My usual reading round-up is a bit late – I’ve been putting it off – but better late than never: I’ve finally managed to post it in May… It might give you some inspiration for the warmer weather!

If you’ve been following my reading reviews over the past few years, you’ll know that reading became part of my daily routine again in 2021 and that, even though my reading pace is rather inconsistent, I always enjoy picking up a novel and, through it, switching off from screens, escaping reality and giving my imagination a workout. You can find my previous reading reviews ( 2024 here, 2023 here et 2022 there) si vous cherchez des idées.

READING AT MY OWN PACE

As with many things, I don’t like setting myself targets. The same goes for reading. This year I’ve continued to read at my own pace, sometimes reading one book after another or spending several weeks on a single one. I still managed to get through 19 books, a mix of essays and novels. There are still quite a few novels related to Japan, but not exclusively, and two books read in English. So, I’ll leave you to discover my 2025 reading list… perhaps we have a few in common!

MY FAVORITES 

LETTRES D’AMOUR DE KAMAKURA by OGAWA ITO
I’m still just as big a fan of Ogawa Ito’s writing as ever, and this third instalment follows on from « The Tsubaki Stationery Store » and « The Republic of Happiness », which I’ve already talked about before. We meet Hatoko again, a few years on, with a growing family, who, after a break of several years, decides to resume her work as a public writer at her famous stationery shop in Kamakura. The warm sentiments are as well-balanced as ever and conveyed without being too cheesy. Gentle, sensitive and as comforting as ever. (My more detailed review here)

THE MARRIAGE PORTRAIT by MAGGIE O’FARRELL
A novel I would never have read if I had not followed the glowing recommendation of Dan Smith, from my favourite band Bastille. The author of « Hamnet » (a novel I haven’t read, but I’ve seen and enjoyed the film adaptation) draws inspiration from the story of Lucrezia during the Italian Renaissance, who was married at the age of 15 to Duke Alfonso. I enjoyed the visual and sensory details, the narrative style (this time I opted for the translated version rather than the original) and the plot, which at times verges on the chilling atmosphere of a thriller.

HUNGER GAMES : SUNRISE ON THE REAPING by SUZANNE COLLINS
I absolutely loved this prequel to the Hunger Games series, set 24 years before Katniss Everdeen’s Hunger Games and 40 years after the games in « The Ballad of the Snake and the Singing Bird ». I was really intrigued by the story of the 50th Hunger Games, in which the famous mentor Haymitch Abernathy took part when he was younger. I’ve set out in detail everything I loved about this Instagram post, if you’d like to hear my full thoughts. But I can already tell you that I can’t wait to see the film adaptation of this novel in November!

HOPES & FEARS, LYRICS AND HISTORY by KEANE
A collection of archive documents, photos and interviews with members of my favourite band, KEANE, about their debut album *HOPES & FEARS*. A collector’s item and a real treat for a fan like me.

MY FAVORITE READING MOMENTS

YELLOW FACE by REBECCA F.KUANG
I read it in the original language and don’t regret it, as the pace (along with the first-person narration) was fluid and dynamic. It offers a deep dive into the world of publishing and explores the issue of cultural appropriation in a thoroughly gripping way.

TOKYO EXPRESS by SEICHŌ MATSUMOTO
I really got caught up in this story of a double suicide by lovers set against the backdrop of Japanese trains. A short, easy-to-read crime novel.

WABI-SABI, À L’USAGE DES ARTISTES DESIGNERS, POÈTES ET PHILOSOPHES de LEONARD KOREN
It’s always very inspiring to read about minimalism and the beauty of imperfection, even if it didn’t really teach me anything new.

INSTANTANÉS D’AMBRE by YŌKO OGAWA
Having read « The Memory Police »  in 2022, I was drawn to this novel by Yōko Ogawa, who remains true to her strange and poetic world. The story of these children cut off from the outside world is at once mysterious, contemplative and unsettling. Although it took me a while to get through it, I enjoyed reading it.

VU À HARAJUKU by VANESSA MONTALBANO
An analysis of dress codes in Japan, highlighting what they reveal about Japanese social norms and pressures

TOKYO CRUSH by VANESSA MONTALBANO
I really enjoyed this diary of the author’s ‘dates’ – she’s an expat in Japan – and this insight into romantic relationships in the Land of the Rising Sun.

ÉLOGE DU PEU by KOIKE RYUNOSUKE
Just a gentle reminder of the need to let go of material things in order to focus on what really matters. Not everything is crystal clear or easy to put into practice, but it’s still inspiring.

Y RETOURNERAI-JE ? by FRANÇOIS SIMON
A guide to top spots by food critic François Simon, interwoven with poetic reflections, quotes and other musings on the virtues of taking one’s time, the joys of good food, and good (or bad) taste, in the style of the videos on his Instagram account.

