My yearly tradition – the first blog post of every year start with a round up of books I read in 2020.
Here is the list from 2010, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 2019
Science Fiction
- Supernova Era by Cixin Liu
Cixin Liu is my favourite Sci-Fi Author. His Three Body Problem is a master piece. Even if you don’t like Sci-Fi you should read it. It is that good. They should make this a compulsory reading in school.
Supernova Era is another brilliant story on how a supernova explosion kicks off a Radiomagnetic wave which kills all humans above 13 years old. The entire word is now run by 13 year olds and lesser age.
How the world prepares to hand over, and how the kids handle it is the story. I finished listening to this and Corona 2019 happened. I used to joke to the kids at home – all the adults are going to die with Corona and now it is unto you kids to manage.
2. Fall or Dodge in Hell – Neal Stephenson
Neal Stephenson’s books are all a grind. 1000+ pages and once you start this book you get sucked into his world and stay there till you finish the book.
Story is about freezing a human brain. Then they figure out how to digitise it. The story happens in the computer verse and how they interact with the outside world.
Will fry one’s mind alright.
If you don’t know Neal Stephenson – pass this. This book is torture otherwise.
Fiction
3. The Unconsoled – by Kashi Ishiguru
Hmm. I won’t be reading any more of this author’s books. I dont think I have the intellectual development to read this. It was – how would I say – like living in a dream most of the time. Lot of weird stuff. But there were pieces which gave a glimpse into the complexity of human minds. I know of some families / friends – where the child had stopped speaking to their parent / sibling. It was kind of a mystery and here it happens. The porter and the daughter ( protagonists wife later it is revealed ) – do not speak to each other. Even at the very end. Weird but interesting.
Pass this.
4. Us against you by Fredrick Backman
This is the Swedish author I discovered. This is follow up to Beartown ( Highly recommend this ). The story continues after the Beartown climax. Did he stretch this story? It wasn’t as gripping as Beartown but if you loved Beartown you would have to read this.
5. Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons
I discovered Dan Simmons with Hyperion and stumbled on this book. On audible it is 55+ hours or so. It is a very long story and has some good amount of violence. Loved this one.
6. Okei by Mitsugu Saotome
It is a Japanese novel. Story of a little girl who witnesses the fall of the Japanese empire and how she escapes to US – California. Neutral rating.
7. The Bat by Jo Nesbo
New discovery. This is the first novel by this Norwegian Author. It is about a detective – Harry Hole. Violence, Crime, Investigation – if you love those things – it is a must read. It is the first of a long series – Jo Nesbo is going to take some of my hard earned money.
8. Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
Loved this one. The prince is affected by a virus – which literally makes him into a zombie like thing – and all these affected by the virus are dumped into this place called Elantris from which these dead people are not allowed to come out. It is full of strategy where the protoganists make moves against one another like a chess game. Quite interesting.
9. Theft of 2 Swords
10. Rise of Empire
11. Heir of Novoron by Michael J Sullivan
Loved this series. It has magic, sword fighting, romance, betrayal – all the masala to make it interesting.
Non Fiction
12. The Monk and the lady by Pico Iyer
You get a glimpse of the inner working of the Japanese culture. It was a nice enjoyable journey.
13. Do not talk to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
Malcolm Gladwell always takes something well established and turns it around 180 degrees. The audio book was good – it had actual interviews and the production was of high quality.
14. Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
This book is in the list of High School reading of US Kids. Honestly I did not understand. Perhaps I should have researched more on this, or if an English Teacher had taught in class I would have appreciated more. It is a small book – very highly acclaimed – I didn’t make head or tails of it. I am not the biblio types I guess. Ahem – I am the one who abandoned Walden – to draw a parallel – I am more like the Masala movie watcher types, not into Art films.
Spirituality
15. Death by Sadhguru
On Sunday I picked this book from Crosswords. Started reading Sunday night. Monday morning I didn’t feel like working. Went to Starbucks and read the rest. Bliss. This was pre-covid.
I have referenced this book in the ReadThisFirst section of this blog. Again – should be a mandatory reading for everyone. Gives fresh perspective to life.
Philosophy
16. Mindset by Carol Dweck
Another must read. Wish I read this in my 20s. Along with Alchemist, I would gift this book to youngsters. In fact for the Secret Santa game we played end of 2020, I gifted this book.
I started Einstein – Walter Isacson – but lost interest. Started Ponniyan Selvan – 2. Not being able to cross the critical reading threshold after which I get hooked and sail with it to the end. Hope will complete these in 2021.
Thats it for 2020.
