Every so often, I just need to get away. I need to get away from work, from responsibilities and chores, from life. Since I am single and have no one to take care of except myself, I can scratch my wanderlust itch frequently. When a Friday afternoon class was cancelled, I checked out the availability at my favorite hotel and discovered that I had earned enough points to cover a two-night stay. So I packed a small bag, grabbed my books, and hit the road. It was wonderful to get away for a few days and to relish a slower pace for just a little while. It also meant that I was able to finish both of my current reads.
What I Finished Reading This Week
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. Sometimes, you just need a good thriller to get your blood pumping. I could not put this book down this week! Here’s the premise — a woman murdered her husband by shooting him five times in the face. After the police arrive, she is unable (or unwilling?) to speak. Several years later, she is institutionalized and encounters a young psychotherapist who is interested in her case, her poignant artwork, and wishes to rescue her from her silence. Michaelides explores the role of therapy, the power of words, and the question of madness with real intensity and thoughtfulness. I’ve already begun to look at other works by this exciting author. 4.75 stars.
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green. I decided to read a non-fiction work this week that was recommended by several friends. In my mind, tuberculosis was a disease of the past that was completely eradicated from modern society. Sadly, I was mistaken! This short audiobook was a fascinating look at the history of the disease and why it continues to ravage large portions of Africa and southeast Asia. Green calls out greedy pharmaceutical companies for their price gouging and calls the reader to be aware of the problems while becoming vocal advocates for those who are unable to advocate for themselves. In our world, there is no reason that millions of people die each year from a disease that we CAN defeat and cure — if we choose to be ruled by compassionate hearts and not our greedy wallets. 3 stars.
What I’m Currently Reading
Babel by R. F. Kuang (p. 24 of 542). Fantasy is not one of my favorite genres. For this year’s reading challenge, one of the prompts is a stand-alone fantasy novel. Since I knew this prompt would be a struggle for me, I sought advice from booksellers early on. After a short conversation, the two young readers led me to this book. The description sounded interesting and their enthusiasm was infectious, so I took the book and headed to the register. While walking to the front of the store, I encountered three other readers who told me that I was going to love this book. I normally don’t give recommendations from total strangers too much weight, but these seemed to land a little differently. I’ve decided this is the week to tackle the fantasy novel. The first few pages tell of a young boy in China who is the only member of his family to survive a brutal plague thanks to the magical healing power of an enchanted silver bar. The boy has amazing abilities with languages. He is “adopted” by Professor Lovell, a professor from Oxford’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation – also known as Babel. So far, this is reading like historical fiction with a definite academic slant — and that tends to be a good recipe for me. I’m hopeful that this will be a good experience….but it may still be a little too early to celebrate just yet. I still have a lot of reading to do first.
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