February Reading
It has been raining nonstop for the past week which has led to an increased amount of time in the reading nook. Here are three books I’m currently reading and why:
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
In an interview in which Rebecca Kuang shared a few of her favorite books, I was introduced to Susanna Clarke. Piranesi was the first book of Clarke’s I read. Within 24 hours, I had finished it, and I thought to myself how much I did not enjoy reading it. I was so bothered by Piranesi that I couldn’t stop thinking about the book for weeks and found myself reading it again. It has become a book that I always recommend.
Picking up this book may be one of the best decisions of the year so far. Clarke is a master of building worlds and crafting surprises. The book itself is magic. It's a must-read.
People from my neighborhood by Hiromi Kawakami
I was sitting in a bookstore when this cover caught my eye. I am absolutely the type to purchase a book based on the cover. If a cover successfully captures the essence of the book, then this behavior is completely logical. Kawakami provides brief glimpses into a familiar world with fantastical details. The book is twenty-six, "palm of the hand stories." "People from my neighborhood" invites me to see the mystery within the mundane and heightens my sense of curiosity for the ordinary.
Discriminatory Clubs by Christina L. Davis
Christina Davis is a professor of Japanese politics at Harvard University and the director of the Program on U.S.-Japan Relations. On February 11, Professor Davis participated in a panel discussion hosted by the US-Asia Law Institute at the NYU School of Law. Professor Davis' insight into the complex trade relationships between the US and East Asian countries prompted my interest in her fuller body of research.
This book is for anyone interested in international relations, organizations, or economics. It covers selection bias in alliances, motivations within these relationships, and the importance of geopolitical alignment.
Check these books and more out here.
Happy reading!