Looking back at the titles I have read this year, It has been exciting because though I wasn’t so impressed, there are books I read that have made me feel whole and I’m so thankful because it has been a long reading year. Sometimes I feel bad for not reading enough and if you feel like this too, I will like to let you know that this does not make us any less of readers and it’s okay to be involved in other activities asides reading. I have discovered new genres and new writing styles which have really made me find myself and feel whole. There are times I would read books and feel like I’m in the right destination so I would love to say that’s what fulfilled me this year with reading . I’m entirely grateful for discovering new authors and letting them take me on a ride and just have fun , Bawl my eyes out , be so angry , be very shocked and these things made me fall in love with reading again. Initially, I had set a goal to read at least Twenty books because of my final exams but I don’t know how it escalated to Sixty and then I ended up reading Eighty books with a lot of rereads. This made me happy and there are so many other categories and genres of books I explored compared to the ones I usually read, so it made me really happy.
THE BOOKS I LOVED THIS YEAR
I will love to highlight these books and the impact they have made in my life . Reading these books during the period I read them brought a sense of belonging and sunshine to me so I will like to recommend them .
10. THE REMARRIED EMPRESS BY ALPHATART, HERELEE, SUMPUL
This is a fantasy Webtoon that centers on an Empress who had it all figured out until her husband decided to go through with a divorce because of another woman. Let me tell you to brace yourself for so much drama as this book has a lot of reasons to make you wonder if some of the characters are actually sane . It made me so angry and happy all at the same time and it’s such a breath of fresh air because you can tell you’ve been transported to the world of fiction. The best to recommend especially when you’re having a reading slump and need something colorful in another time frame to read and be merry. I read it on the Webtoon app.
9. KIM JI-YOUNG, BORN IN 1982 BY CHO NAM-JU
“What do you want from us ? The dumb girls are too dumb and the smart girls are too smart, and the average girls are too unexceptional?”
Kim Ji-Young born in 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo
This book had heavy themes and to be fair I love when a book can help me learn more about stuff or even discover new stuff that I’ve never heard before. I will tell you that the descriptions from this book really make it easy to read and it’s not something you go into, It’s something you have to be prepared for before going into it . So Where do I start with this book? It is about a woman who leaves her job to take care of her new born daughter and during this time frame we see through her eyes , the daily struggles that are pushed aside as nothing . She begins to exhibit very strange symptoms as if she is possessed to her husband and family. The heavy themes that pertain to patriarchy and misogyny are spelt out in this book and it allows us understand the downsides of Motherhood which happens to be brilliant. There is also a Korean drama adaptation with the main leads ; Jung Yu-Mi and Gong Yoo. It focuses on everyday sexism and experience of youth especially when it seems to be slipping through your fingers while drowned with so much more draining events that are supposed to be termed as happy events in the society. I loved how detailed the writing was in this book and I absolutely adored it .
8. I WANT TO DIE BUT I WANT TO EAT TTEOKBOKKI BY BAEK SEE-HEE (translated by Anton Hur)
“Am I really a warm person? I don’t think of myself as a good person, to be honest. I just don’t want my sensitivity and anxiety to be embarrassing to others, that’s all.”
“Naturally my shame was instilled early. As I grew up, I longed to be confident and to exude attitude. I didn’t want to be intimidated anymore. ”
“Most people have trouble living a life where their words match their actions. No matter how much they read and try to remember, they always return to their old patterns. I admire those who realise their past mistakes and prove how they’ve changed through their behaviour.”
I want to die but I want to eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-hee
I really enjoyed this part memoir & part therapy session book. There was so much I highlighted from it because I could relate so well to it. Depression is a main theme in this book and reading it helps explore different compartments into the head of someone using altruism to describe the feelings or way of the heart. Now this book is in form of a therapy session so I would say it might not be the normal format but it’s honestly so beautiful and I will say I learned a lot from it. The journey through depression and quest for self worth and learning to accept things the way they are but actively looking for better solutions can be an insight to the book. I really enjoyed this one. There was a sense of belonging I felt as I read the book that I don’t think I’ve felt in a while.
