May 31st, 2020 || MAY READING WRAP-UP📚 . Here are all the books I read in May. The majority of my reads were written by Asian authors due to the Asian readathon. I have post mini-reviews here for some of them and also on my instagram if you fancy having a look. Some of the books I read were ebooks and since my e-reader died on me and I'm too lazy to charge it, they are not pictured. . 🌿The Complete Chi's Sweet Home, Part 1 by Konami Kanata (8/10). 🌿All Among the Barley by Melissa Harrison (8/10). 🌿The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi (6.5/10). 🌿The Map of Salt & Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar (DNF). 🌿The Magical Language of Others by E.J. Koh (8.5/10). 🌿Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer (7/10). 🌿Emma by Jane Austen (a reread - 8/10). 🌿Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong (9/10). 🌿On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong (5.5/10). 🌿A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry (9.5/10). 🌿How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C.Pam Zhang (7/10). . Of the ebooks, I have purchased a physical copy for All Among the Barley, The Magical Language of Others and Minor Feelings after reading them because they were that good. How was your reading this month? • • • #readingwrapup #mayreads #asianreadathon #graphicnovels #literaryfiction #thecompletechissweethome #allamongthebarley #thebeastplayer #intothinair #emma #janeausten #englishliterature #onearthwerebrieflygorgeous #afinebalance #themapofsaltandstars #themagicallanguageofothers #minorfeelings #howmuchofthesehillsisgold #stackofbooks #recentlyread #adayinbooklandreviews #pileofbooks #unitedbookstagram #fortheloveofreading #bookloversunite https://www.instagram.com/p/CA2gRY7q9sc/?igshid=if5bfhoteq3j

May 26th, 2020 || 📚mini-reviews from asian readathon reads📚 . 🌿The Magical Language of Others by E.J. Koh. Koh’s parents left for South Korea to work when she was 15. She and her brother stayed in the United States. Using her mother’s letters as an unifying thread, Koh explores how abandoned she felt and the difficulties she faced all alone and the consequences the move had on her and her family. Dealing with mental health issues, racism and identity, The Magical Language of Others is written in a beautiful, lyrical manner. I highly recommend it. . 🌿Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong. An essay collection blending many genres all at once. Every single essay was brutal and I love how they felt like a memoir since she links the issues she explores (mental health issues, racism, East-West history, colonialism and art/literature among others) to her own experiences. . Both of these are ones i’ll love to reread and have ordered the physical copies 🥳 . 🌿On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong. Unfortunately I have mixed feeling about this. The writing I found beautiful although pretentious at times and despite being gripped by this letter a son writes to her mother at the beginning, the author started to lose me halfway through and by the time I hit the third section he had lost me completely, to the point where I wasn't sure of the "purpose" of the novel or even what he was trying to do. So it's a weird feeling; why? Because I'm glad I read it, but at the same time, the last section left a bitter taste in my mouth and "contaminated" my initial opinion of the story. The issues discussed are important and poignant; however, it lacked something. Or maybe I'm not the right audience for this type of novel. Whatever the case, it doesn't really change the outcome. • • • #asianreadathon #mayreads #minorfeelings #themagicallanguageofothers #onearthwerebrieflygorgeous #nonfiction #essaycollection #memoir #literaryfiction #unitedbookstagram #bookreviewers #recentreads #bookloversunite https://www.instagram.com/p/CApov1QqZqO/?igshid=16sxae8k74ciu

May 16th, 2020 || reading update: . 🌿i sadly dnf The Map of Salt and Stars (not pictured) because the writing was not pulling me in and i was not enjoying the experience. i might try and give it another chance in the future. . 🌿halfway through Emma. I’m really this reread and it’s making me chuckle way too much. . 🌿i’m almost done with The Magical Language of Others - a memoir - and i’m really enjoying it. the writing is superb and E.J. Koh story, heartbreaking. . 🌿i’m one third of the way through of Into Thin Air. reading it for springathon, which ends tomorrow, and it’s safe to say i won’t be able to finish it on time 😅. . 🌿last but definitely not least, i’m 150 pages into A Fine Balance and.... if things don’t change, it will probably become one of my favourites this year. the story is incredibly compelling. . how does your weekend looks like? • • • • #readingupdate #afinebalance #themagicallanguageofothers #asianreadathon #intothinair #naturewriting #literaryfiction #unitedbookstagram #saturdaybooks #mayreads #bookaesthetics #currentlyreading #bookloversunite #asianauthors #rohintonmistry #jonkrakauer #ejkoh https://www.instagram.com/p/CAP4mNPKKA2/?igshid=jhceifcihje3