#Two4Tuesday

1. City person—love stepping out of my front door into the middle of everything.

2. The tagged book is an entertaining read and one that has several scenes set in my neighborhood—including one in the self-storage building where we have a locker! Such a random and utterly fantastic “it‘s a small world” moment.

@TheSpineView

I haven‘t been around—haven‘t done much reading—the past couple of days as I work to unpack 100+ boxes of books. The process is…a messy one. Excited to start putting my library back together (after a months long renovation project) and even more excited that the tagged book was in one of the boxes I unpacked today. The Poppy War is at the top of my “I want to reread this one” list so finding it is a definite win!

Starting my weekend reading with this one…

After a fast start, & a very powerful author‘s note about the inspiration for the story, this YA fantasy, a tale of colonization, oppression, & rebellion never quite comes together even though it has many of the necessary ingredients—magic, technology, danger, romance. It‘s a book that evokes strong emotions—reading reviews on Goodreads is…something. This is the first in a series which I probably won‘t continue reading.

Started this one last night and so far, the story is as entertaining as the cover is gorgeous.

Excellent translation of this YA science fiction story first published in South Korea. In a world where those living outside Snowglobe exist in -50F degree weather, those inside live a life of a luxury…in front of the cameras as actors in tv shows. When one unexpectedly dies & Chobahm is offered the opportunity to step into her shoes, a web of secrets & the truth will be revealed. A little scattered but still entertaining enough.

Nothing better than the arrival of a new book right before storms hit. The cover is awesome and the endpapers are something else! 😍

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A powerhouse collection of short stories that announces itself right away with a story titled “How to Eat Your Own Heart” before then interrogating motherhood, family, mother-daughter relationships, love, diaspora, tradition, culture and more in a fascinating, compelling group of stories. Once I started reading, I could not put it down. A wonderful collection and perfect for anyone who enjoys reading short stories. Highly recommended.

Ancco made a name for herself in Korea when she started publishing diary comics in the early 2000s. The comics in this book, a collection of vignettes from/inspired by her life, meander through the highs and lows of adolescence, family, friendship, love, and the process of growing up. Render in start black and white art, the book offers a fascinating & intriguing look at contemporary life in Korea. An entertaining read.

Everything about this book is pretty…😍

Also, a new Leigh Bardugo book is always cause for a celebration. Excited about this one!

Reading outside with coffee and cookies as we approach peak coverage (only 94% for us) in the eclipse. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon.

This book launches a new series featuring two Chinese men, inspired by real historical figures as well as Holmes and Watson, who find themselves, in this case, investigating a murder in 1924 London. It‘s a fast, entertaining read which also touches on issues of racism, discrimination, immigration, and war. Fans of Sherlock Holmes as well as period mysteries will find a lot to like and more than enough reason to read the next installment.

Rainy afternoon is perfect for starting another murder mystery. 🌧️🔪🔎 🕵️‍♀️

Absolutely fantastic! The first book in the Kosuke Kindaichi series, written by one of Japan‘s most famous authors, is a fun one which has held up over time (it was first published in 1946 I believe). Death, a katana, & a “locked room” present Kindaichi with a formidable task & how he solves the crime, & subsequently presents the solution to everyone, leaves you eager to read how he will tackle his next case. I‘ll definitely read more.

Going with a mystery from Japan for tonight‘s reading. This one is generally regarded S a classic. Excited to see what it‘s all about!

A fast read, Kwon‘s Lemon is the story of a murder and how that act reverberates through time. Told through multiple POVs—the victim‘s younger sister and the new wife of one of the original suspects—this is a story about how people process and move beyond, if they do, such a horrific tragedy. As such, it is not particularly interested in giving the reader a resolution focusing instead on how the survivors reach theirs. An entertaining read.

Today‘s book mail is very exciting as I continue my deep dive into fiction from South Korea. And I have to say that the cover of the tagged book is really beautiful. 😍

Rainy day + new Ann Leckie book = a perfect afternoon for reading!

