brimming w/ love and empathy.

i like how the novel chronicles the personal, individual story - that of the main character nahr, specifically - in a way that nevertheless relays the bigger tale of palestine and its culture. nahr goes thru a lot of ups and downs, her incredibly difficult decisions shaped by larger political forces out of desperation for survival. her growth from a naive teenage girl, to a woman free of shame or care for social conventions, to a hardened political prisoner is a tumultuous one that im sure is similar to those of many palestinian refugees'. i also rly like her relationship w/ bilal, who's almost unrealistically understanding and loving, and the ending gives me much hope.

what touches me most abt this book, however, is the love so clearly seen and felt it has for palestine and its ppl. my fav scenes are those in palestine, particularly ones that take place in and around hajjeh um mhammad and bilal's home: the serene, expansive nature; the sense of community from everyone coming tgt for harvests, celebrations, homecomings; the culture lovingly relayed thru food, cooking, customs. despite the ever encroaching israeli settlements and violent political + military forces, palestinians survive and persist both above- and underground, finding joy in the small things, their love for their community and country ever present even in the face of outrageous injustice and hatred from both israel and the world that simply looks on.

i'd say that the novel's major weakness is the political activities by bilal and co, esp pertaining to the underground city. the covert activities occur thruout the second half in stops and starts, w/ too lil action imo for the amount of prep taken. the underground resistance always lurks on the fringes, and is perhaps a very fitting symbolism, but nahr's connection to it is too obscure for me personally. the last showdown also seems an uncharacteristic misstep on bilal's part esp considering not only the high stakes but his personal stakes in it all, and im still a lil confused at the timing and why it went down like that.

nevertheless, this is an important story - not only bc it's a voice from an oft silenced group of ppl whos been facing continuous oppression and colonization, but also as a story on its own. told from a fierce narrator who's inspiring in her no-fvcks-given ways, the novel brims w/ love for its community, culture and country, and would hopefully spur many of its readers into action, like it did me. last but not least, fvck israel.
]]> <![CDATA[Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches]]> 730745 Sister Outsider celebrates an influential voice in twentieth-century literature. In this charged collection of fifteen essays and speeches, Lorde takes on sexism, racism, ageism, homophobia, and class, and propounds social difference as a vehicle for action and change. Her prose is incisive, unflinching, and lyrical, reflecting struggle but ultimately offering messages of hope.

This commemorative edition includes a new foreword by Lorde scholar and poet Cheryl Clarke, who celebrates the ways in which Lorde's philosophies resonate more than twenty years after they were first published. These landmark writings are, in Lorde's own words, a call to "never close our eyes to the terror, to the chaos which is Black which is creative which is female which is dark which is rejected which is messy which is . . . "]]> 190 Audre Lorde 1580911862 Ting Z. 4 non-fiction, queer-yess sister outsider is raw, incisive, deep, and searing; its soul-searching, reclaiming of self and space, and examination into the sinister nooks and crevices of american society in all its -isms and complex intersectionality are cloaked w/ righteous (and relatable) rage, all succinctly yet effectivively articulated in a mix of prose, poems, and interviews, among others, though the last chapter kinda throws me off in its placement and seeming detour from content presented earlier in the book.

not only does lorde get me nodding my head off in vigorous agreement, she also leaves me awed and astounded at times at how insightful and revealing her observations and truth-telling are, and her call to self-awareness and action are inspiring. she's also light years ahead of many others in her understanding and communication of the seemingly seamless blending of race, sex, sexual orientation, class, and other aspects of complex intersectionality, as well as her awareness of her own positionality, resulting in a startlingly non-western-centric work. this is def a book to keep and read then reread.
]]> 4.60 1984 Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches
author: Audre Lorde
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.60
book published: 1984
rating: 4
read at: 2022/02/28
date added: 2022/11/11
shelves: non-fiction, queer-yess
review:
a work much deserving of its classic status, sister outsider is raw, incisive, deep, and searing; its soul-searching, reclaiming of self and space, and examination into the sinister nooks and crevices of american society in all its -isms and complex intersectionality are cloaked w/ righteous (and relatable) rage, all succinctly yet effectivively articulated in a mix of prose, poems, and interviews, among others, though the last chapter kinda throws me off in its placement and seeming detour from content presented earlier in the book.

not only does lorde get me nodding my head off in vigorous agreement, she also leaves me awed and astounded at times at how insightful and revealing her observations and truth-telling are, and her call to self-awareness and action are inspiring. she's also light years ahead of many others in her understanding and communication of the seemingly seamless blending of race, sex, sexual orientation, class, and other aspects of complex intersectionality, as well as her awareness of her own positionality, resulting in a startlingly non-western-centric work. this is def a book to keep and read then reread.

]]> Gabi, a Girl in Pieces 20702546
July 24

My mother named me Gabriella, after my grandmother who, coincidentally, didn't want to meet me when I was born because my mother was unmarried, and therefore living in sin. My mom has told me the story many, many, MANY, times of how, when she confessed to my grandmother that she was pregnant with me, her mother beat her. BEAT HER! She was twenty-five. That story is the basis of my sexual education and has reiterated why it's important to wait until you're married to give it up. So now, every time I go out with a guy, my mom says, "Ojos abiertos, piernas cerradas." Eyes open, legs closed. That's as far as the birds and the bees talk has gone. And I don't mind it. I don't necessarily agree with that whole wait until you're married crap, though. I mean, this is America and the 21st century; not Mexico one hundred years ago. But, of course, I can't tell my mom that because she will think I'm bad. Or worse: trying to be White.

Gabi is Isabel Quintero's debut novel.

Named to Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2014

Named to School Library Journal Best Books of 2014]]> 284 Isabel Quintero 1935955950 Ting Z. 3 gabi, a girl in pieces reads like a YA classic w/ its story of identity, family, friendship, relationships, and grapples w/ the world.

the main character gabi is painfully, frighteningly relatable w/ her sturggles w/ body image, eating, complicated relationship w/ family, and her narrative voice is wry and at times hilarious. it's satisfying to see her grow and evolve thruout the novel, gradually thinking critically abt the world around her and the way girls are treated in her cultural context, and eventually speaking up and making her voice heard.

there's a lot going on in this short book, w/ quintero tackling numerous topics and issues, and tho it can feel a lil overwhelming at times, it's also realistic. there's addiction, teen pregnancy, rape culture, coming (and getting kicked) out, body image, internalized misogyny, and cultural pressure, to name a few. quintero approaches them all w/ equal parts realism and empathy. furthermore, the poems - esp those abt gabi's family - can be particularly touching, while the zine poems are technically great yet incisive.

i only wish things didnt peter out for cindy and sebastian towards the end, w/ gabi seeming hyperfocused in her own head. also i cant help but be a lil confused as to why many boys suddenly flock to gabi when nothing abt her has rly changed internally or externally. the narrative can also get repetitive at times, w/ some things mentioned or happening over and over, blurring many of the events tgt into one indistinct blob. the end couldve been less abrupt too.

