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goldenelegy's reviews
124 reviews
Museum Teman Baik by Ruhaeni Intan, Reda Gaudiamo, Cynthia Hariadi, Bageur Al Ikhsan, Rassi Narika, Kennial Laia, Teguh Affandi, Awi Chin, Sri Izzati
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen
adventurous
emotional
informative
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
caution: do not read this book with an empty stomach (the food descriptions will make you hungry)
this book follows the life of two girls: one is a vietnamese girl who operates a banh mi stall in saigon, and the other is a vietnamese diaspora who fakes her travel from her mom. throughout this book, they both explores saigon's street foods and landmarks (and fell in love <3)
the introductions to the MCs are done perfectly, i was immersed right away. it centers around both characters' family problems, dealing with grief, trust, and even love itself. for vivi, she also deals with identity confusion as a diaspora. the raw portrayal makes it easy for us to relate to. it also depicts life after the vietnam war, which is important to add to the context. the description in the book feels so alive, it's like i truly experience queuing at the banh mi 98 stall, tasting the foods, and strolling around the busy city.
i would definitely give it 5 stars if it weren't the ending that felt too rushed. but then again this is meant to be a light, relaxing read, highlighting the MC's daily life and character development.
if you're looking for a sweet sapphic romance with no misunderstanding trope and no complicated conflict, this is for you <3
this book follows the life of two girls: one is a vietnamese girl who operates a banh mi stall in saigon, and the other is a vietnamese diaspora who fakes her travel from her mom. throughout this book, they both explores saigon's street foods and landmarks (and fell in love <3)
the introductions to the MCs are done perfectly, i was immersed right away. it centers around both characters' family problems, dealing with grief, trust, and even love itself. for vivi, she also deals with identity confusion as a diaspora. the raw portrayal makes it easy for us to relate to. it also depicts life after the vietnam war, which is important to add to the context. the description in the book feels so alive, it's like i truly experience queuing at the banh mi 98 stall, tasting the foods, and strolling around the busy city.
i would definitely give it 5 stars if it weren't the ending that felt too rushed. but then again this is meant to be a light, relaxing read, highlighting the MC's daily life and character development.
if you're looking for a sweet sapphic romance with no misunderstanding trope and no complicated conflict, this is for you <3
More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
emotional
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
i think i was able to enjoy this book more than the 1st book. i don't remember exactly what the 1st book was like but this sequel has a neat plot and soulful descriptions. with the character momoko being back, it makes the story even more alive. another thing that makes this book more interesting is that it explores the complexity of human's emotions. the characters deal with issues that could be so relatable to most of us: dealing with grief, opening up to other people, and accepting our flawed part. also, the characters mentioned some interesting real books that i should definitely check out later :)
this was definitely such an enjoyable read. it should be perfect for those who looks for a calm, light read, but with some philosophical depth.
this was definitely such an enjoyable read. it should be perfect for those who looks for a calm, light read, but with some philosophical depth.
Motherhood by Kanae Minato
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
at first i was struggling to continue reading this book, but im glad i managed to finish it! this book deals with such important topics that makes you reflect about it as well. in portraying the mother-daughter dynamics, the author provides the point of view of both the mother and the daughter. the mother in this story confuses her role as a daughter and as a mother. she still seeks validation and love from her mother, and she would be jealous of what her own daughter has and she couldn't accept it when her daughter doesn't live up to her expectations. but then her daughter also seeks her love but she cannot show her love as her mother and it breaks my heart.
there's a whole discussion regarding motherhood that i found interesting, a question whether motherliness is an inherited trait or something that is affected by the environment, and if it is related to the patriarchal culture that force women to have this trait.
it's also heartbreaking and infuriating to see her in-laws overworks her and blames her for everything. her husband does not even side her.he even cheats. such a cruel world for the mother and her daughter.
it's something that not everyone can read but still worth to read. i haven't read any of minato kanae's books before this, but im interested to read more!
there's a whole discussion regarding motherhood that i found interesting, a question whether motherliness is an inherited trait or something that is affected by the environment, and if it is related to the patriarchal culture that force women to have this trait.
it's also heartbreaking and infuriating to see her in-laws overworks her and blames her for everything. her husband does not even side her.
