WinterMoon

"Death exists, not as the opposite but as a part of life." What an incredible book by Murakami! It’s no surprise that his writing always leaves a strong impact on readers. I’ve wanted to read this book for a long time, and I finally finished it today, November 30th, 2024. Now, I’m excited to share my thoughts. Set in Japan in the 1960s, Norwegian Wood tells a story full of young love, loss, and complicated relationships. The main character, Toru Watanabe, is an introverted college student whose life revolves around his two close friends: Kizuki and Naoko. The story is told through Toru’s memories, which are triggered when he hears the Beatles song "Norwegian Wood" on a plane. This song reminds him of his intense and life-changing relationships with two women: Naoko and Midori. Naoko is a beautiful but fragile girl who struggles with her mental health after her boyfriend, Kizuki, commits suicide. Toru feels deeply connected to her and wants to help her, but her emot...

"Every choice, every decision you’ve ever made and will ever make, creates a new universe. A new world. A new you." I first read Dark Matter in 2021 and just finished reading it again recently. I had to share my thoughts on it! It's a must-read for anyone who enjoys sci-fi thrillers. Since I have a science background, I found it easier to understand, but even if you're not into science, this book is still great if you’re interested in parallel universes/alternate realities. If you’ve seen Interstellar , you’ll enjoy this book too! Blake Crouch wrote an amazing, mind-blowing story that keeps you hooked until the very end. And even after you finish, it’ll make you think for days or even months about the universe and how small we are in it. The twists in the story keep you turning the pages, and the writing is really engaging. Dark Matter is a sci-fi thriller about identity, choice, and alternate realities. The story follows Jason Dessen, a physics professor who gets k...

I finished the novel a while ago, and I came out feeling both confused and deeply reflective about human connections.  Let me start with an amazing quote: “He brought her goodness like a gift, and now it belongs to her.” Normal People  is a deeply moving story about Connell and Marianne, two young people from a small Irish town whose lives become intertwined in unexpected ways. As they navigate school, university, and the complexities of their emotions, their relationship is challenged by love, friendship, and personal growth. What makes this novel special is its honesty and subtle writing. Sally Rooney captures the tiny, everyday moments that make relationships so complex—misunderstandings, shifts in power, and unspoken feelings. The emotions feel authentic and relatable, especially for anyone who has wrestled with questions of self-worth, love, and belonging. This struggle has become increasingly common in our competitive and fast-paced world! Connell and Marianne are flawed...

Even though the book didn’t fully engage me, I still finished it. It shows how hard life can become for someone whose dreams are ignored or not taken seriously by others, leading to mental trauma that sometimes can’t be healed. Sylvia presents this with such depth and honesty that it’s truly striking! Let’s start with one relatable quote from the book- “I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant loosing all the rest ” The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath is about Esther Greenwood, a young woman who begins to struggle with her mental health. The story is set in the 1950s, a time when women faced many social expectations, which add to Esther’s feelings of being trapped and misunderstood. Although she’s given good opportunities, like a writing internship in New York, she feels empty and disconnected. Sylvia Plath uses the image of a “bell jar” to describe Esther’s depression—like being stuck in a glass jar, where she can see the world but can’t truly connect with it. This shows t...