escapades of the elusive kat

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Gabrielle Zevin
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From the best-selling author of The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry: On a bitter-cold day, in the December of his junior year at Harvard, Sam Masur exits a subway car and sees, amid the hordes of people waiting on the platform, Sadie Green. He calls her name. For a moment, she pretends she hasn’t heard him, but then, she turns, and a game begins: a legendary collaboration that will launch them to stardom.

These friends, intimates since childhood, borrow money, beg favors, and, before even graduating college, they have created their first blockbuster, Ichigo. Overnight, the world is theirs. Not even twenty-five years old, Sam and Sadie are brilliant, successful, and rich, but these qualities won’t protect them from their own creative ambitions or the betrayals of their hearts.

Spanning thirty years, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Venice Beach, California, and lands in between and far beyond, Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love.




I didn’t really like the book, but neither did I dislike the book. The storyline in itself is very sweet. But the characters, I don’t know why, I especially disliked Sadie. In a way I thought I should side with her, girls unite and all that, but I just thought she was a bully. A great big bully that didn’t really know what she wanted. I do concede that there were parts that Sam was being unfair too. Marx was mystifying in the “he’s supposed to be full of flaws but you can’t put a finger on it and turns out he’s great.”

This multiple POV and with jumps in timelines (sometimes the past, sometimes referring to the future, then changing POVs) was a little dizzying, but it also made the entire book more interesting.

Yellowface
R.F. Kuang
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White lies. Dark humor. Deadly consequences… Bestselling sensation Juniper Song is not who she says she is, she didn’t write the book she claims she wrote, and she is most certainly not Asian American—in this chilling and hilariously cutting psychological thriller from R.F. Kuang, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Babel.

Authors June Hayward and Athena Liu were supposed to be twin rising stars in the world of literary fiction. But Athena’s a literary darling. June Hayward is literally nobody. Who wants stories about basic white girls, June thinks.

So when June witnesses Athena’s death in a freak accident, she acts on impulse: she steals Athena’s just-finished masterpiece, an experimental novel about the unsung contributions of Chinese laborers during World War I.

So what if June edits Athena’s novel and sends it to her agent as her own work? So what if she lets her new publisher rebrand her as Juniper Song—complete with an ambiguously ethnic author photo? Doesn’t this piece of history deserve to be told, whoever the teller? That’s what June claims, and the New York Times bestseller list seems to agree.

But June can’t get away from Athena’s shadow, and emerging evidence threatens to bring June’s (stolen) success down around her. As June races to protect her secret, she discovers exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.

With its totally immersive first-person voice from a masterfully crafted unreliable narrator, Yellowface grapples with questions of diversity, racism, and cultural appropriation, as well as the terrifying alienation of social media. R.F. Kuang’s novel is timely, razor-sharp, and eminently readable.


I was a little wary about reading another RF Kuang book (more because of the lengthy descriptions of everything) but when our book club voted for this book, I hunkered down and read.

I guess you could say June as a character was well written, because I hated her lol and had a lot of eye-rolling in her self-justifying explanations and diatribe.

It seems everything in there were… cliches? (Athena the “token exotic Asian presence”, reverse racial discrimination). I was particularly annoyed when June was writing her “second” book and said that “she double dipped and took Athena’s notes too”, when in writing the “problem book” she guaranteed that’s all she took, the manuscript of the first book, and that she was shocked that she forgot about the notebooks that Athena’s mom got later. Sort of felt like… there was nothing else to write about so this extra tidbit was added to be fodder to prolong the story.

The psychological game at the end was a little tense indeed but as June said “there are ways to say something that isn’t exactly the truth but isn’t a lie either,” I guess if she wanted to, she could spin that in her favor then.

Too Old For This
Samantha Downing
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“Equal parts hilarious and disturbing, Too Old for This kept me glued to the pages from beginning to end!”
—#1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden

A retired serial killer’s quiet life is upended by an unexpected visitor. To protect her secret, there’s only one option left—what’s another murder? From bestselling author Samantha Downing.

Lottie Jones thought her crimes were behind her.

Decades earlier, she changed her identity and tucked herself away in a small town. Her most exciting nights are the weekly bingo games at the local church and gossiping with her friends.

When investigative journalist Plum Dixon shows up on her doorstep asking questions about Lottie’s past and specifically her involvement with numerous unsolved cases, well, Lottie just can’t have that.

