4172 : Reading List 2023 : #50 A day in the life of Abed Salama by Nathan Thrall

Easily one of the finest books that I have read in my life. Read and understand Palestine and weep a bit too.

At 248 pages brings my 2023 total to 12529 pages

4171 : Reading List 2023 : #49 The clot thickens by Malcolm Kendrick

A good book to understand your heart and its misunderstood diseases.

At 334 pages brings my 2023 total to 12281 pages.

4170 : Reading List 2023 : #48 Murder in the family by Cara Hunter

This book is unique, but honestly the plot did not make me drool at all.

The writing is neat though.

At 480 pages brings my 2023 total to 11947 pages.

4169 : Reading List 2023 : #47 Liver Better Life by Paul Gow

 A good book that summarizes why our Liver matters. Need I say more?

At 275 pages brings my 2023 total to 11447 pages.

4168 : Reading List 2023 : #46 The Energy of Prayer by Thich Nhat Hanh

Reading Thich Nhat Hanh is always a salve.

This was another soothing read. At 166 pages brings 2023 total to 11162 pages.

4167 : Reading List 2023 : #45 Working Backwards by Colin Byrar and Bill Carr

 A riveting book on how Amazon approaches everyday in a first principle manner.

At 298 pages brings my 2023 total to 10994 pages.

4166 : Reading List 2023 : #44 Savage Holiday by Richard Wright

This book is batshit crazy and hence once should read it. The anatomy of rage and passion laid out bare.

At 240 pages brings my 2023 total to 10696 pages.

4165 : Reading List 2023 : #43 48 laws of power by Robert Greene

I have always stayed away from this book. Finally did read it. Makes me more sceptical of the world around me.

Somehow felt like an anti-thesis to what I stand for. And yet, its a good read.

At 452 pages brings my 2023 total to 10456

4164 : Reading List 2023 : #42 The noise of Time by Julian Barnes

My 3rd or is it 4th reading of this book, and still came out feeling totally enthralled.

Its a masterclass in why good writing matters and how a book can provide so much joy.

At 224 pages brings my 2023 total to 10004 pages.

4163 : Reading List 2023 : #41 The year of magical thinking by Joan Didion

My 4th read of this book and it would never have been more rewarding.

At 62 pages brings my 2023 total to 9780

4162 : Reading List 2023 : #40 Desire by Haruki Murakami

 Another stellar book from Murakami. My second read.

At 128 pages brings my 2023 total to 9718 pages.

4161 : Reading List 2023 : #39 Death by Julian Barnes

My second read of this. What a gem of a little book.

At 128 pages brings my 2023 total to 9590 pages.

4160 : Reading List 2023 : #38 The Young Man by Annie Ernaux

Totally loved this work. This is how our stories must be told, and lives be lived.

At 64 pages brings my 2023 total to 9462 pages.

4159 : Reading 2023 : #37 Possession by Annie Ernaux

 Another brilliant one by one of fav authors.

At 62 pages brings my 2023 total to 9399 pages.

4158 : Reading List 2023 : #36 Simple Passion by Annie Ernaux

My third read of the book this year.

What more should I say?

Brings my 2023 reading total to 9327 pages

4157 : One by U2 and Mary J Blige

 I am a sucker for live versions and the live version by Mary Blige and U2 is a home run :-)

4156 : Final Piece

Watch them from afar. She walks out of the hospital. A slow trduge. She is young, possibly 30, nomore. The bald shining head signifies something akin to a chemo romance. She looks beautiful as only she could.

A blue car (Baleno) waiting on her. She gingerly opens the door. At this point, the simpler thing would have been to just climb in. Instead, she stands there, awed. She smiles beatifically. Akin to as if she has seen her new born baby for the first time. The pursed lips, the smile trapped in a cage too small to hide it.

He beams radiantly at her. He is possibly 30 too. The simpler thing for him, would be to climb out and help her in. That would be what a concerned lover/friend would do.

He instead holds out his hand. From where he is seated, that is from the drivers seat. She slowly locks her palm in. (I wish they would play Brahms Lullaby here!!) He kisses the top of her palm, as she bends to look at him. A good 5 seconds maybe. Then she smiles demurely, as if she were on her first date, and settles into the car. Both can't stop beaming.

The car ambles along. 

When her palm locked into his, I could not help but smile, too. I imagined in that moment, this to be the last piece of his jigsaw. Now in place. And elation of the coitus !!. Ah...we saved the world today.

4155 : Reading List 2023 : #35 Piercing by Ryu Murakami

If you have never read Ryu Murakami, you dont know what "weird" can mean.

And if "Piercing" is the first book of his you read, well, its going to be a ride.

Its surreal, violent, freakish and yet sucks you in, by the scruff of your neck.

Definitely a read. Go for it, just for its bizarreness.

