the personal blog of C.K.Koay
My eldest daughter is having her mock IGCSE exams for the next few weeks. I’ve taken on the role of her personal chauffeur to ensure she arrives on time. Sure, having a personal driver might sound posh, but trust me, I don’t envy her—especially seeing how stressed out she is.
Let me confess something: I’m that person who still hoards books while everyone else has evolved into podcast-consuming sophisticates. Don’t get me wrong – I too consume podcasts during my morning exercises (or what I optimistically label as ‘exercise’), but there’s something about the printed word that refuses to let go of my soul. As I read non-fiction books to keep up professionally, I make it a point to add good literary fiction into the mix to have a have holistic view of the human condition.
Continue reading “Understanding the Human Condition Through Fiction”
Haruki Murakami’s The City and Its Uncertain Walls is a hauntingly beautiful tale of unrequited teenage love, spanning decades and infused with the signature magical realism that defines Murakami’s work. It’s a story that lingers, blending heartfelt moments with thought-provoking themes, making it a captivating and memorable read.
Continue reading “The City and Its Uncertain Walls”
This is a short review and analysis of Haruki Murakami’s Killing Commendatore and has spoilers ahead, proceed with caution if you haven’t read the book. This book presents an intriguing and relatively straightforward plot that draws heavily from themes explored in his earlier works. While certain elements may feel familiar to long-time readers, the book remains an engaging read. Murakami skillfully guides readers through a journey filled with compelling characters and surreal situations.
Continue reading “Unveiling the Layers of Killing Commendatore”
Star Trek: Lower Decks wrapped up its fifth and final season recently and I am devastated to say farewell . Okay, maybe not “lost in the Delta Quadrant” devastated, but I’m seriously going to miss this quirky gem of a series. In the flood of Star Trek content that Paramount+ has been beaming into our screens—some of which has drawn… let’s call it polarized feedback—there have been two undeniable standouts: Strange New Worlds and this funny animated masterpiece featuring the funniest crew in all of Starfleet.
Continue reading “Star Trek: Lower Decks – A Funny Final Farewell”
After recently finishing 1Q84 and writing a review, I dove straight into Haruki Murakami’s The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. This book had been sitting on my shelf ever since I first read Kafka on the Shore years ago, patiently waiting for its turn.
Continue reading “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle: A Journey Through Trauma and Resilience”