Call Number: PL770 A1 S568
Title: 小説新潮 Shōsetsu shinchō [Journal]
Publisher & Year: 東京 : 新潮社, 昭和22 [1947]-
Recommended by: Shirin Eshghi Furuzawa, Head

Call Number: PL865 A5183 F37 2002
Title: ファースト・プライオリティー
Author: 山本文緖
Publisher & Year: 幻冬社, 2002
Recommended by: Shirin Eshghi Furuzawa, Head

Call Number: PL871 A835 S56 2020 
Title: 少年と犬 = The Boy and the Dog
Author: 馳星周
Publisher & Year: 文藝春秋, 2020
Recommended by: Mizuki Giffin, Student Librarian

少年と犬 (Trans. The Boy and the Dog) is heart-warming collection of vignettes that follows a stray dog named Tamon who is separated from his family after a devastating earthquake and tsunami. Determined to find his way back to his owners, we follow Tamon over the course of five years as he travels across Japan. Various people from all walks of life meet Tamon and help him along his way, with each story in this collection following a different character who gives Tamon a home during this long journey. A feel-good story that doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of life, this is a novel that should be read with a warm drink and cozy blanket on a cold winter day.  

Call Number: PL872.5 A8645 K63 2015
Title: コーヒーが冷めないうちに = Before the Coffee Gets Cold
Author: 川口俊和
Publisher & Year: サンマーク出版, 2015
Recommended by: Alina Jamil, Student Assistant

There are a few rules to time-travel in this small cafe tucked in an alleyway of Tokyo: you can only meet people who have been in the cafe, you cannot change anything in the present, and you must return before the coffee gets cold. We are taken on a journey of four women who travel back in time to meet loved ones in the hopes of rekindling a lost connection, confronting regrets, and saying goodbye. An opportunity of a lifetime, the women navigate through grief and hardship, eventually coming to terms with their realities and finding peace.

Call Number: PL872.5 A9276 O76 2024
Title: 愚か者の石
Author: 河崎秋子
Publisher & Year: 小学館, 2024
Recommended by: Chisato Kobayashi, Student Assistant

What is it to live as a person? What is right and wrong? This novel by Akiko Kawasaki, portraying prisoners sent to Hokkaido in the Meiji Period and their prison guards, makes you wonder about these fundamental questions. A prisoner, Tatsumi, always works with Daijiro, who tells tall tales all the time. However, he doesn’t realize that despite his time and bond with him, he knows so little about Daijiro – other than that he killed two children in the past and he has a small stone that he cares about more than anything – until Daijiro escapes from prison one day. 

Call Number: PL876 S785 K325 2017 
Title: かがみの孤城 = The Solitary Castle in the Mirror
Author: 辻村深月 Tsujimura Mizuki
Publisher & Year:  ポプラ社, 2017
Recommended by: Mizuki Giffin, Student Librarian

This dreamy, heartfelt novel follows a middle school-aged girl named Kokoro who has difficulty attending school and spends her days stuck at home. One day, the mirror in her bedroom starts glowering and shimmering – when she steps through it, she finds herself in a magical castle with six other students who face similar circumstances. This unlikely group of friends join to discover the meaning behind the mysterious castle they’ve discovered, learning what it means to gain confidence and make friends through the process. Character-driven with a fantasy element, this book has an ending that will leave you with shivers. It has since been turned into a manga series and animated movie. 

Call Number: PL876 S86 S85 2023
Title: 水車小屋のネネ
Author: 津村記久子
Publisher & Year: 每日新聞出版, 2023
Recommended by: Tomoko Kitayama Yen, Japanese Studies Librarian

Call Number: PN1997.5 K39 1984 dvd
Title: 風の谷のナウシカ= Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Publisher & Year: Walt Disney Home Entertainment; Burbank, CA: Distributed by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 2005, ©1984.
Recommended by: Chisato Kobayashi, Student Assistant

A thousand years after a global war destroyed the world, a few people left on the land – surrounded by deserts and vast forests of toxic fungi – are fighting for scarce resources and technology. This is not a fun Sci-Fi film that you might imagine. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, it’s a story of love with nature – the story told by Nausicaä, a small-tribe girl who ‘hears’ the voice of nature. Even if it was made in 1984, this film gives you the tips on how we, as humans, can rebuild healthy relationships with nature and the Earth in today’s world.

Call Number: PN1997.5 T635 v. 11
Title: 耳をすませば = Whisper of the Heart
Author: 原作柊あおい ; プロデュース, 脚本, 絵 コンテ 宮崎駿 ; 監督 近藤喜文
Publisher & Year: 徳間書店, 1995
Recommended by: Lubna Mujeeb, Student Assistant

Whisper of the heart is a timeless classic, an easy read based on the Ghibli film written by Hayao Miyazaki.  The story follows the main character, Shizuku, as she navigates her life, figuring out her interests and goals, and overcoming hurdles along the way. It’s an inspiring read filled with little moments of magic, which will surely bring a smile to your face. The story, set in a small town called Tama, moves at a calm pace, making it a perfect read for the holidays if you need a gentle nudge of motivation for the new year to follow your own dreams. 

