This fun bookish meme was originally hosted by SAM@TAKING ON A WORLD OF WORDS. The mechanics for WWW Wednesday is quite simple. You just have to answer three questions:

  1. What are you currently reading?
  2. What have you finished reading?
  3. What will you read next?

www-wednesdays

What are you currently reading?

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I’m currently in the midst of an Asian Literature Month, the third consecutive year I am doing so. Philippine-born Randy Ribay’s Patron Saints of Nothing is my current read. I picked this up last year at a local bookstore because of its theme and subject – the current Philippine government’s “war on drugs”. The story is narrated by a Filipino-American, Jason or Jay, who returns to the Philippines because his favorite cousin, Jun, fell prey to this so-called war on drugs. I am, so far, enjoying the story as, unlike some other Filipino works, the story moves smoothly. The stereotypical Filipino setup and mores, as always, was woven into the tapestry. I am not complaining though because Ribay did such a subtle and great job in depicting these archetypes. I am hoping that the story won’t fizzle out as most good stories do.

What have you finished reading?

Again, I completed two books in a week. This quarantine and isolation period is definitely helping me catch up with my reading.

The first book I complete is British author, Ian McEwan’s Saturday. This is my third McEwan book, making him just the second author this year who I’ve already read previously. It’s been two years since my last but Saturday reminded me the finest qualities of McEwan’s writing – his masterful stroke of day-to-day activities. The story happened in one day but it was beefed up with rich details. Saturday exemplifies the best of McEwan’s writing. I have a couple of McEwan’s writing in my bookshelf and I can’t wait to immerse in them.

My previous experience with Han Kang left me puzzled. The Vegetarian was so eccentric it took so much prodding to make me take on yet another work by the Korean author. I am glad I did make good of the recommendation of a fellow reader. Human Acts is inspired by the 1980 Gwangju massacre. Kang is a native of this South Korean city, which, unsurprisingly influenced the nostalgic and powerful portrayal of this dark phase of modern Korean history. I was so moved by the heartbreaking accounts (albeit fictional). Kang’s writing was simply sensational and scintillating.

What will you read next? 

An Asian Literature Month wouldn’t be complete without a Rushdie and a Japanese author. With my sustained reading momentum, I am next taking on Salman Rushdie’s highly controversial masterpiece, The Satanic Verses and Nobel Prize in Literature winner Kenzaburo Oe’s The Silent Cry. As most of you by now have realized, Rushdie and Japanese literature are both my favorites so I am very much looking forward to these two books.