What I Read in October
Conversations on Love
by Natasha Lunn
A lovely collection of interviews with several significant writers, including a personal favorite of mine, Alain de Botton. Don’t let the easygoing tone fool you. This book did not shy away from difficult topics surrounding the many forms of love we experience, of the familial, romantic, platonic and agape variety. I found it particularly poignant in the discussion of friendships, although I could see returning to this periodically and finding other areas resonating more deeply. I often found myself disagreeing with many perspectives in this book, but Lunn certainly does a good job at letting each guest’s unique voice come through.
Essays in Love
by Alain de Botton
After reading the above title, I was excited for more Alain de Botton, who wrote what I considered for a long time to be my favorite book, The Course of Love. Upon revisiting his unique style, which combines fiction with philosophical musings, I was surprised to find the constant interjections a bit tedious and distracting. But I think this is a testament to the way he writes fiction, in that it had me (a devout nonfiction reader) clinging to the unfolding narrative. This book had me grinning like an idiot at times, recognizing so much of myself in the characters. More importantly it presents the opportunity to step back and objectively dissect the emotional rollercoaster of new love and infatuation. This read has certainly solidified Alain de Botton as one of my favorite authors.
The Prophet
by Kahlil Gibran
This is another short read from my Airbnb hosts’ library and one that my dad introduced to me several years ago but which I never got around to reading until now. If you’re a fan of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho then you will likely enjoy the poetic simplicity of this book. The short prose touch on the major topics of life, from love and friendship to work, passion and pain. This book was the perfect remedy to an anxious mind and one that I will surely return to from time to time.
Confabulations
by John Berger
This quick and charming read from famed art critic and poet John Berger was a nice change of pace for me. His other book Ways of Seeing, which focuses on fine art and visual media (based on the 1972 BBC series), is a favorite of mine that I read so many years ago and which I always feel a slight draw to reread whenever I come across it. So when I found this title in the library of my Airbnb, I thought I’d give him a go on a topic I’m less familiar with, that of writing. While I didn’t enjoy it quite as much, I would still recommend it for any lit and poetry lovers looking for a short but inspiring read.
Meditations
by Marcus Aurelius
This was my first foray into stoicism and the austere tone took some adjusting to after reading so much “love and light” new age-y books over the years. But with the encouragement of a few of you who stressed the importance of this book, I was able to embrace a different perspective. While I feel like I didn’t even begin to grasp the deep wisdom on offer (this is definitely a read and re-read kind of book), I did start to appreciate the significance of peering into the inner workings of such a prolific figure in history and the relevance and piercing clarity of this text throughout time.
Shop the Post