7. CURSED BUNNY BY BORA CHUNG (translated by Anton Hur)
“… If I could make one wish
Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung
I want to be just a little bit happier. If I’m too happy
I will miss the sadness”
I loved this book so much and enjoyed the collection of so many horror stories and the way they captivated me from the very beginning to the end. The creepy stories made me soo uncomfortable but then that’s the beauty of it . The style of writing is so easy that it makes it warming to read with ease. The stories were so different and weird it made me long for more. I will always recommend it. And I genuinely love to talk about the stories whenever and however I can.
6. A BUSINESS PROPOSAL (THE OFFICE BLIND DATE) BY PERILLA, NARAK, HAEHWA, GUAVA FARM
This had me kicking my feet in the air squealing with joy. For the lovers of Business proposal k-drama this is where it was adapted from and so much more drama from here. It is a romantic comedy. I adored the characters especially the main leads Hari and Taemu and the second leads too. The storyline, the love story, everything was so so fluffy and I needed to read it. Infact I keep rereading because some scenes are so lovely. The last volume is my Favorite as it has the happy ever after which just makes me so happy. I am obsessed with the cheesy trope of Rich Office CEO meets girl who works in the company through a very awkward or funny situation and falls in love. I eat the trope up everytime and can’t get enough of it. The drama, the angst and everything will bring so much warmth to you. I recommend.
5. SWEAT AND SOAP BY KINTETSU YAMADA
This is a slice of life and romantic comedy manga series that is very very much perky and wholesome. Firstly I’ll inform you that this is an adult romance book so that should be enough warning. I loved that their relationship was very mature and it bloomed into something so beautiful. This is my favorite volume and it’s so lovely. The co-workers and friends with family being so supportive. In a way It reminds me of “Love is hard for an Otaku”. Starting this I kind of felt really weird because it started off soo In my face with the plot. I also love how it explores themes too and I’d recommend it anytime especially when you want to read about romance that is patient with so much plot.
4. LIFE CEREMONY BY SAYAKA MURATA (translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori)
“Ever since I was little, I’ve lied about myself in order to be loved. Being starved of affection gradually killed the existence of my true self. Whoever I was with, I tried to gain affection by playing a fictitious character. But on the inside, the child me was always crying.”
“What people eat is part of their own culture. It’s the culmination of their own unique personal life experiences, and it’s wrong to force it on other people.”
Life ceremony by Sayaka Murata
A collection of twelve horror stories which takes place in the future or an alternate world as you would interpret it in the way you want. Very strange and there’s a way it talks about intimacy which is very out of the norms of everyday society. I enjoyed the stories so much and the writing is so easy that it leaves a beautiful taste in your mouth. They are witty stories that have so much messages to pass. Also I love that this book explores very out of the ordinary, bizarre topics that we don’t usually talk about or even say out loud. It is a collection of stories with a mundane plot and very extra characters. I recommend.
3. EARTHLINGS BY SAYAKA MURATA (Translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori)
I enjoyed this book so much and it makes no sense how I loved it! The storyline almost confused me but when you get immersed, It is intoxicating, disgusting, tappalling and very interesting. I’d always recommend.
2. BOOK LOVERS BY EMILY HENRY
“I love you Nora” he says when we pull apart a few inches to breathe. “I think I love everything about you.”
“That’s the thing about women. There’s no good way to be one. Wear your emotions on your sleeve and you’re hysterical. Keep them tucked away where your boyfriend doesn’t have to tend to them and you’re a heartless bitch.”
Book lovers by Emily Henry
This book is made for the first daughter’s who love to live aesthetically pleasing lives and wonder how to navigate life in our adulthood. I felt so seen with this book and the romance made me swoon so much. I love how this still tackles sexism in every way and toxic themes. I was transported into the world of Nora and Charlie. A breath of fresh air. The words on paper brought to life and very easy going characters with a straightforward plot. I travelled through this book! I Enjoyed it so much and asides from the fact that I read this solely because I loved the title, it’s such a good book. Very romantic and made for hopeless romantics like me.
