Wander 〰
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Thirst
The caravan slows to a languid pace. Like a mirage, time disappears. Appears. Disappears again. Contrition hangs heavy on his neck He should have known better. He missed being caressed by the ocean’s arms Preternatural elements Gently guiding the dinghy on open waters. He clings to the delicious tonic like lichen latched on a…
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Lessons on Being an Entrepreneur (for a hot minute)
Hello Earthlings! Life is an experiment. This is the story of my (failed) entrepreneurial experiment. After being introduced to my mom’s friend, a successful textile manufacturer in China, I was convinced that I should start my own business. I had a BRILLIANT idea (insert sarcasm). Masks have become a mandatory accessory thanks to the pandemic.…
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Tumour
The benign tumour sidles over the ledge, peers down Billowing gusts of oxygen, an archipelago of organs, Thrashing tides of emotion on the cellular coasts Is it consternation or frisson? Histrionics or loneliness? Resignation or acceptance? The marauder quivers cowardly and retreats. Now is not the time. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, he’ll make the leap. Benign – not harmful;…
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American Dirt – Jeanine Cummins
Rating: 4.1/5 The bad press around the portrayal of Mexican migrants lowered my score HOWEVER the storytelling is off the c(h)arts (referencing the drug cartels…ha ha…will stop joking about drugs now), especially the beginning of the book. I still remember the scene down to the blood on the bathroom wall tile. The book slowed in pace…
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On the Shortness of Life – Seneca
Rating: 4.9/5 WELL, SHIT! Bowing down to this philosopher king! The text is divided into three sections. First, Seneca addresses the shortness of life. Second, he provides guidance to his mother on how to grieve his death (only Seneca would do this!!). Last, he provides counsel on the tranquility of the mind. Seneca’s teachings are timeless…
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Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro
Rating: 3.5/5 A dystopian tale of three friends that grow up in the obscure town of Hailsham where children are predestined to become donors and carers. Donor = organ donor; carer = carer for the organ donors :s It gets WEIRD. The book felt like one giant hushed secret that gradually unfurled to the end. It…
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The Epidemic of Distraction
Hello Earthlings! I’m sure you’re sick of hearing about another widespread illness infecting us all but there’s one more that we’ve been openly welcoming for decades…DISTRACTION. Everything and everyone compete for the finite supply of attention in our minds. The failure is not in the technologies we use but in how we choose and allow…
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The (Honest) Truth about Dishonesty – Dan Ariely
Rating: 2.3/5 Quite disappointed because Ariely was a recommended author but this book fell flat in scope, insight, and research. Most of the social experiments in the book are performed in academic settings with students. Ariely does not venture further with his research to extrapolate his findings to real life scenarios and I found this quite…
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Pachinko – Min Jin Lee
Rating: 4.2/5 A bitter tale trailing the lives of female protagonists through four generations in 20th century Korea and Japan. The author weaves the complex intersections of culture, family, class, and desire against the backdrop of colonial wars and political unrest. The narrative is beautifully written although the chapter endings were occasionally too abrupt. Like a melancholic…
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That Will Never Work – Mark Randolph
Rating: 2.5/5 Randolph retells the origin story of Netflix from fledgling mail-in DVD business to what is now one of the largest online streaming services in the world. The book was lacking in the development of how the company was built. Instead, Randolph spent too much time on irrelevant personal details that detracted from the storyline…
Since you’re here,
you might as well…