The Sweetest Book I Read This Year!! (ZAN! #13)
plus, dreamy indie pop, childhood dreams coming true, cool fight scenes, and more!
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Hello, all!
Spooky season has come and gone without much of a peep from me about the horror genre because I am quite possibly the world’s biggest wimp. (It’s really the one downfall of this newsletter.)
Perhaps next year I’ll enlist one of my scary movie connoisseur friends to write a guest post — but for now, feel free to recommend your favorite Asian spooky content in the comments below, if you feel so inclined.
Either way, I’m happy to be moving on from fear and candy corn and diving headfirst into Christmas joy!
Before we jump in, a quick question — Would you be interested in a holiday gift guide featuring products from Asian-owned businesses? 🎁
Now, onwards to the recommendations!
📖 Durian Sukegawa - Sweet Bean Paste
Dare I say it? I think Sweet Bean Paste might be one of my favorite books that I read this year.
A slim novel by Durian Sukegawa, Sweet Bean Paste tells a poignant tale about an unlikely pairing: a despondent dorayaki vendor, and an eager old woman who makes incredible sweet bean paste.
As the two grow in relationship, their personal struggles and demons — both past and present — slowly come to light.
It’s a beautiful, simple story that had me crying in a coffee shop as I turned the last few pages. I absolutely recommend this book if you’re looking for a read with a lot of heart.
Fans of Sweet Bean Paste will also love Days at the Morisaki Bookshop (basically guaranteed).
🎵 Numcha
A rising singer-songwriter from Thailand, Numcha is one to watch.
With an upbeat sound and endearingly personal lyrics about her very real crushes (primarily sung in English), her music is a great find for lovers of charming indie pop.
Her latest EP, hewantscoffebutiamtea, marks her foray into more of an indie rock sound, which I find to be a really welcome shift. If you’re a fan of artists like beabadoobee, give hewantscoffebutiamtea a listen!
📺 Wes Anderson x Roald Dahl Short Films (feat. Dev Patel and Ben Kingsley)
Nestled inside a bookshelf in my childhood home is a copy of The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More, a short story collection by Roald Dahl that captured my imagination as a young reader.
(It’s also undoubtedly one of the books that set the foundation for my short story obsession in adulthood.)
Naturally, I was thrilled to find that Wes Anderson would be directing four short films based on Roald Dahl’s short stories.
After viewing the films, I’m even more delighted by their sincere and faithful depiction of Dahl’s writing, and their wonderfully talented ensemble cast (including Dev Patel and Ben Kingsley, both of Gujarati descent, plus some other star-studded members like Benedict Cumberbatch).
Watch Patel and Kingsley in action in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Poison, but also don’t miss The Rat Catcher and The Swan. These short films are a careful balance of whimsy and darkness, and each one is beautifully directed (of course). You can find them on Netflix.
📖 June Hur - The Forest of Stolen Girls
This book wins the ZAN! award for First YA Novel To Be Featured On The Newsletter (I Think), woohoo! 🏆 I don’t find myself reaching for YA too often, but the premise of this book intrigued me enough to give this one a try.
In Joseon-era Korea, Min Hwani’s father goes missing while investigating the disappearance of 13 girls from a small town on Jeju Island. In an effort to find her father, Hwani, along with her estranged sister, attempt to solve the mystery of the darkness that looms over the town.
This book is a great choice for a younger reader who has a mind for historical mysteries, and is also very much worth reading if you’re an adult who likes picking up the occasional YA novel, like me!
📺 Bonus: Who’s Watching Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2?
While watching the Shibuya Incident arc of Jujutsu Kaisen, I turned to my husband mid-episode and said, “Who do I think I am? I watch Bob’s Burgers.” (Meaning: My little heart cannot handle this much stress and darkness. That’s why I watch comedy all the time.)
But I gotta admit, it’s a great show. Art is A+. Fight scenes are fantastic. I will continue to brave through the darkness! Let me know if you’re geeking out with me.
🙇🏻♀️ Now, it’s your turn!
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Until next time,
Rebecca
Thank you for these recommendations!
More books added to my TBR list! Thank you for sharing!