Volume 15 🌻
I am a very very very late bloomer in every regard. I add an extra 5 years to all conventional milestones. Everything I figured out in my life has been after most of my friends aced it. That's probably why I have never been able to read YA fiction without some discomfort jealousy. Characters in YA novels, even the less thrilling ones, seem to do things I barely figured out then. I could write a few essays about being the last one to the table but I'll stick to one habit for this month - reading. Â
Treat your reading list like your TV show/movie list. What do you feel like reading at the moment? Delight yourself. Pamper yourself. Do you want your brain to be tickled into something complex or do you want to sit back and be taken on a journey? Do you want something inspiring or educational? You can have it all.
Okay you're reading a few books but you want to read more. What to do next?
I often get asked how I manage to read as much as I do. Unlike a lot of voracious readers I know, I did not read a lot as a child or as a teen. I started taking reading seriously in my 20's. I grew up in a house with a lot of books. Reading was always encouraged. My older sister gravitated to reading as I did to art. I loved comics and any books with illustrations and pictures. Things didn't shape up well for me in 2016 and I hoped reading would give me the support I needed. That's how it all started. It gave me the soothing I needed and much more. It allowed me to conjure other worlds when I felt hopelessly stuck in mine. It reminded me of the impermanence of hardships and that I will be okay at the end of it all. Now, I read for pleasure.
This month, I want to share useful ways to incorporate reading into your life. You could be new to reading regularly or someone who's in a reading rut because of the pandemic. You can try one or more at a time and see what works for you.
>>Â Read what you want in your life.
What do you want in your life right now? Are you craving travel and excitement? Do you want to sit back and read a comforting romance? Or be thrown into a world of fantasy? Read what you feel your life is missing right now. I read the Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov at the start of 2016.
>> AÂ corollary :
If you can't tolerate reading something you don't have because the FOMO is too intense, read a slice-of-life book which centers around ordinary happenings written beautifully. A book like the Idiot by Elif Batuman is quite light.
This month, I want to share useful ways to incorporate reading into your life. You could be new to reading regularly or someone who's in a reading rut because of the pandemic. You can try one or more at a time and see what works for you.
>>Â Read what you want in your life.
What do you want in your life right now? Are you craving travel and excitement? Do you want to sit back and read a comforting romance? Or be thrown into a world of fantasy? Read what you feel your life is missing right now. I read the Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov at the start of 2016.
>> AÂ corollary :
If you can't tolerate reading something you don't have because the FOMO is too intense, read a slice-of-life book which centers around ordinary happenings written beautifully. A book like the Idiot by Elif Batuman is quite light.
>> Read a genre you love to watch (This one is tricky)Â
This doesn't always work for me but you can try it. Do you love thrillers? Read one. For most genres, this shouldn't be an issue. Read anything by Neil Gaiman if you enjoy fantasy.
>> Don't start with the classics.Â
I jumped deep into classics when I was 15 because I had major book FOMO. I was a weird kid. I gobbled Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, L M Montgomery, and regrettably Ayn Rand. That phase ended as quickly as it began. Add classics in slowly. If you insist on beginning with the classics I'd recommend Little Women or Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Jumping straight to Tolstoy probably isn't the best idea if you're in a reading rut.
>> If you don't like it, ditch it. Don't even think twice.Â
Forcing yourself to get through a book when you haven't built a habit of reading is counterproductive. It isn't an assignment! If it isn't delighting you, let it go.Â
>> Cheat on your schedule with a book (Optional)
When you aren't used to setting time apart for reading yet, try to sneak in a few minutes to read. You'll be surprised how many pockets of time you'll find to fill with reading.
>> Audiobooks and Kindles
I'm not that fussy. I'm okay with e-books. I don't have the space for hundreds of new books every year. Try it. Some people prefer audiobooks. Personally, I don't like audiobooks as much. See what fits for you. Play with formats.
This doesn't always work for me but you can try it. Do you love thrillers? Read one. For most genres, this shouldn't be an issue. Read anything by Neil Gaiman if you enjoy fantasy.
>> Don't start with the classics.Â
I jumped deep into classics when I was 15 because I had major book FOMO. I was a weird kid. I gobbled Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, L M Montgomery, and regrettably Ayn Rand. That phase ended as quickly as it began. Add classics in slowly. If you insist on beginning with the classics I'd recommend Little Women or Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Jumping straight to Tolstoy probably isn't the best idea if you're in a reading rut.
>> If you don't like it, ditch it. Don't even think twice.Â
Forcing yourself to get through a book when you haven't built a habit of reading is counterproductive. It isn't an assignment! If it isn't delighting you, let it go.Â
>> Cheat on your schedule with a book (Optional)
When you aren't used to setting time apart for reading yet, try to sneak in a few minutes to read. You'll be surprised how many pockets of time you'll find to fill with reading.
>> Audiobooks and Kindles
I'm not that fussy. I'm okay with e-books. I don't have the space for hundreds of new books every year. Try it. Some people prefer audiobooks. Personally, I don't like audiobooks as much. See what fits for you. Play with formats.
Treat your reading list like your TV show/movie list. What do you feel like reading at the moment? Delight yourself. Pamper yourself. Do you want your brain to be tickled into something complex or do you want to sit back and be taken on a journey? Do you want something inspiring or educational? You can have it all.
Okay you're reading a few books but you want to read more. What to do next?
Get a Goodreads account! Not only do you get to set yearly reading goals but also get a ton of exciting recommendations.
You're reading a lot but you need variety. What to do next?
