Fallen Angel by Jonelle Patrick: review.

Although I have visited Tokyo several times, I have never been to a host club and I didn't find the idea appealing either. 

However, Jonelle Patrick describes the world of those popular clubs in Kabukicho very skilfully and tactfully. The reader understands the situation of the workers of those places and gets an insight into a world unknown to most foreign visitors.

I liked the characters and I found the plot interesting and entertaining at the same time. This was my first book by the author but I feel hooked now to her Only in Tokyo series and I think I may end up reading all of them.

I strongly recommend this novel to fans of Japanese culture and to curious readers.

Simple Christmas Salad

 

Ingredients: 

Fresh tomatoes

Ripe avocado

Fresh Mozzarella cheese

Olive oil

Soy sauce

Lemon juice

Sesame seeds

My Favourite Christmas Carol

 During these times of social distancing, singing carols via Meet may be the only alternative. I've always liked this song and I hope you like it too!

 

Love in Translation by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga: a book and a song

 

A really fun and at the same time interesting read for these times. I loved that the author included lots of Japanese words and expressions. If you are a fan of Japanese culture and want to read a story that takes place in modern Japan which includes references to traditional customs, food, karaoke and love, this book is for you.

You cannot miss this video in which Wendy Nelson sings the beautiful song that appears in the book.

Magpie Muders by Anthony Horowitz: opinion.

Everybody says so and it's absolutely true, this book is for fans of Agatha Christie, for those of us who miss classic mysteries and Hercule Poirot. It also has something else which usually appeals to readers, a book within a book. I must say though, that I liked much more the novel inside that the other one although both of them combined perfectly.
This was my first book by Anthony Horowitz and it won't be the last one.

What I know for Sure by Oprah Winfrey: review.

I think this is a really good book to read in these times of uncertainty. It is divided into eight parts: Resilience, Connection, Gratitude, Possibility, Awe, Clarity and Power. In each part, Oprah gives insights on how to enjoy the present moment, overcome difficulties and live a better life.

Many people may argue that from her position as a powerful woman it's quite easy to give advice, however, she didn't get there overnight and she certainly had to overcome many obstacles.

I found the book full of hope and simple but useful pieces of advice. My favourite quotes are:

When you choose to see the world as a classroom, you understand that all experiences are here to teach you something about yourself.

As women we've been programmed to sacrifice everything in the name of what is good and right for everyone else. Then if there's an inch left over, maybe we can have a piece of that. We need to reprogram ourselves.

She also mentions several times in her novel the importance of gratitude and the need to enjoy the simple pleasures of life.

I highly recommend this book to everyone who is in need of some encouraging words because Oprah's words will certainly make you feel at least a little bit better.

New Gundam in Yokohama

Fans of robots and lovers of the city of Yokohama will soon enjoy a huge 18 metres tall moving Gundam in Yamashita Pier. The grand opening has been rescheduled for October 2020.

A Midsummer's Equation by Keigo Higashino: opinion.

This is so far my favourite book by Keigo Higashino. Perhaps because of the location, a coastal town with wonderful views, or because of the characters a curious preteen and his family. The role Detective Galileo played seemed to be more compassionate than in other books as well.
The mystery in this novel is slowly unravelled and the reader will find it as intriguing and complex as in Higashino's previous novels.
It is all in all a very nice summer read.

The Invincible Summer of Junniper Jones by Daven McQueen: review.

What a wonderful book! Memorable, heart-breaking and enlightening. I think it's one of the best books I have ever read. A novel that should be mandatory in every school all over the world because racism, unfortunately, is universal. Although it is set almost seventy years ago, some of the situations depicted in the book are still common in many places and the way some people think hasn't changed much.
This is a story about friendship, love, hate and what it means to have a different skin colour in a narrow-minded society.
Juniper Jones a cheerful girl who thinks root beer floats are the best drinks known to man makes friends with the new boy in town who believes that he can't walk down the street without feeling like every single person wants to point a gun hat his head and pull the trigger because of the colour of his skin. Together they spend an invincible summer, probably the best and worst summer of their lives.

I recommend this book to people who have never suffered racism, people who think that it no longer happens or that it will never happen to them because it is a real eye-opener and when you read about the  monsters in white you will feel they are coming for you too no matter what colour you are.

Soil Humidity Sensor for Brown Thumbs

After having drowned several plants, I finally came across a very useful tool for brown thumbs like me: a soil humidity sensor.
You just have to stick it in the soil and read the information on the meter, you will immediately know whether you the plant needs watering or not.
I've tried it with several plants including my new lavender one and it really works. I hope this helps me to keep them alive longer.

Mirage by Somaiya Daud: opinion.

