12 minute read
Book Recs
by Akita JET
Catherine Johnson
If there’s one thing I DON’T want when I’m reading this season, it’s to read about cold and dreary winters. We have enough of that here in Akita. What I DO want is to forget about my toes feeling like they’re frozen solid and escape to somewhere HOT (even if it’s just in my mind). So here are some “HOT” reads to tie you over in the final weeks of cold weather.
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Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro 303 pgs.
I’d say the sun is.. pretty hot.
This book is told through Klara’s perspective, an artificial friend or AF. Being a solar powered android, the sun is very important to her, so much so she thinks of it as an omnipotent entity. She spends her time talking with other AFs, the manager of the store, and learning about the world by looking out the shop window. Then, she’s brought home with Josie, a 14 year old girl with an illness. Klara then has to learn how to navigate her role as an AF to Josie through family, friendships, illness, and a dystopian world. I loved Klara’s observations when she was in the shop and felt for her as she was learning how to be a friend to Josie. I was absolutely hooked until the last few chapters, which is something that always happens to me when I read Ishiguro’s works. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about this dystopian world with Klara. There’s definitely darkness since this is a sci-fi/dystopia, but within that are some insightful musings about the world with descriptions of Klara basking in warm sunlight.
Nothing to see here by Kevin Wilson 288 pgs.
Spontaneous combustion sure sounds like it would be hot.
Not gonna lie, the premise of this book sounded ridiculous, but I ended up so attached to the characters that I had tears rolling down my face when I was finishing it. Lillian feels like her life has come to a dead-end, but then she receives a letter from Madison, her former roommate. Madison has just married an important politician and asks Lillian to be the caretaker of her two 10 year old step kids who, when stressed or excited… spontaneously combust… Lillian’s voice as a narrator is dark, humorous, honest, and becomes more emotional as she and the twins learn to trust each other. The story takes place over the course of one sweltering summer which combined with the high emotional tensions and spontaneous combustion should make you forget all about the stubborn piles of snow outside.
Dear Girls: Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets, & Advice for Living Your Best Life by Ali Wong 240 pgs.
You may have heard of Ali Wong from her comedy Netflix special Baby Cobra, her appearances in films like her leading role in Always Be My Maybe, OR as the voices of Bertie and Ali from Tuca and Bertie and Big Mouth respectively. If you loved any of those, you’ll likely love this book that Ali has written as a kind of life guide for her daughters when they’re adults. It’s funny, it’s messy, and she gets into the nitty gritty of dating, working in a male-dominated field, motherhood, childbirth, and her experience as an Asian American. Top tip, listen to the audiobook narrated by Ali herself to get the full experience of what this book has to offer. But also a warning, if descriptions of bodily functions (or dysfunctions) of any kind bother you, I recommend avoiding this one. Ali really knows how to paint a picture, but that’s what makes her work so shockingly real it’s hilarious.
Not gonna lie, the premise of this book sounded ridiculous, but I ended up so attached to the characters that I had tears rolling down my face when I was finishing it. Lillian feels like her life has come to a dead-end, but then she receives a letter from Madison, her former roommate. Madison has just married an important politician and asks Lillian to be the caretaker of her two 10 year old step kids who, when stressed or excited… spontaneously combust… Lillian’s voice as a narrator is dark, humorous, honest, and becomes more emotional as she and the twins learn to trust each other. The story takes place over the course of one sweltering summer which combined with the high emotional tensions and spontaneous combustion should make you forget all about the stubborn piles of snow outside.
You may have heard of Ali Wong from her comedy Netflix special Baby Cobra, her appearances in films like her leading role in Always Be My Maybe, OR as the voices of Bertie and Ali from Tuca and Bertie and Big Mouth respectively. If you loved any of those, you’ll likely love this book that Ali has written as a kind of life guide for her daughters when they’re adults. It’s funny, it’s messy, and she gets into the nitty gritty of dating, working in a male-dominated field, motherhood, childbirth, and her experience as an Asian American. Top tip, listen to the audiobook narrated by Ali herself to get the full experience of what this book has to offer. But also a warning, if descriptions of bodily functions (or dysfunctions) of any kind bother you, I recommend avoiding this one. Ali really knows how to paint a picture, but that’s what makes her work so shockingly
Littke Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng 338 pgs.
Literal fire, metaphorical fire, hot hot hot.
This book begins with a house on fire. Before we learn more, we are taken back to the near past to witness the events leading up to the fire. The Richardsons are an affluent family of six and long-time residents of Shaker Heights, a seemingly perfect suburb of Cleveland. Then there’s artist Mia Warren and her daughter Pearl who are frequently moving from place to place and are setting temporary roots in town. The mothers of the two families, Elena Richardson and Mia Warren, are drastically different in their backgrounds, beliefs, personalities, etc. As the relationships between these families unfold, the story slowly gets deeper into themes like social class, family dynamics, sexuality, poverty, immigration, privilege, and more. It’s an exploration of what makes a “good” mother and American suburbia. Loved the writing of this book so much I had to read Celeste Ng’s debut Everything I Never Told You which did not disappoint. (Btw, Little Fires Everywhere was adapted into an excellent show starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington if you want more FIRE.)