At 192 pages brings my 2023 total to 9263 pages.

4154 : Flower

Demons are out. The inner storm croons in 3 octaves. The calm outside. The singe inside. 

On the worst of days you realise you are like a flower. Delicate in an unique way, and absolutely all alone.

4153 : Hell is freezing over

It's early evening. A middle-aged couple is parking the car. The lady gets out from the passenger side. The lady is around 40-45, middle-aged, slightly plump, wearing a dark shirt with floral prints and grey trousers/denims. Also sporting a mildly tinted pair of glasses. 

She hops off and walks a few metres away from the car, looking fondly at the car. The man is still parking parallel onto the curbside.

Eventually he is out too. He is wearing a orange-red polo t-shirt and khakis. He ejects gingerly. Middle-aged too. Slightly obese and out of shape. He hobbles towards the lady.

They both begin to walk towards my apartment complex. Walking - they both speak and gesticulate. About 8 inches initially separate their bodies (at this point). As they continue ahead, the distance reduces, where at a cinematic point, their hands brush with each other.

In the next moment, naturally without a word being said, his hands twine into her palms. They are still talking. 

No one in the world has possibly noticed. For them, this is their normal burn. In my hell, I heard a rumble and thaw.

4152 : When the world ends

Someone I know of, yet don't know at all. Someone in the apartment complex.

He drives into the parking on this bright morning. As he parks into the slot, he shuts off the ignition. Then he slowly deliberately, covers his face with both his palms. With more consideration, he rests his weary head on the steering wheel. He remains this way for a full 3 minutes. Eventually he lifts his head, his eyes bleary and torn. 

Opens the door, steadies the gait and walks towards the elevator.

4151 : Reading List 2023: #34 Notes on Grief by Chimamanda Adichie

My second read of this gem and equally moved me more than the first one.

This along with Joan Didion's "Year of Magical Thinking" make grief personal and breathable again.

At 80 pages brings my 2023 total to 9071 pages.

4150 : Reading List 2023: #33 The Anniverssary by Stephanie Bishop

What a stunning read! of a book.

I quite liked this as a work of fiction. Made me think and ponder on my own life.

A good book is that which seems personal.

Definitely a book to read again. Stephanie Bishop is a brilliant writer.

At 420 pages brings my 2023 total to 8991 pages.

4149 : Reading List 2023 : #32 Why we get sick by Benjamin Bikman

A brillaint book. I loved it.

Definitely a read.

At 280 pages brings my 2023 total pages to 8571 pages.

4148 : Reading List 2023 : #31 Super Gut by Dr. William Davis

A brilliant read. Gets boring at the end due to the recipies.

At 339 pages brings my 2023 total to 8291 pages.

4147 : Reading List 2023 : #30 The Microbiome Diet by Dr. Raphael Kellman

Nice good book to make you aware of your microbiome.

DefinitelyI would recommend a read to someone as novice as me.

At 352 pages brings my 2023 total to 7952 pages.

4146 : Reading List 2023 : #29 The Circadian Diabetes Code by Dr. Satchin Panda

For the past 6 weeks I have been eating my meals by 7pm most days. Why?

Read this book. Fascinating science.

At 270 pages brings my 2023 total to 7600 pages.

4145 : Reading List 2023 : #28: Shame by Annie Ernaux

Another masterclass from Miss Ernaux.

Not as good as Simple Passions, but worth a read all the same.

At 112 pages brings my 2023 total to 7330 pages

4144 : Reading List 2023 : #27 Simple Passions by Annie Ernaux

How many times have you read the same book in the same year in the span of a few months?

Well, I have. My second read of Annie Ernaux and I am just as enthralled.

Lets say, I found a piece of me in her.

At 64 pages brings my 2023 total to 7218 pages.

4143 : Reading List 2023 : #26 My seditious heart by Arundhati Roy

Adore Miss Roy and her writing. This book is such a disturbing read. Contains some of her older books in.

Read and become wary. A masterclass in writing.

at 984 pages brings my 2023 total to 7154 pages.

4142 : Reading List 2023 : #25 The case of exploding mangoes by Mohd Hanif

Such a joyful book on Pakistan. Makes one realise that we are all so fucked.

Also ridiculously tongue in cheek. Laugh aloud.

At 247 pages brings my 2023 total to 6170 pages.

4141 : Reading List 2023 : #24 When we cease to understand the world by Benjamin Labatut

Fuck Oppenhiemer. 

Read this instead. Easily the best read of 2023 for me.

You will probably read this again and then again and then again.

At 193 pages brings my 2023 to 5933 pages.

4140 : Reading List 2023 : #23 The Collini Case by Ferdinand Schirach Von

A small interesting read, supposedly on some real origins. 

Read.

At 209 pages brings my 2023 total to 5738.

