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Yeah, I read. I like to read books that make me think, works that challenge me and push me out of my comfort zone. A book is truly good if you can read it again and find more value the second time. I found this to be true in Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.

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In this semester I want to branch out and read new things. I would like to read

-a math book

-a book of short stories

-a play

-a book that has been translated

I feel that reading these will help me understand what I like and dislike from reading and help elevate my reading experience.

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I am currently reading Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. It’s a mix of memoir and writing advice, a reader's memoir of sorts. The book is personal, often humorous, and filled with reflections on the writing process—from dealing with perfectionism to finding your voice. This style of writing is outside my usual comfort zone, since I tend to prefer more structured narratives or fiction. Lamott’s casual, conversational tone feels different from what I typically read, and at times it’s challenging to adjust to how loose the book can be.

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Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid

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Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid

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Douglas Hofstadter’s Gödel, Escher, Bach explores the deep connections between logic, art, and music by focusing on the work of three creative minds: mathematician Kurt Gödel, artist M.C. Escher, and composer Johann Sebastian Bach. Through their ideas, Hofstadter investigates how complex systems—like human thought and consciousness—can emerge from simple rules. A central theme is how self-reference and paradox can lead to unexpected breakthroughs, especially in mathematics, art, and music. The book’s purpose is to explore whether machines could one day think, and what that tells us about our own minds. This book proposes lots of interesting ideas, most of the book is not to engage your emotions, but your logic. I will consider this the math book for my reading goals.

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I am going to read The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury. It’s a collection of science fiction short stories, all framed by the image of a man whose tattoos come to life and tell each story. The stories explore imagined futures and strange technologies, often revealing darker truths about human nature. This genre is a bit outside my usual comfort zone, as I tend to read more grounded or realistic fiction. Bradbury’s imaginative style and the unusual framing device feel different from what I’m used to, and I’m curious to see how the stories connect through this character.

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On November 10, 2008, journalist David Rohde was kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan while on his way to interview a key political figure. His memoir, co-authored by his wife Kristen Mulvihill, tells the story of his 7 months in captivity and how Rhode and his wife used their journalistic instincts to survive. I enjoyed this read a lot because of how structured it was, especially as opposed to books like Bird By Bird and The Illustrated Man which don't follow a single narrative, and seem to run around wildly like a beheaded chicken. Do not get this confused, this was not a comfortable read for me as I prefer fiction. However I was more comfortable reading this than reading the unstructured narratives.

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Having finished Bird by Bird, I’m glad I stuck with it, even though it’s not the kind of book I’d normally choose. Anne Lamott’s mix of memoir and writing advice is loose and reflective, more like a conversation than a structured guide. The book doesn’t follow a traditional narrative, which at times made it feel scattered and a bit meandering for me.

That said, Lamott’s honesty about the struggles of writing—her self-doubt, the messiness of the process, and the need for patience—really stood out. There were moments that felt surprisingly relatable, especially when she talked about overcoming perfectionism and just getting words down “bird by bird,” one small step at a time. It’s less about concrete techniques and more about mindset, which isn’t always comfortable if you prefer clear, organized advice.

Overall, I appreciate the emotional honesty and humor, but I can see why this style might not be for everyone. It pushed me to think differently about writing, even if it wasn’t always an easy or tidy read.

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Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid

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Gödel, Escher, Bach: an Eternal Golden Braid

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Now that I’ve finished Gödel, Escher, Bach, I can say it was one of the most intellectually dense books I’ve read. Hofstadter brings together Gödel, Escher, and Bach to explore how self-reference and structure can create meaning. The central question—can a system understand itself?—runs through everything.

The book covers a lot: math, music, art, logic, even artificial intelligence. At times it was overwhelming, but the recurring dialogues and patterns helped give it shape. There isn’t a traditional narrative, but many small stories used to help explain complicated recursive topics.

This still wasn’t quite my comfort zone—I prefer fiction—but I appreciated how structured it was. Unlike Bird by Bird or The Illustrated Man, which felt scattered, this book had a clear intellectual path. It challenged me, but I felt like I always knew what it was trying to do.

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I’ve just finished The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury, and I have mixed feelings about it. The book is a collection of short stories linked by the character of the Illustrated Man, whose tattoos come to life and tell each tale. This framing device was interesting and gave the book some cohesion, but the stories themselves felt uneven to me.

Some of the stories stood out with strong themes about technology, humanity, and fear of the future, while others felt more like quick ideas without much depth. Because it’s a collection rather than a single narrative, the experience was somewhat disjointed. I found myself wishing for more consistency and connection between the pieces.

That said, Bradbury’s imagination and ability to create eerie, thought-provoking scenarios was impressive. This book definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone since I usually prefer more structured stories with a clear plot. Overall, it was a challenging but thought-provoking read, a different kind of satisfying compared to more focused narratives I’ve enjoyed.

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I feel that I've really grown as a reader. I now have an appreciation for little snippet stories, like those in The Illustrated Man and in Gödel, Escher, Bach. Where before I would hate how cut off they feel. They end as quickly as they start, they end up feeling cut short. I see them differently now; good short stories are thought provoking, and upon ending a conversation starts between you and the author.

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I don't feel I've also grown as a writer. From the deep and thought provoking short stories I've grown an appreciation for something that leaves me thinking, and I'd really like to try and replicate this style of writing. Maybe one day I'll write something that truly provokes the reader in some way, something that truly shakes the readers perception of our world. Just because I've found a dream, doesn't mean I'm any closer to it. I've found a path I'd like to follow, now I need to trek it. Until I've reached the end of that path; I'll keep writing!

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If you have a moment to read, please indulge in my favourite short story The Invisible Ball by Douglas R. Hofstadter. I will not comment on the contents, I feel the contents speak for themselves.