it's something that not everyone can read but still worth to read. i haven't read any of minato kanae's books before this, but im interested to read more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Miscarriage, Misogyny, Death of parent, and Abandonment
A Crane Among Wolves by June Hur
my only complain probably is that the plot twist wasn't that shocking. but it wasn't that much of a problem. overall, i enjoyed this book, SO MUCH actually i couldn't stop myself reading it especially near the end. so if you're looking for a romance-historical fiction with enemies-to-lovers and found family trope, try this book!!
p.s. prepare yourself for chapter 42 :)))
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
when the author said this book reads like a historical k-drama, well i guess she was right! this book tells about iseul, a girl in a mission to seek her sister, set in the joseon era around the ruling of king yeongsan. this book describes his cruelty and it was based on the history. it looks like it takes a lot of research just for this book.
the romance in this book was what got me the most. the MC went from trying-to-kill-each-other enemies to i'll-protect-you-even-if-it-costs-my-life lovers, making it interesting, honestly. but aside the romance, this book has such a heartwarming portrayal of sisterhood and friendship. it also deals with grief, how grief could make you so afraid to love anyone ever again. These quotes below was the ones that shattered my heart the most.
the romance in this book was what got me the most. the MC went from trying-to-kill-each-other enemies to i'll-protect-you-even-if-it-costs-my-life lovers, making it interesting, honestly. but aside the romance, this book has such a heartwarming portrayal of sisterhood and friendship. it also deals with grief, how grief could make you so afraid to love anyone ever again. These quotes below was the ones that shattered my heart the most.
I did love my sister. The same way I had loved my parents, the same love that had left me bedridden with grief and depression, the love that left me haunted and sleepless many nights still.
More than ever, now, I was afraid of this love for her, afraid of the intolerable agony that came with loving anyone at all.
my only complain probably is that the plot twist wasn't that shocking. but it wasn't that much of a problem. overall, i enjoyed this book, SO MUCH actually i couldn't stop myself reading it especially near the end. so if you're looking for a romance-historical fiction with enemies-to-lovers and found family trope, try this book!!
p.s. prepare yourself for chapter 42 :)))
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Minor: Suicide
We are All Equally Far from Love by Adania Shibli, Paul Starkey, عدنية شبلي
dark
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
3.5
Such a unique, poetic, and depressing read. This is a short story collection that tells about the ugly part of human relationships, mostly about romantic relationship and family. It's such a bitter fact that love isn't always all about joy. It could be hardship or even loneliness. It could be hatred. Adania Shibli portrays all of them in such a poetic way, and this became the reason why I finished this book and didn't give it less than 3.5 stars despite some struggles i faced while reading this. I wish I could read and understand the Arabic version because there are some parts that was omitted in the English version. Some parts left me confused, but well, maybe that's on me who's not able to understand the depth of the story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
A Magical Girl Retires by Park Seolyeon
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
To my surprise, this is not like any other fantasy book I've ever read. Well, maybe when we hear "magical girl" we expect it to be a superhero story but this is not exactly like that. In fact, magical girls are originally powerless, then to balance the power and justice in the world, they gain different superpowers. They activate that power after going through a traumatic event.
The main character is a 29 year old woman who's in a credit card debt and that leads her to depression. Before committing suicide, she is approached by a woman in a white dress, who is a clairvoyant magical girl named Ah Roa. She tells her she is meant to be a magical girl and should join her on a mission. All the magical girls gather to defeat a climate change.
I thought this is going to be a dark and heavy fantasy but actually it's a bit silly and not that complicated?? This novella touches on the subject of feminism and climate change issue, which is interesting while still contains some humor. There's also a hint of sapphic romance!! The thing is, because it's short, the MC and Roa's chemistry wasn't explored that much and the conflict wasn't that tense. But then I find the twist and the execution brilliant.The MC's power is she can wish for anything she wants but there's a price she must pay. It goes back to the power-and-justice-balance concept in this story. In order to gain something, one must lose something. It is said in the translator's note, "Magical girls exist because justice does not exist." In real life, people who do injustice acts don't get consequences, but in this story, the amount of power and justice are balanced so that those are distributed equally. I'm just ... how did the author come up with this story?? Another interesting thing is that the MC's name wasn't mentioned throughout the book (or maybe I missed it??) and her magical girl name wasn't mentioned either. I wonder if there's a particular reason for that.
