Latest Stories

Most recently published stories in BookClub.

Review of Furysong
I absolutely love this series. I cannot stress enough how amazing this series is. From start to finish, this novel stands out and makes for an adrenaline-blood-pumping read.
By Cyn's Workshop2 years ago in BookClub
"Silent Stalker: The True Horror Next Door"
In the quiet suburb of Maplewood, life seemed idyllic. Neighbors greeted each other with warm smiles, children played on manicured lawns, and families enjoyed peaceful barbecues on weekends. Among these neighbors was the Johnson family. They were well-liked, blending seamlessly into the fabric of the community. The father, Tom, was a hardworking accountant; the mother, Sarah, volunteered at the local animal shelter; and their teenage daughter, Emily, was a bright student at Maplewood High.
By Lish Genz2 years ago in BookClub
What is a Forum? . AI-Generated.
What is a Forum? A forum, in its simplest form, is an online platform where individuals can post messages, share ideas, and engage in discussions with others. These digital spaces foster community and communication, often centered around specific topics or interests. Whether you're a fan of gardening, tech gadgets, or ancient history, there's likely a forum out there where you can connect with like-minded individuals.
By Mr Smart2 years ago in BookClub
Book Review: The Light Between Us by Elaine Chiew
The Time Traveler's Wife meets Crazy Rich Asians in this speculative romance set against Singapore's tumultuous past. Immersed in Southeast Asian history, time-travel, and an impossible love story, The Light Between Us is perfect for readers of literary historical fiction and modern romantasy fans alike. At work one night, photography archivist Charlie Sze-Toh receives a misdirected letter from Wang Tian Wei, a 1920s colonial era Chinese photographer. Through a mysterious digital folder and photographic plates, a conversation is sparked, leading to a romance that spans lifetimes. In his time, Tian Wei scours a turbulent Singapore for his missing friend, Aiko, leading him to the perfumed chambers of a Japanese brothel. Meanwhile, in the modern day, Charlie struggles against a family dynamic dominated by her stepmother, a manipulative matriarch who uses family secrets as bargaining chips. Communication starts to become difficult and Tian Wei’s letters are tinged by the increasing threat of Japanese Occupation. Will one last fate-defying letter from Charlie allow Tian Wei to keep their love alive?
By Marie Sinadjan2 years ago in BookClub
Four Things to Do When Facing Hardships
People often say that life is like a roller coaster. It will be exciting to reach new heights, go around loops with sudden turns, and take those gut-wrenching drops that leave you gasping for air. But what about the dark depths to face hardship we have to go through? How do we get through these parts of the ride where it looks like the road is dark and there is no clear way forward?
By Alexander Sebastian 2 years ago in BookClub
Rachel Reviews: The Mole People by Kevin Landt
I liked what Kevin Landt did in The Mole People. I think to take the mental struggle of an individual and attempt to follow it through a narrative is ambitious and commendable. In my opinion, he has done this with a great degree of success.
By Rachel Deeming2 years ago in BookClub
Heaven's Sister
The school in town is completely different from the one in my hometown. Although it lacks the cool shade of trees, it is very spacious and clean. After the initial two days of confusion, the son of our neighbor in the countryside helped me find a room near the school. I share the room with a Tay guy who came to the town to study on a scholarship.Outside of school, I often take walks near the lake, go to the stadium to watch football matches, and sometimes, when I feel too sad, I climb up the water tower near the school to sit and gaze at the small houses, cars, and trees below. Being in a new school and class, most of my classmates come from well-off families in the town. With my poor and unsophisticated appearance, it's difficult for me to fit in with them. However, I don't really mind. I don't have a strong desire to socialize with anyone; I just want to go to school and come back home. If someone asks me something, I will answer, but otherwise, I'm fine spending whole days without saying a word. For some time, I was considered an eccentric in the class, but it didn't bother me much.Every month, at the beginning of the month, my stepmother sends me rice, money, salt, and other necessary items. Without fail, she ensures I never go hungry or lack anything. Sometimes, the children write letters to me. The letters usually have three parts: one from my grandmother, one from my stepmother, and a short line at the end from the children saying, "Mr. Bi, try to study well..." Even though the content is often the same, I still feel excited every time I receive a letter. My stepmother's handwriting is round and neat, and I can sense her emotions through the words.Despite the school not being too far from my house, around 50 kilometers, in the past, it was challenging to make the journey and we were concerned about the expenses. Therefore, I always stayed at school until Tet (Lunar New Year) and didn't go home.One day, when I returned home from school, I saw Luyen standing in front of the house, holding a piece of paper with an address in her hand. I was surprised and asked her, "Did you ride your bike all the way here? It's such a long distance, are you crazy?"She explained that she had two days off, so she came to visit me. She left at 5:00 a.m. and had just arrived. Moreover, she also wanted to see what the town was like.I helped her unload the items from her bicycle—a bag of rice, my grandmother's cakes, half of an aunt's duck, and a bag of crushed grilled rice paper due to the long journey.That night, she slept in my room because I didn't want her to ride back home at night, fearing for her safety. The Tay guy knew what to do, so he went to sleep over at a neighbor's house. Since my room was small, there wasn't enough space for three people. Luyen was tired from the long journey, so she took a shower and then fell asleep. I sat and studied until late at night.My room is only 12 square meters wide and cluttered with various things, so the sleeping area also serves as the dining and reception area. I lay down next to her, which was the first time in my life I slept so close to a girl. I turned to face the wall, but something compelled me to turn and look at her. Luyen is in 8th grade now, entering adolescence. In