Growing up, I was an avid reader. I loved introverting with a good book almost anywhere, which often led to my mom's criticism, urging me to socialize more. Years later I entered the workforce and, as my calendar filled up, the number of books I read decreased.
Last year, upon finishing grad school, I, indeed, started to read more. However, it wasn't until quarantine that I realized I needed a little help: a Kindle. While my love for books made me reluctant to buy one, I now recognize this lightweight device is practical and helps me keep my goals in sight. As I write this article we have been in lockdown for 3 months and I have finished my 17th book, which means I not only aced my New Year's Resolution, but built a new habit: finishing a new book every week.
If reading more is among your resolutions, these recommendations might work for you: 1) take time to think realistically about what works. It can be anything from reading in the morning to joining a book club or even pursuing audiobooks; 2) as my brother says: finding a good book is more about you than about the book itself. You don't have to feel forced to read the classics of universal literature for the sake of it, but maybe you enjoy biographies or graphic novels. Making this experience meaningful is a matter of personalization.
Personally, these last months haven drawn me to biographies of powerful and inspiring women, but other genres have proved equally pleasant. I will leave my updated and ranked list over here in case you are pursuing recommendations:
The Choice, Dr. Edith Eger
A friend recommended this book and it was, by far, the best I have read in a long time, and probably one I will continue to cherish my whole life. It is such a beautifully written story about forgiveness, about overcoming challenges and about second opportunities; about facing death and still finding the strength to be happy and change the lives of many. Additionally, its Spanish version, La Bailarina de Auschwitz is was nothing short of breathtaking.
The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini
This is another remarkable book I am happy to have read. Khaled Hosseini's writing took my breath away several times through its flashbacks, characters, and descriptions of a once-splendid Afghanistan, a country I don't know much about. It was difficult to put this book down, for it got more interesting every minute; nonetheless, I stopped many times to cry or take information in. Moreover, the value of the Kite Runner lies in the afterthoughts it evokes on friendship, pain, unfairness and the big turns of life.
The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas, Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis
There are few adjectives I can use to describe this book, but one of them might be "exceptional". Its pages are filled with the philosophical turns I so enjoy, joined by a free writing style I do not remember seeing before. Besides learning about the Brazilian society of the 1800's, it was a delight to be introduced to the wisdom, humor and many references found in this work.
The Truths We Hold, Kamala Harris
As a Colombian woman, I have always been fascinated by American politics. At the same time, no matter how I tried, there were some of its concepts and causes I failed to grasp. For those reasons, I found Kamala's book inspiring: because it offered a detailed description of her personal journey while it explained some of the country's most pressing socioeconomic issues.
Educated, Tara Westover
This book was also a recommendation of another well-read friend. Although it started off slowly, it got to the point where it couldn't be put down. By the end, I was left with a feeling like conquering the world was within reach, just like Tara had, one step at a time.
I Know Why The Caged Birds Sing, Maya Angelou
In spite of having heard about her many times, I had never encountered her work and was in for a surprise. The fame that precedes her is nothing compared to the beauty of her prose and her raw understanding of herself, shaped by the political and cultural context she faced.
Behind all this, however, one truth haunts me: that after over six decades, our society is as discriminating towards women and African Americans as Angelou's. It is now more relevant than ever to face this disturbing reality in hopes to change the future, one that can no longer wait.
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy Kaling
This book is so different than the ones mentioned before, but it brought me so much joy. It is light-hearted and authentic, much like its author. After obsessing over The Office, Never Have I Ever and the Mindy Project, knowing more about Kaling became imperative. So much genius lies behind her pop culture references and fashion idolization. To me, everything she touches becomes gold and I admire how she is unapologetically herself.
* Pictured: only one of the MANY chapters that made me laugh out loud in this book.
The House of the Spirits, Isabel Allende
Much like in Maya Angelou's case, I got a late start in the world of Isabel Allende. As a Colombian and, thanks to Gabriel Garcia Marquez, magical realism is in my roots. The magical world created by Allende slowly gives room to a loud reality that finishes up in the Chilean coup. Isabel's role in the real story is truly awe-inspiring and and the otherworldly eyes with which she regarded her grandmother made me tender-hearted, for it reminded me of mine.
A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini
If there is anything I love profoundly, it is Hosseini's writing style. His flawless descriptions of places and people, the way he incorporates poetry... everything flows so easily, yet with so much skill. In my opinion, he has a gift. I only ranked this book lower than his previous one because some elements seemed all too familiar and, after having my heart ripped apart with the Kite Runner, I could navigate this one with more prevention.
We Should All Be Feminists, Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie
I received this book for my birthday and devoured it in a matter of hours. Many of the words resounded with my personal experiences: the confusion about the term feminism when I was younger; the need to think twice about my looks (going so far as cutting my hair) to be taken more seriously, etc. Reading this book was like reliving conversations with friends and even my own thoughts: the never-ending question of what it means to be a woman and what we have needed to sacrifice to achieve our goals.
I Know Why the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens
Mesmerizingly written from beginning to end. Characters that were different, but felt real still. Although, in my opinion, the book took a while to pick up (at 30% of it I still felt disengaged and confused), the final chapters redeem the whole story. It was still a delightful read that I would recommend and I am excited for its movie adaptation, apparently coming soon.