while this novel contains serious themes and topics, it addresses and explores them w/ empathetic realism thru a humorous and wry narrative voice; an inevitable YA classic.]]> 3.94 2014 Gabi, a Girl in Pieces
author: Isabel Quintero
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2014
rating: 3
read at: 2022/10/27
date added: 2022/11/05
shelves:
review:
3.5 stars - told in the format of a journal interspersed w/ poems and even a zine, gabi, a girl in pieces reads like a YA classic w/ its story of identity, family, friendship, relationships, and grapples w/ the world.

the main character gabi is painfully, frighteningly relatable w/ her sturggles w/ body image, eating, complicated relationship w/ family, and her narrative voice is wry and at times hilarious. it's satisfying to see her grow and evolve thruout the novel, gradually thinking critically abt the world around her and the way girls are treated in her cultural context, and eventually speaking up and making her voice heard.

there's a lot going on in this short book, w/ quintero tackling numerous topics and issues, and tho it can feel a lil overwhelming at times, it's also realistic. there's addiction, teen pregnancy, rape culture, coming (and getting kicked) out, body image, internalized misogyny, and cultural pressure, to name a few. quintero approaches them all w/ equal parts realism and empathy. furthermore, the poems - esp those abt gabi's family - can be particularly touching, while the zine poems are technically great yet incisive.

i only wish things didnt peter out for cindy and sebastian towards the end, w/ gabi seeming hyperfocused in her own head. also i cant help but be a lil confused as to why many boys suddenly flock to gabi when nothing abt her has rly changed internally or externally. the narrative can also get repetitive at times, w/ some things mentioned or happening over and over, blurring many of the events tgt into one indistinct blob. the end couldve been less abrupt too.

while this novel contains serious themes and topics, it addresses and explores them w/ empathetic realism thru a humorous and wry narrative voice; an inevitable YA classic.
]]> She of the Mountains 21560972 Finalist, Lambda Literary Award

In the beginning, there is no he. There is no she.

Two cells make up one cell. This is the mathematics behind creation. One plus one makes one. Life begets life. We are the period to a sentence, the effect to a cause, always belonging to someone. We are never our own.

This is why we are so lonely.

She of the Mountains is a beautifully rendered illustrated novel by Vivek Shraya, the author of the Lambda Literary Award finalist God Loves Hair. Shraya weaves a passionate, contemporary love story between a man and his body, with a re-imagining of Hindu mythology. Both narratives explore the complexities of embodiment and the damaging effects that policing gender and sexuality can have on the human heart.

Illustrations are by Raymond Biesinger, whose work has appeared in such publications as The New Yorker and the New York Times.

Vivek Shraya is a multimedia artist, working in the mediums of music, performance, literature, and film. His most recent film, What I LOVE about Being QUEER, has been expanded to include an online project and book with contributions from around the world. He is also author of God Loves Hair.]]> 128 Vivek Shraya 1551525615 Ting Z. 3 queer-yess she of the mountains is another proof of vivek shraya's awesomeness.

this short novel contains two concurrent stories: one abt hindu gods and another abt a contemporary exploration of identity and self-love. shraya manages to make the former not merely compelling but very accessible, which is a rare feat. the latter, meanwhile, is jam-packed w/ the author's signature themes of race, queerness and their intersectionality in identity.

the book's able to somehow say so much and explore many complex issues in so little words. better yet, it's all done w/ equal parts detachment and emotional connection that are nevertheless impactful; certain parts esp towards the end rly move me, w/ one in particular making me simply pause and marvel on what i just read.

in short, this is a short book that packs a punch and lingers on one's mind quite a while after reading.]]> 3.88 2014 She of the Mountains
author: Vivek Shraya
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2014
rating: 3
read at: 2022/10/21
date added: 2022/10/21
shelves: queer-yess
review:
3.5 stars - a satisfyingly effective and surprisingly impactful book that says a lot w/ little, she of the mountains is another proof of vivek shraya's awesomeness.

this short novel contains two concurrent stories: one abt hindu gods and another abt a contemporary exploration of identity and self-love. shraya manages to make the former not merely compelling but very accessible, which is a rare feat. the latter, meanwhile, is jam-packed w/ the author's signature themes of race, queerness and their intersectionality in identity.

the book's able to somehow say so much and explore many complex issues in so little words. better yet, it's all done w/ equal parts detachment and emotional connection that are nevertheless impactful; certain parts esp towards the end rly move me, w/ one in particular making me simply pause and marvel on what i just read.

in short, this is a short book that packs a punch and lingers on one's mind quite a while after reading.
]]> The Outsider 9025882
So when his mother dies and he is unmoved, he refuses to do the proper thing and grieve. Returning to Algiers after the funeral, he carries on life as usual until he becomes involved in a violent murder.

In court, it is clear that Meursault's guilt or innocence will not be determined by what he did or did not do.

He is on trial for being different - an outsider.]]> 119 Albert Camus 0241950058 Ting Z. 2 4.03 1942 The Outsider
author: Albert Camus
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.03
book published: 1942
rating: 2
read at: 2018/02/28
date added: 2022/10/17
shelves:
review:
I have mixed feelings about this book. It's by no means a 'bad' book, in fact, it's particularly thought-provoking. But perhaps precisely because its main character is meant to be a social outsider, his thoughts and actions sometimes take a bit of getting used to, and their implications--as intended by Camus himself--have to be pondered over. I need to read more analysis on the book to increase my understanding of it, so there's a possibility of change in ratings in the future.
]]> Heaven 56927764 From the bestselling author of Breasts and Eggs and international literary sensation Mieko Kawakami, comes a sharp and illuminating novel about a fourteen-year-old boy subjected to relentless bullying.

In Heaven, a fourteen-year old boy is tormented for having a lazy eye. Instead of resisting, he chooses to suffer in silence. The only person who understands what he is going through is a female classmate, Kojima, who experiences similar treatment at the hands of her bullies. Providing each other with immeasurable consolation at a time in their lives when they need it most, the two young friends grow closer than ever. But what, ultimately, is the nature of a friendship when your shared bond is terror?

