One of my favorite recaps of the year is about all the books I read. I’ve always enjoyed reading, and I’ll always be glad for the year I came back to it. It takes motivation (like a goal and desire) and convenient tools (like an e-reader and a library card) to get into a reading routine. (Here are a few more tips for reading more.)

Of course, solid recommendations also help. I’ve learned that they’re very subjective, so take a person’s recommendation or an award list with a grain of salt. For example, I read a book this year that made it to multiple best-of lists, and I hated it. So, as with most recommendations in life, tailor your choices to your preferences.

All that said, read on to learn about what I read this year!

Book Stats of 2025

Here’s a quick look at all the books I read this year.

• Books read: 56
• Pages read: 20,169
• Average book length: 360
• Average rating: 3.3/5
• Shortest book: 115 (You Better Be Lightning)
• Longest book: 544 (Onyx Storm)
• Non-fiction: 11
• Memoirs: 9
• Romance: 17
• Historical fiction: 4
• Audiobooks: 29
• Books for book club: 9
• Books that became movies: 4

Favorite Books of 2025

Here are 14 books I read and recommend. You’ll find a variety of genres on this list. Some themes I found among my favorites were memoirs with grief, novels involving multi-generational families, and feel-good romances. I hope you find a future read on this list!

Real Americans by Rachel Khong

This is a tale of two time periods. In one, Lily and Matthew, two opposite people, fall in love. In another, Nick, raised by Lily, decides to search for answers. This immersive novel will make you consider the ability to alter your destiny.

Historical fiction
Destiny, family, privilege

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

June Farrow is waiting for the madness that has plagued the women in her family. She starts hearing and seeing things. I can’t say too much without giving things away, but know this story stayed with me and was a beautiful story about love.

Fantasy
Magic, romance, mystery

The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd

“I am Ana. I was the wife of Jesus.” It’s unknown whether Jesus was ever married, but this meticulously researched novel shares what the story could be if he had been. From the wife’s perspective, this book focuses on her life while illustrating Jesus’ humanity. It gives additional details to the lives of the other women in his life, like his sister and mother, who are briefly mentioned in the bible because of patriarchy. I enjoyed this book because it shows a perspective I hadn’t considered before. While some might think the book is blasphemous, I think it shows depth of love and respect and can enhance a person’s understanding of Jesus.

Historical fiction
Jesus, feminism, reverence

This Motherless Land by Nikki May

How do the choices of others affect our life path? Funke and Liv are cousins whose lives come apart and together by the choices of others, misunderstandings, and fate. I like the way the story unfolded, though frustrating at times and slightly predictable at the end. If you want a story spanning multiple generations, you’ll like this one.

Fiction
Belonging, identity, friendship

The Wedding People by Alison Epach

This was an unexpected favorite book of mine this year. Lila, a bride who has planned every detail of her wedding, including booking out the entire inn for her guests, didn’t plan for Phoebe, a sad woman at her rock bottom, who had booked a room as a romantic getaway with her husband. They become unexpected and somewhat unwilling friends bonded by the wedding drama. This book is funny! Note – there is a trigger warning for suicide.

Fiction
Humanity, humorous, gentle

The Women by Kristin Hannah

This novel is centered around Frankie, who joins the Army Nurse Corps in 1965 to follow her brother’s path to Vietnam. She endures the destruction and heartbreak of war. The journey is a bit predictable, but the story is still engrossing. You’ll cheer Frankie on from start to end. The Women is a tribute to women who have served the country.

Historical fiction
War drama, female empowerment, heart

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

In Emily Henry’s new book, she veers a bit from her usual romance to a more contemporary novel. This book reminded me of Taylor Jenkins Reed’s books. In this one, you’ll meet Alice and Hayden, both writers who are competing for the opportunity to write Margaret Ives, heiress of a tabloid-favorite family. You’ll find the dialogue and banter I like in Henry’s books, and the slow burn of two people getting to know each other.

Romance
Enemies-to-lovers, mystery, drama

A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung

In Nicole Chung’s second memoir, she finds understanding in the lives of her adoptive parents. In sharing this story, she also analyzes grief, guilt, and inequalities of life in the U.S. This book resonated with me because it describes what it’s like to care for your parents when they become elderly.

Memoir
Grief, adoption, legacy

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson

Charmaine Wilkerson’s book Black Cake was one of my favorite books a few years ago, so I was looking forward to her new novel. Wilkerson has a way of unfolding a story with chapters of past and present, and this story involves Ebby, a traumatic event, and a centuries-old jar that has been in her family for generations.

Historical fiction
Contemporary, mystery, family

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

Carley Fortune is a popular romance author, and her books are focused on summer love. In this one, Alice is a photographer looking for inspiration while taking care of her grandma, and Charlie is a dreamboat perfect man. The story unfolds perfectly, complete with a sassy grandma as a supporting character, and you’ll be wishing you could experience the summer magic of Barry’s Bay yourself. This book is related to Fortune’s book Every Summer After – Charlie is the brother of that book’s leading man, Sam – and it would be more enjoyable to read that book first, though not necessary.

Romance
Summer, light-hearted, family

Between the Mountain and the Sky by Maggie Doyne

This memoir will make you cry. In 2005, before starting college, Maggie Doyne took a gap year and traveled to Nepal. That experience called her to build a home in Nepal, adopt 50 children, and start a non-profit organization. The memoir details the entire journey and her thoughts throughout the process. As if the story isn’t fascinating enough, Doyne’s writing pulls you in, and you feel the depths of her emotions. This book will remind you of the needs of others and inspire you to lend a helping hand.

Memoir
Inspiring, thoughtful, heart-warming

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

“A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon.” This novel is set on Shearwater, a (fictional) remote island near Antarctica, where researchers had been cataloging the world’s largest seed bank. This story is filled with detailed nature descriptions, secrets, and beautiful illustrations of love in multiple forms. If you want an epic tale, this is one!

Fiction
Nature, mystery, relationships

Heartwood: The Art of Living with the End in Mind by Barbara Becker

This memoir is heartbreaking and heart-expanding. Barbara Becker shares stories about her experiences with grief and death, challenging readers to not be afraid of death and to prepare for it thoughtfully. This is a book to savor.

Memoir
Grief, inspiring, heartfelt

You Better Be Lightning by Andrea Gibson

I hadn’t heard of Andrea Gibson until her death this year. Her journey with cancer is what many know about her, and she is also a talented poet. Her writing is raw, progressive, and honest. From climate change to dying, Gibson’s book shows vulnerability, acceptance, and a call-to-action.

Poetry
Honest, thought-provoking, raw

Reading Goals for 2026

I’m keeping my goal of 55 books in 2026. Per last year’s goals, I did branch out to more science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary fiction.

