new authors, bestsellers, and niche topics and can speak to them casually when they come up in conversation. I may need to read them in full to really know what they’re like, but I can get acquainted with them from these lists to know just enough. I sometimes lament the lack of time for reading when, in fact, what I truly lack is the discipline to put away my phone for fifteen minutes a day and pick up a book instead. I suppose it’s akin to swiping on dating profiles and scoping out the market without actually going on any dates.
Luckily, reading is far less frustrating and more fulfilling than dating. When I overcome the initial hurdle of starting a book, it’s hard for me to take my mind off it. I choose books using Goodreads, an app which provides reviews, reading lists, and genre suggestions while serving as a virtual bookshelf for my wish list. It works for me because as much as I enjoy the look of a good physical bookshelf to brag about how much I’m reading, I’m also a neat freak and wary of clutter.
Sitting down by myself with a
good book, a bowl of mushroom ramen, and a glass of wine is my idea of a perfect weekend night. I’ve been known to leave parties early to dive back into books waiting for me at home, and I bring a book along to gatherings in case there’s a long drive, a quiet moment, or some chaos I feel like escaping. My friends frequently call me out for doing this, but I jokingly tell them it’s my insurance policy in case I get bored of their company. It’s a wonder I still get invited to things.
This article wouldn’t be complete without a few of my top book recommendations. Here are some American and international stories, both fiction and non-fiction, which are well-written, poignant, and relevant to the air of exclusion permeating the US today. They serve as a reminder that things like this have happened before, they have consequences, and there is a way to revert to a more welcoming, inclusive, compassionate mindset.