Unflinching yet tender, sharply observed, intimate and multi-layered, this simple yet profound novel stands as yet another dazzling testament to Mieko Kawakami＊s uncontainable talent. There can be little doubt that it has cemented her reputation as one of the most important young authors at work today.]]> 167 Mieko Kawakami 1509898247 Ting Z. 2
heaven is an unflinching, unsentimental yet provoking meditation on human behavior, violence, its impact, and how ppl grapple w/ it. kawakami was very adept at affectingly rendering the debilitating fear, dread, and frustration that the narrator experienced at the hands of his violent bullies; i had never wanted to throttle middle schoolers so badly.

while the opposing arguments set forth by both kojima and momose were interesting and def held a grain of truth to them, the fact that the narrator himself wasnt explicit in his beliefs--or at least forwent to act on them--resulted in inconclusiveness, and, ultimately, an ending that didnt rly amount to anything, thus my perplexity on even my own feelings towards the book.]]> 3.74 2009 Heaven
author: Mieko Kawakami
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2009
rating: 2
read at: 2022/01/31
date added: 2022/10/16
shelves:
review:
kinda a travesty to give a mieko kawakami book 2.75 stars..this wasnt a bad book by any means and im not even entirely sure what my issue w/ it is, or even if i have any? but a 3-star rating means i like a book, and i cant fully say that i like this one, so 2.75 it is.

heaven is an unflinching, unsentimental yet provoking meditation on human behavior, violence, its impact, and how ppl grapple w/ it. kawakami was very adept at affectingly rendering the debilitating fear, dread, and frustration that the narrator experienced at the hands of his violent bullies; i had never wanted to throttle middle schoolers so badly.

while the opposing arguments set forth by both kojima and momose were interesting and def held a grain of truth to them, the fact that the narrator himself wasnt explicit in his beliefs--or at least forwent to act on them--resulted in inconclusiveness, and, ultimately, an ending that didnt rly amount to anything, thus my perplexity on even my own feelings towards the book.
]]> <![CDATA[Sister of My Heart (Anju and Sudha #1)]]> 16235
The cousins' bond is shattered, however, when Sudha learns a dark family secret. Urged into arranged marriages, their lives take sudden, opposite turns: Sudha becomes the dutiful daughter-in-law of a rigid small-town household, while Anju goes to America with her new husband and learns to live her own life of secrets. Then tragedy strikes them both, and the women discover that, despite the distance that has grown between them, they have only each other to turn to. Set in the two worlds of India and America, this is an exceptionally moving novel of love, friendship, and compelling courage.]]> 322 Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni 038548951X Ting Z. 2 sister of my heart does have a lot of heart, but unfortunately its good intentions are smothered by unlikable characters and an unsatisfactory execution.

i'd say the first half is slightly better than the latter, though it's a lil juvenile bc of the 2 main girls' young age. the way various tales are woven into the story can be surprisingly relevant and stirring, as are the familial bonds in the chatterjee household. of course, the surprise reveal at the end's a highlight as well, shedding new light on the whole book.

unfortunately, i find more to dislike than to like in this novel. the bond between anju and sudha - which is the very core of the book - can be touching at times and their devotion to each other is quite sth. however, im also frustrated by how unrealistic it can be, oft rendering both of the girls blind to everything else. individually, both of them can be infuriating - sudha w/ many of her puzzling choices and anju w/ her personality - w/ little growth throughout the book, and what little growth there is, it's replaced by a new frustrating trait.

the last couple chapters particularly irk me, esp w/ how sudha chooses to forego a future w/ [redacted]; i simply dont think it's the best decision, that there's a better way for her to have it both ways, both her love and sister. it's like divakaruni goes w/ her route just to reiterate her themes, despite there being better ways to do so. old problems still fester for anju as well, and how they're unresolved annoy me. the story and its writing can be predictable at times too, and there isnt enough happy moments for my liking. throughout the book i also feel that things flounder around emotionally, never being fully despairing or happy, there's no peak emotional moments; even the family secrets arent as scandalous or as big a deal to me as the author makes them seem to be.

sister of my heart is a novel w/ a sincere heart - i totally get what the author tries to do - but the execution and characters' seeming choice to be miserable are simply not for me.]]> 4.01 2000 Sister of My Heart (Anju and Sudha #1)
author: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2000
rating: 2
read at: 2022/10/13
date added: 2022/10/16
shelves:
review:
this was sadly a bit of a letdown. sister of my heart does have a lot of heart, but unfortunately its good intentions are smothered by unlikable characters and an unsatisfactory execution.

i'd say the first half is slightly better than the latter, though it's a lil juvenile bc of the 2 main girls' young age. the way various tales are woven into the story can be surprisingly relevant and stirring, as are the familial bonds in the chatterjee household. of course, the surprise reveal at the end's a highlight as well, shedding new light on the whole book.

unfortunately, i find more to dislike than to like in this novel. the bond between anju and sudha - which is the very core of the book - can be touching at times and their devotion to each other is quite sth. however, im also frustrated by how unrealistic it can be, oft rendering both of the girls blind to everything else. individually, both of them can be infuriating - sudha w/ many of her puzzling choices and anju w/ her personality - w/ little growth throughout the book, and what little growth there is, it's replaced by a new frustrating trait.

the last couple chapters particularly irk me, esp w/ how sudha chooses to forego a future w/ [redacted]; i simply dont think it's the best decision, that there's a better way for her to have it both ways, both her love and sister. it's like divakaruni goes w/ her route just to reiterate her themes, despite there being better ways to do so. old problems still fester for anju as well, and how they're unresolved annoy me. the story and its writing can be predictable at times too, and there isnt enough happy moments for my liking. throughout the book i also feel that things flounder around emotionally, never being fully despairing or happy, there's no peak emotional moments; even the family secrets arent as scandalous or as big a deal to me as the author makes them seem to be.

sister of my heart is a novel w/ a sincere heart - i totally get what the author tries to do - but the execution and characters' seeming choice to be miserable are simply not for me.
]]> A Manual for Cleaning Women 31673067 A Manual for Cleaning Women make for one of the most remarkable unsung collections in twentieth-century American fiction.

With extraordinary honesty and magnetism, Lucia Berlin invites us into her rich, itinerant life: the drink and the mess and the pain and the beauty and the moments of surprise and of grace. Her voice is uniquely witty, anarchic and compassionate. Celebrated for many years by those in the know, she is about to become - a decade after her death - the writer everyone is talking about.

Contents:
- Foreword: "The Story Is the Thing" by Lydia Davis
- Introduction by Stephen Emerson
- Angels Laundromat
- Dr. H.A. Moynihan
- Stars and Saints
- A Manual for Cleaning Women
- My Jockey
- El Tim
- Point of View
- Her First Detox
- Phantom Pain
- Tiger Bites
- Emergency Room Notebook, 1977
- Temps Perdu
- Carpe Diem
- Toda Luna, Todo A?o
- Good and Bad
- Melina
- Friends
- Unmanageable
- Electric Car, El Paso
- Sex Appeal
- Teenage Punk
- Step
- Strays
- Grief
- Bluebonnets
- La Vie en Rose
- Macadam
- Dear Conchi
- Fool to Cry
- Mourning
- Pante車n de Dolores
- So Long
- A Love Affair
- Let Me See You Smile
- Mama
- Carmen
- Silence
- Mijito
- 502
- Here It Is Saturday
- B.F. and Me
- Wait a Minute
- Homing

]]> 403 Lucia Berlin 1447294890 Ting Z. 3 a manual for cleaning women nevertheless demonstrates why berlin's work is considered a classic in american literature.

though the stories are a mildly discombobulating mix and read very slow initially, the book's second half is markedly compelling and more intense somehow, w/ some of my favorites being "grief," "let me see you smile," and "here it is saturday."

