#FinishedReading ‘Go ahead, Secret Seven’ by Enid Blyton.

Another mystery solved including an unusual occurrence with Scamper the dog being temporarily the seventh member of the Secret Seven.

Finally… I finished 硝子の塔の殺人 by 知念実希人 (Chinen Mikito).
I think I know exactly how to sum up my experience with this book: I loved the concept, but I did not enjoy reading it.
I liked the homage to the honkaku mystery, and it was fun to go through all the tropes of detective fiction through this book, but it didn’t make for a very compelling story in my opinion.

Anyway, it’s done now, first book in Japanese finished this year! ✨

And with this, I’m at one book finished in each of my three target languages in February! It’s actually a rare occurrence.
#FinishedReading

#FinishedReading ‘The Seaside Family’ by Enid Blyton (from ‘The Family Series’).

Oh I do so enjoy the simplicity and gentleness of ‘The Family Series’. Still makes me want to live in a caravan too.

#FinishedReading ‘Cheer up love: Adventues in depression with the crab of hate’ by Susan Calman.

And interesting insight to depression and anxiety, told in her familiar comedic voice.

Finished 異人山：不歸之人 by 高雲章 (Kao Yunchang), it was so so good! The book is actually composed of a short story and a novel, both featuring the same protagonists. The novel is set in a remote village that was first founded by Japanese engineers and is now home to people who all have their reasons to settle in such an isolated place.

I loved how we learn about the life of the community there, and the past of some characters. But the novel is also an excellent mystery, so many things and dark secrets are revealed at the end   !
#FinishedReading #TaiwaneseLiterature

I finished 그날, 서울에서는 무슨 일이, a collection of four short stories by different authors with the common theme of Seoul.

I loved this collection so much! All 4 short stories were great, but the first one by 정명섭 was my favourite. I also really loved the second one, by 최하나, which tackles the problem of urban renewal and the impact on people living in targeted areas.
The last one was written *in Korean* by American essayist Colin Marshall, which is really impressive!
#FinishedReading #KoreanLiterature

#FinishedReading ‘Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow’ by Gabrielle Zevin.

A really enjoyable read with a long timeline (which I enjoy too). I can see why it was a best seller.

…Plus, finishing a decent length book in 20 days?!? What a revelation (reminder) reading everyday is. Love it.

I finished 403小組，警隊出動！by 顏瑜 (Yen Yu). I loved this book so much, the plot and characters are great, and the novel gives really good insights into daily police work while exposing a lot of issues inherent to the system.

Yen Yu’s other police novels are all on my list   

#FinishedReading #TaiwaneseLiterature

Always enjoy picking up a book I know nothing about and walk away having really enjoyed it! Such was the case with this weekend's romp in Sheridan Le Fanu's 1872 novel 'Carmilla'. Touted as 'the story that inspired Dracula', it sees the narrator, a young woman, seduced by a beautiful woman her age who's not all she appears to be. Well written, engaging and a treat to read.

#books #bookstodon #finishedreading #classics #Gothic #vampires #Dracula

#FinishedReading ‘Democracy : eleven writers and leaders on what it is - and why it matters’.

Despite this being a very short book of essays/articles/poems/writings - I found it largely inaccessible. Perhaps I’m too tired at night, perhaps the world & democracy is too hard to think about right now.