HELLBOUND VOL 1 and 2 by YEON SANG-HO, illustrated by CHOI GYU-SEOK, translated from the Korean by DANNY LIM
This two-part manhwa is set in Korea, where certain people are visited by a supernatural figure that tells they are bound for hell and how much time they have left. And when that time ticks down these terrifying monsters appear out of nowhere and end your life. We learn that these chosen people are ones who have committed crimes of some sort. So what happens is that religious groups (some are more like cults) start preaching that this is a sign from God and that everyone needs to repent for their sins. And they begin to take things into their own hands…
So these hellish creatures, scary as they may be, aren’t the real monsters of this story. The real monsters are those walking the streets, driving their cars, eating and drinking, living and breathing human beings. It’s about how humans react and behave in the midst of this horror.
HELLBOUND is also a 6-ep tv series on Netflix, that has been renewed for a second season. I haven’t watched the show yet though. And to be honest, I may not watch it now, knowing what the premise is. I’m happy to read horror but I prefer my tv to be less intense and more cheerful.
Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Sharlene from Real Life Reading that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.
Happy Wednesday! What did you get from your library this week?
The Hookup Plan by Farrah Rochon, pictured on top of a crochet blanket that I’m currrently working on (pattern: the Chevronnie Blanket by Cypress Textiles).
I didn’t realize this was book 3 in Rochon’s The Boyfriend Project until I finished the book. Luckily it’s the kind of series which kinda reads like a standalone. It’s connected through three women who become best friends after they all are duped by the same man. Of course it would make more sense to start with the first book, but well, now I know and I will definitely be reading The Boyfriend Project and The Dating Playbook because this third book was a really fun read.
It’s an enemies to lovers theme that starts at a high school reunion. Pediatric surgeon London Kelley meets her high school arch-nemesis Drew Sullivan. And they end up in bed.
It turns out that Drew is in Austin as his company is auditing the hospital that London works at. And their one night together becomes a “mutually satisfying sexual arrangement”. The man she saw as her enemy maybe isn’t who she thought he was. Can this turn into something more?
Fun chemistry and great banter between the two main characters. Both are very likeable too. It’s readable and not too over the top. A very satisfying romance read.
Hey it’s May already. How did that happen? Weirdly, after a rather hot week, today it’s cloudy and chilly, and we may even see some rain this week.
Some things last week:
So last Monday was my younger son’s 10th birthday, and I had posted about his birthday party over that weekend. We also had our own little celebration at home after school. I made a chocolate cheesecake – the first time making a cheesecake! We are not big on cheesecake, except for the 10yo, who loves cheesecake. So we occasionally may pick up a slice of cheesecake from Whole Foods. But I’ve never tried to make one before. I do however, put my trust into King Arthur’s recipes, and this one was easy enough, although the cake did crack a bit as it cooled in the oven. It did taste delicious though, even my older son, who’s always a “I don’t like cheesecake” person, enjoyed it.
We had a busy weekend, the kids had volleyball practice, and also the annual piano recital, which was held in-person for the first time in four years. The music school has previously done online ones, and that’s not the same. The recital was held in a nearby church and the kids did great.
My mum had been visiting us from Singapore since earlier this month. She flew back home last night. It was really great to have her stay with us for about a month. She loves Korean food so we made sure to take her out for some Korean food (although there’s great Korean food in Singapore too, my dad doesn’t like to eat Korean food as much). We had seafood kalguksu (thick noodles), vegetable pancakes, bibimbap and more. And of course the side dishes or banchan. Because we recently have been eating more of what they called Korean fusion or Korean street food eateries, these places tend not to serve banchan with the meal. The street food dishes include more stuff like fried chicken, gimbap, and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes).
Currently…
Reading:
Queerly Beloved – Susie Dumond
Romantic Comedy – Curtis Sittenfeld
Watching:
We watched the last episode of Jinny’s Kitchen on Amazon video. I’ve also just started watching Succession. Not sure what to make of it yet.
Listening:
Haven’t figured out a new audiobook yet.
Eating and Drinking:
I woke up early today, as my 10yo has a full-day field trip to Sacramento. They had to be at school at 630, and the buses left at 645. It’s about almost a 2h drive there one-way. He insisted that I wake him up at 530!