But getting away with murder is hard enough when you’re young. And when Lottie receives another annoying knock on the door, she realizes this crime might just be the death of her…


This was a fun read. I read some reviews on Goodreads and learned to go at this book with a “it’s a lighthearted thing”, and so it was.

Many of the “killings” felt impossible for a 70+ old lady, the clean up as well. I was slightly ticked off when Norma attacked her and she could have used that incident to just settle everything perfectly (self-defense or such), but of course, it’s more theatrical with the way the book actually went.

Although I’m just past 40, I’ve been working for over 20 years, and I can empathetically feel her. There are very many instances that I think “I’m too old for this sh*t”, and Lottie has been thinking that many a few times too.

It’s a fun read where you’re questioning yourself just why are you rooting for the serial killer. But hey, everything was done out of a mother’s love.

This conversation came about from my reading group. I just got really, really baffled for a moment.

So… Is it I have a language issue, or has everyone gone bonkers? This conversation was had in February, if we were talking about a meeting in “next month”, that would be… March… and then someone says it’s the Easter weekend… but Easter weekend is April, but everyone’s still continuing the conversation as if Easter is in March?

And I don’t need a scientific/religion (whatever) reason as to how to calculate Easter, I just wanted to say that… it’s not the Easter weekend next month…???

After I light-heartedly repeated that “yeah, Easter is in April and combined with Chinese Holiday Ching-Ming it’s gonna be a long weekend,” I didn’t add on to the conversation after this… and… the group is still going on the assumption that Easter is next month.

We’ll see, we’ll see. I’ll probably not go to the meeting this time around as I didn’t really finish the book. My brain was just not accepting the premises of the book. Kept asking “but why?” (It’s a time travel book but there’s no reason for the time travel, no “loop” in the future that sort of refers back to the time travel. You know, in these time travel stories there’s something in the future that references something in the past that somehow is related to the future or some such concept.

I guess… I’m just too fixated on the J-drama type of time travel? I dunno. This book is just not growing on me.

Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism
Amanda Montell
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What makes “cults” so intriguing and frightening? What makes them powerful? The reason why so many of us binge Manson documentaries by the dozen and fall down rabbit holes researching suburban moms gone QAnon is because we’re looking for a satisfying explanation for what causes people to join—and more importantly, stay in—extreme groups. We secretly want to know: could it happen to me? Amanda Montell’s argument is that, on some level, it already has . . .

Our culture tends to provide pretty flimsy answers to questions of cult influence, mostly having to do with vague talk of “brainwashing.” But the true answer has nothing to do with freaky mind-control wizardry or Kool-Aid. In Cultish, Montell argues that the key to manufacturing intense ideology, community, and us/them attitudes all comes down to language. In both positive ways and shadowy ones, cultish language is something we hear—and are influenced by—every single day.

Through juicy storytelling and cutting original research, Montell exposes the verbal elements that make a wide spectrum of communities “cultish,” revealing how they affect followers of groups as notorious as Heaven’s Gate, but also how they pervade our modern start-ups, Peloton leaderboards, and Instagram feeds. Incisive and darkly funny, this enrapturing take on the curious social science of power and belief will make you hear the fanatical language of “cultish” everywhere.


I planned this to be a slow listen-when-I-have-time for background noise but parts of the book had caught my attention, so this was a very pleasant surprise.

Reading the other reviews, maybe because I listened to the book, so the “getting back to this later” didn’t quite get me (though I know I’ve heard that at least thrice), there were parts of the book that really caught my interest.

Not sure if author meant as a tongue in cheek or in all seriousness, but on why some people are more susceptible to these cult bs language is when you’re in a good mood… and when you’re in bad mood you catch the BS more easily, so ergo, stay grumpy? I guess. I wonder if that’s why I can catch these cult-ish vibes so early on.

I also never thought to class fitness groups into cults but it seems to make sense.

Pretty eye-opening as I haven’t read that many books on cults yet. I felt like this was a good intro to it.

Fair Play
Eve Rodsky
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A revolutionary, real-world solution to the problem of unpaid, invisible work that women have shouldered for too long.

