🥀EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU by Celedte Ng🥀

        EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU 

                               by

                        Celeste Ng

--BOOK REVIEW--

🥀The things that go unsaid are often the things that eat at us—whether because we didn't get to have our say, or because the other person never got to hear us and really wanted to. And sometimes this facts and inner turmoil are even ignore by us they  creates huge unheard turbulence in our mind which sometimes may become a fatal one too.

🥀EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU is a gripping page-turner, about secrets, love, longing, lies and race.

Lydia is the favourite child of Marilyn and James Lee; a girl who inherited her mother's bright blue eyes and her father's jet-black hair. Her parents are determined that Lydia will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue - in Marilyn's case that her daughter become a doctor rather than a homemaker, in James's case that Lydia be popular at school, a girl with a busy social life and the centre of every party. But Lydia is under pressures that have nothing to do with growing up in 1970s small town Ohio. Her father is an American born of first-generation Chinese immigrants, and his ethnicity, and hers, make them conspicuous in any setting.

//" Before that she hadn’t realized how fragile happiness was, how if you were careless, you could knock it over and shatter it."//

🥀When lydia body is found  in a local lake and is   suspected as a suicide, James is consumed by guilt and sets out on a reckless path that may destroy his marriage. Marilyn, devastated and vengeful, is determined to make someone accountable, no matter what the cost. Lydia's older brother, Nathan, is convinced that local bad boy Jack is somehow involved. But it's the youngest in the family - Hannah - who observes far more than anyone realizes and who may be the only one who knows what really happened.

The whole family is thrown into conflict and must confront some uncomfortable truths

🥀A gripping narration which jumps back and forth between the time before Lydia’s death and the time after.

The way of writing is beautiful and the way she has woven a tragedy and suspense, is amazing. She with her flawless narration makes the readers to  sense the feelings Lydia was undergoing 

and givesin the sense that we were given an intimate view of their mental mechanisms and why they acted the way they did. It’s a harrowing experience 

 //"People decide what you're like before they even get to know you"//

Ng tackles some truly difficult theme

While the story is rooted in racial and gender inequality, most readers will identify with the kind of family dynamics where one child is favoured over another; where pushy parents make unreasonable demands; or where siblings close ranks against their parents

☄️This is a novel where the gradual revelation of character is key

𝐌𝐘 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐘𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍: 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘰 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 by 𝐇𝐞𝐲 𝐆𝐞𝐞

     𝐌𝐘 𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐘𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍: 

            𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘰 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺

                        by 𝐇𝐞𝐲 𝐆𝐞𝐞

//ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪꜱ ɴᴏ ᴡᴀᴠᴇ ᴏʀ ꜱᴛᴏʀᴍ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪꜱ ᴛᴏᴏ ʙɪɢ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀɴᴅʟᴇ //

•Book Review•

🍄This book is a graphic novella that narrates the life of Bindu. She had depression since she was little. A depression- more than sadness, a mood disorder that effects how you feel sometimes that comes along with intrusive thoughts, being overwhelmed with feelings but generally affects everyone differently

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🍄This short story narrated through a first-person narrative by Bindu, this book gives a glimpse into the daily routine, challenges and coping techniques of a child managing depression how sometimes it merely getting out of the bed or focusing on school becomes difficult. This book portrays Bindu's journey as she navigates through her life beyond depression and wents to therapy to learn ways to cope which helps her to have healthier thoughts and feel better.

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🍄There are times when everything seems okay but still hard to feel happy and how it takes big effort to rise above the dark clouds and to ask for help. When times gets difficult sometimes Bindu enjoys the warm and familiar company of his dog, his family and also how sometimes catching up with friends and focusing on creative hobbies can be tiring with emotional ups and downs where the feeling of being stuck and unable to do anything, never being able to leave the dark clouds haunts but also seeps hope and showcases how no wave to too big to handle 

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🍄Beautiful illustrations that portrays the message efficiently along with the color and visual techniques bring the emotional ups and downs to life for a powerful impact. Turning the pages and reading specially when one can relate with Bindu's journey feels like a warm hug that cools your mind giving a warm feeling with sense of hope and light. Told with very much simplicity and truthful insights along with the touch of sensibility and easily comprehensible language this book serves it purpose effectively

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𝐀𝐍 𝐎𝐃𝐘𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃: ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴇʏꜱ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴅᴇʀɴ ᴍɪɴᴅꜱᴄᴀᴘᴇ𝐛𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐲

          𝐀𝐍 𝐎𝐃𝐘𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃:                 ᴊᴏᴜʀɴᴇʏꜱ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴅᴇʀɴ ᴍɪɴᴅꜱᴄᴀᴘᴇ

