book worm: quarter one

1. Second Nature: A Gardener's Education by Michael Pollan

2. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut

3. Bossypants by Tina Fey

4. Either/Or by Elif Batuman

5. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

6. Madonna in a Fur Coat by Sabahattin Ali

7. In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

8. The Overstory by Richard Powers

9. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Amazing how we are already a quarter of the way through the year. I still have to think intentionally about writing 2026 and not 2025. Should I be worried that I averaged almost three books a month last quarter, and now I am barely half way through my first book of this quarter (and month)? NO! Seasons of life people. Being home has been a whirlwind, and my nightly routine of reading before bed has been hard to find time for. Regardless, I am excited to delve into reading more soon. Last night, I took stock of all the books in my personal library I have not yet found the time to read. I want to prioritize getting through those books before buying any new ones. Alas, here are my top three for last quarter:

In third place, I have Madonna in a Fur Coat. This book deals with existentialism beautifully. It is short and yet has stuck with me the past few months. I can't help but think back to the book. It was a book entirely built on feelings. What has lingered, is therefore a feeling, rather than any one moment. I don't even remember the character names. Would recommend, but warning, it will make you feel dark and brooding and existential.

In second place, In the Dream House. I am overly biased towards memoirs. This one was one of the more uniquely told that I have read. She may not have as interesting or triumphant of a life that one expects with "famous" memoirs, like that of Viola Davis, etc. But she has a story, and she tells it immensely well. I loved her sociopolitical commentary on the queer experience, and her critique of queer identity reflected in art. I felt very seen in many lines. Something about a memoir is almost easier for me to fall into.

The best book of the year (SO FAR), is The Overstory! This book was on my list for a while. I even started it once and didn't finish it. I am so glad I circled back to it. It is so so good. I love reading about nature, and this was a story about human connection interwoven through trees. Something I immensely enjoyed was the different characters' lives intersecting and evolving together. You really got to know the characters as their stories developed over decades. I cannot recommend this enough. I am excited to see if any book can top this the rest of the year.

Happy Reading Friends <3