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Art/Culture / Other

Reviewing the act of reviewing

Today, the world runs on reviews. They help us decide what to buy, where to eat, and what…

by serenapuang May 10, 2022

Serena Puang

Serena is a freelance journalist who writes about accessibility, culture, language, education, and their intersections. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Chronicle of Higher Education, Teen Vogue, NBC, and more. You can contact her at contact@dearyall.net

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What I’m reading:

Jeju content continued. Yesterday was the last day

Jeju content continued. Yesterday was the last day of the fall semester, and I did my Korean oral interview. It was a little bit of a struggle bus at points (my level 1 vocab was not able to describe why I like hardcover books more than paperbacks…my level one vocabulary does not even include the word for “paperback” or “hardcover” 😂😂😂), but my interviewer and I talked about Jeju, the “many cool cafes”, the “beautiful sea”, and how I love “receiving books as gifts.” Onward to the next adventure (and then back for the next semester)! . . . . #fivestarweek #jejuisland #readingvlog #disastertourist #booksintranslation

Last: Remarkably Bright Creatures Definitely late

Last: Remarkably Bright Creatures Definitely late to the party on this one, but it’s such a good read! It really reminded me of Anxious People (but with an octopus narrator) which I loved. Highly recommend if you haven’t picked this up yet. Also look at this cover. I like the octopus one too, but the dala horse 🥺🥺🥺 5 star read! Now: Feel Free by Zadie Smith has been on my list for a while. Stay tuned for annotations and thoughts. Next: Seoul is Christmas-ifying. The book tree at the library made me so happy 🥰 QOTD: Any special Thanksgiving plans? My semester lined up with the holidays, so I have off even though they don’t celebrate here. . . . . #remarkablybrightcreatures #lastnownext #bookstagram #seoullibrary #zadiesmith

I think I spend as much money on fun drinks as I d

I think I spend as much money on fun drinks as I do on food 😂 My fav cafes are ones with lots of books, so I can pretend I have a bookshelf. QOTD: What’s your favorite fun drink? . . . . #bookstagram #placestoread #bookworm #bookish #bookishlove #cafes #fundrinks #cafevibes #reading #booklifeupdate #bibliophile #koreancafe #travel #jejuisland #booksandfood #bookstafriendz #booknerd #cakeandtea #aestheticcafes

Jeongbang Waterfall on Jeju island is just a short

Jeongbang Waterfall on Jeju island is just a short descent down a couple flight of stairs, and I miss it 🥺🥺🥺 it’s a waterfall that flows right into the ocean. What a peaceful and beautiful place 😌 📍37 Chilsimni-ro 214beon-gil, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea QOTD: do you like hiking? . . . . . #bookstagram #jejutrip #bookish #books #disastertourist #booksintranslation #studyabroadlife #book#readersgonna #readinglifeupdate #jeongbang #waterfall #ocean #sealover #jejuisland #trazy #visitkorea

I miss the fall 😭 Seoul is so cold this week a

I miss the fall 😭 Seoul is so cold this week and I just want to go back to when I could leave the house without a billion layers. But on the bright side, it’s the perfect weather to get lost in a bookstore. QOTD: Has winter started where you are? . . . . . #bookstagram #bookish #booksbooksbooks #fall #fallstyle #fallvibes #seoulfoliage #fallleaves #bookishfeatures #bookishpost #bookstafriendz #readinglifeupdate #booklover #reading #readers #readreadread #bookcover #seoultravel #koreafall #bookworm

Proof that covers matter! I probably walked by t

Proof that covers matter! I probably walked by this book 500 times in the states without picking it up bc the orange cover with a person on it is not my vibe. This is literally the same book with a different cover, and I’m seriously considering buying it👀👀 Has this happened to anyone else? And has anyone read this? I’m intrigued! . . . . . #bookstagram #bookish #bookcovers #internationalbookcovers #bookworm #booksbooksbooks #reading #bookshopping #bookishandproud #bookworm #bookaesthetic #readersofinstagram #readersgonnaread #koreanbookstore #bookaddict #booklifeupdate #bookstafriendz #seoulbookstore

