hannahgohya's reviews
106 reviews
Insomniac City: New York, Oliver, and Me by Bill Hayes
emotional
inspiring
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
5.0
undoubtedly one of the best reads i’ve had. this is a love story to New York, to the people of New York, to Oliver Sacks and to life. absolutely gorgeous. highly recommend.
Alone With You in the Ether by Olivie Blake
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
completely, utterly wrecked me. in the strangest, most ugly way, i found myself weeping in the middle of a coffeeshop.
this is a love story, intertwined with two characters that are flawed, beautiful and altogether mad. a reckless love that reminds us of what love can be like. at the same time, Blake writes gorgeously about math, philosophy and falling in love.
a really quick read that sucks you in within the first few paragraphs. a great break in between heavy reads and one that’ll definitely make you feel all the feels.
this is a love story, intertwined with two characters that are flawed, beautiful and altogether mad. a reckless love that reminds us of what love can be like. at the same time, Blake writes gorgeously about math, philosophy and falling in love.
a really quick read that sucks you in within the first few paragraphs. a great break in between heavy reads and one that’ll definitely make you feel all the feels.
Trust by Hernán Díaz
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
an ingenious title for a book that takes you on a ride of broken realities, through four different narratives. Diaz writes about a Wall Street tycoon - Benjamin Rask; glamorous, intimidating, the kind that sucks up all the air in the room. the book kicks off with Harold Vanner’s account of his experience with this man before we are all led to the different stories crafted around this man and his wife, Helen/Mildred.
immersive, strange and brilliantly weaved into the historical world where the 1929 stock market crash happened, this novel was a fantastic read despite the pace slowing down in the middle (especially at the third story).
other than exploring the reader’s self-deception, Trust also sweeps us into the marriage between Bevel and Mildred.
“For I’ve come to think one is truly married only when one is more committed to one’s vows than the person they refer to.”
despite the four different narratives, the common thread remains of the comforting yet odd relationship the couple had. sometimes presented as a sweet, quiet love, other times a narcissistic one, this added another dimension to the story that made this another one i couldn’t put down.
The Crane Wife by CJ Hauser
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Hauser writes about calling off her wedding, and everything else that comes after. navigating such a big decision, she writes beautifully about self-doubt, anxiety and heartbreak. i find myself relating to her even though i have yet needed to call off a wedding!
the essays are witty, emotional and poetic, a refreshing take on what can feel heavy sometimes.
definitely one of my favourites of the year, and a great read to recover from a reading slump.
the essays are witty, emotional and poetic, a refreshing take on what can feel heavy sometimes.
definitely one of my favourites of the year, and a great read to recover from a reading slump.
Eat a Peach by David Chang, Gabe Ulla
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
i loved this read so much. having watched David Chang throughout the years, i could almost hear his voice narrating this as i read it.
Chang recounts the behind the scenes of getting Momofuku up and running, the fall and rise of his mental health and stories of his endeavours outside of his restaurant empire. having always been someone that i admired in an industry that i deeply love, Chang’s stories have something special; poignant and utterly vulnerable from someone that has an on-screen personality that can come across brash.
he reminds me of the many chefs i’ve worked with and continues to inspire me with his take on life.
i especially loved the list of 33 at the end of the book and found a large part of that list applicable as life lessons, even if you are not planning to become a chef 🧑🍳
devoured this within a couple of days by reading every opportunity i had, i could not put it down (see frayed edges). for anyone that loves the industry or is hoping to read real life stories told in a raw, easy way, this is the one for you.
Chang recounts the behind the scenes of getting Momofuku up and running, the fall and rise of his mental health and stories of his endeavours outside of his restaurant empire. having always been someone that i admired in an industry that i deeply love, Chang’s stories have something special; poignant and utterly vulnerable from someone that has an on-screen personality that can come across brash.
he reminds me of the many chefs i’ve worked with and continues to inspire me with his take on life.
i especially loved the list of 33 at the end of the book and found a large part of that list applicable as life lessons, even if you are not planning to become a chef 🧑🍳
devoured this within a couple of days by reading every opportunity i had, i could not put it down (see frayed edges). for anyone that loves the industry or is hoping to read real life stories told in a raw, easy way, this is the one for you.
Happy Hour by Marlowe Granados
funny
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
the blurb at the back sums it up best: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow takes us on a dazzling imaginative quest as it examines the nature of identity, creativity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in place and above all, our need to connect to be loved and to love.
i devoured this book. i found myself stopping myself from turning the next page because i simply didn’t want the story to end. i fell in love with all the characters at some point in the book and also found myself annoyed by the same characters at other points in the book.
despite this not being a story on romantic love, it wrecked me to pieces as i related with each of the characters differently.
