Jiaying

4.5 stars. Great illustrations and even greater creativity in putting the thoughts, feelings and emotions of book-lovers into witty, themed comics. I thoroughly enjoyed it all.

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My Rating System:
5⭐️: Excellent book AND influenced a change in my views
4.5⭐️: Excellent read ⬅️⬅️⬅️
4⭐️: Great read, will recommend
3.5⭐️: Enjoyable read but missing something that will make it great
3⭐️: An okay read that I didn't regret spending time on it
2⭐️: Didn't enjoy
1⭐️: Didn't enjoy and had serious issues. Will suggest to avoid.

4 stars. Worth a read, relevant, easy to digest.

As someone who has struggled with procrastination since I was a kid, and most recently a difficulty in resisting distraction, this book has been valuable in providing:

1. An easy and quick read
This is important because if the read is long and arduous, we have learnt in the internal triggers that it creates enough discomfort to make one seek or accept distraction.

2. A simple Indistractable framework in understanding traction/distraction and internal/external triggers
This enables easy recollection of the different dimensions for reflection and assessment of why and how we got distracted from what we originally planned.

3. Action-oriented advice
The book is geared towards people who want to immediately put things into action. App recommendations and outlook settings, of which some I already know of but there are some I don't. Some reviews said the case studies are brief but I think there really isn't more needed to make the case in point.

One consequence of my distraction is juggling multiple books and never finishing most of them. By the first few chapters, I had already made a pact to myself that my first task of putting what I learnt into action is to finish the book itself. So I did, and I'm proud of myself!

Perhaps one thing I didn't enjoy so much was the section about distractions at the workplace, but it is simply because it is much harder to execute and effect change in the workplace as compared to other external triggers. But I will try.

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My Rating System:
5⭐️: Excellent book AND influenced a change in my views
4.5⭐️: Excellent read
4⭐️: Great read, will recommend ⬅️⬅️⬅️
3.5⭐️: Enjoyable read but missing something that will make it great
3⭐️: An okay read that I didn't regret spending time on it
2⭐️: Didn't enjoy
1⭐️: Didn't enjoy and had serious issues. Will suggest to avoid.

3.75 stars. Honestly the writing is pretty plain and simple. Perhaps some might say the characterisation is a bit flat. But it's merit is that it is relatable. You don't need deep characterisation for such a premise. I like how the theme of regret is handled. Often we wish we could change the outcome by changing what we did or said. But what if the outcome cannot be changed? Can we still right that regret? This is what this book is about. Warning: you might cry multiple times.

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My Rating System:
5⭐️: Excellent book AND influenced a change in my views
4.5⭐️: Excellent read
4⭐️: Great read, will recommend
3.5⭐️: Enjoyable read but missing something that will make it great ⬅️⬅️⬅️
3⭐️: An okay read that I didn't regret spending time on it
2⭐️: Didn't enjoy
1⭐️: Didn't enjoy and had serious issues. Will suggest to avoid.

2 stars - meaning I did not enjoy the book. I do have something good to say at the end though!

Don't get me wrong, I like books about life wisdom, beauty and courage in living. I am a huge fan of Winnie the Pooh and Dr Seuss! But for this book, I had to go read the introduction after finishing it, to make sure that I did not misunderstand how this book was meant to be executed.

I don't want this to be all rant and no constructive criticism, so I really thought hard to be specific about what I felt fell through.

The greatest flaw of the book is the lack of context in its delivery of its messages. There are characters in here. It's not a self-help book. The animals appear and the boy immediately interviews each of them with rather deep questions right off the bat, like what their definition of success or love is. Hmm why is the boy so pointed in his questions and his motivations behind it? The intro says he's lonely but just from the story I would not have gotten it.

And then it was life advice after life advice with little context or linking between them. In fact I think every one or two pages should be standalone pages reminiscent of motivational Instagram posts (as some other reviewers have pointed out). Perhaps we get an inkling of why, as the author has said in the intro that “You started at the beginning, which is impressive. I usually start in the middle, and never read introductions....I'd like it (the book) to be one you can dip into anywhere, anytime. Start in the middle, if you like.”