Call Number: PN6790 J33 T769 2018
Title: メタモルフォーゼの縁側 = Metamorphose no Engawa
Author: 鶴谷香央理
Publisher & Year: Kadokawa, 2018-2021
Recommended by: Anna Luu, Student Assistant

Metamorufōze no Engawa メタモルフォーゼの縁側  translatable as “Veranda of Metamorphosis” is a manga series by author and artist Tsurutani Kaori 鶴谷香央理. The series follows friendly elderly woman Yuki, and reclusive high schooler Urara. The two form an unexpected yet warm and budding friendship across different age groups, built on a shared interest of Boy’s Love manga, a genre that depicts romance between two men. There are a total of five volumes, all of which are all available in our collection. It is a charming, calming, and heartwarming story, unique for its focus on two female readers of the popular Boy’s Love genre.

Call Number: GT2853 C6 D86125 2024
Title: 君幸食 : 一场贯穿古今的中餐盛宴 = Invitation to a Banquet
Author: (英) 扶霞・邓洛普(Fuchsia Dunlop)著 ; 何雨珈译
Publisher & Year: 上海译文出版社, 2024
Recommended by: Nemo Xu, Student Librarian

Fuchsia Dunlop’s recent book records her continuous journey to learn about Chinese food. Different from her previous works, this book combines her rigorous research, field work, and personal experiences to introduce Chinese dishes and ingredients. It carries over Dunlop’s witty writing style, providing a historical lens to understand Chinese cuisine while reflecting on food sustainability and inclusivity. The translator of the book, He Yujia, has been working closely with Dunlop for multiple publication projects in China. She always does a good job capturing the essence of Dunlop’s work, making this festive title an enjoyable reading experience!

Call Number: GT2853 C6 L783 2023
Title: 味緣香港 : 足料好吃, 今昔滋味 = Made in Hong Kong
Author: 呂嘉俊  
Publisher & Year: Cup Magazine Publishing Limited, 2023
Recommended by: Phoebe Chow, Program Services Assistant

Food is always the centerpiece during holiday gatherings. This book introduces many comforting Hong Kong dishes from the past and present. Reading the stories behind each dish brings back my own childhood food memories. I am grateful that even in Vancouver, I can still enjoy these familiar tastes. Although times change and flavors may be different, the true “Hong Kong taste” remains in my heart. This winter, let’s enjoy these delicious stories together.

Call Number: N7349 W765 A2 2025
Title: 我们家 : 一滴水映照的历史 = Our Family: A History Reflected in a Drop of Water
Author: 巫鸿, 巫允明著
Publisher & Year: 学林出版社, 2025
Recommended by: Jing Liu, Chinese Studies Librarian

A century-spanning family memoir written as a dialogue between siblings, tracing two generations of intellectuals and their lives across social upheaval and cultural change. Featuring over 200 rare family photographs, this book mirrors the sweeping transformations of Chinese society through the lens of one family’s story. It offers unique perspective on Chinese family history, engaging narrative, historical details and rare images.

Call Number: PL2307 I636 2021
Title: 一阳来复 : 在中国古典诗词中品味四季
Author: (日) 井波律子著 ; 郭佳佳译
Publisher & Year: 新星出版社, 2021
Recommended by: Jiaqi Pei, Student Librarian

This book invites readers to wander through the four seasons guided by classical Chinese poetry. Japanese scholar Inami Ritsuko blends brief explanations of solar terms, everyday scenes, and close readings of poems into warm, reflective essays. Gentle and accessible, this book is perfect for slow holiday afternoons: it offers small pockets of beauty, helping us notice how time, weather, and language shape our memories.

Call Number: PL2892.3 B36 Z46 2009
Title: 巨流河
Author: 齊邦媛
Publisher & Year: 天下遠見出版股份有限公司, 2009
Recommended by: Jiaqi Pei, Student Librarian

This book is Qi Bangyuan’s sweeping memoir of a life carried along by the giant currents of 20th-century Chinese history. From a childhood in Northeast China, through war, displacement, and eventual settlement and academic life in Taiwan, Qi traces family and homeland with remarkable clarity and tenderness. It’s a moving and immersive read for anyone drawn to memoirs that illuminate how individual lives intersect with the tides of history.