🌧️🫖📚

This might require a second read to really GET all of it. A fever dream that starts a little slow as the main character—who wakes up to find his mother dead in a pool of blood—tries to make sense of his surroundings. So many questions to answer & not enough time as he tries to figure out what happened before people start asking questions. This is a tension filled read, dark & full of mystery with twists which keep you guessing until the very end.

Sunday morning reading and coffee while the family sleeps. Love this quiet time!

Not the exact book but close enough. This is my first foray into manhwa, South Korean comics, and it did not disappoint. Dokja Kim is the only reader of an online novel that has over 3,000 chapters. On the day he finishes it, everything changes—the world ends & he suddenly finds himself in the story. He is the only one that knows what happens next & how the world will end. Entertaining story, great art & I‘ll definitely keep reading.

Three desperate people fleeing from tragedy, trauma, & betrayal find themselves in a small town in China hiding from the authorities while dreaming of South Korea. Two are fleeing North Korea, one is rediscovering his Korean heritage—their lives collide in a harrowing story about survival, hope, & the belief in impossible dreams. The depiction of life on the China-North Korea border & what it entails for refugees makes for powerful reading.

Today‘s reading…

There is so much you can say about this one & my thoughts are so scattered…it‘s excellent. I‘ll start there. Set in a prison in 1945, this is the story of a prisoner (also a poet) & a guard (also a censor). The guard is murdered & what follows is a murder mystery but it‘s more than that. This fictionalized account of the life of one of Korea‘s foremost poets is about words, poetry, books, freedom, war, hope, truth, guilt, & much more. Very good.

Loved all the stories in this collection—not a clunker in the bunch—but the first one, which gives the book its title, is masterful, a tour-de-force. It‘s an utterly compelling story of a former serial killer in the early stages of Alzheimer‘s. Convinced his daughter‘s boyfriend is a serial killer, he sets out to save her before he completely loses his memory. I understand why Kim has won all the awards & will definitely read more of his work.

Loved everything about this book—it‘s one I‘ll be recommending to friends & anyone who will listen to me talk about it. Yunjae was born with alexithymia which makes it difficult to understand/express emotions but he is fortunate to have a family who cares/understands/helps him make his way in life. When tragedy strikes, Yunjae must figure things out on his own & when he meets a troubled student, he learns a lot about himself, friendship, & more.❤️

Reading a short story collection by an author who has won every major literary award in Korea. The titular story is about a serial killer suffering from memory loss even as there is a mystery he wants to solve—I‘ve just started but it‘s very good so far.

This was the first book I read by this author but it won‘t be the last. I really enjoyed this story which was impossible to put down once I started reading. Two sudden, unexpected deaths lead two women on a hunt for the truth about what happened. This is a story about obsession and revenge with the tension building from the first page, a slow burn of a story which nonetheless keeps you engaged as it heads towards the inevitable end. A good read.

“When does evil intent become evil itself? Is it evil simply to imagine and harbor an idea? Does it begin when a thought is put into action? And if that action fails, then did evil never exist to begin with?”

Next up!

This is a quiet book that meanders through the lives of a bookstore owner, the store‘s employees, & its customers. In exploring their lives, the book delves into the world of independent bookstores, from all 3 perspectives, while also offering a mediation on community, meaning, happiness, purpose, & belonging. If you‘re looking for a fast-paced, narrative driven story this isn‘t it. But if you‘re happy to wander along, it‘s great. I enjoyed it.

This was a fun, quick YA read that is exactly what you think it is—two rivals whose families don‘t understand why they can‘t just get along set off on a road trip to visit colleges. They soon forget they‘re supposed to hate each other & discover there‘s a lot they don‘t know & that maybe, just maybe they have a lot in common. You know what‘s going to happen before it does but it‘s well executed & it‘s fun hanging with the main characters.