It started with the Sh*t I Do List. Tired of being the "shefault" parent responsible for all aspects of her busy household, Eve Rodsky counted up all the unpaid, invisible work she was doing for her family -- and then sent that list to her husband, asking for things to change. His response was... underwhelming. Rodsky realized that simply identifying the issue of unequal labor on the home front wasn't enough: She needed a solution to this universal problem. Her sanity, identity, career, and marriage depended on it.

The result is Fair Play: a time- and anxiety-saving system that offers couples a completely new way to divvy up domestic responsibilities. Rodsky interviewed more than five hundred men and women from all walks of life to figure out what the invisible work in a family actually entails and how to get it all done efficiently. With four easy-to-follow rules, 100 household tasks, and a figurative card game you play with your partner, Fair Play helps you prioritize what's important to your family and who should take the lead on every chore from laundry to homework to dinner.

"Winning" this game means rebalancing your home life, reigniting your relationship with your significant other, and reclaiming your Unicorn Space -- as in, the time to develop the skills and passions that keep you interested and interesting. Are you ready to try Fair Play? Let's deal you in.


hm... actually a DNF but I think I had finished the "theoretical" parts of the book, I had to stop when it was just a continuous listing down of specific examples because it was just getting my blood boil and annoyed and I DO NOT NEED my mood to be affected on this fine day.

If I have to read... "pun intended" one more time........

IMHO, you don't just breakdown tasks into sub-tasks. Nice of her to add sub-tasks to her tasks, but his tasks are just the one task... which, objectively AND subjectively can be broken down into several sub-tasks as well, so why do only her tasks get the sub-tasks? Is that to inflate her number of tasks? Is THAT considered fair?

In a way these feel like... "people with money" (first world?) problems. The never-ending chicken-or-egg question... yes, you have the home making mental load, yes, he is the breadwinner, but hey, he does have his mental load at work. He can just not work, and there will be totally no money, and with no money, you have a different set of problems.

I'm not saying I agree that the breadwinner is the total winner here. The breadwinner should also be compassionate about the home maker's mental load, just as the home maker should show compassion to the breadwinner's mental load at work. You think sitting there in the office/workplace is such a stress-free no-need-for-mental-gymnastics job?

Alright, I'm not married, don't have kids, and I do not live in the US, so I can't really comment much on the specific tasks and way of doing things and such. But hey, it comes down to respecting your partner's (be it life partner, work partner, colleague, friend, spouse, whatever) work and time and whether or not they are putting the time and thought to be considerate of the other.

Maybe I'm naive and don't get the real issue because "you don't see the problem until it happens to you" but, I think it's all about being respectful to each other's time and effort.

The House in the Cerulean Sea
TJ Klune
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Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He's tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world.

Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light.

The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place—and realizing that family is yours.


This book was one of the suggestions in the (new) book club I’m in. I was a little bamboozled though!

When I first read the synopsis, I commented to the suggester (who was a friend outside of the club as well) that “I’m getting queer vibes from the synopsis” and she said “no! I promise you!” Queer or not, it would have been fine, but after being promised that it wasn’t, and that then it WAS, I was a little miffed. Nothing against Queer-ness, it’s more of the “that’s what I said but you said it wasn’t!!” type of annoyance. (Yes, I have to be proven right lol)

I’m surprised discussions in the book were mostly so… civilized. Is that… British? (Looks up on Google)… and alright, it felt very, very British to me.

I’ll say, I knew from the start something was up with Arthur and had some inkling about what exactly. The book has many many hints in the beginning and referring back and repeating small phrases and comments that just pushes you to reconsider “hm….. something is up.” There’s a lack of actual physical action/conflict and everything is being discussed so civilly, that it just gives off this very British vibe. In a way it’s very heartwarming and feel-good.

This is my first TJ Klune book, so is this his style of writing? I dunno. But I’m about to find out, coz I’m going to explore this author!

Dead-End Memories
Banana Yoshimoto (author), Asa Yoneda (translator)
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First published in Japan in 2003 and never before published in the United States, Dead-End Memories collects the stories of five women who, following sudden and painful events, quietly discover their ways back to recovery.
Among the women we meet in Dead-End Memories is one betrayed by her fiancé who finds a perfect refuge in an apartment above her uncle's bar while seeking the real meaning of happiness. In "House of Ghosts," the daughter of a yoshoku restaurant owner encounters the ghosts of a sweet elderly couple who haven't yet realized that they've been dead for years. In "Tomo-chan's Happiness," an office worker who is a victim of sexual assault finally catches sight of the hope of romance.
Yoshimoto's gentle, effortless prose reminds us that one true miracle can be as simple as having someone to share a meal with, and that happiness is always within us if only we take a moment to pause and reflect. Discover this collection of what Yoshimoto herself calls the "most precious work of my writing career."


