Let’s Talk Books
Books for me are a cheaper way to travel, explore new cultures, make friends, visit the past and be part of a community. Like most kids, I used to wait till the movie came out or read Sparknotes for a quick and easy synopsis. After years of required reading and comprehensive tests, I lost interest in reading for fun. Not until after college did I really find the joy of reading a good book again. I even started rereading / reading literarily classics such as Lord of the Flies and To Kill A Mockingbird and many others to really understand and educate myself on timeless themes and universal messages. Reading has helped me develop a deeper understanding of the human experience and expanded my perspective on history and culture. Although I love a good cheesy YA book or SciFi fantasy, I made it a goal for myself to read different authors and genres to challenge my vocabulary skills and attention span. It also feels good to be able to understand cultural references and deepen my sense of accomplishment every time I finish a book. I create a reading goal every year on my GoodReads account, but I also make a mini goal of reading 5 classics a year that are either relevant to the times or are recommended to me by my peers.
I wanted to share some of favorite books from this past year that I would recommend tenfold. I have compiled a list of books that I think are worth the read, especially during these winter months. Although I have thoughts and opinions on all these books, I am a type of reader who doesn’t write reviews. No book is going to be completely perfect and not every book I like will be for everyone. I tend to lean toward books with motifs of death and suspense, but I also love a ‘coming of age’ story. The best part of reading for fun is that you get free rein on what you choose to read, so don’t overthink it.
