Good Reads
Plus 5 Books Better Than The Alchemist
For the majority of my childhood I shared a room with my older brother Ronny and watched (made fun of) him as he read books. His bookshelf was toppling over with reads and I never took any interest. Didn’t matter how much he enjoyed it, for some reason, I refused.
Don’t get me wrong, I had a tiny collection of books as well. I was not shy when it came to forcing my parents into giving me money for books from the Scholastic Book Fairs at school that they 100% knew I would never, ever read. And they were right. Come to think of it, why would they waste their money on the hope their child would take on a reading interest? I just loved buying things. Okay, I’m still sort of like that. Today it’s hilarious to see the books my mom digs up that belonged to me. For example, a Dino joke book. I mean, why?
I was the student who found any possible resource to avoid reading a page out of any book. I was the student who was happy bullshitting my way through essays and slippin’ by with a ‘C’. I was the student who would laugh off “optional” summer reading selections. Hell, I was the student who laughed off mandatory reading during the school year. To this day, I can’t remember a book from school that I actually read all the way through.
I say all this to say that reading has, at the age of 28, become a huge part of my life.
All it took to get me into reading was the controversial ending to the Game of Thrones TV series: I just had to read the book to make it make sense. Yes, the first full book I read cover to cover in lord knows how long was A Game of Thrones, a book so dense most average readers would look the other way. That and a little (open) competition with my book club partner on making sure I’m still reading about dragons and mutilations. In four and a half months, I was able to finish all five books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. And that gave me the confidence and inspiration to make reading a habit. Shout out to the homie Annanya for lending me all five books.
Before the pandemic, I was already a pretty consistent reader. But now, reading gives me a bit of peace, joy, and adventure that the current country and world do not offer. Sure, I was literally trapped in my small one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco. But, you open up a book and “oh, the places you’ll go!” As friends and family have checked up to see how I’m doing cooped up during “stay at home” orders, I can honestly say I have not felt trapped whatsoever. My interest in books came at the perfect time. When I sit down to open a book (at least when Animal Crossing didn’t exist) I’m completely lost and taking in the smells, tastes, visuals, and characters’ emotions. To be able to sit down in peace every single day, coffee or tea by my side, and explore the world. I have gone to India, Nigeria, The Gambia, Spain, Egypt, Germany, Isla Nublar, Isla Sorna, Heaven, probably Hell (Pet Sematary is fantastic), Coraline’s other universe, Oregon, Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, Maine—I could go on but I’m not here to name every single spot Shadow visits in American Gods.
In the words of my favorite author (so far) Jhumpa Lahiri, “That’s the thing about books. They let you travel without moving your feet.”
So, grab yourself a book and get lost in the pages.If you’re looking for some recommendations, here are my current top five books:
#1 I was in the middle of reading this as the pandemic hit and we were ordered to stay at home. There’s something about reading her story through her own words that kept me grounded and continued to be grateful regardless of the current situation that we have been in. We all know how her story ends before reading one page, but what you don’t know until you flip through is the positive light and charismatic energy in the face of horror that she was able to illuminate through her diary.
Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
#2 Lahiri brilliantly wiggles through human emotions and tendencies to bring together these eight beautiful, melancholy short stories that had me on the edge of my seat throughout. While I’m here, I’m going to go on and highly recommend her other works as well. Interpreter of Maladies, The Namesake, The Lowland.
Roots by Alex Haley
#3 In 8th grade, one of my more vivid memories in my language arts class (shoutout Ms. Amar) was reading aloud a small portion of Roots. Ever since, Roots has always been on my mind to read but it was never enough to break the non-reader in me. Well 14 years later, I was finally able to do it and it is well worth the wait. The story of how Alex Haley came to be through the six generations before him is a must read for everybody.
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
#4 If you’re a Game of Thrones nerd like I am, even though I was late to the party, then you know what to expect in these drama-filled books. But A Storm of Swords goes above and beyond in this action packed fantasy that will literally not let you put this book down. The amount of “holy shits” I let out while reading this deserved a proper counter.
Pet Sematary by Stephen King
#5 A horror that takes place in Maine will keep your mind thinking for days after once you have finished. Stephen King touches too close to home with your loved ones in Pet Sematary which is what makes this book perfectly frightening. Also as a side note, I have never been one to be able to sit through a scary movie without consequences, which is why I haven’t seen a scary movie since The Grudge. That being said, for some reason I can read a scary book like this and not have my week entirely ruined which i really appreciate.
# 36 The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (Yes, I checked my Goodreads account to see how many books I’ve finished so I could put this at the bottom of the list. I’m not sure why this book is so popular while being so uncreative in the end. Check out my review for it here.)
Let me know what some of your favorite books are in the comments below!
— Danny
