The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai, Jesse Kirkwood (Translator), Hanako Footman (Narrator)

Audiobook for about 15%. This novel had a series of small mysteries where a father and daughter detective agency recreate food for patrons. It’s similar to the vignette series in other Japanese literature that I’ve read such as Before the Coffee Gets Cold and What You’re Looking For is in the Library. Each of the mystery chapters are very short and the mystery is quickly revealed after the introduction of each client. It’s a bit repetitive and boring as a result. There is not enough depth on the characters or anything else. The best thing about this book were the descriptions of Japanese cuisine. I actually like the care in which the dishes were described. I am actually tempted to read the next book for that alone, but everything else in this book was forgettable.

1.25x. Read on my new Kobo Clara BW. October 26-Nov 2, 2024.

All This & More by Peng Shepherd

This is an adult Choose your Adventure novel. Great concept, not the best execution. I read The Cartographers and while I didn’t love it, I found some nice moments in there. This novel on the other hand took me awhile to read and I dragged myself to finish it. I did go through most of the options and I skimmed most of the book. The characters were flat which was somewhat understandable with a more plot focussed novel, but I didn’t like them. I did not understand their motivations even if I got to choose it for them. The book was repetitive and there were too many things going on. At first it felt like that’s part of the concept of the story and the reality TV show plot, but then it becomes convoluted. The mystery was disjointed and I was too bored to care after awhile. This makes me hesitant to pick up another book by the author.

October 27-Nov 4, 2024.

Self-Care for People with ADHD: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-Stress, and Prioritize You! by Sasha Hamdani

Narrated by the author. A very straightforward book with a lot of tips and considerations for ADHD. I am liking these ADHD books as they are giving me ways to consider and reflect on my life. It’s a nice tool for my own self-development and thoughts.

1.25x. October 31-Nov 5, 2024.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, Patricia Castelao (Illustrator)

This was a nicely written middle grade novel based on a true story about a mall zoo. While the ending is uplifting, it was sad for most of the book that Ivan the gorilla and his friends were imprisoned in bad conditions.I doubt that I will read more from this series though.

Nov 6-8, 2024.

Chef’s Kiss by Jarrett Melendez (Written by), Danica Brine (Illustrated by), Hank Jones (Colored by), Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (Lettered by)

Cute magical realism graphic novel.

Nov 7-8, 2024.