berlin's trademark of - as a review on the back cover puts it - "brutal one-liners and swift reversals" always keeps the reader subconsciously on edge, and even make me flinch on occasion when the ball drops. there are no obvious happy endings or resolution of plot points, as the stories are akin to snapshot of moments in time, yet they also ring true, noted in their emotional resonance that are never gratuitous.

i also greatly appreciate the genuine portrayal and inclusion of society's marginalized, whether it be in terms of race, gender, class, the imprisoned, nationality, disability, etc. to be honest i was very surprised by how aware berlin is of all the aforementioned groups and issues, never reducing anyone to caricatures. esp considering the time period during which she wrote the stories, it seems like she's ahead of her time, and attests to the fact that pre-'woke' stories and literature can be diverse - it reflects the actual world, after all - and need not be blandly uniformed.

overall, i enjoy this book for its real stories, diverse rep (who would have thought?), unpredictability, though will have to reread it once im in the right headspace to more greatly appreciate the first half.
]]> 4.35 2015 A Manual for Cleaning Women
author: Lucia Berlin
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2022/04/19
date added: 2022/10/10
shelves:
review:
3.75 stars: this collection contains numerous short stories by lucia berlin, and while my liking for each of them varies in degrees, a manual for cleaning women nevertheless demonstrates why berlin's work is considered a classic in american literature.

though the stories are a mildly discombobulating mix and read very slow initially, the book's second half is markedly compelling and more intense somehow, w/ some of my favorites being "grief," "let me see you smile," and "here it is saturday."

berlin's trademark of - as a review on the back cover puts it - "brutal one-liners and swift reversals" always keeps the reader subconsciously on edge, and even make me flinch on occasion when the ball drops. there are no obvious happy endings or resolution of plot points, as the stories are akin to snapshot of moments in time, yet they also ring true, noted in their emotional resonance that are never gratuitous.

i also greatly appreciate the genuine portrayal and inclusion of society's marginalized, whether it be in terms of race, gender, class, the imprisoned, nationality, disability, etc. to be honest i was very surprised by how aware berlin is of all the aforementioned groups and issues, never reducing anyone to caricatures. esp considering the time period during which she wrote the stories, it seems like she's ahead of her time, and attests to the fact that pre-'woke' stories and literature can be diverse - it reflects the actual world, after all - and need not be blandly uniformed.

overall, i enjoy this book for its real stories, diverse rep (who would have thought?), unpredictability, though will have to reread it once im in the right headspace to more greatly appreciate the first half.

]]> Ghost Town 57680782
The novel begins a decade later, when Chen has just been released from prison for killing his boyfriend. He is about to return to his family＊s village, a poor and desolate place. With his parents gone, his sisters married, mad, or dead, there is nothing left for him there. As the story unfurls, we learn what tore this family apart and, more importantly, the truth behind the murder of Chen＊s boyfriend.

Told in a myriad of voices, both living and dead, and moving through time with deceptive ease, Ghost Town weaves a mesmerizing web of family secrets and countryside superstitions, the search for identity and clash of cultures.]]> 327 Kevin Chen 1609457994 Ting Z. 2 queer-yess *Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

2.75 stars: Objectively, Ghost Town is an excellent book from a literary standpoint. Subjectively, however, I did not enjoy this as much as I should have, owing to its much-darker-than-expected tone and inadequate focus on the main character.

The factor that determines a reader's enjoyment of this book, in my opinion, boils down to their expectations of it. I think the current English edition is quite misleading: the cover does not do it justice, with both the art and font looking too juvenile for the book's tone and subject matter. I also wish I knew beforehand that the novel does not focus as much on the supposed main character as his family and the town he comes from. If I had had more accurate knowledge about the book before diving in, my feelings would be more positive, rather than feeling its 'lack' or being a little taken aback by its dark themes.

The novel itself, however, is mostly commendable, its structure and plot akin to an onion with layers on top of layers to be discovered the more one reads on. It is tightly plotted, with constant reveals and surprises throughout, shedding more light not only on the story itself but also the characters. The rural Taiwan setting is also great, the atmosphere, sense of place and culture so distinct and palpable one is immediately transported. The themes are deftly explored as well.

Nevertheless, there are parts that read like fillers and could be trimmed, as they endlessly meander and slow down the pace. I also wish more focus was on Keith; there is so much about the family - both in the past and present - to wade through, that Keith feels like a bystander at times, let alone the main character. I think his constant rumination in the present and the sense of detachment in his narrative voice also distance him from the reader, thus it is quite difficult to feel connected to him. But then again, maybe this is Chen's way of saying that Keith is now no different from a ghost.

This is a well-plotted book packed with details not only about the characters but also the Taiwan setting. If only the reader's expectations were better managed, their enjoyment would be less affected by its content and dark tone, and the lacking focus on the main character.
]]> 3.93 2019 Ghost Town
author: Kevin Chen
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2019
rating: 2
read at: 2022/10/10
date added: 2022/10/10
shelves: queer-yess
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

2.75 stars: Objectively, Ghost Town is an excellent book from a literary standpoint. Subjectively, however, I did not enjoy this as much as I should have, owing to its much-darker-than-expected tone and inadequate focus on the main character.

The factor that determines a reader's enjoyment of this book, in my opinion, boils down to their expectations of it. I think the current English edition is quite misleading: the cover does not do it justice, with both the art and font looking too juvenile for the book's tone and subject matter. I also wish I knew beforehand that the novel does not focus as much on the supposed main character as his family and the town he comes from. If I had had more accurate knowledge about the book before diving in, my feelings would be more positive, rather than feeling its 'lack' or being a little taken aback by its dark themes.

The novel itself, however, is mostly commendable, its structure and plot akin to an onion with layers on top of layers to be discovered the more one reads on. It is tightly plotted, with constant reveals and surprises throughout, shedding more light not only on the story itself but also the characters. The rural Taiwan setting is also great, the atmosphere, sense of place and culture so distinct and palpable one is immediately transported. The themes are deftly explored as well.

Nevertheless, there are parts that read like fillers and could be trimmed, as they endlessly meander and slow down the pace. I also wish more focus was on Keith; there is so much about the family - both in the past and present - to wade through, that Keith feels like a bystander at times, let alone the main character. I think his constant rumination in the present and the sense of detachment in his narrative voice also distance him from the reader, thus it is quite difficult to feel connected to him. But then again, maybe this is Chen's way of saying that Keith is now no different from a ghost.

This is a well-plotted book packed with details not only about the characters but also the Taiwan setting. If only the reader's expectations were better managed, their enjoyment would be less affected by its content and dark tone, and the lacking focus on the main character.

