Serein Choo's Blog

The Midnight Library By Matt Haig

I was really looking forward to reading this (going into this blind without reading any reviews beforehand). I just saw this book at the bookstore, read its blurb, and thought it might be a good read. All the possibilities of the “what ifs” in the book were so interesting, and for me, it delivered.

Here’s a little blurb of the book:

Nora’s life has been going from bad to worse. Then at the stroke of midnight on her last day on earth she finds herself transported to a library. There she is given the chance to undo her regrets and try out each of the other lives she might had lived.

Which raises the ultimate question: with infinite choices, what is the best way to live?

I really like how in the book, a lot of her lives were explored and in each she found something in them, some meaning, and gradually built up the tensions in the book until the ending. Yes, after I read it, as per some comments mentioned, it was a bit tad heavy on the suicide theme but at the same time, she needed that push to explore, to discover other options (because of desperation). So I understand the reason that she had to be, the way she is in the story.

Quotes from the books that stood out to me : –

The only way to learn is to live.

No, the shock was that she felt like she was about live. Or at least, that she could imagine wanting to be alive again. And she wanted to do something good with that life.

She sensed that, for all the perfection here, there was something wrong amid the rightness. And the thing that was wrong couldn’t be fixed because the flaw was the rightness itself.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (2024)

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. At times, it feels really bland as you go through the lives but then it made you think, about having all these lives whether you would be happy in it or not. If you are living your best life, everything is perfect, would you be happy just or just like Nora there was always something that kept pulling her back to her root life or back to the library?

There was a lot of thinking after reading this book.

Especially this quote in the book : ‘The only way to learn is to live.’

Only by living that you will know what lies past today. Maybe it will be better, maybe it will be worse but we will never know if we are living tomorrow.

I really recommend it.

P.s I also love how it doesn’t have to be a library. Depending on the person, the place in between life and death can be different. I wondered what mine would be? Cassette tapes? I do love them, but it feels kinda weird to be in cassette shop (I never been into one) or should I just stick back to a library that feels closer to heart.

I want to die but I still want to Eat Tteokbokki

By Baek Sehee.

Actually, I didn’t like the first book very much. I don’t think I could relate to it as much, so when the second book came out, I wasn’t very excited about it. But as always, when you already have the first book, you kind of have to get the second one too — so when I saw it in the store, I bought it.

At the time, I was also reading another psychology book, Counselling for Toads by Robert de Board, and only started on this one afterwards. Maybe because I read that one first, something just clicked — and when I started reading this second book by Baek Sehee, it suddenly all made sense.

Here’s a little blurb of the book:

“Baek’s struggle with dysthymia continues in I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki. And the healing is a difficult process; the inner conflict she experiences in treatment becomes more complex, more challenging. With this second book, Baek Sehee reaches out to hold the hands of all those for whom grappling with everyday despair is part of a lifelong project, part of the journey.”

It continues, as mentioned: Further conversations with my psychiatrist and it was in the same format and layout like the previous book but this one was slightly more intense where there was one scene (spoiler) about her suicidal attempts which quite surprised me.

I thought she was doing better but it didn’t up till the point she wanted to die.

Luckily she found a way out and is doing (her best at her own pace and limit) to get better.

Some parts that stood out to me:

I don’t want to be left out but I want to break free.

I kept flitting back and forth between emptiness and gratitude.

My partner went in, then after a long while, came back out and said maybe it would be better if we left. I asked them why and they said it was because this wasn’t a place where I could rest comfortably, that it was somewhere that cut me off completely and managed every hour of my day. That there were people here in worse conditions who might stress out patients like me.

The plant looks fine, but it’s already dying, past the point of no return.

Because life goes on.

I want to die but I still want to eat tteokbokki by Baek Sehee (2024)

Overall, I really enjoyed the second book much more — maybe because I read Counselling for Toads by Robert de Board prior to this one. I had a much better understanding of the conversations between Baek Sehee and her psychiatrist. Her psychiatrist mostly agrees with her, offers minor suggestions, and helps by adjusting her medication.

At the end of the day, I just want to praise Baek Sehee for sharing her private sessions with us. It’s such a courageous thing for her to do. I hope she will no longer be plagued by these issues, and that she can graduate and fully recover.

Counselling for Toads : A Psychological Adventure (Chinese)

By Robert de Board.

