Enchanted rooms & cats that travel: The January book bingo wrap-up
Get a cup of coffee and dive into the world of books!
Dear reader,
I’ve read on planes, in trains, in the car, in the park, but living in a land-locked city, I’ve never read on the beach. Well, 2023 was the year that changed that! Holidaying in Goa meant that I had my very first experience of reading on the beach, and it was delightful! Feeling the ocean breeze caress my face, alternating reading with dipping my toes in the ocean, ah - such bliss! My wish for you is that 2023 brings you delightful new experiences - reading or otherwise!
Books I read:
The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa (A book about cats)
This was my first read of the year, and it was an absolute delight! Laughter and tears ensued as Nana the stray-turned-cherished pet’s story unfolded. “Nana the cat is on a road trip. He is not sure where he's going or why, but it means that he gets to sit in the front seat of a silver van with his beloved owner, Satoru. Side by side, they cruise around Japan through the changing seasons, visiting Satoru's old friends. But what is the purpose of this road trip? And why is everyone so interested in Nana? Nana does not know and Satoru won't say. But when Nana finally works it out, his small heart will break...” His bond with beloved owner Satoru, his tongue-in-cheek commentary on cat behavior and thoughts on life and the world and human behavior make this a truly special book for feline lovers.
The Light Through the Leaves by Glendy Vanderhal (From last year’s TBR list)
I discovered Glendy Vanderhal last year, and I fell in love with her writing and storytelling. This book didn’t disappoint, either. It’s a beautifully told story of a mother whose baby girl goes missing, and the guilt that devastates her life and tears her family apart. And of a young girl called Raven, who must hide her unique gifts. “As Ellis and Raven each confront their powerful longings, their journeys will converge in unexpected and hopeful ways, pulled together by the forces of nature, love, and family.” Highly recommended!
Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm by Laura Warrel
This was my least favorite book this month. Despite being a well-written novel about “the perennial temptations of dangerous love, following a jazz musician and the multiple women — some charmed by him,” the book left me cold. I almost wanted to shelve it on my did not finish list, but for some reason, I slogged through all three hundred and thirty six pages of it. The character portraits are pretty well-drawn out, especially of the main protagonists Circus, Pia, Koko and even Maggie. The book claims to deliver “a lush orchestration of diverse female voices,” but all of Circus’ women are, at their core, the same — unsure why they are so attracted to him, but helpless…almost powerless…in how much they supposedly love him, which really didn’t make for interesting or nuanced reading, nor did it really provide an “answer to the age-old question: how do we find belonging when love is unrequited.”
Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg (The start of a series)
A few years ago, I would probably have overlooked the fantasy section entirely. I was much more interested in literary and historical fiction and true crime, thinking fantasy was all rather, well, fluffy. Until a friend turned me onto some of her favorite fantasy novels and writers, and I fell under the spell of these beautifully told stories and the absolutely fantastic world building. Holmberg is one of the fantasy writers whose books I quite enjoy! I really liked the subtle overlay of the magical with the mundane world in this book, along with the system of magic she created in Whimbrel House, a remote estate in the Narragansett Bay. When writer Merritt Fernsby inherits the property, he’s ready to call it home, even though it’s been uninhabited for more than a century—until he realizes he has no choice. With its doors slamming shut and locking behind him, Whimbrel House is not about to let Merritt leave. Ever. Hulda Larkin of the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms has been trained in taming such structures. Prepared as she is with augury, a set of magic tools, and a new staff trained in the uncanny, Hulda’s work still proves unexpectedly difficult. The sentient walls aren’t their only concern—something outside is coming for the enchantments of Whimbrel House, and it could be more dangerous than what rattles within.
Recommendation corner:
Have some of the bingo prompts got you scratching your head, wondering what to read or maybe even what it means? I got you covered! Every month, I will pick 2 bingo prompts and share a couple of recommendations with you. And just so you’re not here all day reading this, I’ll link you up to Goodreads so you can check out the book and add it to your Want-to-read shelf. Here we go!
A book by an Asian author
An author from any country in Asia. Bonus points if the author actually lives in said Asian country {but totally not a requirement}. My reccos: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee; Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, Magical Women by Sukanya Venkatraghavan.
