Started this #OwnVoices Islamic fantasy today. I‘m about 50 pages into it and I love it so far. Great writing. Wonderful world-building. Characters with lively personas. Rich Islamic, South & South West Asian cultures and representation. Excited to see how it‘ll progress. Also, please note that this is NOT YA.
#cityofbrass #fantasy #litsygram
pick📸Examines anti-Islamic rhetoric that's YA friendly.
📸Cute romance that doesn't follow toxic tropes.
📸Empowering female friendships.
📸Familial conflicts w/multi-cultural identity that's genuine.
📸Snarky, independent MC who's inspiring as she is fallible.
📸Illustrates MC's American identity as NOT making her less than as a brown, SA, Muslima (i.e.: doesn't depict her with “White filter.“)
📸Simple prose w/ film-esque similes.
📸4.5/5
One of my most-anticipated #DiverseYA books of 2019 has arrived! Love from A to Z is an #OwnVoices Islamic novel that is as much about romance as it is a social commentary on culture, prejudice, and fear. S.K. Ali is a phenomenal author and one of the kindest people ever! If you're participating in #RamadanReadathon, then this is a book you will NOT want to miss!
#diversebooks #yafiction #contemporary
pickWhimsical graphic #memoir about a JPN-American teen returning to Tokyo for a visit for the first time since moving away when she was 10 y/o. I loved the then vs now commentary on how much her home-town had changed vs what hadn't. She chats about anxiety yet admiration for her culture. It was a great diasporic account of what it felt like to come home; how it felt overwhelming, yet very nostalgic. Great for ppl wanting to learn more about #Japan.
pickExcellent representation of multicultural female friendships that is positive & empowering! The 4-panel manga is cute, informative, & very kind with anecdotal moments & interactions. There is no Islamophobia or disrespect of other cultures/identities. It's the slice-of-life #manga I've been waiting my whole life for! Highly recommended for readers looking for a short, feel-good treat that is very inspiring.
pickThis was an extremely difficult book for me to read, especially given what‘s going on in the world right now. While I understand the message the author is trying to portray, I felt it could‘ve been done differently & more respectfully. But I‘m also grieving from losses at Christchurch, so my mindset may not have been in the right space. One thing is clear: hatred & fear are never the answer & this series captures that quite excellently.
pick👗About a woman who‘s fighting body-image issues.
👗Strong themes of obsession on physical beauty.
👗Brilliantly highlights roles that society plays in fat-shaming people into having toxic conceptions of themselves.
👗Showcases dangers of bulimia.
👗Themes on psychological impact of negative & hateful ostracisation of ppl who aren‘t viewed as “attractive” & how body images probs aren‘t limited to fat people.
👗Art complements narrative very well.
bailedThe book had me feeling bored outta my mind. Don‘t get me wrong, the premise sounds interesting & the writing‘s good, but it‘s excruciatingly particular. Fantasy can be a slow-to-start genre. I understand that, but when you‘ve chatted for over a 100 pgs about things that could‘ve been expressed w/half the length, I feel like there‘s gonna be a prob. On the other side of it, I may just not be in the mood for a slow-burn fantasy book. DNF @ 30%.
pickAn excellent comic about a JPN woman who left home at a young age & returns to Japan for a family tragedy. It‘s poised & intimate & softly explores complicated topics, particularly about being an ambitious woman in a socially oppressive society & the alienation that comes from moving away. The art is exquisitely hand-drawn sketch style with meticulous use of watercolour & muted sepia-style shades. Overall, it‘s beautifully bittersweet.
4.25/5.
pick🦠Takes place approx 8 yrs after book 1.
🦠Follows same format & structure.
🦠Slowly amps up tension at 1st, but then one event kicks everything else into suspenseful gear.
🦠Genuine reactions & consequences to events make everything feel very real.
🦠Just when I thought plot twists couldn‘t surprise me, I was knocked onto my arse; it‘s glorious.
🦠Emotionally evocative at times.
🦠Superb development of cast.
🦠Surprise finale.
🦠Highly Rec‘d.
All of my checked-out books from the library!! It‘s an eclectic mix of #OwnVoices Asian Lit, historical fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, psychological thrillers, mysteries, non-fiction, & manga. ✌🏽✌🏽
#librarybooks #litsygram
It‘s time to continue with this series!! Book one blew my fucking mind with how good it was. I‘ve heard book two is even more astonishing. My body is ready! ✊🏽✊🏽
#scifi #themisfiles #wakinggods
pick🐾Hilarious poems about cats uprising against human idiocy & the notion of being “owned.”
