Akiko's Quiet Happiness: The Japan Trilogy, Vol. 1 by Jan-Philipp Sendker, translated by Daniel Bowles

(Thank you Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Two lonely former classmates reconnect in Tokyo and unravel a family secret in this touching new novel from the internationally bestselling author of The Art of Hearing Heartbeats.

Still grieving the death of her mother, 29-year-old Akiko is single and lives in self-imposed isolation in Tokyo. Then one evening, she unexpectedly runs into Kento, her first love from school. Kento now leads a reclusive life as a hikikomori, only venturing out at night.

At the same time, Akiko discovers evidence that her mother had been lying to her about their family, causing her to doubt everything. She has to admit to herself that she doesn’t know who she is.

With Kento’s help, Akiko embarks on a journey into her own history, which takes her life in surprising directions and leads her to questions she had never dared to ask herself How do I want to live? And do I have the courage to love?

my thoughts:

Love, love, loved this emotional and powerful read. Akiko's Quiet Happiness is the first volume in Jan-Philipp Sendker's The Japan Trilogy and it is amazing. The story is mesmerizing, quiet, and, deep in its exploration of isolation, family, and, love. I couldn't help but get caught up in Akiko's story - I was captivated right from the start. I had to know what she would do and what would happen next in her journey of self-discovery. It was fascinating and thought-provoking. I loved it! I look forward to the next volume. And, I would happily recommend this amazing book to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read. You are going to fall in deep with Akiko's Quiet Happiness.  

Thank you Other Press for providing me with a copy of this book!

We Should Have Left Well Enough Alone: Twenty Haunting Stories by Ronal Mali

(Thank you Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

A new mother is pursued by mysterious men in black. A misguided youth learns the dark secrets of the world from an elderly neighbor on Halloween night. A housewarming party where the guests never leave. A caretaker tends to his rusted relic of a god deep in the desert... 

In his debut short story collection, Bram Stoker Award finalist Ronald Malfi mines the depths and depravities of the human condition, exploring the dark underside of religion, marriage, love, fear, regret, and hunger in a world that spins just slightly askew on its axis. Rich in atmosphere and character, Malfi's debut collection is not to be missed.

my thoughts:

I'm a huge fan of Ronald Malfi's novels. They are creepy, thrilling, and unputdownable. So, I was thrilled to get a copy of his short story collection, We Should Have Left Well Enough Alone. The book was originally published in 2017 and has be re-released by Titan Books today - January 27th, 2026. How exciting! 

Grabbing a huge cuppa, I settled down in a cozy spot, and dove right in. Right from the start I was hooked. How could I not be? A woman with a baby trying to make dinner, all the while wondering about the men in black outside her house, and a horrible smell that she can't seem to figure out - suffice it to say, that first story was disturbing, intriguing, riveting, and unforgettable. Wow! Oh, and there's a story about a married couple on a vacation who go out on a boat. Sharks abound and that is all I will say. Just know that you are in for a spooky treat with this gem - We Should Have Left Well Enough Alone - is a definite must-read!

I would happily recommend this book to fans of Malfi and anyone looking for their next horror book - you are going to LOVE this one to bits! Make sure to grab a copy ASAP! 

Thank you Titan Books for providing me with a copy of this book!

JLC19 - The Village Beyond the Mist by Sachiko Kashiwaba, translated by Avery Fischer Udagawa

(Thank you to Restless Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

My first read for the JLC19 is Sachikio Kashiwaba's marvelous book, The Village Beyond the Mist. I was feeling rather low and decided to give this lovely story a full go. I had started it a few days earlier, but couldn't seem to focus so I had set it aside. And now, here I was on 'blue Monday' picking it up and finally immersing myself in it. Talk about the perfect remedy for uplifting me from my current gloomy mood. 

A tiny village hidden behind a misty forest chock full of quirky characters and whimsical shops. How fun does that sound? Especially when you have a character like, Lina, a sixth-grade girl who is sent into this magical place for her summer break. She soon finds herself living in a dream room with a host of people that pique her interest. Well, except for Ms. Picotto, who Lina can't seem to befriend. Truthfully, no one seems to be on Ms. Picotto's good side. Regardless, Lina winds up enjoying her stay and working for the shops in town as a way to earn her keep. She gets caught up in a variety of unusual situations that push her to work hard, think of others, and lend a helping hand. It's fun, exciting, and sweet to read all about. Plus, the illustrations by Miho Satake were a highlight of the book. I loved turning the page and finding a drawing of Ms. Picotto - who is described as a 'stain' on the couch by Lina. Children really do say what's in their heads, eh? 

I won't share much more, because this book is a definite must-read. Make sure to grab a copy and dive on in - you are going to love it. I know that I did. Plus, I thought it was fun to learn that the book was the 

inspiration for the film Spirited Away. Written in 1975, The Village Beyond the Mist, was re-released by Yonder, an imprint of Restless Books in May of 2025. And, I'm so happy and grateful for this, because I absolutely fell in love with this book. I've only read one other book by Kashiwaba - The House of the Lost on the Cape - which I adored. So, I am definitely looking forward to reading more of her work. 

Thank you to Restless Books for providing me with a copy of this awesome book!

My Friday Five...

1. Decluttering. I've finally started. I'm going through my old journals and tearing up the ones that I don't want to keep. There are so many that I would not want to reread, because they are filled with all my anxiety and depression. So, I've been tearing them up and it feels so good. I'll probably wind up keeping one box of old journals in the end. 

2. DVDs. I've started to go through the massive collection we have - or at least it feels massive to me. I still use a DVD player, so I'm not going to get rid of all of them. However, I am getting rid of most of them. 

3. 100 Day Project starts February 22nd and I need to start thinking of what I want to work on for 100 days. If you have any ideas, please let me know. Thank you!

4. Journals. As I decluttered I put them all in piles according to the year. I could see how I started with one journal for one year and it increased to ten and then twenty based on how badly I was struggling with my anxiety and depression. Talk about eye-opening. Yikes!

5. Sleep. I need more of it. I'm hoping to sleep in this weekend. Wish me luck.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Happy reading!

Three Things...

1. Vertigo sucks. Woke up with it this morning thanks to anxiety and a night full of bad dreams. Ugh. I freaked out for a minute or five and then remembered to take a breath. I knew what was happening, so I knew what to do. That helped so much. I need to always remind myself of how far I've come, even if I still get hit with panic attacks and vertigo. I can handle it. 

2. Started a new book:

I'm a fan of the Helen Grace series and this is book #13. So far, I'm hooked! Love it!

3. Banana Bread and Brownies. I'm baking today. Banana bread for my mom and favorite aunt. Brownies for me - it was a rough morning. Plus, the winter weather calls for baked goods. 

Wishing you all lovely day. Happy reading!