RÉSISTER by SALOMÉ SAQUÉ
A well-researched and concise essay (I read the first edition, but a second, updated edition has since been published) offering practical and interesting ideas for combating the rise of the far right. An accessible and essential book.

SLENDEUR ET MISÈRES DES GROUPIES by SOPHIE BENARD
I really enjoyed this essay, which restores the groupie’s reputation, examines the meaning of the term and the misogynistic stereotypes associated with it. As I am a groupie myself to varying degrees, I found it particularly interesting.

A ROOM OF ONE’S OWN by VIRGINIA WOOLF
A feminist classic I’ve wanted to read for a long time. I really appreciated the substantive reflections (on the financial independence necessary for creativity, and on confronting the male gaze and misogyny), but I was less taken with the somewhat disjointed style, which reads like a stream of consciousness.

BOOKS I MODERATLY ENJOYED

LA MAISON NOIRE by YUSUKE KISHI
I really enjoyed *Lesson of the Evil* by the same author, a thriller set in a school. Here, we’re plunged into the world of insurance. I was really drawn into the plot right up until the ‘plot twist’. After that, I found the escalation into horror a bit over the top. (Not for the faint-hearted, mind you)

BEAUTÉ FATALE by MONA CHOLLET
This is the first book by Mona Chollet that I’ve read, and although I appreciated her incisive analysis of the alienating aspects of physical appearance for women, I must admit I was a little disappointed by the slightly moralising and condescending tone. It’s still worth reading, though, to reflect on your own relationship with fashion and beauty.

PETITES BOÎTES by YŌKO OGAWA
Although I’m starting to get used to Yōko Ogawa’s fantastical world, I found this novel a little too contemplative and slow-paced. Despite its metaphorical nature, I was left feeling a bit unsatisfied, as I would have liked more answers on certain topics.

BOOKS I DIDN’T LIKE

Henrik Ibsen’s original play vs the stage adaptation in London in May 2025, starring Ewan McGregor (Hello François ;-))

THE MASTER BUILDER by HENRIK IBSEN
I read this Norwegian play (in English) solely to prepare myself for the production of « My Master Builder » in London, which I saw in May 2025 because my dear Ewan McGregor was starring in it. I preferred the adaptation to the original play (a fine performance and clever staging really lifted the whole thing). Several themes are explored, such as ambition, grief and the clash between different generations, but I really struggled to connect with the characters or find them interesting, which left me rather underwhelmed.

I’ve been reading again since 2021 and I’m delighted. I can really get away when I’m reading and even if I’m not a big reader (in quantity…but then, everything’s relative of course), I’m glad to have added this pleasure to my daily routine.

This year, I was able to read 17 books (including comics and novels), which remains relatively constant compared with previous years (2023 here and 2022 there). If you’re used to this literary rendezvous here on the blog, you’ll know that I like to do a review of my readings not only to keep track of what I’ve read, but also so that it gives you some ideas and we can share our opinions on this or that book.

SAME READING RITUAL

Last year, I started reading as much as possible in English. This year, I’ve only done it twice (one of which I struggled with…you’ll find out below!). This year, I didn’t want to take the risk of missing out on the subtleties of the text of certain english novels. Last year’s books were much easier to read in Shakespeare’s language, as they were perhaps more dialogue-heavy and less full of description and technical vocabulary.

Anyway, I’m still reading a bit every day (especially in the morning at breakfast or when I have several hours to spare and the weather isn’t great outside = which happens quite often in Paris haha!). So here goes my 2024 reading review!

MY FAVORITES

A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW by AMOR TOWLES
I hesitated to read this novel in V.O. but opted for safety with the French version, knowing that I would then watch the series adapted in V.O. (featuring Ewan McGregor). I really wanted to get the full story before watching the series, and I did. This story about a Russian count condemned to house arrest in a Moscow hotel in the 1920s was surprisingly appealing to me, thanks to the Count’s personality, the description of the place and the amazing story. The series finally convinced me. Read more here.

LE GOURMET SOLITAIRE by JIRŌ TANIGUCHI
Having bought a slightly nicer edition of my favorite comic, I took the opportunity to read it again. It was a great pleasure to rediscover the gourmet peregrinations of this solitary gourmet. During this new reading, I became more interested in his personality, and enjoyed it all the more (more details here)

LES RÊVERIES D’UN GOURMET SOLITAIRE by JIRŌ TANIGUCHI
I felt the same way about Volume 2, which I hadn’t seen before, with our solitary gourmet taking a trip to Paris to discover Algerian cuisine.

