Books are one of my favorite things. Here’s what I read in January…
I’ve been seeing recommendations to read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert everywhere and was super excited to find a copy in my Christmas gift from my sister. I read the whole thing on the plane…nothing like reading about creativity miles above the earth. Personally I think today’s popular push to become fearless can be pretty harmful. I appreciate Gilbert’s recognition that while fear will ride along when we’re living creatively, we don’t have to let her drive. Big Magic isn’t just for those who have big ambitions for their art. Instead, Gilbert has encouragement for everyone to live a creative life—”a life that is driven more strongly by curiosity than by fear.”
I also read the final two books in Amitav Ghosh’s Ibis trilogy—River of Smoke and Flood of Fire —which continue the story of the opium wars in India and China. Ghosh introduces even more characters and locations to an already expansive story. These books aren’t necessarily an easy read with unfamiliar cultural references and languages, but I found them to be worth the effort. Ghosh not only shares an extensively researched version of historical events, but also immerses his readers in the complex humanity of those who were touched by them.
Have you read any of these books? What did you think? What have you been reading? I’d love to hear your recommendations!