A highlight of the content creator’s trip to 통

A highlight of the content creator’s trip to 통영 (Tongyeong) was Dpirang, a nighttime sculpture park. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but you essentially walk along this path until with lights and projections along the way until you get to this giant immersive art space that’s open to the sky. I’ve kind of gotten cynical about immersive art over the years, but this was legit really cool and well done. The outdoor element makes it feel like a secret oasis in the middle of the woods. Plus the path along the way is magical. If you go, you should know that the attraction is on the top of a pretty steep hill, and there are a lot of stairs along the way both in and out of the attraction. It is a little intense to get to, so I wouldn’t recommend for wheelchair users/mobility aid users (especially because of how dark it is). Thank you to Trazy for taking us to see this cool art space! . . . . . #Tongyeong #TonightTongyeong #TongyeongContentCreators #Trazy #TrazyKorea #TravelCrazy #travelkorea #koreadestinations #immersiveart #nightout #artsculpturepark #sculptures #immersiveexperience #travelvlog #trending #trip #koreaadventures #dpirangdigitalpark #dpirang #디피랑 #통영

Hello from 통영(Tongyeong)! Currently reading:

Hello from 통영(Tongyeong)! Currently reading: All My Rage (my 12 from 12 rec from @annahchen 🩷) This weekend I’m on a Trazy content creators’ trip exploring the beautiful city of 통영! More on this soon ~ . . . . . #bookstagram #bookish #currentlyreading #reading #allmyrage #currentread #book #bookworm #readersofinstagram #bookishlove #oceanvibes #iseethesea #oceanlife #travelkorea #bookishfeatures #Tongyeong #TonightTongyeong #TongyeongContentCreators #Trazy #TrazyKorea #TravelCrazy #bookaddict #sabatahir #bookishtravel

Happy publication day to The Night Parade and Cour

Happy publication day to The Night Parade and Courting Samira! Two books I’ve had my eye on since the summer. My review of the Night Parade is coming soon so keep an eye out for that. Courting Samira is a fun romcom featuring a 27 Muslim woman living in Sydney Australia. It’s a romcom with no steamy scenes and not a ton of official dating which I really just never see represented. . . . . . #happypublicationday #publicart #seoul #coffeshop #booksta #ilovebooks #pubday #novemberreleases2023 #courtingsamira #thenightparade #booksbooksbooks #readersgonmaread #bookrecommendations #bookaddict #booknerd #booklover #readmorebooks #asianamericanreads #muslimrep #romcom #bookishandproud #bookishengagement #bookishuplift

Jeju has so many highly rated restaurants and cafe

Jeju has so many highly rated restaurants and cafes it might be my favorite place I’ve visited in Korea so far!! The 흑돼지 (black pork) and Jeju orange products (juice, jam, tea, etc) are def worth the hype🤗 QOTD: What’s your next trip? Reel inspiration: @saraaahsays 🤗 . . . . . #food #travel #jeju #trazykorea #travelkorea #koreatrip #jejuisland #fallvibes #beachvibes #cafes #wheretoeat #foodies #foodlovers #trazymemories #travelblogger #travelgram #travelbloggerslife #wheretogo #island #weekendtrip

What this week: I just got back from Jeju! And wow

What this week: I just got back from Jeju! And wowowow it’s beautiful, the weather was gorgeous, and I was thriving 🤗 CURRENTLY Reading: The Disaster Tourist, Pet, Beasts of War, The Mermaid from Jeju, How We Do It, The Bestiary, The Catch…maybe more..? (yes I know..I have a problem) . . . . . #bookstagram #jeju #travelkorea #trazykorea #bookish #mermaidfromjeju #koreanbooks #currentlyreading #currenttbr #whatimreading #whatthisweek #bookworm #bookishandproud #travelbooks #booksandtravel #beachvibes #islandvibes #beachreads #vacationtime #reading #readersofinstagram #bookishsupport #readersgonnaread #bibliophile #booklover #jejuisland #jejutravel

