Books

Print books and audiobooks.

2022

Helium by Rudy Francisco (2017)7.2/10. My favorite phrase from his writing is "you gorgeous earthquake".
Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez (2022)6.5/10. Audiobook narrated by Almarie Guerra, Armando Riesco, and Ines del Castillo. My favorite quote is "It's not everyday we get to see third world conditions in a first world country".
Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship by Robert C. Martin (2009)8.0/10.
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman (1988)6.5/10. Audiobook narrated by Neil Hellegers.
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake (2022)6.0/10. Audiobook narrated by Andy Ingalls, Caitlin Kelly, Damian Lynch, David Monteith, James Patrick Cronin, Munirih Grace, Siho Ellsmore and Steve West.
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson (2010)7.5/10. Audiobook narrated by Michael Kramer and Kate Reading.

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami (1989)6.0/10. Audiobook narrated by John Chancer.

Favorite quotes:

"If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking. That's the world of hicks and slobs. Real people would be ashamed of themselves doing that."

"The dead will always be dead, but we have to go on living."

"I've seen my share of people like that. At first you think they're amazing. They can sightread some terrifically difficult piece, and do a damn good job playing it all the way through. You see them do it and you're overwhelmed. You think, 'I could never do that in a million years!' But that's as far as it goes. They can't take it any further. And why not? Because they won't put in the effort. They haven't had the discipline pounded into them. They've been spoiled. They have just enough talent so they've been able to play things well without any effort, and they have people telling them how great they are from an early age, so hard work looks stupid to them."

"But now I had a thirteen year old girl licking me all over down there. I just gave up. All I could do was cry. And it was absolute paradise."

At last, Midori's quiet voice broke the silence.
"Where are you now?"
Where was I now? Gripping the receiver, I raised my head and turned to see what lay beyond the phonebox. Where was I now? I had no idea. No idea at all. Where was this place? All that flashed into my eyes were the countless shapes of people walking by to nowhere. Again and again, I called out for Midori from the dead center of this place that was no place.

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner (2021)7.5/10. Audiobook narrated by the author, Michelle Zauner. This is a beautiful and heart-breaking real story about the loss of a dear family member and navigating that loss. It took me through all the stages of grief and more. It's also very reassuring to know that even in difficult times, you can pull yourself together and become even stronger than before. If you don't have the time to read a physical book, listen to the audiobook. You can hear Michelle's emotion and love for her mother in her voice as she reads the book.
Our American Israel: The Story of an Entangled Alliance by Amy Kaplan (2018)8.0/10.
My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem (2017)6.5/10. Audiobook narrated by Cary Hite.
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (2020)7.5/10.
Who Rules the World? by Noam Chomsky (2016)7.2/10. Audiobook narrated by Brian Jones.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien (1955)Audiobook narrated by Andy Serkis.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien (1954)Audiobook narrated by Andy Serkis.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien (1954)Audiobook narrated by Andy Serkis.
The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo (1946)7.6/10.