One of the best takeaways I had from that blurry period that was the back-to-back lockdowns of 2020 was that I made time for reading. A habit, or a skill rather ‘cause that’s what it is, I must admit I was not very good at. Now I’m proud to say that I’ve kept up with it a few (!) years later. I have been sucked into various books since then, some self-help, others fiction and the occasional autobiographical ones. Reading them has made my mind a wonderful place to be in and has given me plenty to wonder about, something I enjoy doing. So, without further ado, here are books I loved devouring and think you should read too.

The Midnight Library – Matt Haig

Wouldn’t it be simply magical for each of us to have a personal library filled with our life experiences? This is what happens to Nora Seed in The Midnight Library. She discovers a library which contains an infinite number of books, each one filled with her regrets and her ‘what if’ lives. It is up to her to pick a regret and live the alternative lives she always thought about. It is a highly fantastical and philosophical book that triggered my ‘what if’ syndrome.

What if I had chosen that job? What I had gone on that date? What if I had moved abroad? I related so much to Nora’s story that it led to so many conversations with friends about what we thought our lives would be like and what the things we still want to do are but put off for one reason or another. I realized staying trapped in your ‘what ifs’ can be paralyzing so fuck it, give them a go. Do more, think later. As for regrets, who needs them?

Single on Purpose – John Kim

No, this is not only for single people. It’s for married people, divorcees, those in relationships and yes, singles too. Therapist and author John Kim breaks down why the relationship we have with ourselves is so important and why being single shouldn’t feel like a death sentence. John Kim has a very no-bullshit approach which I appreciate and draws from personal stories to offer advice on relationships and dating. Just so you see how direct Kim is, some of his chapters are called ‘Finding my soul while shitting in the woods’ and ‘Now go fuck somebody’. Single on Purpose is an easy read and also includes a couple of exercises titled ‘Time to make shit happen’.

Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert

I had been recommended this book many a time and I am so glad I finally listened and read it. I devoured it, and for a while, I made my bible and many of its concepts have stayed with me. Elizabeth Gilbert writes about what it means to lead a creative life and how to do it, the rituals she does to take it seriously and the fears that tag along the journey. She recounts her own experiences on deciding to be a ‘creative’, forming contracts with ideas and life after becoming a best-selling author. It is a book I know I will come back to.

Before the Coffee Gets Cold - Toshikazu Kawaguchi

For a taste of Japanese literature that is not Murakami, Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a wonderful novel to start with. It’s slightly magical that touches on life concepts, as many Japanese books do I find, and is a heart-warming read. The book explores the age-old question: what would you do if you could travel back in time?

A café in Tokyo has a special power. A special seat in the corner of the café has the ability to take customers back in time, as long as they turn…before the coffee gets cold. Cool, huh?

There are plenty of books that I read that have stayed with me but recently it is these four that are still alive in my mind. Next on my reading list are a few non-fiction books. One about women’s sex life, another about how the body stores trauma and one on how we gather and choose to spend our time. They are:

Come As You Are – Emily Nagoski

The Body Keeps the Score - Bessel van der Kolk

The Art of Gathering – Priya Parker

Currently reading: Oneness with All Life - Eckhart Tolle

Wishing you a very book-filled and story-infused new year! Happy holidays and happy reading.