]]> Strange Weather in Tokyo 18283207 176 Hiromi Kawakami 1846275083 Ting Z. 2 strange weather in tokyo depicts urban life and an age-difference love, w/ moments of greatness yet still never quite reaching its full potential.

i particularly enjoy the book's nature scenes - aplenty in being a feast for both the senses and stomach - as well as the bar scenes w/ all the food + behavior and interactions that reveal the characters' personalities.

however, i never quite feel the connection between tsukiko and sensei; wish some things were resolved more clearly (whatever happened to kojima?); and find the stillness of the story a bit dull. the book's indeed elevated by the bittersweetness of the last chapter, only to take a dive again bc of the last paragraph.
]]> 3.63 2001 Strange Weather in Tokyo
author: Hiromi Kawakami
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 3.63
book published: 2001
rating: 2
read at: 2022/05/17
date added: 2022/10/04
shelves:
review:
a sparse, slice-of-life novel in the vein of banana yoshimoto, strange weather in tokyo depicts urban life and an age-difference love, w/ moments of greatness yet still never quite reaching its full potential.

i particularly enjoy the book's nature scenes - aplenty in being a feast for both the senses and stomach - as well as the bar scenes w/ all the food + behavior and interactions that reveal the characters' personalities.

however, i never quite feel the connection between tsukiko and sensei; wish some things were resolved more clearly (whatever happened to kojima?); and find the stillness of the story a bit dull. the book's indeed elevated by the bittersweetness of the last chapter, only to take a dive again bc of the last paragraph.

]]> Grass 41940333 This true story of a Korean comfort woman documents how the atrocity of war devastates women＊s lives

Grass is a powerful antiwar graphic novel, telling the life story of a Korean girl named Okseon Lee who was forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese Imperial Army during the Second World War〞a disputed chapter in twentieth-century Asian history.

Beginning in Lee＊s childhood, Grass shows the lead-up to the war from a child＊s vulnerable perspective, detailing how one person experienced the Japanese occupation and the widespread suffering it entailed for ordinary Koreans. Keum Suk Gendry-Kim emphasizes Lee＊s strength in overcoming the many forms of adversity she experienced. Grass is painted in a black ink that flows with lavish details of the beautiful fields and farmland of Korea and uses heavy brushwork on the somber interiors of Lee＊s memories.

The cartoonist Gendry-Kim＊s interviews with Lee become an integral part of Grass, forming the heart and architecture of this powerful nonfiction graphic novel and offering a holistic view of how Lee＊s wartime suffering changed her. Grass is a landmark graphic novel that makes personal the desperate cost of war and the importance of peace.]]> 480 Keum Suk Gendry-Kim 1770463623 Ting Z. 4 non-fiction, artsy-art grass is a powerful, harrowing biographical graphic novel abt korean comfort women in an unjustly less known chapter in ww 2 history. i expected this to be a difficult read but was nevertheless unprepared for how hard it hit me.

the graphic novel follows the life of one particular comfort woman, lee oksun, and from the get-go i was frustrated and angry reading abt the gender inequality experienced by lee since childhood. it's a tale older than time, yet it never ceases to be infuriating. there's a lot of triggering content here - unsurprising for a book mostly abt sexual slavery during wartime - but i was also particularly affected to tears by the story of seo mija, which was hard-hitting.

gendry-kim does justice to lee through her art and storytelling. despite the abundant violence and triggering content present, nothing feels gratuitous, w/ gendry-kim handling them all w/ care and detached objectivity. the brushstrokes and inkwork also masterfully convey both the external physical landscape of china and korea, and the internal situation of her subject.

this graphic novel tells an important story that deserves to be more known - esp as the injustice surrounding comfort women and japan's denialism still persisting - and gendry-kim does a lauded job of doing justice to the story.]]> 4.45 2017 Grass
author: Keum Suk Gendry-Kim
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.45
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2022/09/30
date added: 2022/10/04
shelves: non-fiction, artsy-art
review:
grass is a powerful, harrowing biographical graphic novel abt korean comfort women in an unjustly less known chapter in ww 2 history. i expected this to be a difficult read but was nevertheless unprepared for how hard it hit me.

the graphic novel follows the life of one particular comfort woman, lee oksun, and from the get-go i was frustrated and angry reading abt the gender inequality experienced by lee since childhood. it's a tale older than time, yet it never ceases to be infuriating. there's a lot of triggering content here - unsurprising for a book mostly abt sexual slavery during wartime - but i was also particularly affected to tears by the story of seo mija, which was hard-hitting.

gendry-kim does justice to lee through her art and storytelling. despite the abundant violence and triggering content present, nothing feels gratuitous, w/ gendry-kim handling them all w/ care and detached objectivity. the brushstrokes and inkwork also masterfully convey both the external physical landscape of china and korea, and the internal situation of her subject.

this graphic novel tells an important story that deserves to be more known - esp as the injustice surrounding comfort women and japan's denialism still persisting - and gendry-kim does a lauded job of doing justice to the story.
]]> <![CDATA[Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix]]> 59251247 New York City, 1922. Nicol芍s Caraveo, a 17-year-old transgender boy from Minnesota, has no interest in the city＊s glamor. Going to New York is all about establishing himself as a young professional, which could set up his future〞and his life as a man〞and benefit his family.

Nick rents a small house in West Egg from his 18-year-old cousin, Daisy Fabrega, who lives in fashionable East Egg near her wealthy fianc谷, Tom〞and Nick is shocked to find that his cousin now goes by Daisy Fay, has erased all signs of her Latina heritage, and now passes seamlessly as white.

Nick＊s neighbor in West Egg is a mysterious young man named Jay Gatsby, whose castle-like mansion is the stage for parties so extravagant that they both dazzle and terrify Nick. At one of these parties, Nick learns that the spectacle is all for the benefit of impressing a girl from Jay＊s past〞Daisy. And he learns something else: Jay is also transgender.

As Nick is pulled deeper into the glittery culture of decadence, he spends more time with Jay, aiming to help his new friend reconnect with his lost love. But Nick's feelings grow more complicated when he finds himself falling hard for Jay's openness, idealism, and unfounded faith in the American Dream.

Listening Length: 8 hours and 33 minutes]]> 336 Anna-Marie McLemore 1250774934 Ting Z. 4 queer-yess *Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

I'll put it simply: Self-Made Boys is the best retelling I've ever read. Not only does the book retain the key plot points and themes of the original, it also achieves a rare feat of improving upon a modern classic, where even more complexity and layers are added to the themes and characters.

To be honest, just the premise itself seems to good to be true - a canon Nick & Gatsby where both are trans and gay in a book made gayer and more diverse! - yet the novel still exceeds my expectations. The themes and characters are tackled with aplomb; what I think I know about Fitzgerald's original, McLemore plumbs the depths even further, adding even more nuance and characterization to their main cast in a way that amazingly connects to their own version. There were several times I had to pause upon stumbling upon such an instance, awed at how they shed a completely new light or perspective on a character and/or their actions. It's a marvel, really.

My favorite thing about this book, however, is the themes and how they're explored. There are the original themes further scrutinized through Nic車las' non-white and non-cis lens, in addition to new ones examined like race, gender, queerness. It's a lot, yet McLemore somehow succeeds in their balancing act, exploring all the themes inidividually while also bringing intersectionality into play. This also makes the characters more layered, with the most prominent example perhaps being Daisy who's deliciously complex, at once infuriating yet understandable.

