Generation of Fragile

by Germaine Thai

A showcase of the phases and moments in life, many of which are simple but beautiful. The book is a collection of inspirations and realizations from the past decade; the uncertainty that comes with getting lost in the early 20s, coupled with the maturity that comes from finding slight wisdom in the late 20s. We are a generation protected from many hardships, which in turn makes us fragile when life throws us curveballs. These words reassure that it is okay to be broken. It hopes to offer companionship to every reader's journey to becoming whole again.

More than anything, the book hopes to serve as a reminder to be grateful for every experience. Good or bad, happy or sad, these moments define who we become and grow into.

Genres: Poetry

227 pages, Paperback

Published June 13, 2024

About the author

Germaine is a typical girl-next-door, born and bred in Kuala Lumpur. She believes that writing should be simple and hopeful. Finding beauty in everyday things makes life more meaningful, and in turn, allows her to appreciate the finer details in life.

Her debut poetry and short stories book, "Generation of Fragile" will be launching in November 2022.

Reviews

[Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

generation of fragile is a collection of poetry and short stories that dives into the depth of love, loss and growth in such a profound and nostalgic rhythm that will surely tug on your heartstrings as well as bring you back to the nights filled with painful aches and longing, but also the days filled with warm healing memories.

germaine thai has a uniquely powerful voice that demands to be heard. the emotions poured into her poems were all so genuine and they came off the pages so intensely that i almost felt them pushing me to the floor. as i step into my twenties, i find myself relating to the essence of adulthood in literature so much more than i thought i would. through this immaculate poetry collection, i found bits and pieces of myself that i relate to, especially now at this age.

i didn’t expect to have so many favourite poems from the book but i do indeed have many and they will probably stay with me in the depths of my mind for the time being. replaying. echoing. though it is a collection of poetry and short stories, the latter fell quite short for me. perhaps it’s because i found myself so deeply within those impeccable poems. but i also personally think that the stories did not reach their full potential and if the author has another collection in the works, i’m pretty sure she will improve over time. I’m not a fan of the one-liner poems as well but that aside, everything about this book is simply incredible. germaine thai’s writing is a powerhouse of nostalgia that deserves to be experienced by all of you.

💌☕

[Aishah Humaira' (Mermaird ♡) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever read words so beautiful, they made you break apart?

This was a book that I consumed in less than two hours, but upon reaching the final pages, I had gone through a whirlwind of emotions. Pain, comfort, longing and melancholy. My heart raced in joy whenever a poem hit close to home, and shattered to pieces when the softness and fragility of Germaine Thai’s words reminded me of love lost and unfound.

Generation of Fragile is separated into two poetry sections: Broken and Whole, as well as a collection of a few short stories. I personally loved Whole more as it made me feel the exact way the title is. The way Germaine Thai curated her words in each poetry piece made me feel like reading different kinds of stories each time, no matter how short or long it is. I loved many of the poems, but Phases, Barter, My Dear and Self-love own very special places in my heart ♡

Although I was enraptured by a large part of the poetry in this book, the short stories fell a little bit short. I do like the idea of it, and the message the author possibly wanted to convey, but they felt sort of out of place, not quite fitting with the overall vibe of the poems. This however did not affect my feelings towards this book though; I still love it with my whole heart.

And now I am asking you the same question it made me ponder upon: What do you want to be remembered for?

[Germaine Thai · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are snippets of my life from the past decade that have went into the words in this book. I hope that this book finds and comforts you through the ups and downs of life, and resonates with many of you out there. As a generation, I do think many of our experiences are similar, stemming from the comfortable upbringing we owe to our parents. These reflections and realizations are captured in poetry here, so curl up and enjoy the journey!

[Ikmal Fitri (iikmalreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry ni sebenarnya ikut luck tau. Kalau kena dengan jiwa kau, memang kau nak genggam rapat dan nak baca slow2 sambil menghayati semua ayat. And luckily poetry ni kena dengan jiwa aku.

Tambah lagi english dia mudah so lagi senang nak faham eheks

[Fennimoore · Rating 5 out of 5]

“She found herself longing for such carefree moments. Moments where nothing matter except the present. Moments where she could just let go and not feel guilty but about the piling workload, her bills, or expectations from friends and family.”

Generation of Fragile by Germaine Thai.

I’m turning 30 next year and when I found out that the poet/author is also around the same age range, I knew I would enjoy reading this. I love reading lyrical writing so it isn’t much of a surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading all the poems and the short stories this book has provided..