Oblivion: a Memoir, Hector Abad Faciolince
Besides being extensively recommended by friends and family, I was curious about it after its cinematographic version received critical acclaim in Cannes. I read in its original Spanish version (its title being "El Olvido que Seremos"), which perfectly portrayed the Colombian reality, with its inequality and violence, through the author's experiences of loss and regret. Many of his joyful memories hit close to home, but undeniably, he has been through the toughest experiences a human being could endure. Perhaps because of all the hype, I expected more from Faciolince's writing. Although it was very beautiful in some parts and certainly, very raw, I don't gravitate towards his writing style and, perhaps because of that, this book doesn't rank higher in my list.
Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg
While Lean In offered insightful information about women in the workplace, I would have liked to learn more details about Sheryl's own experience: her upbringings, the professional turns she took and how all of them shaped them into who she is today. In a few words, it lacked storytelling. It was filled with data points, but it lacked a human side that connected her to the young women who want to get started down a similar path.
Why Not Me?, Mindy Kaling
I never thought I'd be reading two of Mindy's books in less than a month because, to be honest, all celeb books have the weirdest and, sometimes, lamest names. Anyways, I giggled throughout the whole book, though a little less than in Is Everyone else Hanging Out Without Me? Nonetheless, its final chapter, titled like the book itself, was the best of all. It poses a valid question that most women ask ourselves and for the first time ever, the answer wasn't a disappointment (spoiler: hard work is a key ingredient of confidence). Bottom line, I love this woman and will continue to consume whatever she puts her hands on.
Something Around your Neck, Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie
A book club with my School friends brought me to Chimamanda, whose Ted Talk "The Danger of a Single Story" is well-known. While this book taught me so much about Nigerian culture, I found some short stories better than others. Nonetheless, all of them left me with a sense of things unfinished, of a finale way too open to accept.
A Room of One's Own, Virginia Wolf
Upon asking for book recommendations, several friends recommended this one. While it makes some interesting arguments about the potential of women and the limitations even the brightest female authors have faced, I did not connect with the narrative.
Nothing Like I Imagined (Book Series), Mindy Kaling
My quarantine has been full of Mindy, so much that at this point I swear I know her too much. And perhaps that is why this series was only a bit predictable for me. She is absolutely hilarious and I will continue to read her stuff in the future because it is so lightweight. But among her 6 essays, only the moral of "Big Shot" I found memorable. If I were to, however, rate the books by their cover, this one would receive a 10/10 from me.
One Day in December, Josie Silver
After reading "Kafka on the Shore", I wanted to decompress by reading something that put me in a Christmas spirit. This book was indeed an easy, lighthearted, unpretentious read. My biggest criticism might be that the contemplations of the male character (Jack O'Mara's) did not seem too realistic... It often made me think "there is no way he thinks this". By no means was One Day in December a life-changing book, but it did put me in a good mood. The author said she wanted readers to feel "like they were watching a Christmas movie", and that's how it felt indeed.
Your Money or Your Life, Vicki Robin, Joseph Dominguez
I have a desire to understand my finances and put them in order, and when the quarantine started it seemed like a good time to get organized. My brother recommended it extensively and it proved to be short, sweet and very practical. It really helped in terms of painting a broader image of money, not as a means to get things, but as a way to measure the spent hours of our life. While I haven't finished all the exercises (it is a comprehensive task!), some of their tips have already helped me conceive finances in a different light.
Loonshots, Safi Bahcall
My boss recommended this book as part of our efforts to promote organizational innovation. There is NO way this book would have sparked my interest, but it had such great reviews I wanted to see what they were about.
Indeed, it has several key lessons to promote risk-taking and foster innovation among teams. While not my kind of book, it was enjoyable because of the deep knowledge the author displayed, tied to endless anecdotes in a wide array of topics.
Normal People, Sally Rooney
At a dead end of not knowing what to read next, I coincidentally, read that its TV adaptation (available on Hulu) was fantastic, but to me, the book was so disappointing. The main characters were deeply troubled and I would have liked to know them better; there was no explanation, no cause for their motives. While it was clear that they both needed help, only Connell pursued it and the book suggests that Marianne overcame a vaguely explained family abuse with just time, which seems unlikely and irresponsible.
While I might still watch the show, I hope it is one of those rare occasions were the show ends up being better than the book.
Kafka on the Shore, Haruki Murakami
Critics will disagree with me, but I did not like this book. Yes, I am aware that it is a universally acclaimed work. I just cannot explain how I felt while I read it: it was a mix of confusion and anxiety. The characters were interesting, and I enjoyed the description of this life happening at the library… at first. But as the story unraveled, I felt I liked it less and less. I do not remember this book fondly and therefore, I would not recommend it.
The Dry Heart, Natalia Ginzburg
As part of our book club, me and my friends gathered inspiration from Reese Witherspoon's recommended reads. The synopsis of this book was captivating and it had great reviews.
It was short (less than 90 pages) and the language was not elaborated, which matches the innocence of the main character, but also made the book an easy read. The book finished just as it had started: longing for some kind of depth. In the end, it seemed that, what could have otherwise been complex characters, were cut short, leaving all of them in one dimension and the whole story up in the air. To me, the book was just like its villain: an empty cork floating in the ocean.
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