I’ve read this, and I think it’s a simplified version of therapy, illustrated through the characters from The Wind in the Willows. Familiar characters like Mr. Toad and his friends — including Mr. Badger, Mole, and Rat — make an appearance.

The book explores themes such as insecurities, emotional vulnerabilities, narcissistic tendencies, and depressive moods.

Here’s a little blurb on the back of the book:

“蛤蟆先生一向爱笑爱闹，如今却一反常态地郁郁寡欢，他一个人躲在屋里，连起床梳洗的力气都没有。朋友们非常担心他，建议他去做心理咨询。在10次心理咨询中，蛤蟆在咨询师苍鹭的带领下，勇敢地探索了自己的内心世界，也逐渐找回了信心与希望.”

“Mr. Toad, who had always been cheerful and lively, was now acting completely out of character—melancholy and withdrawn. He shut himself in his house, lacking even the energy to get out of bed or groom himself. His friends were deeply worried and suggested that he try psychological counseling. Over the course of 10 counseling sessions, guided by the therapist Heron, Mr. Toad bravely explored his inner world and gradually regained his confidence and hope.” (Translated by ChatGpt)

It was easy to understand. After reading this, I felt like the sessions allowed me to understand what happens between patient and psychiatrist, and the simple illustration and summary at the end of each chapter helped a lot. It also highlights how childhood experience shaped the growth and its effect, which would (in this case) last through adulthood and shaped how Mr. Toad responds towards the world.

Other than that, it also teaches us/Mr. Toad how to analyse his own feelings and develop his emotional intelligence using the language and ideas of transactional analysis (TA).

Some parts that stood out to me:

Depression is not something that heals on its own. While having friends and their company can create a supportive environment that may temporarily ease stress or relieve some symptoms, their support alone can only go so far. Depression still requires proper attention and active healing (translated).

Exploring Life’s Script. Transactional Analysis (TA) consider that even though the script is heavily influenced by family background, through self-introspection and self-analysis, anyone can rewrite their life script and change their life.

Counselling for Toads, by Robert de Road (2022) (Publisher: 四川文艺出版社)

It was a pretty easy read and helped me better understand the process of therapy, especially how the psychiatrist guides the patient — through questions — to understand and explore themselves. I recommend it to anyone who is curious about how therapy works; it’s definitely worth a read.

Books, Crowds & Smiski: My PBKL 2025 Experience

Had a fun weekend (despite the place being so packed) at the Pesta Buku Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (PBKL) / Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair held at PWTC, Kuala Lumpur. I went on the last day, 1st June 2025 — hence the “sardines in a can” feeling.

There was a huge crowd. My parents dropped me off at the venue (they told me later that they were stuck in traffic for 45 minutes before getting home). It was my first time visiting this book fair; I usually go to the Popular one held at KLCC since it’s closer to home.

It was fun to browse around — there were a lot of publishers and bookstores selling books (sometimes the same ones). Imagine seeing my book at different stalls — haha! There were definitely many types of books available: children’s books, revision books, novels, and even magazines (mostly in Malay/Melayu). English and Chinese books were a bit scarce at this book fair. But there were some crazy discounts up to 40–50%, especially for older publications (clearing out old stock).

I visited my publisher’s booth (Bookiut) Hehe and took a pic/selfie with my book (how could I not? It’s my favorite thing to do Haha). I was so happy to see my book on the shelves It’s a great feeling. (Actually, I was secretly hoping to see some readers — if any recognized me — but it seems no one did… though I was kind of going incognito.)
P.S. One of the Bookiut staff did recognize me, and we had a little chat. I was really glad to hear that my books are selling. Thank you so much for the support — and to that cute staff member too!

My publishers were promoting some new books too. I saw KL Tower of Terror by Nayli Nasran and bought that (I was aiming for this one), along with The Misfits by Nathaniel Sario. And I couldn’t forget Chords of the Reckless Heart — the sequel to Tangs of the Runaway Heart — by Marisa Fendi. I haven’t read the first one yet, but when the second book came out, I just had a feeling I needed it too Haha! Can’t wait to read all the titles but I need to finish The Convenience Store by the Sea first though.

I did notice that there weren’t many booths selling stationery or other items like snacks, music, or electronics — unlike the ones at the Popular Book Fair. If anyone from the organizers sees this, maybe it could be a good suggestion for next time.

