Eclectic Vacation Booklist 2017

I tend to binge-read on family vacations. After a season of textbooks or work, there’s something thrilling about encountering unscheduled time.

This time around, my book list was inspired by a speedy library run and a couple books I picked up for “once-I-graduate-and-have-time-to-read-again”. Funnily enough, I haven’t hit that stride again yet, but I’m optimistic about the new year (especially with TAPIF’s part-time hours).

Yes, I’m nerdy enough that I picked my fave rhetoric textbook as my grad prop.

Without further ado, here’s a reflection on “must-read” and “perhaps-read” books I’ve encountered recently. Feel free to pick up any that seem interesting for your next road trip.

Must-Read

An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth

This has been on my to-read list for ages, and now I’m baffled how I didn’t get my hands on it sooner. I’ve always had vague respect for Chris Hadfield, Canada’s first astronaut, but now even more so. This book is part-astronaut memoir, part-Iife advice book. I found Hadfield’s tone very readable; he has accomplished much yet retains an affable down-to-earth attitude.

To be frank, after a book like this, I never quite know whether to feel inspired by proxy (“he did cool things! I shall also do cool things!”) or vaguely deflated, reminded of Netflix time I could’ve spent learning epic things. Personally, I prefer the positive perspective. The book’s strength lies in its vaguely genre-bending nature. Whether you’re hoping to experience Hadfield’s journey to become an astronaut, space life in general or philosophical tips for succeeding in your own life, you will leave with food for thought.
The Glass Castle
Now a major motion picture, this was another one I’ve intended to read for a while. To be honest, The Glass Castle surprised me in a good way. The memoir is at times just as dark as its subject matter suggests, but the narration is engaging and fresh, generally told from the point of view of the author at her current age. It’s not heavy-handed at all, and eloquently expresses the complexity of Walls’ love for her parents even as they are unable to give their children a stable life. A bittersweet and deeply resonant book. Cliché, but true: when you meet someone, you have no way of knowing the struggles they’ve made it through.

Perhaps-Read

Thinking in Numbers
A vibrant collection of essays related to numbers and life. As an arts grad from a STEM-focused university, my interest in numbers exceeds my knowledge of them, and this struck a perfect balance. Most of the topics are approachable to less-technical folks. The essays are eclectic, ranging from the wonders of pi, different cultural views of numbers (the Icelandic part was interesting), and numerical reflections on life and human behaviour. I would definitely recommend it. The only reason this isn’t in “must-read” is that you may find it too academic, depending on whether the topic interests you.
Q (Evan Mandery)

A man is about to marry the woman he adores, but a time-travelling future self dissuades him. Wait, what? When things still go awry, he is visited by a series of advice-giving future selves.

Intriguing concept and occasionally a page turner. However, I found myself frustrated with execution and generally a bit annoyed with the protagonist and his apparent lack of agency. Worth it to explore an interesting topic, but still a more cautious recommendation.

After writing this, I checked out Goodreads; adding +1 for the book’s description as “amiably outrageous”. It definitely has a quirky tone.

The German Girl

If you enjoy historical fiction, especially as it approaches WWII, check it out. Armando Lucas Correa’s novel bears surprising relevance to the global refugee crisis by depicting the tragically ill-fated St. Louis voyage. He does this through alternating perspectives between a young German-Jewish girl and her present-day relative. There is a rich level of detail.

I appreciated how he explores a different perspective on the well-trod yet crucial topic of the Holocaust. The aspect that Hannah had such a comfortable life (and was very “German” in appearance) adds additional contrast and reinforces the idea that there are often less-obvious victims of suffering; no one is immune. While the character is never subjected to concentration camps, she gives a voice to other kinds of trauma experiences endured during this time period.

The tone felt a bit off at first. I found the narrators’ voices a bit too precocious for their ages, yet overall Correa crafted interesting characters who inspire empathy.

Harry Potter und der Feuerkelch
Fun times with Harry Potter in German. This one curbed my book completion rate (who’s counting?) but enjoyable as always. I started it on my term abroad, so it was nice to finally resume working on the last few hundred pages. Keep an eye out for an eventual post about reading in another language; if you can find the patience to do so, ’tis a fabulous way to learn.
Anyhow, here are a few books that have graced my shelf recently. Agree or disagree? Do you have any recommendations? Let me know in the comments.