Reading Through the Seasons

In all honesty, the pandemic has stretched longer than I initially anticipated and has shaped my perspectives in ways I didn’t imagine. I have consistently found more time on my hands as a result of quarantine, and if you’re like me—someone who is always searching for worthy books to occupy my day—then you’re in luck! Without further ado, I present to you the best book to read based on the season of the year.  

Winter: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee  

Ah, winter, the frosty, bone-chilling season. As someone who has a perpetual fear of the cold, I become strongly attached to the comfort of my bed and hot porridge. This is the time when you need a moving book to warm your heart. A 2017 National Book Award Finalist and well-received by critics, Pachinko is Lee’s second novel. 

This book was a gift to me, both literally and metaphorically. I finished this roughly 500-page novel in two days, engrossed in it every spare moment I had. I love the vivid narratives of every single character; the complex, rich, and heart-wrenching historical backdrop; and the poignant tales these elements combine to tell. It touched me, forced me into thought, and opened my mind.   

Pachinko paints a moving picture of four generations of Korean immigrants in Japan, struggling through the toughest circumstances as law and public attitude stand against them. They must defend their honor and write their own story in a foreign land. Here, you will meet loving mothers, kind priests, and dedicated fathers. Lee explores the questions of sexuality, marriage, love, faith, and family through his brilliant storytelling. It is the best book to cozy up with on a freezing winter afternoon.  

Spring: The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde  

Spring is when flowers bloom, songbirds chirp, and love blossoms—so what better time to read a romantic comedy? This satirical, amusing, and norm-shattering play by the one and only Oscar Wilde is sure to keep you entertained on a sleepy spring day. Set in the Victorian era, the play features Algernon and Jack, protagonists who borrow the name Ernest and fabricate a second identity for themselves. Both use this name to court their lovers, and as a result, set off a dramatic turn of events.  

Wilde questions social norms, the traditional views of marriage, morality, and the restricting nature of the time period. Earnestness, which typically implies honesty, is used ironically through the male leads’ deception, and I found myself questioning the trait upon finishing. This is one of Wilde’s most influential pieces of work, and one reason for that is the nuanced messages he tries to convey or make us ponder. So buckle up and enjoy this thrilling comedy!  

Summer: Educated by Tara Westover  

A two-month long summer break is a time when we can forget school and enjoy vacation, attend extracurricular programs, and give back to our community through volunteering. Educated weaves together an intricate and resonating narrative of a woman who travels from the mountains of Idaho to the campus of Brigham Young and the gates of Cambridge University. 

Westover’s vivid account of being born into a survivalist Mormon family allowed me to peer into values and a life that drastically differ from everything I’ve known. I was nonetheless touched by the moments of familial bond, even though there were also many troubling instances. This memoir forced me to reconsider the definition of education—something my family has always taught me to appreciate—and discover its significance to me. On a beautiful summer day, Educated will bring your mind back to the whiteboards and desks of school.  

Fall: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi  

Death—an inevitable verdict for everyone. But during this pandemic, human life seems all the more vulnerable and powerless. It follows the tracks of its author, Paul, a neurosurgeon who learns that he has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. He lives and dies. This story tells us his journey in between.  

By the time I closed this book, my face was wet with tears. I cried for the person who once thrived, struggled, and fought against his death sentence. As I read further, I grew more attached to Kalanithi, who was slowly slipping away. I don’t like death, but thinking back, it wasn’t just about that. It was also about living and making use of every moment given to us.