I have been attending author events at the Kaufleuten in Zurich since I moved to Switzerland. They are great things for the community and I think they can encourage reading, multilingual boarder-crossing, and intellectual discussions about literature from around the world. I recently went to Han Kang’s talk/interview about her book, The Vegetarian. I have … Continue reading
“Vinegar Girl”: how well can Shakespeare translate into modern times?
If you grow up in an English speaking country, chances are rather high that you have had to read some Shakespeare. Conquering Shakespearean language, rhythm, and rhyme are a rite of passage every young English speaking teenager must go through. Some people hate Shakespeare, others love him so much that they pursue academic research projects … Continue reading
Where is the body, where is the soul?: A review of Han Kang’s “Human Acts”
Han Kang is one of my new favourite authors. Her latest novel, “The Vegetarian”, is such an intriguing look into the human psyche. Her novel, “Human Acts” was translated into English and published in 2014. A basic summary of the novel would be it explores the complex nature of loss, violence, and death that accompanied … Continue reading
Coming to Chicano Literature From the Outside: a review of “Bless Me, Ultima”
On my last trip to the U.S.A. I did what I always do: spend waaaay to many hours in bookstores. Bookstores provide me with so much comfort. Just being around books instantly relaxes me. Who knew that words written on paper could bring so much peace? I am always looking for something new. It is … Continue reading
To Re-Read Or Not To Re-read
Many news articles over the past few months have toted the line that millennials are the most widely read generation to date. This is due to factors like access to the internet, eBooks, cheap(ish) books, and international delivery (I’m talking to you Amazon, Verso, and Book Depository). Online social book spaces like Goodreads and the … Continue reading
A Review of “Do No Harm” by Henry Marsh
Do No Harm is a medical memoir. Henry Marsh picks tales from his career as a neurosurgeon and shares his failures, successes, frustrations, and hopes. I think that this book is extremely important for our society because it details the frustrations and complications of working in hospitals and brings a human aspect to medicine in … Continue reading
#15 Forgive Me
You never know how you will react to death until death is upon you. I imagined my Father’s death a thousand times after his cancer diagnosis, yet his actual death felt like I was seeing it for the first time. I was naively prepared. In the aftermath of his death, I was not sure how … Continue reading
#14 Rituals
The rituals that surround death are comforting like the rituals of making tea. Despite death taking a life from your hands, you can still feel useful. The body needs to be collected, prepared for burial or cremation, and eventually buried or burned. Fill the kettle, boil the water, select the tea. You can collect photos … Continue reading
#13 Drink the whisky
My Father had a bottle of whisky, Johnny Walker Blue Label. He received it as a present and always told us that he was keeping it for the right moment. My Father never had expensive things and that bottle of whisky was one of his treasures. Growing up poor, he had learned to cherish what … Continue reading
The pros and cons of reading a graphic novel (from a novice graphic novel reader)
I don’t really read graphic novels. I have heard of them, know lots of people who love them, but for some reason or another, they have never really made there way to my bookshelf. I love to read books. I enjoy the act of reading, which is something I cannot get from audio books and … Continue reading
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