Follow people on Goodreads/ Instagram/ Twitter/ Facebook who read genres that you ordinarily don't. I have found gold by picking up recommendations from Goodreads, podcasts or Instagram stories. A lot of platforms online offer free/ affordable ebooks. If you hate ebooks, do a book swap with your neighbour.
You're reading a lot but you need variety. What to do next?
Follow people on Goodreads/ Instagram/ Twitter/ Facebook who read genres that you ordinarily don't. I have found gold by picking up recommendations from Goodreads, podcasts or Instagram stories. A lot of platforms online offer free/ affordable ebooks. If you hate ebooks, do a book swap with your neighbour.
Your reading list is exciting, but you want to gush about how beautiful a sentence was or how that plot blew your mind. You are madly in love, people think you're crazy. What to do next?
Please send me an email or a text! I am down for discussing the minutiae about books. Find people who love it as much as you do.
I hope this helps. Start small. Reading is the most rewarding and enjoyable habit you can have. It should never feel like a chore. If reading isn't for you, that's okay too.
Here are this month's recommendations -
BOOKS
The Far Field by Madhuri Vijay - I LOVED this book. It took my breath away. The writing was bold and compelling. Madhuri Vijay's debut takes you from Bangalore to Kashmir. The protagonist, Shalini, a privileged young woman from Bangalore, sets off to rural Kashmir to find her mother's friend in the wake of her death. Shalini gets entangled in the politics of Kashmir, where the presence of militants and the army is a part of people's daily lives. This book is heartbreaking but so beautiful. Definitely recommend this.
Mini throwback to books I love that I found by chance -
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker - Amanda Palmer recommended this in a podcast interview sometime last year. I picked it up on a whim and it has changed the way I look at sleep and how I look at health and wellness.
​Just Kids by Patti Smith - This is my favourite book. I love Patti deeply. I found this on a listicle for books young artists should read.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara - One of the most profoundly moving and heart shattering books I have EVER read. I discovered it on someone's Instagram story.
PODCASTS
ARTICLES
The British Museum is full of Stolen Artifacts. This is difficult to watch. British colonizers were asshats of the highest order. What are your thoughts on cultural and historical artifacts?
The Big Green Lie - "If you’re worried about overpopulation threatening the environment, then you’re blind to the real menace: It’s not the growing number of “have nots” in the South, but growing overconsumption by the “haves” in the North."
Brain Pickings -Â
COOL THINGS
Arc.hv's digital exhibition called Virtual Gods - check this out! It is a visual party on your screen! Check it out before 31st August.
The Window Swap project - Teleport to someone else's house across the world without leaving your seat!
The vibrant art of Gail Swanlund.
Polluted Water Popsicles! - You heard it right. Popsicles made of sewage!Â
The Black Music History Library.
I hope you're all doing okay mentally, physically and emotionally. These are tough times, take care of yourself! choose the media you consume consciously, protect and nurture your mind. I hope you have the most fulfilling month ahead. Stay safe, stay hydrated, eat healthy and hate other people less.
Warmly,
Sachi
#AugustMood
Â
Please send me an email or a text! I am down for discussing the minutiae about books. Find people who love it as much as you do.
I hope this helps. Start small. Reading is the most rewarding and enjoyable habit you can have. It should never feel like a chore. If reading isn't for you, that's okay too.
Here are this month's recommendations -
BOOKS
The Language of Cities by Deyan Sudjic - This book is incredibly vast in its scope and a great joy to read. Sudjic sweeps across the globe, from London to Lagos to Shanghai. He takes us through the metamorphosis in Istanbul, Moscow and Beijing with new governments as a result of their political agendas. He deftly weaves ideas of good governance from 14th century Siena to Walt Disney’s idea of the ideal city. While this book doesn't make a larger argument about cities, it does present excellent reasons for loving them.
The Far Field by Madhuri Vijay - I LOVED this book. It took my breath away. The writing was bold and compelling. Madhuri Vijay's debut takes you from Bangalore to Kashmir. The protagonist, Shalini, a privileged young woman from Bangalore, sets off to rural Kashmir to find her mother's friend in the wake of her death. Shalini gets entangled in the politics of Kashmir, where the presence of militants and the army is a part of people's daily lives. This book is heartbreaking but so beautiful. Definitely recommend this.
Mini throwback to books I love that I found by chance -
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker - Amanda Palmer recommended this in a podcast interview sometime last year. I picked it up on a whim and it has changed the way I look at sleep and how I look at health and wellness.
​Just Kids by Patti Smith - This is my favourite book. I love Patti deeply. I found this on a listicle for books young artists should read.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara - One of the most profoundly moving and heart shattering books I have EVER read. I discovered it on someone's Instagram story.
PODCASTS
ARTICLES
The British Museum is full of Stolen Artifacts. This is difficult to watch. British colonizers were asshats of the highest order. What are your thoughts on cultural and historical artifacts?
The Big Green Lie - "If you’re worried about overpopulation threatening the environment, then you’re blind to the real menace: It’s not the growing number of “have nots” in the South, but growing overconsumption by the “haves” in the North."
Brain Pickings -Â
COOL THINGS
The Window Swap project - Teleport to someone else's house across the world without leaving your seat!
The vibrant art of Gail Swanlund.
Polluted Water Popsicles! - You heard it right. Popsicles made of sewage!Â
The Black Music History Library.
I hope you're all doing okay mentally, physically and emotionally. These are tough times, take care of yourself! choose the media you consume consciously, protect and nurture your mind. I hope you have the most fulfilling month ahead. Stay safe, stay hydrated, eat healthy and hate other people less.
Warmly,
Sachi
#AugustMood
Â
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