What I’m Reading Lately

Posted April 5, 2018 by ShanTil Yell

I haven’t put together a proper book list in quite some time, and I figure this is one of the best places to post such a thing. I’ll tell you a little bit about some of the books I’ve read so far this year…I’m about halfway to my goal of 30, which is exciting…, what I’m in the middle of, and what’s waiting for me!

Stalking God by Anjali Kumar- I just finished this one a couple of days ago, so it’s still pretty present with me. I came across Kumar in a TED talk she gave that about made my heart burst, and when I found out that she wrote about her experiences in greater detail in this book, I had to get my hands on it. Kumar’s journey, self-described as unorthodox, is full of ups and downs and fascinating turns as she hunts for big answers about the meaning of life and a spiritual home for her young daughter. I applaud her for her bravery and for sharing her beautiful insights about what bonds us together in our shared human experience.

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert- This has easily become one of my favorite books about creativity and living a creative life. Ever. I really like Liz Gilbert, and her insights here are fresh, light, and inspiring. It’s a quick and easy read, and I found myself going back through and taking notes once I was done because there was so much I loved and didn’t want to forget.

This is one of my favorite quotes: “Creativity is sacred, and it is not sacred. What we make matters enormously, and it doesn’t matter at all. We toil alone, and we are accompanied by spirits. We are terrified, and we are brave. Art is a crushing chore and a wonderful privilege. Only when we are at our most playful can divinity finally get serious with us. Make space for all these paradoxes to be equally true inside your soul, and I promise–you can make anything.”

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman- Okay, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but this is the first book I’ve ready by Gaiman! It’s like I’ve been admiring him from a distance for years, so it was about time I picked up one of his works. I’m about halfway through, but so far I think this is a great collection of tales about the Norse pantheon. I genuinely laugh out loud at any interaction between Loki and Thor, who also happen to be favorites of mine in the Marvel universe. I’m excited to finish the rest, and I’ve already got my eye on two other Gaiman novels, American Gods and Coraline.

The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison- I discovered this collection of essays after following some bread crumbs on the Internet via another book list! It received a fair number of accolades upon its release in 2014, and I was intrigued by the questions Jamison asked on the back cover, as I’ve asked them myself on more than one occasion: How should we care about one another? How can we feel another person’s pain? I’m certainly curious to see what answers she found.

I could go on, but I’m sure this will suffice. I’m looking forward to the weather warming up enough so I can actually take one of these books, grab a spot on a bench outside, and sip on some iced tea while soaking up the sun. It’s a nice daydream. Maybe once the semester’s over and spring FINALLY decides to show up… 🙂