Marta leyendo by Marta Astrain (2010)
The too-recent and too-familiar headlines on censors and book bans in the US left a deep cut into my values and everything I stand for. Books, freedom of the press, knowledge. It is everything. We have access to all the knowledge at the tip of our fingers, I have access to all the knowledge and I could be reading about so many different lives and POVs, and what do I do? I watch the same series over and over again. The recent headlines reminded me of my privileges and got me in a frenzy to read. As much as I could, as various as I could, online or paper, anything that interests me will end up in my brain.
When we were kids, my dad used to narrate, to my brother and me, the story of Agathe the fly. Nights after night, at bedtime, he would make up (or read us, I can’t remember for the life of me, I am old be indulgent) the adventure of the fly that bzz bzz bzz. As soon as I could read, I craved more adventures and my parents got me a subscription to a reading magazine (“J’aime lire”, for the OGs), I was so happy when it arrived in the post on Wednesdays. I inevitably started the Harry Potters, staying up waaaay into the night, listening carefully to the downstairs noise of my parents going to bed (to turn off the light and fake sleep), as I needed to know what happen next. Later, I got into Russian and Middle Eastern literature, non-fiction and reading the news every morning. Whilst at uni, my reading time was so essential I would wake up at 5 am to enjoy my book and my selection of articles. Why not read after my classes? Bar, beers, debates until late into the night, that’s why.
I am forever curious, thirsty for knowledge and open to new literature. I have judged books by their covers (and they were almost all great reads), bought way too many books at once, had a massive pile of “to read” and read multiple books at the same time. I currently have around 23 tabs open with substacks and other articles I cannot wait - to take the time - to read, a new passion for the Bronze Age and a reignited old flame for history, democracy, and civilizations (all linked with invisible thread in my head, like one of those crazy crime board). I am busy reading. Because I know how important it is, how books and articles give us an opening on worlds unknown, opinions, and stories we would have otherwise never encountered. I read because I know what fascists and authoritarian governments target first when they want to destroy democracy. I read because I know how powerful it can be.
An eclectic and non-exhaustive list of books I absolutely loved and that shaped my thoughts over the last 10 years. I had to restrain myself greatly and cheat a bit to make a top 10 (yes one per year, how clever).
Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy. One of my favourite books of all time, the characters, the plots, the writing and the scenes: it’s all grand. A recent memoir as a bonus read: Notes on Heartbreak by Annie Lord. I loved the new take on relationships and break-ups, a brilliant read.
Explaining Humans, Dr Camilla Pang. I recommend this to everyone; this is my life-changing book.
The 1001 nights, the René Khawam French translation. I cannot wait to re-read it, research it and dig deep into all the legends.
Black Wave, Kim Ghattas. A masterpiece of journalism according to me (clearly an authority in the field) exploring the rivalry between Tehran and Riyadh.
The Silk Roads, Peter Frankopan. History, so much history, so important.
Why Nations Fail, Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson. More history and tools to change the way we think about poverty, wealth and power.
La tyranie de la communication, Ignacio Ramonet. I was gifted this book when I was a student in journalism and it was such an important read to understand the role of the media beyond what I was taught.
Woman at Point Zero, Nawal El Sadami. (trigger warning: rape and abuse) No words I can write will give justice to this story, a woman narrates her life story from Cairo’s prison. An important novel, heartbreaking and eye-opening.
How Democracies Die, Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt + On Tyranny, Timothy Snyder. I am currently in a rabbit hole on democracy and reading these two for a second time, an easy but necessary insight into one of the biggest challenges our world faces.
The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van der Kolk. This is a must-read for anyone who experienced trauma or anyone who lives actually.