On my way to work, I take advantage of a 30-minute train ride to read. On the way back in the afternoon, I have another 30 minutes. Usually, before bed, I spend about 45 minutes continuing my reading. I read nearly two hours a day, a little more on the weekends. It is my favorite pastime. This year, I read over 70 books.
I recommend two: one fiction and one non-fiction book that is nearly 100 years old.
The recommendation in the fiction field isn’t exactly a single book but a series:
Tana French has written two books set in rural Ireland, The Searcher and The Hunter. The main character is Cal, a retired cop from Chicago who decides to settle in a cottage far from civilization. Much of the success of the narration comes from two secondary characters—the neighbor who controls everything good and bad that happens in the village and Trey, a young girl apprentice carpenter around whom the plot of both books revolves.
Stellar Moments of Humankind by Stefan Zweig is a classic by the Austrian author. This masterpiece offers profound insights, and I found the chapter on Handel’s composition of “The Messiah” particularly compelling, highlighting the musician’s triumph over illness and despair.
As an extra, I’d also like to mention The Secret Hours by Mick Herron, part of the Slow Horses universe. It revolves around Molly Doran, who expertly manages the archives in “The Park.”
I wish you all a fruitful 2025! 🎉
Un blog personal sobre ciencia
