Yellowface by R. F. Kuang: I have not read a book in a while where none of the characters were likeable. All of them were annoying in their own way and made me quite miserable. Being on vacation and stuck with this book was really not my concept of fun. If you are looking for a story to dive into and enjoy, this might not be it. If you want insight into the writing process and how the publishing industry affects writers, then go for it.
The Struggle for Taiwan by Sulmaan Wasif Khan: Traveling to Taiwan, I realized that I had absolutely no clue about the history of the country. So this book seemed like a good start, as I wanted to go a bit deeper than the guidebook. There was a lot of new information, especially concerning the history of Taiwan, and it explained the striking differences to mainland China. As a traveler, you never really scratch more than the surface, but on the other hand you also see things from a distance. Unfortunately, I found the contemporary part a bit confusing and decided that I need to read up on it myself. But I found the book a good start to getting to know Taiwan and its history.
We Begin At The End by Chris Whitaker: This is my second book by Chris Whitaker after ‘All the Colors of the Dark‘, which was a fantastic read. And ‘We Begin at the End’ also put a spell on me. Duchess Day Radley is a fascinating character and I loved her for her fierce loyalty. The things we do for love are the thread that connects everything in the book, although some of it is only revealed in the end. The story was a bit hard to follow in the beginning, as so many characters populated the scene. But eventually the picture became clearer, despite everyone hiding something. Another fantastic book by the author!
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans: We get to know Sybil, the correspondent, solely through her letters. There are also some letters addressed to her, but mostly the plot evolves through what she tells us. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the life of a septuagenarian woman who doesn’t like to leave her house. It turns out her life is a lot more interesting than I thought. What I also liked is that Syb and her best friend Rosalie mention their current readings. A really fine book with unexpected twists.
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