I only wish there were more scenes of Nic車las and Gatsby after they get together, even just them lounging in the pool and talking or something; currently the focus is turned immediately to Daisy afterwards and it feels a little abrupt. The explanation for Gatsby's endless pursuit of Daisy personally feels a little forced as well, reading mildly like a cop-out. I just don't understand why he's in such a hurry for a lavender marriage, though maybe that's also due in part to Daisy's situation.

In sum, however, this is not merely a great retelling of a well-known classic but also a smartly plotted, layered and complex book that stands on its own, examining the American dream through the POVs of those not traditionally seen or heard in mainstream society.]]> 4.07 2022 Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix
author: Anna-Marie McLemore
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2022/09/25
date added: 2022/09/25
shelves: queer-yess
review:
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC

I'll put it simply: Self-Made Boys is the best retelling I've ever read. Not only does the book retain the key plot points and themes of the original, it also achieves a rare feat of improving upon a modern classic, where even more complexity and layers are added to the themes and characters.

To be honest, just the premise itself seems to good to be true - a canon Nick & Gatsby where both are trans and gay in a book made gayer and more diverse! - yet the novel still exceeds my expectations. The themes and characters are tackled with aplomb; what I think I know about Fitzgerald's original, McLemore plumbs the depths even further, adding even more nuance and characterization to their main cast in a way that amazingly connects to their own version. There were several times I had to pause upon stumbling upon such an instance, awed at how they shed a completely new light or perspective on a character and/or their actions. It's a marvel, really.

My favorite thing about this book, however, is the themes and how they're explored. There are the original themes further scrutinized through Nic車las' non-white and non-cis lens, in addition to new ones examined like race, gender, queerness. It's a lot, yet McLemore somehow succeeds in their balancing act, exploring all the themes inidividually while also bringing intersectionality into play. This also makes the characters more layered, with the most prominent example perhaps being Daisy who's deliciously complex, at once infuriating yet understandable.

I only wish there were more scenes of Nic車las and Gatsby after they get together, even just them lounging in the pool and talking or something; currently the focus is turned immediately to Daisy afterwards and it feels a little abrupt. The explanation for Gatsby's endless pursuit of Daisy personally feels a little forced as well, reading mildly like a cop-out. I just don't understand why he's in such a hurry for a lavender marriage, though maybe that's also due in part to Daisy's situation.

In sum, however, this is not merely a great retelling of a well-known classic but also a smartly plotted, layered and complex book that stands on its own, examining the American dream through the POVs of those not traditionally seen or heard in mainstream society.
]]> <![CDATA[Jade War (The Green Bone Saga, #2)]]> 41716919 Jade War, the sequel to the World Fantasy Award-winning novel Jade City, the Kaul siblings battle rival clans for honor and control over an Asia-inspired fantasy metropolis.

On the island of Kekon, the Kaul family is locked in a violent feud for control of the capital city and the supply of magical jade that endows trained Green Bone warriors with supernatural powers they alone have possessed for hundreds of years.

Beyond Kekon's borders, war is brewing. Powerful foreign governments and mercenary criminal kingpins alike turn their eyes on the island nation. Jade, Kekon's most prized resource, could make them rich - or give them the edge they'd need to topple their rivals.

Faced with threats on all sides, the Kaul family is forced to form new and dangerous alliances, confront enemies in the darkest streets and the tallest office towers, and put honor aside in order to do whatever it takes to ensure their own survival - and that of all the Green Bones of Kekon.

Jade War is the second book of the Green Bone Saga, an epic trilogy about family, honor, and those who live and die by the ancient laws of blood and jade.]]> 587 Fonda Lee 0316440922 Ting Z. 5 jade war does things bigger and is more complex, layered and - an uneasy feat - emotionally brutal than its already great predecessor. its violence, heartbreak, and scheming are further elevated by the nuanced exploration of its themes.

lee delves even deeper into the world of her story by expanding its scope through looking beyond kekon and examining all the intricacies and complex interconnected politics + history of the world she's created. the worldbuilding is starkly vivid, each country and their relationships w/ one another so distinct, realistic, and infuriatingly and familiarly mirrors our world.

the kauls continue to go through a whole lotta shit; there's a lot of ups and downs here but they do their best. never have i ever seen such a strong, complex fictional family and felt so much for their plight. there are certain points in the novel that just made me stop and go, "bruh this shit rly just went there." what i also rly appreciate is how they arent perfect at all; sometimes one can see their decisions' terrible consequences from a mile away, though theyre understandable and even inevitable.

the politicking and scheming, as always, continue to be one of the best things abt this series. idk if it's bc of lee's corporate strategist background, but the diplomatic, furtive, subtle ways the characters talk and act are enjoyably interesting, all imbued w/ an undercurrent msg or tension. i feel smarter reading abt how the characters talk and think lol.

what i most enjoy abt this book, however, is the nuanced, complex exploration of its themes that are hugely relevant in the real world not just on a personal, individual level but also historically and politically, esp how infuriating yts are, how countries and ppl arent black-and-white, diasporas, and how national sentiment borne from traumatic history can get entangled in more immediate, complicated current int'l relations and priorities. lee explores them all w/ gusto and a deft hand, offering persuasive arguments for both sides yet never talking down to the reader. also, reading this in 2022 feels like the book prophesized a lottt of things.

my only major caveat w/ the novel is how a lot of the kauls' scheming amounts to too little - like, all that for nothing compared to the mountain? nevertheless, this is an engrossing, dark, violent, complex, thrilling, and emotionally brutal book, one of a few that can easily make me scream, spooked, tear up, and stressed, and whose sequel i cant wait to devour.]]> 4.39 2019 Jade War (The Green Bone Saga, #2)
author: Fonda Lee
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2022/07/18
date added: 2022/09/25
shelves:
review:
4.5 stars; what. a. trip. jade war does things bigger and is more complex, layered and - an uneasy feat - emotionally brutal than its already great predecessor. its violence, heartbreak, and scheming are further elevated by the nuanced exploration of its themes.

lee delves even deeper into the world of her story by expanding its scope through looking beyond kekon and examining all the intricacies and complex interconnected politics + history of the world she's created. the worldbuilding is starkly vivid, each country and their relationships w/ one another so distinct, realistic, and infuriatingly and familiarly mirrors our world.

the kauls continue to go through a whole lotta shit; there's a lot of ups and downs here but they do their best. never have i ever seen such a strong, complex fictional family and felt so much for their plight. there are certain points in the novel that just made me stop and go, "bruh this shit rly just went there." what i also rly appreciate is how they arent perfect at all; sometimes one can see their decisions' terrible consequences from a mile away, though theyre understandable and even inevitable.

the politicking and scheming, as always, continue to be one of the best things abt this series. idk if it's bc of lee's corporate strategist background, but the diplomatic, furtive, subtle ways the characters talk and act are enjoyably interesting, all imbued w/ an undercurrent msg or tension. i feel smarter reading abt how the characters talk and think lol.

