The Habit of Reading Multiple Books, and My Favorite Book This Year

Currently, I'm reading A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire) and The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and I just finished Babel, or The Necessity of Violence last week. Last December, I read Dune and The Snow Child simultaneously—a really interesting combination because of their contrasting nature. The Snow Child is set in a chilly, snow-heavy landscape, unfolding at a rhythmic pace like a fairytale, with an ending that’s as sad, beautiful, and pure as freshly fallen snow. Meanwhile, Dune is set in a hot, unforgiving environment with a quick, intense tempo.

People say reading two books at once is not a good idea, but I love the experience of hopping between worlds, immersing myself in different perspectives. The only thing I’m bad at is remembering names. It was not a problem until A Game of Thrones; I consider that the most challenging part of reading fantasy, as good fantasy books usually contain a wide range of characters and houses. The book is excellent, however.

My favorite book of 2024 is Babel, or The Necessity of Violence. I have read R.F. Kuang’sYellowface before and deeply admire her work. Her writing is beautiful.

***(Spoiler Alert)***

Babel, or The Necessity of Violence, speaks a powerful truth about racism in a way that feels tangible. The hatred the characters face for the one thing they cannot change is raw and unsettling. It presents the dilemma of indulging in the comforts provided by an empire as it wreaks destruction upon their homeland. The book addresses the backlash that arises when one questions the ethics of capitalism built on exploitation—only to be labeled ungrateful for the supposed better future the Empire has provided. Other themes of cruelty, greed, entitlement, and ethical dilemmas are also cleverly woven into the book with artistry, exposing the darker sides of human nature.

Robin’s fate is destined from the beginning. He was saved by the British, only to end up losing his life in the process of destroying the Empire. It’s heartbreaking to witness the dissolution of the friend group they once believed would last forever. While I understand Letty, I found her hard to accept. My Roman Empire is Griffin Lovell, watching his friend group fall apart with no one left to rely on, and though he states that the word nice in English originates from the word stupid in Spanish, he comes to rescue Robin every time.

"Hello, Brother." "Hello, little brother." "I came to save you, brother."

Even by the end of the book, we still do not know the real name of Robin Swift. I suppose this was intentional because, after all, we read the book in English.

What I love about Kuang's writing is how she reveals the ending as if it’s just the beginning—a conclusion that feels less like closure and more like a doorway to an open future.

"She cannot know what shape that struggle will take. There are so many battles to be fought, so many fights on so many fronts – in India, in China, in the Americas – all linked together by the same drive to exploit that which is not white and English. She knows only that she will be in it at every unpredictable turn, will fight until her dying breath."

"Be brave, be selfish."