Review: Kappa Quartet

Kappa Quartet by Daryl Qilin Yam
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book started off excellent, but after a while it became too intertwined and a bit too unrealistic for me. I loved this author's other book Shantih, Shantih, Shantih, where there were odd connections between the characters, but I was able to keep track of them. Here I wasn't, which I suspect was actually the point. Maybe if I were able to let go of trying to do so I would enjoy this much more. I may try to re-read it one day in a more passive way.


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Review: Act of Oblivion

Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A true work of historical fiction. As the author states, all the characters are real save one (the bounty hunter). All of the major events are real, and Harris essentially fills in the gaps.

This is great insight into the United States as a British colony during the mid 1600's, and how it was progressing in relation to the continent.

It was also, incidentally, a riveting story.


Highly recommend, like all Robert Harris's books.


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Review: MONKEY New Writing from Japan: Volume 5: CREATURES

MONKEY New Writing from Japan: Volume 5: CREATURES by Ted Goossen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another great collection of stories/poems/essays by some excellent authors.

The ones that stuck with me are:
Communications from a Wandering Planet, by Makoto Takayanagi, translated by Michael Emmerich.
Once again Sci-fi, a genre I don't usually enjoy, surprises me. This was excellent and thought provoking.

Cathedral, by Hiromi Kawakami, translated by Ted Goosen.
All of Hiromi Kawakami's books feel like they are choc full of symbolism that I can spot, but don't recognize. This was no exception. Another example of the "reality-adjacent" style. I loved it.

Bearman, by Natsuki Ikezawa, translated by Chris Corker.
A new author for me who, apparently, is from Hokkaido. A great story. I'll be looking for more by this author.

To Abuse a Monster, by Kaori Fujino, Translated by Laurel Taylor.
Another new author for me. And quite a disturbing, but at the same time entertaining, story.

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Review: In Praise of Shadows

In Praise of Shadows by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

More of an essay than anything. An interesting read into the aesthetics and tradition of Japan vs. modernity and Western encroachment.


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Review: The Time Traveler's Guide to Elizabethan England

The Time Traveler's Guide to Elizabethan England by Ian Mortimer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This reads like a Lonely planet guide to traveling to Elizabethan England, complete with which years to travel there in order to avoid the plague.

It also reads like a Travelogue in time. All in all a great and interesting read.




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Review: He Gave Me Roses of the Balkans

He Gave Me Roses of the Balkans by Jung Mi-Kyung
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found this more memorable than the stories in "My Son's Girlfriend". It was odd how the two voices switched from first person (for the man) and third (for the woman). Still, it was a thought-provoking short story.


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Review: L'angelo di Monaco

L'angelo di Monaco by Fabiano Massimi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Surprisingly interesting book. I can't remember why I had this in my wishlist; I believe it was because I saw the author speak at the Taipei book fair and he spoke about Umberto Eco, so I assumed the book would be in an Umberto Eco style. It isn't, but it was still a great murder mystery - historically accurate and tackling the real murder of Geli Raubal, Hitler's niece.


I look forward to reading more by the author.



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Review: Augustus: First Emperor of Rome

Augustus: First Emperor of Rome by Adrian Goldsworthy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Informative as ever, although my impression was that this was more about the times and surroundings of Augustus. Still, plenty of interesting information.


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Review: Una lezione di rivalsa (Il delegato di polizia Ezechiele Beretta Vol. 5)

Una lezione di rivalsa (Il delegato di polizia Ezechiele Beretta Vol. 5) by Dario Galimberti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is exactly what I'm looking for when I want a "giallo" from Ticino. A smart mystery, taking into account not only Lugano, and not only a historically accurate Lugano from the 1940s, but also real events that occurred during that time (explained in the final section). Complete with map and glossary of terms (in dialetto) and places.

I look forward to reading more by the author.


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Review: Order without Design: How Markets Shape Cities

Order without Design: How Markets Shape Cities by Alain Bertaud
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think I figured out what I want to do when I grow up.

Urban planning seems to be a fascinating endeavor, and during the course of this book I kept thinking about how to apply other economics lessons I learned back in my grad school days, from hydraulics (information economics) to game theory. I'm sure most of it would lead to nothing, but it would be fascinating nonetheless, especially considering the models that can be created for traffic flow, population increases/decreases, etc.

Regardless, I don't know enough to confirm or debunk anything the author says, although my impression was that he wanted to get people thinking about urban planning in a new way (using economics) than anything.


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