It’s been a magical mystery tour – in my Kindle, yo! I have been on the BEST reading streak. Every book that I’ve read lately has been a knock-the-ball-out-of-the-park-winner. So, as you can imagine, I keep thinking this book will be the one that will let me down. Isn’t that awful? I don’t know why we think a good thing can’t last.
Well, maybe because it’s not realistic. Who cares? Let the fantasy continue!
Currently, I’m reading The Martian by Andy Weir – and yeah, it’s all science + space exploration + dear diary and I’m soaking it up like a thirsty plant after a California drought. Normally, I wouldn’t praise a book until after I have finished it, but I’m feeling confident (a little too confident, kid) that Weir will deliver the NASA goods.
And I cannot wait to see the movie, but like others who have read/are reading the book, I’m afraid they will ruin it. We’ll see.
Prior to The Martian, I read Wild by Cheryl Strayed and I was totally prepared to hate it. Like totally. I thought it was going to be like Eat, Pray, Love, which I put down after the first chapter, wondering why everyone thought this book was so damn wonderful.
I enjoyed and appreciated Strayed’s writing. And by appreciated, I mean, I could tell she worked hard on it and lo and behold, at the end of the book, I saw her thank her writers’ group. Her story was also something that I could relate to, not directly, but her working class upbringing, loss of a parent, and the struggle that comes from taking risks was what made the book work for me.
All the Light We Cannot See: A Novel by Anthony Doerr was another book I wasn’t expecting much out of. I think I was weary of a popular fiction novel (cause I’m so cool), but the WWII setting, blind French girl and German orphan character descriptions made me think this would be one of those “well-known stories told in an unusual way” and I was right.
Like the previous books, I was reading it as fast as I could and then slowing down when I thought I was near the end because I wanted to savor it.
Best Russian Short Stories compiled and edited by Thomas Seltzer was a freebie from the Guttenberg project. And let me just add, I adore all of the people who have made classics available online for free for expats like me.
Now, we all know that the Russians have produced some pretty frickin amazing writers and this book was a dynamo compilation of the best. Imaginary (and real) hats off to Seltzer for putting together this body of work; I was continuously impressed, and kept flipping back to the TOC to see who wrote what story.
But I don’t think I have a favorite. I mean, I feel like the Russians writers are almost like a music playlist where I could go back and appreciate a different story at a different time. Actually, just sharing this makes me want to go back and reread them. It’s a door opener.
Bossypants by Tina Fey and Yes Please by Amy Poehler are not in the same caliber as the other books mentioned, but they are worth a read for memoirists like me. It’s also great to read about female comedians who have become famous actors (and screenwriters) in their own right. They are personable, funny and because they are around my same age, women I could relate to in many ways. I found inspiration in their books and they are wonderful role models.
In full disclosure, I should mention that there are other books I have read between these titles, but I have a habit of starting books and not finishing them or using books as references, mainly non-fiction titles. For example, The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg. I was devouring that before I got The Martian. Of course, I’ll return to it. Maybe tonight.
I love my Kindle. I love reading.
What about you? Are you on a good reading streak? What are you reading now?
Life, the Universe, and Lani 
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