Some books don’t just tell a story—they confront you. Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa did exactly that for me. At first glance, it’s a slim volume. A novella that looks like it could slip quietly into your day. But the moment you step in, you realize—there’s nothing quiet about it. Shaka Izawa, our narrator, lives in a care home, her body failing her while her mind roams sharp and free. She tweets blunt, often outrageous thoughts. She writes erotic fiction for a living. She wants things society refuses to imagine for someone like her—desire, agency, even pregnancy. And she says it …

“Even though my brain was a mess, what kept my soul whole was the warmth of the hands holding mine on both sides”, Almond by  Sohn Won-Pyung This statement stuck with me. It was such a poignant statement yet it said a lot about the protagonist’s personality and his compassion. Almond is a poignant coming-of-age novel by South Korean author Sohn Won-Pyung. The story follows Yunjae, a boy born with alexithymia—a condition that makes it difficult for him to experience emotions like fear, anger, or joy. Raised by his loving yet pragmatic mother and grandmother, Yunjae learns to navigate the …