First day of 2nd Semester: Monday, January 20
MS Ice Skating Trip: Tuesday, January 21
HS Basketball Friendly @ DMHS: Wednesday, January 22
Yearbook Individual Photos: January 20-24
KIMEA National Honor Festival @ Chadwick International School: January 24-25
Lunar New Year Break: January 27-31
Don't forget your spirit shirts on Friday

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Jessica’s Top 5 Books of the Year

All of my favorite books of the year are placed on my bedside bookshelf. (Jessica Woo)

Books have long offered me a refuge and have always inspired me to look at the world from a different perspective. I went on a reading hiatus due to academics in my sophomore and junior years, but recently, I returned to the joy of reading. Out of all of the pageturners I read this year, these top picks stand out to me for different reasons.

1. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen

I opened Sense and Sensibility during a flight to Jeju Island and closed it just as my return flight landed. The story gripped me instantly, pulling me into its world, and I found myself racing through every chapter while on the trip.

2. When Breath Becomes Air - Paul Kalanithi

Paul Kalanithi’s When Breath Becomes Air shook me to my core. The author reflects on life, death, and purpose through the lens of his experiences as a neurosurgeon and his personal battle with cancer. By the final page, I felt tears streaming down, overwhelmed by the emotional depth of his words.
3. Demian - Herman Hesse

My mom insisted I read this book because she thought (and still thinks) that Herman Hesse is a genius. When I usually start a book, I skim through it, but it was impossible to do so with Demian. The book intrigued me in ways I didn’t expect, pulling me into a thought-provoking exploration of identity and self-discovery.

4. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

At first glance, Anna Karenina stood out as one of the longest books (other than textbooks hehe) I had ever considered reading. As I moved through the story, its resemblance to a makjang (막장) K-drama captivated me, and caught me into the scandalous lives of its characters.

5. Vegetarian (채식주의자) - Han Kang

On a visit to my grandparents’ place, I saw this book and picked it up right away. I usually avoid dark books, but this one captured me in a way I can’t quite explain. Its haunting prose and complex themes drew me in and left a lasting impression on me. But, both my mom and I constantly suffered from nightmares after I finished the book, so I wouldn’t recommend it to a younger audience due to its intense and mature content.

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