                    𝐛𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐚 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐲

//BOOK REVIEW//

🦋This book gave me existential crisis through all the realisation and awareness I went through while reading, points out in an incredible way how mankind has steadily created problems for itself which have taken humongous shape so much that the choice always seems to be between the devil and the deep sea. This is a collection of twenty essays on various contemporary themes exploring various lands of Philosophies, ideas, psychology, the impact of technology. It is an intellectual and philosophical collage of essays, a couple satirical jibes seasoned with spice of poetry

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🦋Starts with the topic of technology and the way the excessive use of tech made us victims of attention deficit where we often end up losing creativity and power of memorisation but rather inclined to take information in short bursts as it doesn't require much levels of concentration, bombarding with information killing clarity. How the hustle culture, where we get ourselves, our time invested in the rat race of life instead of taking time to create valuable connections and time to live the life rather than working till the level of exhaustion ending up feel like travellers stranded on the way and material possessions seem woefully inadequate to cheer us up. This book also shares logical opinions on topic of democracy, draws comparisons to the dystopian world created by Orwell and Huxley, about consumerism, utopia of globalisation, a need for spirituality and not only just hustle for material possessions

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🦋Remember how during lockdown where the economic growth was very low but mother nature was healing? Talking about ecology the book points out how we need to bring down our energy consumption because the too much economic growth cannot be sustained with our limited supply of resources it will lead us to an abyss of ecological suicide. The book states that human is consciousness and not mere matter, a good life is one which is spent in pursuit of dream it is not what we get but what we become through this seeking consumed by noble aspirations, a lofty vision

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🦋Overall I really enjoyed reading this book that provides with a new perspective of life and living bringing about knowledgeable points giving us an authentic self reflection of ourselves and where we stand aiding in better understanding of the purpose of the us, putting in the right action and attain the level of success which will genuinely make us happy, This book is an easy and effective read told with humour and real life experiences and examples; not just to be read but understood and implemented. A must read for everyone

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My Ratings- 5/5🌟

𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐁𝐄𝐑-𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐙𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐥

                       

                        

                        --𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐁𝐄𝐑--

                                𝐛𝐲

        𝐉𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐙𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐥

☆

This book is a beautifully written work of fiction with a blend of horror fantasy, urban legend seasoned with historical backdrop blurring the periphery of both and offering us with an intriguing story that is capable of keeping the readers hooked till the end

✯

All around the world the beauty and magnificence of Taj Mahal has been praised for centuries but what if you get to know that totally contrasting that pure beauty of Taj that symbolises love there once stood a Black Taj Mahal build by mysterious men that came all the way from Siberia during the reign of Shah Jahan and buried deep within which lies a sinister force, a evil Sharok and his army of Xunxar but what happens when it rises again to power on one blood moon light after hundred years

✯

Set in 18th century pre- Independence India, during the British Era, where a twelve yera old boy Nuru befriends a Empress who has choosen Nuru and provides him with guidance to be the one protect her beloved land, a spooky era of history, cruelty and psychosis that once consumed Emperor Shah Jahan and the actions that followed along with the rise of the evil that brought horrors. But how will Nuru accompanied by his British soldier friend Jack and to some extent his father be able to defeat the evil once and for all, curl up in your bed with a cup of coffee on a gloomy night and divulge in to the story to know more

✯

The writing style was easy with a mild paced narrative making it a perfect read for middle grade children and above. The execution could have been better. The beautiful amalgamation of various folklores, prophecy, friendship, elements of magic, power, bravery, good and evil with historical setting making this book a very interesting read

✯

𝐓𝐄𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐋 𝐛𝐲 -𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐒𝐢𝐯𝐚 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚𝐫-

/ı ᴀᴍ ᴛʜʏ ᴇᴠɪʟ ᴡʜᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ꜰᴏʀᴍꜱ; ᴛʜᴏᴜ ꜱʜᴀʟᴛ ɴᴏᴛ ᴅɪꜱᴏʙᴇʏ ᴍᴇ/

-𝐓𝐄𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐋-

                                  𝐛𝐲

                    -𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐒𝐢𝐯𝐚 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚𝐫-

--𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖--

#1 ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴛʜʏ ᴊᴜᴅɢᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴅᴀʏ

This book is a collection of ten short stories that explores paranormal activities and sinister shadows lurking over the lives of ordinary people like us and ultimately leading to a mind blogging catastrophe

#2 ʜᴏɴᴏᴜʀ ᴛʜʏ ꜱᴏʀᴄᴇʀᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴏʀᴄᴇʀᴇꜱꜱ

