Dear Memory

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This book is an art!

Human Acts

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Wonderful book. Not the first book that I read from Han Kang, but definitely my fav so far. It is a heavy book, weights on conscience. It's a look back at 1980's Gwangju uprising. I am very much drawn to the different narrative, the prose style (a wonderful translation in English), and the depth it delved into.

The book has also a dooming gloomy color. The interpretation of colours are very well perceived in the book. As I read, I could feel the blue, the moon light color and so on. Interestingly, she has a book entitled White. A good book too!

Right now the world is also swirling with uprising and it is healing yet painful to read this powerful book. Korea is a country that bears so much, yet managed to reflect, and give way to the light and future.

Storm for the Living and the Dead

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Some of Bukowski's poems might seem destructive, vulgar or full of profanity. But I only quote a part of his poem here from "quit before the sun", it echoes --

we used to destroy, now we note
what remains:
us, them, we and the
machinery.
neatly bound like the snail and
the leaf.
what god awful gaff these rules
are!
who set this up?

... ...

what matters most is what happens to
somebody else, not
yourself.

... ...

the unexpected magic of a point
well made
can get you from fire to fire,
from hell to hell.

... ...

Right now in this crazy world, I do wish I can get a poem from you, Chinaski!

Emotional Blackmail

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Not a coaching style slogan shouting self help book, but real analysis from experienced psychologist. Wonderful book. Very helpful.

Then Come Back

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This is a wonderful book. It contains 20+ Neruda's "lost poems" in both English and Spanish. English versions are beautifully translated, and original Spanish I have no idea. The paper, feeling of the book are awesome, pages including Neruda's original handwriting, and also in-depth introduction and interpretation of each poem. Perfect for Neruda fans!

Lanny

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Absolutely a big fan ! Anyone who is looking for an inspiration, getting lost in thoughts, the past and the present, a twist between visual and words, this is a must-read. Somehow it is also the closest moment for me with English culture.

The Wave

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Neither from a literary perspective nor a plot plain portray perspective is the book a success. It failed to depict how students all got wild up by the Wave movement. From my point of view, it is dull, reluctant and not convincing.

Growing up from an authoritarian dictatorship, the book does fit some of the characteristics that can form an unstoppable movement that leading to disaster that lead by the mass. However, according to the real event, the feeling of "out of control" cannot be put into words, at least, not within the author's power range. As a result, I doubt for readers who never had any experience with WWII or dictatorship will be able to imagine the terror or be convinced.

Didn't watch the movie, but the book is a bit letting down. I also wonder if this is a must read in High School or Middle School reading list, will it make an unfortunate counter effect, and make the kids question -- oh, that's it? That's the "scary" Wave? -- I hope not.

I'll Be Gone in the Dark

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Yes it is very sad to read it because, it is a true crime and also, the author Michelle McNamara passed away in 2016. However, the killer was caught finally with the help from this book. Throughout the whole book, readers feel the passion and obsession Michelle has for this killer, for solving cold cases, and also her charisma is between the lines, among her talks with detectives. Her wonderful command with language brought me chills, cringe, I felt happy when detective referred her finding potential suspect "a good catch", and I felt disappointed when the DNA was not a match. It is such a pity that we lost her.

Patton Oswalt has written a wonderful afterword as well. As it promised, this would be one of the best true crime book.