Books : About Books in November

 Books I Consumed in November :

1. Unbecoming by Joanne Fedler
2. Your Story by Joanne Fedler
3. Failosophy by Elizabeth Day
4. A Quitter's Paradise by Elysia Chang
5. A Man's Place by Annie Ernaux
6. In Search of Silence by Poorna Bell
7. Satellite Love by Genki Ferguson
8. Shame by Annie Ernaux
9. Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles - Omnibus 1
10. How to Think More Efficiently by The School of Life
11. Big Wild Love by Jill Sherrey Murray
12. The Presence of Absence by Simon Van Booy
13. The Border of Paradise by Esme Weijun Wang
14. Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles - Omnibus 2

• A Man's Place - A story about Annie's father, a practical man who showed his family little affection.
• In Search of Silence - I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads because it was good. Would reread it again in the future. It is a book on grief and letting go. 
• Satellite Love - This started well but it kinda went sideways by the end of it (I feel like the tone of the book resembles Murakami's Kafka on the Shore). But I took almost 2 months to finish it off, and it wasn't even a thick book. So, not for me. 
• Shame - I think this book should not be printed as a book, but rather, a post in a blog. There was no access to free internet in 1997, thus, Shame is printed as a book. Ha.
• Tsubasa Collection 1 & 2 - ok, I've been trying to read Clamp's Tsubasa since I was in my early 20s, but I don't like reading on screen and I didn't want to collect the manga (ie: buy them). So when I found the series available at the library, I borrowed them right away. 
• How to Think More Effectively - It is a compilation of different thinking skills that can be used in life. I copy this summary from Selim on GoodReads:
• strategic thinking - We rarely think about why we do what we do. We make even major decisions with little forethought. Yet a little forethought can prevent a lot of pain later.  
• cumulative thinking - thoughts come in bits & pieces, if we don't take notes, they will lost in the wild. Make a habit of writing your thoughts down.
• butterfly thinking - a lot of good ideas come while you are walking, taking a shower, or commuting. Good ideas are like butterflies, they come near when you are not consciously aware of them. 
• independent thinking - We are searching for wisdom in books and talks. We seem to believe that other older, wiser, cooler people already sorted things out. It is not. Your own reflection on your latest anger will provide you more insight than some brilliant writing on anger. Similar to the other emotions and the human condition. You have already a lot of experience, your own life is full of insight. Dare to think for yourself.  
• focused thinking - The mind seems to like to generalize. We describe things vaguely. When we say a nice person, a great job, or a fun date, well this is not false but not specific. Being vague prevents us from truly understanding people and situations. So focus, and ask yourself what you really think.
• philosophical meditation - Meditation is about feeling the moment and clearing the mind. Thinking and writing are great ways to meditate and clear mind. Asking yourself questions, thinking about them, and writing down the answers clarifies worries, dissolves hard feelings, and brings calm. The answers will reveal and clarify many untold worries, regrets, and hopes and you will feel relaxed.
• mad thinking - Disregard the constraints. What would I do if couldn't fail? if I had infinite time? if money were not a concern? What if I knew I would die this year?
• friend thinking - Listening and speaking clarifies thoughts, so taking a walk and speaking with a friend is a great way to think.
• reading - The aim of reading is not to accept and agree with all we read. We should think about the material, and draw our own conclusions.
• envy - Society shames envy, yet we all feel it and don't talk about it. Whenever you feel envious, get specific. What exactly are you envious of? Mostly it's just a small part of a life. Getting specific enables you to replace envy with understanding.
• analogies - Great tools, use them, yet an analogy is only partly true, so they are not to be taken too literally.
• empathy - Look inside. What you understand from your own feelings mostly applies to others. Almost all people fear death and rejection, we all have regrets, mistakes, insecurities, and silly moments. The ancient advice has some truth, treat others as you want to be treated.
• death - Remember death, it makes life much easier. In a dead-end job? In a stuck relationship? Putting off things? Not showing kindness to loved ones? Life is short and you may not be here tomorrow morning. Do whatever you wish today.
• love - We all need to feel heard, loved, understood, and respected. No one is completely foolish, and we are all foolish in some regard. Before dismissing a person or judging too harshly, remember we are all human, and to err is human.
• skeptical thinking - Even being hungry or not getting enough sleep clouds our judgment. Our thoughts and values are changing. Imagine sincerely, what you believe might be wrong. Sleep on decisions. Don't be indecisive but not too certain either. Build a broad margin of error into your moves.
• Big Wild Love - It is a self-help book for women who struggle in a relationship, the writer tries to 'convince' or show you how to let go, believe in yourself, and pursue a better life. She keeps on saying "big wild love" throughout the book and it is very annoying. I didn't like it. 
• The Presence of Absence - It is a bit underwhelming, but I think I need to reread this again when I'm in my 50s. It touches on dying, acceptance, and the afterlife - collected from random scrap notes of a dying author from his hospice bed. 
• The Border of Paradise - I think this deserves a shoutout. It is better than RF Kuang's Yellowface or Babel. It is disturbing, a bit difficult to digest, and touches on topics like mental health, generational trauma, racism, and old money. How everything is linked. I never thought it leave me engaged throughout the 2nd half of the book.  

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On Books:

• I found a reliable library in Klang Valley where I can borrow non-fiction and manga, hideout, and do work. That's in Perpustakaan Kuala Lumpur. I went there twice in Nov (to borrow & return books). It is around 12-minute walk (less than 1 km) from MRT Pasar Seni.
• I read two 4-star books: In Search of Silence (non-fiction) and The Border of Paradise (fiction).
• I am currently trying to borrow all the series from Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles. A complete individual set has 28 volumes, but the Omnibus collection has 10 volumes and the library got all 10 volumes. Each book from the Omnibus collection combines between 2-3 mangas so it exceeds 500 pages. My shoulder was sore on the day I walked in the city while bringing thick books in my tote bag. 
• I'm going to spend a lot of my time reading the whole series, so I should make a dedicated post on Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles once I finish it. I read 2 from the Omnibus version, so that's 6 volumes :