7 Books I Read and Loved This Year

I dived into “Lessons in Chemistry” at the beginning of the year and I have to tell you that it was an absolute delight. Even my kids got on board, especially my daughter, who’s practically memorized some parts because she’s read it so many times.

This novel, written by Bonnie Garmus, orbits around Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant chemist navigating the late 1950s and early 60s. Elizabeth is a resilient woman who challenges the norms of her time.

From a technical point of view, the book is not sophisticated, but it has a polished, funny and thought-provoking story. It digs into issues like sexism in the workplace, the constraints on women’s aspirations, the complexities of motherhood and the meaning of family. Plus, it gives an intriguing peek into the world of 1960s chemistry and scientific exploration.

The cherry on top for my family is that there’s now a TV series inspired by the book, which kicked off this fall. We haven’t watched it yet as we’re holding out until the last episode airs. Once it does, we’ll indulge in weekly binge-watching sessions.

“12 Rules For Life” is a self-help book written by Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson. The book provides life advice through essays in abstract ethical principles, psychology, mythology, religion and personal anecdotes. It topped bestseller lists in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom and had sold over five million copies worldwide by the end of 2020.

I stumbled upon the author, Dr. Mindy Pelz, during a fantastic interview by Steven Barlett, the host of my latest podcast obsession, The Diary of a CEO. 

I’ve been doing intermittent fasting for a long time for metabolic health and this book was an absolute game-changer. I had to add it on this “books to read” list. It clued me in on why some days I breeze through my fast, while on others, it’s like battling a hormonal roller coaster. 

Even if fasting isn’t your cup of tea (and it’s not for everybody as we are all different), this book is a goldmine of insights into how women’s bodies work and how to keep hormones balanced. 

As an added bonus, there are some seriously tempting recipes waiting at the end of the book.

This is another book that my entire family enjoyed. Written by Shelby Van Pelt, it’s a heartwarming and unconventional tale of friendship between a widow, a young man and an octopus. The story revolves around Tova Sullivan, a widow who works the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. She befriends Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus is highly intelligent and has a unique perspective on his surroundings.

Tova has been grieving the loss of her son, Erik, who disappeared thirty years ago. Marcellus, who is unusually intelligent, deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. Now, Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for Tova before it’s too late.

The book explores themes of grief, freedom and the deep connection between humans and the sea. It’s a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible. The characters are engaging and relatable, and the story is skillfully intertwined, with Marcellus adding a unique perspective.