March's Readings

This month's readings were quite different from the first two months as I stepped away from my fictional readings. Instead, I delved into some thought-provoking and rather philosophical books.

You Can Have A Better Period - Le'Nise Brothers

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The nature of this book is pretty self-explanatory. It suggests that one perceives their menstrual cycles as inner seasons, shifting throughout the month.

This book has been my airport read for the last couple of months. I would grab it every now and then to read a chapter or two but it’s really dense in information and can get a little bit repetitive. I would absolutely recommend it to any menstruating individual (or anyone really) who wants to learn more about menstruation cycles as it is a good introductory book.

Personally, I feel like I knew a lot of its content already (which is why I graded it at 3.5 *) but it was nice to have all the charts and lists assembled into one book. Everything is thoroughly explained and vulgarised to be as accessible as possible which I liked.

Civil Disobedience - Henry David Thoreau

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This short book is an essay written by American author Henry David Thoreau in 1849, which argues that individuals have a duty to resist government policies and actions that they believe are unjust. This essay came as a response to the author’s opposition to the Mexican-American War and the institution of slavery in the United States. In fact, Thoreau refused to pay his taxes as a form of protest against the war and was subsequently arrested, spending a night in jail. This experience inspired him to write "Civil Disobedience" and to argue for the idea that individuals have a right and a duty to resist unjust laws and policies.

Thoreau believed that slavery was morally wrong and violated the fundamental principles of liberty and equality that America was founded upon. In his essay, he emphasises the importance of individual freedom and self-reliance and criticises the tendency of governments to become too powerful and oppressive.

This book was a gift from a very politically engaged friend of mine and to be honest has lived on my bedside table for about 4 years before I actually got to read it. I picked it up one random weekend when I was staying with my mum and I am so glad I did. This book is short and relatively accessible. Thoreau’s philosophy remains painfully relevant today and an important text in the history of political thought.

The Little Prince - Antoine de St. Exupréry

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A plane crash, only 8 days' worth of water to survive and a curious little boy overflowing with wisdom.

When a pilot crashes in the Sahara Desert, he realises he only has 8 days' worth of water to survive. Worried about fixing his plane as fast as possible, his mission is quickly disrupted by a curious little boy asking him to draw a sheep.

Over the following eight days, the little prince will share his story and experience travelling across different planets, reflecting on the people he’s encountered throughout his journey. At the end of those eight days and eager to return to his beloved flower, the little prince returns to the stars, leaving both narrator and readers with valuable lessons about the importance of seeing beyond the surface and connecting with the heart.

The Little Prince is one of the most translated texts in history, besides religious texts. It is a short and somewhat absurd read in-temporal and moving text yet.

Reading this book felt as an adult a deeply emotional experience: some sort of getaway to the foreign land of childhood. And it was painfully beautiful.

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Currently reading:

• Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

• Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

• King Kong Theory by Virgine Despentes