Cooking:
Miso eggplant and maybe some kind of stirfried noodles. It is a bit cooler this week, so maybe I’ll make some soup.
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. This meme started with J Kaye’s Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.
WHALE by CHEON MYEONG-KWAN, translated from the Korean by KIM CHI-YOUNG
Shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2023, Whale begins with:
“Chunhui – or Girl of Spring – was the name of the female brickmaker later celebrated as the Red Brick Queen on being discovered by the architect of the grand theater. She was born one winter in a stable to a beggar-woman, as the war was winding down. She was already seven kilos when she emerged and plumped up to more than a hundred kilos by the time she turned fourteen. Unable to speak, she grew up isolated in her own world. She learned everything about brickmaking from Mun, her stepfather. When the inferno killed eight hundred souls, Chunhui was charged with arson, imprisoned and tortured. After many long years in prison, she returned to the brickyard. She was twenty-seven.”
So it begins. But after this first chapter on Chunhui, the author takes us back in time, long before Chunhui is born, to the story of an “old crone”. The author hints, “maybe this whole story is a single tale of revenge – who really knows?”
Cheong unveils so much in the first paragraph that the rest of the story is about the journey towards Chunhui. What happened to Chunhui? Why is she a brick maker? And prison? It does take quite a while for the story to get to her, but it is a thoroughly fascinating and entertaining journey there.
While reading this book, I thought of the movie The Greatest Showman. I think because there was something circus-like, or maybe carnival-like about this story, with its many eccentric and unique characters, like the one-eyes woman with the bees and Jumbo, the elephant. But while it’s told with a playful voice, there’s so much darkness in this story. It is often brutal – rape and abuse is casually mixed into the narrative.
Unsettling and strange, Whale is a kind of modern folk tale. It is cinematic and dramatic, violent and grotesque. Its playful storytelling and cast of colourful characters draw readers in, devouring the pages at a feverish pace, until you emerge breathless. Is it from lack of sleep? Or is it from this intense, chaotic read?
Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Sharlene from Real Life Reading that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.
Happy Wednesday! What did you get from your library this week?
What I got from the library this week:
The Hookup Plan – Farrah Rochon
Aha, an enemies to lovers romance novel! Didn’t intentionally look for that but sounds fun. I think I’m just looking for a good romance read, after the last disappointing one.
Queerly Beloved – Susie Dumond
Another baking-related queer romance! Looking forward to this one!
PARIS DAILLENCOURT IS ABOUT TO CRUMBLE by ALEXIS HALL (pictured with a box of macarons, many of which have been eaten. Also this box is from Costco, in case you’re more interested in the macarons than what I have to say about this book. I liked the yuzu flavor btw).
As a fan of the Great British Bake Off and other reality cooking and baking competitions, this definitely is the series for me. It starts with Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake, which I quite enjoyed, as it had a fun main character and all that revolved around a GBBO-like show.
This second book though, was a bit more difficult to get through. Paris isn’t as delightful as Rosaline and it turns out to be less of a romance and more of a focus on anxiety and how it can affect a relationship.
I can relate to some of Paris’ anxiety. His constant fears of oh god what do I say to these people, his anxiety when it comes to unfamiliar places, the whole oh crap I don’t know what a knish is in a blind baking segment and so it’s going to be a disaster (oh rather, I guess I would minor-panic if I were on said baking competition).
But there was also a lot of horrible behavior on his part that isn’t anxiety-related and the author hints that it may have to do with his upbringing (his parents are famous – a designer and a model – and also pretty much absent and unfeeling). But really, he is an anxious person who is also rather snobbish and filthy rich.
Thankfully, the hosts of the baking show are still delightful, as are some of the contestants. Also Tariq, Paris’ love interest, is lovely.
Much as I wanted to like this, I struggled with it. Paris got so annoying that I kept wondering why Tariq was still hanging on. Can this book be written from Tariq’s pov instead please? That would make it a more readable book.
My younger son had some friends over on Saturday as it’s his birthday today. I made funfetti cupcakes with chocolate frosting – and one kid who doesn’t eat frosting so just a plain cupcake.
