I have had a slow reading week this week. I’m not quite sure what made me go from last week’s large pile, to just two this week. I think partly because I’ve been trying to read a couple of physical books, which is not going well as I have so little time to actually sit down with a book. And partly because I couldn’t settle easily to any of the books I was reading and kept hopping around and giving up and watching TV instead! I eventually went back to an old favourite.
Just shelved:
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After flitting about between the four books below and a couple of others, I eventually decided to look for something I was sure would engage me. I found a few books in my Audible account that seemed likely, but then as I scrolled through my library, I came across The Martian. It’s read by Will Wheaton, and I loved the book when I originally read it, but hadn’t listened to it before. I dived in, and was through it in no time. Loved it every bit as much as I did last time. Then, of course, I had to watch the film, and that took up some of my evening down time for a couple of days too! Worth it.
I just (about fifteen minutes ago, I’m still sniffling) finished When Breath Becomes Air. I have been meaning to read this for so long, but haven’t ever felt up to the task. I still don’t, but it’s short and I’ve heard such wonderful things about it that when I came across the audiobook from my library, I decided to give it a try. I’m really glad I did. For anyone who’s not familiar, it’s the memoir of a neural surgeon nearing the end of his training who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. He wrote this book as he struggled to come to terms with his diagnosis, and is a unique combination of both a doctor’s and a patient’s perspectives – a combination that rarely exists. It’s a hard read, of course, but also oddly relatable. I don’t have a terminal diagnosis as Paul does, but I’ve had some serious medical issues. One left me unsure if I was going to live through the summer last year. On top of that, the combination of my medical issues and the specter of COVID has been terrifying. He talks a lot about his experiences working with patients who live with chronic medical issues or who experience a traumatic medical event that changes them and affects their families irrevocably. So those musings and some of the emotional journey he describes as he tries to figure out how to keep living under the weight of his diagnosis – and the uncertainty it brings to his future – felt familiar enough that I could connect with it. Because I don’t have a terminal diagnosis, though, it also left me feeling incredibly grateful that, at least for me, there is still the luxury of hope for the future, even if it means living with a closer relationship with my mortality. I don’t know if this is the best book to tackle as Delta surges through the world. It isn’t an easy one. But I found it oddly comforting, and it put me into an almost meditative frame of mind. It left me feeling like I need to keep reaching for an acceptance that life is always uncertain. We never know how long we have left. That’s an irrevocable part of life, and doesn’t mean we should give up on the things that are important to us.
Currently reading:
I haven’t really made any progress on any of these this week. Oops.
Up next:
Sure, why not go for a streak with these books I keep saying I’m going to read next, but never actually do? That sounds like a great idea. I still really want to get to The Unlikely Pilgrimmage of Harold Fry and Project Hail Mary (even more so after my enjoyment of The Martian last week), particularly as Sue from Book by Book stopped by and gave both enthusiastic thumbs up from herself and her husband on my post last week (thanks, Sue!). I am going to try to find them on audio asap!
What about you guys? What did you read this week? Have you read any of these books? Any strike your fancy? I’d love to hear any and all thoughts on the topic in the comments!
A weekly post that encourages bloggers to share what they have read in the past week, what they’re currently reading and books they’ve recently added to their TBRs. Originally started by Sheila at Book Journey, it is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.
