Books Read in May 2022!

Posted On May 31, 2022

Hi Readers! May was slow for me reading wise. I only read 6 Books across 2145 Pages. The workload was the same, but in addition to it I also had to study for a certification. So, getting back into that ‘studying groove’ after 5 years took some time. But then soon it was like riding a bike. So, I have consciously been reading the study material and not fiction books. I was hoping to finish The Huntress this month, but I decided to keep it on hold because of sheer lack of time. Anyway, have a look at the books I read, loved & hated in May!

~~FICTION NOVELS~~

~~THE LADY KILLER by MASAKO TOGAWA~~

I had quite a problem reading this book. The standard for Japanese murder mysteries was set high for me because of Seishi Yokomizo. The Lady Killer did not have any impressionable characters. The story itself is quite average. There is only one interesting thing, which read in 2022 doesn’t make up for much. The ending was a bit different, but the murderer was still one of the top suspects you could imagine. I rated The Lady Killer by Masako Togawa at 3.5/5 stars.

Check out the full review here!

~~THE CAT WHO SAVED THE BOOKS by SOSUKE NATSUKAWA~~

Before I picked up The Cat Who Saved the Books, I thought it would be a feel-good comfort book about book lovers or something with action involving a cat. But, it turned out to be quite sage. In its own way, the book shares valuable lessons about taking care of books. It will make you question your own reading habits, but in the best possible way. It is not a guilt-trip. It will make you broaden your reading because you will want to. It will make you read more diversely because you will want to. In its subtle naivety, it achieves something truly remarkable. I have rated The Cat Who Saved the Book by Sosuke Natsukawa at 4/5 stars!

Check out the full review here!

~~A FINE BALANCE by ROHINTON MISTRY~~

I have so many thoughts on this book, and yet none of them have connected well enough for me to write a review about it. I think I will soon write a post on why people should read this book. This book casts light on multiple things that go on in poor villages & rich cities of India. From social class to casteism to migration of people to the city for jobs to themes of parenthood to how time changes people. It is a lot to unload over 600 pages but Mistry has done it with subtle beauty & talent. I have rated A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry at 4.5/5 stars!

~~STATION ELEVEN by EMILY ST. JOHN MANDEL~~

This book about how the entire civilization is wiped out because of a pandemic was depressing to read right after Covid. But, being published in 2014, you can’t really blame the author. I somehow got through it. I did not enjoy anything in this book. The concept of Travelling Symphony felt a bit idiotic to me. The Museum of Civilization felt a bit too weird. A whole bunch of people surviving on that one airport along with Frank was too unbelievable. Somehow I finished the book. I would not recommend this book to anyone at this time. Maybe it would be a little bit interesting a decade from now. I have rated Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel at 2/5 stars. I will write a review on this one soon!

~~GRAPHIC NOVELS~~

~~PESEPOLIS by MARJANE SATRAPI~~

My only purpose of reading these two volumes of Persepolis was to add the number of books read for this month. But, I am glad I picked these books. Now, I have a new found love for graphic novels, and will probably read more of them in the future.

Persepolis is written by Marjane Satrapi about her own life in Tehran. It has a serious note throughout but it also balances it with humour now & again. We read about the lives of people in a war-ridden country, how difficult it is for them to choose between patriotism and survival. We see a lot of prejudice in respect of social class. We see what some countries term as moral and immoral. It was eye-opening to read this book and I will recommend it to everyone for the foreseeable future. I have rated both volume of Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi at 5/5 stars!

Check out the full review here!

~~MAY READING STATS~~

Until next time,