So much of my life has changed recently – from getting married in July, moving to a new place and changing routines. But books have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up, my parents couldn’t say no whenever my siblings and I wanted to buy a new book to fill the shelves. The consequence is a home still lined with rows of books we’ve collected as a family of 6, some collecting dust, and some so loved that the spines are broken.

This year, I have read more books than I could remember in recent years. To continue this upward momentum, I started journaling some of my thoughts, and wanted to share some of my recent reads for anyone willing to listen. I decided to revamp this blog so I can do just that, while allowing for room to grow.

Oh, and I bought an e-reader. So armed with new technology, I present three books I have read recently:

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1. The House of Grief: The Story of a Murder by Helen Garner

The House of Grief is a true crime, non-fiction book about Robert Farquharson, a father accused of murdering his three sons, Jai, Tyler and Bailey. The book was written from Helen Garner’s perspective as a journalist and bystander, acting as a guide as she takes us through the stages of a court trial.

I have Dua Lipa to thank for introducing me to Helen Garner. On her podcast, ‘Service95 Book Club’, she interviewed Garner on her experience and processes whilst writing a very sensitive, but honest account of a real criminal case. I was intrigued and borrowed the book from the local library the next morning.

I am unfamiliar with true crime, but I imagine it is not dissimilar to a murder mystery. I was wrong from the get-go – real-life stories are not as simple or as black and white. Through Garner’s eyes, I wanted the incident to be a tragic accident. When presented with witness accounts and evidence, my mind tried to string these pieces together, hoping to get the true account of what happened on Father’s Day 2005. I felt the same relief Garner felt; at least I was not the one sitting in the jury stand.

“I had made no vows. I was only an observer. Nothing life-altering would be required of me” 

2. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini 

In rural Afghanistan in the 1950s, A Thousand Splendid Suns starts with Mariam. Mariam’s world flipped on its axis when she turned 15 and was forced to marry. A decade or so later, we are then introduced to Laila, a well-educated young girl whose life came to a devastating halt when her parents were murdered. This book writes about their struggles, hopes, and survival. It is also a book about Afghanistan and the wars that devastated its land.

As soon as I turned to the first page, my heart was in Khaled Hosseini’s hands. This book made me experience every other emotion a human can experience, but at the forefront, I felt so much anger. I wanted to fight every useless man Mariam and Laila came across. I pitied them as they spent their lives through war and captivity. Nana’s warning in the beginning echoed in every chapter of the book. 

“Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always”

Yet, our protagonists weren’t deprived of love. Mariam and Laila found ways to foster hope and gather strength for their survival. They did not fall into despair, and every sacrifice mattered – has to matter.

You can tell Hosseini poured his heart and soul into this book. I can’t recommend this book enough.

3. Yellowface by R. F. Kuang

June Hayward was an author living in the shadow of her more successful friend, Athena Liu. Athena Liu is a best-selling author, brilliant and revolutionary in her craft. They meet each other for occasional catch-ups, where Athena dies in a tragic accident. In a spur-of-the-moment decision, June stole the last manuscript Athena wrote – possibly even her magnum opus. It was certainly June’s. 

“You have no assurance that what you’re creating has any value, and any indication that you’re behind in the rat race sends you spiralling into the pits of despair.’“

I read these books in the same order I listed them, so this was a fun read after two tragic stories. That said, it was hard to relate to June. Truthfully, she’s so annoying, and I know she was written that way. She’s an unapologetically narcissistic, racist, and jealous hack. And it seems everyone around her feeds into her ego. There’s no way June will get away with this – I didn’t want her to get away with it.

Reading this feels exactly like reading drama on social media. Or watching reality TV. Disaster strikes, and it’s hard to look away.

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After reading three vastly different books, I felt like I had just unlocked a new tier in a personal skill tree. I’ve been reading so many comfort romances lately (as exposed by my Goodreads), so to tackle modern classics and true crime is a good change of pace. It’s also a reminder that there’s still a world of books I haven’t read yet.

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