This hefty pile is why I’m not allowed to go to book sales. It’s not about the cost–each of the books here cost 10¢ during the “stuff a bag” part of a library used book sale–but simply about the space, and about adding more stuff to my life.
Last year, my plan was to move to Colorado after finishing my AmeriCorps term. I checked out Uhaul prices for a one-way, cross-country trip, and promptly freaked out. NO MORE STUFF! I relentlessly culled my bookshelf, took plenty of things home to my parents’ house in Virginia and started getting rid of clothes I never wore.
Then, of course, I decided to stay in Chicago. Life has a funny way of working things out. Even though I was moving 30 miles away instead of several hundred, I tried to keep my new stuff to a minimum. While I looked forward to moving, I realized during the process that my possessions had a hold on me. Since then (and since schlepping around so many boxes during the move) I’ve tried to refrain from adding unnecessary stuff to my to-be-moved pile.
Thankfully, public libraries are awesome, and my roommates happen to be very well-read people who own plenty of books I can borrow. I usually read a little every night before bed, then tackle books in huge chunks during down-time like a flight or vacation. Here are four of my recent favorites and three reads on my wishlist.
Full disclosure, yo: these are Amazon affiliate links, which means if you click on them and purchase something, I’ll receive a small commission. There’s no price difference for you. More books for everyone!
I read/I’m reading:
One of my all-time favorite books, The History of Love is beauty in print. There were so many moments when, reading this book, I had to pause, take a breath, then reread a passage just to savor it again. The History of Love is a book within a story: Alma, one of the protagonists, is a teenager trying to help her mom overcome depression after her father dies. Her story is linked Leo Gursky, an elderly man who lives alone but has lived forever illuminated by his lost love. I can’t even do this book justice, so just go read it please.
My roommate lent this one to me after I read The House of the Spirits (and promptly bought Jim a copy for Christmas). It’s hard for me to find short stories I really like, yet this collection was perfect. Allende’s stories are full of equal parts tragedy, lust, revenge, family and love, and each short piece of fiction teaches us something about the interconnectedness of our own relationships.
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey (nonfiction)
And now for something completely different! So many people have recommended this book to me that I finally had to buy a copy so I could read and take notes. While I enjoy it, it’s slow going because reading nonfiction before bed usually makes me sleepy within a few pages. Some of the key principles that I’ve already applied to improve my life: making a four-quadrant to do list that separates prioritizes tasks by urgent and important putting first things first and setting aside time for personal betterment–private victory, if you will.
Equal parts powerful family saga, forbidden love story, and piercing political drama, it is the story of an affluent Indian family forever changed by one fateful day in 1969. The seven-year-old twins Estha and Rahel see their world shaken irrevokably by the arrival of their beautiful young cousin, Sophie.
1. The God of Small Things is one of my all-time favorite books, and when Jim and I first started dating, I told him that. He told me his, too (oddly enough it’s The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie, who many have said is a huge influence on Roy) and then a few weeks later we both admitted that we’d purchased/borrowed the other’s favorite book and were reading it. So, while I loved this book for its luscious descriptions, unique language play and striking story, I loved it even more then.
2. When I was a reading tutor, I actually got so excited reading this novel over breakfast one morning that as soon as I got to school, I xeroxed a page from the book and made all my students read and analyze the passage. Here’s part of it:
“To the Kathakali Man these stories are his children and his childhood. He has grown up within them. They are the house he was raised in, the meadows he played in. They are his windows and his way of seeing. So when he tells a story, he handles it as he would a child of his own. He teases it. He punishes it. He sends it up like a bubble. He wrestles it to the ground and lets it go again. He laughs at it because he loves it. He can fly you across whole worlds in minutes, he can stop for hours to examine a wilting leaf…He can reveal the nugget of sorrow that happiness contains. The hidden fish of shame in a sea of glory.”
As my dad would say, “storytellers rule the world.” Roy is exceptionally skilled and her writing will pull you in, drive you crazy and break your heart in the most exquisite of ways.
Next Up: My Reading Wishlist
Her short stories made me crave more of Eva Luna’s storytelling. That’s it!
