Books I read in Q1 2023

Hello there! Long time no reading update, but it was all planned! For 2023 I decided to switch from a monthly reading update to a quarterly reading update – so here it is, what I read in the first three months of this year.

Before going into the books, I’d like to share that I’m aiming to be more active on Instagram – @readershightea – see you there! ☀️

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The Sentence by Louise Erdrich

I already published the review of The Sentence – read my review for more details. Tookie, a passionate bookseller, is faced with a weird situation – one of her customers dies and refuses to leave the bookstore, being quite naughty. Now that’s a problem to solve …

The Sentence is also about family, communities, and heritage. On top of that, it encompasses challenging times that happened for real, such as the Covid-19 lockdown period and some dark events from Minnesota’s 2019-2020. Read it, it’s worth the hype 😉

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka

The review of The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida is also published on my blog – read my review for more details. Maali, war photographer and gambler, is caught between life and death in a kind of celestial visa office. He has 7 moons (or nights) to clear his unsolved business on Earth.

The story is quite politics-heavy, filled with details of Sri Lanka’s civil wars and power plays. While I was curious to learn a bit about the country’s history, it was too much for me. However, I am sure this is a great match for readers with interest in politics and civil wars.

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Aué by Becky Manawatu

I bought this book from New Zealand, as I wanted to read a book written by a local author. Aué tells the story of 2 brothers who lost their parents and are learning how to deal with the new reality, while being taken care of by other members of the family.

The stories of the 2 brothers are interwoven with flashbacks from the stories of their parents, bringing together a family saga with focus on New Zealand’s culture. I recommend reading this book, it is a bit sad, but I enjoyed the story overall.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Evelyn, a 79-years-old fictional Hollywood actress, is ready to tell her side of the story. What the public knows is a scandalous and glamorous life, the seven men she married, but Evelyn’s life was much more than that. And Monique, a young journalist, is the one chosen by Evelyn to be the receiver of her truth.

The books is super super captivating, a great read on the beach or during a holiday. It is super well written, with many plot twists and witty touches. Definitely a must read! Check out my review for more details about the story!

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The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey

I also read quite a lot of non-fiction, and I started with The Inner Game of Tennis. This book focuses on learning and self-observation, and all the concepts can be applied in tennis but not only! I don’t play tennis, and still found it super useful 😉

In a nutshell, Gallwey says that ‘every game is composed of two parts, an outer game and an inner game‘. The outer game is played against opponents, while the inner game is the battle within ourselves as we try and overcome self-doubt and anxiety.

Creatures of a Day and Other Tales of Psychotherapy by Irvin Yalom

Creatures of a Day is a collection of short stories inspired by the patients of renown psychiatrist Irvin Yalom. Some are funny, some are more sad … but all revolve around the theme of a meaningful life and its inevitable end.

For me it was super interesting to read the insights of Yalom, his reflections on his own behaviour and challenges. And most of all, how even after tens of years of practice, he was still sometimes unsure how to approach a certain patient. We learn as long as we live 🙂

Wild Power by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer

Next I read a book targeted mostly towards women – about the menstrual cycle and the natural rhythm of the feminine body. Not sure how it’s in your culture, but from my experience, menstrual cycle used to be such a taboo topic … and when you think it impacts half of the population!

If you are interested in getting a more spiritual point of view on the menstrual cycle, about the energy cycle and how to work with the Inner Seasons to gain insights into your overall wellbeing, check out Wild Power!

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If you would like to buy books or other (non)bookish things, please consider using one of these links: Amazon | Waterstones | Carturesti. Thank you!

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What books made you happy recently?

I’d love to get some inspiration for what to read next, as I feel I’m having difficulties to find (non-fiction) books that make me enthusiastic to read.

‘Till next time .. happy reading!

Georgiana