Because of this, I felt there was a lack of nuance. Wisdom are punchlines. But if delivered continuously on every page without subtlety, it loses the beauty that makes it punchy and impactful. Now, it reads more like a compendium of life truths to deliver to your friend who is feeling down. Or if you are feeling down, to randomly flip to any page in the middle and here's some instant truth to preach to yourself. There is a reason why Winnie the Pooh is still the one of the go-tos of the genre.

Nonetheless, the illustrations are truly stunning and moving, and I think they alone delivered the storytelling better than with the text. Perhaps without the text, I might have given a 4.5 or 5 star. They are that good! Still, I hope the author does not give up in polishing the delivery of the written parts! As the ending says, look how far you've come and I'm sure there'll be more.
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My Rating System:
5⭐️: Excellent book AND influenced a change in my views
4.5⭐️: Excellent read
4⭐️: Great read, will recommend
3.5⭐️: Enjoyable read but missing something that will make it great
3⭐️: An okay read that I didn't regret spending time on it
2⭐️: Didn't enjoy ⬅️⬅️⬅️
1⭐️: Didn't enjoy and had serious issues. Will suggest to avoid.

5 solid stars. This is a book I would like to buy for all children and adult friends alike to read. It's a step up from They All Saw A Cat, because this book has the same magic of conveying a simple and impactful message about perspectives, but with fantastic illustrations and rhythmic writing to match.


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My Rating System:
5⭐️: Excellent book AND influenced a change in my views ⬅️⬅️⬅️
4.5⭐️: Excellent read
4⭐️: Great read, will recommend
3.5⭐️: Enjoyable read but missing something that will make it great
3⭐️: An okay read that I didn't regret spending time on it
2⭐️: Didn't enjoy
1⭐️: Didn't enjoy and had serious issues. Will suggest to avoid.

Pretty illustrations, great analogy. But I think the language might be a bit too difficult for children, its main target audience, to digest.

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My Rating System:
5⭐️: Excellent book AND influenced a change in my views
4.5⭐️: Excellent read
4⭐️: Great read, will recommend
3.5⭐️: Enjoyable read but missing something that will make it great
3⭐️: An okay read that I didn't regret spending time on it
2⭐️: Didn't enjoy ⬅️⬅️
1⭐️: Didn't enjoy and had serious issues. Will suggest to avoid.

I like the little philosophies in mixed into satire in there but the ending was...unexpected in a bad way. There was no lead-up to it. One of those books which I hated the plot but loved the writing, if you get me. My rating is according to the Goodreads rating. Book started with an almost 4 but sadly it went downhill because of the plot. It's my first Discworld novel. Nonetheless I like Sir Pratchett's writing enough to want to read another.

4.5. Beautiful book that you wish you can read on and on. This is a book about the beautiful stories of healing a therapist's patients, as well as her own self-discovery and healing with her own therapist, as well as the lessons about humanity and ourselves. I've personally learnt many things that I myself can apply to my life. One of those books I will recommend to people!

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My Rating System:
5⭐️: Excellent book AND influenced a change in my views
4.5⭐️: Excellent read ⬅️⬅️⬅️
4⭐️: Great read, will recommend
3.5⭐️: Enjoyable read but missing something that will make it great
3⭐️: An okay read that I didn't regret spending time on it
2⭐️: Didn't enjoy
1⭐️: Didn't enjoy and had serious issues. Will suggest to avoid.

My Rating System:
5⭐️: Excellent book AND influenced a change in my views
4.5⭐️: Excellent read
4⭐️: Great read, will recommend
3.5⭐️: Enjoyable read but missing something that will make it great
3⭐️: An okay read that I didn't regret spending time on it ⬅️⬅️⬅️
2⭐️: Didn't enjoy
1⭐️: Didn't enjoy and had serious issues. Will suggest to avoid.