This year I want to read classics I’ve missed, including:

• 1984
• Little Women
• Pride and Prejudice
• Animal Farm
• Wuthering Heights
• Lord of the Flies
• The Scarlet Letter
• Brave New World
• The Diary of a Young Girl

What was your favorite book this year? Send me a recommendation!

P.S. Here are my book recaps for 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017.

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Seven years ago, I rediscovered my love of reading and made an effort to read more. While the numbers have gone up and down, my goal is usually 50+ books. This year, I hit my 50-book goal with three weeks to spare.

Visit my Bookshop to see and purchase my favorite books.

Book Stats of 2024

Here are my stats for 2024.

• Books Read: 50
• Pages Read: 17,075
• Average Rating: 3.5 stars
• Audiobooks: 24
• Fiction: 43
• Non-fiction: 7
• Memoirs: 3
• Romance: 15
• Young Adult: 3
• Historical Fiction: 7
• Books Rated 2 or Below Stars: 5
• Book Club Reads: 8
• Shortest Book: 128 pages, Good Grief by Brianna Pastor
• Longest Book: 640 pages, Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
• Average Length: 341 pages

See all 50 books I read on Goodreads.

10 Favorite Books of 2024

If I can summarize my favorite books this year, they lean more towards light-heartedness and romance. I have a history of picking up emotional and depressing books, which I did include this year, but I kept it lighter this year.

Under each book, you’ll see the genre and three words I used to describe the book.

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See

Author Lisa See has a way of diving deep into her historical fiction novels. You become wrapped up in the characters and intensely knowledgeable about this historical world. This book is set in 15th-century China and follows Tan Yunxian as she becomes a physician, which is not typical of a woman born into an educated, elite family. You’ll see how she chases and develops her interest in medicine as she navigates a traditional marriage, societal expectations of women, friendships, and familial relationships. I also read Lisa See’s popular book Island of Sea Women this year and enjoyed it, but I liked this one more.

• Historical fiction
• Captivating, empowering, cultural

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

“Can love make a broken person whole?” This book introduces us to William Waters and a family of four sisters. You meet each character to follow their journey and see how theirs winds around others throughout the book. The four sisters are much like the sisters of Little Women, to which the author pays homage. Something happens and the effects ripple, which takes you on a journey to see how it impacts the characters and their relationships.

• Contemporary Fiction
• Emotional, engrossing, familial

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

My first experience with romantasy had to be the one that has made waves since it came out in May 2023.

Violet Sorrengail is twenty years old and entering the war college where each cadet is put into one of four quadrants – scribes, riders, infantry, and healers. She spent most of her life in the library, but her mother, who is the commanding general, has ordered her into the riders, the most dangerous quadrant because you know, dragons. Plus, the lead wingleader Xaden Riorson, the son of the rebel leader who was put to death by her mother, probably wants to kill her. 

Is the writing good? No, but it gets the story across even though the smut is a little cringey. Is the world intriguing? Yes, dragons! This enemies-to-lovers novel was a nice break from what I usually read even though some of the fantasy elements reminded me of other stories like Game of Thrones.

• Romantasy
• Smoldering, drama, dragons

The Mountains Sing by Nguyen Phan Que Mai

This historical fiction epic follows the Trần family – first a mother and her six children and then her granddaughter and her family. The family finds a way through their hardships, and the beautiful tale shares a story of hope. I didn’t know much about the Vietnam War, so this book taught me a lot about the history.

• Historical Fiction
• Poignant, war, thoughtful

Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan

Author Julia Whelan is an award-winning audiobook narrator, so listening to her narrate her book was delightful in itself. The story is about two audiobook narrators who follow their journeys that may or may not lead to each other. (It’s a romance; of course it does!) I enjoyed these characters and how they interacted together.

• Romance
• Entertaining, audiobook, banter

Funny Story by Emily Henry

I’m beginning to think there will be an Emily Henry book on my list every year. I like her writing style and her banter dialogue. I liked this book more than her last two books. The premise of this one: Daphne is broken up with by her fiance Peter because he loves his childhood friend Petra. Daphne moves out of their house and becomes roommates with Petra’s ex-boyfriend Miles. It only makes sense to PRETEND they’re together to make their exes jealous but then…yep, you guessed it.

(If you’ve never read Emily Henry, I would start with Beach Read and Book Lovers.)

• Romance
• Witty, friends to lovers, comeback

How To End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

This book was my favorite of the year. It starts 13 years in the past – when Grant hit and killed Helen’s younger sister with his car. Now in their 30s, they end up in the same room across the country for their jobs. It’s an unlikely pair, but somehow it also feels like fate. I liked that this book looked into what goes into writing a TV show, something the author does. This is the author’s first novel, but she’s no stranger to romance; she’s a screenwriter and director adapting two of Emily Henry’s books into movies.

• Romance
• Enemies to lovers, unexpected, heartfelt

Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley

Daunis Fontaine witnesses a shocking tragedy and goes undercover to help find out why. But what if finding out the truth hurts her community and her identity as a biracial tribal member? I enjoyed this book because it took me into Daunis’ world, even though sometimes I get annoyed by the teenage perspective. It dives deep into Native American culture, sharing traditions and history.

• Young Adult Fiction
• Mystery, Native American, thriller

Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

If you’re looking for a lighter mystery fiction, this one is for you. This story brings together Lana (grandmother), Beth (mother), and Jack (daughter) as they become amateur detectives to solve a murder and clear Jack’s name. These three each have their stories and they are all pretty likable. Because they are amateur detectives, the writing is less thriller and more fun mystery.

• Mystery Fiction
• Light, mystery, familial

Adam and Evie’s Matchmaking Tour by Nora Nguyen

Evie Lang’s beloved aunt has died and she has pre-arranged a trip for Evie: a matchmaking tour in Vietnam, her family’s native home. Adam is the Chief Marketing Officer of the matchmaking tour and is a bit grumpy and uptight. Could they find love?? I liked the travel aspect, taking readers around Vietnam. And a romance novel with Asian leads is a win for me!

Author Nora Nguyen also writes literary fiction under the name Thao Thai, and she wrote one of my favorite books from last year.

• Romance
• Adventurous, enemies to lovers, cultural identity

Reading Goals for 2025

After two years of hitting my 50-books goal, I’m going to get a bit more ambitious and bump it up to 55. I also want to add more different genres. While I enjoy the light-hearted romance, I’ll try adding more contemporary fiction, science fiction, and fantasy.

What was your favorite book this year? Send me a recommendation!

P.S. Here are my book recaps for 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017.

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I did it! After 4 years of not reaching my reading goal, I read 50 books this year. (Granted, my goal was 65(!) books in some of the years.) It’s not the most books I’ve ever read (see 76 in 2018 and 64 in 2019), but it was a solid year of reading that I’m proud of.

Visit my Bookshop to see and purchase my favorite reads!

