Vocal Book Club

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
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
Heaven's Sister
I just arrived home on the twenty-ninth day of Tet. My grandmother and aunt had been waiting at my house for a while. While we were eating, they asked me all sorts of questions and listened quietly as I told stories about studying in town and about things I didn't have in my hometown. I shared all the things that had happened in the six months I was away from home. It was my first time being away, so the family meal felt delicious and unusually cozy, not as painful as when I was back in the countryside. I felt foolish for not appreciating large meals at home before.That night, I took Luyen for a walk. I asked her to tell me stories about home, her studies, and miscellaneous stories from the village. She sat behind me, whispering loudly about the neighbor who had just gotten married, about the dog at home giving birth to two puppies, and how she learned to eat rice so she took it to the market to sell. She also shared stories about her grandmother who used to come and ask when I would be back, and about the secondary school that had just built another block of buildings.At that time, my hometown didn't have street lights, but because it was close to Tet, every house was lit up with bright lights to wrap cakes and display chicken and pork. I drove to a foreign dam on the edge of town, where I used to go to the bathroom with my friends. Sitting on the bank of the dam, feeling the cool wind blowing, and talking to Luyen, I realized that things had changed a lot since I first came here. I had grown up, at least in my mind.As I drifted off to sleep, remembering the time on the dam, I suddenly felt strangely excited. Why did Luyen smile so charmingly just now? Why did she neatly clip the mane I bought for her today? She looked so cute and tidy, not as messy as before. I was in that mood because when I was in high school, I read the first love book of my life, which was "Wuthering Heights." In other words, I had begun to daydream about things that I previously thought were nonsense and despicable.That was 1995, the first year fireworks were banned during Tet. Tet became less fun. Besides, my family was in mourning, so I didn't want to go anywhere. I spent the past few Tet days alone at home with a black-and-white TV that had a creaky latch. On the 5th day of Tet, he returned home. He went back to his hometown to visit his grandmother on the 2nd. He had to return today so he could go back to school on the 7th. She entered the house, wearing a blue pleated skirt and a white round-neck shirt. That was the old-fashioned style of most girls in my hometown. Suppressing my surprise when I first saw her in a dress, I nodded in greeting and continued to look at the TV. But deep down, I was terribly curious. I wanted to turn and look at her, see her figure in the dress, see her dressed up for the first time. I tried to restrain myself from looking away from the TV, but I couldn't resist. I don't know why I did it again. All I know is that even though I looked that way, I had no idea what the TV was showing because my mind and thoughts belonged to another place.I went back to town to continue studying, bringing with me a strange feeling of sadness about my younger sister. The image of her during Tet haunted me. It appeared in my dreams, during my leisurely afternoons, when I sat on a high water tank, in the classroom, and even dimly on the water surface of the lake, startling me as if I were falling asleep.In May, when the cicadas were buzzing in preparation for summer, my aunt wrote me a letter telling me to come home quickly. I found it strange that it wasn't my sister who wrote the letter, but my aunt. Her voice in the letter was unusually urgent. That afternoon, after finishing school, I took a bus and went home that night...
By Quang2 years ago in BookClub
Book Review: The Psychology of Money . AI-Generated.
Introduction "The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness" by Morgan Housel is a profound exploration of the complex and often counterintuitive ways people think about and interact with money. Housel, a former columnist at The Wall Street Journal and The Motley Fool, delves into the psychological aspects that influence financial decisions, highlighting that wealth is not just about mathematical precision but also about behavior. This book emphasizes that understanding the human side of money is crucial for achieving financial success and well-being.
By Femi Lade2 years ago in BookClub
Audiobook Review: Camp Cacophony by Jessica Khoury
It’s two months before Amelia’s big audition for the Mystwick School of Musicraft. If she gets in, she will learn to spin music into powerful magic - but her Gran has one last-ditch plan to persuade her out of it: sports camp. A week of softball, sprinting, and sweaty socks isn't exactly Amelia’s idea of a good time - in fact, she's deeply, appallingly unathletic. By the end of day one, she’s puked her guts out in track, gotten a black eye in no-contact flag football, and firmly established herself as the Least Valuable Player at camp. As head counselor, Coach Shawn is determined to make an athlete of Amelia, despite her complete inability to land a single basket in basketball and her high effectiveness at scoring in the wrong net in soccer. And all Amelia wants is some time to herself, so she can practice her flute for the Mystwick auditions. But everyone’s plans are quickly derailed by a series of disasters that strike camp, putting everyone in mortal danger. It's clear that strange magic is at work, and as the only musician around, Amelia suddenly goes from benchwarmer to MVP. But can she discover the source of the malevolent magic - and how to stop it - before the deadly spell reaches its crescendo?