The map was a bit hard to read too. I wish they had labeled the shop locations on the map so I wouldn’t have to keep going back and forth trying to find the ones I wanted. It would also have been helpful if they had listed the promotions and events — that would’ve been great, because I had no idea what events were happening (at least based on the pamphlet they handed out).

The survey through WhatsApp wasn’t working properly. I chose English, but the questions were still in Malay, and the response was quite slow. I think it would have been better if they had just used Google Forms instead.

By the end of the event, I also bought some Smiski figures and a few more copies of my own book, When the City Grew Verdant, since my relatives and friends placed a few orders (working like a proxy shopper for my own book — haha). Anyway, yay!

Overall, it was a good experience though and I think I would still be going again next year!

Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair/
Pesta Buku Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (PBKL) 2025
23rd May – 1st June 2025
Pusat Dagangan Dunia Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) (PWTC)

Since the event ended already, you can still get my book/or Bookiut Novels online through:

https://pts.com.my/buku/when-the-city-grew-verdant

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More pics at social media @sereinchoo.author (IG)

Explore ‘When the City Grew Verdant’: A Dystopian Tale

The questions asked during the interview about my book, When the City Grew Verdant:-

What is your book about?The book is about a world where the sun vanishes from sight, and our world is plunged into darkness. We have artificial lights, electricity, and nuclear power, but things like plants that require the sun will soon die. However, the scientists find a way: to modify humans by planting or implanting plants into them to produce oxygen. That’s the gist of the story.What inspires you to write your book?Actually, it all started with a writing prompt: “And that is how that world ended and a new world, our world, was born.” This one prompt sparked a train of thought. I did a lot of research on doomsdays/world-end theories, like how the Maya predicted the world would end in 2012, and others who made similar assumptions. Then I thought, what if it didn’t end, but the sun just disappeared? And that’s how the story When the City Grew Verdant was born.What is the favorite parts of your book? (No spoilers)No specific parts, but it’s more about the places I wrote about. I really like the places in the book. All those familiar places became something different—aged, dilapidated, and worn down. Like the one in Central Market and the scene where the two main characters meet.To whom you would recommend this book to?For those who want to try something different, since When the City Grew Verdant is set in a dystopian world/dystopia genre, I also recommend it to those who are new to sci-fi. The book contains some sci-fi elements, but like a dash of salt—not too light nor heavy—which is good for beginners who want to read sci-fi.And if Oxy are harmless to us, what flower/plant will you like to be?Out of the two, flower or plant, I would choose to be a plant. More specifically, a potato plant, haha, because I like potatoes (in popular survival games, the plant would be the tomato, but I prefer potatoes). But actually, any vegetable would be great. I could grow food for myself, and if there’s excess produce, I could share it with others.If everyone contributed just a little and helped each other, even if we lived in this dark world described in the book, wouldn’t it be even slightly warmer and a better world? Sharing is caring.

These are the perfect responses I had in mind. During the actual interview, I lost a lot of my words due to nerves. I didn’t even mention about the potato plant, haha.

A commemorative day at Central Market:

Kuala Lumpur Alternative Bookfest [KLAB]
Pesta Buku Alternatif Kuala Lumpur 2025
29 Januari – 2 Februari 2025
Central Market Kuala Lumpur

One fine Sunday 12-1pm afternoon.

Since the event ended already, you can still get the book online through:

https://pts.com.my/buku/when-the-city-grew-verdant

My Experience at KLAB 2025: Author Interview

Other than my book being launched at the Kuala Lumpur Alternative Bookfest (KLAB 2025) in Central Market, as previously mentioned, I was invited for an author interview session by the publisher, and I was so (crazy) nervous. I am not a person who is good at talking—I’m introverted, so you can imagine the challenge.

Even though the questions asked were all about my book, I felt like even that was hard. All the memes about how authors can write but can’t explain their books came crashing into my mind.

What is your book about?What inspires you to write your book?What is the favorite parts of your book? (No spoilers)To whom you would recommend this book to?And if Oxy are harmless to us, what flower/plant will you like to be?

Yet, I did it—smiled and talked (despite all the jitters and kitters) in my voice and my whole body. I was seriously trying my best to look calm on the outside. I didn’t get enough sleep yesterday because of my nerves (like maybe 3-4 hours).

It was really helpful to have other authors with me there and not be alone. It allowed me some time to think and recall the answers in my head. It was also a fun session to learn about other local authors and their books too.