🐾Every person who‘s interacted with a kitty can relate in way or another.
🐾Cute, sardonic, and at times kinda gross poetry that will make cat humans gush.
🐾Very quick and fast read as there are lots of photos (I read it in 1/2 hour).
🐾Purrfect pick-me-up for this days when you‘re strongly feeling a “NOPE” vibe.
🐾5/5.
bailedI couldn‘t get into this at all. I feel I may not be in a mood for a sci-fi thriller and that‘s contributing to my inability to connect. Or the writing isn‘t my kinda jazz. Whatever the case, shelving it for now.
DNF means no rating.
I shall also be starting this sci-fi, horror novel. I think it‘s also YA. I don‘t know much about it other than it involves some spooky virus thingymajig. I figured the less that I know, the more receptive I‘ll be to the twists and horror elements (hopefully).
#contagion #scifi #horror #ya
pick🎾Tale about downward spiral on a fam when a teen girl goes missing.
🎾Dark, intense, & evocative.
🎾Morbidly suspenseful.
🎾Strong themes of trauma associated w/loss focusing on drug use, abuse, obsession, & denial.
🎾Last 1/3 - 1/4 dragged on more than needed.
🎾Extremely psychological.
🎾Reads fast while being very detailed.
🎾Excellent character exams.
🎾TW: graphic sequences & references to rape. Graphic scenes of violence & torture. Suicide.
so-so♟Told via 2 unnamed POVs; a teenage girl & a Japanese soldier.
♟POVs chaps aren‘t distinguished, which can make story slightly disorienting at times.
♟Super short chaps.
♟Parallels between two characters offer contrasting insight into JPN invasion of Manchuria; colonisers vs colonised.
♟Story about loss of innocence & loss of hope.
♟Fast-paced yet narrative drags in places.
♟Tragic finale.
♟TW: Torture, violence, molestation, attempted rape.
♟3/5.
Rainy day psychological thriller! It‘s basically centred on the disappearance of a teenage girl and the various people it affects. Keeping it vague because I didn‘t wanna know much going into it. I‘m loving it so far. Very good, flowy writing with brilliantly brewing tension & suspense.
#prettygirls #karinslaughter #thrillers
pickThe sheer diversity and authenticity of the Queer representation, as well as the myriad allegories on Japan‘s xenophobic and socio-cultural dynamics, makes this series one of my favourites. If you saw the anime and hated it, I don‘t blame you. It doesn‘t cover any of the phenomenal traits that makes this series so bloody brilliant.
#manga #seinen #devilsline
(Early) Birthday presents for Sir Betrothed. 🙂🙂
#scifi #newweird #fantasy #bookhaul #litsygram
pick🔮Space opera tale about a girl who goes on a quest to find her missing bro.
🔮Rich w/Korean culture, lore, & mythos.
🔮Excellent world-building.
🔮Well-balanced pacing.
🔮Marvellous diversity of characters inc. a non-binary character.
🔮Unfolds easily from one event to the next.
🔮Wonderful interactions/chemistry between the cast.
🔮Superb prose makes it seem very akin to adult sci-fi.
🔮Imaginative & original take on classic tropes.
🔮4.75/5.
After some searching, I finally found this book at an in-state library.
It‘s a study on how Islam and even Christianity correlate women and their sexuality as something that needs to be regulated and controlled, and it‘s affects on Male-female roles within faith. It‘s a very feminist book, authored by a Muslim woman, that I‘ve been eager to read since it was recommended to me. I‘m so excited I finally found it.
pickWhat can I say? It was an excellent wrap-up to an excellent series. I‘m seriously going to miss Murderbot and how fricking alike we are. They are truly amazing.
If you haven‘t read the series and you enjoy AI narratives, especially when the AI is a severely socially awkward and sarcastic badass, then give this series a go. The first book is All Systems Red.
#sciencefiction #murderbotdiaries
so-so🚬Hard-boiled story about a guy in the yakuza
🚬1st half was very noir, following a guy named the man
🚬Good intrigue & mystery; leaves you curious for more
🚬2nd half told via man‘s POV; drastic shift in narrative style
🚬Less intrigue, more intricacies of yakuza politics
🚬Felt like a completely different story
🚬Unpleasant contrast to 1st half
🚬Felt dragged out
🚬Became boring & dull rather than fascinating
🚬Terribly written females
🚬2.75/5
pan-No character depth
-Severely under-developed
-Unoriginal premise
-VERY problematic.
