Hello, good morning, and good evening, fellow readers!
This new year, I would like to try and start monthly reads where every month I would write a summary of each month’s reading progress and add occasionally mini-reviews of what I have read within that same month.
This year I have challenged myself to read 40 books in 2021 so it is my second year reading more consistently (I failed the challenge in 2014 as only read two books that year).
The first book of 2021 that I have completed is “In the Shadows of Heroes” by Nicholas Bowling. A historical fiction that follows the fourteen-year-old Cadmus, a slave to scholar Tullus since he was a baby – his master is the only family he knows. But one day, his master disappears and a taciturn slave named Tog arrives with a secret message, Cadmus’s life is turned upside down.
I initially bought the book solely for the cover (I mean LOOK at this cover!). however, while reading – I have come to enjoy and love the story; the adventure, the myths, the landscapes, and the characters all blend into this heroic mystery adventure. This read teleported me back to ancient Rome and it was fascinating. My rating is 4.5/5 because the ending was not as I anticipated it to be but Goodreads doesn’t have the 0.5 rating so it is a 4/5 (for now).
The second book is a self-development book “Confucius Leadership” by John Eric Adair. I bought this book because I am fascinated and curious about Confucius’ philosophy ‘Confucianism’. However, this book mainly focused on the leadership’s qualities and credibility. John Adair, the celebrated expert on leadership training, shows how Confucian philosophy can help you become a better leader. He demonstrates how, far from merely being interesting ideas from centuries ago, Confucius’s sayings, or Analects, will help you to develop the confidence, characteristics, and skills you need to be the best leader you can be.
Honesty, reading this – it did help me be open and considerate, especially when working with a team because I usually do not like working in a group or team for a project or assignment. My rating is 2.5/5, simply because some or much of the information is just additional or unnecessary information that makes me kind of disinterested in finishing the book.
The last book I finished this month is “The joy of Forest Bathing: Mysterious Japanese Art of shinrin-yoku” by Malanie Choukas-Bradley and illustrated by Lieke van der Vorst. The Joy of Forest Bathing is a beginner’s guide to forest bathing—or Shinrin-yoku, in Japan– the meditative practice of connecting with nature and disconnecting from the distractions of daily life.
It was refreshing and helpful to read something new to help destress and other benefits. Although, I do not enjoy the additional anecdotes. So my rating is 3/5.
Lastly, I hope that this year will be more productive with many positive thoughts to get us all through this pandemic as I finally got to be more productive and started drawing more as well as reading!
Thank you for reading and please stay safe, readers!
-Hessa <3
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