One thing I’ve tried to do more of during the pandemic, and even more so in 2021, is read. The screen that’s dominated my non-work life, it’s fair to say, is my Kindle.
Not all the books I’ve read have been worth the time; I enjoy prose, I fall in love with language, stories told and images and experiences brought to life. In that way, no book is wasted on me. I find things to love about everything I read.
Winding my way through Fiction, Business, Motivational, Biographical, Graphic Novels has been fun thus far. (Bonus: I love “Kindle Insights” which gamifies my reading in the. most positive of ways, sharing streaks of consecutive weeks, days read, and even, progress toward my goal for books to be completed in 2021 — it has positively affected and given momentum to my reading).
After two otherwise forgettable attempts at Fiction this year, I landed on Less. I’ve wanted to read this for some time. I was looking for something light, funny, and generally just well received. A way to reduce the risk of reading in a way.
Maybe it’s because I’m in my mid-to-late 40s? Maybe it’s because I’m a struggling writer? Maybe it’s because of the nature of his travel experiences? Maybe it’s because I love winding, parallel stories and I really love when a story lives up to its expectations with how it closes, and when how a story closes satisfies its narrative.
Less. Did that. The characters, even when only appearing in a chapter, felt more dimensional than characters meant to power full books. And though you can fly through the book like a bucket of popcorn, there are clear, deliberate moments that catch you. That stop you. That make you think. And then, propel you forward.
Surprisingly so.
#iamgrateful and #iamthankful I chose Less. Perhaps it was just timely. With my stalled writing and with my middle aged manhood on display.
Or maybe, it was just a good book to read. As all its reviews and awards so indicate.
Any suggestions on what to read next?
Suneet Bhatt 