Book brought a tear to my eye. It's a beautiful story about a haughty china rabbit learning to love through the unconditional love of others. Although Edward was the main character, I find the other characters much more interesting even on the surface level, even though the author brings us through Edward's inner thoughts and change. The illustrations brought the book to life. This is one of those books that should definitely be read as a physical book, and where the illustration are essential to the reading experience.


Spoiler from this point:
Why I didn't give 5 stars was because while the story comes full circle, I felt that it wasn't fully fleshed out. The story could have done without it even, though children might not be appreciate that. Would have been nice to have a resolution with regards to Granny.

4.2 stars. Possibly my first fractionated rating because I just personally loved the story and was immersed in it, even if not perfect! Its merits definitely won over its minor flaws.

Written in first-person POV of 6 different characters, and there is no explicit indication who. Yet the tone of voice lets me catch it quickly. The strength of this book is definitely the women characters who were resilient and smart. The Rumpelstiltskin inspiration is there but very loosely inspired. It's a long book but it was interesting enough for me to carry on.

The flaws would be that the explanation on how some things worked in the world, or the strategies undertaken by the characters were explained in too cryptic a manner for myself to understand, so I just glossed over it.

My Rating System:
5⭐️: Excellent book AND influenced a change in my views
4.5⭐️: Excellent read
4⭐️: Great read, will recommend ⬅️⬅️⬅️
3.5⭐️: Enjoyable read but missing something that will make it great
3⭐️: An okay read that I didn't regret spending time on it
2⭐️: Didn't enjoy
1⭐️: Didn't enjoy and had serious issues. Will suggest to avoid.

On the surface it might seem to be about the famed man and his achievements, but it is really a book about leadership. Philip Yeo shined because he had the right leaders who used him to his strengths. Similarly, he inspires fierce loyalty in those who worked under him because he did not see workers as objects but valued them as assets and relationships to be cultivated.

“Everywhere I went, the first people I fired were the managers. I never fire the workers. It's not the fault of the workers. Whenever a company has problems, it is because of problems in the management. When people feel they are being taken care of,that they are being recognised, and when workers respect their bosses and are able to work with minimum interference, their productivity will be unlimited. People don't work for pay alone. People work because they are recognised and valued. They leave a company because they don't feel wanted.”

My Rating System:
5⭐️: Excellent book AND influenced a change in my views ⬅️⬅️⬅️
4.5⭐️: Excellent read
4⭐️: Great read, will recommend
3.5⭐️: Enjoyable read but missing something that will make it great
3⭐️: An okay read that I didn't regret spending time on it
2⭐️: Didn't enjoy
1⭐️: Didn't enjoy and had serious issues. Will suggest to avoid.

It would have been a much more pleasant book if Eona rose a bit more above her fear. I've to say Eona's fear is relatable if we really put ourselves in her shoes and circumstance. But for such a book, I really want a heroine that I can fall behind and root for her. Eona makes it just a liiiiitle more difficult with her terror-induced confusion and mistakes. however, it is a really interesting premise for a series, like how the Mirror Dragon's name comes about. This is why I'm going to continue to the next book. Oh, and I hope it isn't just me who finds the description of Lord Ido's scent as disturbing...I think the book is worth a read though, for its freshness of plot. Whether you like it or not, evidently from the mixed reviews, is really subjective.

4.5 stars and a potential to be a 5, but we'll see. Masterfully written in the stream of consciousness style that is Ishiguro's trademark. There is such finesse in the language he uses and the intricate weaving in of his memories into the road trip at present, that you feel like you have inhabited Mr Steven's very being. It isn't an Ishiguro book if you do not feel deeply the helplessness of the character. The final 20 pages were probably the most impactful, so it really is worth it to read till the very end.