the dim light of the study lamp, I suddenly realized that she was no longer the dark-skinned girl from before. After two years at home, where she no longer had to tend to buffaloes or catch snails, and no longer had to endure hardships, she had become plump and her skin had become much fairer. I lay on my side, facing her, and suddenly I realized that compared to all the girls I had ever met or studied with, she was the most beautiful... She was incredibly beautiful, and I wondered why I had only just realized it now. Maybe it was because I had been away from home for half a year, and everything seemed unfamiliar...I gazed at her until midnight, then went out for a walk. I was afraid of myself, afraid of my trembling hands reaching out and pulling back, afraid of my own desires. I felt repulsive and ugly, like a devil...The next morning, I wrote a letter requesting permission to leave school and took her around town. With just a little over half a month left until Tet, the streets were unusually beautiful. Or perhaps it was something within me that made everything suddenly appear beautiful? I wasn't sure anymore; all I knew was that Luyen stared blankly at the rows of tall buildings and the bustling, crowded market, which were completely different from thesmall, deserted market back home.I drove her to my school to show her around, bought her a sandwich from outside the school gate, which wasn't available in the countryside, and even bought her a hairpin. It had been a while since I had seen her smile. Her smile was different from other girls; there was a hint of distant sadness in it, even though I knew she was genuinely happy.When it was time for her to leave, I blurted out, "Be careful when riding back. When you reach home, go to Ms. Tu's house and call me using the number I just wrote down." After saying that, I realized it was the first time I had called her "you." But it didn't matter; I could tell we were both old enough to address each other that way, and I knew it made her happy.
By Quang2 years ago in BookClub
Heaven's Sister
The new school is nearly 50km away from my house. Unfortunately, I can't cycle such a long distance with my broken bicycle. If I were to attend high school there, I would have to study away from home, possibly even abroad. The problem is not that I don't want to go to a school far away, but rather the various problems that would arise if I stayed in a boarding house – accommodation, food, school expenses, electricity, water, and so on. The most significant issue is money, which my family lacks the most at this time, especially since my father, the breadwinner, is no longer with us.While we were having a meal, I shared my thoughts with my stepmother: "It's okay for me to stay home and study. If I live in a boarding house, I won't have the money to continue my education. Besides, I prefer staying at home. I'll find someone to play with here." Upon hearing this, she stopped eating and spoke to me in a serious manner: "Listen to me, you must go to school. If I can take care of everything, you can focus on studying. In the future, I will grow old and weak, and won't have the strength anymore. Then, you will have to take care of Luyen's child on my behalf..." She spoke at length, emphasizing that I must fulfill my father's wishes, reminding me that the future is long, and that I should study well and be a role model for my younger siblings. She herself had limited education and struggled to express herself fully, but she understood the pain of not being able to go to school, not having the opportunity to receive an education. Luyen sat quietly and listened; she also wanted me to go to school, and she even expressed her own desire to attend school in the future. She mentioned that if she could attend a specialized school like me, she would study to become a teacher.One day, at the end of August, I woke up very early to prepare for my departure. I wrapped myself in a sweater and a hood to protect against the cold weather. My backpack was packed with Luyen's clothes which she had prepared for me the day before, along with a bag containing a jar of dried shrimp made by my stepmother, a bag of rice in a stork bran bag, and a few miscellaneous items. In our area, the local transportation facilities were scarce. Whenever we needed to travel, we had to rely on coal cars. Whenever my father went to town to buy medicine or attend agricultural skills classes, his clothes would be soaked in sweat, and coal dust and soot would stick to him, making him pitch black and his face dirty, like Bao Cong...That was also the first time in my life that I left the impoverished district town where I was born and raised. On that day, my stepmother had to continue selling goods because if she stopped for even a day, her capital would be depleted. The previous night, she had given me thorough instructions. As I sat and listened to her guidance, I began to sense her feelings towards me, her stepchild whom she had to deal with every day, a child who was often rebellious and caused trouble...I took Luyen to my grandmother's house, with her sitting behind me and holding my backpack and belongings. My grandmother knew I would visit her that morning, so she stood outside the door with her cane, waiting. After spending some time talking with my grandmother, I reminded her to return home in time for the car. She handed me a tightly rolled ball of money, secured with an elastic band, and told me to use it as needed. The money was old and worn. Perhaps my grandmother had been saving it for a long time... She told me to study hard and become a doctor so that I could treat her back pain and her eyes, and so she could proudly tell everyone in the neighborhood, "My son Bi has achieved great success. He passed the exam and got into the biggest school in town..." Now that I have become a doctor, my grandmother has already passed away...The bus station in my hometown is nothing more than an empty lot near the market. In the morning, it serves as a bus station; at noon, it becomes a place for fish traders to dry their fish; and in the afternoon, it turns into a soccer field for children. Luyen insisted on waiting for me to get on the bus before leaving. I was squeezed into the last row of seats. I pressed my face against the rear window, watching her small figure fade away in the mist of the mountain morning. Later, whenever I had the opportunity to travel by car or bus, I would often choose the last row of seats, the place most people avoided, just to occasionally look out the window, searching for something, something vague...
