Murakami, like sushi, green tea, and all things Japanese, is an acquired taste (to me, at least). I started out with Norwegian Wood (didn't quite like it), then to After Dark (not bad, one of my favourites!), dived head first without warning into Kafka On The Shore (because too many crazy metaphors and magical realism which slightly … Continue reading What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami
Category: reviews
The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami
I can't quite put a finger on what it is about this book that I'm enchanted by - the colourful and quirky graphics, the fact that it all happened in the library aka my favouritestest place in the world, the fact that I could finish reading the book in less than an hour or the … Continue reading The Strange Library by Haruki Murakami
A Temporary Gift by Asmaa Hussein
I hold this book close to my heart. Asmaa lost her husband in a protest in Egypt to a senseless army sniper. The traumatic incident pushed Asmaa to pour out her thoughts and reflections in navigating through her emotion of shock, loss, and all the feelings that come after. She writes about the love of … Continue reading A Temporary Gift by Asmaa Hussein
The Sound of Sch by Danielle Lim
The Sound of Sch will let you in on the realities of mental illness, addressing the social stigma associated with it. Danielle witnessed how her uncle's life went on a downward spiral after being diagnosed with schizophrenia. The words move so softly and achingly, like the emotions embedded in the story; the use of the … Continue reading The Sound of Sch by Danielle Lim
The Hapless Teacher’s Handbook by Phil Ball
How else do I describe this book other than HILARIOUSLY APT. This autobiographical account follows a fresh English major who has no clue what to do with his degree and so decided to enrol himself in PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) which is the equivalent of Singapore's PGDE. He talks about the horrors of … Continue reading The Hapless Teacher’s Handbook by Phil Ball
Shades of Islam by Rafey Habib
If you've been following my Instagram, you'd know that he's one of my favourite poets. I first discovered his book of poems in a small bookshop in Mecca. I'm a fan of the way he purposefully weaves his words and how he uses poetry to address various topics like the Qur'an, our Muslim identity, love, … Continue reading Shades of Islam by Rafey Habib
Khadija by Resit Haylamaz
A comprehensive, concise, pocket-book history of the mother of believers, the first wife our beloved Prophet (saws), Khadija bint Khuwaylid (ra). An inspiring, successful businesswoman who propagated loyalty in the message of Islam, with an abundance of remarkable qualities we can all learn from. There are many other books written about her which I haven't … Continue reading Khadija by Resit Haylamaz
The Qur’an (new translation) by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
Bought this 2 years ago and only now do I realize I've been reading it kinda wrong (?) I used to treat it like a typical storybook so I read it like how I would any other fiction novel, from beginning to end. But I notice I wasn't as absorbed as I am now that … Continue reading The Qur’an (new translation) by M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
I love this book but I'm torn - on one hand, it's incredibly funny while on the other, it's saddening to come to terms that this is the actual reality of the Indians in America, and by extension you can relate it to every minority race living in a majority race country in any … Continue reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
This book will make you cry. I warned my friends this when I recommended them to give it a read and when they were done, they all admitted they almost teared / got teary / bawled their eyes out at the last page. Paul did not turn this book into a sad, miserable sob story; … Continue reading When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
