Let’s Talk About Murakami!

Hello Bookish People! I am back with another post where I talk about my recent obsession. Haruki Murakami’s Writing! As I talked about switching genres in my previous post, well I have started reading Japanese-translated books, more on it later.

Haruki Murakami

Murakami, born January 12, 1949 is a Japanese writer. His novels, essays, and short stories have been bestsellers in Japan and internationally, with his work translated into 50 languages and has sold millions of copies outside Japan. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Gunzou Prize for New Writers, the World Fantasy Award, the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award, the Franz Kafka Prize, and the Jerusalem Prize. Growing up in Kobe before moving to Tokyo to attend Waseda University, he published his first novel Hear the Wind Sing (1979) after working as the owner of a small jazz bar for seven years.
(source: Wikipedia)

I started reading Kafka On The Shore in August when I was sick. I instantly fell in love with his writing style. He normally writes magical realism stories and I absolutely love that style. Even though the story has magical elements, he infuses reality so well in those stories. His character developments are so unique with so much depth. Murakami’s stories are a way of escapism, it puts you in a trance. He writes books so beautifully, the stories have some history of Japan blended in.

Books I Have Read So Far by Murakami:

~ Kafka On The Shore: 5/5 stars
~ Sputnik Sweetheart: 4/5 stars
~ Birthday Girl: 4/5 stars

I am currently reading After Dark by him.

He has become my favorite author and I can’t wait to read more books by him! Have you read any Murakami books? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Reading!
Rabhya.

Birthday Book Haul!

Hello, Bookworms! My birthday was a month ago, which is the 7th of September. I think I have never mentioned this on my blog ever. From next year, I hope to celebrate my birthday with you all through the blogosphere!
You can check out this on Pinterest as well!

So, I brought some books because I always do that every year. And then my friends and family gifted me some books! Let’s get to it!

These books were given to me by my friends and family! I have already read Kafka On The Shore, which was sooo good, I will never forget that story…

I brought these books for myself from a website which I will be talking about in my next post. I have already read Layla, Before The Coffee Gets Cold, Sputnik Sweetheart, and The Maid. I have given these books 4 to 5 stars. They were all fantastic reads!

My birthday was fun! I had some friends come over and we hung out. Until next birthday 🙂
Happy Reading!
Rabhya.

Reviewing The New Jennette McCurdy’s Book!

Book: I’m Glad My Mom Died
Author: Jennette McCurdy
Genre: Memoir
Age Limit: 17+
Trigger Warnings: Eating Disorder, Child Abuse, Emotional Abuse

Goodreads Summary:

Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what Mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day. She endured extensive at-home makeovers while Mom chided, “Your eyelashes are invisible, okay? You think Dakota Fanning doesn’t tint hers?” She was even showered by Mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income.
In I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette recounts all this in unflinching detail—just as she chronicles what happens when the dream finally comes true. Cast in a new Nickelodeon series called iCarly, she is thrust into fame. Though Mom is ecstatic, emailing fan club moderators and getting on a first-name basis with the paparazzi (“Hi Gale!”), Jennette is riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifest into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships. These issues only worsen when, soon after taking the lead in the iCarly spinoff Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande, her mother dies of cancer. Finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, Jennette embarks on recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants.

My Review:

This was very raw and heartbreaking. I did not have any knowledge about Jennette and you don’t need to know her to read this memoir. As you read more you will get to know about her and the trauma she had to go through. I could not believe that she went through such abuse from her mother and she wasn’t aware of it until she was an adult. This was very disturbing to read but, she wrote it with honesty and candor so it made me read more. She uncovers what she went through since the age of six and on the set of Nickelodeon while shooting iCarly. She spills the real tea and does not hesitate to talk about her co-actors, how she felt about them and how was she treated. It is surprising because celebrity memoirs usually do not share the details and reality. She has written this so truthfully and has shared her story so well. Although I would say that coming to the After part, it became a bit slow. But other than that, this book is worth the read. While reading, I had to constantly remind myself that this is real. Her book conveys that moms are always kept on a pedestal and sometimes when a child is not treated properly, they are afraid to express their feelings because of what people will say. This is a very important topic and Jennette handled it very well in her book.

