Excited for this one. I‘m becoming more and more enamored with Japanese literature. This one seems a little dark, but very much looking forward to it.

At times, I thought the relationship between Tsukiko and Sensei was one sided (Tsukiko putting in most of the effort). I very much enjoyed this placid novel, and enjoyed the quirky relationship between the unlikely couple. I really loved the vivid imagery the chapters set (reading about foraging mushrooms in the mountains was such a delight). Would recommend 👍🏼

Just started reading this one last night :) pretty interesting so far. I‘m loving the relationship development between Tsukiko and Sensei.

This story is about 40 women, the youngest being a child. The women are imprisoned in a large cage surrounded by guards. None of the women can recollect what has happened or how they ended up there. This book may not be for everyone as it‘s not very climactic, but you become invested in the characters and their quest to find answers -which pulls you through to the very end.

Starting this one this morning. I‘m only a few pages in, and I‘m already intrigued 📖

I can‘t say I enjoyed this one. It reminded me of Women by Charles Bukowski, but not as crass and vulgar. Oba Yozo struggles his entire life with not having any purpose or drive. He never makes positive relationships within his family or peers. The story follows his relationships with women and his addiction to alcohol and heroin. It was a depressing account. It was melancholy from start to finish. I would have bailed if it was any longer.

Next up.

I was completely enveloped by this story. Nori is a bastard child from a mother that is part of a dying dynasty. The family tries everything to keep Nori a secret to preserve any honor and respect the family name still has. I loved the lyrical writing, and quite frankly I couldn‘t put this novel down.

Break time at work… I haven‘t had too much time to read these last few days, but I‘ve been slowly easing into this one 📖

Whoa, what did I just read?! This psychological thriller started off pretty tame, but ended with a bang. I couldn‘t put it down⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Little more than half way through this one…. It was slow to start, but I‘m really enjoying it now 😊

We are made up of different parts, some good, some bad, and a healthy mind can tolerate this ambivalence and juggle both good and bad at the same time. Mental illness is precisely about a lack of this kind of integration- we end up losing contact with the unacceptable parts of ourselves.

I love me some George Orwell, so naturally I had to read this graphic novel that was adapted and illustrated by ODYR.
I loved the drawings, and the layout of the book flowed nicely... Definitely a GN I will be reading over and over again!

Reading on my lunch break. So far loving the illustrations and story 🐖

I got some great book mail tonight, but I had a hard time deciding where to start first. I‘m going with this psychological thriller 👌🏽

Also, does anyone have any recommendations for some really dark novels?? I decided to embrace this genre until I‘ve had my fill 🤷🏻‍♀️

An important graphic novel the sheds light on a very dark part of history. I couldn‘t put it down once I picked it up. The illustrations were somber to reflect the heaviness of the story.

Starting this one rn. I haven‘t read a graphic novel before, so I‘m really looking forward to it although the subject matter in pretty grim.

It‘s the story of Korean comfort women during the Japanese occupation of Korea. From everything I‘ve gathered, it‘s a must-read.

Lunch and a good book 📖 🍲☀️

Caved in and got a Colleen Hoover novel. I want to see what all the fuss is about

This was a very slow-paced novel, but it was beautifully written. A troubled man is working at a dorayaki shop. He is apathetic with no real purpose, and suddenly finds himself working alongside an elderly woman that is able to find the beauty in everything.

They soon share a bond due to their dark pasts, and he starts to see the world through different lenses.

I loved the tone and imagery the author set. I enjoyed every minute of it.

Excited to read all the books! #bookmail

Started this one last night. Within the first chapter I was salivating over the descriptions of the dorayaki 🤤(Japanese pancakes stuffed with sweet bean paste). Reading a bit more this morning before I start my work trainings for the day.

It was an interesting read, but I found myself wanting more after every chapter. I felt like I only got a small glimpse of every character, and it was sometimes hard to really connect and engage with the story. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending, which made it worth sticking through the end.

Started this one a couple of days ago. Currently on Chapter 22…Interesting read so far ☕️📖

A bit melancholy, but looking forward to see what happens next.