Kids these days all would prefer to just stay in and play video games, even at birthday parties. But at least we got them outdoors to play some tag and frisbee in the neighbourhood playground, and some nerf gun battles in the backyard.
On Sunday, we went out to get conveyor belt sushi.
Also some soft serve ice-cream that’s topped with a taiyaki that has filling inside. The older kid picked an ube and milk swirl, topped with a taro-filled taiyaki. The younger one went for a Thai tea and cookies and cream swirl, with a custard filling. I’m not typically a fan of taro but this filling and softserve ice-cream were really good.
The husband was in Palo Alto for a lunch meeting and picked up a fruit tart from a French bakery
Currently…
Reading:
Whale by Cheon Myeong-Kwan
She Is A Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
Watching:
Suchwita (or R-chwita for this episode)
Listening:
I just finished listening to Indelible City, and am looking for my next audiobook.
Eating and Drinking:
I had sourdough toast with a slice of brie, and a cup of tea. But because I woke up at 4-something – I don’t know, but it sounded like a helicopter?? – I just had a shot of espresso too.
Cooking:
It’s my son’s birthday today, so I’m making a chocolate cheesecake today, using this recipe from King Arthur. I’ve never made cheesecake before, as the rest of us aren’t really fans of cheesecake. But for a tenth birthday, I’m going to give it a try!
We’ll take him out for dinner tonight, and I think he wants burgers. As for the rest of the week, maybe some chicken rice, noodles.
It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. This meme started with J Kaye’s Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.
Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Sharlene from Real Life Reading that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.
Happy Wednesday! What did you get from your library this week?
Four nights at Sea Ranch at a lovely ocean view vacation rental. Plenty of walks taken, many stars to count at night, watched the sunsets from the sweet window seat, saw harbor seal pups, deer, wild turkeys, a fox even. We had two clear sunny days then a cold foggy one and then an even colder blustery windy one. But we still went out there and walked and admired the view every day.
Meanwhile, this house we stayed in had the best stocked library of books I’ve seen in a vacation rental. There were actually books I wanted to read, which is usually not the case as many vacation homes tend towards the usual suspects.
And so, abandoning the ebooks I had borrowed, I settled to read LUCKY BOY by Shanthi Sekaran and FULL DARK NO STARS by Stephen King.
LUCKY BOY is an immigration story. On one side is the story of Soli, who lives in the Popocalco, Mexico, and makes the dangerous trek to the US.
The other side of the story is that of Kavya and Rishi Reddy, who live in Berkeley and have been trying to get pregnant for years.
The character that brings these two sides of the story together is Ignacio, Soli’s son. She gets pregnant on her journey and gives birth to him in America. But he is taken from her when she gets detained one day. The Reddys have decided to become foster parents and they take Ignacio in.
Sekaran doesn’t shy away from difficult topics. The abuse Soli faces in the detention center, the difficulties that Kavya faces not just from her parents’ expectations when her life takes a different path but also her own expectations when she realized that parenting can be so very difficult and isolating.
I appreciate the way Sekaran handles the two women. There is no real antagonist here. They are both wanting the very best for this boy, but the answers aren’t handed to them and they have to do what they think is right.
This was a very well-researched, absorbing read. Despite the view right next to me, I found myself just reading and reading this book and the 472 pages just flew by. It’s probably not what some people might consider vacation reading but I really enjoyed Lucky Boy.
FULL DARK NO STARS was a very different read. I picked it because it’s a collection of four stories. And I figured that, in case I couldn’t finish a full book, I could at least read 2 or 3 stories.
It’s been a while since I’ve read Stephen King’s work. It makes me think of when I was maybe 12 and reading Pet Semetary. Why was that my first King book? I’m not sure now.
I was reminded how unsettling King’s books can be. Taking the ordinary and adding a twist that causes their whole world to collapse. Like learning something disturbing about the person you’ve loved and lived with for years. This happens to Darcy in A Good Marriage. Revenge and retribution are major themes in these novellas. They are dark and they’re disturbing. And strangely appropriate for that foggy gloomy day at Sea Ranch, with the waves crashing on the rocks but barely discernible thanks to the heavy fog.
Real Life Reading 