-There‘s a very harmful outing of an asexual character‘s identity via her being exposed to something that‘s quite difficult & painful.
-Same can be said about a trans character‘s identity.
-Queer characters are Queer in name only.
-A group of ppl inspired by Islam are portrayed as being terrorists & violent; as a Muslim, I was VERY offended.
-DNF.
pickHoly hell, that was good‼️
-Told via interviews, periodicals, & transcripts
-Wonderfully original premise
-Very realistic take on how various parts of the world would react/behave to circumstances portrayed
-Great balance of scientific facts, interpersonal relations, complexities of politics, & imaginative storytelling
-Interviewer can be a colossal asshole, but it‘s part of their charm
-Fast read
-Last 1/3 picks up even more & stays fast
-5/5
My hold came in!! I can‘t wait to start this. It‘s the 4th instalment in McGuire‘s adult urban fantasy series, Wayward Children. 💚
#newbooks #waywardchildren #urbanfantasy
pick🌅SF, AI story about post-apocalyptic world where humans went extinct after massive war w/AI persons.
🌅Superb writing w/extraordinary world-building & atmosphere.
🌅1st person POV of an android puts sentience into brilliant perspective.
🌅Expounds upon Asimov‘s Three Laws of Robotics remarkably.
🌅Heavily inspired from Asimov, Herbert, & Wells.
🌅A bit plotless, but the point of the story is to contemplate & reflect on meaning of true sentience.
Couldn‘t fit them all entirely in one photo, but this is my collection of library books I‘ve currently checked out. There‘s a mix of science-fiction, fantasy, thrillers, and historical fiction; adult and young adult. Now that I‘m no longer blogging, I expect to read so much more with far less stress and pressure. ✌🏽✌🏽
#librarybooks #bookhaul #litsygram
Started this book today & it‘s mind-fucking-blowing. It‘s such an intelligent & brilliantly written narrative that examines the irony of war amid societies & the hunger for power that is the eventual downfall of all civilisations, whether you‘re human or sentient AI. The settings & evocative intensity of loneliness is excellent. Hard sci-fi fans MUST READ this!!
#scifibooks #currentreads
pick🔥Far better than I imagined.
🔥Very rich & meticulous work-building inspired by diversity of Malaysian-Chinese cultures & identities, but isn‘t limited to South East Asia.
🔥Exquisite diversity of POC characters.
🔥A searingly slow-burn sapphic romance.
🔥Dimensions of political intrigue & exploration of anti-feminist atmosphere that is very common in Asian societies, which is challenged with a ferocity that I couldn‘t get enough of.
🔥4.5/5.
With Chokshi‘s new book releasing soon (or having been released recently), I figured it‘s time for me to read this Indian MG fantasy & get it back to the library as the holds start piling up. I‘m pretty excited for it, even though it‘s quite a hyped title. I‘m looking forward to cosying up with something that represents a part of who I am and a part that I‘m so proud of! 💙💜
#diversebooks #middlegrade #yafantasy #indianlit #ownvoices
The Night Tiger arrived this morning!! I love the author‘s writing style, so I‘m so happy to finally have this! It releases in Feb! Also, how stunning is that cover?!
This is an #OwnVoices Chinese historical, magical realism novel. The author is Malaysian-Chinese and has previously written The Ghost Bride.
#diversebooks #newbooks #bookmail
so-so⛵️Re-checked out so I could finish the last 25%.
⛵️Final 2 chaprs were horribly rushed when compared to rest of story‘s flow & progress.
⛵️Finale felt like it was out of convenience rather than a natural conclusion of events.
⛵️Ah Liam‘s POV barely gets any attention.
⛵️Some other POVs were stretched out & detracted from development & my investment in other characters‘ plights.
⛵️Hinted at PTSD trauma at end.
⛵️Badly written conclusion.
⛵️3.75/5.
pick🏵An excellent anthology of #OwnVoices Asian YA fantasy stories.
🏵Based off Asian mythos & folklore from Eastern & Southern Asia.
🏵Many stories are marvellously written.
🏵Packed w/lush traditional, cultural, & social traits unique to each country/culture‘s specific focus.
🏵Great variety of romance, friendships, self-discovery, & family dynamics.
🏵Highly rec‘d for fans of YA narratives &/or Asian Lit.
🏵4.25/5.