If anyone's looking for a non-complicated, easy-to-understand fantasy; a book where there's no male characters taking part in the story; a unique book bringing up important issue in a unique way, then this is for you!! ;)
The main character is a 29 year old woman who's in a credit card debt and that leads her to depression. Before committing suicide, she is approached by a woman in a white dress, who is a clairvoyant magical girl named Ah Roa. She tells her she is meant to be a magical girl and should join her on a mission. All the magical girls gather to defeat a climate change.
I thought this is going to be a dark and heavy fantasy but actually it's a bit silly and not that complicated?? This novella touches on the subject of feminism and climate change issue, which is interesting while still contains some humor. There's also a hint of sapphic romance!! The thing is, because it's short, the MC and Roa's chemistry wasn't explored that much and the conflict wasn't that tense. But then I find the twist and the execution brilliant.
If anyone's looking for a non-complicated, easy-to-understand fantasy; a book where there's no male characters taking part in the story; a unique book bringing up important issue in a unique way, then this is for you!! ;)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Minor: Violence and Death of parent
Mel, Melatiku by Ken Terate
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
Setelah sebelumnya aku udah pernah baca novel Ken Terate yang judulnya Minoel dan terkesan oleh penulisannya, aku jadi tertarik baca buku ini. Isu yang diangkat sama, hubungan toksik dalam pacaran, dan tokohnya sama-sama remaja. Kali ini, Ken Terate menggambarkan sebuah hubungan yang berujung terjadinya revenge porn.
At first ngeliat penggambaran tokoh Axel, mantan Mel yang toksik ini udah kelihatan banget red flag-nya. Bahkan, aku kelewat kesel karena typing chat dia yang amburadul itu. Sahabatnya Mel, Tantri, udah ngingetin akan hal ini, tapi aku bisa ngerti sih, seorang cowok kayak gitu bisa sangat menipu. Bener, selama pacaran kelihatan sikap manipulatifnya dia. Kurasa kurang lebih mirip kayak sifatnya si Akang dari novel Minoel. Sama-sama suka ngasih silent treatment, terus self-victimizing biar ceweknya ngerasa kasihan sama dia, lalu ngancem kalo mau diputusin. Tapi bedanya kalau di novel ini, Mel nggak takut untuk stand up for herself ketika dia ngerasa diperlakukan nggak baik. Dia akhirnya bener-bener cut-off hubungannya.
Novel ini nggak cuma menggambarkan hubungan remaja, tapi juga hubungan si tokoh dengan keluarganya. Orang tua mel peduli banget sama dia, tapi Mel dan adiknya justru merasa tertekan dan terbebani oleh ekspektasi mereka. Mereka jadi nggak bebas melakukan apa yang mereka pengen lakukan.
Lagi-lagi, Ken Terate berhasil menggambarkan isu-isu penting yang terjadi di sekitar kita. Dinamika psikologis tokoh kurasa cukup relatable sama apa yang biasa dialami remaja menurut tugas perkembangan. Tapi menurutku gaya penulisannya di bawah ekspektasiku setelah baca Minoel :( Alur pascakonflik juga kurang tertata. Still, novel ini cocok dan penting untuk dibaca audiens remaja.
At first ngeliat penggambaran tokoh Axel, mantan Mel yang toksik ini udah kelihatan banget red flag-nya. Bahkan, aku kelewat kesel karena typing chat dia yang amburadul itu. Sahabatnya Mel, Tantri, udah ngingetin akan hal ini, tapi aku bisa ngerti sih, seorang cowok kayak gitu bisa sangat menipu. Bener, selama pacaran kelihatan sikap manipulatifnya dia. Kurasa kurang lebih mirip kayak sifatnya si Akang dari novel Minoel. Sama-sama suka ngasih silent treatment, terus self-victimizing biar ceweknya ngerasa kasihan sama dia, lalu ngancem kalo mau diputusin. Tapi bedanya kalau di novel ini, Mel nggak takut untuk stand up for herself ketika dia ngerasa diperlakukan nggak baik. Dia akhirnya bener-bener cut-off hubungannya.
Novel ini nggak cuma menggambarkan hubungan remaja, tapi juga hubungan si tokoh dengan keluarganya. Orang tua mel peduli banget sama dia, tapi Mel dan adiknya justru merasa tertekan dan terbebani oleh ekspektasi mereka. Mereka jadi nggak bebas melakukan apa yang mereka pengen lakukan.