1. TOMORROW I BECOME A WOMAN BY AIWANOSE ODAFE
“She planned to never marry. ‘I don’t see how it benefits women in any way,’ she’d said one holiday as we relaxed in the garden. ‘You leave the comfort of your father’s house for a man; you give everything, sacrifice yourself, your ambitions, put your body through the pain of childbirth and he doesn’t appreciate it. What’s the point? We’ve been brainwashed to want it more when they benefit from it the most.”
Tomorrow I become a woman by Aiwanose Odafen
I loved everything about this book. I actually read it at the right time I am sure. Books that allow me travel back in time and live with the characters , explore the culture and feel as they felt have my heart. At times I wanted to break the main characters head because she actually didn’t have sense and I don’t know if it was just her being foolish on purpose or brainwashed from days where she was younger. The amount of research to be able to deliver this beautiful book has stunned me. It’s amazing and will take you on a very bumpy ride. There are times I wanted to enter it and give some people a hot slap. It will most likely enrage you but it’s worth every emotion.
MOMENTS FROM PINTEREST PINS
I created some pins on Pinterest after being inspired by Library of Tessa. Her books as movie posters and this is up on my Pinterest board.
This scene from Smart Money woman series reminded me of this book so much and I just had to do it. There’s more on this book in my Previous post
This one is my favorite and I’m obsessed with it because it brings the feels and reminds me of the moments I spent with the book.
This one is the best so far and I think it captures what I always imagine as some scenes in the book. It’s gotten from an old nollywood movie scene and the reaction is telling as what Obianuju would go through and still make excuses for Chigozie. Another reason to read and find out the context.
These posters should have convinced you why you need to read these books.
SPECIAL MENTIONS
This category is dedicated to the books that made me happy regardless. They opened chapters in my life and made me fall in love with new genres and even styles of writing.
HER BODY AND OTHER PARTIES BY CARMEN MARIA MACHADO; This was a ride! A wild ride.
In fact this actually introduced me to the beauty of collection of short stories that have so much meaning using fiction to pass messages with heavy themes.
THINGS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE SINCE WE LAST SPOKE BY ERIC LAROCCA; Now, I don’t think I’ve seen self sabotage and destruction through love as the medium this bad till I read this. It’s almost as if it scared me but the fear made me keep going to reach final destination. The title is literally a trigger warning.
THE SEX LIVES OF AFRICAN WOMEN BY NANA DARKOA SEKIYAMAH; Well, what can I say? This book was brilliant. There were times where I’d say to myself oh why does this sound like me? It’s a collection of stories on the sex lives of African women and how this has reflects in their daily lives as women in the African society.
THE HAIRDRESSER OF HARARE BY TENDAI HUCHU is a bonus recommendation because I finished the book in one sitting and the main lead had questionable qualities. It is an amazing book and I loved that the work described in the book and the way the sentences made it so easy without stress, the life of the main character can be explored and it takes off really well in our imagination.
I recommend these books this year because they have been a source of comfort for me. I’ll say this in a way where I will describe it as me reading stories that make me uncomfortable but very intrigued. It’s not fluffy well except for book lovers which is a stand alone romance that I absolutely love. The rest of these books have opened layers in me that I didn’t know existed. I would say rage, disgust and anger but these are emotions we’re all used to. I will say it reminds me of a non existent color. I’ve fallen in love with mundane stories that pop collie because of how disturbing and chaotic it can be. The characters are not standing for justice and uprightness they are characters that just exist. The ones that can almost mirror reality only that it’s fiction. Stories that deal with word play and a way of trying to use myths or even reality to plaster in me sanity that I’ve longed for. These books most likely explore patriarchy and give room to dig out the root cause of it. Love through these books surpass the levels I can think of! It’s irrational and selfish.
A form of empowerment too so I’d say they are stories needed to be read because they are exceptional and I enjoyed them.
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