- SPOILER ALERT FROM THIS POINT -


At one point I did feel a little annoyed at Miss Kenton for her lack of forthrightness with her feelings. However, the book is about people's mental self-imprisonment, with Stevens' being the most. I liked how the book was wrapped up, helping us make sense of why the book was named as such. The ending came to a full circle with the beginning, with the talk about banter. Also, I couldn't help thinking back to Stevens' father when Stevens was reflecting about his loss of ability as he aged. And the helplessness sets in again because we know that Stevens does not have the mind to retire like the butler at the pier and inevitably his father's end will come to him too, yet we know that at this point he has more hope in his life, to enjoy the remains of the day, to do something new in his work. The book makes me feel things acutely which I cannot necessarily put into words.

4.5 stars.

As I start to read classics that often get quoted or even immortalised as a synonym, I realised how warped such references can get. “Machiavellian” is another word for evil or scheming. As I read this, it shows how context matters. The state of political affairs in Italy was such that a ruler either held on to power or get killed by either enemies or the dissatisfied people. The book lays out Machiavelli's suggestions on how to retain authority over subjects and not be conquered by foreign kingdoms. It is hard not to feel sorry for this guy's bad rep - he did use many fair and fleshed-out historical examples to justify why he thought what a ruler ought to do. To be fair, he did give a disclaimer in the opening of the book that the strategies and savoir he has laid out here are applicable only to monarchies.

Tim Parks' translation for Penguin is easy to read. It is not word by word but captures the spirit in contemporary language. Some might find the language a little too contemporary, but I enjoyed the simplicity of it. This is not one of those works where individual words' translation have great bearing on the interpretation. The Penguin classic hardcover version is a perfect size to hold and the font choice and formatting were extremely comfortable to read. Highly recommend this version.

Loved the premise of this book, the first of such I've read. So creative in conveying a simple universal truth. They all saw a cat, but the cat they all saw looked a little different because their eyes and perspectives are all different. Illustrations were on point.

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My Rating System:
5⭐️: Excellent book AND influenced a change in my views
4.5⭐️: Excellent read
4⭐️: Great read, will recommend
3.5⭐️: Enjoyable read but missing something that will make it great
3⭐️: An okay read that I didn't regret spending time on it
2⭐️: Didn't enjoy
1⭐️: Didn't enjoy and had serious issues. Will suggest to avoid.

4.5 stars.
A great collection of life stories of a few Shanghainese residents, each of which tells a story of China's modern history. The stories are lively, moving and written in a way that reflects the deep friendship the author had built with them over the years. There is tongue-in-cheek humor amidst the helplessness of the people's disenfranchisement, yet reminds us of their resilience and unwavering perseverance. Of course these stories are not representative of the masses, but it is still a writing with heart, to give a voice to these people who are still fighting for their right for the rule of law. It has been a while since this book was written, and it is fitting that I finished this book on my China trip, surrounded by banners and plaques of the Socialist values, of which freedom, democracy and rule of law are some of them. I hope China becomes a much better society to live in for the sake of these lovely people, as well as my loved ones who live here.

My Rating System:
5⭐️: Excellent book AND influenced a change in my views
4.5⭐️: Excellent read ⬅️⬅️⬅️
4⭐️: Great read, will recommend
3.5⭐️: Enjoyable read but missing something that will make it great
3⭐️: An okay read that I didn't regret spending time on it
2⭐️: Didn't enjoy
1⭐️: Didn't enjoy and had serious issues. Will suggest to avoid.

I love it. I want to own it and read it whenever the world feels too overwhelming. A picture book retelling of a poem written by an Irish monk about his solitary life with his white cat, it is both a story about the simple joy of contentment, and a joyful experience to read. The words - and what a lovely font too - bring out that harmoniously co-existing parallel drawn between the monk's hunt for meaning in his study and the cat's hunt for food. The illustrations too are fabulous - drawn in a graphic novel sequence with masterful framing and angle. Just a perfect picture book.

