Well, well, well, this is a bit awkward. It’s been a few years since I’ve written anything on here. It’s been a social media roller coaster for me. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to have an online presence or not. I actually deleted my Bookstagram, personal Instagram, and my personal Facebook. However, here I am, resurrecting my Bookstagram. A fresh start from square one, perhaps a necessary reset for my virtual soul.
In the past two years, my literary taste has undergone a fascinating transformation. Nonfiction has become my literary playground, and I’ve embraced the allure of weird and short books. There’s a strange pleasure in shedding a tear or two over the pages of a compelling story.
A newfound love affair has blossomed with manga, adding a splash of visual storytelling to my reading repertoire. It’s cool how our preferences evolve, opening new avenues to explore. Here’s to the joy of embracing the unexpected in the world of literature!
I’ve simplified my reading quite a bit. No more bullet journaling, a careful selection of unread book purchases, a preference for eBooks, and a restrained approach to NetGalley requests—all contributing to a more straightforward and enjoyable reading journey.
I used to engage in the Popsugar Reading Challenge, but inevitably, my enthusiasm waned by the middle of January. It simply wasn’t the right fit for me. However, I stumbled upon the NYT Notable Books of 2023 list, and it feels tailor-made for my reading preferences. This curated selection aligns seamlessly with my tastes, sparing me the need to spend days scouring the internet for books that don’t resonate with me just to meet a challenge.
The twelve books are:
- Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
- The Most Secret Memory of Men by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr
- Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez
- Blackouts by Justin Torres
- Eastbound by Maylis de Kerangal
- Biography of X by Catherine Lacey
- Daughter of the Dragon by Yunte Huang
- Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
- You Have to Be Prepared to Die Before You Can Begin to Live by Paul Kix
- Some People Need Killing by Patricia Evangelista
- Waiting to Be Arrested at Night by Tahir Hamut Izgil
- Sink by Joseph Earl Thomas
Another reading milestone on the horizon: aiming to read 100 books for the first time ever. My previous record stands at 90 books in 2019, and while I’m setting my sights on this goal, I’ve learned not to let it dictate my reading experience. If I fall short, that’s perfectly fine.
If you have any reading goals, let me know in the comments. I’d love to see what other challenges are out there.
If you enjoyed this, then give it a like and follow my blog and other social media. Be respectful and happy reading!
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