Dear Friend,
I recently read a few books and stories I’d like to share with you. Maybe my taste in literature might not be yours but if you have access to your public library, finding out if our tastes are similar isn’t that hard.
They’re all written by non-western authors so if you’re looking for something different
Short Story
The Arrangements – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Chiamanda Adiche is one of my favourite authors. She has the ability to turn anything into something I absolutely need to finish.
A quick (and very tongue-in-cheek) read, this short story made me forget I was reading a piece of fiction. So often, I was sure I was getting real insight into the life of Melania Trump. Perhaps I was 🙂
Fiction
If you’re like me and love food, food books (and food movies), here are my two recommendations.
Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zauner.
Butter by Asako Yuzuki
I really enjoyed Crying in H-Mart. Michelle Zauner is a Korean-American author and the lead singer of Japanese Breakfast (yes, in the book, she addresses this name). Her memoir is well paced and doesn’t meander down different paths or get tangential. While her prose might not be lyrical, it’s moving and immersive —written so as to carry the reader effortlessly through pages filled with sadness, memories and Korean recipes of doenjang-jjigae, kimchi and jjangjangmyeon.
Yes, it’s sad. Her mom was diagnosed with cancer and the book doesn’t shy away from getting you familiar with how traumatic and heartbreaking it is to live through that but in her honesty, you, the reader feel charged her unflinching recount of this period of her life.
If you like slightly off-beat food books, the Butter might be a good read for you. A young reporter becomes fascinated with a woman convicted of and imprisoned for serial murders. The reporter is converted from being a skinny non-foody into someone who daydreams of bowls of rice and fancy Échiré butter.
The book is a wry commentary on the Japanese fixation with appearance and size.
Future Reads
Goodnight Tokyo – Atsuhiro Yoshida
Perhaps I bought this book for its cover or because the blurb sounded like it could be a story from Netflix’s Midnight Diner. Or perhaps because it suggests that as a Murakami fan, I’d like it. Regardless, I bought it and this is next up on my list.
I’ll keep you posted!
If you’ve read any of these, please share your thoughts with me.
Happy reading.
Lisi
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