Books I'm reading: What you are looking for is in the library - Michiko Aoyama

Book #3 is a Japanese short story anthology. 

I got this book at the arirport; it was an easy buy. I've read a few of these and I love these so, so much. 

All of them has been well done, including this one! 

The anchor of the book is a library, located in a community center; 

with a wise librarian & friendly staff. 

I love how we start each story in the perspective & world of new characters each time. 

As 'all road leads to Rome', we'll find that there are different paths that brings them to the community center & library. 

I also love each character portrayed here, with different life questions that I think are so relatable to many people. And that leads to SO many beautiful 'proverbs' embedded in their dialogues. Each story unfolds gently to give these proverbs a huge resonance.

And that, I think, is due to the fact that the 'solution' never comes from that wise librarian.
She is just a catalyst; she sends people towards a direction.
Then, each character would encounter their own revelation - something they realize or hear from their support system. 

That keeps each story brilliantly fresh. 

The length of each story is just appropriate. HAHA

Which means you can read it in one sitting, or pick it back up at a later time, but it's not draggy. It is a perfect little escape to a small town in Japan during the busiest time of your own life. 

9/10 from me! 

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Books I'm reading: The Bomber Mafia - Malcolm Gladwell

 For book #2 - this January, I also finished The Bomber Mafia.

Let me preface this by saying, I'm a sucker for anything Malcolm Gladwell. 

I've read Outliers, the Tipping Point, Revenge of the Tipping Point, Talking to Strangers, 
and so I'm very excited to read this next one!

The book tells the beginning of the US Air Force, the beginning of air-warfare,
focusing on 2 people: Haywood Hansell & Curtis Lemay, 
set before & during World War 2 - in US, Europe, then Japan. 

He dissects the story of the different approaches people have to win the war; the different worldviews or mindsets and how it shapes strategies. It ends by nudging us to consider the difference between winning a battle and winning a war - and which approach would do which. 

I think this book is very much written in the style of all his previous books - yet with one distinction: 
where the other books usually explore a 'topic' & thus presents different examples of that topic that can come up in different parts of the world or different aspects of life, 

this one focus on this one storyline, one moment, one 'world', which makes it a little easier to follow. 

And this is a good example of how storytelling is making other people understand your obsession - which a sign of a skilled storyteller! 

The way he guides us into the story, jump in and out of the timeline to give us context, is always very clear, purposeful, and masterfully done. 

Another great read! 

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Books I'm reading: So Late in the Day - Claire Keegan

 This is book #1 I finished in 2026! 

HAHA it's a bit of a cheat because turns out, this is a novelette with 'only' 47 pages.
That's super easy for me to finish in 1 day. 

The story was quite unexpected. It follows a simple narration from the point of view of Cathal.
We learn more about him as we progress through the book. 

I agree with the commendations.
In each paragraphs, Claire Keegan crafted a rich narrative. 

I won't spoil too much, so SKIP THIS if you don't want spoilers, 
but to my future self as I try to remember this book, I will say: 
I've been thinking about 'unreliable narrator' and what a timing I come across this book. 

And to be honest, as I was reading, I keep trying to find the meaning of the title.
It wasn't a turn of phrase I commonly use, so I was wondering if I should Google it to understand it...
Turns out - & what made the book so impactful for me - it will be revealed at the very end. 

AH! Masterful! 

The only thing I have to say about this is - I bought it at a very expensive price. The same price as a 200-page book. So that set a different expectation at first - I didn't even expect the 'book' to be that short. 

But what a 47-page experience. Would recommend for a quick recharge. 

Book #1 - done! 

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