Refuge: A Novel
Have you ever picked up a book and just known, just by looking at the first page, reading the first few lines, that it was going to be a good read? A read that demanded your undivided attention? That deserved it? That’s how I felt …
Tag: book club
The Miniaturist
After reading The Muse, I knew I had to find Jessie Burton’s first novel, The Miniaturist. Set in 17th century Amsterdam, The Miniaturist draws inspiration from Petronella Oortman’s nine-room dollhouse, which is a permanent collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. These elaborate dollhouses were cultivated and showcased in front …
Goodbye, Vitamin
After reading Hello, Sunshine it seemed apropos that the next book on my list was Goodbye, Vitamin. Another story of a 30-something-year-old woman whose engagement comes to a seemingly sudden end. Unlike Sunshine though, Ruth, the protagonist of Goodbye, Vitamin, has not lost her job, friends, and reputation. …
Hello, Sunshine
From the opening pages of Laura Dave’s Hello, Sunshine, I knew I wouldn’t be able to put this book down. Hello, Sunshine is like talking to a girl friend with a really good story. One of those what-had-happened-was stories. The kind of story where you know it’s all …
The Leavers
When I selected The Leavers as my next book to read, I didn’t know that I was picking up a book about adoption. All I knew was that there was a buzz around Lisa Ko’s book, and it seemed like it would be an interesting …
My Korean Adoptee Bookshelf
As a child, the library was one of my favorite places. I loved the endless adventures at my fingertips. There was something comforting, and exciting, about knowing that anything I could ever want to know, and much that I could never even imagine, could be …
Behold the Dreamers
“And what do you think of this new person you’re becoming?” “I don’t know.” “Let me put this another way: Are you happy with who you’re becoming?” Imbolo Mbue tells a compelling tale of family, dreams, and sacrifice in her debut novel Behold the Dreamers. Set …
When in French: Love in a Second Language
I love French. Ever since having to choose a language class in middle school, I have loved French. That learning French remains a life goal is a testament to good teachers. My 8th grade French teacher, I have forgotten her name, was one of the …
The Wangs vs The World
A rags-to-riches-to-rags tale sets the stage for an intimate look into the complexity of family relationships – the unknown people our parents once were before they had us, the secret lives of our siblings, and the glue that holds us together even when we wish …