november 2024 reads
I spent a lot of November being generally unwell, both because of actual illness and high levels of stress relating to the upcoming end of year. I think this shows in how little reading in Japanese I did throughout the month, with only a single volume of short nonfiction early on. I'm reading a short story collection in Japanese (translated from Korean) right now though, so perhaps December will be a little more exciting when it comes to my Japanese reading.
Novels, Collections, & Nonfiction
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
Light from Uncommon Stars is a stunning and fantastical SF novel enriched by its musical lens. Told through the perspectives of several characters, it focuses on community and how we can hold each other up in the worst of circumstances by communicating and committing to what and who we love. This book was a wonderfully queer way to start November. It is so wonderful to read books where queer youth (and adults!) are able to get to a place where they can thrive. Content warnings for domestic violence, transphobia, self-harm, suicide, etc. Read it if you can though, it's so wonderful.
The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw
This book was horrifying in all the best ways. I believe it to be somewhat of a retelling of The Little Mermaid with a dash of Frankenstein, but it certainly didn't feel like any versions of those stories that I know. It is brutally grotesque, yet also full of love. I think this dichotomy(?) is awesome. I'll admit some scenes did make me queasy though, so be ready for lots of death, talk of entrails and other organs, and reanimation if you want to give this one a try!
Kaze wo Toosu Lessun by Machi Tanaka
My only Japanese book for the month and another in the nonfiction series I've been reading that focuses on in-between spaces. This one was kind of about communication and interacting with other people. Honestly, I found it kind of mediocre compared to the others I've read in the series. The discussions felt a bit weak and unrelatable for me personally.
Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H
I listened to this memoir from Lamya H and was absolutely fascinated by the author's story and the energy of the writing! It is a mix of stories from the Quran matched with specific moments and experiences in the author's life. I don't know a lot about Islam, but I found myself amazed with how familiar some of the stories were. I wasn't raised Christian, but I grew up around a lot of those stories and it turns out many are shared. The whole thing was so full of feeling and I'm really interested in learning more about the Quran now.
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
I was in the middle of this book when it's Booker win was announced. I just found it to be okay though. Thematically, I think it's great, but I think the timing was bad for me style-wise. I might have to give it a try again when I'm feeling a bit better and I'm more able to keep track of how the perspectives of the different characters ebb and flow into one another.
The Book of Love by Kelly Link
This may not come as so much of a surprise because of the title, but this book is so full of love of all varieties that it took my breath away. The story is told through multiple perspectives that are generally divided between chapters and each character is so different, yet they compliment each other and the narrative so harmoniously that it's a bit hard to describe. Just a stunning fantasy novel about love. If you read any book on this list, let it be this one.
Takaoka's Travels by Tatsuhiko Shibusawa (tr. David Boyd)
A translation from Japanese into English, the fantastical nature described in the synopsis brought this book to my attention. I didn't care for this though. The writing was compelling and it made me interested in the historical periods and people the narrative borrows from, but I didn't really care about anything else while I was reading. The story begins with a concubine having a young child, the titular Takaoka, cup her breast while she holds his testicles and I think it lost me then. It read really well, but I could've done without this book.
I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Bake Sehee (tr. Anton Hur)
The follow-up to I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, also translated by Hur, this was great. There is a content warning at the start of the book, but as the title suggests, this book also deals with suicidal thoughts and self-harm, though more directly than I remember the first book being. I can really appreciate and respect how honest the author is about her mental health and this book made me rethink some things in my own life. Definitely recommend.
Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
The third entry to the Murderbot Diaries, I also listened to this one. I believe there's a dramatized version with a cast, but I just love Kevin R. Free's rendition of Murderbot. I also just love Murderbot honestly. I feel like I could be Murderbot myself, but in a far less reliable, human body. These books make me feel seen in a way little else does. Murderbot is a must read.
Manga
Witch Hat Atelier Vol. 4-5 by Kamome Shirahama (tr. Stephen Kohler)
More excellent storytelling and art from Kamome Shirahama through the lens of translator Stephen Kohler and letterer Lys Blakeslee. I continue to be impressed with how this fantastical story about witches approaches issues of ableism and other societal issues, and the care taken in portraying how the young apprentices grow as they learn. Really excited to keep reading.
Updated 8Â months, 3Â weeks ago