This month has been a significant reading journey for me. My reading has increased dramatically. There are three main reasons for that.
First, I underwent a digital detox. Additionally, having physical paperbacks and a diverse collection of nonfiction books alongside my fiction reads contributed to my increased reading. I’ve written a more detailed explanation of how these three factors combined to boost my reading, hoping it might be helpful to you.
This month, I also finished many nonfiction books. Entertainment-wise, I found most of them a bit boring due to their academic writing style. However, this didn’t diminish the value I gained from reading them.
Overall, I feel like I’ve expanded my genre preferences, and I’m excited to have discovered new books to enjoy!
Most Favourite
This book just changed my brain chemistry. It appeared in my life at the perfect time. I’ve been going through a lot these past few months, and this book somehow became a solace for the pain in my heart. It’s very optimistic without being overly direct. I don’t want to spoil anything, but if you’re struggling to make sense of pain and suffering, you might find this book helpful.
Least Favourite
all about love by bell hooks
This book is decent, but the writing style could be improved. It frequently uses repetitive examples that don’t add much value. The main takeaway for me was that many people assume they understand love until they don’t. I couldn’t relate to the book, so I didn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped.
Other Books
If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a page-turner, and I loved its focus on themes like patriarchy and womanhood. The female characters were fascinating to read about. This is another book with unlikable characters that you can still relate to. Amazing book!
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Wow, there’s a lot of hype surrounding this book. Unfortunately, the writing didn’t do it for me. While the characters were well-developed, they felt a bit unrealistic. I understand that both characters are struggling with life transitions and intense emotions, but I expected more emotional maturity from supposedly bright young people.
Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence by Anna Lembke
I enjoyed this book. It inspired me to detox from my phone, along with other books I read this month. The book carries a powerful message about how, in an age of abundant material wealth, we can easily seek unhealthy pleasures like excessive social media use or even drugs. For me, it was a reminder not to let my phone and the internet control my life.
Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport
This book resonates strongly with my beliefs. I’ve always thought a minimalist lifestyle reduces stress by minimizing possessions. Similarly, reducing your digital footprint can lessen stress by cutting down on distractions and creating more time for solitude and self-discovery.
Build Your House Around My Body by Violet Kupersmith
This book isn’t the kind I would usually read, but the cover caught my attention immediately. When I saw it, I was intrigued! I loved it. The Vietnamese scenes and historical fiction elements make this a very complex book. Honestly, the research that went into this must have been extensive. It’s a very good book! You can read my full review here. I made one since I feel like I have so much to talk about!
Leave a Reply