Different people might relate to the different aspects of the book. Most find more profound Death's explanation of why there is death. However, what I found most moving is the rather nuanced depiction of the children in their actions and their understanding of profound topics. Appreciated that the author did not make them wonder kids who understood everything, nor underestimated children's capacity for it.

Dark humour which I neither found funny nor related to. I do follow the webcomic and appreciated some of it from time to time, but perhaps this collection just wasn't my cup of tea. Purely my subjective opinion.

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My Rating System:
5⭐️: Excellent book AND influenced a change in my views
4.5⭐️: Excellent read
4⭐️: Great read, will recommend
3.5⭐️: Enjoyable read but missing something that will make it great
3⭐️: An okay read that I didn't regret spending time on it
2⭐️: Didn't enjoy ⬅️⬅️⬅️
1⭐️: Didn't enjoy and had serious issues. Will suggest to avoid.

Ever since I was a kid, I had always wanted to read this book. There was something very enchanting (pun intended) about the colourful book cover which showed the Chrestomanci in his glorious suit and top hat, bearing an enigmatic smile. But strangely I have always just looked at it from afar. And at the grand old age of 26 I finally picked up this book I have always wanted to read since I was 10, and wishing I had read it much sooner. For 15 odd years I have looked for a magic-fantasy series that could make me as excited as I did reading Harry Potter. I don't know about the rest of this series, but this opener has got me very hopeful. I devoured this book. What an original world with interesting characters and so much mystery. I wish I had read a little slower (speed-reading fiction is a bad habit acquired from university) and just allowed my imagination to soak in the descriptions more. I can't wait to read the next one.

My first thought upon finishing the book: “So that was it?”

Perhaps I have been accustomed to children's books either having lots of plot or having lots of secret wisdom about life or love. But that really is the symptom of adults reading children's books to find adult reflections on love and loss.

Firstly, that cover truly depicts the deception of the book. The girl who had a pig. From the first page you would have thought this book would be about the friendship between Fern and Wilbur the pig. But eventually it was the spider who saved Wilbur multiple times but recognised only, in Charlotte's words, was “to a small degree”. You might not have noticed the spider on the cover if you didn't read the book. And Templeton the rat who ran much errands for them isn't even on the cover. “I notice that it's always me you come to when in trouble. But I've never heard of anyone's heart breaking on my account. Oh no. Who cares anything about old Templeton?”

Upon some reflection, I think the beauty of this book boils down to these:
1) A simple, innocent and giving friendship between imperfect characters.
- Wilbur is whiny, yes. But he is also a rather ignorant, young pig. Nevertheless, he understood and treasured the friendship he had with Charlotte.
- “You have been my friend,” replied Charlotte. “That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a while, we die.”

2) Small, understated and positive observations about life that does not revolve around the self, nor have bittersweet undertones.
- “Life is always a rich and steady time when you are waiting for something to happen or hatch.”
- Love, whether for a friend or others, entails giving. Wilbur and Charlotte do not proclaim love but they showed it in how they treat each other - by acting on it.

3) Great descriptions about the seasons and surroundings. It's almost poetic how E.B. White describes the setting. There is so much richness to the description.

5 stars! Excellent way of telling Apollo's stories through the Muses. I especially appreciated the beautiful conclusion on why Apollo despite his glaring shortcomings is such a revered deity in the Greek pantheon. Greek mythology don't always make sense but this helps us see the relevance of it to us. This makes it more than just a compilation of stories but really an insight on Phoebus Apollo.

I was a really shy kid when I was young, and wish I had this book that understood my shyness and to gently prod me out of it. Beautiful watercolour illustrations that matches the book.

My Rating System:
5⭐️: Excellent book AND influenced a change in my views
4.5⭐️: Excellent read
4⭐️: Great read, will recommend ⬅️⬅️⬅️
3.5⭐️: Enjoyable read but missing something that will make it great
3⭐️: An okay read that I didn't regret spending time on it
2⭐️: Didn't enjoy
1⭐️: Didn't enjoy and had serious issues. Will suggest to avoid.