Red Queen
by Victoria Aveyard
I’m a big sucker for medieval fantasy (I say it all the time). A very good friend of mine gave me this book. I’d recommend this to anyone new to the genre. You've got your two classes of people living together in the world. The red blooded and the silver blooded. Those who carry the silver blood, are nobles and officials whereas the reds are a minority often persecuted and enslaved. (The silvers possess supernatural abilities and reds don't). Though it’s a bit of a long read, and it's advertised for teens, it’s very enjoyable.
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Atomic Habits
by James Clear
Truly an underrated book. Funny enough, it’s also overrated for a lot of people since it’s one of the big names in the self-help community. I’ve heard some readers say it wasn’t helpful at all, just a nothing burger. I disagree (aggressively).
One of the core messages in the book is about identity: ‘You are what you do.’ In other words, if you’re unhealthy, it’s because you’re living the life of an unhealthy person (with unhealthy habits). If you want to be healthy, you don’t chase after ‘becoming’ healthy, you focus on living the life of a healthy person instead. It’s less about forcing change and more about rewiring your sense of self to become the version of you that you actually want to be.
‘And I knew if things were going to improve, I was the one responsible for making it happen.’
Louis Braille: The Boy Who Invented Books for the Blind
by Margaret Davidson
This was one of the first books I ever read on my own initiative. I was in boarding school during my pre-teen years, with very little entertainment available (duh), and I stumbled upon this book. I remember finding it both interesting and pleasant, especially seeing how Louis progressed in life. I suppose it was written as a children’s book.
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The Alchemist
by Paulo Coelho
Incredibly pleasant. I read this during my teen years and it was one of my favorite novels. The story is slow paced yet progresses with an intensity. A book carrying many lessons and one of them stuck with me the most; fear of failure is what stops us most of the time from persuing our goals. Fear is an obstacle that must be avoided. Not a quote from the book but definitely worth mentioning "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take".
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The Da Vinci Code
by Dan Brown
It was a very big read. Honestly? Just watch the movie. It took me several months to finish this as I would keep avoiding it. 400 pages or so, and then it hits you that all the events within the book take place over the course of a couple of days. Too much unnecessary French and way too descriptive. It was still an interesting book regardless. Very thrilling.
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Deep Work
by Cal Newport
It brings out the idea of focused, undistracted work in a world full of noise. The core message is simple: cut out distractions, spend more time in deep focus, and the quality of your output will skyrocket. Some would call it ‘being in the zone.’ The more you practice tapping into that level of hyperfocus, the easier it becomes to focus deeply whenever you want.
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The Last Wish | The Witcher
by Andrzej Sapkowski
I first started off by playing The Witcher 3. I later learned that the games are a continuation of the eight books released in the ’90s.
The Last Wish is a collection of short stories about the Witcher before the start of the main plot. Chronologically, you’re supposed to start with book 8, then 7, and then 1 through 6.
I strongly suggest staying away from the Netflix series. It’s a disgrace.
Sword of Destiny | The Witcher
by Andrzej Sapkowski
A great read. I especially loved the introduction of Ciri and the way her bond with Geralt begins to take shape. There’s this kind of innate care they have for each other right from the start, and it feels genuine. Could already tell how important their relationship is going to be later on. (Definitely did not get spoiled by the games)
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Blood of Elves | The Witcher
by Andrzej Sapkowski
Blood of Elves felt a lot more political compared to the earlier books, and at times it was honestly difficult to follow through. But even with that, I fell in love with the world and its atmosphere more than the characters themselves.
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Time of Contempt | The Witcher
by Andrzej Sapkowski
I think this is where the main story started to spiral out of control? More political than I thought but the intensity is insane. I'm also seeing a lot of recognizable characters from the game. It's amusing cuz what I'm reading takes place in the past, and the events in the game take place in the future. So in a way I'm looking into their history. Fun read.
Baptism of Fire | The Witcher
by Andrzej Sapkowski
This was honestly the coziest of the Witcher books so far. I freaking loved the adventure running through the entire book. I love Regis. His introduction, the way he met the group and the way he speaks. Bro is the definition of calm eloquence. And I really liked how Geralt isn’t written as just a moody, stoic figure here. People poke fun at him, challenge him, and remind him that it’s okay to lean on the ones who’ve got his back. Very warm.
Tower of Swallow | The Witcher
by Andrzej Sapkowski
I HATE the Rats. I mean clearly they were a bad influence for Ciri. Definitely a big shift in her arc, she goes down a darker, more reckless path. But aaahh having played the games. I know this is where Ciri disappears. Man, Geralt wasted all that time looking for her and now she's not even gonna be there. I haven't read the next book yet so I have no clue what's gonna happen. Ah also that elf, Avallac'h, he was here too. Didn't expect that.