5 fascinating Books I read recently in June 2023

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Recent Reads June 2023

Someone Else’s Bucket List by Amy T. Matthews

I loved this story especially because I have a younger sister, and Someone Else's Bucket List explores this sisterhood bond wonderfully.

The story begins with Bree, who is in hospital due to cancer and is living out her last few days with her family by her side. Cut to the next chapter where it's almost a year after Bree's death but her effervescence remains in the form of videos she scheduled for her family to see after her death.

In one of her videos, she reveals that she had six items left on her bucket list and it was her dying wish that her sister complete that list in place of her. And because she was a prolific social media influencer Jodie her sister had to film herself doing all the bucket list items. And if she managed to tick off all a corporate sponsor would offload her family's entire medical debt.

Jodie is shocked and terrified and think's her sister is crazy but nevertheless, she does embark on the journey with the whole world watching and it is one crazy ride.

Although reading the first chapter felt like reading a cancer memoir, things picked up immediately after the second chapter and I thoroughly enjoyed the book after that. It was fun and uplifting and touching all in one go.

Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood

Judith (guzzles whisky and solves crossword puzzles), Beth(Vicar’s wife), and Suzie( professional dog sitter and walker) are a trio of murder-solving netizens of Marlow. And this time they’ve been invited to a wedding by the groom who fears for his life.

Sir Peter Bailey invites notable citizens of Marlow for champagne before the day of his wedding and ends up dead in his own study, which is locked from the outside. He has been crushed by a huge wooden cabinet that magically falls on him.

The police believe it’s suicide because obviously the room was locked! But, Judith’s instincts are razor sharp, and she believes it is a locked room murder mystery. Will Judith and the team be able to find the murderer before it’s too late?

The English setting, the amateur detectives, the whole cozy country vibe, and the lust for money and titles make it a perfect, twisty read for fans of Agatha Christie or The Thursday Murder Club.

Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu

A novel about race, immigration, the compulsory roles we have to play in society, and speaking up for yourself.

Willis Wu is the generic Asian man doing roles in the background more like a prop but whose dream forever since childhood has been to become the Kung Fu guy. The most coveted role for Asian men in the cop show production he works for. It's like the pinnacle for him. But his mother's words always ring at the back of his mind. Be More. But he doesn't know how to be more or what is more. 

Finally, after years of hard work Wu lands the spot but a wider world opens up to him and the once coveted position becomes not so special for him. A very personal and moving account of the journey of a race into America, that is bold and daring and witty at the same time.

Quiet : The power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking by Susan Cain

Forever people and children who are quiet, shy, sensitive, and serious have been misunderstood. But it is time for everyone to listen to what they have to say, even though their voice is not as loud and lively as the naturally extroverted. And that is where Susan Cain’s Quiet helps us understand what this silence means.

Quiet as a book, is vital not only for calm people to understand themselves better, but also for the outgoing to understand their quiet partners/colleagues/friends.

The theme of the book is fresh and very relevant as unknown to us one-third of the world consists of introverts. And perhaps it is time we listen to this quiet voice of calm and reflection in this chaotic and loud world.

24 Hours with Gaspar by Sabda Armandio translated from Indonesian by Lara Norgaard

This one is a weird but very entertaining read.

The story happens over a day. Gaspar, the protagonist, and his gang, consisting of Agnes, Pongo, Pingi, Njet, and Kiki are onto a heist. They plan to rob a jewelry store. Intermingled in that story is an interview transcript where a forgetful and old Tati is being interviewed about the murder of a young boy.

The way the two storylines intermingle was a little confusing in the beginning. But a couple of chapters in and the story picked up my interest. I loved The way how the suspense about the robbery was slowly built and taken to an existing peak.

Don’t be fooled by the sci-fi description of the story. It’s just set in a future Jakarta that is submerged in water and also there is a motorbike that has a mind of its own. Despite being sci-fi I loved how the folk tales of Indonesia were skilfully woven into the plot.

Overall I think I’d recommend this book as an interesting fun book for a quick escape.