2013: My Year in Books

When I was pregnant, my mommy friends told me to read as many books as I could before the baby came. Looking back at my year, I actually got to read quite a few! I love reading, so I’m glad I still managed to eke out some precious page time, even with the demands of a new baby.

Receiving a Kindle as a no-occasion present from Marlon enabled my reading habit to flourish. Instead of just staring into space—or lovingly into my baby’s eyes, as TV commercials would have you believe—during Tala’s numerous feedings, I held my Kindle in my free hand (one-handed activities rock!) and read while nursing.

Book reviews are not usually my thing, but looking back, I decided these books were worth sharing. So, in no particular order, here’s a one-time-big-time review of my year in books.

Fiction

You’ll notice I love young adult fiction. My book recommendations have been met with awkward silence by the typical mommy set who love their Oprah’s Book Club type stuff. Seriously, good books can be found in every genre if you just open your mind!

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. Best book I’ve read all year, and that’s saying a lot in a year that included Ender’s Game (see below). I loved how his tale wove in reflections on childhood and adulthood, and the fine, fine line between the two. Neil Gaiman has perfected the balance between whimsical flights of imagination and real emotional weight that comes from keen observation and a thoughtful understanding of the human heart.

Unnatural Creatures: Stories selected by Neil Gaiman. After The Ocean at the End of the Lane, I just had to have more whimsy, more magic, and more Neil Gaiman. I love short stories, and this anthology was a fun and easy read.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. I wanted to read this before the movie came out, and I’m glad it did. It was one of those books I harassed Marlon to read right away so we could talk about it. Seeing the trailer made my heart sink—it doesn’t seem to capture the depth of this brilliantly conceived, vividly written science fiction classic. It felt like a flashy effects-driven kiddie adventure, but I’m still hoping for something closer to Minority Report, A.I. or even Gattaca. Read the book!

The Corn Maiden and Other Nightmares by Joyce Carol Oates. The titular short story in this anthology is about a little girl abducted by older girls from her school. I don’t know why I bought it three months post-partum, because three pages in, I began trembling in fear and crying like a baby at the mere thought of Tala being kidnapped. Not for hormonal moms.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan. Think Plum Sykes’ Bergdorf Blondes or Debutante Divorcee, but set in Southeast Asia and not quite as funny. Frivolous, frothy and plotless, with lengthy descriptions of designer clothing, pricey real estate and lavish spending. Kind of like the society pages, but about people who don’t exist. Hey, sometimes you just need to read stuff like this.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. A thrilling whodunit about a wife’s disappearance and her husband’s attempt to clear himself as primary suspect, written from both perspectives. Its deft twists and entertaining turns make you wonder: how well can you ever really know someone? So screwed up, so compelling, sooooo good.

Babies & Parenting

I learn by doing research as new situations come up, so I never read a lot of baby books. I’m not the type to swear by this philosophy or that method, either. These were the few I did read and would recommend.

French Children Don’t Throw Food (also published as Bringing Up Bebe) by Pamela Druckerman. The highly controversial observations of an American expat journalist on French (specifically Parisian) parenting. The French media thought it was anti-French; Americans thought it was anti-American. Funny.

I thought it was a great read, and surprisingly close to how our generation in the Philippines was brought up. For example: the emphasis French parents place on kids greeting adults “Bonjour” reminded me of my childhood friends whose parents never let me forget it when I failed to greet them “Good evening.”

I highly recommend this for parents-to-be—whether  you love it or hate it, it’s a great way to prompt reflection and discussion on how you’d like to raise your children, and to be open to the multiplicity of ways it can be done.

Baby Led Weaning and The Baby Led Weaning Cookbook by Gill Rapley and Tracey Murkett. The basic whys and how-tos of teaching babies to feed themselves from an early age. Benefits, tips and tricks, and recipes are all laid out in a way that’s easy for harassed new parents to absorb and understand. Worth reading if you’re concerned about raising a picky eater.

Baby Sense by Ann Richardson and Megan Faure. A present from a mommy friend, this was great in the early months to learn about how babies process sensory information. It includes practical suggestions for age-appropriate sensory stimulation, from designing the nursery for a newborn to month-by-month activities to help babies develop their senses.

Nonfiction

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling. Laugh-out-loud hilarious! I’m always in awe of writers with keen powers of observation, a distinct voice and style, and pitch-perfect word choices. Mindy Kaling is one of those writers. The best quick/light/easy read of the year.

What were some of the best books you read in 2013? Because, you know, my pile of unread books isn’t big enough!