Review: The Story of Nine Asian Alphabets

The Story of Nine Asian Alphabets by Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An extremely interesting book with a lot of information I didn't know yet. Highly recommended. I do wish it discussed other languages, like Cambodian and Laotian scripts, etc. Although the various Indonesian scripts were a nice addition.  

And it could definitely use an editor. 

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Review: Upstream: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen

Upstream: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen by Dan Heath
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was quite a good book, but I'm not sure I'd classify it as a business book. I'm sure the concepts can be applied to business, but none of the examples are really from the business world (unless you count the author buying a new computer chord to keep in his bag for working out of coffee shops). 

The story about Roscoe Pickering is sort of heart breaking. He seriously argued drivers should be allowed to carry babies in their arms while driving. And he won. And babies died because of that. Shame he never had to pay for it. 

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Review: House of Idols

House of Idols by In-hun Choi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3 short stories: 

Summary (and spoilers!) below:

House of Idols, about a man, friend of a famous author. The narrator gets to know him, really likes him, and then finds out he is a mental patient. 

End of the Road, which is basically about a road (highway and railroad) during postwar Korea. GIs pass, a teacher, a prostitute, and a kid. 

Imprisoned. A story about a man, who we slowly find out is a mental patient. 

I enjoyed this. Probably a bit more than "The Square" by the same author. 

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Review: The Books of Jacob

The Books of Jacob by Olga Tokarczuk
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An epic dedicated to Jaboc Frank's messianic movement, of which I knew nothing about. It probably would have helped to be more familiar with it, or with Polish history, but as it was this seemed to be a very long novel that delves deep into the old religion Umberto Eco-style, but without the intrigue and excitement you find in his books. 

I was sort of looking forward to diving deep into this book and enjoying it, but I must admit that by the end I was just trying to get through it. 

Still, a lot of interesting information about a time, place and religious movement I was entirely unfamiliar with. 

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Review: Noi. Racconti a due voci tra Italia e Canton Ticino

Noi. Racconti a due voci tra Italia e Canton Ticino by Valentina Giuliani
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very interesting collection of essays, by an Italian working in Ticino and a Ticinese reporter on Italy. 

Growing up in Ticino with a mother from Florence, much of what they say hit home with me. I always find the most entertaining part to be the differences in expressions and words (Italians don't say Tipp-ex??). 

It's interesting how they tackle the same issues from different perspectives, both being able to move past the stereotypes and (generally) finding the good in the other side. 

I was curious as to why the Italian wrote in the third person about a fictitious (but presumably more or less autobiographical) character, while the Swiss person wrote essays in the first person. Still, it works quite well. 

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Review: The Old Capital

The Old Capital by Yasunari Kawabata
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another excellent story by Kawabata, showing a changing Japan and its people. I must say the ending seemed a bit abrupt and unsatisfying, but I'm sure that's due to my expectations. 

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Review: The Easy Life in Kamusari

The Easy Life in Kamusari by Shion Miura
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fun, easygoing novel that transports you to a small town in the mountains, with the people and customs. A lot of fun. 

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Review: Seven Days in the Art World

Seven Days in the Art World by Sarah Thornton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was recently at an event with a gallery owner and some artists, and this book was recommended to me by one of the eventgoers. I'm guessing because of how clueless I seemed (they were right). 

Regardless, this book actually discussed exactly what I had been curious about. The dynamics behind dealers, artists, galleries, curators, auctions, art shows, etc. I found it all very interesting, although some sections (Murakami and the Biennale) did seem to drag on a bit. 

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