Because she knew that, if it came down to her word versus Loretta’s, she would always be believed. And knowing this, she felt, for the first time, truly white. One of the best books I’ve read in awhile. From its synopsis one would think the storyline trite: one half of a pair of twin sisters goes missing to lead a double life. Except that this … Continue reading The Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennet
Yet another East Asian historical novel with a timeline that sprawls across fascinating cross sections of Chinese and Japanese history. I didn’t hold high hopes at the beginning – the novel is written from the perspective of Scottish girl barely into adulthood, conveyed through diary entries and letters sent to her mother. But I found myself gradually captivated by Mary Mackenzie’s spiritedness and enigmatic mannerisms … Continue reading The Ginger Tree, by Oswald Wynd
I read Nobel laureate Mo Yan’s novel Frog two years ago (the Chinese version) and while the exact plot sequence now evades me, I remember being struck by the visceral impact of his writing. His use of imagery is raw and powerful in its ability to capture moments in history, revealing their beauty and brutality to strike both awe and revulsion within readers. Red Sorghum … Continue reading Red Sorghum Clan, by Mo Yan (红高粱家族，莫言）
I was pleasantly surprised to chance upon this book in my school library the day before we disbanded for covid-induced home learning, and upon reading the first chapter I concluded that our librarians probably had not read it before introducing it as a holiday must-read for teens. Amy Tan’s more recent novel is much more shocking than her iconic Joy Luck Club which I had enjoyed last … Continue reading The Valley of Amazement, by Amy Tan
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