My 2025 Quarter One Reading Wrap-up

Eight Books, Classics And Contemporary

Hello!!!

This is Joyie and welcome back to my little bookish corner of the internet where I talk all things books!

This week I read Yeonamm-dong’s Smiley Laundromat by Kim Jiyun. Have you been reading anything this week?

Last April, I started doing my quarterly reading wrap-ups because everyone was doing it and it seemed fun. I enjoyed it so much that I kept doing quarterly wrap-ups for the rest of the year even though by then the trend had died down. And now, this year, I've decided to continue with them.

I read eight books in the first quarter of 2025, which is my highest number for one quarter since I started doing these wrap-ups.

So, here are the books I read:

Dracula by Bram Stoker

I spent my entire childhood being terrified of Dracula because I once chanced upon an illustration in a book. Finally reading the story though, it wasn't as scary. I personally enjoyed the first half more when the uncertainty factors were at play. My favourite part of the book was definitely Mina, which reminds me I was about to write a post about her.

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

I loved the simplicity of this story. There was an almost fairy tale-like quality to it, and I also really enjoyed the set up in the Swiss Alps, the descriptions of nature were really beautiful.

The City And Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami

This one is probably my second favourite read of the year so far. It reminded me a lot of Norwegian Wood, especially the way it portrays young love and loss. It was a very typical Murakami book which I really enjoyed since it was my first Murakami novel since 2017.

Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto

This one was my first time reading a novel in Japanese which had a different kind of thrill to it. But the story itself was also very heartfelt, about death and grief and food and healing. Really loved it.

Harmony Heights by Ong Chin Huat

This one was my first Malaysian book. The writing was okay-ish, and the ending to me felt rather weak. But I still am glad to have read it because it kind of gave me a vague idea about what Malaysia is like—ethnically and socially and culturally. I'm now eager to read more Malaysian literature.

Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Do I have a lot of complaints against this book? I sure do. But do I also think it's the best book I've read so far this year? I do. I really think it's a very well-written book, even more so when I consider its length. But yes, it's based on some values I absolutely can't buy.

The Snow Ghost And Other Tales

This one was a collection of classic Japanese short ghost stories. I read it over a long time, during my lunch breaks at work. The stories were not scary, but had an almost folktale-ish vibe to them which I genuinely enjoyed.

Vanity Fair by William Thackeray

Reading this book, my predominant feeling was mostly disappointment. Because things were not going as I'd wanted them to go, which actually made me appreciate the book because I realised it was rather a portrayal of how life realistically goes. Towards the end, I came to appreciate that. Also, this book introduced me to another very interesting female character, Rebecca Sharp.

What about you? Did you read any books in the first quarter of 2025? I'd love to know!!!

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That’s it for today, I'll be back in your inbox next week.

Until then,

Joyie 🌻