No, this is not a photo of the books I read this year ha! It is, however, an almost accurate visual for the number of books I finished cover-to-cover! Here’s a list of books, why I read them, and what stuck with me from each of those:
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
“Isn’t this a tv show?” Yes. Yes it is. But before it was a brilliant Brie Larson led mini series, it was a book. And a stellar one. We are here and love a good misfit female protagonist success story!
I found Elizabeth Zott very relatable- smart, discriminated against, and carrying the weight of society’s expectations on her shoulders, she manages to navigate the world of scientific research and television celebrity in the best way she can. Full of relatable anecdotes, perspective and triumphs, Lessons in Chemistry was a hard one for me to put down, or stop watching!
What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo
This year, I learned a name for what my mental health has been most affected and hurt by- Complex Childhood PTSD. The long and short of it is that its repetitive abuse levied in various forms, when experienced in childhood and formative years, can lead to anxiety, low emotional intelligence, and a plethora of other issues.
Stephanie Foo presents her journey of dealing with and healing from a similar diagnosis. That saying “grief shared is halved” or something like that is true. Reading about Stephanie’s experience with the same diagnosis, the experiences and incidents that contributed to her CPTSD, and how she rediscovered herself brought a large sense of hope for me. There were many tears shed on these pages, but it was cathartic and the release was much appreciated.
Maybe You Should Talk To Someone by Lori Gottlieb
Many moons ago, I was a student of psychology with aspirations to become a psychologist. This book came recommended by a dear friend, and I instantly hesitated to read it, thinking it was going to be another heavy read.
But, I’ve been pleasantly surprised! Au contraire, its a light, funny, and very wittily written fictional story of relatable experiences any one deals with. I like to think of it as a comedic soap opera of stories and perspectives of a therapists’ therapist, their clients, and internal monologues of all of the above.
Gottlieb does a stellar job of presenting multiple perspectives of those involved in a situation, making the book a light hearted reminder that there’s always so much more to a persons’ words or actions than what another experiences.
Murtagh by Christopher Paolini
I have been a die-hard Paolini fan ever since I stumbled across Eragon in 2002. I’ve read and re-read the entire Inheritance series multiple times since then, and even stood in line at odd hours to buy the books as they were released.
Murtagh is the latest addition to Paolini’s delightful fictitious world of Alagaësia. At the time of writing this post, I hadn’t quiet sunk my teeth into this book. It doesn’t stop me writing about why I’m so keen on it!
Eragon is probably the only fantasy franchise I’ve truly subscribed to. From fandom to merch, its the only series that managed to keep my attention. Despite a disappointing film adaptation (what’s new, right?), the book has maintained its charm and continues to be a relatable “lost lone-wolf” trope that many teenagers feel in their lives. And I did feel like one in my teenages. Eragon and his journey were a steadfast escape and reminder of what perseverance and accepting help can do for someone. It continues to remain a favorite from my bookshelf!
Hello! My name is Vi. I am product designer who’s trying to be better and do better everyday. Whether its improving my craft or myself, nothing is off limits and everything is a possibility in this quest. Get in touch with me www.vichetan.com,or find me on LinkedIn. Let’s chat! Thank you for reading this post!
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