Strange Buildings - Uketsu

The addictive mystery taking the world by storm, from the author of Strange Pictures

Eleven strange buildings. One terrible secret.

A lonely hut in the woods.

A hidden chamber.

A mysterious shrine.

A home in flames.

A nightmarish prison...

Each of the buildings in this book tells a chilling story. Each one is part of a puzzle.

Look closely... and you'll see that everything is connected.

All leading to a revelation so horrifying you won't want to believe it.

Millions of readers have become addicted to solving Uketsu's dark mysteries.

Strange Buildings is the strangest, and darkest, so far.

 

What did I think?

I had noticed a lot of excitement online about Uketsu's books so I chose to read Strange Buildings.  I wasn't really sure what to expect but I didn't expect it to be THIS good.  I simply couldn't put it down!

The books may look linked but I don't think they are and you don't have to read Strange Pictures or Strange Houses before reading Strange Buildings.  Strange Buildings is the first one I have read but I definitely want to read the others now.

It reads like a podcast or true crime show as the author shares 11 files relating to mysterious buildings.  Just like a real case file, there are floor plans and diagrams to really make the reader feel like they're part of the investigation.  As you read each one you start to see little links appearing, which makes the book even harder to put down as I was busy gathering all of the clues.

Prepare to meet your new addiction; Strange Buildings is one of the most bingeworthy books I have read in a long time.  It's a fantastic and addictive mystery novel that hooked me from the start and made me crave more of Uketsu's books.  An easy five stars and it's a book I will be recommending for a long time.

I received a gifted paperback from the publisher and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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Paper Boat, Paper Bird - David Almond (Author), Kirsti Beautyman (Illustrator)

A stunning new story from the bestselling, prize-winning David Almond, unfolding the magic of the everyday. Mina, from the unforgettable Skellig and My Name is Mina, journeys to Japan and discovers the wonders of the world around her.

Kyoto, Japan. Mina is on a bus. Everything is strange and beautiful.

Mina watches as a woman folds a piece of paper into an origami boat, then floats it over to her.

As Mina discovers the magic of origami, her eyes are opened to the wonders of the real city around her.

Unfold the magic of the everyday, on a journey with one of the world's best-loved authors - with stunning illustrations from Kirsti Beautyman in black and orange throughout.

 

What did I think?

David Almond is a local North East author and although I haven’t read Skellig (yet), I wanted to read Paper Boat, Paper Bird.  Mina is a character in Skellig and she gets her own story in Paper Boat, Paper Bird.

The book is beautifully illustrated by another North Easterner, Kirsti Beautyman and I loved the monochrome drawings with a dash of deep orange colour.  The paper quality is excellent as some of the drawings are quite heavily shaded but the pages don’t curl and colours don’t bleed through to the other side.

I love that the story was inspired by something that actually happened to David Almond in Tokyo where a woman on a bus gave David’s daughter an origami paper boat she had made.  In the story, Mina writes her name on the paper boat that she receives and sends it off on a journey.  This lovely story really does make you think about chance, fate and coincidences.

Recommended for 9-11 year olds (I’m a smidgen older), it’s easy to read and it contains a few Japanese words that David Almond breaks down into syllables so you get the pronunciation right.  I think it’s absolutely lovely that anyone reading this book will learn and be able to correctly pronounce the Japanese words for hello, goodbye and thank you.

Simple but charming, Paper Boat, Paper Bird is a beautifully written and beautifully illustrated book.

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Ikigai & Other Japanese Words to Live By - Mari Fujimoto

Introducing and explaining some of the most poignant Japanese words, Ikigai is a lifestyle as well as a language book. From the wistful poetry of mono-no-aware, a word that asks us to recognize the bittersweet transience of all things, to the quiet harmony of wa, which knits together all of society’s structures, this book is an introduction to the intricacies and value of Japanese phrases and concepts. It hopes to inspire you to incorporate these words into your own lifestyle and adopt a more mindful attitude to life’s stresses, seeking meaning beyond materialism. 

In addition to over 40 ‘words to live by’, Ikigai features musings on the place of beauty, community, time and nature in Japanese thought, teaching mindfulness by way of compelling haikus, and illustrated by Michael Kenna’s reflective photography throughout.

What did I think?

When I think of Japanese people, a sea of serene and smiling faces comes to mind.  After reading Ikigai & other Japanese words to live by, I'm not surprised that they appear so happy and calm with such beautiful, meaningful words in their vocabulary.

The book is split into seven chapters: Harmony, Beauty, Nature, Mindfulness, Gratitude, Time and Respect, with a haiku (a 3 line Japanese poem) at the beginning of each chapter.  I've never been a poetry lover so these bite size poems are more my kind of thing and I rather surprisingly found myself lingering over the words and savouring their meaning.  Before we even get to the 'words to live by' there is a little essay on each chapter topic, however, this went completely over my head and I didn't really get it.  It might make more sense on the second reading, as I'm sure I'll be returning to this book for inspiration.

On to the words, which is the essence of the book.  My favourite section has to be 'Time' as I often say that time is something you never get back and particular moments in time cannot be repeated.  There's actually a Japanese phrase for this: 'Ichigo ichie' which means a once-in-a-lifetime encounter; a moment that cannot be repeated.  It's rather fitting for me (being a lifelong tea lover) that this phrase is attributed to renowned tea master Sen-no Rikyū and I'd already made a note to source some 'salty plum tea' that made my mouth water in the essay on gratitude.

I love black and white photography so I was completely spellbound by Michael Kenna's breathtaking images.  The images, coupled with the inspirational words and phrases, project an aura of calm and enlightenment, making Ikigai & other Japanese words to live by a book to savour and return to again and again.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

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