Books of the Month — January
If you’re a fan of my previous blog post about my book list for the year, then you’ll be thrilled to know that I’m following through with my pledge to keep you updated on my monthly reading progress. In fact, I’m excited to share that I’ve been on an incredible reading streak lately, devouring one book after another with voracious enthusiasm.
It’s been a little while since my last update, and I have to admit that this post has been sitting on my draft list for a while now. But, as they say, better late than never, right? So, without further ado, let’s dive into the books that have captured my attention and imagination in the past month.
January was the month that I read in my native language. I got those books during my short trip to Albania on the first day of the month. I had missed reading in Albanian. It had been almost two years that I read only in English and it had become a bit boring. I decided to start the year with a change — what’s better than your native language?
1. “Veronica Decides to Die” — Paolo Coelho
I started the beginning of the year with death — the irony! This novel is deeper than a simple death, it delves into the complexities of the human mind and the power of the human spirit. The story follows the journey of Veronica, a young woman who, feeling trapped and unable to find meaning in her life, decides to end her own life. However, her attempt is unsuccessful, and she finds herself in a mental institution where she begins to question her own existence and the purpose of her life.
The novel also touches on the importance of self-discovery and the role of fate in our lives. One of the most striking elements of the novel is Coelho’s use of symbolism and metaphor throughout the story. From the imagery of the mental institution as a prison to the recurring motifs of the rose and the white rabbit, Coelho uses these symbols to add depth and meaning to the story, making it a truly thought-provoking read. I’ve written a detailed book review from my perspective here.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
2. “Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy” — Sadhguru
“Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy” is a transformative and insightful book written by Sadhguru, an Indian yogi and mystic. I’ve been initially introduced to Sadhguru through his insightful videos and talks on youtube. I really like how he describes life and everything we are nowadays trying to make it more complex, in a simplified way. One of my favourite talks is “Tomorrow’s Most Important Technology”. In this book, Sadhguru presents a practical guide to achieving inner peace and happiness through a series of yogic practices.
The author begins by introducing the concept of yoga as a means to achieve harmony between the body, mind, and spirit. He argues that modern society has placed too much emphasis on the physical body, neglecting the inner dimensions of our being. According to Sadhguru, inner engineering is about developing the inner dimensions of our being, so that we can experience the fullness of life.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Overview
I didn’t dedicate as much time to reading books as much as I would love to. However, I’m in process of reading two more books parallelly which I haven’t finished yet; “Why we sleep?” and “101 Essays”. I’m hoping to increase the numbers of books I finish over the next months.
See you next moths for more updates!