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See 384 pgs.
Nothing like travelling the world with a hot cup of tea to warm you up and a story to make you tear up.
The story follows Li-yan who is from a small village of Akha people in China and her daughter Haley who was adopted into a loving family in sunny California. Li-yan’s family has been farming tea for generations, closed off from most of the world until a stranger arrives. Doors are opened for Li-yan to receive an education, but things take a turn when she gets pregnant out of wedlock. When her baby is born, she leaves her at an orphanage with a teacake. Li-yan and Haley’s lives begin to parallel as they both search for meaning and each other through tea. I never would have thought that I could be so engrossed in a novel that has so much information and description of tea, but it is all so beautifully interwoven into the plot! Sipping tea and reading this emotional family saga centered around mothers and daughters got me through my second winter in Akita.
This book begins with a house on fire. Before we learn more, we are taken back to the near past to witness the events leading up to the fire. The Richardsons are an affluent family of six and long-time residents of Shaker Heights, a seemingly perfect suburb of Cleveland. Then there’s artist Mia Warren and her daughter Pearl who are frequently moving from place to place and are setting temporary roots in town. The mothers of the two families, Elena Richardson and Mia Warren, are drastically different in their backgrounds, beliefs, personalities, etc. As the relationships between these families unfold, the story slowly gets deeper into themes like social class, family dynamics, sexuality, poverty, immigration, privilege, and more. It’s an exploration of what makes a “good” mother and American suburbia. Loved the writing of this book so much I had to read Celeste Ng’s debut Everything I Never Told You which did not disappoint. (Btw, Little Fires Everywhere was adapted into an excellent show starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington if you want more FIRE.)
The story follows Li-yan who is from a small village of Akha people in China and her daughter Haley who was adopted into a loving family in sunny California. Li-yan’s family has been farming tea for generations, closed off from most of the world until a stranger arrives. Doors are opened for Li-yan to receive an education, but things take a turn when she gets pregnant out of wedlock. When her baby is born, she leaves her at an orphanage with a teacake. Li-yan and Haley’s lives begin to parallel as they both search for meaning and each other through tea. I never would have thought that I could be so engrossed in a novel that has so much information and description of tea, but it is all so beautifully interwoven into the plot! Sipping tea and reading this emotional family saga centered around mothers and daughters got me through my second winter in Akita.
Untamed by Glennon Doyle 333 pgs.
A memoir about relationships, discovering sexuality later in life, and learning to live for yourself instead of only for others.
Return Flight by Jennifer Huang 96 pgs.
Queer Asian American poet writing on history, trauma, healing, and folklore? Yes, please~
Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman 228 pgs.
Collection of poetry by the youngest US inaugural poet in history who you may know from her poem The Hill We Climb.
Slug and Other Stories by Megan Milks 240 pgs.
Tbh I liked this one because of the cover, and upon further research found out it’s a collection of short stories of varying genres covering gender and queer identity. Heck yeah.
Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman
Collection of poetry by the youngest US inaugural poet in history who you may know from her poem The Hill We Joan Is Okay by Weike Wang 212 pgs.
Women in STEM, ChineseAmerican identity, familial expectations, staying true to who you are, and more. Takes place right before and at the start of the pandemic.
For the Kiddos
We Are All Under One Wide Sky by Deborah Wiles 32 pgs.
Count from 1 to 10 and back again while exploring illustrations of children and their families around the world.
Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London 32 pgs.
It’s winter time and Froggy isn’t sleepy! He goes outside but Froggy’s mom yells for him, “FROGGY! You forgot something!”. Lots of clothing vocab in this one.
Olivia Helps with Christmas by Ian Falconer (58 pgs.)
A hilarious book even to a grinch like me. Olivia is SO EXCITED for Christmas! She does her best to help with some… creative, dare I even say chaotic, solutions.
Two for Me, One for You by Jörg Mühle (32 pgs.)
Bear finds three delicious mushrooms, Weasel cooks them, but… who should get more? How will they stop arguing over the third mushroom!?
Bye, Penguin by Seou Lee (40 pgs.)
Travel around the world with a penguin through colorful illustrations. Love books like this that don’t have words so the kids can make up their own story~
Bear finds three delicious mushrooms, Weasel cooks them, but… who should get more? How will
Travel around the world with a penguin through colorful illustrations. Love books like this that Happy reading everyone~ ...
Further Photo Credits
Pg. 29 Towada Illuminations Center bottom, Brooke Dalgleish, Glowing Tree.
Pg. 44 Top left, Brooke Dalgleish, Kosaka Illuminations. Top right, Brooke Dalgleish, Balcony scene.
Pg. 60-61 Bottom trimming, Brad Bowden, Snow Covered Forest
Pg. 69 Right side photo, Philip Vyas, Through The Glass
Pg. 75 Right side trimming, Brooke Dalgleish, Greenhouse Tree
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