Feb 11 – 17, 2024 | Little Sparks #41

Hi friends!

This week has been very eventful! I watched the new Bob Marley movie with some friends, and it was quite heartwarming. The movie lacked breadth in Jamaica’s history and political context during that time, but it made up for it through the detailed recount and portray of his music.

Here’s my reading highlight:

Why Fish Don’t Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller
4 stars

I’m unsure how or where I would categorise this book, not just because of its topic (another book I’ve read recently referencing anthropocentrism) and genre (part biography, memoir, scientific adventure) but also the writing format. The author acts as a narrator telling the story of David Starr Jordan, a taxonomist, using his experiences and research (he’s credited with discovering nearly a fifth of the fish known to humans in his day) to ideate on what kind of attitude we need in life, how to process grief and how to understand the world.

Initially, I was puzzled by the author’s positioning; however, halfway into the book, I forgot about that and was immersed in knowing more about David and what he did (there were several surprises in the book). Overall, the book reads like a fable about persevering in a world where chaos prevails.

Feb 5 – 10, 2024 | Little Sparks #40

Hello!

This week, I was deeply reminded of the value of trying things out of one’s comfort zone.  

Here’s my reading highlight:

The Three-Body Problem (Remembrance of Earth’s Past #1) by Cixin Liu
4 stars

I was recommended this book by a colleague and was further motivated to pick it up because of its Netflix show coming out soon.

I’m usually heavily character driven when picking and reading fiction, but this has been a book that I’m fully engaged by because of the plot. One reason is that there are a lot of scientific reasoning and technical terminology that are outside my comfort zone. As such, it’s taken a while to logically understand how this alien civilization plans to invade Earth successfully (which would have probably put me off the book). However, which brings me to my second reason, I’m pretty invested in finding out what happens to Earth when this alien civilization invades them.

A few themes that have made this book really engaging for me have been the debate of whether humans are intrinsically destructive, anthropocentrism (the belief that humans are more important than other animals is false and that like humans, non-human animals have intrinsic value), the perception that with further scientific development, we lose more compassion and empathy, the notion of betraying the human race, and morality.

Jan 28 – Feb 3, 2024 | Little Sparks #39

Hi there,

I’ve been busy this week adulting, so I haven’t had my usual reading experience.

Here’s my reading highlight:

Matilda by Roald Dahl
4 stars

Matilda was one of my favourite stories from Roald Dahl (apart from The Witches). I have also watched the movie (and various versions of the movie) several times.

Now that I read the book as an adult, I am more aware of the author’s criticism/commentary. For example, criticism against the patriarchy is reflected by Matilda punishing her parents for their treatment towards her, which was rooted in patriarchal thinking.  

Jan 21 – 27, 2024 | Little Sparks #38

Hello! We are in the last week of January!

How have you been? This week, I was reminded of how precious and fragile life is.  

Here’s my reading highlight:

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
4 stars

To be honest, I’m still processing what I read. However, if one thing is clear, Maya Angelou had a very eventful life. There was a lot of joy from her relationship with her Grandmother and her brother to falling in love with books/reading. There was also trauma from growing up at a time when the Jim Crow Laws were enforced, being raped at eight years old and dealing with a proud father.

In terms of writing, the book gets more engaging towards the end when Maya depicts her teenage years. However, I’m unsure if I’ll continue reading her autobiographical series.

TW: rape, child abuse and neglect

Jan 7 – 13, 2024 | Little Sparks #36

Greetings!

Here’s my reading highlight:

Bright We Burn (The Conqueror’s Saga #3) by Kiersten White
4 stars

Completion of a series I began in 2023. I was worried that the ending would severely (and unfairly) criticise Lada, who I consider to be a strong (yet flawed) female character. However, it was a beautiful ending to the story and the characters’ connection.

Halal Sex: The Intimate Lives of Muslim Women in North America by Sheima Benembarek
5 stars

This was a healing read. A frank and powerful depiction of feminist contribution to the advancement of Muslim sexual education and pleasure through the experiences of real people – Azar, a non-binary trans Sufi; Bunmi, a Nigerian navigating shame and Tinder; Eman, a lesbian stand-up comic in an interfaith marriage; Taslim, a virgin in her forties struggling to erect healthy boundaries; and Khadijah, an exotic dancer and sex worker. Likewise, it was a strong reminder that Muslim patriarchy is not Islam.