Winner of the 2022 Goodreads choice awards
This one’s pretty self-explanatory, I think! You can find the list of 2022 winners here — I’m still trying to decide between Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and Sea of Tranquility. Have you read either? Which one would you recommend? Hit reply and let me know!
On my to-read list:
What can I say? I’m an enabler! In this section, I’ll share a couple of books from my TBR list. These will generally include a mix of upcoming releases and books that have been around for years but never made it into my orbit.
Paris Letters by Janice McLeod
“How much money does it take to change your life?”
Unfulfilled at her job and unsuccessful in the dating department, Janice MacLeod doodled this question at her desk. Then she decided to make it a challenge. Over the next few months, with a little math and a lot of determination, she saved up enough to buy two years of freedom in Europe. But she had only been in Paris for a few days when she met a handsome butcher (with a striking resemblance to Daniel Craig)—and never went home again. A love story in the vein of Almost French and Lunch in Paris, Paris Letters is a joyful romp through the City of Light, and an inspiring look at what can happen when we dare to create the life we want.
This book is right up my alley! I’m an artist, I enjoy writing, and I have been dreaming of escaping the 9to5 if only I could figure how to make that happen. Now there’s going to be no cute Parisian in my future, but perhaps there will be other clues that I could pick up!
Threadneedle by Carrie Thomas
Ever since Anna can remember, her aunt has warned her of the dangers of magic. She has taught her to fear how it twists and knots and turns into something dark and deadly. It was, after all, magic that killed her parents and left her in her aunt’s care. It’s why she has been protected from the magical world and, in one year’s time, what little magic she has will be bound. She will join her aunt alongside the other Binders who believe magic is a sin not to be used, but denied. Only one more year and she will be free of the curse of magic. Nothing – and no one – could change her mind before then. Could it?
Honestly? I fell in love with the cover of this book! It’s SO gorgeous! Add in the premise of magic and sin, and what’s not to like?
Atlanta by Jennifer Saint
When Princess Atalanta is born, a daughter rather than the son her parents hoped for, she is left on a mountainside to die. But even then, she is a survivor. Raised by a mother bear under the protective eye of the goddess Artemis, Atalanta grows up wild and free, with just one condition: if she marries, Artemis warns, it will be her undoing. Although she loves her beautiful forest home, Atalanta yearns for adventure. When Artemis offers her the chance to fight in her name alongside the Argonauts, the fiercest band of warriors the world has ever seen, Atalanta seizes it. The Argonauts' quest for the Golden Fleece is filled with impossible challenges, but Atalanta proves herself equal to the men she fights alongside. As she is swept into a passionate affair, in defiance of Artemis's warning, she begins to question the goddess's true intentions. Can Atalanta carve out her own legendary place in a world of men, while staying true to her heart?
Mythological retellings with kickass female protagonists? Sign me right up! Plus Jennifer Saint’s previous book was a Goodreads Choice Awards nominee {and is on my TBR, too!} Expected publication date: 13 April 2023
For the love of poetry
It seems a bit of a cliché, perhaps, to begin the year with Mary Oliver. But this poem struck me when I read it at the start of the year, and stuck with me throughout the month. So of course I had to share it with you — maybe the ever-wise Mary Oliver has a start-of-the-year message for you, too.
The Journey Mary Oliver One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice— though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles. “Mend my life!” each voice cried. But you didn’t stop. You knew what you had to do, though the wind pried with its stiff fingers at the very foundations, though their melancholy was terrible. It was already late enough, and a wild night, and the road full of fallen branches and stones. But little by little, as you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new voice which you slowly recognized as your own, that kept you company as you strode deeper and deeper into the world, determined to do the only thing you could do— determined to save the only life you could save.
Monthly round-up
Things that caught my attention this month
⫸ Stutz - the viral documentary on Jonah Hill’s therapist
⫸ Sweet Thrash Journal workshop
⫸ How to live with tenderness in a harsh world
⫸ Trying out this weekly planner
Thank you for being here and for spending some time in my bookish world. Hit reply and tell me what you’ve been reading and enjoying this month!
Happy reading,
Shinjini