Content warning: This book discusses sexual violence, war crimes, and trauma. About the Book Perawan Remaja dalam Cengkeraman Militer (Teenage Girls in the Military’s Grasp) is not a novel but a collection of historical testimonies compiled by Pramoedya Ananta Toer during his exile on Buru Island. The book documents the harrowing stories of Indonesian teenage…
Some time ago, I came across a post on social media claiming that God or the universe gives us relationship intuition signs about who our soulmate will be. As I began reading through the replies, I found myself nodding along with those who agreed with this statement about these intuition signs. One person shared how…
As another year unfolds, I find myself in my familiar January ritual – scrolling through horoscopes predictions with a mixture of curiosity, hope, and yes, a slight tinge of anxiety. As a Virgo who also follows Chinese astrology (my animal is a Dog), I’ve always found myself straddling two celestial worlds, picking up nuggets of…
Haruki Murakami’s After Dark is a nocturnal exploration of Tokyo’s underbelly. The real and surreal blurs as the clock ticks towards dawn. The novel unfolds over the course of one night. It begins by introducing us to Mari Asai, a 19 year old student, who finds herself drawn into a series of unexpected encounters starting…
David Sedaris’ “Happy-Go-Lucky” invites readers into his pandemic-era world with the sharp wit and dark humour he is renowned for. Known as master satirist, Sedaris has a knack for extracting humour from the bleakest situation. He exaggerates at times, but always hitting a note of truth. In this collection of personal essays, Sedaris navigates a…
Summary Few novels tread the fine line between dark humour and gripping family drama quite like Oyinkan Braithwaite’s “My Sister, The Serial Killer.” They said blood is thicker than water, that’s why family always comes first. This novel explores the lengths to which one may go to protect their kin. “My Sister, The Serial Killer”…
Welcome to The Haptic Room’s monthly books recommendation! In May, we will embark on a journey through literature, offering thrilling picks across genres. We are just getting started on this literary adventure. For a start, we are keeping it concise with three carefully curated books recommendation. Our goal is to provide a manageable selection of…
Guilt is a powerful emotion. When wielded by manipulative persons, guilt is capable of twisting our perceptions and behaviours. For those who are not familiar with the term, guilt trip is a tool to bend us to someone else’s will, exploiting our desire to please and avoid disappointment in the eyes of our loved ones….
Summary The book “She Gets The Girl” by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick is about enemies to best friends, to lovers. It is a tale of youthful discovery and personal growth. Alex Blackwood and Molly Parker, our protagonists, couldn’t be more different at first glance. It’s like they don’t belong in the same world. Alex…