Separated into three parts, I savoured the first two parts the most as I felt both Broken and Whole were written in continuity. Personally I feel that when you are broken, you would need to lean into the feeling of anxiousness, despair and fear because acknowledging them is always the first step into healing. That was how I felt when I read all 99 poems in Broken (yes, I counted LOL). The sadness that the poet felt through the first part of the book was easily conveyed through a series of storylines within the poetries.

And then we were given Whole, where brokenness is made whole in 90 poems. There’s a feeling of hope and looking forward to the future with new-found love with some kind nurturing of the past.

Lastly, the short stories were the nice cherry-on-top after I had a whole existential crisis after reading the poetry. A wonderful way to end this book.

Swipe left to see my favourite poems and my annotations!

Many thanks to @penwingspublishing and @germainethai_quotes for this wonderful piece. If this book was a person, I would seize the opportunities to give them a reassuring hug.

[Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I couldn't undo the things that were done. I wish we could have met in a different time and space — a clean slate that would have made everything simple,” — Unspoken History.

[Eyqa Zaque (The Hundred Pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We are a generation protected from many hardships, which in turn makes us fragile when life throws us curveballs".

When I finished reading this book, I felt like there was a hole in my heart that ached with longing. Honestly, I fought the urge to cry every page. I felt the words like a slap in the face: the truth that I always denied, but it was so much more than that.

Reading this book was like reading my own deepest thoughts, the ones that I never said out loud, and other times, it was like a meaningful conversation with a dear friend. Every phrase was a chance to discover myself; every word reminded me of a reason to carry on. When I was reading, I could actually hear a melody that sent me straight into a melancholy zone.

This book is divided into three sections: Broken, Whole, and Short Stories. Broken and Whole are compilations of poetry and words that rhyme. It’s hard to pick a favorite as each and every one of them projects a different kind of mood that pulls on threads of memories past or anchors you firmly in the present. What I can say? I found comfort in every word as it gave me strength and soothed the noise in my head. It’s interesting, how words can mean so much to us when we read them.

This book is perfect for those who have loved hard, hated hard, and felt every other emotion keenly. It is in fact a beautiful reading that one can connect to easily. This is the truth of wonderful words and how much it reminds us of what it means to be human again.

Thank you @penwingpublishing for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#penwings
#penwingspublishing
#penwingsreview
#penwingsbookreview
#penwingsreviewer
#penwingsbookreviewer

Be sure to purchase Generation of Fragile in all major bookstores OR at Penwings Official Store

[Syahira (syhra_azhm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

This book is beautifully written and I can’t deny that I love it a lot. All the 209 pages of this book is filled with words that are worth my time and it gives me something to feel emotionally. This book contains three parts which is Broken, Whole and Short stories.

If you ask me which of the part is my most favourite, it is Whole. It’s quite hard to choose between Broken and Whole, but Whole is poems that makes me feel emotional and full . I find that most of the poems in this book is about love story and some is about life. I love it when I read the poems in here, it makes me realise that I’m not the only one facing that matter, but others too. Also, the fact that there’s poems that makes me realise that there’s unsaid word from my head all this time.

I love everything about this book. I feel like annotating all of the poems in this book, and that’s what I did. As for the short stories, I don’t really like it as I didn’t get what the author is trying to show the readers. But it is not a big problem. All in all, this book is one of the best poetry book I’ve ever read. I highly recommend readers out there to give this book a try and you’ll not regret it.

Generation of Fragile by Germaine Thai is now AVAILABLE to purchase at www.penwings.com/store or visit any major bookstores nationwide!

Thank you so much for the review copy @penwingspublishing❤️

[Yiing Zhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Germaine’s writing is simple yet her words land like an arrow to your heart. It lets you know you’re not alone in your struggles. It lets you know that whatever you’re facing, it will pass. It lets you know that there’s always hope. Whether you’re in a good or bad place, Generation of Fragile has the ability to morph into the perfect companion, offering quiet comfort or uplifting encouragement, meeting you where you’re at.

[Charissa Ty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Germaine's poetry is like a soft pillow of comfort for those who are languishing, those who are unsatisfied with where they are in life and those who want to understand what it's like to have healthy communication in relationships. Her fictional short stories take you away into self-reflection while reading. 10/10 Recommend this book to anyone of any age, religion and walk of life.

[Fieqah Azman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Generation of Fragile encapsulates my feelings of past relationships and heartaches. I appreciate Germaine’s point of view shared through her poems.

I've also read few of her poems on Penwings IG, they're very nice and can't wait for the launch so definitely adding this to my reading list!

[HeyAinaaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Germaine's poems are soothing and help ground oneself when you feel a little too overwhelmed with how life is going. Her words show that we're not alone in going through similar situations and different phases of life. Her short stories also take your mind to another realm where you can reflect on things that matter to you and understand the ways of life a little better. I highly recommend this poetry book to poetry lovers as it is suitable for those who enjoy effortless and pleasant poems.

[Izzati · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like to read poems because they made me think. However, most of the poems here are not that deep enough for me. And, it’s not that relatable since it’s about someone who have experience what it’s like to have someone. As someone who don’t, it’s just hard for me to relate. Only could relate on the alternate universe / missed opportunities.

Despite that, I really like some of the poems, it’s just that some are worded too simple. There are a few has become my favourite too, though!

[Gadisbaca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in a love-hate relationship with this book.
I hate it because it strips me bare. It feels personal, like I am reading my own diary and that it’s being put out there for people to read.

But I also love how the author puts my feelings into words. Every single one of them.
She managed to capture the essence of heartbreaks– the dreading and the constant longing for someone that is no longer there, wonderfully.

The first part, Broken, was particularly difficult for me. When I read it, I became undone. The tears flowed and the thoughts of him flooded my mind. It made me feel weak, angry and frustrated. Every one of these ugly emotions came out and I hate it so so so much. But at the same time, I don’t.

I’ve never felt so related to a poetry book like this. It was as if the author had known me and was writing my emotions when I, myself, could not find the words for them.

Broken was personal.
Whole was hopeful.

Whole made me feel giddy. It’s a whole different me, the part of me that is somewhat cautious still to be out here. It reminded me of the people I love and how I used to be when I was alone. When I had no one.

Although some of the poems made me rethink life, others literally just scream “dive like you used to.” and some were comforting and telling me to slow down a bit and that it is okay for me to move at my own pace.

I love it.

As for the short stories,
They were just okay. I’m not really sure what was going on– but it definitely needs a bit of improvement.

This book is too personal for me. Despite the love-hate relationship, it is definitely one of my favourite reads.

Generation of Fragile by Germaine Thai is now AVAILABLE to purchase at www.penwings.com/store or visit any major bookstores nationwide. You can visit @penwingspublishing for the link too <3

[Nadirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consisting of poetry and short stories, "Generation of Fragile" is a book for the dreamer and the realist, where these two selves can struggle to coexist in these dichotomic times.

We all long for something that can only be realised by our passions, but such is life in that we know we must live within the frameworks of society in order to survive a world that does not cater to our existence. Inevitably, some will win, some will lose. To express the loss and celebrate the wins, Germaine Thai brings together these contradictory elements in our lives in this collection: the need to be vulnerable to belong, to be strong in order not to be undermined, and to keep faith that there will be a silver lining at the end of the storms.

There's something about Germaine Thai's writing that really resonated with me. This is definitely one of those reads you should savour over time, and do couple it with your drink of choice. I can see myself coming back to pore over "Generation of Fragile" whenever I need a reminder of all the good experiences that come along with the bad ones. If you're looking for some comforting words to tide you over those times, then let this be your companion.

Thank you to Penwings Publisher for the review copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

[Naadhira Zahari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generation of Fragile by Germaine Thai is a collection of poetry and short stories—inflected by the upsurge of being crushed to getting the pieces back together and finally being whole again.

The writing is lilting in a way that leaves you no choice but to be pulled into the words. Even with the use of simple words, the meaning and message behind each poem deeply resonates. Some of my favourites ones are Divider, Labour of Love and Mirror Image.

I hoped there would be more short stories in this book instead of just two. I was just getting into the rhythmic pull of the stories but instead it left me at the last pages of the book. It would be really nice if it just had more stories even if it's short.

All in all, this book is wonderfully written and one you should keep a lookout for. Just as the cover is beautifully illustrated and designed, the contents inside is definitely up to par.

[Introvert Insane · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book of the year~! I love the poems. Most of them really resonates with me, especially the title poem Generation of Fragile. It speaks both facts and figurative. But the short stories, not so much. Maybe because for me it feels a little too direct and I always expected more nuance. But I choose to focus on the poems in here.

[Hidayatul Husna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me being the sadbish I am were so moved by the first part of the collection, Broken. I always find comfort in poems after I discovered the beauty of it. Short yet impactful words.

“The hardest goodbyes when people vanish with closure not made”

[Guang Yi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The debut book of @germainethai_quotes on Instagram - very thoughtfully curated and written.

[siso.sofy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be happy
Be brave
Be brave enough to be happy