This one had me laughing out loud and giggling maniacally while my husband was trying to fall asleep so yeah, I was entertained and unapologetic about it. 😬 This story about a spy, an assassin, their telepathic daughter, and a dog who can see the future (the daughter being the only one who knows all this) just keeps getting better and better. Think you don‘t like manga? This one might just change your mind. I can‘t get enough!

Excited about today‘s book mail. Tagged book continues my exploration of South Korean literature. Super excited to dive into the latest installment of Spy x Family to see what kind of mischief Anya is up to. Forgotten sisters is a book set in Chicago with a story about ghosts and sisters and other awesomeness. Rules for Rule Breaking is a YA college visit road trip RomCom. Mixed bag, lots of good reading (hopefully).

Started this South Korean best seller now available in translation last night and 22 pages in, it's a delightful story about the power of books to heal, inspire, connect, provide comfort and more...it is also very quotable and gives you lots to think about.

#Two4Tuesday

These are fun questions!

1. A griffin

2. Have to go with Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Can‘t go wrong with this series, and Riodrdan‘s other books too (not to mention the books published by his imprint), which has ALL sorts of mythical creatures…plus plenty of danger and adventure too.

@TheSpineView

In the twilight of her career, an aging assassin makes a connection with someone (a definite no-no in her world) while she simultaneously confronts a threat that might derail the successful end of her long career. Yes, it‘s about the reasons, from banal to more personal, people think a killing is warranted but it‘s also about aging, finding purpose in life, connection in a world that doesn‘t welcome it. A fascinating, intriguing thriller.

Next up, a book from South Korea. This one is a story about a sixty-five-year-old assassin who runs into new and unexpected trouble in the twilight of her career. The opening chapter is fantastic so I have high hopes for this one.

This one is definitely not for the faint of heart…that being said, wow, this is a fantastically dark, riveting story that will leave you turning pages in wonder & horror. A simmering rage lurks in the background of this story about a woman who has had enough & the aftermath of a fateful decision. And then, it somehow gets even darker. Translated from the Japanese this was a thrilling, unforgettable read. Not an easy read but it‘s really good.

I bought this book because I read a rave review on NPR‘s website…the fact it comes along with a really fabulous cover is a definite bonus!

Always fun spending time with Veronica Speedwell and Stoker—their adventures are always entertaining and full of surprises. This series is a consistently reliable read that doesn‘t disappoint. And with secondary characters like Mornaday and J.J. getting more time on the page, the world keeps expanding with more opportunities for complexity, shenanigans, and who knows what. As expected, it‘s a pick.

Another thriller from South Korea to add to my TBR mountain…

Just in…and I know what I‘m reading tonight! Or maybe even right now…

Today‘s book mail feeds my current interest in translated fiction—both were originally published in South Korea. The Investigation—a signed first edition—was a super lucky find. Needless to say, I‘m looking forward to reading both of them.

More murder and mayhem from Japan for today‘s reading. For whatever reason, books in translation seem to be the sweet spot right now. This one is an award winner so I‘m anticipating a great read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This. Was. Awesome. Intriguing from the get-go, a dual POV story which is less about the who & more about the why, this mystery is full of complexity, subtlety, & the stubborn doggedness of a detective who refuses to believe what he sees & what he hears as he hunts for the truth. About midway through this one kicks into overdrive & is impossible to put down. It‘s the first Higashino book I‘ve read but it won‘t be the last. Loved it.

Started this one last night and it‘s really good. Enjoying this mystery which is less about the who and more about the why.

Orange‘s writing is impossibly beautiful—each sentence constructed with such care & intent that it is easy to just get lost in the cadence of his writing. More than once, I would stop to reread a passage. Raw, visceral, angry, hopeful, this is another really, really good book, one which is, however, not quite as cohesive as There There which I actually liked a little bit more. Good, occasionally great, this is a powerful, haunting read.

Starting the week off with a trip to the bookstore because why not. Tagged book is a bestseller in South Korea (recently translated). Other two books are Japanese mysteries/thrillers (also in translation).

As much as I enjoy reading Shakespeare, his plays are always better live. Excited to see this one on stage for the first time!