A new year is upon us, and with it, endless possibilities!
On January 1st, I sat with myself to think about my resolutions for 2023, and for the fourth year in a row, I promised myself I would keep reading avidly.
As I mentioned in last year's post, due to grief, anxiety, (or perhaps just because?), I found little satisfaction in the books I chose, regardless of how good they were. I also struggled to focus, often dropping them and picking them back up along the way.
However, I hope this year brings many great things and plenty of time to read. I will be sharing my findings and updating them here:
1 - The Light We Carry - Michelle Obama:
Just like most people on this planet, I adore Michelle Obama. I read her autobiography "Becoming" in 2018, and I was left tremendously inspired. So, obviously, as soon as I found out she had a new book, I didn't hesitate to buy it.
The Light We Carry was very different from her biography. For starters, it was short and concise, with compartmentalized topics that weren't following a chronological order. As Michelle herself explains, this book is a collection of tips and bits of advice that she shares to help people navigate different areas of life like love, friendship, uncertainty, purpose or the lack thereof, you name it.
I really enjoy biographies, so even though she warns readers about the style of the book, I was left wanting to learn more about her life after publishing Becoming. Yes, she includes plenty of recent and past anecdotes, but without much detail, which she complements with stories of other people she loves. Instead, I wish she would have shared more about her successful book tour and Netflix documentary, her participation in Black-ish, or the work of the Obama Foundation, just to mention some things I know she has done, and possibly ignoring many more.
In short, the book helped me finish 2022 and start the new year on a positive and refreshing note. I would recommend it if you are looking for something light that doesn't require a huge effort to finish and will leave a couple uplifting quotes and lessons.
2- Violeta - Isabel Allende:
I started reading this book in 2022, and it honestly, took me a lot of time and effort to finish it. While I loved Isabel Allende's "The House of the Spirits," I found Violeta to be a harder pill to swallow.
The story started off on an interesting note, and it had some exciting moments following the life of its main character and narrator, which spanned 100 years, with everything that could have encompassed in Chile. However, I felt like some moments dragged on endlessly, sometimes fixating on insignificant details rather than the feelings resulting from facing so many tragedies and life-altering moments Violeta faces.
Despite sharing some of the main character's anecdotes and beliefs, it was tough for me to relate to Violeta. I think that happened because more importance was given to the number of historical events she witnessed than their meaning in what would truly be a remarkable life.
Lastly, because I felt the book had a lot of similarities to "The House of the Spirits," I wish it had expanded on the different topics it touched upon. For instance, Colonia Dignidad was mentioned numerous times throughout the story. It would have been interesting to have a more in-depth look at this gruesome chapter that surely has many pending stories waiting to be told.
3- The Course of Love - Alain de Botton:
For the life of me, I cannot remember when or why I purchased this book, but something pulled me in. Having finished it today, I am so happy it happened, and I can already tell it will be one of my favorite books this year and, perhaps, ever.
From beginning to end, The Course of Love had me feeling seen and like I had found a treasure filled with equally raw and beautiful truths and life lessons from the evolution of Rabih and Kirsten's relationship. Doing some research about the book, I noticed that many people deemed the author a cynic. I, however, think it is honest, self-aware, and educational, and everyone should read it to get more insight into what happens to love when infatuation and romanticism subside.
The Mountain is You - Brianna Wiest
This was one of the books I started last year with no luck. I bought it in an attempt to find answers on how to overcome my mental blocks and self-imposed limitations. Nonetheless, it was when my anxiety was at its peak, so every sentence, regardless of how meaningful or meaningless, hit too close to home, so I left it behind.
I picked it up again last week to finish what I had started. I was surprised to find many quotes and mantras that affirmed my experience, supported my decisions as of late, and reinforced the notion that I am powerful, I know best what is good for me, and that being honest to myself will always be rewarding. I would not say it is a particularly groundbreaking book, but it really had the words I needed to read in this pivotal moment of my life, and that is what makes the reading experience so wonderful: to feel understood in ways you never thought possible.
5- Before We Were Strangers - Renée Carlino
It is no secret I love a good love story, so I am very picky with this genre. Although I had never heard of "Before we were strangers," I purchased it because it had glowing reviews. I have to say I liked it ok.
