I have a couple of book reviews up on YouTube that have just been published. One was a recommendation from a good friend (as I’d never have chosen to read this book myself and another selected because there were times when I wanted this same thing for my own life).

Seven husbands?

Or an easy job?

I’ll leave that one up to you decide.

I read a lot of books but in recent times, I’ve been reading books that immerse me into the story immediately. I call them “fast books”. I think we need a blend of slow and fast books that we should read.

If I read a slow book, one that requires time to reflect and consider, I’ll follow it up with a couple of fast books afterwards to give my brain a break.

I’ve also been enjoying reading non-English speaking authors. Books translated from their own language and this year, Japanese authors have surprised me for conveying emotions and situations of their characters in simple, polite and sometimes, magical ways. They weave in supernatural (?) elements into everyday life but reading books by Japanese authors feels like they need to be read in solitude. There’s always some mysterious element in everyday life of characters who are flawed and alone – and they’re always eating some kind of ramen or udon noodles. Food is obviously important in their culture.