Books I read in July, 2020
The books and my thoughts
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
I had heard references to this in multiple podcasts I had heard, so I thought I would pick it up. While this version of the book targets couples trying to understand how to show affection to the other, the author has written equivalent books for the following as well:
I did realize that my love languages are words of affirmation and physical touch. No wonder quarantine has been stressful!
I would like to add a 6th love language though. Food. People express love through food, yes it is an act of service to cook for someone else. But there is a physical response to eating food that is worth exploring. Upcoming blog idea maybe? 🤔
Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad
Continuing on my efforts to acquaint myself with the racism in USA and be a better antiracist, I picked up Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad. This book isn't one you consume passively as an audio book. It is a journalizing exercise, there are probing questions to answers, thoughts to sit with.
While the book was targeted at helping the reader come to terms with their white supremacy it was nonetheless useful as it made me come to terms with the way Asians have bought into the trope of being a model minority. I wasn't able to do one exercise a day as the book suggested as I had borrowed it from an e-Library, so I did sometimes do multiple exercises a day. I wonder if there is a companion guide for people of color who aren't black?
I hadn't read a nice light rom-com recently (please ignore my sojourn into the Shopaholic series) and who better to cheer for than the humble, simple yet oh so glamorous Lucy. Kevin Kwan has a way of making you root for all the characters in his stories even if you hate them. They are lovable, hilarious and vivid! What else could you possibly want? This book is a nod to A Room with a View by E.M. Forster and while I haven't read the original I do look forward to it now that I have read Kevin Kwan's hilarious take on it. Naina Raisinghani(Sunshine Montessori/ Karachi Grammar School/ Lahore University of Management Sciences) is intrigued!
CURRENTLY READING Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
This book showed up in my recommendations after I read The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. Lale and Viktor were both prisoners at the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. I am about 20% in and it's strange how while the author does speak to the desensitization that happens at these camps, I as a reader will still audibly gasp every time I read about the events that transpired at Auschwitz-Birkenau!
On my 2020 reading list
Non Fiction
- I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
- Little Weirds by Jenny Slate
- The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz
- Obsessed: Building a Brand People Love from Day One by Emily Heyward
Poetry
I am starting my journey to read more poetry by reading the words of Black poets.
This was inspired by Books Are Magic's list of 14 Brilliant and Beautiful Black Poetry Collections
- Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay
- I Can’t Talk About the Trees Without the Blood by Tiana Clark
Looking for recommendations
Earlier this month I shared my reading goals from here on, so inline with that I am looking for recommendations in the following areas:
- Poetry
- Urdu fiction - please note I haven't read Urdu in 11 years, so any recommendations should be geared towards absolute beginners.
- Audiobooks - I am going to start running again and am looking for audiobook recommendations to listen to while I run.