What I liked most about this book was the fact that the way the women in the novel fought to find happiness, love and to overcome difficulties. In both this novel and its sequel Court of Lions the author shows strong female characters who help and trust each other. The world created by Somaiya Daud was very interesting as well, although the novel was set in the future it had a strong influence of Arab stories in my opinion.

Haiku about sunflowers

Transparent Toilets in Tokyo

After watching the video you'll see these amazing toilets are not really transparent when you are using them. It's an incredible project located in the Shibuya area. Sixteen creators will design public toilets in 17 locations in this popular neighbourhood in the capital city.
For for information and a map of the locations click https://tokyotoilet.jp/en/

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Six Four by Hideo Yokoyama: opinion.

I think this is a classic Japanese crime novel which may seem too long and sometimes the plot may seem to be getting nowhere but the end is worth all the effort. The story is very cleverly written and engages the reader. However, I found that there was too much of the plot devoted to explaining and depicting police station politics and the complicated relationship they had with the press. For some readers, though this part may be very interesting.

Caprese Salad with my basil plant.

My basil plant is still alive after almost one week and I made a delicious Caprese Salad with basil.

Marge Simpson has something to say.

Inspector Imanishi Investigates by Seicho Matsumoto: review

I have mixed feelings about this novel. I liked very much the way it was written and the aspects of Japanese life depicted in the book. The murder investigation was also very entertaining and as it usually happens at least in the Japanese novels I have read, the way the case appears is different from Western novels. However, I found the relationship between the inspector and his wife hard to stomach sometimes. He was extremely devoted to his job and practically ignored her most of the time. I understand that the novel was written a long time ago and that was probably the way many couples behaved then.

Brown thumb: trying to keep a basil plant alive.

I have always loved plants and flowers, unfortunately, I haven't been gifted with a green thumb, quite the opposite actually.
 I've decided to document the life and probable demise of my newest acquisition: a basil plant which I intend to use for Caprese salads.
This is my plant on day one.

Shinrin-Yoku: Japanese word for a forest bath to relax away from the city.

Finding inspiration with Google Arts & Culture.

Tsundoku: Japanese word for buying books and piling them unread.

Keeping fit at home with Heather Robertson

Heather Robertson's videos have been great for me not only during the confinement but also before and after.

Her videos are really useful to work out your whole body with and without extra equipment. They are easy to follow and fun to do. You really feel that you are exercising the right way and you certainly see the results after a while.

Heather Robertson's workouts have helped me feel more energetic at times when I couldn't leave home. They are absolutely worth a try.

Haiku about seagulls

His Dark Materials: Season 2 trailer

If you liked the first season, you can't miss the second one.

Haiku by the Sea

Bella Ciao in Italian and English

If you cannot travel, watch videos.

I miss travelling like crazy, the planning, the expectation, the thrill, the adventures, everything. Lately, I've been watching the TV show Our Man in Japan in which James May shows his peculiar adventures in the land of the rising sun.

Learn to cook Japanese food with Kimono Mom

If you are interested in cooking Japanese food, you'll love the videos of Kimono mom and her cute daughter Sutan.

El enigma de la habitación 622 de Joël Dicker merece la pena.

En principio la idea me pareció interesante, se trataba de descubrir al asesino del huésped de un hotel y lo iba a hacer nada mas y nada menos que el mismo Joël Dicker. Luego la trama se complica y la historia va continuamente hacia atrás y hacia adelante y se convierte en una historia de bancos, espías , amores y desamores . Todavía más interesante si cabe.
No es difícil seguir la novela porque no hay tantos personajes y la manera característica de escribir del autor es muy entretenida. Creo que entretenida es la palabra que mejor define a la novela , te ves atrapado sin querer en los altibajos de las vidas de los personajes y quieres saber qué les va a pasar, si van a triunfar , si se van a querer , si les van a pillar , quieres saberlo todo y no puedes dejar de leer.
Hacia el final de la novela hay algunas sorpresas que incluso después de haber leído todos los libros anteriores de Dicker no pude imaginar ni por asomo. Eso me encantó. El factor sorpresa le añade todavía mas valor a la novela.
Recomiendo este libro sin duda a todos los fans de Joël Dicker y a todas las personas que todavía están en sus casas sin poder o querer salir mucho. Lo vais a disfrutar.

Singapore like you've never seen before

La Sombra del Viento de Carlos Ruiz Zafon es una maravilla.

Leí este libro hace mucho tiempo, pero el autor acaba de fallecer y necesitaba decir que es un libro maravilloso para ratones de biblioteca, una lectura obligatoria para amantes de la literatura, escrito por un genial escritor.

I read this book a long time ago but the author just died today and I needed to say that it's a wonderful book for bookworms, a must-read for book lovers, written by a great writer.

Ghibli Museum Online: a must for fans who cannot travel now.

The famous Ghibli museum has recently shared some videos for people to enjoy. This museum has a strict no-photo policy which makes this unique possibility something perfect for fans.

