I like to keep track of the books I want to read on an Excel spreadsheet. This way, I can stay focused. So far, it has been working. I have been reading more. However, I didn’t enjoy checking off a book once I finished reading it. I started to feel like I was on a reading conquest. It was as if I were turning into a dark soul, losing sight of why I was reading. Was I trying to become the Scholar of the First Sin? So, this year I won’t abandon my list, but I will only refer to it when I need a reminder. It helps take off a huge mental load. Also, having books nearby and visible encourage me to pick up a book instead of my phone. Keeping up with current news can be tiring. Everything is just bad news.
I found more solace in books than in following the news, hoping that things would turn out for the better. Mass employment in the headlines? Europe potentially going to war because of Greenland? The price of groceries skyrocketing. Not a good sign. Anyway, I realized if the world is going to burn, I am just going to read books to stay sane. The books/manga I am currently reading are:
| The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas |
| Dune by Frank Herbert |
| Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet |
| Grimm’s Fairy Tales Volume III |
| Monster Volume IV by Naoki Urasawa |
Here are some of the books I would love to read this year. Some books I have had for a while.
| My Antonia by Willa Cather |
| The Time Machine by H.G. Wells |
| The Sea Wolf by Jack London |
| The Call of the Wild by Jackon London |
| Les Misérables by Victor Hugo |
| Coriolanus by Shakespeare |
Gaming
As for games, I went back to Demon’s Souls (Ps3). It is probably the only game I will play for the entire year. It’s a peaceful, difficult game. What can I say? I am a slow gamer. Plus, I got to make time for others things too such as gathering healthy recipes. Although sometimes it feels like work.
Final Thoughts
I hope you will find some solitary moments away from this chaotic world. It’s hard to escape to video games these days when real world events feel like a circus show. I guess everyone is a star in this crazy reality T.V show.
Note: Featured image is AI generated. I am impressed that it captured the right mood for this post. The funny thing it looks like she is wearing my old reading glasses. It’s broken now.
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