Love, according to Mom‘s actions, was nothing more than nagging about every little thing, with teary eyes, about how one should ‘act such and such in this and that situation‘.

If that was love, I‘d rather neither give nor receive any. But of course, I didn‘t say that out loud. That was all thanks to one of Mom‘s codes of conduct- Too much honesty hurts others- which I had memorized over and over so that it was stuck in my brain.

Started this one a while back, but didn‘t get a chance to finish it. Hoping to get through this novel quickly.

One of the best books I‘ve ever read. In this novel, generational trauma meets motherhood. There‘s a lyrical yet sinister feeling throughout the entire story. I found myself having to process every chapter because the topics were so heavy and devastating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I‘ve had this one on my TBR pile for a while. Perfect time to start it up 👍🏽

This was a unique, little story of Keiko Furukura- A woman who worked at a convenience store for over 18 years, only to appear as a functioning member of society. It was an interesting and quirky read that I devoured in one sitting.

Diving right into this short novel I picked up at B&N today :)

It was interesting enough to keep me engaged and wonder what would happen next. I thought the ending was a bit underwhelming.

Currently reading…

This book was harsh. A virus makes animal consumption deadly to humans. Quickly, society turns to cannibalism as a way to feign normalcy. Marcos Tejo, the protagonist, is an important man in the slaughterhouse industry, and is dealing with a lot of stressors in his personal life. The novel takes you through his encounters and relationships (professional & intimate) in a world that has accepted the unthinkable. Great book. Read at your own risk.

I had high hopes for this book. I love the concept behind it, but I ended up despising the main character so much (which I think was partially intentional) to the point that I wasn‘t even rooting for her in the end🤷🏻‍♀️ Some chapters dragged a bit, and I found the book was extremely wordy with not much depth.

I finished this a couple of weeks ago, and I still find myself thinking about the characters & events that took place in this book.
Jivan is a Muslim girl that gets accused of a terrorist attack despite trying to make a better life for herself for so many years prior. The book also follows Lovely and PT Sir which play significant roles in Jivan‘s story. I really enjoyed the different perspectives, and it was a fast and thoughtful read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hello! I haven‘t logged into my Litsy in over 3 years! I‘ve been reading feverishly this year, so it‘s a must to be amongst this community again :)

Has anyone read this book?? I‘m only on chapter 4. It‘s simultaneously captivating and repulsive, and I have mixed feelings about reading it 🙃

Haven‘t posted in months, but still have been reading a little bit here and there. Currently a few chapters into this one, and it‘s my first book from Murakami. Great so far 👌🏼

This arrived this morning 🤗

I‘ve been on a bit of a reading hiatus these last few months, and I finally felt the urge to pick something up. I started this one last night, and I‘m already loving it... a very heavy subject, but beautifully written.

Latest book 👌🏽🌱📖

Starting this one now 🤗💞📚☕️

⭐️⭐️⭐️ It was a fun read, but wasn't crazy about the ending.

Getting some reading done ❄️📖❄️

Book Mail 📚💗 I can't wait to read these all! 🤓📖

People move to LA to make it. They dream harder than people in New York and believe that ferociously socializing is critical, that life is all about "who you know."

Started this one last night. I missed you, Joe 😶

A novel set in Nazi Germany about a jewish adolescent (Karl Stern) that takes boxing lessons from heavyweight champion, Max Schmeling. The novel covers a 3 year time period, and is told from Karl‘s perspective as he goes from being a scrawny, fearful kid to a brave, heroic young man that does everything in his power to protect his family. It was a great novel. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I read more than half and found it interesting, but as soon as the major turning point happened it became very stale for me (I know that's vague, but I don't want to give away major plot points). I tried really hard to continue this novel, but found myself wanting to read other things instead. I thought the beginning was funny, witty, and heartwarming. I really enjoyed Rosie & Penn for what it's worth.

Rosie was also used to conflicting emotions, for she was a mother and knew every moment of every day that no one out in the world could ever love or value or nurture her children as well as she could and yet that it was necessary nonetheless to send them out into that world anyway.