Call Number: PN2878.C442 A3 2024
Title: 猫鱼 = Catfish
Author: 陈冲
Publisher & Year: 上海三联书店, 2024
Recommended by: Jing Liu, Chinese Studies Librarian

Acclaimed actress and director Joan Chen offers a deeply personal memoir that spans continents and cultures. Catfish explores her journey from Shanghai to Hollywood, weaving stories of family, fame, and identity with lyrical insight. Honest and reflective, Chen examines love, creativity, and resilience in a rapidly changing world. A compelling read for anyone interested in art, cultural history, and the human experience.

Call Number: PN6790 T33 R83 X56 2012
Title: 幸福調味料 : 人生乏味, 於是乎上天給了我們酸甜苦辣鹹
Author: 阮光民
Publisher & Year: 蓋亞文化有限公司, 2012
Recommended by: Anthea Leung, Public Services & Collections Management Assistant

This graphic novel features six short stories centered around the lives of local Taiwanese food stall and restaurant owners. With simple yet expressive illustrations, the author captures the everyday experiences of people who devote themselves to sustaining their small food businesses. From a noodle shop owner who brews her own soy sauce, to a former convict rebuilding his life by selling egg pancakes, to a retired snack shop vendor reminiscing over the marinated tea eggs his wife once prepared — each character shares the personal challenges they face and the bonds they form within the community. Through the panels, readers gain insight into Taiwanese lifestyle and food culture, while the dialogue between characters explores themes of compassion, resilience, and family values.

Heartwarming and thought-provoking, this collection reminds us how the nostalgic flavors of comfort food can evoke memories that endure a lifetime. It’s a delightful read to enjoy in a single sitting — perhaps with a cup of tea and a favorite snack during the holidays.

Call Number: PR6073.I664 Z46 2018
Title: 我要快乐, 不必正常
Author: (英) 珍妮特・温特森 (Jeanette Winterson) 著 ; 冯倩珠译
Publisher & Year:  北京联合出版公司, 2018
Recommended by: Nemo Xu, Student Librarian

This memoir unveils Jeanette Winterson’s queer experience growing up in Northern England, where she reflects on motherhood and the mother figures in her life. The collection of personal stories offers sharp observation and precise description in trying to understand and piece together a past. In this book, Winterson highlights the role of her local public library in shaping her path for pursuing education and writing. Like her fiction works, this non-fiction is equally engaging in unfolding what love, happiness, and literature mean for her. It would be a powerful, bittersweet, and hopeful read for wrapping up the year!

Title: KOREA Dulsori: Binari
Recommended by: Saeyong Kim, Korean Studies Librarian

The musical ensemble Dulsori has a drum-based sound that is close to traditional folk music; Binari is subtitled “well-wishing music” and the album is an energetic alternative to holiday music, if you want something with very few lyrics to distract you. UBC folks can access the streaming album through Naxos Music Library World. Don’t get it mixed up with Naxos Music Library, which is for classical music, or Naxos Music Library Jazz!

Call Number: PL981.7 S675 2023: autumn
Title: 소설 보다. 가을 2023
Publisher & Year: 문학 과 지성사, 2023
Recommended by: Saeyong Kim, Korean Studies Librarian

At the end of the year, you may feel too busy or tired to sit with an epic novel. The Sosŏl poda series includes unique and thought-provoking short fiction by authors with a career of less than 10 years, chosen each season and published 4 times a year. Each volume has three or so short stories per volume. These works become the shortlist for the annual Moonji Literature Award, which aims to introduce up-and-coming new authors to the public, and includes short fiction and poetry. My recommendation is for the 2023 fall (Kaŭl) title, but we have older titles in the series and the more recent titles are on their way–keep an eye out for the slim volumes on our Great Reads shelves. Each short story has an accompanying interview with the author which adds context.

Call Number: PL994.24 W3 H3 2018
Title: 하마터면 열심히 살 뻔했다 : 야매 득도 에세이
Author: 하 완
Publisher & Year: 웅진 지식 하우스, 2018
Recommend by: Chaeyoung Jee, Student Assistant

This book [I was about to live diligently] is a personal essay that poses a simple yet unsettling question: why are we always striving? Drawing on his time as an office worker, the author reflects on burnout, self-doubt, and the pressure to live what is often considered a successful life. Some parts of the book may feel personal or even heavy, but the illustrations add gentle humor throughout. It is a calm, thoughtful holiday read for a slow winter night before the year comes to an end.

Call Number: PK2659 B4167 D35 2024
Title: ਡਲਿਵਰੀ ਮੈਨ / ਭਗਵੰਤ ਰਸੂਲਪੁਰੀ = Delivery Man: Punjabi Short Stories
Author: Bhagwant Rasulpuri 
Publisher & Year: White Crow Publishers, 2024
Recommended by: Sarbjit Randhawa, South Asian and Himalayan Studies Librarian

Delivery Man features several distinct narratives that delve into diverse aspects of contemporary life and human relationships. Themes of artistic evolution, social class, immigration, religion, gender, loneliness and displacement in the age of technology and social media run through the stories. The transformative power of human connection is explored by the author with nuance. 