Book Stats of 2023

Here are my stats for 2023:

• Books Read: 50
• Pages Read: 16,891
• Average rating: 3.3 stars
• Audiobooks: 8
• Fiction: 43
• Non-fiction: 4
• Memoirs: 3
• Romance: 11
• Young Adult: 5
• Shortest Book: 213 pages, Before the Coffee Gets Cold
• Longest Book: 450 pages, This Tender Land
• Average Length: 337 pages

See all 50 books that I read on Goodreads.

Favorite Books of 2023

It looks like I gravitated toward lighter contemporary fiction this year, especially ones exploring relationships. Here are 12 of my favorite books this year and the ones I recommend. Under each book, you’ll see the genre and three words I used to describe the book.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

One of the main characters is Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. This story is about unexpected friendships and healing from loss with a dash of mystery. If you like heartwarming fiction, you’ll enjoy this book.

• Contemporary fiction
• Friendship, heartwarming, hope

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

This fiction book will linger long after you finish it. Zevin’s detailed writing style brings you deep into the characters and this world she created, one you’ll be fascinated by even if you don’t play video games. I enjoyed the way love and friendships are illustrated in many facets.

• Contemporary fiction
• All-encompassing, relationships, video games

Something Wilder by Christina Lauren

While I read romance fiction here and there, I find them too cheesy and with lackluster writing most of the time. But this book landed as one of my favorites this year because it’s a fun adventure as a Wild West treasure hunt. If you’re looking for something light-hearted, check this one out.

• Romance fiction
• Adventurous, surprising, light-hearted

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho

Emmanuel Acho started a video series to address systemic racism and his conversations have evolved into this insightful book. Fighting for black lives may not be a headline topic for media these days, but it should be an ongoing conversation. Acho speaks with open-hearted understanding and clarity to help answer questions you don’t know who to ask. If we are to make the world a better place for all, this book, along with curiosity, is a good place to start.

• Nonfiction
• Educational, compassionate, thoughtful

Central Places by Delia Cai

A 27-year-old Chinese woman, Audrey, brings her white fiancé to her tiny hometown in Central Illinois to meet her immigrant parents, which makes her confront the person she was and the person she wants to be. This book tells the story of going home again, the one you escaped for bigger and better things but also adds the complicated element of growing up in two cultures. Audrey is not a likable character but the book is well-written and if you keep reading, you’ll see how Audrey can grow.

• Contemporary fiction
• Family drama, prickly, insightful

This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub

“A 40-year woman with a dying father is drifting along when she finds the chance to travel back in time to the day she turns 16.” This one is a love story, and your heart will feel so full when you enter the world of Alice and her father.

• Literary fiction
• Time travel, family, affection

Happy Place by Emily Henry

I’m sure you expected this book to be on the list if you’ve read my past book recaps. Emily Henry’s romance novels are witty and easy-going, and it’s nice to enjoy books like this occasionally. While I still love her previous books, Beach Read and Book Lover more, this one is an entertaining read. Happy Place is about Harriet and Wyn, the perfect couple who broke up but will pretend they’re still together on their annual vacation with their best friends.

• Romance fiction
• Light-hearted, witty, friendship

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

This epic novel is not something I would usually pick up or maybe even enjoy, but that’s the fun of book club picks! Set during the Great Depression, It’s a story about four orphans on a journey – physical and spiritual – that brings them to various obstacles and strangers.

• Historical fiction
• Adventurous, epic, youthful

Banyan Moon by Thao Thai

Centered around the Banyan House, a lake house in Florida where they all once lived together, this debut novel introduces us to Ann Tran, her grandmother Minh, and her mother Huong. At the beginning of the book, we find out Grandmother Minh has suddenly passed and Ann and her mother are estranged. The book shares all three of their stories while also delving into the beauty and complexity of the mother-daughter relationship.

• Contemporary/historical fiction
• Family, warm, harmony

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

Clover is a death doula, meeting people at the end of their lives to help them find peace. But Clover’s gift to the world comes from a heavy past that she needs to learn how to process. I loved this book because I didn’t know much about death doulas and the way the author weaves Clover’s story, personality, and emotions is masterful. This book approaches the sometimes taboo subject of death openly and beautifully.

• Contemporary fiction
• Heartfelt, thoughtful, romantic

Maame by Jessica George

Another debut novel, this coming-of-age story follows Maddie, a 25-year-old in London. This book seamlessly touches on many topics, like the complexity of love, the waves of grief, racism, and the power of support. Ultimately, you’ll remember what it’s like to grow through experiences. This book is sometimes heavy and raw, but Maddie’s humor and the hope of redemption also keep you reading and cheering Maddie on.

• Contemporary fiction
• Emotional, bildungsroman, somber

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Ambition, love, and science. In the early 1960s, Chemist Elizabeth Zott was the only female on her team and seemingly the most competent. This fiction novel is about how she fights through the things that aim to hold her back, because of her love of science and the hope to inspire other women. This book is something different, introducing a unique character and story structure, but you’ll be dazzled by the way things fall together. It’s also now a show on Apple TV, which I also recommend.

• Contemporary/historical fiction
• Inspiring, feminist, entertaining

Reading Goals for 2024

I finished reading 50 books with about a week and a half to go, so I think it’s a doable goal for me. Here’s to 50 great books in the next year!

What was your favorite book this year? Send me a recommendation!

P.S. Here are my book recaps for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017.

The post My Best Books in 2023 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Visit my Bookshop to see and purchase my favorite books!

My Books of 2022

Here are my stats for 2022:

• Books Read: 35
• Pages Read: 12,136
• Average rating: 3.3 stars
• Audiobooks: 1
• Fiction: 28
• Non-fiction: 7
• Memoirs: 5
• Historical Fiction: 4
• Shortest Book: 208 pages, Radically Content by Jamie Varon
• Longest Book: 448 pages, The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade
• Average Length: 346 pages

My Favorite Books of 2022

Here are eight books I loved reading this year:

Book Lovers by Emily Henry
One of my favorite authors had a new book this year. Emily Henry’s romance fiction books include clever banter and are easy and entertaining reads. What happens when a literary agent and a book editor who are enemies run into each other in a small town?

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
I couldn’t put this fiction book down. Black Cake follows a family who has come together after death to learn buried secrets. The revelations show the depths of survival and sacrifice. I also love that the story is centered around black cake, a traditional Caribbean dessert recipe. Reading this encouraged me to read Finding Samuel Lowe, the true story that gave some inspiration for the author to write this one.

What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo
Wow, this book! Trauma is never an easy subject to read about, especially when it involves children. Author Stephanie Foo brought us along her healing journey and in turn, we can better understand ourselves and others. I found an additional connection in her story because she is Asian and her parents were immigrants. In sharing her story, Stephanie shows the peace, joy, and continuous healing that can happen when we approach the darker parts of our lives.