What I Liked:

• The rawness and truthfulness of her story
• Adding dark humor to the book
• Her coping during therapy

What I Did Not Like:

• It became a bit slow coming to the after part

What You Should Read Next:

• Educated by Tara Westover
• Know My Name by Chanel Miller

My Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

I really liked this book, very painful read. I recommend reading this book!
Happy Reading!
Rabhya.

September Wrap-Up!

Hello Bookish People! September is over and it’s time for a wrap-up! As I mentioned before that I had my exams going on in September. Even though I was continuously studying, during breaks I would pick up a book and read. Because of that consistency, I ended up reading 8 books which have been the highest number of books read during this year! Consistency makes everything work! Detailed reviews will be out separately for all the books soon 🙂

Let’s get into the wrap-up>>

The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

This was on my anticipated list and I was so excited to read this book. That excitement went downhill when I reached the end. I had very high expectations since I had given the previous books 5 stars, so the ending did not meet my anticipations.

Kafka On The Shore by Murakami

I loved this book. It is a beautifully written story, woven with magical and realistic elements with a dash of Japan’s history.

Layla by Colleen Hoover

I loved verity and I wanted to read another paranormal romance by coho. In the end, I was like, “what did I just read?” So thrilling and interesting with a banger of an ending!

Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Such heartwarming and meaningful stories will stick with me forever. They were so impactful with such a beautiful message at the end… I will never forget these stories ❤

Birthday Girl by Murakami

Murakami’s words are a mystery, yet his writing style is so beautiful and comforting. Birthday Girl is a very short story with a meaningful meaning. I couldn’t understand what happens in the end at first, but then I realized after reading it again!

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

This was very raw and heartbreaking. I didn’t have any knowledge about Jennette McCurdy, but when I started reading this book, I couldn’t believe that she had to go through such abuse. Although I would say that coming to the After part, it became a bit slow. But other than that, this book is worth the read.

The Maid by Nita Prose

 I do like the story but the main character gets me every time. Molly the maid is very innocent and sometimes she does not understand things, which kind of bugged me at times. Overall a solid read.

Sputnik Sweetheart by Murakami

This was so mysterious and confusing in a good way. At times I couldn’t make out what is reality and what is not while reading, which was very unique. Really enjoyed it!

I hope you enjoyed reading this wrap-up. Looking forward to a good reading month in October! How many books did you read in September? Let me know in the comments! 😀
Happy Reading!
Rabhya.

Why I Switched Genres?

Hello Everyone! I am sorry for my absence from the blogosphere. For the past month, my exams have been going on. My schedule was pretty hectic. Finally, my exams are over now and I am free for some days, so I wanted to get back to blogging again! I really missed writing and I will try my best to be active here again.

Anyway, today’s post is about something that I have been feeling for a long time regarding books, and after Jesse from jessethereader uploaded a video on those same lines, I decided to address these thoughts too!

You can check out the video here: IS BOOK QUALITY DECLINING?

These days when I was reading books, it felt like I was reading the same stories. The books never felt unique and the same repetition cycle used to go on. Personally, I was experiencing this more in the romance and young adult genres. Now, this happens for many reasons. Don’t get me wrong or anything but I feel that books are written for the sake of getting blown up on booktok these days. Everyone is writing romances with those same enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, fake dating, etc tropes. And even if those tropes are used, there is no other element that brings meaning to the story other than the romance part itself. There is nothing wrong with writing romances or using those tropes, but atleast add other elements to the story.

I wanted a fresh start with reading, so I switched genres! Not completely, but yes, for the most part, I read translated books, memoirs, fiction, mysteries, and sometimes young adult now. In September, my reading tastes evolved a lot and I am happy with what I read now. I feel like I am reading meaningful stories. My exams were going on for 10 days and I had so many holidays in between. It’s pretty shocking to say this but I have read the most books in September so far XD. Well, I should be proud or tensed, I don’t know…

It feels good to be back! What are your thoughts on the quality of books? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Reading!
Rabhya.