What I’m Reading Right Now: May

May has been a bit of a blur. It felt like the month only started yesterday, but here we are over half-way through already. I guess time flies when you’re in government-mandated social distancing?

But the silver lining is that I still have lots of time for reading. Though⎯somehow⎯I’m still reading at my usual snail’s pace. Maybe one day I’ll actually read a book within the month that I started it, but today is not that day.

As per usual, I’m reading a bunch of different books. I’m proud of my genre distribution lately, as I’ve not just settled into my usual default fantasy books or Anne of Green Gables. One goal I had for my reading habit was to branch out more into different genres, especially some nonfiction. And what’s my favourite genre of nonfiction? Books about books!

Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts by Christopher de Hamel

This tome sat on my wish-list for a while before it was very kindly gifted to me. Then it sat almost reverently on my shelf until I picked it up recently.

You can probably guess from the title, but it’s a book about twelve historically significant Medieval manuscripts. The reader is taken on a journey to where the manuscript itself is held and allowed a glimpse into the world of historical writings, where not many but a select few get to go.

This book is one big geek fest for me, as someone who studied medieval history and literature and just LOVES books. I can’t get enough. Just the descriptions are enough to send my geeky heart aflutter.

I highly recommend this book if you love medieval things, especially books!

A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab

This is the final book of the Shades of Magic trilogy and, quite predictably, I’m a mixture of sad and excited. I’m very much looking forward to see how the book ends but I also don’t want to get there because that means the series will be over.

Very much like the second book, which I read in April (and actually finished in April), I’m continuously wowed by how much I simply enjoy the story and the characters. Of course, I have a big bias towards the fantasy genre in general, but this series had all the things I never knew I needed in my life.

I’ll be quite sad when it’s over.

Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim

Roselle Lim is a Canadian writer who I follow on Twitter and Instagram because I just love supporting my fellow Canadian women writers. When I first followed her, this book wasn’t out yet, so I watched with eager eyes as the book went through its final stages of being published. And to continue to support my fellow writer, I picked it up the day it came out.

Then it sat on my shelf⎯like most books I buy do⎯until I finally decided that it was time to read it. After a year and a half. Sorry, Roselle.

One word of caution for those who read this book (and you should): don’t read it while hungry! It’ll get so much worse! This sweet book is so full of delicious sounding recipes and food descriptions that I always come away with massive cravings.

Despite leaving me feeling like I need to hire a personal chef to cook me some amazing food (because god knows I can’t), I’ve been heartily enjoying this story about love, loss, and rediscovering community. It also has a sprinkle of magic, which I’m always here for.

Bookshops: A Reader’s History by Jorge Carrión

Another book about books? Who’d have thunk it!?

Instead of following books specifically, Jorge Carrión takes the reader on an international journey through bookshops big and small. As with the medieval manuscripts, I enjoy finding bookshops wherever I travel. So this book is basically a way to visit various bookshops without having to leave the comfort of my home. It also provides me with ideas of places to visit when we actually can travel again.

Gosh, I just love reading about books and book-related things.

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That’s it for May!

As usual, this list doesn’t include books I started in earlier months and am still reading now. I hope this provides you with some inspiration for your own reading lists.

I’d love to know what you’re reading right now! So leave a comment and let me know.