This is actually the second Banana Yoshimoto book I’ve read (the first was Goodbye, Tsugumi). I don’t quite remember what I thought about that one, just that, it was about some dying the friend, but that friend just never died (until the end of the book). I forget if it was some real thing or something that was made up by the friend.

This had about 5 snippets or stories, all of which, per usual Japanese authored books, had no real conclusion to them. I think I kind of related the most to the main character of the last story (Dead-End Memories), whereas the one I could not relate to the most was probably the first one (The House of Ghosts). I can see the practical-ness of it, but I couldn’t see any real person actually ok with it (or maybe there are, how would I know).

Cute, I-thought-it-would-be-a-quick-read-but-wasn’t.

The God of the Woods
Liz Moore
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When a teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, two worlds collide

Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found.

As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.

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I’m starting to feel really impressed by my local library having all these Libby books and audiobooks available - with no waiting time. Or I’m just lucky, and the service is still new so not many people use it, but yeah.

I find there are many unbelievable parts in this book.

Barbara goes missing, and (spoilers) it ended up she went into hiding. Conceptually it’s all fine, but how believable is that? She’s described as being a goth (hair dyed black, black eyeliner) but also skillful in the ways of camping? To me, it feels a bit far fetched.

I got particularly miffed at the Louise’s parts. Well yeah, I really hate it when reading about some innocent being accused, but then honestly Louise wasn’t helping herself either, what with her lying as well.

Overall not a bad read, but I think there were quite a few unnecessary POVs (Tracy’s, for one). Also, the author seemed to be writing all these elaborate scenes, giving lengthy explanations, but then at the end of it… wrapped up pretty quickly. I was like “huh?” And it ended.

The Measure
Nikki Erlick
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"A story of love and hope as interweaving characters display: how all moments, big and small, can measure a life. If you want joy, love, romance, and hope—read with us." —Jenna Bush Hager

A luminous, spirit-lifting blockbuster that asks: would you choose to find out the length of your life?

Eight ordinary people. One extraordinary choice.

It seems like any other day. You wake up, drink a cup of coffee, and head out.

But today, when you open your front door, waiting for you is a small wooden box. The contents of this mysterious box tells you the exact number of years you will live.

From suburban doorsteps to desert tents, every person on every continent receives the same box. In an instant, the world is thrust into a collective frenzy. Where did these boxes come from? What do they mean? Is there truth to what they promise?

As society comes together and pulls apart, everyone faces the same shocking choice: Do they wish to know how long they’ll live? And, if so, what will they do with that knowledge?

The Measure charts the dawn of this new world through an unforgettable cast of characters whose decisions and fates interweave with one another: best friends whose dreams are forever entwined, pen pals finding refuge in the unknown, a couple who thought they didn’t have to rush, a doctor who cannot save himself, and a politician whose box becomes the powder keg that ultimately changes everything.

Enchanting and deeply uplifting, The Measure is an ambitious, invigorating story about family, friendship, hope, and destiny that encourages us to live life to the fullest.


This book was recommended by a friend, we hadn’t talked for a long time, and then she suddenly reached out to ask about ereader devices, then she mentioned having heard of a recommendation for this book.

I found the premise a little silly (suddenly, worldwide, everyone over 22 receives a box with a string. Box and string are indestructible, and string length is how long your life is). But, premise aside, the incidents that happen are indeed interesting.

We follow the stories/viewpoints of a few characters. Some people decide to look at the string, some people decide not to look.

Hm… I was a little annoyed at Amy with her see-sawing decision and being oh so understanding in her letters, but then having double-standards in real life. I had a fleeting thought of “huh, the thing is she doesn’t know if *this certain thing will happen*” and what do you know…. *that certain thing* did happen. Called it.

This is ultimately a feel-good book. I think I read this at a good time, with my dog passing away yesterday and me reaching the end of the book, it has actually helped me look at the situation that “17 years of a life well-lived” (even for a dog).