3⭐️ Wow, finally … a recently released book that I didn‘t bail on 👏 I didn‘t dislike it, but it didn‘t surprise me or leave a lasting impression.

Starting this 🥳

4⭐️ Some things just don‘t change. The 19th century Warsaw was all about money, women, greed, and racism. It was bad then, it is worse now. I enjoyed Prus‘ humour - I didn‘t know he could be cheeky and funny 😆

Enjoying this chunky novel 😃 Are you tackling any chunkster now?

3⭐️ An autobio, this presents a balance between life and death. The title caught my interest, and I selected this for my bookclub. As usual, I wouldn‘t know about this author if not for NYRB Classics collection. This publisher really pushes me to explore more ✌🏻

3.5⭐️ “Death is terrifying no matter where and when it comes, and life, though it brings us closer to death with every instant, is wonderful.”

I felt so gloomy after reading this story. Sadly, the brutality in history is not enough to stop us repeating the same mistake.

😍😍😍 Happy Sunday, everyone!

1⭐️ It was a mistake to read this after reading Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont. This pretty book bored me to death 😭 and it reads like a short paper about modern life.

4⭐️ I like Celia Dale; I‘m already collecting her other titles published by Daunt Books. This one here is so refreshing. A gentle crime novel that is not too creepy, just a tad disturbing. How did she do that? I love it!

Bought this because of the cover. My next read 🏖️

4⭐️ My second time reading this, and I enjoyed it more than the first time. I haven‘t watched the movie yet but heard praises about it. Which is your favorite Elizabeth Taylor?

With Mrs. Palfrey at Sanur beach, Bali 🏝️

4⭐️ I enjoyed this one, although I felt a bit disappointed with the ending. What I like the most is that it‘s very one-sided; we get to know about Corrigan from the point of views of the main characters, but Blackwood didn‘t give him a single voice. I liked that; it‘s clever that way and I loved her style.

While exploring designs for my upcoming apartment reno, I came across this beautiful space. 😍😍😍 Now I want the same for myself 😅

Current stack

I finished Part 1 of My Struggle Book 1 and needed a break. KOK is as intense as the way he looks! 😏 So I‘m back to 19th century France with Zola. I don‘t think this is a stroll-in-the-park kind of read, either 😅

😅😅😅 The names in this novel are very very challenging!! This is worse than Russian names 🤣 Norsk is unpronounceable for me I need some time to get used to this 🥂

My second time reading this book and my 4⭐️ rating holds. I usually stay away from novels about infidelity but this one is well written, and it digs deeper on a crumbling marriage and a family going through a divorce. It‘s another NYRB Classics gem I‘d add to my recommendation list.

Starting my journey with KOK. My husband has been teasing me for having the series sitting pretty on my shelves for 7 years 🤭 They‘re the depiction of my true TBR-stacks struggle

Getting ready for Chinese New Year 🍊

Re-reading this gem 🤩

4⭐️ It‘s a story about 2 fathers and 2 sons, and how they differ in their thinking and POV. In today‘s context, this would be Gen X vs Gen Z. As a Gen X myself, I totally relate with the fathers but I wonder how I‘d think about this novel if I were to read it when I was in my early 20s 🤔

5⭐️ I expected Germinal to be crazy, but I didn‘t expect it to be THIS crazy. Zola went all out. His graphic descriptions could be horrific at times, and he pulled his readers to experience it along with the characters. Coal mining is a messy business, and working as a coal miner is basically living in hell. Pour in the disparity and conflicts between the bourgeoisie and the workers, and you‘d get an unforgettable read.

With this, I decided to bail. It‘s too painful for me I wanted to cry. My issue with this novel is the delivery. “Its beauty echoes - its beauty is its echoing, its ringing singing lightness.” 🤨 What?! Is she a disciple of Lawrence Durrell?

Buddy-reading this with my colleague. I‘m about 20% in and I feel that the author is trying hard to impress the readers with her sentence structure. I‘m not impressed at all 😭

Books read in 2024 📚

Festive Melon 🍈

Merry Christmas, everyone!! 💕Wishing you stacks of Christmas joy 🎄🎅🏻

I‘d never thought about how coal mining works until now. It‘s extremely hard work, dangerous, and harmful to the body. To think that they used child labour for this is mind-boggling!

I borrowed this book from the library because of the pretty cover, but decided to bail when I came across this part. Here the girl Emilia just got her first period and the Queen told her that it‘s a gift.
🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

And then I got curious about The Execution of Emperor Maximilian painting by Édouard Manet. Poor Maximilian ?

Have you watched The Empress on Netflix? It‘s about Empress Sisi of Austria. Part of Season 2 is about the revolution in Lombardy-Venetia. It‘s nice when my book and my Netflix connect 💕

My next read 😅 My book buddy said to me, “Germinal for Christmas! Only you would put yourself through this kind of torture.” I‘m so looking forward to this, though. The ultimate Zola unhinged 🔥

5😱 This novel reads like a full speed train! Domestic violence, rape, murder, lust, suicide… it has everything! This is Zola with high level of madness; I could feel the horror when he describes the aftermath of a derailment and the Anna Karenina-style of self-destruction. Definitely a book to savour but preferably not during Christmas season 😅

Flore embracing the train. I‘ve been thinking about this scene for 2 days now 😖 I wonder what Zola actually observed to be able to write in such descriptive manner. What did you see?

Happy Sunday, my dearest! Happy reading 🤓

😅😆🤣

I was reading the tagged book on the bus on my way to work this morning. I was aware that the guy beside me was staring at my book but I ignored him. About 3 stops before my destination, he couldn‘t resist and said “That‘s a really good book!” He asked me if I‘ve read any other Zola (yes, this is my 15th), and which titles that I haven‘t read yet. He shared that Germinal is his fav, and asked if I‘m doing this as part of a lit study. 👇🏻

Listening to Edwin Frank talking about his new book (tagged). Thank God for Zoom; I can listen in from miles away 🥰

Found this on pinterest 😍 which reflects my mood now

Lucky black kitty guarding my NYRBs 😆

This just arrived today 😍😍😍 I‘ve only read his memoir and essays so far, and I admire him so much. When I grow up, I want to be OS !

Just started this today, and Zola served me a very descriptive DV 🥴

About 6 weeks left in 2024, and I have 6 titles left for this series. Can I do it? Can I? 🤪

3⭐️ This is a thought-provoking novel that offers a compelling exploration of the artistic struggle between creative vision and commercial success. The story follows Claude Lantier, a talented but troubled painter, as he navigates the Parisian art scene. His struggles feel authentic but the supporting characters are not as engaging

Another article about Silent Book Club Singapore. Well written profile 👍🏻

https://www.anza.org.sg/2024/11/06/inside-the-world-of-singapores-silent-book-cl...

3⭐️ This is a perfect book for Halloween. 11 stories about ghosts 👻 I would‘ve given a higher rating if the endings are more conclusive. I was left feeling unsatisfied for most. My favorites are “Afterward” and “A Bottle of Perrier.” There‘s no ghost for the latter but a gruesome finding at the end, and I found it the most entertaining.

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes 💕 I spent my birthday hiking the Togakushi trail. Beautiful nature ❤️

I‘m so behind with my reading. September and October were busy months 🥴

The recording for the NLB event is here. We discussed BookTok and backlists.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/YbqHTLjQizB7UFK5/?mibextid=QwDbR1