#diversebooks #diverseya
pick⌚️Murderbot delves further on his hunt against Bid Bad Corp.
⌚️Narrative went thru fast-paced/slowed-paced waves.
⌚️Overall tone felt monotonous & too similar to previous vols, making it hard for me to stay focused; slightly stale.
⌚️Unique personas of individual AI in each new vol is so creative & my fave parts of series.
⌚️Emotional bittersweet finale I didn‘t see coming that helped round off the enjoyment for me.
⌚️Curious for finale!
⌚️3.75/5
Checked out this #OwnVoices Asian anthology of short stories about/inspired by various Asian mythos after reading a few brilliant reviews on it. The goal is to read a story a day (minimum).
Sorry I‘ve been MIA. Been on bedrest and playing more video games than reading lately, oops. Hope you‘re all well! Wishing you a happy and prosperous new year! 💙💙
#diversebooks #asianlit #shortstories
pick🥀A comic collection of 3 loosely connected tales.
🥀The epitome of Gothic storytelling.
🥀Mysterious & sublimely horrific undertones beneath a veil of melancholy w/noir aesthetic.
🥀Dark, Romantic atmosphere that‘s chilling yet enchanting.
🥀Soft narratives leave plenty of room for individual interpretation of each tale told.
🥀Ambiguous yet haunting.
🥀Stunning digitally-drawn artwork that works as the prominent feature of the collection.
🥀4/5
My TBR challenge for 2019!! I sucked at sticking to a challenge in 2018, so I hope this year I will succeed, & in the process teach myself not be intimidated to follow my dreams & aspirations no matter how grandiose or inconsequential they may seem. 💖
#litsygram #tbr
Finally got a new bookcase specifically for my Japanese Lit collection!! Here are the first two shelves since I can‘t fit the whole thing here. Y‘all, the joy is so real!! And it‘s beside my bed so I get to wake up to this glorious scene every morning. So stoked, y‘all!!
💖💖💖
#litsygram #diversebooks #japaneselit #shelfie
DNFing this for now.
It‘s such an excellent book and so meticulously detailed. But it‘s also quite dense and I know I won‘t be able to finish it before having to return it. It‘s not something I can just sit down and blow thru, but instead need to read in small bites & consume completely. I‘ll probably buy it in a few weeks when I have money since the hold list is the size of Tokyo Tower. But definitely rec‘d for fans of the series!
Gonna try to marathon read this one tonight. It‘s #OwnVoices YA fantasy.
About a girl who is taken in by the king for her beauty. As she plots for escape, she ends up falling in love & unravelling a devious scheme against the king.
I hope this isn‘t a story where a girl falls in love with her abuser, because that would suck. But I‘ve heard amazing things about the world-building & Asian influences, so I‘m intrigued.
#diversebooks #asianlit
pick⚓️Tale about family who made a horrid sacrifice for survival.
⚓️Writing is evocative, beautiful, & intelligent while being simple & straightforward.
⚓️Told via 4 POVs that help readers view differing reactions/affects of trauma & abandonment.
⚓️Subject matter is heavy & at times discomforting, but so important.
⚓️Rich in details about emotional & psychological effects of political manipulation.
⚓️Exquisitely described settings/atmospheres.
There are 62 holds on this thing!! 🙀🙀 So... I‘m going to spend the next few days reading it. • It takes place 300 years before the events of A Game of Thrones & is set-up as what is essentially a history book following the Targaryen family & reign. As a Targaryen fanhuman, I‘m SO stoked to dive into this beast. ❤️
#fireandblood #asongoficeandfire #agameofthrones #fantasy #epicfantasy
bailed🧵Tale of Frankenstein told via Elizabeth‘s POV.
🧵Slow start; I didn‘t get interested in narrative ‘til page ~72.
🧵POV shifts between present time (relative to era) & childhood events for MC.
🧵Flashbacks are timed terribly & disrupt the flow of main plot so much I became exceedingly frustrated; prevented me from getting invested enough to give a damn.
🧵Slow pacing.
🧵Bland execution of suspense.
🧵Everyone has issues but no depth.
🧵DNF @ 56%.
Spiced hot cocoa & a book I‘ve 15 hours to start & finish! Let‘s go!
Follows a family who‘ve to make the ultimate sacrifice when they flee their Chinese home in order to fight for their survival. The author is Singaporean. The book is one of my most-anticipated reads of the year.
#diversebooks #burywhatwecannottake #chineselit
