Read: 13, Average Rating: 3.6 Stars
Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions (John Grisham) – ★★★ Interesting exploration of the justice system however it seems that does not go as far as I would expect in it’s critiques in order to appeal to the mainstream.
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions (Dan Ariely) – ★★★ Insightful yet occasionally repetitive look at behavioral economics, would be a good introductory book on the topic.
I Heard Her Call My Name: A Memoir of Transition (Lucy Sante) – ★★★★ Raw, honest, and beautifully narrated memoir capturing the an unsual story/path of gender transition.
Memory Piece (Lisa Ko) – ★★★ I enjoyed the beginning of the book describing female friendships and the advent of the internet, but the end of the book jumping to 2040 felt a bit out of place.
ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life (Judith Kolberg) – ★★ I didn’t love how oversimplified some of the adhd/add problems in this book were portrayed and the emphasis on not attempting strategies without a professional organizer.
The Year of Magical Thinking (Joan Didion) – ★★★★ Didion’s Heart-wrenching personal account of grief following the sudden death of her husband, was painful to read and skillfully examines loss and mourning.
Crook Manifesto (Colson Whitehead) – ★★★★ I have likes other Colson Whitehead books so I already knew his take on Harlem’s gritty 1970s underworld would be a good read.
Run: Book One (John Lewis) – ★★★★ Great graphic memoir chronicling Lewis’s early civil rights activism, I hope they teach this in schools.
Mistborn: The Final Empire (Brandon Sanderson) – ★★★★★ I can’t believe it took me this long to read a Brandon Sanderson book. Exceptional fantasy story, that has great world building, compelling characters, and allomancy is a super cool magic system.
Good Dirt (Charmaine Wilkerson) – ★★ I wanted to like this book going back and forth between characters and timelines so much prevented me from getting really into it.
The Well of Ascension (Brandon Sanderson) – ★★★★ I’m continuing the Mistborn series, great focus on the realistic feeling fantasy politics and character growth.
The Hero of Ages (Brandon Sanderson) – ★★★★ I was so sad to finish this series, I want another 10 books with these characters. So impressed with sanderson’s ability to wrap up the vast story he created in the trilogy.
Martyr (Kaveh Akbar) – ★★★★★ What an amazing book, almost certain to make my top 10 this year. Kaveh Akbar was able to entangle so many difficult topics, grief, islamophobia, homophobia, addiction, wanting to be remembered and more into a book that is deeply compelling while still retaining levity and heart.
General Thoughts This month I was back in the States catching up with friends and family, which honestly felt like a warm hug after being away. There were plenty of laughs, good chats, and solid reminders of how much my friends back home mean to me. It was nice to relax and find some creative energy for my final projects without the usual stress. Working on them with the separation of an ocean somehow reduced my anxiety, and I’m still happy with how they turned out.
On the flip side, coming home meant facing a lot of political unease thanks to Trump’s administration. While I consider myself politically active, being abroad had allowed me to separate myself a little bit from US politics. But when I got home, the ridiculous egg prices alone were a glaring sign of how much things had shifted. There were also some personal family matters that were/are stressful though I don’t want to delve into them in detail here.
Thankfully, my foot finally got its act together, letting me jump back into workouts! One of the highlights of my month was doing some social fitness like Barry’s Bootcamp with my sister Sophia and Pilates with my friend Avery. I had greatly missed these kinds of activities and it was a great way to re-connect and just enjoy time with people.
A big highlight was heading down to Charleston for my sister’s graduation from Naval Power School—I felt incredibly proud watching her achieve this huge milestone. Charleston itself was adorable and charming, though as a vegetarian, the dining options were admittedly a bit limited. I also explored Cypress Gardens while there, and the hike through the stunning, unique cypress swamp felt like stepping into another world entirely, unlike any ecosystem I’d seen before.
While in NYC I went to the “Luna Luna” exhibit twice—it was that good! First I went with my friend Anne, then with Milo and Maddy when they rolled into town, turning it into a fun reunion. The exhibit was super silly and joyful but I appreciate the curator’s emphasis on the history of the exhibit. Particularly how many of the artists involved were either descendants of Holocaust survivors or were queer in societies that were not always accepting. Given today’s political climate around LGBTQ+ people as well as Jewish people, I appreciate the visibility around such a joyful art exhibit.
I didn’t even realize how much I’d missed the subway, good bagels, and old routines. There’s nothing quite like the rhythm and reliability of New York’s transit system after navigating Israel’s “quirky” system. It felt great to just immerse myself in the familiar buzz of the city. Being home reminded me of all the little things I love about New York, from the ease of getting around to the endless things to see and do.
As my visit wraps up, I’m genuinely going to miss all this comfort and familiarity. Still, I’m also excited for another semester, reconnecting with my friends in Israel, and getting to explore the country for another 5-6 months.
Reset Questions
What went well in February?
What didn’t go so well in February and what can I improve?
Goals for March?