Lagi-lagi, Ken Terate berhasil menggambarkan isu-isu penting yang terjadi di sekitar kita. Dinamika psikologis tokoh kurasa cukup relatable sama apa yang biasa dialami remaja menurut tugas perkembangan. Tapi menurutku gaya penulisannya di bawah ekspektasiku setelah baca Minoel :( Alur pascakonflik juga kurang tertata. Still, novel ini cocok dan penting untuk dibaca audiens remaja.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Bullying and Physical abuse
Minor: Death of parent
Daisy by Ayu Rianna
challenging
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I did not expect that plot twist, wow!
Oke, jadi buku ini adalah kisah romansa antara Daisy, seorang seniman makrame, dan Liam, seorang dokter hewan, yang keduanya sedang berusaha melepas masa lalu yang kelam. Daisy dengan hubungan toksik bersama mantan pacarnya, dan Liam dengan orang tuanya yang terlalu mengekang dan mendiktenya. Awal pertemuan mereka lucu deh, haha. Tapi dari situ mereka jadi sering interaksi dan makan bareng. Obrolan mereka renyah banget, apalagi kalo lewat chat.
Ceritanya cukup singkat, bisa dibaca sekali duduk. Konflik yang dibawa heavy tapi cukup padat. Bahasa yang digunakan juga simpel, jadi ga terkesan berat bacanya. Memang, dialognya terasa seperti terjemahan karena ya tokohnya ngobrol pakai bahasa Inggris :D Tapi untukku yang lebih suka baca narasi yang lebih deskriptif, diksi yang dipakai di sini terasa kurang membuatku merasa, wah!
Still, overall bukunya page-turning, sih.
Oke, jadi buku ini adalah kisah romansa antara Daisy, seorang seniman makrame, dan Liam, seorang dokter hewan, yang keduanya sedang berusaha melepas masa lalu yang kelam. Daisy dengan hubungan toksik bersama mantan pacarnya, dan Liam dengan orang tuanya yang terlalu mengekang dan mendiktenya. Awal pertemuan mereka lucu deh, haha. Tapi dari situ mereka jadi sering interaksi dan makan bareng. Obrolan mereka renyah banget, apalagi kalo lewat chat.
Ceritanya cukup singkat, bisa dibaca sekali duduk. Konflik yang dibawa heavy tapi cukup padat. Bahasa yang digunakan juga simpel, jadi ga terkesan berat bacanya. Memang, dialognya terasa seperti terjemahan karena ya tokohnya ngobrol pakai bahasa Inggris :D Tapi untukku yang lebih suka baca narasi yang lebih deskriptif, diksi yang dipakai di sini terasa kurang membuatku merasa, wah!
Still, overall bukunya page-turning, sih.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal death and Blood
Dear Wendy by Ann Zhao
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
im so excited because WOW finally another aroace book!! it's a story set in a wellesley college (i just learned this college actually exist irl wow) about two aroace students navigating their friendships—and the dear wanda-wendy accounts they're managing. if you're looking for aroace books or YA that doesn't center around romance, this is it!!
as an ace person i relate so much to so many things in this book i almost highlight the entire book. what i find the most reassuring is when sophie tells jo that it's okay to question a lot about your asexuality and/or aromanticity. i do also relate to the struggle of making and keeping friends. the fear of being trapped in a one-sided friendship, being left-out, friendship breakups, i feel like these happen a lot but not talked about enough.
i really like dear wendy's answers to the questions she gets. they're so well-structured. dear wanda though, is such a balance with their unserious answers. but then when the two starts arguing, i just don't feel the enemies tension (in entirely platonic way, don't get me wrong). i like it better when they stop the fight (of course??)
overall, this is an enjoyable read, though it's not something that i would give five stars. still, i love the humor and the relatable portrayal <3
as an ace person i relate so much to so many things in this book i almost highlight the entire book. what i find the most reassuring is when sophie tells jo that it's okay to question a lot about your asexuality and/or aromanticity. i do also relate to the struggle of making and keeping friends. the fear of being trapped in a one-sided friendship, being left-out, friendship breakups, i feel like these happen a lot but not talked about enough.
i really like dear wendy's answers to the questions she gets. they're so well-structured. dear wanda though, is such a balance with their unserious answers. but then when the two starts arguing, i just don't feel the enemies tension (in entirely platonic way, don't get me wrong). i like it better when they stop the fight (of course??)
overall, this is an enjoyable read, though it's not something that i would give five stars. still, i love the humor and the relatable portrayal <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Toxic relationship