The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
If you need a book that’s light-hearted and shows the good of humanity, The Reading List is a sweet one that revolves around the love of books! I like how the characters and their stories come together through their local library.

Honor by Thrity Umrigar
This fiction book follows the events after a Muslim village attacks a Hindu woman for marrying a Muslim man. I liked this book because it taught me a lot about India and its different cultures. The story is compelling and encouraged me to think about how people hold and act upon their beliefs. How important are traditions and when can there be exceptions?

We Were Dreamers by Simu Liu
You might know Simu Liu as Jung Kim of the show Kim’s Convenience or Marvel superhero Shang-Chi, but his origin story was unexpectedly touching. In this memoir, I connected with his struggles growing up between two cultures and the immense pressure Asian parents put on their children. His thoughts about his parents and grandparents are endearing.

The Vibrant Years by Sonali Dev
I loved the set-up of this romance fiction – multiple generations of women in a family with their own life challenges they’re working through. Each woman is bold in her own way, and together, they are unstoppable. This was an entertaining read.

Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Author Taylor Jenkins Reid is talented at immersing you into a new world and in this case, it’s tennis superstar Carrie Soto’s world. While she isn’t the most well-liked person, the book is excellent at showing the complexities of who she is behind the public eye. This is a fiction story of determination, vulnerability, and lots of heart.

Reading Goals for 2023

I’m keeping my goal of reading 50 books next year, though I haven’t read 50+ books in three years. I have a list of books I’ve been meaning to read (see my Goodreads list) so I hope to finally cross those off the list.

What was your favorite book this year? Send me a recommendation!

P.S. Here are my book recaps for 2024, 2023, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017.

The post Books I Read in 2022 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

I was in a reading rut this year. I read some great books – see the recommendations below – but overall, I was disappointed with most of the books I read, which didn’t encourage me to reach for another book! Many times it was not liking a book that is highly recommended (I didn’t like Leave the World Behind, which everyone seemed to like and I’ve confirmed I’m not a Sally Rooney fan). More thoughts on what I’ll do next year in the section below.

Keep reading for stats and recommendations!

My Books of 2021

Here are the stats:

• Books Read: 40
• Pages Read: 12,729
• Average rating: 3.5 stars
• Audiobooks: 1
• Memoirs: 6
• Fiction: 30
• Non-fiction: 10
• Historical Fiction: 2
• Young Adult Fiction: 8
• Poetry: 1
• Graphic Novel: 3
• Romance Fiction: 10
• Shortest Book: 94 pages, What Kind of Woman by Kate Baer
• Longest Book: 448 pages, The Things We Cannot Say by Kelly Rimmer
• Average Length: 318 pages

My Favorite Books of 2021

Here are some of the books I loved and recommend to you.

Beach Read by Emily Henry
I loved this entertaining novel, especially for the writing. I didn’t realize it was a romance novel until later, and I was delighted by the witty banter.

Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi
This young adult fiction novel focuses on two estranged sisters who come back to each other. I wasn’t sure about this book at first, but the story illustrates the complex, unconditional love between sisters.

Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad
At 23, Suleika was diagnosed with leukemia. This raw and heart-breaking memoir follows her recovery and the unexpected, and many times unspoken, feelings that people in the midst of a health crisis are feeling. In her story, she gives us pieces of advice for moving forward through disappointments.

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff
I’ve been reading more historical fiction thanks to what gets picked for book club, and this one about female spies in World War II was a page-turner.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry
After my first Emily Henry book (mentioned above), I was eager to return to her writing. This one wasn’t as good as Beach Read, maybe because of the storyline, but the easy, witty dialogue is present in this romance novel also.

The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans
I was a bit on the fence about this book of short stories but the final story, which the title of the book comes from, sealed the deal for me. The stories discuss race and American history.

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
This steamy romance novel is witty, progressive, and surprising.

Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford
This coming-of-age memoir focuses on the author’s relationship with her father, who is incarcerated. The honesty and insightful revelations made this a good read for me.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
I liked Matt Haig’s memoir Reasons to Stay Alive, which details his struggle with depression. This book turns the memoir into fiction and follows a protagonist as she explores how her life would have been if she had made different choices. Ultimately, she is looking for a reason to stay alive. Trigger warning – this book illustrates depression and suicide.

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
This beautiful young adult fiction book made me cry. It follows Noah and Jude, teen brother and sister twins, as they lean into creativity (they’re art prodigies), process heartbreak, and learn the depth of what being a twin means.

Reading Goals for 2022

Next year I will read 50 books. (Going to be a little more realistic.) I liked reading more books with Asian protagonists, which I’ll continue next year. And perhaps making a dent in my want-to-read Goodreads list; there are 200+ books on it! I’m going to rediscover my joy of reading in 2022 by reading books I wouldn’t usually pick, maybe more science fiction. If you have book recommendations, please let me know; I’m desperate!

How was your reading this year?

P.S. Here are my book recaps for 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017.

The post What I Read: My Books of 2021 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Here’s a recap of my year of reading!

My Books of 2020

Here are the stats:

• Books Read: 47
• Pages Read: 14,330
• Average rating: 3.8 stars
• Audiobooks: 7
• Memoirs: 17
• Fiction: 17
• Non-fiction: 23
• Poetry: 5
• Graphic Novel: 1
• Romance Fiction: 6
• Shortest Book: 87 pages, Evidence of the Affair by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• Longest Book: 584 pages, Women Who Run With Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés
• Average Length: 304 pages

My Favorite Books of 2020

Here are some of the books I loved and recommend to you.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
If you’re looking for a page-turning novel about a Hollywood actress’s glamorous life, this is it. This award-winning book came out in 2017 and it’s as entertaining as they say it is.

Know My Name by Chanel Miller
There are so many powerful points in this memoir by Chanel Miller. Her story touches on ways we can help victims of sexual assault and how we can transform our thinking and processes around justice and healing. A favorite line: “You have to hold out to see how your life unfolds, because it is most likely beyond what you can imagine. It is not a question of if you will survive this, but what beautiful things await you when you do.”

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed by Lori Gottlieb
If you’re interested in self-help, therapy, and psychology, this memoir has plenty of thought-provoking nuggets. The book is structured with the author, a therapist, telling her story and in her revelations, she reminds us we all have much to learn. A favorite line: “But many people come to therapy seeking closure. Help me not to feel. What they eventually discover is that you can’t mute one emotion without muting the others. You want to mute the pain? You’ll also mute the joy.”

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
I was intrigued by this fiction book and love how the lives in the story weave together. It’s topped many lists this year and I agree! It’s a story about twins who grow up to live separate lives with different racial identities.

Untamed by Glennon Doyle
If you’ve read anything by Glennon, you know she speaks the truth and she doesn’t sugarcoat it. If you need some inspiration, a push to be more, and encouragement while you’re stuck, this book has it. A favorite line: “If you are uncomfortable—in deep pain, angry, yearning, confused—you don’t have a problem, you have a life. Being human is not hard because you’re doing it wrong, it’s hard because you’re doing it right. You will never change the fact that being human is hard, so you must change your idea that it was ever supposed to be easy.”

Sorry I’m Late: I Didn’t Want to Come by Jessica Pan
I loved this book because Jessica felt so much like me. While she intentionally set out to do extrovert things, I did some of these things for fun and experienced a lot of the same introvert feelings. Jessica’s humor is also aligned with mine so I thought this book was hilarious!

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
This young adult poetry fiction was an unexpected favorite. It’s a beautiful story about family, grief, and belonging. It also gives a glimpse of the privilege of where you are born as it follows one teenage daughter in the Dominican Republic and another teenage daughter in New York City.

The Beauty in Breaking by Michelle Harper
I picked up this memoir randomly and was captivated by the beautiful writing, the look inside an emergency room, and the thoughtful insight Michelle shares about her life lessons.

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
This graphic novel about George Takei’s childhood, specifically about his time in an American concentration camp for Japanese residents during World War 2, taught me a lot about the shameful U.S. history we don’t talk much about.

Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman
This non-fiction book about a friendship, where it went right and wrong, kept me thinking. The subject of growing friendships is one I’ve noticed more and more in media. The concepts might be simple but the process is harder than it looks.

Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong
The title says it all, doesn’t it? The term ‘minor feelings’ refers to the contradiction between your racial reality and American optimism, usually caused by the dismissal of your feelings. This book of essays explores being Asian in the U.S. and is a timely read.

And here are some feelings about other books I read this year:

• The one that had me laughing out loud: Dear Girls by Ali Wong
• The one that made me cry a lot: Finding Chika by Mitch Albom
• The one with a fascinating look behind the scenes: Becoming by Michelle Obama
• The one that was incredulous: Wild Game by Adrienne Brodeur
• The one that re-ignited my farm dreams: The Rural Diaries by Hilarie Burton Morgan

Reading Goals for 2021

Next year I want to read 65 books. I have a handful of books that I started this year that I want to finish. I want to read more science fiction and fantasy and food-focused since I didn’t this year. Other than these guidelines, I’m up for anything!

What’s your favorite book you read this year? Do you have any book recommendations?

P.S. Here are my book recaps for 2019, 2018, and 2017. I track books I’ve read and want to read on Goodreads. See my profile here.

The post What I Read: My Books of 2020 appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

My Books of 2019

Here are the stats:

• Books Read: 64
• Pages Read: 21,630
• Average rating: 3.7
• Audiobooks: 25 
• Memoirs: 10
• Fiction: 48
• Non-fiction: 16
• Poetry: 1
• Science Fiction/Fantasy: 10
• Romance Fiction: 7
• Young Adult Fiction: 15
• Shortest Book: 79 pages, Blue Horses
• Longest Book: 870 pages, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Average Length: 337 pages

Favorite Books of 2019

Refuge by Dina Nayeri
A gritty historical fiction novel about immigrant life, illustrating what immigration does to families and their concept of home.

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
A fun novel about love and life as a curious and unconventional woman in New York City in the 1940s.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
A novel about four Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-born daughters who learn through their mothers’ stories.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
A vivaciously imaginative novel (book #4 in the series) about Harry Potter and his on-going battle against Lord Voldemort. I think this one was my favorite in the series followed closely by Deathly Hallows.

Feast Your Eyes by Myla Goldberg
A novel about a genius photographer and her journey through her ambition and motherhood.

Other Book Notes

Goals vs Reality
Last year I wanted to read more science fiction and fantasy and ended up reading 10 of them. I teased about reading the whole Harry Potter series and I jumped in after Will started them. We both finished the series and watched the first three movies. I also wanted to read more classics, which I did not do but will put on the list for next year.

Common Theme: The Wild
I read several books about the wild and grand outdoor adventures. The Great Alone, The Simple Wild, and Braving It were all set in Alaska. The Dirty Life was about a woman’s transition from city life to farm life. To Shake a Sleeping Self was about a 16-month cycling trip from Oregon to Patagonia. I like the idea of big, outdoor adventures but don’t usually have them in my life.

Young Adult Fiction
A few young adult fiction novels made it to my read list. A Wrinkle in Time was a classic I hadn’t read. I picked up the new book, The Rest of the Story, by one of my favorite authors as a teen, Sarah Dessen. Dumplin’ and Puddin’ were about high school girls in a small Texas town. On the Come Up and Little & Lion tackled heavy subjects of racism and mental health, and I was glad to see those books as resources for young adults. I typically pick out books from recommendation, not knowing much about the book details or subject, so it was surprising to see I read many young adult fiction novels.

Romance Novels
This was the year I dived into romance/chick-lit novels! I read the first one because I was curious about this genre and found that they were quick, light-hearted, and fun reads.

Don’t Believe the Hype
Do you ever finish a highly recommended book and wonder if you were the only one that didn’t like it? I usually pick books randomly based on recommendation lists and I read several books that I didn’t understand why they were highly rated. It’s a reminder that people have different tastes and perspectives!

Reading Goals for 2020

My goal this year is to read 65 books. The classics are still on my list and more science fiction and fantasy are too. I want to try at least one book in the horror and mystery/thriller categories. I want to read more food-related books. Every month, I’ll read a non-fiction book for my soul (something spiritual), for love (something for my relationship), and for power (something to improve a skill). I’m going to join in Book Riot’s Read Harder challenge.

If you’re looking for a reading challenge, check out this big list from GirlXOXO.

What’s your favorite book you read this year? Do you have any book recommendations?

P.S. Here are my book recaps for 2018 and 2017. I track books I’ve read and want to read on Goodreads. See my profile here.

You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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What a fun year of reading! I started the year with the goal of reading 50 books. (I had read 53 books last year.) I ended up increasing it to 70 in the summer and then to 75 in the last few months of the year. I ended up reading 76 books! I mention the books I read here and there on my Captivations posts but I thought it would be fun to do a full recap of my year of reading.

My Books of 2018

First, some stats!

• Books Read: 76
• Pages Read: 21,424
• Average rating: 3.7
• Audiobooks: 28
• Memoirs: 22
• Fiction: 31
• Graphic Novels: 4
• Books of Short Fiction Stories: 2
• Poetry: 1
• Self Help: 7
• Shortest Book: A Different Pond by Bao Phi (32 pages)
• Longest Book: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (489 pages)
• Average Length: 281 pages

Favorite Books of 2018 (Books I Gave 5 Stars)

Tell Me More: Stories about the 12 Hardest Things I’m Learning to Say by Kelly Corrigan
This memoir was a surprise favorite for me. I didn’t like it at first but grew to love the simple lessons. With stories about her two teenage daughters, husbands, and friends, Corrigan takes everyday struggles and shares profound insight.

What Unites Us: Stories of Patriotism by Dan Rather
We are a deeply divided country and the divide seems to grow with every offense. Journalist Dan Rather shares stories of the U.S. he knows and what can be done to bridge the divide. This book was a good reminder that our bubbles protect yet hinder our growth.

The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying by Nina Riggs
Within a year of a thirty-seven-year-old wife and mother discovering one small spot of cancer, she receives the news that it is terminal. Riggs’ memoir is a heavy one as she prepares to leave her young sons and her husband of sixteen years. It’s strange how facing death can give wisdom of how to live, and this book is a gift to the living.

The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui
This graphic novel is a quick and sweet read. It gives us the story of the author’s immigrant family coming from Vietnam to the U.S. parallel to the story of her learning to be a mother. Bui’s thoughtful and loving commentary shows the reverence and appreciation of everything parents sacrifice to give their children a better life.

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
The rich, colorful, and dramatic story Lee illustrates will have you feeling the pain and victories of the characters. This fiction novel follows three generations of one Korean family in Korea and Japan as they endure war, prejudice, and life’s hardships.

The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan
I loved reading The Third Plate by Dan Barber last year and this book continues my journey of learning more what we eat, where it comes from, and what affects that has on our lives and environment. This Michael Pollan book brings light to different food sources – from fast food to his own hunting and gathering.

We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled: Stories from Syria by Wendy Pearlman
This was a hard book to read but it was powerful and impacting. I think being a world away from conflict and viewing events through the eyes of media can make us feel far removed. This book shares the voices of Syrians who have endured and still endure unthinkable hardships. (I shared more from this book in this post.)

Choose Wonder Over Worry by Amber Rae
I loved this book because it encouraged me to see things from a different perspective, just as the title suggests. I can worry about what’s to come or choose wonder about how these things can empower my life.

Educated by Tara Westover
Westover’s memoir has been winning awards and topping lists, and after reading it, I can see why. The author shares her compelling story about how she grew up in a survivalist Mormon family in the mountains of Idaho. Her father didn’t believe in public education and she didn’t start formal education until she was 17 years old, but her ambition and thirst for knowledge took her to Brigham Young University, Harvard, and Cambridge. Her ability and ambition to excel is noteworthy, but I found her journey in self-discovery and healing to be the most important part of her story.

Evicted by Matthew Desmond
Desmond spent years in the field doing research and getting to know eight families in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Milwaukee. The result is this detailed, beautifully written, and heartbreaking book that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2017. The weight of the book made it hard to read and it took me months, but the end, the epilogue where Desmond offers solutions and tells how he researched the subject, will remind you the future is not hopeless.

All Over the Place: Adventures in Travel, True Love, and Petty Theft by Geraldine DeRuiter
This memoir will make you laugh, gasp, and get the feels, all while effortlessly following along the stories. This book is full of entertaining stories from DeRuiter’s life, and it’ll make you wish for the travel mishaps from where the best adventures come.

Other Book Notes

Most Surprising Books
These books were hard to read at times because of the atrocities the authors as children had to face. I think of children as happy and cared for but their stories opened my eyes to the reality.

• Never Stop Walking by Christina Rickardsson
• The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya

Books Worth the Hype
You’ve seen these books on list after list, and I agree that they’re worth reading. These books will keep you captivated and glued to the pages.

• An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
• Educated by Tara Westover

Books that Made Me Cry
I read a book by a widow and another by someone who died after writing the book. Both detailed fights against cancer and the precious moments and opportunities we take for granted.

• The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying by Nina Riggs
• It’s Okay to Laugh by Nora McInerny Purmort

Most Welcome Light-Hearted Book
I tend to read a lot of books with heavy subject-matter. I intentionally sought out something light-hearted and fun, and this book was it!

• My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella

Books that are a Wild Ride
These books have drama and *spoiler alert* plot twists I wasn’t expecting. I read all three books in the Crazy Rich Asians series this year and they’re all like that.

• Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
• Beartown by Fredrick Backman

Common Themes
This year I sought out books about immigrants, refugees, and Asian culture, especially books written by Asian authors. It was a year of insight and connection, and I hope to continue this in the new year.

Reading Goals for 2019

My goal is to read 70 books next year. I want to read more of a genre I don’t usually read – science fiction and fantasy. Perhaps I’ll tackle the Harry Potter series? (I had read up to book four when they first came out.) I also want to make sure I sprinkle in more light-hearted books because I tend to choose impactful yet heavy reads. Reading more fiction will help with that. I also want to read as many classics as possible. I haven’t read books like 1984, Pride and Prejudice, or The Scarlet Letter! If you have any book recommendations, I would love to hear them!

If you’re looking for book recommendations, see these lists:

• NPR’s Best Books of 2018
• Goodreads’ 2018 Best Books Award List
• The New York Times’ Best Books of 2018

What’s your favorite book you read this year or favorite book in general?

P.S. If you’re curious about how I read so much (and how you can too), see this post I wrote last year.

You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

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Note: I’ve been working on this piece about immigrants and refugees for a few months, and it’s still not done. It’s a delicate subject, one with constant updates and changes and one filled with a lot of emotions. There’s so much to say. Whether it’s through spreading knowledge, giving money, or volunteering our time, we have the opportunity to make a difference in other people’s lives. I hope this sparks a conversation in your life, drives you to act, and gives you a reason to care.

Working at a hotel, I meet co-workers who are immigrants. They tell me about their second jobs, the ones they go to after their shift at the hotel and on their days off from the hotel. They tell me about their kids and their goals. They tell me how they’re doing in their weekly English classes. They tell me about family members in their country and their past jobs. They dream of a better and easier life for themselves and their children. What they’re living through now is how I got to where I am today.

My Story

My parents immigrated from China and started building a life in the U.S. more than 35 years ago. They worked hard, and my dad still works more than 10 hours a day, six days a week, in the same restaurants for more than 25 years. Their hard work and gumption earned them a house, car, family vacations, and a privileged life for their kids. They understood education was the way to a better life for us. They saved for music lessons, summer camps, and tutoring classes. My mom took me to the library constantly to feed my love of reading. They saved for my college education.

Life wasn’t perfect and if they were discriminated against as an immigrant, they shielded me from it. Only the silliness of kids at school would remind me I was different. We endured the typical struggles of an immigrant family but I didn’t see the sacrifices and didn’t think much of it. Through their hard work, I had a privileged, “regular,” suburban childhood.

Where I am today is because of their hard work, but I’m also lucky. Because of when and from where my parents immigrated and who my parents knew and how they helped them, I don’t live in fear that my dreams would be ripped from me or I would be separated from my family. I’m blessed to live a privileged life chasing my dreams and traveling freely around the world.

Their Story

An immigrant is a person who comes to a foreign country where they are not natives with the hope of living there permanently. A big motivator for immigration is a higher wage, and people also immigrate to escape poverty. Most immigrants in the U.S. come from Mexico, India, Philippines, China, and Vietnam.

A refugee is a person who has been displaced and forced to leave their country to escape war, persecution (like ethnic cleansing), or natural disaster. They may also be called asylum seekers. The way I think about it, the living conditions in their home country are so dire, that they have no choice but to flee. The alternative is to stay and die. The highest number of refugees come from Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Somalia, Myanmar, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2016, more than 5,000 refugees died trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea. About 16.2 million people were driven from their homes in 2017.

Because of what they endure, it is unfair to loop them into the same category, but for so many, there is no difference in how or why a person wants to enter our country. Simply, they are outsiders coming to an unfamiliar place, needing many resources to rebuild their lives.

Think about how you would rebuild your life in a new country where you don’t know the language, traditions, and laws. All you know is that this new life will provide better opportunities for you and your family.

These are some of the struggles immigrants go through:

• They wait for their immigration to be approved. Depending on their home country, it can be fast or it will take years.
• After they immigrate, they need to find an affordable home and a job.
• Children need to integrate into a school and catch up with their peers. Some are learning English and come from homes where English is not spoken. They may struggle to keep up.
• Parents must figure out how to make enough money to provide for their kids. Sometimes this means not seeing their kids as often as they’d like because they are constantly working to make ends meet.
• If someone has immigrated alone, they are missing their friends and family back home. They need to find a community in their new city.
• Immigrants must find the resources (classes, tools, etc.) and time to learn English.
• They learn how to navigate their new home. This might include learning the routes of public transportation, learning traffic laws, finding the grocery stores, learning how to use the currency, and enrolling their kids in school, among so many more things.
• They keep the hope through the struggles of money and culture that they made the best choice and greater things are always ahead for their family.
• They endure humiliation, ridicule, and hate when they don’t do things right and can’t speak the language and communicate. Or maybe it’s for no reason at all besides the way they look.

On top of everything above, these are some of the additional struggles refugees go through:

• After fleeing a country in turmoil, they wait in limbo at a border or in a refugee camp for a new home and a country that will take them in. At a camp, they struggle for food, shelter, and all the other basic needs for themselves and their children. Humanitarian organizations can only provide so much. They wait in lines for hours for a bathroom and shower and receive meager food portions.
• Children lack a normal childhood. They have seen war, violence, and death. They experience hunger. They are forced to grow up fast. They can’t go to school. They learn to survive and get by.
• Adults and children deal with emotional turmoil. They mourn family members who have died from bombs, torture, hunger, and other unimaginable ways. When they are finally safe, they need to learn how to process and express their emotions and past. They struggle to be “normal.”
• They don’t stop losing hope for the people and the country they left behind. Sometimes this means waiting to hear from family and friends and hoping they are safe.
• When they are safe and rebuilding their lives, they wonder why people with wealth didn’t help more. They may feel guilty for the things they receive while others still suffer in camps or their home country.

The Story of Syrian Refugees

I’ve been reading books about immigrants and refugees to get a better sense of what it’s like. I want to know more but these books are hard on the heart. The book We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled is one I read at the beginning of the year and it wrecked me. You have to read this book slowly because it’s hard to emotionally take in all at once. Over 300 Syrian refugees were interviewed over four years. (This book was published in 2017.) It details what happened in Syria, how it happened, and the aftermath.

What struck me most is the aftermath, how Syrian refugees are doing today. The book shares stories from refugees who are rebuilding their lives in new countries. After the deaths of family members and friends, physical destruction of their communities, fear of corruption and torture, and countless other struggles, they come, many smuggled and risked death because there’s no other way, to a new country that doesn’t want them.

Governments are slow with paperwork so they are literally sitting and waiting in a tent city or temporary housing, doing and having nothing, even when they have degrees and professional licenses. No legal papers (no documentation of who you are) mean no housing approval and no hope to secure a job. On top of this, citizens who lack understanding and compassion yell racial insults to “go back to your country” when they have no idea what they endured and that there is no livable country to return to now.

Here are some of the quotes from the book that struck me the most about rebuilding their lives in a new country:

“We don’t have a problem with death. Our problem is life without dignity. If we’d known what was in store for us, we never would have come. But we did come, and now we can’t just return. There’s no way back.”

“If I’d known this was life here I would have stayed in Syria and handed myself over to ISIS. It’s better to die once than die slowly every day.”

“We were alive, but not really living.”

“What do they expect us to do? Isn’t it enough our government destroyed us and we lost everything? We would prefer to stay in our country. If you don’t want refugees, help us make peace in Syria.”

“We’ve accepted the fact that we need to make our dreams smaller if that’s what it takes to keep dreaming.”

What kind of life is one without human dignity, forward progress, or hope? How do you go through the day when you can’t feel your worth or assure your kids that everything will be ok?

Our Story and How to Help

I believe we’re all in this together. I think we have an obligation to our humanity to help each other. (Especially since the U.S. and other first-world countries are likely somewhat at fault for pain and suffering around the world.) Maybe it is a naïve way to think. There are limited resources (money, space, etc.) but is it too much to ask that a person’s basic needs are met? There are rules to follow, but separating children from parents shows no compassion. I wish one person’s personal agenda didn’t dictate another person’s quality of life. I wish there was an easy solution.

It is emotionally taxing to keep up with heart-breaking news, but it is our privilege as rich, first-world, free people to care because their lives matter and because we can always do better. We can make a difference and even a little can impact one person’s life.

How do we do it?

• Stay aware. Read the news and keep up with what is going on.
• Share the news.
• Vote for leaders that support what is best and keep them accountable.
• Donate money to local, national, and international organizations.
• Donate physical items to local organizations.
• Get to know and become a friend to immigrants and refugees in your community.
• Volunteer your time with organizations.

Educate Yourself and Stay Aware

There’s a lot to learn and understand. In addition to keeping up with the news, here are a few articles, books, and films to learn more.

Quick Education Links

• New York Times Article: Debunking the Myth of the Job-Stealing Immigrant
• Research findings and statistics about immigrants in the U.S.
• U.S. Government Immigrant Visa Process
• Refugee Stats at a Glance
• On Stopping Family Separation by A Cup of Jo
• Lasting Psychological Trauma of Refugee Children
• A short account of a refugee settling in Houston

Books to Read

• We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled by Wendy Pearlman
• The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui
• The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen
• A Nation of Immigrants by John F. Kennedy
• The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Warmariya
• Refugee by Alan Gratz

Documentaries to Watch

I think even watching these short trailers will give you some things to think about.

