Reading
Since completing my bachelor's in March, I’ve taken up reading—this time purely for my own enrichment. Although my reading journey is still in its early stages, it has already broadened my perspective and left me with a robust list of books I am eager to explore. Many people say they don’t like to read, but I think that they are mistaken. More often than not, they simply haven’t yet found what they love to read.
Reading Log
To explore my interests and track my progress, I’ve kept a detailed reading log with ratings for each book.
A note: To view my thoughts on each book, click the "Notes" button. These reflections are informal and may not present fully developed arguments—think of them more as journal entries than formal reviews. I write them primarily for myself to revisit, but I share them here as an open invitation to reflection.
SPOILER ALERT: Many notes contain spoilers, so they are hidden in drop-downs that only appear once clicked.
| TITLE | DATE | RATING | |
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East of Eden by John Steinbeck |
May 10–17, 2025 | 10.0 | |
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Incredible. Perhaps the best book I’ve ever read. East of Eden is a story about good and evil: sin, conquering sin, being engulfed in sin. Redemption, friendship, loss. It’s a story about Cain and Abel, about man and Christ. East of Eden is the story of the fall of man and how we are to live as sinners... Where can we look? What can we do? It is a story about Jesus: “And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good.” Complete with incredible character arcs, endless great quotes, and a world of life lessons, East of Eden is the story. Thou mayest! |
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Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing |
May 7–9, 2025 | 9.0 | |
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Cold, gritty, icy, windy, cold, wet, and cold. Shackleton’s leadership, the endurance of his men, navigational prowess. My eyes were super glued to this book for three days. Such an incredible story, almost unbelievable. And perfectly depicted by Lansing. The use of journal entries was great. Fast-paced, yet you feel the grueling freezing of time for these men. An inspiring read. Every man should read this book. |
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1984 by George Orwell |
March 20–26, 2025 | 8.5 | |
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How do we know what we are told is true? What happens when you go against everyone around you? Authoritarianism, suppression, truth, surveillance. In the second half of the book, we see Winston’s terrible torture and decay. We see a man completely crushed. His mind is chewed up, swallowed, and spat out again into something entirely different. At the end of the book, Winston is not even a shell of what he once was. I had previously thought that people only liked 1984 because it calls out surveillance, totalitarianism, and fake news. These things only scrape the surface of the novel. Great read overall. |
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