The title story revolves around Dr. Geeta, a college professor living alone in a flat in Green City. She struggles with profound loneliness and the emotional scars of a past traumatic marriage that ended in divorce. Her past experiences, including a forced marriage where her husband is likened to a “knife” cutting her soul, have left her with a deep aversion to men. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Kewal Kishan, an ordinary food delivery man holding a B. Tech degree. He provides Dr. Geeta with massages for her migraines and offers life advice, often drawing on palmistry. Shocking the readers’ sensibilities is Kewal’s delivery of himself.

In ‘Rangaan di Saanjh,’ (‘The Connection of Colors’) character Pooja’s painting evolves to incorporate “darker colors and themes of societal struggle” influenced by Narender. The story suggests an aesthetic consciousness within the narrative which reflects a deeper purpose beyond mere representation. Rasulpuri’s detailed descriptions of characters’ internal monologues and turmoil contribute to the emotional impact and aesthetic engagement for the reader.

Call Number: PK2659 S3753 P75 2017
Title: ਪ੍ਰਿਜ਼ਮ Prism
Author: ਹਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸੇਖਾ Harpreet Sekha
Publisher & Year: Gracious Books, 2017
Recommended by: Sarbjit Randhawa, South Asian and Himalayan Studies Librarian

Harpreet Sekha is a Canadian Punjabi author of fiction and non-fiction, who migrated to Canada with his parents in 1988. Sekha holds a diploma in Mechanical Engineering and is currently employed as a Computer Numerical Control Machinist. His written work explores themes and experiences that resonate with South Asian Canadians, such as inequality, social justice, and migrant experience. His writings include the non-fiction Taxinaama (2011) and short story collections Bi Ji Muskra Paye (2006) and BaaranBoohey (2013). Baaran Boohey was translated and published into Hindi as well. He completed an authorized translation of Hugh Johnston’s Jewels of the Qila, into Punjabi which was published as Qiley dey Moti in 2017. A number of his stories are included in anthologies being used as textbooks in School Boards and Universities in India. At Kurukshetra University, Taxinaama has been included in the Punjabi M.A. program, and his work was the focus of many students’ M. Phil research. Harpreet’s stories have also been adapted for stage performance by many celebrated theatre directors in India.

Call Number: PK6562.2 A44 K45 2018
Title: In khiyābān surʻat gīr nadārad = This Street Doesn’t Have Speed Bump
Author: Maryam Jahānī
Publisher & Year: تهران : نشر مرکز، 1397 [2018]
Recommended by: Farzad Amirmahani, Student Librarian

If you’re looking for a contemporary Iranian novel that’s both heartfelt and full of personality, This street has no speed bump by Maryam Jahani is a perfect holiday read. Told through the sharp, funny, and deeply honest voice of Shohreh who is a thirty-year-old taxi driver carving out her independence in a noisy, judgmental city, the novel takes you on a ride through everyday challenges, warm family chaos, and moments of quiet resilience. It’s a story about womanhood, courage, and finding your own lane when life keeps throwing speed bumps at you. A cozy, compelling book to curl up with during the winter break.

Call Number: PK6562 B3748 2010
Title: Barguzīdah-i 50 dāstān-i kūtāh-i Fārsī
Publisher & Year: Tihrān : Nīkā, 1389 [2010]
Recommended by: Farzad Amirmahani, Student Librarian

There’s something wonderfully fitting about stepping into a world of short stories during the holiday break, especially one that traces decades of Persian storytelling with so much care. These pages, introduced thoughtfully by Mortaza Khabbazianzadeh, guide the reader through shifting eras of Iranian life, from pre-revolution anxieties to post-war reflection and contemporary narratives. Each story captures a different emotional landscape, offering moments of humour, nostalgia, resilience, and quiet contemplation. It’s the kind of collection that invites you to slow down between gatherings, snowfalls, and warm drinks, letting each story open a small window onto another time and place.

Call Number: PN1997.2 K322 2001
Title: Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham
Author: Dharma Productions presents; a Karan Johar film; written & direction, Karan Johar; producer, Yash Johar |
Publisher & Year: Sony Music Entertainment, Inc., 2003
Recommended by: Alina Jamil, Student Assistant

Often deemed by fans as a holiday movie, this classic Bollywood film celebrates the importance of family and connection during times of uncertainty. The film follows the journey of a family torn apart by traditions, and brought back by compassion and forgiveness. Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham is a mix of joy and tears, as the title translates to “Sometimes Happiness, Sometimes Sorrow” but leaves an overall warm and uplifting feeling. Scattered with iconic songs and witty catchphrases, this film is sure to be an unforgettable holiday watch.