LE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by OSCAR WILDE
Having been inspired by my viewing of the film The Substance, billed as a modern version of The picture of Dorian Gray, I wanted to take a look at Oscar Wilde’s novel. I preferred the French version for fear of missing out on some slightly outdated terms, and found it surprisingly modern (I’ll have to read it in English sometime to compare). I found the story of this ephebe with the cursed portrait breathtaking, and the cult of eternal youth wonderfully conveyed.

HISTORIES : MYSTÈRES ET OBSESSIONS by PAULINE DARLEY et DACOFFEE TIME
A comic book packed with historical and mysterious anecdotes, such as the disappearance of Agatha Christie, L’inconnue de la Seine… You get the satisfaction of learning something, while regularly smiling thanks to the drawings and captions, which spoils nothing.

MY FAVORITE READING MOMENTS

ROMANCING MR.BRIDGERTON by JULIA QUINN (read in English)
This read was strongly influenced by my total crush on season 3 of the BRIDGERTON series (to which I’d been so disenchanted in season 1) to prolong the atmosphere. In terms of literature, it’s closer to a romance than a Jane Austen novel, but the fact that I read it in English meant I didn’t find it too cheesy. The story is more condensed than in the series, focusing solely on the couple Penelope Colin. I found it hard to recognize Colin’s personality in the book (a little more self-confident and charming), but I was carried along nonetheless. Even if I prefer the series, this tome had the merit of prolonging the entertainment.

L’ÉTÉ DE LA SORCIÈRE by KAHO NASHIKI
Childhood memories, the joys of everyday life, transmission, the wisdom of an endearing grandmother: it’s easy and fun to read, but perhaps a little sweet. 

LA PENINSULE AUX 24 SAISONS by MAYUMI INABA
A contemplative account of a simple life as it passes through the seasons. Poetry and slowing down are on the program: perfect for summer reading.

NOS PUISSANTES AMITIÉS by ALICE RAYBAUD
A very interesting essay about the place of friendship in society and why it should be considered as important as love. The description of friendship-based lifestyles is a little long, but still very inspiring (More details here)

REGARDE LES LUMIÈRES MON AMOUR de ANNIE ERNAUX
My first Annie Ernaux book, and certainly not my last! This very short one observes a suburban shopping mall and life in a supermarket with accuracy, tenderness and humor. The reflections are piquant and the observations interesting.

BOOKS I MODERATLY ENJOYED

TESTOSTERROR  by LUZ
I was inspired to read it by Ambre Chalumeau’s column on Quotidien. I was intrigued by the pitch: a virus hits the world, causing a drop in testosterone levels in men… and panic among the men!  Scenes are offbeat, grotesque and hilarious (the details are really funny to watch). However, I was a little disappointed by the somewhat rushed scenario at the end, and the lack of consistency or depth in the characters, which made me less interested in the story, despite the fact that it was based on a great idea.

OUR BELOVED SUMMER TOMES 1&2 by HAN KYOUNG-CHAL and LEE NAEUN
I liked the graphic design and color harmonies more than the story, which I found a little slick. This “enemies to lovers” teenage love story isn’t very original, but may appeal to fans of the genre.

LES DAMES DE KIMOTO by SAWAKO ARIYOSHI (BD by CYRIL BONIN & ROMAN)
I read the novel and then the comic and didn’t care for either. This 3-generation family story sounded interesting, but when I read the whole thing, I couldn’t get attached to the characters or the story.

LE RESTAURANT DES RECETTES OUBLIÉES by HISASHI KASHIWAI
The story of a restaurant that offers to recreate the exact flavor of a favorite dish from the past, allowing the customer to recapture the emotion. Quite easy and pleasant to read. However, I found it to be a mixture of Ito Ogawa’s “Restaurant of regained love” and Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s “Before the coffee gests cold”, but less in-depth and flatter. I felt very little emotion while reading it.

BOOKS I DIDN’T LIKE (OR PERHAPS MISUNDERSTOOD) 

THE OVERSTORY by RICHARD POWERS (read in English)
I chose to read this book on the recommendation of my 2 favorite artists Keanu Reeves (who talked about it in an interview) and Dan Smith, the singer of Bastille (who also talked about this book and obviously gives it to all his friends because he loves it so much). I chose to read it in English, but maybe that wasn’t such a good idea as I totally missed it.

I found it extremely difficult to identify all the characters, who spend a good part of the book discovering their backgrounds (not necessarily very interesting), and then all come together around a humanist and ecological cause (more interesting), but unfortunately I couldn’t grasp the subtleties. I’m still amazed that I got to the end of this novel, such was my struggle and such was its length (over 600 pages). I’ll have to try and read it in French one day, but I must admit that it took up so much of my energy and attention in English that I’m not about to do it any time soon! Too bad! You can’t always keep up with your idols!