This is my maiden round-up post on impactful books read in 2025.
My reading graph peaked last year. Convalescing in between surgeries, I read books – some half read, some carry overs of previous year and also a few totally fresh and new.
I also challenged myself with one or two non-fictions which are humungous and daunting scholarly works.
Goodreads says I read a total of around 59 books. I am not sure. I didn’t keep count.
However. reading that many books is record breaking as I am a slow reader. I don’t believe in setting records and placing quantity over quality yet it’s satisfying and feels like an achievement.
The book finishing which did give me a sense of pride and accomplishment is this one. Yes, I had set a deadline – to finish it before my third surgery. More than four hundred odd pages I am glad I did not leave it midway or let the heaviness of the subject get to me.
I should have kept this one on top of the list because I started it in the hospital after my first surgery and finished when I was back home. This book gave me a lot of perspective about what, how and why to think positive and was a guiding light in my days of adversity and pain. Though it did not completely change my way of thinking but it did teach me to put a brake on my thoughts whenever they went haywire.
In my quest for happy and healthy living this book was a path paver. I had started reading it many years back but couldn’t finish. Maybe it was waiting to be read at the time when I required it the most. Easy and interesting – one that I raced through.
The most serene, soul stirring read of the year to which I believe I’ll go back again and again. Kind of preordained it was waiting to be picked up at a particular juncture of life.
To this list of soul satiating reads I will add another two – books left aside and picked up when the time was ripe.
Last but not the least, the powerful voice of North-east which I found in this book read out of gratitude and curiosity.
Life is an eternal quest and a book that sets one on this journey is this one which I keep going back to.
One challenging read which left me confused by its verbosity making me realise one more time the beauty of brevity.
And then there are some perennial rituals like re-reading Satyajit Ray – the Feluda series – or any Agatha Christie – the geniuses are always enthralling.
2025 is also the year of Audio Stories – listening to Dipannita Ray’s young adult stories back to back – a great find!!!
I have set a few reading challenges for this year too – a mix of fictions and non fiction – heavy and light weight.
Will talk about them at length.
Till then…
Happy Reading!!!
Don’t Believe Everything You Think
Footnote : Click on the name to read the detailed review.
It is incredibly inspiring to see how books became your companion and guiding light during your recovery. Reading 59 books is a massive achievement for anyone, let alone while going through surgeries! Your resilience shines through this post. Wishing you a very healthy and book-filled 2026!
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Thank you so much Shanky. I wish you the same.
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It is said that a book is a man’s, and they sure did help you during your recovery. That’s a lovely, varied collection. I hope to read some of them, especially the Feluda series.
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Oh! I am so glad you liked the collection, especially, the Feluda series. Can you read Bangla ?
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Sadly,I can’t. 🙂
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Wow 59 is some number. Isn’t it amazing how books help us. The first two are in my to read list and I thoroughly enjoyed Ikigai. Happy reading.
These days I am reading books by Elizabeth Strout.
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How is she ? Fiction?
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Fiction. She won Pulitzer prize for one of her books. Her books are mainly set in Maine in New England. Just yesterday I finished “Tell me everything”. A book with so many characters but I enjoyed her writing.
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