Broken Summer: one man is forced to confront the past, the secrets and lies that surround it

Broken Summer by J.M. Lee and translated by An Seon Jae is a story of a mysterious death, lies and a secret that one man spent 26 years running from until one fateful day. Lee Hanjo is an artist who is envied and celebrated. On the morning of his 43rd birthday, he wakes up to find his devoted wife gone and a completed, not yet published book she had secretly written. A story about an unsavory past and the questionable past of an artist that was eerily similar to his own and one summer when a deadly lie tragically destroys two families. Dread fills him as he realizes that his life is about to shatter and the demons he has been running from have caught up with him. Why did his wife do it? And why now? 

Described as a master storyteller, J.M. Lee is a renowned Korean author. He delivers an unforgettable story of hidden truths, lies, and the inevitable consequences. The past won’t stay buried and deceptions will be unraveled. The writing is beautifully poetic and with every twist and turn, readers will be on the edge of their seats. The story does start off a bit slow; but as Hanjo remembers the details of that fateful summer, the story picks up pace as he tries to discover who his wife really is and what her motivations could possibly be. With multiple points of views, dual timelines and very character driven. They may not be characters to root for or care about; however, they are intriguing as the mystery unfolds. If you enjoy a sleepy thriller with a fast paced ending, I highly recommend Broken Summer. 

Broken Summer is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Easy Life in Kamusari: where modern meets traditional life

The Easy Life in Kamusari by Shion Miura and translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter is the first book in the Forest Series. It is a story where modern and traditional life meets in the gorgeous splendor of Japanese mountain life. Yuki Hirano has graduated high school and his parents enroll him in a forestry training program in the remote mountain village of Kamusari. Against his will and with no phone, no interest, he is thrusted into the small, inviting community where the motto is “take it easy.” At first, Yuki fumbles with the tools, asks silly questions and feels every bit the outsider. However, the pull of the scent of the cedars and breathtaking beauty begins to have a lasting effect on him. As he learns the trade, he embraces the traditions of the village and learns a new respect for the forests with its secrets and harmony. 

The Easy Life of Kamuari is a warm coming of age story told in Miura’s lyrical style which sets a mood and will entrance readers as they take this journey into a Japanese mountain community. It is a beautiful and yet simple story of one young man’s life in a mountain village where he learns to work hard when he can and rest when it’s needed. One of my favorite quotes is “Running around won’t make the trees grow faster. Get plenty of rest, eat hearty, and tomorrow take what comes.” It is a beautiful way to say let tomorrow worry about tomorrow. While readers will see the story through Yuki’s eyes, the mountain itself is a character filled with vibrant life and mysterious secrets. It is an easy read as the story flows like a river, calm and relaxing. I highly recommend The Easy Life in Kamusari. 

The Easy Life in Kamusari is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook

Desert Flowers: what secrets are hidden deep in the middle of nowhere?

Desert Flowers by Paul Pen and translated by Simon Bruni is the story of one family living deep in the Baja California desert with a dark secret. Rose and Elmer have created life for themselves and their five daughters out in the middle of nowhere. They are cut off from all of modern society. They will preserve their way of life and their secret at all costs. It all seems to be working until one day when a young hiker named Rick knocks on their front door. He needs a place to stay, just for the night he says. But it’s long enough for Rose and Elmer to realize they made a horrible mistake. The longer Rick stays, the more intrusive and suspicious he becomes. What they don’t know is that Rick has a secret too. Soon, the family sanctuary won’t be a warm and inviting place anymore. It will become dark and cold as the desert nights. What will happen when their secrets are revealed? 

Paul Pen writes unusual stories which look deeper into the human psyche and behaviors they will do in order to protect themselves and their secrets. After reading Pen’s Light of the Fireflies, I had an idea of the type of story I was getting myself into. Desert Flowers is a very haunting, twisted story which leaves no happy ending. On the surface, the family seems to be happy at their desert hideaway. It is only with the appearance of the handsome stranger does the family start to show their cracks and their unhappiness. There were a few characters I liked but there were many characters that broke my heart especially Melissa, the 13-year-old, middle daughter. It is a book I enjoyed reading as it kept my attention but it is a hard story to recommend. It is not light or easy to read. It is a story where the lines are blurred between heroes and villains. If you enjoy dark, twisted stories, I recommend Desert Flowers. 

Desert Flowers is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook

At the End of the Matinee: a lyrical love story

At the End of the Matinee by Keiichiro Hirano, translated by Juliet Winters Carpenter is an extraordinary love story. Classical guitarist Satoshi Makino has toured the world and after one particular concert in Tokyo, he lays eyes on journalist Yoko Komine. Their bond is instantaneous. They begin a conversation that would go on for years through phone calls and emails. Even when they had spells of silence, they would always pick up where they left off. Makino is drawn to her refinement and intellect and she is drawn to his sensitivity and tenderness he displays through his music. But both of them are unfamiliar with love to see it blooming and lack the confidence to make the first move. Like the notes on the page and the duet of instruments in a symphony, they seem to be drawn together in a melody only they can hear. Will their love endure or will fate keep them apart?

At the End of the Matinee is a lovely, thought-provoking love story. I enjoyed the poetic and lyrical love story that Makino and Yoko engage in. It had the highs and lows and sweeping movements of a great symphony. It is a slow read as the author’s words describe the beautiful dance that these two seem to be a part of. The two meet late in their lives when their lives are centered around their careers and thoughts of love seem like a distant, foolhardy dream. But love can spring up at any moment. At the End of the Matinee is not a traditional romance that I am most familiar with but I enjoyed the connection Makino and Yoko have and the honesty and openness they have with each other. They discuss many serious topics such as war, PTSD and the lonely side of music. It is a beautiful story.  I recommend At the End of the Matinee. 

At the End of the Matinee is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook. 

The Light of the Fireflies: a haunting story

The Light of the Fireflies by Paul Pen (translated by Simon Bruni) is a haunting, yet hopeful, tale of discovering light in the darkest places. The boy, 11,  spent his entire life underground, in a basement with his parents, grandmother, older sister and older brother. Before he was born, his family was disfigured by a fire with his sister wearing a mask to cover her burns. He spends hours with his cactus plant, reading a book on insects or touching the one ray of light that filters through a crack in the ceiling. When his sister has a baby, everyone’s behavior becomes very strange. The boy begins to wonder why the baby’s father is never mentioned. What events led to them living in the basement and why do they have to be shut away? When fireflies find their way into the basement, the light makes the boy want to escape, to know the outside world. But the doors are all locked and he doesn’t know how to get out. Can he find a way to escape? 

I started to read this book a couple years ago and had to put it away. The book was strange and hard to follow. Recently, I decided to pick it up again and I’m glad I did. The Light of the Fireflies is a haunting, twisted tale of one family hiding from the world. The reader discovers with the boy why they are hiding. Are they hiding because they fear the world? Or are they hiding from a darker secret? Overall, I enjoyed the story but it is very heavy reading that takes concentration and a certain frame of mind to imagine life in a basement and the secrets behind this family’s motivations. I enjoyed the boy as he is the only one who does not know what the outside world is, the rest of the family manipulates him according to his or her own motivations. He is the one with the drive to discover the truth behind their situation and their stories are starting to contradict each other and lack sense. I recommend The Light of the Fireflies. 

The Light of the Fireflies is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook.