You Are Spring

Ever since I quit my job in July of this year, I have been spending a lot of my time reading. Consider this as a kind of reconnection with one of my most favourite things in the world to do. In comparison to the last couple of months, even years, I have been able to read a significant amount since July. While I am taking my time with words, I am glad that I have returned to the joy of reading.

September was a good month for reading for me. The books that I read were vastly different and surprisingly, I enjoyed all of them. In case you were pondering about any of these, I hope my thoughts will help you decide. Here’s what I read:

1. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

There is not one person on Instagram with a passion or an image for reading who has not recommended this book. I pride myself on not getting carried away with book recommendations from TikTok (BookTok) and Instagram (Bookstagram), yet I could not escape this one. What sold this book for me was its tagline, “It’s not a romance, but it is about love.” And it was. This book is one of the most beautiful depictions of love in all its forms. Some people are meant to be in your life. It does not mean that they are there for you to pursue them romantically. But there is something between you two, some connection on a deeper level, that only the two of you can understand.

The book follows Sam and Sadie over the course of three decades — how they met, how their friendship came to be, how they grew apart, how they got back together, their genius brains in a creative field, their separate and overlapping relations, their fights and differences, their grief and love for each other, and so much more — as they come together to build a video game. Zevin’s writing is modern and evokes plenty of emotion wherever necessary. The characters are fleshed out quite impressively and contain multitudes which makes it easier for the reader to feel for them and with them. Overall, this was a delightful read. It reads like contemporary YA fiction but with adult characters with adult problems.

2. Pew by Catherine Lacey

I discovered this book when I saw one of my Goodreads friends reading it. Pew is unlike anything that I have ever read. It settles on the existential question of someone’s identity. I am certain that this is one character who you will never be able to imagine in your head while you are reading the book. Pew’s identity remains a mystery throughout the book. What is their gender? What is their race? How do they look? How does their hair look? What is the colour of their eyes? What is the shape of their body? Pew is devoid of all preconceived notions that we use to determine an identity. I have never read fiction with a character as ambiguous as Pew.

Their gender, nationality, race, religion, past, occupation, education, family, and even name are all left undetermined. And that makes you think. As soon as I put down the book, I thought about this — who am I without these demographics and characteristics? How would I describe myself to someone I had just met if I didn’t have any of these prompts to help me? Think about it. Do you not start your introduction with your name? What is your identity? Is your sense of self a construct determined by these elements that cage your perception of yourself?

To add to the eerieness and ambiguity, Lacey has Pew remain silent throughout the book. That brings us to the question of how we are perceived when we cannot express ourselves. What is also interesting about Pew, the book is how the other characters react to them. This usually ranges from frustration and exasperation to connection and empathy. In a short time, this story makes you think and ponder complex notions of identity which makes it a compelling and thought-provoking read.

3. Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Howl’s Moving Castle remains to be one of the most incredible Ghibli films for me. It is charming, witty, funny, lovable, light-hearted, and perfect for a comfort watch. Now I won’t say that the book is better as it is quite different from the movie. However, the overall vibe and appeal of a whimsical fantasy remains and is even amplified with Jones’ writing.

The book takes its time to delve into different characters and develop their stories while intricating it with the plot. Howl is one of the most delightful fictional characters that I have come across and I couldn’t help but love him in the book. The side characters, including Sophie’s sisters, Calcifer, and Michael, have more presence and nuance in the book. The humour is well-timed and the writing is glorious. I would highly recommend reading the book if you have watched the movie. If you haven’t, watch the movie first, and then read the book.

You will be able to grasp the foreshadowing and hints quite early on. I was amazed at how Jones was able to weave all storylines together by the end. I did feel there was a certain deus ex machina moment that was also a bit rushed towards the end but I can’t help loving the book as a whole and how it made me feel.

That’s all for September. Feel free to connect on Goodreads.