What I read: The March Break Edition 2022

BOOK COUNT FOR THE YEAR: 31

• January: 14
• February: 5
• March: 12
• April:
• May:
• June:
• July:
• August:
• September:
• October:
• November:
• December:

WHAT LITTLE BUN READ

• James and the Giant Peach
• With Love from Boy

WHAT I READ

THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES

[ MYSTERY, FICTION ]

I love her books. I mean, it’s the first one I have read so far, but it is very Sherlockian.

A MILLION JUNES

[ FICTION, LIFE, SHAME, REGRET, FEUDS, ROMEO + JULIET VIBES ]

It is very Romeo + Juliet.

This book is all about love, life, feuds and trying to get past a past, especially one that has been passed down by your family. It started pretty slow, I won’t lie, but once it went through the middle (and I got a bit confused – still kind of am – ), I couldn’t put the book down and devoured the rest of it.

FINANCIAL ADULTING

[ FICTION, RELATIONSHIPS, MARRIAGE, LIFE ]

This is a great gateway book to personal finance. It really covers everything, with an American-angle (sorry, if you are Canadian). I like how she addresses privilege at the start of the book, and goes into some of that in chapter two. I will be honest – this is not something I am needing to read any more, as I have read countless personal finance books, but this is a great starter one to dip your toe into it and understand it before diving into details later.

P.S. I HATE YOU

[ FICTION, RELATIONSHIPS, MARRIAGE, LIFE ]

I liked it. It was a decent read because it was about an already-married couple, so to read how they go through their relationship, thinking back to what got them there, this was an interesting twist on things. Things change after you get married – they’re not as shiny as before, and after many years (even I know this), you settle into a comfortable rut or routine.

PRICE OF SALT, OR CAROL

[ FICTION, LIFE, RELATIONSHIPS, EXPLORATION OF LOVE ]

I didn’t get this book when I first started reading it, but at the end, I got it. It was okay. It’s one of those “thinking” books, an intellectual one but not something I’d strongly say – OMG MUST READ. It’s about loving someone when you aren’t “allowed” by society to do so. It’s quite an interesting, meandering book with no real satisfying ending or strong characters (to be honest). It’s the kind of book you read and then maybe have a book club to talk about the the hidden meanings in things, and what each character thought.

ONE HUNDRED SECRET SENSES

[ FICTION, MYSTERY, CHINA + AMERICA, CULTURAL CLASH ]

Tan is a fantastic writer. This book is a depart, but also not, from her other books which are all Chinese-centric. I enjoyed very much the mystery of the entire book, the twist got me at the end, and I am still not certain I have all the moving parts confirmed in my head for the mystery, but I enjoyed it to the end and am totally immersed in learning more about Chinese culture, thoughts, etc. It was quite a good read.

MONKEY KING: JOURNEY TO THE WEST

[ FICTION, CHINA, HISTORY, FAIRYTALES ]

They’re fairytales but not. Basically these stories are the core behind the culture of China. Everyone knows these stories, and it has shaped the way children grow up and see the world. I can agree with this, having read a lot of Japanese manga and stories when I was younger, and a lot of what these books taught me, have really stuck with me even until adulthood – honesty, care for others, consideration – to name a few.

Beach Read

[ FICTION, CHICKLIT, UNEXPECTED LOVE ]

I rather liked this book, versus the other chicklit ones I have read (I am a huge fan!), and this one had some interesting parts in it with the characters. There’s that typical antagonistic nature of the guy that is brooding and grumpy-all the time (very Mr. Darcy, following the same template as the first chicklit writers of our time), and a little messed up woman who meets him. Great read. Lots of deep character diving, interesting backgrounds.

Party Crasher

[ FICTION, CHICKLIT, Forgettable ]

To be honest, she came down off her high of the Shopaholic series. I am frankly, not sure what this book was about, after I read it. That’s how bland and unforgettable it was.

How to talk so kids will listen

[ PARENTING, HELPFUL, CHILDREN, TEENS ]

One of the best parenting books I have read all year. It has helped me learn how to communicate better with Little Bun. I am there to listen, not to fix. And I am there to state facts, not judge. This is very hard to do as a parent, but I am working on it.

MY FAVOURITE HALF NIGHT STAND

[ CHICKLIT, FRIENDZONED, BEST FRIENDS ]

I won’t give it away but it’s clear at the start of the book what is going to happen, yet it was still a fun meander through to the end where it all comes together. I enjoyed it thoroughly. I also liked the cute instant messaging bubbles back and forth during the book.

The Book of Eating

[ FOOD CRITIC, NON-FICTION, FOOD JOURNEYS, MEMORIES ]

No idea who this guy is, but I liked the book of him talking about how he grew up eating in China, the different meals, the way he got interested in food, his funny, rather dry stories about being a food critic (and keeping the weight off). My particularly favourite part of the book was the anecdote of taking 6 young children to a fancy Le Cirque restaurant to let them have a meal there. I can tell you that bringing young children to SIT in a restaurant and not do anything but talk or talk about food, is a tall order. Yet, I enjoyed hearing him try it, and listening to the kids react, eat the food and so on. Little Bun enjoys fancy restaurants and likes going out to eat (something we stopped a long time ago), and is GENERALLY well behaved as long as the wait in between courses is not too long, and we interact with him to keep him interested.