what i most enjoy abt this book, however, is the nuanced, complex exploration of its themes that are hugely relevant in the real world not just on a personal, individual level but also historically and politically, esp how infuriating yts are, how countries and ppl arent black-and-white, diasporas, and how national sentiment borne from traumatic history can get entangled in more immediate, complicated current int'l relations and priorities. lee explores them all w/ gusto and a deft hand, offering persuasive arguments for both sides yet never talking down to the reader. also, reading this in 2022 feels like the book prophesized a lottt of things.

my only major caveat w/ the novel is how a lot of the kauls' scheming amounts to too little - like, all that for nothing compared to the mountain? nevertheless, this is an engrossing, dark, violent, complex, thrilling, and emotionally brutal book, one of a few that can easily make me scream, spooked, tear up, and stressed, and whose sequel i cant wait to devour.
]]> The Vanishing Half 55298625 366 Brit Bennett 0349701474 Ting Z. 3 queer-yess the vanishing halfis indeed quite a gripping read that intriguingly dissects race in america, though i wish the execution was a lil more polished.

this book's quite a page-turner, the search for the lost twin akin to a drama mystery, albeit w/ no officials. the main characters and their inner psyches are complex and developed; even when u hate their choices, u understand why they do it. the bond between desiree and stella's also believable in each twin's desire to be her own individual yet whose identity's deeply connected to another. the inclusion of the queer community is surprisingly natural and nuanced as well, esp w/ reese.

and ofc, this novel's highlight is its exploration and depiction of being black in america: racism, colorism, misogynoir, relationship to a white supremacist society. desiree's and stella's diverging lives and the consequences of that def raise a lot of thought-provoking points, all of which are difficult and uncomfortable. i also appreciate how bennett doesnt depict any group - however despicable they are - as a monolith; even the racist white ppl receive a nuanced portrayal and it makes the book much more interesting to read.

however, i do have a couple issues w/ the novel. the narrative structure, imo, is unnecessarily convoluted and confusing. not even bc of the time skips, but the random reminiscing of past events and foreshadowing phrases that aim to take advantage of the omniscient POV but ends up causing confusion and distraction instead. the multiple character viewpoints in a chapter only further compounds this issue.

the multiple POVs and timelines also mean that focus on each is arbitrary and at times unsatisfactory, cutting things off to early. as there's a lot of action happening, some characters - like desiree - are neglected and we dont spend enough time whether w/ her or in her head. the focus on plot development results in not enough focus and time on certain characters' emotions, feelings, and change.

the prose could also be more polished; currently it does do what it needs to do, but the writing comes across as too blunt or detached at times. and somehow, despite the book doing a great job of incisively examining blackness in america, i feel like it's not enough somehow, that sth's still missing, just a lil spark. basically i feel like bennett couldve taken things even further or deeper, but perhaps she aims to focus more on the characters and the 'small' story.

overall, this is a thought-provoking, insightful book that incisively examines blackness in america, though i personally think it couldve been even better.]]> 4.04 2020 The Vanishing Half
author: Brit Bennett
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2022/09/22
date added: 2022/09/22
shelves: queer-yess
review:
3.75 stars: finally read this to see what all the hype is abt, and the vanishing halfis indeed quite a gripping read that intriguingly dissects race in america, though i wish the execution was a lil more polished.

this book's quite a page-turner, the search for the lost twin akin to a drama mystery, albeit w/ no officials. the main characters and their inner psyches are complex and developed; even when u hate their choices, u understand why they do it. the bond between desiree and stella's also believable in each twin's desire to be her own individual yet whose identity's deeply connected to another. the inclusion of the queer community is surprisingly natural and nuanced as well, esp w/ reese.

and ofc, this novel's highlight is its exploration and depiction of being black in america: racism, colorism, misogynoir, relationship to a white supremacist society. desiree's and stella's diverging lives and the consequences of that def raise a lot of thought-provoking points, all of which are difficult and uncomfortable. i also appreciate how bennett doesnt depict any group - however despicable they are - as a monolith; even the racist white ppl receive a nuanced portrayal and it makes the book much more interesting to read.

however, i do have a couple issues w/ the novel. the narrative structure, imo, is unnecessarily convoluted and confusing. not even bc of the time skips, but the random reminiscing of past events and foreshadowing phrases that aim to take advantage of the omniscient POV but ends up causing confusion and distraction instead. the multiple character viewpoints in a chapter only further compounds this issue.

the multiple POVs and timelines also mean that focus on each is arbitrary and at times unsatisfactory, cutting things off to early. as there's a lot of action happening, some characters - like desiree - are neglected and we dont spend enough time whether w/ her or in her head. the focus on plot development results in not enough focus and time on certain characters' emotions, feelings, and change.

the prose could also be more polished; currently it does do what it needs to do, but the writing comes across as too blunt or detached at times. and somehow, despite the book doing a great job of incisively examining blackness in america, i feel like it's not enough somehow, that sth's still missing, just a lil spark. basically i feel like bennett couldve taken things even further or deeper, but perhaps she aims to focus more on the characters and the 'small' story.

overall, this is a thought-provoking, insightful book that incisively examines blackness in america, though i personally think it couldve been even better.
]]> <![CDATA[The Sympathizer (The Sympathizer, #1)]]> 23168277
The Sympathizer is the story of this captain: a man brought up by an absent French father and a poor Vietnamese mother, a man who went to university in America, but returned to Vietnam to fight for the Communist cause. A gripping spy novel, an astute exploration of extreme politics, and a moving love story, The Sympathizer explores a life between two worlds and examines the legacy of the Vietnam War in literature, film, and the wars we fight today.]]> 371 Viet Thanh Nguyen 0802123457 Ting Z. 4 the sympathizer is a blistering tale that examines dual worlds and perspectives, while also being a memorable story about friendship, all helmed by an unforgettable narrative voice.

tbh i dont feel qualified to critique this book, for it's obvious that its story, construction, ideas, and author operate on a higher plane entirely. i cant offer sh!t to it, only it to me, and boy it certainly does. what truly distinguishes the novel is its incisive dissection of identity and politics, as well as its ability to read america - w/ its contradictions, hypocrisy, iniquitous superiority - to absolute filth. i literally lost count of the quotes i like, so unstoppably the book barrels on from one thing to another, giving voice to truths most american readers harbor only in their subconscious or are overly accustomed to as to now be oblivious to them.

aside from its themes and msgs, the story also stands well on its own. im surprised by how touching the self-labeled three musketeers' friendship is, and i cant rmb the last time male friendship moves me this much, this one bc of its devotion and mental sacrifice. my fav thing abt this book, however, def has got to be the unnamed narrator's voice, so genuinely funny yet oft dark. the way he says, describes, compares things are simply humorous, while also offering a deeper look into his character. it might not be a LOL kinda humor, but it's endlessly snort- and chuckle-inducing for sure, which is quite a feat in such a dark novel.