You can watch more videos on their YouTube channel.

How to get there 

Yoga with Adriene: my favourite yoga channel on YouTube

For this time of uncertainty and lack of physical activity Yoga with Adriene is one of the best ways to keep fit and relax at the same time.
Whenever I can, I do yoga at the end of my day and it certainly makes a huge difference.

Thank you very much, Adriene!

Malice by Keigo Higashino

This was my first book by Keigo Higashino and I found it very interesting not only because I love Japanese culture but also because the way this murder story is written is quite different from traditional western murder novels. Although the identity of the murderer is revealed halfway through the book, I just couldn't stop reading, I wanted to know why and I was certainly surprised by the outcome.
If you are a fan of this genre and have never read a Japanese author, this could be a good book to start.

What to read while in self-isolation.

Midnight at the Blackbird Café. (A feel-good novel)
     

A delightfully heart-warming novel. All the readers who love, hate, regret and long will relate to this story of hope and forgiveness. I'd move to the wonderful village of Wicklow in a heartbeat if I could.

A must-read for book worms. If you can, read it with a piece of fruit pie, it will make it even better.

Whiskey in a Teacup. (A novel about the joys of Southen living )

What can I say? I can't cook and I loved the book. I've never been to the south of the US and I'm willing to move there right now.
A lovely read with delightful pictures and heart-warming stories.

Red Tea (A mystery in a foreign country)

This novel is set in Japan, one of the most fascinating countries in the world because of its unique culture which the author describes in many parts of the book. If you love that country, this book is certainly for you and you will wish you had some green tea and a delicious onigiri to enjoy while you are reading.

Little Fires Everywhere. (A must-read before watching the TV show)

A very entertaining novel about the seemingly perfect life of an upper-middle-class American suburb. The author describes skillfully the ups and downs of the wealthy Richardson family and the struggling Warren mother and daughter.

Defy the Stars (A YA Sci-Fi/Romance novel)

Claudia Gray has written a beautiful novel about what means to be human and to have a soul. It may seem an ordinary sci-fi/romance YA novel but it's much more.

What makes this novel special, in my opinion, is the development of the characters, a human and a robot and their growth and evolution in the book. They question their beliefs and are able to make tough decisions.


The Little Book of Higge.(A novel to learn about another culture)

A good book to read right now. Although everything the author mentions is not possible at the moment,I think it will make you feel better at home.

An astronaut's guide to self-isolation.

The Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield gives sensible tips and answers children's question on how to cope with this difficult time.

Eliza Starts a Rumor by Jane L. Rosen : opinion

A very nice novel about female friendship. If you are tired of reading about mean girls and what to read something meaningful that will make you feel empowered, this book is for you.

The Aosawa Murders by Riku Onda

An unconventional mystery novel for readers who have read it all. I liked the different points of view of the story although at times it seemed slightly confusing. I strongly recommend this novel to fans of Japanese culture, they will find it delightful in spite of the horrific crime committed at the beginning of the novel. Don't expect a crystal clear ending, though, it doesn't end abruptly but I wish the author had been more explicit.

There are several clues throughout the novel that make me think it takes place in the city of Kanazawa, known for the amazing Kenrokuen garden. However, it's just called K-city in the book.

 

House on Endless Waters by Emuna Elon

The writer Yoel Blum embarks on a journey of self-discovery surrounded by the popular canals of the city of Amsterdam and those lucky readers who have found this precious novel will travel with him.

House on Endless Waters will move you to tears and anger, it will also forever change that idyllic image you may have of The Netherlands. It's a novel within a novel, a gem for bookworms, one of those stories that must be written in order not to be forgotten, a must.

I strongly recommend it to those people who look back at WWII and think that it could never happen again, not here, not now, not to us.

Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison: review

I liked the way it was written, the unreliable narrators, the twists and turns of the plot and the fact that most characters were well developed. However, I didn't like what happened in the novel, too dark and too implausible at times. However, for fans of wicked characters and secrets a galore, this may be the perfect book. Mind you, don't read it while you (or your children) are away in a boarding school.


N.B. I posted this review accidentally about Good Girls Don't Lie by Alexandra Diaz. They are obviously different books with very similar names.

Recipe for a Perfect Wive by Karma Brown

I think that this book is mainly about the way the situation of married women has changed over time, for the better in most cases.

I found the novel captivating but what I loved most were the quotes at the beginning of the chapters. Particularly this one:

"The average man marries a woman who is slightly less intelligent than he is. That's why many brilliant women never marry. They do not come in contact with sufficiently brilliant men, or fail to disguise their brilliance in order to win a man of somewhat less intelligence".
(Dr. Clifford R. Adams, Modern Bride,1952)

This quote is both hilarious and sad.

I recommend this book to married and single women who sometimes have the feeling that men and women are different species.