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Hello, beautiful people!

I hope you have all had an amazing 2023. Here’s wishing you an even better 2024 full of great reads.

For this last book review of 2023, I will be sharing my reading highlight for the year:

I read 151 books this year (surpassing my goal of 123 books), which, according to myyearinbooks.com, is roughly 26,153 pages and 44,460 minutes. Wow!

Of all these books, 108 belong to the category of romance, 56 are fantasy, and 47 are contemporary fiction.  

My top five books this year, all of which were part of the 32 books I rated five stars, were:

My top author this year was Sarah J. Maas. I am not surprised. I read 11 of her books this year (7 from the Throne of Glass series I started this year, 1 book from the Crescent City series and 3 re-reads from the A Court of Thorns and Roses series). I also read a lot of new authors (or at least new to me) – four of my top five reads were first-time author reads for me.

I won’t be setting a high reading goal for next year, just ensuring I read at least one book a week and that I read books I enjoy. I hope to read more genres and authors next year!

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Hello!

Here’s my reading highlight:

A Memory Called Empire (Teixcalaan, #1) by Arkady Martine
4 stars

I listened to the audiobook, but I think this book would be better enjoyed in written form. There were a number of technicalities, such as the naming conventions, the different peoples and the system of the  Teixcalaanli Empire that would have been beneficial to turn the page to reference.  


I enjoyed the political intrigue, and, as a science fiction novel, it raised many questions on memory, death, algorithms and technology. It was full of food for thought. Are algorithms neutral or biased to the perspective of the person who designed them? (I think they are biased) With the enhancement of artificial intelligence, will there come a time when we can preserve the memory and thoughts of a person who has passed away (as a living system)? Will it still be death as we know it or just the decay of that person’s flesh?

The book ended at a sweet spot for me, so I don’t think I’ll be reading the next book in the series.

Dec 10 – 16, 2023 | Little Sparks #32

Hi there!

How are you feeling with only a few more weeks to the end of the year? I’m actually quite excited. While the year has passed by like a flash, I have had a great 2023 overall.

Here’s my reading highlight:

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
5 stars

I’ve read a number of WW1 & WW2 historical fiction, and women’s contributions to the war are often forgotten or discussed on the sidelines.

This book did an amazing job detailing the pain and resilience of French women’s resistance during WW2. I did cry a number of times while listening to the book. It was a tale full of heartbreak, yet the ending was so beautiful.

TW: murder, rape, sexual assault, genocide

Dec 3 – 9, 2023 | Little Sparks #31

Hello!

This week has been quite a drag. I hope mine and your upcoming week are much better!

Here’s my reading highlight:

A Shadow in the Ember (Flesh and Fire #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
5 stars

Oops! I started a new fantasy series, hahaha.

Dare I say this book was perfect? That it was made for me? It had everything I like – my favourite tropes, just the right amount of suspense, BABY DRAGONS (or I should say drakens)!!!, tension, romance and found family. It is by far the best Hades and Persephone retelling I’ve read.

I’m very excited to continue the series, and hopefully, I won’t fall out of love with the series as I did with Blood and Ash. (The Blood and Ash series took a while to get into, and though intriguing with various plot twists, I stopped reading after the fourth book before it ruined the whole series so much that I felt it could have ended at book 3. Apparently, it’s still unfinished – books 6 and 7 are not out yet.)

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Nov 26 – Dec 2, 2023 | Little Sparks #30

Hi there!

How was your week? Mine was very busy with holiday festivities at work.

I can’t believe there are just four more weeks to the end of the year!

Here’s my reading highlight:

Iron Flame (The Empyrean #2) by Rebecca Yarros
4 stars

I was very happy when the audiobook became available, to say the least! Thank goodness, I wasn’t disappointed.

While I didn’t think this book was as ‘addictive’ as the first one, it was still engaging. However, there were several moments when I felt that the book was too similar to the ACTOR series (Xaden as a weak replica of Rhysand) and even the Throne of Glass series (regarding the focus on wyverns) by Sarah J. Maas.