I discovered a lot of great books in July. I'm happy to say my reading slump is over!
I started reading Japanese fiction, and it's now one of my favourite genres.
1. Fullmetal Alchemist volumes 21-27 by Hiromu Arakawa
This manga series got me through the lockdown :) I'm happy I finished the series and I got to return it to my friend's brother.
2. Ms Ice Sandwich by Mieko Kawakami
This was a short novella about a boy who likes Ms Ice Sandwich (a woman who sells sandwiches in a convenience store). It's a quick but interesting read. I especially liked the ending. 4 stars!
3. I Want to Eat Your Pancreas (I Want To Eat Your Pancreas (Manga) #1-2) by Yoru Sumino
This was a surprising manga about two high school students, one of them has a pancreatic disease and is dying. I still need to watch the film but hope to do so soon! Have you read or watched I Want to Eat Your Pancreas? 4 stars!
4. Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami
This was such a beautiful story about Tsukiko, a woman in her 30s who meets her former high school teacher in a bar. They both seem lonely and start to sit next to each other every time they visit the bar. 5 stars! I highly recommend this one, I loved the writing style and want to read more by this author soon!
5. The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo
Li Lan lives in 1890s Malaya and is asked to become a ghost bride to the son of a wealthy family. Soon after she starts to get haunted by said dead son. This book explores different views of the afterworld which was very interesting. There were supernatural elements in this book (ghosts of course) but there was also an interesting mystery and some romance. I truly enjoyed this book, there is a Netflix adaptations as well but I still need to watch it. 4 stars!
6. We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
I finally read We Should All Be Feminists and I really liked it. It’s such a short essay but I found so many important quotes. I definitely recommend it! 5 stars!
7. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
I read Men Without Women in May and really enjoyed it. It sparked my interest in reading more Murakami this year. Norwegian Wood is an incredible read, both sad, beautiful and comforting at the same time. Trigger warning: suicide.
I highly recommend Norwegian Wood, it's one of my favourite books this year. 5 stars!
8. Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa
Sweet Bean Paste, another Japanese novel, is the perfect comfort read to me.
As the title suggests, sweet bean paste is an important part of the story. I've never tasted it but the descriptions are amazing. It's almost like I have eaten it as well.
The book tells us how the lives of Sentaro, a former criminal now selling dorayaki (sort of like a pancake filled with sweet bean paste), an old woman with crooked fingers and a young girl intertwine.
5 stars! And yes, there is also a film. I still need to watch that one as well.
9. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
A classic I should have read before but I thoroughly enjoyed it now. Wilde's writing style is fantastic. It's now one of my favourite classics.
And, you know what, I actually have seen the film adaptation of this one! :)
As you can tell, I found a lot of new favourites in July. Do you have any recent favourites?
Have you read any of these books or are you planning to? Leave your thoughts and recommendations down below!
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Have a wonderful day everyone!
