Welcome to Books the Word | 秘密の言葉
Slow living through books, journaling, and stories from around the world. Here you’ll find:
The Book Nook – honest, reflective reviews of translated and literary fiction (with some historical, fantasy and other genres thrown in for good measure), always with a companion playlist.
The Quiet Pages – journaling inspiration, from planner setups to gentle prompts, and the joy of creating with pen and paper.
The Slow Way – reflections on living with intention, from everyday rituals to personal wellbeing.
The Vinyl Shelf – soundtracks for your life: curated mixes for reading, journaling, studying, or simply slowing down.
This is a space for pausing, reflecting, and connecting – with words, with music and with the quiet rhythm of life.
The Book Nook
Thoughtful reviews and reflections on books from around the world – stories that inspire, challenge and linger.
- Double Japanese Translated Fiction Review
This week I found myself lingering on the pages of not one but two cosy café reads. Pages full of… Read more: Double Japanese Translated Fiction Review - In Fathest Seas by Lalla Romano – A Memoir
⭐ Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5) A cultural portrait of grief and memory that fascinates, if sometimes frustrates. A Memoir, Not Fiction… Read more: In Fathest Seas by Lalla Romano – A Memoir - My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness by Kabi Nagata Review
⭐ Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5) A vulnerable manga memoir of mental health, sexuality, and survival. Brave, raw and imperfectly human. Why… Read more: My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness by Kabi Nagata Review - The Blue Book of Nebo by Manon Steffan Ros – Reflective Post-Apocalyptic Fiction in Translation
⭐ Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5) A tender, haunting Welsh novel told through a mother and son’s journal. Survival, identity, and the… Read more: The Blue Book of Nebo by Manon Steffan Ros – Reflective Post-Apocalyptic Fiction in Translation - A Girl Abandoned by Donatella Di Pietrantonio – A Raw Story About Abandonment & Identity
A Girl Returned is a devastating and raw exploration of abandonment, identity, and the fragile bonds that both wound and… Read more: A Girl Abandoned by Donatella Di Pietrantonio – A Raw Story About Abandonment & Identity - Manga Spotlight: Neighborhood Craftsmen Vol. 1 – New Release Edo Period Storytelling
Richly detailed and deeply respectful of its subject, Neighborhood Craftsmen: Stories from Kanda’s Gokura-chou, Vol. 1 isn’t just a manga,… Read more: Manga Spotlight: Neighborhood Craftsmen Vol. 1 – New Release Edo Period Storytelling
The Quiet Pages
A space for journaling, creativity, and planning – from Hobonichi spreads to art journaling.
- Hobonichi: Designing My 2026 EcosystemHobonichi Launch Day Joy It’s Hobonichi 2026 launch day! I discovered Hobonichi after many years trying and failing with bullet… Read more: Hobonichi: Designing My 2026 Ecosystem
The Slow Way
Exploring slow, mindful intentional living – simple practices, reflections and gentle reminders to pause.
- Why I Keep Houseplants Even Though I Kill Them
I’ve never been known for my green thumb (talking is what I’m known for). Some years ago, in desperation for… Read more: Why I Keep Houseplants Even Though I Kill Them - Sunday Reset: Cosy Rituals, Plant Care, Baking & Self-Care
Whether it’s because I hit 40 or simply because life sped up too much, I’ve been learning to slow down.… Read more: Sunday Reset: Cosy Rituals, Plant Care, Baking & Self-Care - Three New Books: Mindfulness & Time – Thich Nhat Hanh
Exploring mindfulness, impermanence, and presence through two works by Thich Nhat Hanh and a novel by Ruth Ozeki. The Blue… Read more: Three New Books: Mindfulness & Time – Thich Nhat Hanh
The Vinyl Shelf
Curated playlists for reading, journaling, and slow living – music to set the mood, whatever the moment.
- Still Learning: A Reflective Playlist on Self-Love & Resilience
I’ve been thinking a lot about self-love recently. Not the kind of self-love that is easy to hashtag: bubble baths,… Read more: Still Learning: A Reflective Playlist on Self-Love & Resilience