books
- The Red Rising books. Absolutely loved the two I read. Can’t wait to pick up more in the future.
- Mistborn Book One. Another one that was a great fantasy book.
- His Majesty’s Airship. A fun history book about a topic I never thought I’d be interested in.
Finished reading: Station 11 by Emily St. John Mandel 📚
Finished reading 📚: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
A fun, nerdy tale of friendship, suffering, and heartbreak. I quite enjoyed it.
Finished reading 📚: Denali by Ben Moon
Devoured this book on a plane today. Just one man’s honest look at their relationship with their dog. It’s moving and gutwrenching at the same time. Hug your pups tight.
Finished reading 📚: Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
I really wanted to love this book, but it just never came. A rare case where I think the movie is much better.
Finished reading 📚: The Well of Ascension by Brandon Sanderson
A fantastic book two to the Mistborn saga. So many twists and turns, right up until the end. The way Sanderson crafts his epics is just wonderful. Can’t wait to get book three!
The Bookseller of Florence
Finished reading📚: Bookseller of Florence: The Story of the Manuscripts That Illuminated the Renaissance by Ross King
A fasicnating book about one man in ancient Italy who ushered in an era of literacy and knowledge. Also discusses the creation of the printing press as it overlaps Vespasiano’s life.
My 2023 Books List
After completing The Midnight Library yesterday, that rounds out everything I’ve read in 2023 - 29 books in all.
Highlights:
The Books:
Finished reading 📚: The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
A very moving and inspiring story about living with regrets. If you’re struggling with finding a purpose or with dwelling on regrets, this story may speak to you.
Finished reading📚: Girl With Curious Hair by David Foster Wallace
A Random San Diego Encounter
Finished reading 📚: Written With Colors Drawn With Words by Al Nashashibi.
A few months ago I was in San Diego on vacation with my brother - not my favorite trip as I got sick during it. One of our last nights there, I was tasked with finding a place to eat and came across Fairouz Cafe - an off the path mediterranean cafe that looked tasty that particular evening.
Upon arriving we were greeted by a quaint, family owned cafe. The food was delicious, but the owner was captivating. A humble man from Jerusalem who was a former lawyer. He was friendly and the conversation was fun and engaging. Adorning the walls of the cafe are paintings created by the owner, and across the counter are books he has written - novels and poetry books. The book I grabbed was his first poetry book he wrote after his wife passed away.
This captivating man and his stories are what I love most about traveling. A chance encounter at a hole in the wall restaurant turned into a fascinating evening of conversation with a complete stranger. This book of poems is captivating and moving - I’ll be the first to admit though that I am not an avid poetry reader. Some of the poems are heart wrenching, about the loss of his wife. Others are funny and charming. If you are ever in San Diego, it is worth the trip to engage with a fascinating human being.
Finished reading 📚: The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Finished reading 📚: Babel by R.F. Kuang.
Took me a while to get into this book, but I’m glad I stuck with it. A challenging novel about colonialism and how language is used as a tool of empire. I quite enjoyed it after the first ~20% or so.
Great quote. I miss reading. Need to prioritize it this week.
We must read because it is the only way to truly know what it feels like to be in someone else’s mind.
Finished reading 📚: The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday.
A great intro to Stoicism. I recommend reading it daily, as it leaves you with time to reflect and ponder as he intended it to be read.
Finished reading 📚: Where the Deer and the Antelope Play by Nick Offerman
This book is not very good. It’s too many differing ideas interspersed amongst each other. I was very disappointed and confused reading from chapter to chapter.