The book starts with a note from the author with title "horror stories based on real events" where at the end the author states that you could have a hearty laugh at the end of every story or get deeply absorbed in the horrors of the unsettled and exactly that's how the book proceeds to be either you shrug them off or keep on pondering about it each story that starts with a specific commandments that gives us the aura of suspence brewing, creating a suspicious aura in the minds of the readers along with spine chilling blend of spooky euphoria

#3 ᴛʜᴏᴜ ꜱʜᴀʟᴛ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀᴠᴏɪᴅ ᴛʜʏ ᴄᴜʀꜱᴇꜱ

Honestly being to much invested in horror movies and books always, I have become immune to these but still I would say the author through his slow burn narrative, the storylines were simple and have created a picturesque of an eerie atmosphere that could be enjoyed by readers and coming to the writing style it was simple and good which can be easily comprehensible by everyone

#4 ᴛʜᴏᴜ ꜱʜᴀʟᴛ ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ; ᴛʜᴏᴜ ꜱʜᴀʟᴛ ᴋɪʟʟ

Overall it was an enjoyable book would recommend to readers who are 18+ and enjoys reading horror stories and also to short stories lovers. A hot cup of black coffee on a lonely and gloomy night and this book: a companion for your solitude

My Ratings- 4🌟

YEAR OF THE JACKAL by Abby Kaitz

               𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐀𝐋

                                -𝐛𝐲-

                         𝐀𝐛𝐛𝐲 𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐳

//Book Review//

🌻This book is a cute rom-com that fills one with delight. With a humorous plotline that took a tense turn for our main character Max when he accidentally gets Aaron, our angry basketball player who just wants his underwear back, kicked off the basketball team because of a serious pranked he pulled. This is story of how their animosity turns into attraction and Soon when he have to make a choice between chasing his dreams in Silicon Valley when he gets accepted to a prestigious startup incubator or continuing taking a chance on his growing feelings for Aaron. Reading this book felt like a fluffy college romance with twists like the once I see in k-dramas.

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🌻Like rose garden is filled with thorns so is love it hasn't always been merry for everyone but at the end it is worth trying for because even when it breaks you at the end it will heal you fine like that this book and their story is an amalgamation of sweet, charming and inspiring spheres of life. Honestly the story felt like a movie with some dramatic cliches and I enjoyed reading it.

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🌻I might be one of the few people who loves insta-love trope and was so intrigue that this one has that alongside that the other tropes includes enemies to friends to lovers, sports and tech representations, Chinese-Filipino representation and lgbtq rep (MM) all these threaded together in this enjoyable clean new adult college romance book that I would recommend to anyone who is interested in reading books of the aforementioned tropes.

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🌻Overall this book was an enjoyable contemporary romance book. The narrative was lucid with easy usage of language which also makes it a beginner's friendly. Nicely plotted mild paced story. Some scenes felt a little undercooked but I really enjoyed reading about Max's character and how two of them keep finding themselves tangled in increasingly amusing and bizarre situations all over campus. Will recommend to everyone who loves reading books of this genre.

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--4/5🌟--

SOMETHING MORE by Jackie Khalilieh

                 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 

                                    𝐛𝐲 

                      𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐞 𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐡

💖This book falls in the genre of contemporary teen romance fiction and gives us a cute, simple and beautifully written high school love story that is also embedded with innocence, humour and love along with the mental health representation.

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💖This book is a perfect blend of cute romance, innocence, their humourous banter revolving around the life our protagonist Jessie who happens to be a Palestinian- Canadian girl trying to navigate her life through high-school and has been recently diagnosed with autism but initially decides to keeps it a secret.

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💖Jessie has a keen interest in 90's related stuffs specially music and wants to tick all her list of goals. The story is beautifully written that makes one feel about their time in high school through Jessie' journey in Holy Trinity High. But wait Jessie finds herself in much more drama than she bargained for when two very different boys Levi and Griffin steals her heart. Though I am not a fan of love triangle reading the author her smoothly executed the plot which made it a fun filled, enjoyable read.

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💖The plotline was well developed and the character development were nicely portrayed throughout. I really appreciate how the discussion of autism was mindful done throughout the story it was neither abandoned in the first few chapters nor overtly discussed throughout the story but in a very balanced realistic. The whole story progresses like a high school drama which I enjoyed reading and will recommend to everyone who loves reading books with aforementioned reps or trops and also to people who loved books like To all the boys I loved before, The summer I turned pretty 

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My Ratings - 3.5🌟