In the last weeks, I have managed a more balanced way of living my daily life. Usually, I tend to focus on one thing and then one thing only. This results in neglecting the rest of the things I want to do. April until the end of May were low-reading months. I focused on eating better, working out a lot and getting more structure in my life. Now that this is, partially, implemented and in place, I took July to focus on my true passion: books. And somehow I ended up with 12 books that I finished this month. I have never ever read that much and will probably not read that many books in the near future, so sit down, get a good cup of coffee or tea, some cookies and find out which books I really liked this month and which I will probably forget within the year.
Book-highlights of July
The Forest of Wool and Steel by Matsu Miyashita
I received this book as a present from my boyfriend and it was such a perfect gift. This Japanese novel tells the story of Tomuta, who grows up in the mountains. His life is changed fundamentally when he witnesses a piano tuner perform his job at Tomuta’s school. The student decides to become a piano tuner. We follow him through struggles and first successes. This book is beautifully written. The characters are delicate, soft and unique. Miyashita manages to create a somewhat mystique but yet familiar atmosphere without using stereotypes. I enjoyed a lot how little you know about the protagonists in terms of age and looks, but how well you get to know them through their thoughts, behaviour and speech.
What I talk about when I talk about running by Haruki Murakami
Murakami is one of my favourite authors, and I gave this book to my boyfriend last year in his Advent-Calendar because he is a runner. It was his first Murakami book (but not his last hehe) and hearing him talk about it made me want to read it as well. I have no connection to running, however, this book is so much more. We get to know the famous author on a different level. He explains why running is essential for him and how it helps him be a better writer. I feel like I know Murakami better now and I got the impression that he is a very humble, kind person. That just makes me want to read his books even more.
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
I read this book for one of my book clubs and I think it was the perfect time for me to read it. Conrad managed to create a very intense, exciting atmosphere while not adding a lot of action to the story. I enjoy good symbols in novels, even if they might be a bit obvious as they are in this book. The river Thames and the Congo both symbolising the differences between the “worlds” and how culture is seen by the “other”. Many have claimed that the book is just about a man rambling about his time on a boat and I think this does not do it justice. It is a document of the thinking of Conrad’s time and gives us a deep insight into the racism and prejudices of the end of the 19th, beginning of the 20th century.
Books I learned from
Of course, I also learned from the other ones, but these books helped me with a problem or question I had recently.
Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy
This book is a collection of 21 tools/principles that help you organise your (work) day better and more efficiently. I have just finished it this weekend and have started to use two of suggestions yesterday and could already feel a difference. I plan to test them for longer and write a full review of them here in a couple of weeks.
Laufen by Jean Echenoz
I had never heard about the Czech runner Emil Zátopek. Echenoz tells a fictional portrait of the wonder-runner who shook the world after the Second World War. The book made me want to learn more about Zátopek and in general about athletes who have to face repercussions from their or other countries.
Creative Confidence by Tom and David Kelley
The two brothers wanted to write a book to share their passion for creative confidence. Creative confidence is your own belief in your abilities to change the world around you for the better. I felt that the book focuses a lot on managers, inventors and less on smaller, independent artists. However, I learned that it is essential to overcome your fear of showing your work to others. I tend to plan and plan and work something out in great detail before showing it to others. After reading this book, my goals have shifted and I want to show the rototype of my new project within the next 2 months.
Other books I have enjoyed
Normal people by Sally Rooney
The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli
Inflight Science by Brian Clegg
So you want to publish a magazine? by Angharad Lewis
Books I did not fully enjoy
Girl, interrupted by Susanna Kaysen
Emotional Intelligence: Happiness published by Harvard Business Review
Which books have you read this month? What was your highlight?