this novel isnt for those averse to serious subject matter, and some are advised to stay far away bc it can veer into macabre territory very quickly esp towards the end. but for those who can stomach the aforementioned, the book will reward u w/ a thought-provoking and truth-spilling story told thru an oft humorous and equally melancholic voice.
]]> 4.00 2015 The Sympathizer (The Sympathizer, #1)
author: Viet Thanh Nguyen
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2022/09/13
date added: 2022/09/13
shelves:
review:
it's extraordinary that this is nguyen's first novel, for the sympathizer is a blistering tale that examines dual worlds and perspectives, while also being a memorable story about friendship, all helmed by an unforgettable narrative voice.

tbh i dont feel qualified to critique this book, for it's obvious that its story, construction, ideas, and author operate on a higher plane entirely. i cant offer sh!t to it, only it to me, and boy it certainly does. what truly distinguishes the novel is its incisive dissection of identity and politics, as well as its ability to read america - w/ its contradictions, hypocrisy, iniquitous superiority - to absolute filth. i literally lost count of the quotes i like, so unstoppably the book barrels on from one thing to another, giving voice to truths most american readers harbor only in their subconscious or are overly accustomed to as to now be oblivious to them.

aside from its themes and msgs, the story also stands well on its own. im surprised by how touching the self-labeled three musketeers' friendship is, and i cant rmb the last time male friendship moves me this much, this one bc of its devotion and mental sacrifice. my fav thing abt this book, however, def has got to be the unnamed narrator's voice, so genuinely funny yet oft dark. the way he says, describes, compares things are simply humorous, while also offering a deeper look into his character. it might not be a LOL kinda humor, but it's endlessly snort- and chuckle-inducing for sure, which is quite a feat in such a dark novel.

this novel isnt for those averse to serious subject matter, and some are advised to stay far away bc it can veer into macabre territory very quickly esp towards the end. but for those who can stomach the aforementioned, the book will reward u w/ a thought-provoking and truth-spilling story told thru an oft humorous and equally melancholic voice.

]]> <![CDATA[Jade Legacy (The Green Bone Saga, #3)]]> 51057191
The Kauls have been battered by war and tragedy. They are plagued by resentments and old wounds as their adversaries are on the ascent and their country is riven by dangerous factions and foreign interference that could destroy the Green Bone way of life altogether. As a new generation arises, the clan＊s growing empire is in danger of coming apart.

The clan must discern allies from enemies, set aside bloody rivalries, and make terrible sacrifices＃ but even the unbreakable bonds of blood and loyalty may not be enough to ensure the survival of the Green Bone clans and the nation they are sworn to protect.]]> 713 Fonda Lee 035651059X Ting Z. 4
like its predecessors, jade legacy drips w/ swagger and filled w/ violence, strategem and emotional impact, feeling both intimate and epic w/ the focus on the kauls against the backdrop of greater outside forces. as always, lee pulls no-holds-barred in this book, cunningly plotting the story while also handling and balancing more story threads, characters, and settings than ever, where things can change dramatically w/ just a sentence (a masterful example of show-not-tell, rly). it's big in scope and ever more complex as many existing characters grow and new ones develop.

it's always an extreme experience being w/ the kauls; there are great triumphs but also terrible, heartbreaking losses (**** U WERE SO CLOSEEEE BARELY 30 PGS LEFT DAMMIT). we see them here w/ changing relationship dynamics, truth-searching, and growing into their own identities. reading this book, i feel aged right along them, filled w/ nostalgia, regret, and cautious optimism still.

the previously mentioned balancing act, however, is also my one main issue w/ the novel: the frequent timeskips can be confusing and sometimes seem unnecessary, and the existence of so many characters and story threads means many of them arent fully explored, w/ a few seemingly abandoned or forgotten halfway through. certain events/actions, for example, couldve happened in the same month or yr as the previous chapter, but somehow it just has to be like 2 or 4 yrs later, which i dont understand why.

the time gaps, while it might be necessary, also mean that there are - obviously - gaps in the story, but readers arent filled in on what happen during the interim yrs, and there def isnt enough time and space for lee to explain either even if she wanted to since it occurs so often; so now we're left w/ 2 chapters that happen like 5 yrs apart but it seems like not much has changed at all. moreover, some characters - like cam for example - initially expected to be more prominent over time are relegated to the background and their relations to the kauls arent mentioned much at all.

even so, it's undeniable that this is a tightly plotted gangster family saga brimming w/ tension, high stakes, violence, cunning, and emotional impact. it's been a rollercoaster of a (figuratively 25-yr) trip w/ the kauls, and the green bone saga is def one of the best series ive ever read.]]> 4.62 2021 Jade Legacy (The Green Bone Saga, #3)
author: Fonda Lee
name: Ting Z.
average rating: 4.62
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2022/09/04
date added: 2022/09/04
shelves:
review:
4.5 stars: ...bruh. this book makes me scream, cry, shout, and whoop - truly the whole human experience encapsulated - but that climax def makes me fall to my knees in target.

like its predecessors, jade legacy drips w/ swagger and filled w/ violence, strategem and emotional impact, feeling both intimate and epic w/ the focus on the kauls against the backdrop of greater outside forces. as always, lee pulls no-holds-barred in this book, cunningly plotting the story while also handling and balancing more story threads, characters, and settings than ever, where things can change dramatically w/ just a sentence (a masterful example of show-not-tell, rly). it's big in scope and ever more complex as many existing characters grow and new ones develop.

it's always an extreme experience being w/ the kauls; there are great triumphs but also terrible, heartbreaking losses (**** U WERE SO CLOSEEEE BARELY 30 PGS LEFT DAMMIT). we see them here w/ changing relationship dynamics, truth-searching, and growing into their own identities. reading this book, i feel aged right along them, filled w/ nostalgia, regret, and cautious optimism still.

the previously mentioned balancing act, however, is also my one main issue w/ the novel: the frequent timeskips can be confusing and sometimes seem unnecessary, and the existence of so many characters and story threads means many of them arent fully explored, w/ a few seemingly abandoned or forgotten halfway through. certain events/actions, for example, couldve happened in the same month or yr as the previous chapter, but somehow it just has to be like 2 or 4 yrs later, which i dont understand why.

the time gaps, while it might be necessary, also mean that there are - obviously - gaps in the story, but readers arent filled in on what happen during the interim yrs, and there def isnt enough time and space for lee to explain either even if she wanted to since it occurs so often; so now we're left w/ 2 chapters that happen like 5 yrs apart but it seems like not much has changed at all. moreover, some characters - like cam for example - initially expected to be more prominent over time are relegated to the background and their relations to the kauls arent mentioned much at all.

even so, it's undeniable that this is a tightly plotted gangster family saga brimming w/ tension, high stakes, violence, cunning, and emotional impact. it's been a rollercoaster of a (figuratively 25-yr) trip w/ the kauls, and the green bone saga is def one of the best series ive ever read.
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