• This is Home: A Refugee Story

• The Other Side of Immigration

• 4.1 Miles

• Who is Dayani Cristal?

• I Learn America

• Human Flow

Support Organizations

Thankfully, there are organizations doing hands-on work. They are helping refugees and immigrants by meeting their basic needs in their home countries and camps. They are helping rebuild lives. Give your time to an organization in your community or give money.

Austin Organizations:

• RAICES
• Casa Marianella
• Refugee Services of Texas
• Caritas of Austin
• Workers Defense Project
• SARA Organization
• Multicultural Refugee Coalition
• The Amala Foundation

National/International Organizations:

• Preemptive Love Coalition
• International Rescue Committee
• Refugees International
• Save the Children
• Mercy Corps
• UNICEF

I’m a part of the Preemptive Love Coalition’s group The Frontline. You see some of the organization’s photos above. Preemptive Love Coalition provides relief for people in war-torn countries and encourages others to love anyway, no matter what fear and violence make us believe. They made this great video that gives a glimpse into why giving and caring matters.

Conclusion

I don’t have a magic solution and I wish I did. The list of why immigrants and refugees cannot succeed is long. And yet, we have many examples of people who have come to the U.S. and other first-world countries and thrived. They go on to make the world a better place. Little by little, as we understand and work together, we can find a way to help immigrants and refugees succeed.

If you’ve made it all the way through this post, thank you. I know it is a heavy and huge subject. I hope you feel hope instead of despair. There are many fighting for a more compassionate and inclusive world.

If you have thoughts or recommendations for resources, books, documentaries, organizations, etc., please share below!

Connect with me! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Bloglovin’. You can also subscribe to the exclusive email list.

The post Why Fighting for Immigrants and Refugees Matters to Me appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

I was a bookworm as a kid. (This might not surprise you. I’ve got #nerdalert all over this blog.)

When I was a kid, my mom took us to the library nearly every weekend and we’d come home with a big stack of books. I read a lot of Carolyn Harwood’s series about Betsy, The Boxcar Children, Sweet Valley High, The Babysitter’s Club, and really anything with an interesting cover. My love for reading simmered when high school had required reading. I didn’t like reading on someone else’s deadline and it was homework. (Though I did enjoy a handful of the books we had to read!)

Flash forward to the last few years. I set reading goals for 12 or 24 books a year and it was hit and miss. Then at the beginning of last year, I made a goal to read 24 books and started getting into a grove with reading. From audiobooks to reading books that have been on my list for years, I ended up reading 53 books and I’m thrilled to re-discover my love of reading! (I count audiobooks as reading, as I would count reading aloud to a kid as reading. To each his own!)

Reading is an important part of continuous learning. It exercises your mind, sparks new ideas, improves your writing, and teaches you something new.

Here are eight tips that have helped me read more and re-discover my love of reading:

1. Make reading a priority and/or put it on your schedule.

The big thing in reading more was keeping reading at the forefront of my mind. Once you get into a routine, you’ll crave reading time. Instead of watching a tv show, mindlessly scrolling through social feeds, or playing a game, I thought of the book I was reading and chose it instead. Scheduling time to read also helps. Try an hour before bed, 30 minutes in the morning, or even 15 minutes at lunchtime.

2. Make reading goals and track them.

In the last couple of years, reading a specific number of books was on my goals list. Last year, the number was 24 books. The website Goodreads helps keep track of your yearly reading goal and cheers you on. Using the free website to track what books I’ve read and what books I want to read is helpful and encouraging. After finishing a book, one of the first things I did was mark the book as “read” in Goodreads. I’m a little competitive, so keeping track and seeing how close I was to my goal was like a game. See the books I read last year here! You can also connect with friends on Goodreads, see their reading progress, and get recommendations.

3. Keep a constant list of books you want to read.

When you have a list of books you look forward to reading, you won’t run out of ideas. I use Goodreads to mark books as “want to read” and I can go to that list to find ideas. I also put books on my wishlist through my library’s website and easily see what is currently available to check out. These book recommendations come from everywhere, and it’s never-ending!

If you need some recommendations, here are some of my favorite books I read in the last year:

• Born a Crime – Trevor Noah
• The Moth Presents All These Wonders – Catherine Burns
• Braving the Wilderness – Brene Brown
• When Breathe Becomes Air – Paul Kalanithi
• The Third Plate – Dan Barber
• What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding – Kristin Newman

4. Get a library card.

Reading does not need to be expensive! Except for one or two of the books I read last year, all were borrowed from the library AND I didn’t physically go the library once. My library has an online ebook and audiobook checkout system, so when the book is available, I can easily download it to my Kindle. You’ll likely need to go in person to your library to sign up for a library card but after that, browsing the catalog and checking out books can be done online. It saves a lot of time, saves fees from no late returns, and you have access to books for free! There is also an app called Hoopla that lets you immediately stream free audiobooks, ebooks, and more instead of waiting to borrow from the library.

Of course, if you’d rather have a physical book or don’t have an e-reader, you can go to the library and check books out for free too.

If your library doesn’t have a digital option, Amazon Prime members have access to free books and Prime Reading provides unlimited access for $9.99 per month. Apple also provides a few free books on their devices.

5. Get an E-reader.

I got a Kindle Fire as a gift a few years ago and it is easily the most beneficial gift I’ve received. I use it every day! I use it for audiobooks, ebooks, Candy Crush, and Duolingo. If you’re ok with the size (it’s about half the size of an iPad), it can easily be your go-to tablet. It’s also pretty affordable. A regular Kindle e-reader is about $80 and a Kindle Fire starts at $50.

6. Have a book with you at all times.

Since most of my reading was digital (ebooks and audiobooks), my Kindle lives in my purse during the day and coffee table at night. You could carry a book with you or keep a different book in your office, car, and home so you don’t need to tote it around. Have an accessible reading option wherever you are.

7. Make the most of commutes.

I have a long commute to work each day, so I plug in my Kindle Fire and listen to my current audiobook. Out of the 53 books I read last year, 21 of those were audiobooks. I feel like I’m much more productive on my commutes now. I’ve found that memoirs read by the author, especially actors, are some of the more entertaining books to listen to.

8. Find books you enjoy.

Your options are endless! Love to travel? There are books that will take you to other places. Fiction, memoirs, foodie books, cookbooks, and the list goes on and on. One thing I learned to be ok with was putting a book down if it felt unbearable. Sometimes you won’t like an author’s style of writing or maybe the topic isn’t for you. I support challenging yourself but I also think time is valuable, so use that time for enjoyable reading.

Whether it’s one book or 100 books, I hope you get some reading in this year! (The above photo shows some of my favorite books. I also showed one of the books I finished recently in the very top photo.)

I know some of my blog readers are bookworms too. Any tips you would add to help with reading more? Or what’s the ONE book you would recommend?

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