The book's premise is that it is a story of missed connections, which immediately strung a chord. That was precisely why I was drawn to the book, but also why I found myself rolling my eyes at the miscommunications between two main characters who clearly loved each other, causing them to be apart for over 15 years. This sounded utterly unrealistic, but then I remembered that we young adults can be incredibly dumb and ridiculous regarding matters of the heart, and I got over it.
Overall, I found all the characters (or most of them) to be likable. Still, it seemed like all of them, even those with more complicated backgrounds, surfed through life with these innate talents and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities knocking at their doors. Yet, in a perfect environment, they still managed to mess things up, which is unforgivable to me.
To conclude, it was an entertaining read, perfect for Valentine's Day. Still, I felt like something, like an actual magical connection between the book and the reader, was indeed missing.
6- How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie: This is one of the book that is said to transform people's lives. In my case, it stagnated the reading pace I had this year. The fault is not solely the book's, though: I bought a Kindle version that had a wild number of typos and repeated paragraphs and pages, which made the task take forever.
The book indeed has great pieces of advice, but I found the examples were unnecessarily long.
7- Todos los Días Son Nuestros - Catalina Aguilar Mastretta: I am still recovering from the quiet devastation in which this book left me. I found it on my Amazon cart, where I surely put it after seeing it recommended somewhere I cannot remember, and I could not put it down, even when it really hurt.
This book explores the post-mortem of a 10-year relationship, going through all the stages of grief of its lead, María. The story is so relatable it hurts, and even though it is narrated in a very colloquial language, it is filled with deep reflections that drag you into unexpected moments of pain.
Perhaps it is because the story hits too close to home right now, or because the writer is exceptional (or maybe both), but I cannot recommend this book enough: it made me laugh and cry, and it made me stop many times to really take some of the quotes in. It is the perfect depiction of a breakup, one of those where people love one another but cannot meet the needs of the new versions of themselves that the years shape and the routine unveils. I found it as beautiful as I found it devastating.
8- Every Last Secret - A. R. Torre
I am somewhat sad to write this review because I have seen such good comments about it. Every Last Secret is a domestic thriller about a wife who feels her seemingly perfect husband might be slipping through her fingers after a new couple moved to the neighborhood.
The book is narrated by its two main characters, Cat and Neena, and both are very unlikable because they are very willing to cross ethical lines. However, I did not find that to be the problem. Because both women seemed smart, I thought the book would go one way, but it ended up going on the predictable route. I also did not like how the book seems to address certain topics related to business, finances, innovation, etc. but staying so in the surface that it didn't seem credible. Also, not to give away any spoilers, I found disturbing the scenes in which one of the characters is plotting how to steal the other's husband.
In short, as a thriller lover, Every Last Secret did not do it for me. Not only did I not love it, but I think it will be one of those books I will quickly forget I read.
9- Adelaide: Genevieve Wheeler
I am so thankful for this book. I received an ad once and I was immediately hooked. Even though the book had not yet come out, I would look for it every once in a while until it was actually released (such good audience targeting from their marketing team)!
Anyway, as soon as I grabbed it, I was hooked. Although it was similar to many others, it immediately felt different. Girl meets boy and they experience these magical moments, this unique connection. And then, the dynamic starts changing, so slowly at first it is almost imperceptible. Until it is not. And she holds on, and spirals, but forgives him, and goes on living the relationship (or situationship) the way that works for him.
As a people pleaser, I so understood her struggle - caring beyond, wanting to give one's all, the need to carry the weight of the entire world on one's shoulders, and be there for him, her friends, her family and colleagues - for everyone except herself. And as an external party, you know her love is not reciprocated. But you understand she refuses to see it because she holds on to the bits of magic that arise only once in a while, and that happen less frequently every time.
On a personal level, I also felt deeply connected to Adelaide. Even though I have not had the exact experience, I think we all can relate with the illusion created by those magical moments that end up amounting to nothing, as well as the pain of realizing said reality, and how heartbreak can lead us to situations we never thought we'd live through.
10- The Year of Magical Thinking - Joan Didion
I am still coming to terms with this book.
11- Currently reading: The Daily Stoic - Ryan Holiday
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I am always on the lookout for book recommendations, so if you have any ideas, please let me know!
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