What I'm Reading: #TIBIQ

It should come as no surprise, given the #TIBIQ series (and you know, the realities of our situation), that I have made a lot of trade-offs as far as consumption. For example:

Nail Salon every 3 weeks —> DazzleDry

Hair color every 6 weeks —> Fake Hair

Gym —> Treadmill

Trainer —> Sweat App

I used to use the City of Austin library for access to free books which includes audio and kindle versions from both Libby and Hoopla. I drive a lot during the week so these were great, free resources. My library card, however, expired like two days before the library shut down and I was like. Ah. Right.* So, now I buy all my books on Kindle and have an Audible Subscription and at some point, I may be forced to give up all my subscription services. Meh, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there. And actually, I can be a little ridiculous but if I’m not getting through a book quickly enough in my car, I’ll read it on Kindle too because you can easily sync the two.

The Power of Habits

This a book about how habits shape who we are and how we can change by breaking the habit loop and creating new habits. It’s a pretty dry listen but you’ll see the science here everywhere including in the Noom app. It’s definitely made me more thoughtful about what I’m doing and WHY I’m doing it. I preferred reading his other book but that’s because it was directly in relation to what I was to trying to accomplish at the time.

Recommend if: You’re on a Self-Improvement Kick

The Vanishing Half

A tale of two twins in a sheltered rural town where light-skinned is heralded. One leaves to understand her roots, one leaves to escape into her skin color. It’s tough but a good read.

Read if: You want to learn about colorism in America or like complicated protagonists.

Mexican Gothic

So horror is not my genre but I really like the cover shrugs. I also do this thing where if something seems to scary, I need to know how it ends and this book was too new for spoilers. I was hoping it would be based more in Mexican culture but the “Gothic” part of the title is way more prevalent here.

Read if: You like Jane Eyre or…gross stuff.

Midnight Sun

I didn’t…read/watch Twilight back in the day so I presumed this would be like…reading Pride and Prejudice from Mr. Darcy’s perspective which, in fairness, I would be into. In general, the whole vampires are hot genre (Ann Rice, et al) is just not my thing even though I appreciate why it is a LOT of other people’s. My friends who evenly mildly like Twilight HATE this book so that was surprising to me.

Read If: You love YA romance and/or anything to do with Vampires

The Splendid and The Vile

This is my favorite book of the Pandemic, thus far. At a time that resilience is needed more than ever, the enduring spirit of the British are under Churchill’s leadership during the darkest hour of WWII. Also, the book paints a great picture of WC’s well-known…I would say “quirks” but that’s too trite of a word.

Read If: You love WWII history and/or you’re looking for resilience inspiration

Homegoing

Another tale of two torn apart sister but through the eyesight of their ancestors. I like a long progressive story but you do fall in love with characters you never see again

Read If: You love Roots or any story that short skips from one generation to the next

The Starless Sea

I love how this book really creates a whole world for you. While portions were confusing (For example, on a kindle where you can’t easily flip back)., it was so descriptive you figured it out anyway.

Read if: You love The Magicians

How about you - what are you reading? Any recommendations for the next read?

*P.S I checked later and my membership was re-upped without my doing so. I’ve just been spending my library money freely. I did payoff my fines though.