Author: Hiromi Kawakami
Translated by: Ted Goossen
Pages: 121 – Paperback
Geemiz Rating: 2.8/5
I thought this would be another charming Japanese translation read, but it isn’t—though that doesn’t mean I don’t want to continue reading the book. Since I have two hours to spare on my boat ride from Bohol to Cebu, I might as well continue what I started.
This is my first time reading Hiromi Kawakami, so I didn’t know what to …
Bataan Death March Run, or BDM Ultramarathon, is known as the grandfather of the Philippines Ultramarathon and even listed as one of the most prestigious ultramarathons in the Philippines due to the significant historical background that it had.
History of Bataan Death March Run Philippines
BDM 102KM and BDM 160KM are created, organized, and directed by retired Major General Jovenal “Jovie” Narcise famously known in the running community as the Bald Runner. Recently the …
Author: Hiroko Oyamada
Translated by: David Boyd
Setting: Japan | Rural Japan
Pages: 71 – Paperback
Geemiz Rating: 2/5
The storytelling feels like I am watching a Japanese movie with a sepia tone, and when it ended, I just said, “ Oh! So that’s it?” But, don’t get me wrong, my emotions were stirred at the last part during the interaction between the old lady and the husband because I can relate to the couple.…
Last year, I joined Cebu Fun Run 2023 left and right and decided to take it slow and easy this year. I participated in the Cebu Fun Run 2024 once a month or at most twice when a new event comes up and I like the route or medal because we all know how we runners love our hard-earned reward, plus trying a new Cebu running route is just as rewarding.
Here is the list …
Author: Hisashi Kashiwai
Translated by: Jesse Kirkwood
Setting: Tokyo, Japan
Pages: 149 – Paperback
Geemiz Rating: 4/5
It took me a while to read the book because I initially thought it was another typical investigative story. While the investigative genre is my cup of tea, I’m currently trying to diversify my reading. You might ask why I didn’t read the plot summary first—well, I accept your criticism and agree with you on that, hahaha. By …
One of your Bohol itineraries, often your second stop after the Blood Compact site, is in Baclayon, Bohol, Philippines. Here, you can find the second oldest stone church in the Philippines – the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, famously known as the Baclayon Church.
Before you continue your day of touring around Bohol, take a short walk from Baclayon Church to Crescencia Food and Coffee. Here, you can get your locally sourced …
Is there a movie adaptation of the book Before The Coffee Gets Cold? The answer is YES. There is a movie adaptation of the book Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi. The movie is called Café Funiculi Funicula which is the name of the café in the book and the movie is directed by Ayuko Tsukahara.
The movie Café Funiculi Funicula has the same mysterious yet warm café vibes as the book. …
Author: Satoshi Yagisawa
Translated by: Eric Ozawa
Setting: Jimbocho, Tokyo, Japan
Pages: 176 – Paperback
Geemiz Rating: 5/5
I’m at a loss for words because More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is such a great narrative. Maybe I should just tell anyone to read this to go get their copy of the book and read it. And a note to Satoshi Yagisawa: Thank you for writing this story, sir, and I look forward to more …
Author: Elif Batuman
Setting: Harvard University and Hungary
Pages: 432
Geemiz Rating: 3/5
This is another book review that no one asked for, but I will keep on writing because I love to.
I chose this book because, first, it is a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and I get the impression that Pulitzer novels are difficult to read and contain interesting topics that I find cringe-worthy or difficult to digest, and I like challenging myself by …
I can say that 2024 has been a reading year for me—well, half of 2024. I think I have read more than in the past few years. Thanks for going back to book blogging and to my new Book Club Bookchikas who inspired me to open the books on my dusty bookshelf.
Book: The Idiot
Author: Elif Batuman
Rating: 3.5/5
Point of View:
For people like me who are curious about what Harvard College …