By Marie Sinadjan2 years ago in BookClub
Unveiling the Wealth Paradigm: A Critical Review of "Capitalist Manifesto" by Robert Kiyosaki. AI-Generated.
When it comes to personal finance and wealth-building, few names resonate as strongly as Robert Kiyosaki, acclaimed author of the "Rich Dad Poor Dad" series. In his latest work, "Capitalist Manifesto," Kiyosaki offers a bold exploration of capitalism, wealth creation, and the future of finance. In this comprehensive review, we dissect the key themes and insights presented in "Capitalist Manifesto," probing its merits and implications for readers seeking financial empowerment.
By Future of Resilience 2 years ago in BookClub
Book Review: Tempered Glass by Beth Overmyer
Verve survived a dangerous transformation into the Fire Queen, but can she survive the power that was given to her? In the second installment of the Blade and Bone series, Verve seeks to tame and conceal her magic. But when tragedy strikes, she’s forced to return to a land she never wanted to see again and confront - or evade - a darkness she hoped had died. The Gate of the Dead has been opened and there are few places to hide. With her secret husband at odds with her way of breaking the curse, Verve finds that love can make an unreliable ally, and that anger is a potent weapon. Readers of Carissa Broadbent will love this thrilling series weaving an intriguing world of fantasy and folklore.
By Marie Sinadjan2 years ago in BookClub
Book of the day
Hello, my fellow Vocal Creators! I'm back with another excellent reading opportunity for the summer. More precisely it's a trilogy, that I'm about to introduce to you, so you'll have one book for every month of this summer, if you decide to give it a go and order them. Plus I have a surprise in the end of this article, so make sure you stay with me all along this review. :)
By Anna 2 years ago in BookClub
Book Review: Wrath of Olympus by E.M. Kkoulla
The Roman Empire never fell. The Gods are real. Ships are alive. In the Province of Britannia, ruled by descendants of King Arthur and on the brink of an industrial revolution, young Maia Abella is on the run. Something unseen has murdered her cruel mistress and she’s being blamed. The streets and factories of Portus are no place for a friendless girl, trapped in events beyond her control. The city authorities and the Royal Navy are both desperate to find her - one investigating a killer, the other to recruit her, while the deadly legacy of a tragic past stalks her every step. Aided by Raven, an ancient, blind Mage with a terrible secret and Milo, Crown Agent and spy, Maia must discover and overcome the fatal consequences of her birth. Meanwhile, the Gods are making their moves. And not all of them are friendly.
By Marie Sinadjan2 years ago in BookClub
Book Review: The Templar Sword by Sam Clarke
Noah is a typical teenager with a very atypical dream – becoming a modern-day Knight Templar. His estranged father, a senior commander within the Order, is dead set against it. An ancient sword has been missing for centuries. Recovering it would prove Noah's worth to his father and earn him a place at the Clearview Templar Academy. When he stumbles across a Renaissance painting that holds a clue to the sword’s location, Noah’s dream seems within reach. As the death toll quickly mounts, it becomes apparent that others are hunting the sword – for far more evil ends. The future of the Templars, very much like Noah’s, is at stake. Together with his friend Viggo and mischievously attractive Isabelle, Noah embarks on the deadliest quest of his life. The sword’s dangerous trail will take them from the canals of Venice, to the spires of Seville, to a gripping showdown in the underwater caves of the Caribbean. A fresh, original adventure story. Can be read as a standalone novel or as the sequel to The Twelfth Ring.
By Marie Sinadjan2 years ago in BookClub
Audiobook Review: Camille (The Lady of the Camellias) by Alexandre Dumas fils
First published in 1848, Camille captivated Paris and has inspired countless adaptations. This classic story of love and loss is based on the author’s real-life affair with courtesan Marie Duplessis. Also known as The Lady of the Camellias, the novel follows the courtesan Marguerite Gautier through her tumultuous love affair with handsome—but middle class—Armand Duval. Before their passionate affair is over, one lover must give up everything.
By Marie Sinadjan2 years ago in BookClub
Navigating the Maze of Anxiety: A Comprehensive Review of "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt. AI-Generated.
In the age of digital connectivity and social upheaval, anxiety has become an omnipresent force, shaping the lives of individuals across generations. Jonathan Haidt's "The Anxious Generation" offers a profound exploration of this phenomenon, shedding light on the underlying causes and implications of rising anxiety levels among today's youth. In this review, we delve into the key themes and insights presented in Haidt's groundbreaking work, examining its relevance in understanding and addressing the challenges faced by the anxious generation.
By Future of Resilience 2 years ago in BookClub