Love can’t feed you by Cherry Lou Sy

“𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘳? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘳? 𝘞𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦?”

Can sooo relate to this being of the filipino diaspora myself, five stars!

The rest was okay, there’s no real plot here, just a girl arriving from the Philippines who seems confused about her heritage and her future. She takes some VERY wrong turns, and I don’t really agree with some of the plot or stylistic choices made by the author here, but I’ll take it.
Anything to hang out with a book that’s set in a world that feels like home.

“𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘰𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘣𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳.”

As a mestiza, I concur, we definitely feel like the world owes us, because our parents passed that on to us. They clung to our shoulders sitting like little devils ready to look down upon any filipino less fortunate with darker skin and wider noses. Our filipino parent’s basked in the glory of our being. We were told we could be models, celebrities; practically royalty for being “half”. That’s why my nickname is “princesa” in my family and I have the master bedroom in my parents house. Let me tell you, eating out of the palm of truth has a bitter aftertaste.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Martyr by Kaveh Akbar

“𝘼 𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙥𝙝 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙖𝙮 “𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨.” 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙖𝙮 “𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚.”

Just like a review, I couldn’t possibly tell you what this is, but it’s brilliantly executed, profound, moving and funny about our humanity and our individual parts in the collective.

I would say I’m far from a Cyrus, a Orkideh or any of the other characters here, and yet, I found myself in these pages. The bewilderment of living and dying must be commonplace because the desperate longing for “something” you can’t explain feels utterly familiar.

This is one of the most original books I’ve ever read, and yet its heavy topics feel so simple and light. My favorite book of 2024, bar none. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

All fours by Miranda July

I had to drag myself through this one if I’m being honest and I have to second R.F. Kuang’s review here – “truly i cannot relate but i am willing to believe someone, somewhere, thought this was really funny and meaningful!”

Some say it’s a mom book, that it’s silly, middle age, women going crazy type of thing. And I think it fit’s those reviews and at the same time it’s more than that. It’s also about an “unconventional” marriage of a sort, where the wife is bisexual, polyamory and open relationships. An exploration if we are meant to be monogamous maybe? It’s so far out of my wheelhouse that I really can’t say. But I got through it at least. But in all honesty, I could have DNF’ed it and it would have made no difference to me. I’m left with very little here.

If you’re a fan of Melissa Broder, I’m thinking this might be for you also. There are some graphic scenes where the walls of privacy are completely torn down which left me and my boundaries extremely uncomfortable. The only other author that has grossed me out in the same way is Broder, so I’m guessing their fandom ovelaps. ⭐⭐⭐

The Empusium by Olga Tokarczuk

I am not ashamed to admit this book felt too advanced for me, but I’ll try to gather my thoughts.

From what I’ve read I find that it’s based off a different book called “The magic mountain” by Thomas Mann.
Set right before the first world war is to begin, in a guesthouse for men, where they have come to be treated for tuberculosis. There’s an absence of women in the story, as the men gather and talk about their ideas and opinions on many topics, but mostly the topic turns to women and the mens mysogonistic view on them.
In the authors note at the end of the book, the author lists over 30 men that she’s paraphrased her mysogynistic views from, men we consider great thinkers, writers and poets from their time.
In 2024 their 1914 mysogony is startling and terrifyingly timely at the same time.

In the end I found it funny, seeing as it’s written and narrated by women, these men become very small. But was I very engaged or invested? Not really. Do I think Tokarczyk is a genious? Absolutely! ⭐⭐⭐

The message by Ta-Neihisi Coates

I saw an interview with the author on CBS morning where one of the host’s said that if you took away the name and the acclaim, his views on Israel/Palestine “would not be out of place in the backpack of an extremist”.

Coates defends and reiterates his stance of justice from an unbiased standpoint. He stated “I am offended by the idea of states built on ethocracy” and I just knew I had to read this book from the perspective of a person who has been there and seen it with their own eyes and dare to go against the mainstream opinions of the US media and society that supports Israel.

I commend Coates for this book, these reflections takes a lot of work, both professionally and spiritually.
We get to view apartheid through tree different articles from tree different places. While he views his surroundings as both impartial journalist and from his personal history and connection. Reporting from the ground I’m surprised people who have not lived and experienced what he has experienced talk badly about the message.
We can all form opinions from our own biases, what we read online, what we grew up with and what we’re told. But it will never be the same as seeing it with your own eyes, living it and being traumatized by it.
I think this book is brave. Period.

“𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨, 𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙮 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙗𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙧𝙚, 𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙜𝙪𝙣𝙨. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚, 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙞𝙧. 𝙄 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮, 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙤 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙄 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙄 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛, 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙩. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙖 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙧. 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙖 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙.”⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What does it feel like? by Sophie Kinsella

This book is impactful, and at the same time it feel unfinished.
Is this a goodbye? an explanation? or just a cathartic musing for the author?

Since she has gone out and said it is the most autobiographical work to date, I wish she hadn’t hid it behind a fictional character, but that’s her prerogative. It just makes me wonder so much more where the line goes between fact and fiction.
We’re left with many unanswered questions, but maybe that’s the point, that sometimes life doesn’t give you the answers.
I still enjoyed it, but I found it incomplete, but maybe she follows up with a continuations as her own story progresses…⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Third Gilmore girl by Kelly Bishop

There is a Gilmore girl in all of us ❤

I love that Bishop identified with Rory when she took on the role of Emily, but found it an opportunity to explore the side of the estranged grandparent. She did this beautifully.

But Kelly (Carole) Bishop is so much more. A dancer at heart, a stage performer, original chorus line actor (which won her a tony award!) and an all around pillar. I see her as the ultimate supporting actress. The kind that heightens the quality of everything she touches.

She comes off to me as a level headed dreamer, which almost feels like an oxymoron, but Bishop teaches us that it isn’t. There is a calmness to her that almost makes me feel soothed like everything is going to turn out alright. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Loud by Drew Afualo

Duck the patriarchy, but also duck the language we’ve created around it and Afualo’s stance in this book.

While I in many ways agree with Afualo, I found it exhausting to listen to. Full of trigger words with verses of “holding space, microaggressions, toxic internalized bias” with a chorus of “patriarchy, bigots, misogyny” repeated ad nauseum.

It started fine, with stories of what sounds like a beautiful childhood and a great family dynamic, but quickly went off track for me. And when you yell at half the population and demand to be heard and treated differently only to counter with “it’s not my job to educate you”, you lose me.

What I don’t like about the far far faaaar left rhetoric is the negative and aggressive stance that will cut the head off of anyone who dares to ask a question. It’s part of the problem of the growing polarization in America. (Or so it seems, looking at it from outside of America.)

I think that she has a powerful voice and if she directed it and used it to fight for more tangible causes I think she’d be a real asset. But solely fighting negativity with more negativity and ridicule feels counter productive to me.

She states that she wants to be a good ally to marginalized communities, but it’s been my experience that people don’t really enjoy being called marginalized and people will actually resist being given opportunities from that box. It feels like being pushed down instead of lifted up.

I hope to see her use her energy in a more productive way, because I definitely do find her energy admirable. This book long rant just isn’t productive or original I’m afraid. ⭐⭐