Reminder that you don’t have to be an expert to

Reminder that you don’t have to be an expert to post book reviews!! For the longest time, I wanted to write reviews, but I didn’t know where to start. I read a lot and had thoughts about the books but it was like what qualifies me to say something??? I’m just a rando. Now that I’ve been reviewing for a while both for publications and for bookstagram, I’ve realized that most books are bought by randos! That sounds silly, but it’s true. Yes, people who read a lot//are professional critics have a specific expertise and will see the book in a certain way. I think it’s valuable to keep a pulse on where a field is going/trends. But you have a valuable perspective too! Most people reading the book won’t read it with 1000 other books in mind, and there’s room for you to share your opinion too 🤗 So start small. What was the book about? What did you like/dislike about it? You never know what friends you’ll make along the way! . . . . . #bookstagram #bookishandproud #booksbooksbooks #fallfoliage #korea #seoulfoliage #namsan #bookworm #bookstaengagement #bookreview #bookreviewer #readersgonnaread #reading #bookstacommunity #bookstagramfeature #bookstagrammers #reviews #bookishfriends #booklover #bookaddict #booksandleaves #fallingintofall #fallleaves #seoulbucketlist #seoullovers #fallingleaves🍁🍂 #travel #instatravel

Happy Halloween! Ft. The cutest bunny cafe decked

Happy Halloween! Ft. The cutest bunny cafe decked out for spooky season and Halloween colored book mail from @schiel_good_reads ! I’m so excited to finally read Nightcrawling! . . . . . #bookstagram #bookmail #halloween #halloweenvibes #cafe #seoulcafe #kindlegirlie #kindlepaperwhite #bookish #reading #readreadread #bookishandproud #booklifeupdate #spookyvibes #seoulcafe #cutecafe #nightcrawling #leilamottley

FALL IN KOREA recap: some moments and mems plus fa

FALL IN KOREA recap: some moments and mems plus fall vibe book recs for people who can’t read scary books (me) but still want to get into the season WITH recs from bookish friends!! Miracle Creek: courtroom thriller/mystery about an immigrant family and a mother accused of killing her autistic son. My Sister the Serial Killer: a dark comedy about a young serial killer and the older sister who begrudgingly enables her. What We Kept to Ourselves: A stranger dies in the Kim’s backyard, and they think it’s just a weird tragic accident until they find that he was carrying a letter addressed to their mother who disappeared a year ago. Nuclear Family: a Korean family in Hawai’i deals with the fallout when their son goes to South Korea to teach English and is detained attempting to cross the DMZ. The Dead Romantics: ghost story rom com that’s fun! Ghost writer falls for the ghost of her new editor. The Night Parade: a speculative memoir: Part ghost story, part myth anthology, part memoir. Coming out early next month (11/7) ––stay tuned!! In the Dream House: in a genre bending memoir, Machado invited us into her own kind of haunted house. Recs from bookish friends Babel (but really, you influenced me to read What We Kept to Ourselves): @dauhns_booklist I’ve actually read this one, and I really loved it! If you haven’t read it yet, I included it for dark academia vibes. The Night Circus: @alexandracgalloway The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches: @lailareads_ Sweet Bean Paste: @ashes.martedi The Ninth House: @aleareads . . . . . #woorimobile #koreasimcard #koreaautumn #bookstagram #visitkorea #bookish #booksta #booksbooksbooks #readersgonnaread📚 #bookworm #bookstafriendz #busan #seoul #travelvibes #fallbooks #fallbookstagram #traveler #readersgonnaread #reading #bookishupdate #booklifeupdate #seoulife #bookstagram

Busan Book Street! This area is a cute area of a T

Busan Book Street! This area is a cute area of a TON of little bookshops. You can buy mostly used books and many shops have eclectic collections of English books, especially YA. Prices are fairly cheap (about 5000 won vs 18-25k in regular bookstores), and there’s a lot to explore! If you go, shops start opening around 10, so have breakfast somewhere before! QOTD: what’s your favorite bookish attraction? 📍16, Chaekbanggolmok-gil, Jung-gu, Busan (Zip Code)48967 . . . . . #bookstreet #bookish #bookstagram #bookworm #booksinkorea #koreanbooks #browsingbooks #busan #visitbusan #bookstacksaturday #bookstafriends #bookmarkedbylandmark #readersgonnaread #reading #reader #bosudongbookstreet #seetheworldthroughbooks #tourisminkorea #koreatrip #busantrip #busantravel #trazykorea #bookishlove #bookishuplift #usedbooks #usedbookstore #usedbooks

