by KB Meniado THE STORY One lie snowballs into a full-blown double life in this irresistible story about an aspiring stand-up comedian. On the outside, Yumi Chung suffers from #shygirlproblems, a perm-gone-wrong, and kids calling her “Yu-MEAT” because she smells like her family’s Korean barbecue restaurant. On the inside, Yumi is ready for her Netflix…More
Category Archives: Reviews and Recs
Bookbed reviews: ‘Exhalation: Stories’ by Ted Chiang
by Jodesz Gavilan THE STORY This much-anticipated second collection of stories is signature Ted Chiang, full of revelatory ideas and deeply sympathetic characters. In The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate, a portal through time forces a fabric seller in ancient Baghdad to grapple with past mistakes and the temptation of second chances. In the epistolary…More
Bookbed recommends: ‘Filipino Prehistory: Rediscovering Precolonial Heritage’ by F. Landa Jocano
by KB Meniado Taking a cue from the latest Why Filipinos Should Read on why we should pick up more Filipiniana and readings on Anthropology, I decided to start this year’s reading list with a book about Filipino prehistory. Reading Wing of the Locust last year also stirred this interest, and I wanted to continue…More
Bookbed reviews: ‘Wing of the Locust’ by Joel Donato Ching Jacob #WingoftheLocust
by KB Meniado Filipino mythology was something I hadn’t been reading plenty of, and not because of a lack of offering but energy (for shame), but this year has allowed me to explore a few facets of our prehistoric origins and found the experience both fascinating and well, guilt-ridden. So when I was offered the…More
Bookbed reviews: ‘Meet Me By the Sea’ by Taltal Levi
by KB Meniado THE STORY When a spunky little girl finds that her parents are too busy to play, she decides to visit her favorite place on her own. The familiar path lightens her step and her heart. And along the way she discovers a wonderful surprise. Taltal Levi’s spare text and delicate pastel-hued illustrations…More
Bookbed recommends: ‘Sweet on You: A Filipino Christmas romance’ by Carla de Guzman
by KB Meniado Now more than ever, we need something good and filling, and Sweet on You: a Filipino Christmas romance by Carla de Guzman hits the spot. More so if you are, well, Filipino and have a sweet tooth like me because *wipes drools* this foodie romance is delicious and comforting in all the…More
Bookbed reviews: ‘Furia’ by Yamile Saied Méndez
by KB Meniado THE STORY An #ownvoices contemporary YA set in Argentina, about a rising soccer star who must put everything on the line—even her blooming love story—to follow her dreams. In Rosario, Argentina, Camila Hassan lives a double life. At home, she is a careful daughter, living within her mother’s narrow expectations, in her…More
Bookbed recommends: ‘It’ by Stephen King
by Kobe Balod Conceptually ambitious and emotionally cathartic, It by Stephen King continues to shock and horrify readers to this day. Pennywise is an alien from the macroverse that shapeshifts itself to embody our greatest, most primal fears. Throughout the novel, it takes the form of classic horror movie monsters that reflect the 50’s era…More
Bookbed reviews: ‘Dr. Wangari Maathai Plants a Forest’ by Rebel Girls
by KB Meniado THE STORY From the world of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls comes the historical novel based on the life of Dr. Wangari Maathai, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist from Kenya. Wangari lives in a magical place in rural Kenya where the soil is rich for planting, the trees abundant, and the nearby…More
Bookbed reviews: ‘Tweet Cute’ by Emma Lord (Blog Tour + Excerpt)
by KB Meniado THE STORY Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming ― mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account. Enter Jack, class clown and…More