4139 : Reading list 2023 : #22 Victory City by Salman Rushdie

Would I miss a Salman Rushdie book?

Laughed and happily read this crazy book.

At 359 pages brings my 2023 total to 5529 pages.

4138 : Reading list 2023 : #21 : Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

Such a fabolous read. Such lovely writing too.

Read it when you are struggling in life. 

At 347 pages brings my 2023 total to 5170 pages.

4137 : Reading List 2023 : #20 Anxious people by Fredrick Backman

Its a book that sucks you in. Its plot is weak, but it makes up with humor and humaneness.

Will definitely read this book again. Just for the calming effect it had on me.

At 400 pages brings my 2023 total to 4823 pages.

4136 : Reading list 2023 : #19 Jog On by Bella Mackie

Such a searing and beautiful read. I am in love with Bella.

Read this and realise that we are all human, all of us are frail.

At 289 pages brings my 2023 total to 4423 pages.

4135 : Reading List 2023 : #18 How to kill your family by Bella Mackie

I loved and laughed so much in this book. British humor coupled with a writer who brings her inner demons to the fore. This is totally brilliant and one of the best reads of this year for me.

At 312 pages brings my 2023 total to 4134 pages.

4134 : Reading List 2023 #17 : A line made by walking by Sara Baume

My 4th reading of this book. Need I say more?

Go for it.

At 312 pages brings my 2023 total to 3822 pages.

4133 : Reading List #16 Silence by Erling Kagge

My second read of this book. Always grounds me back again.

One of the keeps.

At 130 pages brings my 2023 reading total to 3510 pages

4132 : Reading List 2023 : #15 Free Will by Sam Harris

Sam Harris influences my thinking deeply. Enough said. My second read of this brilliant book. 

At 96 pages brings my 2023 total to 3380 pages.

4131 : Reading list 2023 : #14 My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russel

TW : Read this book with deep trepidation. It bothered me immensely and yet I found myself in it.

Made me think so much, I shut the book often and thought for hours on this.

This book made me obssess and mediate on some aspects of me. 

Phew!!

At 384 pages brings my 2023 reading total to 3284 pages.

4130 : Reading List 2023 : #13 Tomorrow in the battle think of me by Javier Marias

I took over 3 months to finish this book and yet loved every single line in the book. Read it to find aspects of yourself hidden in this book.

I wish I was in love with or friends with Javier and Annie (Ernaux).

At 320 pages this meditative book brings my 2023 total to 2900 pages.

4129 : Reading List 2023 : #12 In free fall by Mallika Sarabhai

This book is truly in free fall.

A totally shitty book, total waste of time. Self indulgent and made one of my heroes (she was one for me) fall like a whimper.

Avoid.

At 224 pages brings my 2023 total to 2580 pages.

4128 : Reading List 2023 : #11 Art Matters by Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman is an unusual horror writer, if that is indeed his genre. Its quirky and makes you think. This book is a non-fiction though and makes you contemplate life. Re-examine life from a perspective of love and art.

Make your kids read it.

At 112 pages brings my 2023 total to 2356 pages.

4127 : Reading List 2023 : #10 Blue nights by Joan Didion

Such a moving meditation on loss. A book like this teaches you to be aware of your own fraility and confront it.

Read it.

At 208 pages bring my 2023 total to 2244 pages.

4126 : Reading List #9 The year of magical thinking by Joan Didion

My second reading of this book and it moved me even more.

Grief has to invents its own langugage. I am totally in love with Joan Didion.

At 240 pages brings my 2023 total to 2036 pages.

4125 : Reading List 2023 : #8 Smarter not harder by Dave Asprey

A fun book. Slightly biased. I have been struggling with my health (both physical and mental) and this book helped me immensely.

This book is very far right :-) in terms of food. But still read it.

At 320 pages brings my 2023 total to 1796 pages.

4124 : Reading List 2023 : #7 Ultraprocessed People by Chris Tulleken

A totally brilliant read. Changed the way I see my everyday food.

Read this and change your relationship with food. Reminds of the Michael Pollan book - In Defence of Plants.

At 335 pages brings my 2023 total to 1476 pages.

4123 : Reading List 2023 : #6 : The Whale by Samuel Hunter

This is one of the rare books, that I read post watching this movie. I rarely watch movies and this movie was on my watch list for long.

This book was like poetry. Especially having watched it first.

Definitely a read.

At 90 pages its a treasure. Brings my 2023 total to 1141 pages.

4122 : Reading List 2023 : #5 Simple Passions by Annie Ernaux

This has to be one of my most stunning reads in recent years. Plain, simple and searing. Ironically, I was writing something similar (told in a woman's voice too).

Stunning, simple and makes you deeply meditate.

At 64 pages brings my 2023 reading total to 1051 pages.

In love with Miss Ernaux