Title: Winter’s Orbit Author: Everina Maxwell Publisher: Tor Books Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Where I got the book: ARC from publisher Content Warning: Domestic violence, kidnapping, mental torture “While the Iskat Empire has long dominated the system through treaties and political alliances, several planets, including Thea, have begun to chafe under Iskat’s rule. … More Review | Winter’s Orbit by Everina Maxwell
Every year I say I’m going to read the books I own. Then I buy a lot of ebooks on sale and borrow more than I can read from the library. I own a lot of books (according to my sister who is a minimalist). I don’t bother counting them anymore, but it’s probably over … More Ramblings | On Reading Challenges and the Books We Own
Happy holidays to those who celebrate this time of year. I’m taking a break for the rest of the year and will be back in January with some 2020 wrap-ups and reflections.
Title: Please Look After Mom Author: Kyung-Sook Shin Translator: Chi-Young Kim Publisher: Knopf Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Where I got the book: Public Library Content warning: Domestic violence, marital affair, death “When sixty-nine-year-old So-nyo is separated from her husband among the crowds of the Seoul subway station, and vanishes, their children are consumed with loud recriminations, … More Review | Please Look After Mom by Kyung-Sook Shin
Title: Burning Roses Author: S.L. Huang Publisher: Tor.com Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Where I got the book: ARC from publisher Content warning: Death, Murder, Emotional Abuse “When Rosa (aka Red Riding Hood) and Hou Yi the Archer join forces to stop the deadly sunbirds from ravaging the countryside, their quest will take the … More Review | Burning Roses by S.L. Huang
Title: The Midnight Bargin Author: C.L. Polk Publisher: Erewhon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Where I got the book: ARC from publisher Content warnings: Sexism, attempted murder, violence “Beatrice Clayborn is a sorceress who practices magic in secret, terrified of the day she will be locked into a marital collar that will cut off … More Review | The Midnight Bargin by C.L. Polk
Title: The Best Kind of People Author: Zoe Whittall Publisher: House of Anansi Press Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Where I got the book: Public Library Content warning: Rape culture “The Woodbury family’s lives are suddenly violently disrupted one night with the arrest of George Woodbury for sexual impropriety at the prestigious prep school he teaches … More Review | The Best Kind of People by Zoe Whittall
Title: Do Not Say We Have Nothing Author: Madeleine Thien Publisher: Knopf Canada Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Where I got the book: Public Library “Madeleine Thien’s new novel is breathtaking in scope and ambition even as it is hauntingly intimate. With the ease and skill of a master storyteller, Thien takes us inside … More Review | Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
Title: The Briefcase Author: Hiromi Kawakami Translator: Allison Markin Powell Publisher: Counterpoint Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Where I got the book: Public Library “Tsukiko, thirty-eight, works in an office and lives alone. One night, she happens to meet one of her former high school teachers, “Sensei” in a local bar. Tsukiko had only ever called him … More Review | The Briefcase by Hiromi Kawakami
Title: Naked Earth Author: Eileen Chang (translated by author) Publisher: NYRB Classics Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Where I got the book: Public library Content warning: Murder, state brutality (physical and mental), forced imprisonment, sexual harassment, death (by illegal abortion complications) “After leaving the Mainland for Hong Kong in 1952, Eileen Chang was commissioned by the United … More Review | Naked Earth by Eileen Chang
the borrowed bookshelf 