This week, I had the pleasure of meeting Joseph Ha

This week, I had the pleasure of meeting Joseph Han (author of Nuclear Family) + his partner and visiting @betheunheehong at the Korea Herald! Pictured: ⭐️ Arc n Book - bookstore / cafe ⭐️ The Korean edition of Nuclear Family I found at Arc n Book (!!!this cover!!) ⭐️Joseph indulging our photo moment ⭐️ Carrot cake in its structurally sound form ⭐️ Goat stew which I tried to discuss in my oral Korean interview the next day ⭐️ The 😍 book collection at the Korea Herald . . . . . #bookstagram #bookish #bookstorecafe #vegancake #booksintranslation #booksbooksbooks #arcnbook bookstagram #booklifeupdate #koreanfood #bookworm #readersgonnaread #whatthisweek

Book mail!! I can’t believe I got my hands on @a

Book mail!! I can’t believe I got my hands on @amanda_montell forthcoming book The Age of Magival Overthinking. I’ve been a fan of Sounds like a Cult for a while now! And I really liked cultish! I’m also excited about The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan which is about a mother who becomes a spy ushering Japanese occupation into Malaya and how her actions impact her children in later years. I’m half Malaysian but I don’t know very much about that history. Excited to dig in! . . . . . #bookstagram #beachvibes #booksandsea #bookmailmonday #booksbooksbooks #bookish #booksta #bookishsupport #busanviews #book #fortcoming #2024debuts #cultish #soundslikeacult #bookworm #booklifeupdate #bookworm #readersofinstagram #readersgimnaread #booksandviews #ocean #bookmailisthebestmail #amandamontell #vanessachan #soundslikeacult

WHAT TO DO IN BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA Last weekend was

WHAT TO DO IN BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA Last weekend was my first time visiting Busan (and my first time filming a dance reel…omg am I a tiktoker now??). Busan is beautiful this time of year, and I was excited to finally see some of the Pinterest-worthy sights. The city is huge though, so there’s a lot left to see. Guess I’ll have to go back sometime! Here’s a peek into what I did: 📍Yongdusan Park//Busan Tower - we didn’t go up, but the gift shop is super cute! 📍Jagalchi Market - the observation deck is underrated TBH 📍Songdo Marine Cable Car - worth it for the photos and the view, but try to sit in the corners away from the door for best photo results. 📍Gwanggalli Beach - LEGIT SO BEAUTIFUL at sunset!! Drone show was canceled when we were there due to wind, but there are boats that go out and shoot fireworks, and the view of the bridge is great!! There was a book festival going on this weekend too so bookish post coming soon about that and the book street. But for now, enjoy another day in the sun ☀️ Featuring: @yuri.zhihan.yu . . . . . #busan #visitbusan #busanitinerary #korea #busantrip #travelvlog #anotherdayofsun #lalaland #travelvlog #travelling #koreatrip #ilovetravel #wanderlust #adventure #dance #dancelover #nature #ocean #sealovers #sightseeing

Ya girl is officially a Seoul library card holder!

Ya girl is officially a Seoul library card holder!!! Visiting @seoul_library was such an awesome experience l. The staff was really nice, and they have a special room full of books about Korea written in different languages where I found two books that have been on my TBR for a while! I can’t wait to go back. Soon: I will conquer the smart library system and get books from subway station library machines!! . . . . . #seoul #seoullibrary #iwannadiebutiwanttoeattteokbokki #disastertourist #koreanauthors #bookstagram #bookish #bookaddict #booksbooksbooks #readersgonnaread #reading #tbr #libraryappreciation #newlibrarybooks #libraryhaul #cafevibes #booksintranslation #lit #asianlit #colorfulbooks #cookiesofinstagram #booksandcookies #bookstafriendz #bookishcommunity #bookupdate #booklifeupdate

WHAT THIS WEEK: I just finished Keya Das’s Secon

WHAT THIS WEEK: I just finished Keya Das’s Second Act. It’s a really interesting book about a Bengali American family staging a play in honor of Keya, the youngest daughter in the family who passed away. Not to spoil too much of the book, but each of the family members is dealing with different guilt surrounding her death which happened shortly after she came out to her family, and they reacted poorly. I’m really glad I had the opportunity to read this book about second chances and complicated family dynamics thanks to @simonbooks (who sent me a gifted copy). It has so many layers. . . . . . #bookstagram #simonbooksbuddy #bookstagram #bookish #haneulpark #tourismseoul #book #rorygilmore #gilmoregirlsquotes #muhlygrass #sunset #sunsetandbooks #bookishengagement #bookishuplift #booklifeupdate #bookstafriendz #bookishcommunity #bengaliamericanreads #asianamericanreaders #asianamericanrepresentation #readersgonnaread

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