More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
176 Pages, Published In 2011
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More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa is a charming sequel to Days at Morisaki Bookshop. This time, the focus shifts to the protagonist’s aunt, who suddenly disappears, leaving her and her uncle to uncover the truth of her past. Like the first book, it’s comforting, heartwarming, and deeply reflective. I connected with the characters just as much as in the first book, and their stories resonated deeply with me. Another beautiful example of Japanese fiction that I love.
Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
150 Pages, Published In 2000
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Days at Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa is a heartwarming Japanese novella about healing and self-discovery through the magic of books. When a 25-year-old woman loses her boyfriend and falls into deep depression, her eccentric uncle offers her a place to stay in his cramped bookshop in Jimbocho, Japan’s famous book town. Surrounded by literature, she slowly rediscovers herself through books and unexpected connections. Felt deeply and loved many characters. Comforting and reflective.
The Life Impossible by Matt Haig
324 Pages, Published In 2024
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The Life Impossible tells the story of a 72-year-old English widow who has endured unimaginable grief and loss. When unexpectedly inherited a house in Ibiza from an old friend, she embarks on a journey to uncover the mysteries surrounding her friend’s life and death. Along the way, she also confronts and comes to terms with her own unresolved past. Blending elements of fantasy and realism, it explores themes of loss, acceptance, and the purpose of life. It reminds me of The Secret Garden.
The Good Life by Robert Waldinger, Marc Schulz
352 Pages, Published In 2023
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The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness. A comprehensive exploration of what defines a “good life,” this book draws from the Harvard Study of Adult Development, an 80-year (and still ongoing) research project that began in 1938, tracking generations of hundreds of individuals. The authors, psychiatrist Robert Waldinger and clinical psychologist Marc Schulz, delivers a simple yet powerful conclusion: Good relationships keep us healthier and happier.
The Stand by Stephen King
1153 Pages, Published In 1978
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An epic tale of a superflu pandemic that wipes out 99% of the population and the aftermath as humanity rebuilds. A gripping battle between good and evil. Richly developed human & nonhuman characters. A classic (post-)apocalyptic and horror with themes of love, hope, friendship, and resilience, and philosophical insights on human nature, morality, and society. A Christmas scene at the end is a heartwarming retreat amidst the chaos. Both chilling and thought-provoking. One of King’s finest!
The Little Liar by Mitch Albom
352 Pages, Published In 2023
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A WWII novel follows four characters—two Jewish brothers, a Greek girl, and a Nazi officer—through the Holocaust and the decades that follow, to post-war America. Narrated by Truth, the story centers on a boy who never tells a liar but transforms into a pathological liar, exploring profound themes of truth, lies, forgiveness, and redemption. An enticing opening, a well-crafted plot, and a dramatic ending. However, certain scenes and transitions between events could be developed further.
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
453 Pages, Published In 1961
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Catch-22 by Joseph Heller is a darkly satirical masterpiece. Set during WWII, it follows an Army Air Corps Captain John Yossarian, stationed on a Mediterranean island, as he navigates the absurdities of war and military bureaucracy. No conventional hero—his primary goal is simply to stay alive, against the war’s senseless slaughter and the dehumanizing effects of endless contradictory rules. Catch-22 is now a common term for a no-win situation created by contradictory rules or conditions.
James by Percival Everett
303 Pages, Published In 2024
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James by Percival Everett, a brilliant retelling of Mark Twain’s original The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In James, enslaved Jim, the protagonist, is written in the first person. The story unfolds along the iconic Mississippi River, mirroring the original plot, but the journey is reshaped and the ending is entirely different. Packed with action, in just 303 pages, James explores deeper themes of race and humanity, family and friendship. Powerful, Gripping, Horrifying, also Humorous!
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling
333 Pages, Published In 1997
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (1997), is the first book of the Harry Potter seven-book series. Harry Potter is an orphan who discovers he is a wizard on his 11th birthday and embarks on his first year in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Alongside his friends Ron and Hermione, Harry fights the evil Lord Voldemort to protect the sorcerer’s stone. A perfect fantasy for readers of all ages. Loved to escape (and re-escape) into the unforgettable magical world.
Commonwealth by Ann Patchett
322 Pages, Published In 2016
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A family saga spanning over five decades. A realistic portrait of white, middle-class family life: marriages and divorces, birthdays and anniversaries, bad relationships and good friends. Many characters: couples, lovers, ex-partners, children, step-siblings. About love and support, also loss, disappointments and regret. The story jumps around in multiple time periods, shifting between California and Virginia; Then there is a novel in the novel. Small moments but not boring. Elegant proses.
How to Stay Married by Harrison Scott Key
320 Pages, Published In 2023
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How to Stay Married by Harrison Scott Key. The author claims it is the most insane love story every told. It is not. It is a memoir about his wife’s infidelity, the collapses of their marriage, and the difficult path he chooses to save it. A relatable, sad story that you might hear from a neighbor or a co-worker. Key is candid and the readers can draw lessons from his martial crisis. However, injecting humor and portraying his wife as the villain feel unfit with the seriousness of subject.
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman
372 Pages, Published In 2013
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7-year-old Elsa is quite different from her peers and her 77-year-old grandmother is her closest confidante and best friend. After her granny’s death, Elsa is left with a series of letters addressed to people her granny has wronged, alongside a quest to resolve unfinished business in both the real world and a fantastical fairytale world. Heart-warming. Whimsical. Poignant. Sad. Hopeful. Witty. and FORGIVING. Loved all the characters, even the annoying Britt-Marie. It’s Fantastical Ove!