This is a recommendation from an entrepreneur whose suggestions haven’t steered me wrong yet. I love investigating the inner workings of our minds and learning what makes people care deeply, create plentifully and live meaningful lives. From Amazon:
Most people believe that the best way to motivate is with rewards like money—the carrot-and-stick approach. That’s a mistake, says Daniel H. Pink…In this provocative and persuasive new book, [Pink] asserts that the secret to high performance and satisfaction-at work, at school, and at home—is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world.
Young adult novels are one of my favorite downtime reads, and from what I’ve heard, I suspect I would power through this series in a weekend reading binge. I also love reading about dystopian societies and this would give me another world to consider.
Now that I’ve written my own novel in this post, what books are you looking forward to reading? Do you have any all-time favorites?
Why I'm Done Buying Books (For Now)
After that move, I realized that my books were more than just objects—they were anchors, both comforting and heavy. The thought of packing them all again in the future was enough to make me reconsider every purchase. Now, before I buy a book, I ask myself: Will I read this more than once? Do I need to write in the margins? Is it available at the library? Most of the time, the answer points to borrowing.
Libraries have become my happy place again. There's something thrilling about walking out with a stack of books that cost nothing, and the due date gives me a gentle push to actually read them. My roommates are also a goldmine—between the three of us, we have a mini library that covers everything from literary fiction to sci-fi to self-help. Borrowing from friends adds a layer of connection: when I read a book Jim loved, I feel like I'm getting to know him a little better.
Of course, there are exceptions. I still buy books that I know I'll want to annotate, like The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, or ones that I've already read and loved so much I need my own copy. But for the most part, I'm trying to embrace the freedom of not owning. It's a small act of minimalism that makes my space feel lighter and my wallet happier.
How I Choose My Next Read
With so many books in the world, picking the next one can feel overwhelming. I've developed a loose system that helps me stay excited about reading without getting decision fatigue. First, I keep a running list on my phone—it's a mix of recommendations from friends, books mentioned in podcasts, and titles I stumble upon in bookstores. I add to it constantly, then when I finish a book, I scan the list and see what jumps out.
My criteria are simple but effective:
- Does it match my current mood? I alternate between heavy literary fiction and lighter reads.
- Is it available at the library or from a friend? If not, I'll wait.
- Will I actually finish it? Life's too short for books that don't grab me by page 50.
I also try to balance genres. After a dense nonfiction book like Seven Habits, I need something purely for pleasure, like a collection of short stories. That's how I ended up reading Eva Luna—it was the perfect palate cleanser. And when I'm stuck, I ask my roommates for a recommendation; they've never steered me wrong.
Making Time to Read in a Busy Life
People often ask how I find time to read, especially with work and social commitments. The truth is, I don't find time—I make it. Reading is a priority for me, so I build it into my day. I always read for at least 15 minutes before bed, which helps me wind down and sleep better. I also keep a book in my bag for unexpected downtime: waiting for a friend, riding the bus, or standing in line.
Audiobooks have been a game-changer for commutes and chores. I resisted them for years, convinced they didn't count as "real" reading, but now I listen to memoirs and light nonfiction while doing dishes or walking to the grocery store. It's amazing how many extra books I get through just by turning dead time into story time.
If you're struggling to read more, start small. Set a goal of 10 pages a day, or one chapter. Link it to an existing habit, like your morning coffee or evening tea. Before you know it, you'll have finished a book in a month—and that's more than most people read in a year. And if you're wondering how to carve out extra time, check out my thoughts on What Could You Do with One Extra Hour?.
Books as Companions in Solitude
Moving to Chicago alone was daunting, and there were many nights when I felt the weight of loneliness. Books became my companions. Through the pages of The History of Love, I felt connected to Leo Gursky's longing, and his resilience reminded me that love persists even in isolation. Allende's stories wrapped me in a world of passion and family, making my small apartment feel less empty.
Reading is a form of self-care that doesn't require anyone else's presence. It's a way to be alone without feeling lonely. When I read about characters navigating their own struggles, I feel less alone in mine. And when I close a book, I carry a piece of it with me—a new perspective, a remembered phrase, a sense of shared humanity. If you're navigating solitude, my Guide to Being Alone might resonate.
That's why I'll always be a reader, even if my bookshelf stays small. The stories live in me, not just on my shelves. And that's the best kind of collection to have.