Skip to content

contemporary fiction

Kafka on the Shore

  • Fiction

Sorry Haruki, it’s not you, it’s me. When I started reading this book, I was immediately hooked by the richness of the scene descriptions. I usually don’t like long descriptions, but Murakami is magnetic in this. I still remember details of scenes from 1Q84, which I read a very long time ago, and this is not typical for me. It was getting absorbing. I was even enjoying reading in a methodical way because there are two stories, so I was reading two episodes of each… Read More »Kafka on the Shore

Pages for You

Pages for You

This is one of those books that you cannot spoil because the prologue, and even the back cover, tell you how it ends. I felt robbed of my sense of discovery and wondered: I already know the plot, why read it, then? Driven by curiosity, it was only at the end, after reflecting on my read, that I thought perhaps the point isn’t discovery. Instead, it’s a reflection on how the protagonist writes about her past to show who she was and who she has… Read More »Pages for You

Becoming Meg Dashwood

Becoming Meg Dashwood

  • Fiction

This was my first amazing experience with an audiobook and it has set the bar very high! Although I later realised not all audiobooks are the same, and that this was a “full cast” audiobook, which means multiple voices (one for each character), music (the chant of the den was simply the best!), sound effects, etc., a midway point between a book and a film. It’s an imaginary modern sequel to Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, who I think would have been delighted and proud to… Read More »Becoming Meg Dashwood

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Despite fantasy not typically being my cup of tea, it was easy for me to see why Harry Potter is so well-loved. It’s descriptive, immersive, and has a remarkable ability to ignite the imagination. As someone who usually finds it hard to engage with fantasy worlds, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself affected by this book. Once, in the period I was reading it, I even had dreams about magic! I don’t think I’ll read the rest of the series, but it was still… Read More »Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Songbirds (by Christy Lefteri)

I read more non-fiction, and when I do read fiction, I expect the words to evoke emotions in me. I want to feel emotionally engaged. This didn’t happen right away when I started reading this book. In fact, it wasn’t until the last quarter of the story that the narrative truly gripped me, turning the reading experience into an emotional and reflective one. It’s a blend of sadness and empowerment. It isn’t merely a work of fiction; it brings to light the muted perspectives of… Read More »Songbirds (by Christy Lefteri)

The Love Hypothesis (by Ali Hazelwood)

I’m glad I finally read this book given that there is so much hype about it. I loved getting into the head of the main character. The writing style is absolutely engaging and the dialogues are well developed. The author has done an excellent job of making the reader feel like they are right there with the characters, experiencing all of the ups and downs of their journey. However, rom-com novels are not my cup of tea so at times I found myself yawning and… Read More »The Love Hypothesis (by Ali Hazelwood)

Lucy by the Sea (by Elizabeth Strout)

If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be “meh“. What a shame, I really wanted to love this book because I picked it up as a birthday present for myself. At the bookstore, I didn’t even bother to look for its reviews online, so taken in was I by its hardcover’s beauty. I basically judged it by its cover. I felt the book lacked depth in its emotional exploration, as it remained on the superficial thoughts of Lucy, the protagonist. The… Read More »Lucy by the Sea (by Elizabeth Strout)

The food of love

The Food of Love

I feel uncomfortable writing a bad review as I don’t want to disrespect all of the effort the author put in, especially if it’s their debut novel. So, after reading the first few pages, when I was already feeling a bit suspicious that this wasn’t going to be a good read, I remained hopeful and kept reading. However, it turned out that my initial instinct was correct. The story itself was not that bad and it had potential, had it been written differently. Here are… Read More »The Food of Love

The Man Who Died Twice

The Man Who Died Twice

The thing that I kept thinking when reading this book was “genial“. I loved it even more than the first one of the series. The characters were well revealed and their relationships felt realistic. The plot wasn’t quite as believable as the previous one, I think because there are higher risks involved, but still, it was put together cleverly. The English humour is just brilliant, I found myself laughing out loud many times while reading it. In the previous book, I wasn’t particularly impressed by… Read More »The Man Who Died Twice

Magpie

Magpie

I was so unsettled and disturbed by an event that happened at the start of this book that I almost stopped reading it there and then. Unsure what to do, luckily, in the end, I decided to keep reading it. If a book is able to trigger such strong emotions it must be a good book, I thought. In fact, it was a brilliant and gripping novel, despite the fact that it made me feel uncomfortable sometimes. The pacing was perfect and the main topics… Read More »Magpie