By Quang2 years ago in BookClub
Heaven's Sister
After a few instances of my friends catching me taking her to school, the kids in my class immediately spread this shocking news: "T has a boyfriend, guys, T has a boyfriend, and her boyfriend is as ugly as a lemur." One guy even swore he saw us hugging, which was a blatant and disgusting lie. I couldn't explain myself. I screamed like crazy, saying she was my "cousin," and warned anyone to be careful or face consequences. The gossip stopped, but the girls looked at me with disdain, laughing hysterically and covering their mouths with their hands. It was an awful injustice. I'm handsome, the son of a doctor, and yet I was dating someone who was perceived as unlucky and ugly. It was frustrating.The next day, I decided not to tolerate it anymore and let her walk alone. She didn't say anything, just lowered her head and walked away whenever she saw me approaching in my car. But as I walked, I remembered the times when she was sick and bedridden, silently apologizing to her for not being able to do her chores like washing clothes or cooking for her. I realized how sorry I was for my past behavior. I turned the car around anyway...From a distance, I saw her walking slowly. She looked as small as a piece of candy, with a huge backpack on her back. Well, maybe not exactly like candy. If you looked closely, she resembled a baby turtle, both literally and figuratively. I told her to get in the car, and she silently obliged without saying a word. It was like she was a replica of her mother, never opposing or asking for anything. Both mother and child were like the women at the old Pa Tra governor's house...To avoid drawing attention from the students in my class, I took a shortcut. The road was winding and devoid of houses. I drove her through cashew gardens, orange gardens, and sugar cane fields. There were times when I excitedly stopped the car and climbed in to steal guavas for her to eat, while she watched from outside with a pale face. We went through everything together, even the times when I angrily left her in the middle of the road to make her walk and be late for a test. Even on days when my tire went flat or the car broke down, I took her along, and she walked behind me, huffing and pushing me...Nowadays, when I have the chance to return to my hometown, I often bring my old bicycle along that road to revisit the memories. Sometimes I'm startled and blurt out something, but no one answers. I turn around and look behind me, only to realize that I no longer see my skinny sister tightly holding onto the seat of the car, her face filled with confusion instead of a question. Suddenly, I lose the strength to continue, so I stop the car... tears streaming down my face...In those days, we often played with pictures of Goku and Hero Herman. In my class, I organized picture-playing parties almost every day before class. I was terrible at the game and often lost everything. Whatever money my father gave me for buying books, pens, and ink, I spent it on pictures and gave them all away to my friends. That day, I felt bitter because my friend challenged me and I ran out of money. I didn't know what to do. My father was away and hadn't returned yet, so I couldn't lie and ask for money. I took a risk... I rummaged through her backpack and stole money because I knew her mother used to give her money to buy random things for girls. My plan was to sell the pictures and get the money, then cleverly put it back as if nothing had happened. Little did I know... I lost everything...Throughout the day, I kept watching her, afraid that she would tell her mother or my father. If they found out, they would ask questions, and I would stumble over my words. It would be humiliating, worse than death, when they discovered that I hadn't bought books. But strangely enough, she didn't say anything. I'm sure she knew because I saw her packing her books for school and taking out some money. But regardless, I breathed a sigh of relief, as if I had narrowly escaped a disaster...
By Quang2 years ago in BookClub
The father's day surprise
Father's Day was just around the corner, and eight-year-old Emma was excited to make it the best day ever for her dad, Tom. Tom had been raising Emma alone since she was a baby, and he worked tirelessly to provide for her. Emma wanted to show her appreciation in a way that her dad would never forget. With the help of her grandmother, whom she lovingly called Nana, Emma began to plan a special surprise.
By CHRISTIAN P2 years ago in BookClub
Book Review on Growth Mindset:
About the Book Do you want to read a self-help book that can give you the tools to help you develop your growth mindset, if so, then you need to read Lewis Alerson’s Growth Mindset: The Door to Achieving More.
By Lisa Briskey2 years ago in BookClub
40-Day Shift
Information on the Book Are you interested in Karma, if so, then you need to read this 46-page book on 40 Day Shift: A Journey of Karma and Giving Back by Infinity Stone. This book is about her personal experience with Karma and how she gives back. The book was published on January 13, 2018, and sold by Amazon Digital Services, LLC
By Lisa Briskey2 years ago in BookClub