This is What We Have Decided to Read This Year and Why?

Every year there are various book challenges. Fifty-two books in 52 weeks in one year? That’s 1 book per week. Would that be reading? Audio? Via summary? It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter to me what you do. That may sound arrogant, possibly distasteful borderline “WTF I’m never coming to this site again.” It’s not meant to. If you choose to follow in this challenge, or not, then the point I am trying to make here is that you read or communicate as you will. At your will, too. I, personally, prefer reading my books. I am not good at listening to audiobooks because I’m always doing something that takes me away from listening. So, I need to quite deliberately place myself in “Reading-mode.” I also prefer actual books to eBooks. It’s a personal preference I have tried in many ways to overcome thinking of every page being printed and what that is doing to me, you, Earth, and everyone in the world – (in no partiocular order except for her first for me.)

I’ll be adding the books here, why I read them, and what I got from them. This is not to share my version of Cliff’s or Spark’s notes with anyone. This is my perspective, and if you can relate then all the better. If you don’t but grow from our misalignment that sounds excellent just the same. Here is to a day and days of Happy Reading – I in “reading mode.” 📚

  1. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
  2. The Power of Chōwa by Akemi Tanaka

The first time I read Of Mice and Men I was in the 9th grade. I was in Mr. Krenz’s class, Language Arts Honors, and we had a reading list with weekly check-in’s for the entire school year. I cannot remember if I thought much of this book other than words to mind and eventually to page numbers in the 9th grade. I believe I may think something [of it] more profound (?) maybe even more useful (?) now.

I have to begin honestly and say this was an audiobook. I have used Hoopla or a few years now and I try to be, not productive in the overwhelming sense, but use my time when washing dishes, or cleaning, to learn something new, and it’s usually something I had zero idea existed. I found this book and borrowed it–months ago. I finished The Power of Chōwa today and I think it’s spectacular. It is all of 6 hours and 38 minutes, but while working and not listening to my current YouTube music (instrumental) I heard this.

From reading The Power of Chōwa I find synchronicity in life more clear. I see the cause and effect of everything. I see the rule of nature and its cycles. I see how where I begin I will one day return. How my life like certain Japanese cooking is layered, and for me to relish, not only relish but honor every layer, moment, savor, enjoy. I found how balance is necessary. I saw how balance shows up in the most unexpected ways but it does, and until balance returns there is nothing conclusive, conducive, effective, effecient, sustainable. Balance and harmony allowed me to see how things take time and time elapses as I go with it, and as I do I grow, as do you and as does everything. It is not to be read with a closed mind. It is to be read within the parameters of application. Where does this idea of balance fit? Where is the white space and why is this rule of thirds not showing up or just not working? Why is there no beauty until I take the same thing and turn it uposide down? It was great. Recommend it, and not only to accompany me while doing dishes. 🙂