You can check out their books (from left to right):

The Misfits: The Case of the Pink Flamingo by Nathaniel Sario

The Mountain Heals by Athena Don

Siri Detektif Vampire by Cik Puan Ilya Abdullaah

Dallergut: Kompleks Pedagang Mimpi (by Lee Mi-ye) (translated by Alia S.S)

After the one-hour-long session, a few of the readers (and even the authors) came to get my signature. I was pumped, proud, and still a bit shy. Sorry though to the first person who came up for a signature; I think I was so nervous I signed differently. Haha, lol.

There’s also a little surprise at the end, as I even got the chance to meet another author (whom I knew from TikTok/social media), and I got her signature on her book, The Revenge of the Violent Hues, by Nadiah Zakaria. She was there, to support her friend and I got lucky.

Despite everything, I’m glad it’s done, and I was able to finish the interview without many issues. I just love seeing and feeling the actual book in my hands. I even bought a few from the booth. I am so excited!

P.S. It ranked Top 5 at first, then climbed up to Top 2 on Sunday, the last day of the event. Hehe, thank you for everyone’s support!

Author Checklist Completion Rate (100%):

Publish  

Interviews  

Book Signing  

A commemorative day at Central Market:

Kuala Lumpur Alternative Bookfest [KLAB]
Pesta Buku Alternatif Kuala Lumpur 2025
29 Januari – 2 Februari 2025
Central Market Kuala Lumpur

One fine Sunday 12-1pm afternoon.

Since the event ended already, you can still get the book online through:

https://pts.com.my/buku/when-the-city-grew-verdant

When the City Grew Verdant (2025) PT6

A little story telling with pictures:

The old world disappeared when the sun vanished on 25th Feb 2035.

Covered in darkness, it was impossible to survive at least not for the long term. All the scientist pull together and then finally they knew…

The answer to it all… was modification. Thus begin the new world of plant human modification – Oxys are born.

Welcome to the new generation: Oxy-Generation.

Save the place, time and date.

Kuala Lumpur Alternative Bookfest [KLAB]
Pesta Buku Alternatif Kuala Lumpur 2025
29 Januari – 2 Februari 2025
Central Market Kuala Lumpur

My slot is on Sunday 12-1pm, if you have the time, I would be very much delighted by your presence.

When the City Grew Verdant (2025) PT6

Book Blurb:

24th February 2035 marks the date where the sun had vanished, plunging us into an abyss of darkness, the immediate concern wasn’t how we would survive. Survival was not the answer; modification was.

It was the day we became Oxy, alleged humans integrated with parasitic plants designed to produce oxygen in a realm deprived of sunlight. This transformation marked the loss of that world, birthing a new one—our world—sustained by the symbiosis between modified humanity and parasitic flora.

Thus, it begins the new generation, Oxy-Generation.

Save the place, time and date.

Kuala Lumpur Alternative Bookfest [KLAB]
Pesta Buku Alternatif Kuala Lumpur 2025
29 Januari – 2 Februari 2025
Central Market Kuala Lumpur

My slot is on Sunday 12-1pm, if you have the time, I would be very much delighted by your presence.

When the City Grew Verdant (2025) PT5

Here it is – my own copy of the book. It’s going to be launching in in KLAB 2025 (from 29th Jan – 2nd Feb). Can’t wait for everyone to read this! By the way see you there

Save the place, time and date.

Kuala Lumpur Alternative Bookfest [KLAB]
Pesta Buku Alternatif Kuala Lumpur 2025
29 Januari – 2 Februari 2025
Central Market Kuala Lumpur

My slot is on Sunday 12-1pm, if you have the time, I would be very much delighted by your presence.

When the City Grew Verdant (2025) PT4

After all the writing, editing, writing, more editing, the book is finally here! It will be launched at Kuala Lumpur Alternative Bookfest (KLAB) 2025 in Central Market (where I first introduced my character too hehe, talk about the coincidence).

Can’t wait to share this to the world, or at least in Malaysia!

Save the place, time and date.

Kuala Lumpur Alternative Bookfest [KLAB]
Pesta Buku Alternatif Kuala Lumpur 2025
29 Januari – 2 Februari 2025
Central Market Kuala Lumpur

My slot is on Sunday 12-1pm, if you have the time, I would be very much delighted by your presence.