fav. reads

2025 philosophical fav.

Personal fav. pick of the year:
personal deciphered version of the excerpts from
Siddharta by Hermann Hesse

This is a philosophical novel that made me wonder why the name sounds so relevant to Buddhism, yet it has everything to do with 'the river' and 'stories of life' instead. That's just from my personal point of view. During the same period, I magically encountered several people who were reading the same book. While I was intrigued by this book, I recommended it to a person I met during one of the philosophical events who was interested in reading Hobbes. This story itself left me understanding how 'wisdom' can be redefined. For the author, knowledge can be passed down, but wisdom can only be understood or accumulated or have an action paired with enlightenment to gain. For me, knowledge and skills can be mastered and informed. Meanwhile, being wise is to be able to redefine the definition of wisdom oneself. It's another book reminding us that we are the ones to define and redefine our books, that not all information shared has to be followed, including the book itself. Usually, when books say that, I have chills and deep respect for them because they admit that the world and situations change so fast, as life forms are dynamic. We've got to go and explore and create lives of our own. Oh, that, I personally thought of that after a long time reading the book. Those moments align as they strike back.

2025 art fav.

Personal fav. pick of the year:
Tangle Art Pack: A Meditative Drawing Book and Sketchpad
by Beckah Krahula

I've mainly picked it up because I knew that I hope to master more skills to then elevate things and integrate them. Then, I'll eventually understand the kind of understanding & state of mind to create my worlds & unique art style, arts &// creations.

2024 ~ 2025 fictional fav.

Personal fav. pick of the year:
it's a web novel & ya it's the only web novel I read those 2 years, because of a animated film I saw that referred to the book. There's now even a real-life drama adaptation.

《亏成首富从游戏开始》 (年少有为) 青衫取醉
The Richest Man in GAME / Losing Money to Be a Tycoon (No Pain No Gain) by Qing Shan Qu Zui

This is a slightly complicated one. Not a typical 'isekai', not the typical fiction just to please readers. It draws me in by its firm points of the world view of how uncommon a leader who's supposed to be in our world. And also how the 'adult fairytale', named by many, can be real if we really put in the effort and time into creating it. Many things can be as simple as they seem, as we can forgive ourselves, redefine ourselves and heal. Of course, it is one of the many creations that make me feel seen when the book mentions different ways about what capitalism was like, along with the details, the pros and the cons. It's not all told directly, but reflected through the choices and actions of the world under a really weirdly built worldview that feels like another Utopia in our world. It gives me hope in understanding '运筹帷幄' (having many things interconnected in control), etc. Along with its humour in delivering the messages through real-life stories, it gives me a surprise that it could be this great and influential in my life. Btw, the web novel version is chaotically made (with minor errors & live interactions with readers even) that is slightly different from the interpretations from the animated film and the real-life adaptation. They're all equally as interesting & influential. Thanks, with love.

2024 fav.

Personal fav. pick of the year:
personal deciphered version of the excerpts from
The Way by Lao Tsu
老子的《道德经》

This is more of a journey than a 'read'. I wrote down word by word with different types of ink for more than 2 years. There were times when I questioned which was which since the tomb (马王堆) showed so many differences from the more ancient (possibly original excerpt) compared to the widely known one. From pen ink to watercolour to my own naturally made colour. When I look at the documentaries featuring various shapes and colours of Lao Tzu's hair, which are shaped and carved differently, like little dolls, I know that my own interpretation is the one for me. Oh, btw, I am well aware that some call the author Lao Tzu and Lao Zi instead. Haha, nice. The biggest understanding is about observing nature, the way of knowing and flowing while growing and outgrowing with love. Cycles play their part in nature so well that it's almost invisible yet always, and we mean ALWAYS, here.

2022 ~ 2023 fav.

Personal fav. fictional / sci-fi pick of the year:
personal deciphered version of the excerpts from
3-Body-Problem

I enjoy this. I admire the sophisticatedly written plots and well-played stories. Yet, I had too many biases. I was not a big fan of the 'dark forest' because I do think that civilisations of different dimensions can be kind and/or entirely different, rather than so unforgiving, etc. However, I do think that I love stories involving different dimensions. Nope, different civilisation for this one. Yes, more like so. Hhmmm... And while everyone's like, 'Oh, cool, the eco-friendly topics.' I am like, yes, exactly, the eco-friendly topics and whether humanity can be saved. Is it worth saving? I mean, are we worth saving? There's a whole lot of emotions being buried deep down under the fast-paced, scientifically relevant world-building in the story that kind of let me see how catastrophic events happen when the emotions surface without anyone knowing. I know it's ridiculous, but spoiler alert, I was thinking that many of the plots wouldn't happen if they had the most suitable therapies chosen to cure their mental health issues. Yes, from the beginning, before sending signals or not, to the ways we keep in touch or not, all the way to the other civilisation. I mean, for a civilisation with thoughts and expressions, having zero differences means no miscommunication, and I wonder how their psychopathic moves got to pass within themselves. Like, from the entire history or whatever story, if we see we can trust each other at all times, aren't we already built to be more benevolent and naturally more kind? Like, their trust level is way higher than humans, and yet they appear like... Never mind, I suppose we could say it's because of the urgent matter of moving out of the disaster, plus there were, in fact, the benevolent ones when they first contacted us. It's okay; we're gonna see how I create our settings for another type of civilisation in another story soon. For this, let us respectfully and thankfully appreciate it with much love.

2022 ~ 2023 fav.

Personal fav. pick of the year:
personal deciphered version of the excerpts from
Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch (Volume 1, 2, 3)
*Note that it contains both the agreeable and things I disagree with, respectfully.

This is the book that tells people about 'pondering about everyone who attempts to tell you what's "right" or "wrong", including the book itself, which draws my attention the most. The book had things like the 'should/shouldn't' and the other doubts of the author that I see as certain mental distortions and respectfully disagree with, or would see as a foundation to be directed in different, interesting ways. However, it quenched my thirst on the philosophical and spiritual questions that had been on my mind back before another phase of my life. The journey begins where I could answer the same questions differently and deeply with my instinct, as well as the perspective of neuroscience and observations of nature through my creations of art right now. However, I'm still truly grateful for immersing myself in the world of such interesting dialogues to see different perspectives on the world.

2016 （2015~2017）fictional fav.

Personal fav. pick of the year:
personal deciphered version of the excerpts from
Judy Moody series (at my secondary school library)

It's one of the many series that's seemingly quite childish, yet hopeful. My favourite at the time, as I even used it in my art and worldview of one young soul, or old, being able to change so much in the world. One of the 'bright lights' in my life as I kept on reading about the stories in one of my darkest times back then. I always jokingly tell my friends that it's one of the series that has 'kept me alive'. I now know that it's one of those creations that have aligned and influenced my personal values and worldview deeply. Not that deeply, but kind of quite deeply.