Gabrielle Zevin writes so beautifully in the most unexpected ways. the descriptions tugged at my heart strings and i was weeping for many parts of the book.
i echo what John Green has said. it is definitely one of the best books i’ve ever read.
i devoured this book. i found myself stopping myself from turning the next page because i simply didn’t want the story to end. i fell in love with all the characters at some point in the book and also found myself annoyed by the same characters at other points in the book.
despite this not being a story on romantic love, it wrecked me to pieces as i related with each of the characters differently.
Gabrielle Zevin writes so beautifully in the most unexpected ways. the descriptions tugged at my heart strings and i was weeping for many parts of the book.
i echo what John Green has said. it is definitely one of the best books i’ve ever read.
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
emotional
medium-paced
3.0
this was my first time reading a book that was mainly about alcoholism. peaked by my interest due to being a huge Friends fan, with Chandler being one of my favourite characters.
throughout the read, i struggled with the consistent undertone of narcissism and delusion. i kept finding myself going wtf??? as i was reading. knowing that i’m unable to fully grasp just how screwed up this illness can be, i kept giving him the benefit of the doubt that perhaps this was caused by the illness.
by the end of the book, i found myself feeling disgusted by the blatant objectification and overall cockiness of the writer.
the format of the story jumped back and forth between past and present, i found that this didn’t add to the storytelling but in fact made it confusing sometimes. it was intriguing to see how Chandler and Matthew merged in terms of joke inspirations and more. pretty interesting to also be able to identify portions of the show itself that he performed intoxicated. for all the Chandler fans, i’m sure it’ll bring a new understanding to the character 🤓
covering this specific addiction in such detail, it opened up my eyes to the realities of alcoholism as a disease. knowing that it came from a personal place, i felt sad for him. i will be interested to read more about the disease but i’m not sure about another memoir.
throughout the read, i struggled with the consistent undertone of narcissism and delusion. i kept finding myself going wtf??? as i was reading. knowing that i’m unable to fully grasp just how screwed up this illness can be, i kept giving him the benefit of the doubt that perhaps this was caused by the illness.
by the end of the book, i found myself feeling disgusted by the blatant objectification and overall cockiness of the writer.
the format of the story jumped back and forth between past and present, i found that this didn’t add to the storytelling but in fact made it confusing sometimes. it was intriguing to see how Chandler and Matthew merged in terms of joke inspirations and more. pretty interesting to also be able to identify portions of the show itself that he performed intoxicated. for all the Chandler fans, i’m sure it’ll bring a new understanding to the character 🤓
covering this specific addiction in such detail, it opened up my eyes to the realities of alcoholism as a disease. knowing that it came from a personal place, i felt sad for him. i will be interested to read more about the disease but i’m not sure about another memoir.
We Had to Remove This Post by Hanna Bervoets
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
a fast paced read about being a content monitor for a social media giant.
Hanna Bervoet's writing is gripping, raw and pulls you in quickly i finished this within one seating and really enjoyed it. the story is exciting, emotional and kinda gory.
it unpacks the trauma that comes from seeing some disgusting, violent imagery due to the job these characters have chosen. it uses a different lens on social media and caused me to reflect on my usage of the existing platforms.
a quick read and one that is easy to get through (and a little forgettable other than some gross imagery described).
Hanna Bervoet's writing is gripping, raw and pulls you in quickly i finished this within one seating and really enjoyed it. the story is exciting, emotional and kinda gory.
it unpacks the trauma that comes from seeing some disgusting, violent imagery due to the job these characters have chosen. it uses a different lens on social media and caused me to reflect on my usage of the existing platforms.
a quick read and one that is easy to get through (and a little forgettable other than some gross imagery described).
I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-hee
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
a book about Baek Sehee, her inner thoughts and the conversations she has with her therapist. suffering from dysthymia, a mild persistent depression, Baek sees her therapist regularly and allows us a peek into some of the difficult back-and-forths they have. she is vulnerable, honest and sometimes humorous.
she writes beautifully, with a refreshing clarity of thought and poetic analogies for her struggles. i deeply related to some of the problems she encounters and felt comforted by the suggestions provided by her therapist; albeit sounding simple, when it can actually be really tough to execute sometimes.
a comforting book, one that i will hold onto and will want to go back to read in my dark times, definitely worth a read. (Anton did a fantastic job translating it.)
she writes beautifully, with a refreshing clarity of thought and poetic analogies for her struggles. i deeply related to some of the problems she encounters and felt comforted by the suggestions provided by her therapist; albeit sounding simple, when it can actually be really tough to execute sometimes.
a comforting book, one that i will hold onto and will want to go back to read in my dark times, definitely worth a read. (Anton did a fantastic job translating it.)