A good book tells you stories that you will not easily forget. A good book provides you with information gradually and effectively.
The month August is at its end, summer is almost over, and I have finished reading several books in the past eight months.
If I have to name the best book I have read so far in 2023; I will have to surprise you, and myself, by nominating a non-fiction in Dutch entitled: De diefstal van de eeuw (The Theft of the Century).
When the trust account is high, communication is easy, instant, and effective.
Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Last evening, D and I watched the movie Rebel. What an incredible film experience!
Yet I wonder…
Would I be able to really understand the story and the characters if I did not grow up in Malaysia and currently live in Belgium?
Last Sunday afternoon, D and I went to Marke for its annual garden fair. It was rainy, but that did not stop many die-hard gardeners from doing their rounds. This year, D and I did not purchase any plants; nor cheese, sausages, honey, or soap. Instead we drank beer in the rain, under a tree, next to the stand. Before heading home, we bought a few bottles of beer (the ones that we have not tasted) and a small jar of paté.
A few hours later, D and I were on our way again, this time to Gent. D won a couple of movie tickets, and Supereroi is only shown at a limited number of cinemas. The weather was miserable in Gent as well, but I can always make allowance for my first European city.
Why was the film Supereroi categorized as a comedy? I did not hear a single laugh during the entire movie, even though there were only five of us in the theatre. To me, it was not funny ha ha, but intense, complicated, and sorrowful.
Someone was interested in the book ‘The No Asshole Rule’, which I placed on the second-hand website almost two years ago. The person wanted to buy it for half the price I asked. D rolled the ball back to the potential buyer, negotiating for 80% of the asking price, plus sending cost. It was a no go.
There was really no loss on neither side. Potential buyer did not want the book enough to pay for what I asked, and I did not need to part with the book that desperately…
I bought the book at SFO, after a business trip to China. Do not make a book worm wait at an airport for hours, for no good reasons.
My fascination for books and all sorts of narratives spans half a century. The following is a rough list of what I remember reading…
Angels. German shepherd. Nursery rhymes. Woodland creatures. Grimm’s fairy tales. Disney comic books. Enid Blyton. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Mark Twain. Alice in Wonderland. Robinson Crusoe.
DC comics. Marvel comics. The Naked Sun. Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators series. John Lennon. Mother Theresa. Little House in the Big Woods. Laura Ingalls Wilder. A Christmas Carol. A Tale of Two Cities. Charles Dickens. Little Women.
2001: A Space Odyssey. Arthur C. Clarke. I, Robot. Isaac Asimov. Angela’s Ashes. Interview with the Vampire. It. Great Expectations. The Arabian Nights. King Arthur.
The Little Prince. Harry Potter. The Chronicles of Narnia. The Hobbit. The Lord of the Rings. J.R.R. Tolkien. The Da Vinci Code. The Odyssey. Stranger in a Strange Land. Robert A. Heinlein. The Art of War.
Of Mice and Men. The Grapes of Wrath. John Steinbeck. Mars Trilogy. Kim Stanley Robinson. The Foundation Series. Snow Crash. Animal Farm. Brave New World. Watership Down. A Farewell to Arms. David Copperfield. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The Law of Success.
How to Win Friends and Influence People. Hyperion. Dan Simmons. A Game of Thrones. Homo Deus. Wool. Blindsight. The Three-Body Problem. Liu Cixin. The Expanse. James S. A. Corey. Redshirts. Old Man’s War. The Interdependency. John Scalzi. The Culture series. Iain M. Banks. Ender’s Game. Orson Scott Card.
This Saturday morning, I stopped at the library to return and borrow a couple of books. Then, I strolled to the bank to get some cash because it is good to have a healthy getaway stash… 😉
Lastly, I went to the grocery store to purchase some discounted items I wanted. Normally, I avoid the weekend crowds at grocery stores. But today, I made an exception.
Special times call for special measures.
I had to return two library books today. They were already one day late. Yikes…
So, after checking the weather forecast, I walked off at 14.20, keeping in mind that I have at least an hour of clearing. I have my umbrella with me, just in case. It was a short walk.
After returning the two books (phew, no late fees), I could not stop myself from borrowing three books and walking home with them.
Off topic, people are really good at smiling with masks on these days. Hey, we have all developed a new social skill. 🙂
Also off topic, happy 42nd birthday, baby brother!
Recently, I have been watching several Belgian TV programs. Most of these are short documentaries, or programs which are categorized as ‘human interest’.
Knowing other people’s stories gives me better perspectives in life. Most of these stories are filled with hope, human kindness, courage and resilience. They also provide me with the much needed, but positive distractions.
So, thank you Lidewij, Rudi, Dominique and Joris. The stories you have chosen to tell have definitely provided some brightness in these dark times.
Two sentences on page five (yeah… have you seen the font size?) of the book The Age of Surveillance Capitalism sum up quite eloquently what a home is.
“Home is where we know and where we are known, where we love and are beloved. Home is mastery, voice, relationship, and sanctuary: part freedom, part flourishing… part refuge, part prospect.”
