I love when my favorite writers and thinkers list the books they are reading, so I might do an occasional such post of my own.
I always have about ten books going at the same time, which I do not recommend, but somehow works for my brain. I like to have a book for any mood or time of day; usually this includes some fiction, some non-fiction, something deep, something light, something in English, and something in Spanish. (Reading in two languages definitely makes the list longer.)
Here are a few I have at the moment.
Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
My intro to Brené was her video on empathy from a Ted Talk, which I watched during training for the crisis call line. Since then, I would come across her quotes or seen hints her influence online, and I knew she was someone whose books I should read, someone who thinks deeply and works courageously for change.
Dare to Lead is my first of her books and it did not disappoint. The book is basically a training on how to be a leader and work in a healthy, effective, and impactful way with those you supervise. It centers around the work environment, but it is still great for anyone who wants to have better relationship skills.
Honestly, I had thought I was pretty skilled in empathy and communication after my previous jobs and relationship experience, but this book has shown me that I still need to grow substantially in this area. Continued growth is actually one point she makes in the book: you never become perfect at empathy and tough conversations, but you can always develop and improve throughout your life.
El Amante Japonés by Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende is a highly acclaimed Peruvian American author and I’m excited to finally read one of her books. This is one I am reading in Spanish.
El Amante Japonés (“The Japanese Lover” in English) is, according to the cover, an epic tale that spans generations. It begins in a facility for the elderly and we meet a particular resident there who has a love story she has kept secret for many years. I’m getting “The Notebook” vibes. Her maid and grandson set about to discover the details.
It’s been a while since I’ve taken up a book that requires me to really sink into the story, through rich detail and skilled but unhurried storytelling, and I’m savoring the experience. Allende gives beautiful descriptions, with insightful nuggets sprinkled throughout.
Since she has a robust vocabulary, it’s also giving me the chance to learn more words in Spanish. There are quite a few I don’t know, but I can gather the meaning from the context.
I’m reading the book out loud so I can practice speaking as well; I want my sentences to flow more easily. I can get through three or four pages before my tongue begins to feel tangled in knots and wants to rebel. I’m sure if someone were watching, it would be funny to see me look up from the book, take a big breath as if I’d been jogging, and shake my head a few times like I’m trying to reorder it - which I am.
Love Life by Matthew Hussey
Anyone who knows me well knows that I have been a devoted part of Matthew Hussey’s community and follower of his advice for the last several years. He is a widely-known dating and relationship coach from the UK. (I got to see him speak at a live event when I lived in LA and it was awesome!)
Love Life came out in April of this year and is deeper and more thoughtful than his other work to date. It goes beyond our love lives and into questions of core confidence and motivation in life.
Actually, I feel like Matthew Hussey is a kindred spirit thinker. Some of what he is exploring in this book is exactly what I have just been processing. It’s remarkable to see that someone else has been where I am (recently as well) and come to a lot of the same conclusions.
One thing he talks about is the way you choose to live and be “happy enough” right now, even if the things you want never happen. He uses the exact same words as I did in my last post: thankfulness, motivation, curiosity, and agency. He goes into more detail and the way he explains these ideas is really powerful.
The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes
This one is a psychological thriller. I am more than halfway through, but I’ve taken a pause with this book because every time I read it, I end up feeling foggy in my head. Which is exactly what the main character is going through and shows that the book is well written! But lately I have wanted a clear head. I need to decide to either go ahead and finish it or just return it to the library.
The book has an intriguing premise - a man has supposedly murdered multiple women but there is no apparent evidence or motive. One woman is convinced that he is guilty and sets about to find out the truth on her own, since no one else sees the connections.
Even though I’ve had to take a pause, I can say that Ana Reyes is a great storyteller. Her prose is gripping, crisp, and evocative, carrying you effortlessly into the moment with the main character. I am curious to know how it ends.
I will say that I did make the mistake, once, of recommending a fiction thriller book before finishing it, and that did not turn out well for my coworker Jennifer. The book was depressing and awful. So I will add that disclaimer.