Miya's 2024 Book Wrapped

City News Cafe - Portage Park, Chicago

This year, I decided I wanted to fall back in love with reading. As a child, I would read ALL THE TIME. I mean, walking around the store with my mom while my face was shoved in a book-type of reader. I remember my brother used to tease me for being a “bookworm.” I loved reading because it felt like I was being transported to another world as I read and vividly visualized every setting described in the books. Growing up, I was a lover of the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events, written by Daniel Handler (Lemony Snicket). I loved envisioning the kooky worlds of the series in my head as I read, developing a bond with the main characters with every completed book.

It’s funny how, when you get older, things that were deemed “uncool” — such as being a “bookworm” — become the coolest traits ever. 

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This year, I finished 5 books:

Communion: The Female Search for Love – Bell Hooks (2002)

I finished this book earlier this year. Although I do not remember the specifics, I definitely remember Hooks snapping. This was my first introduction to her writing, and I knew I wanted to read more of her works. I felt that her thoughts on family, love, and relationships were thoughtfully put together and validating. 8.5/10

The Filmmakers Guide to Production Design – Vincent LoBrutto (2002)

Although a bit outdated, this book is a nice intro to understanding the crucial role of a production designer in a film. LoBrutto also explains the tools and skill sets necessary for a production designer. He uses lots of movie examples to illustrate points and even includes exercises to strengthen one's production design skills. I’m sure there are more updated books that speak to production design, but I would say this is a nice read for those interested in production design as it pertains to film. 7.5/10

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll (1865)

I read this more so for a school assignment, but it was interesting, given that I grew up loving Alice in Wonderland films. It’s always fascinating to me to see how a book has been adapted to the screen and to discover what they decided to keep, change, or omit. Because I had to read this for an assignment, I was challenged to dive deeper into the text, uncovering themes and really analyzing the story. Definitely a kooky read, but I think there's a lot to be discussed there. 7/10

All About Love – Bell Hooks (1999)

This book gave me very similar vibes to Communion. It's probably a good thing I read them so far apart, as I do feel some of the themes between the two are a bit repetitive — which is fine, given that they are in the same series. While Communion may have been more focused on romantic love, in All About Love, I enjoyed how Hooks spoke more to spirituality, community, and living with a “love ethic.” 9/10

The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath (1963)

This book is an interesting read. I did a research project on Sylvia Plath my freshman year of undergrad, which focused mostly on her work as a poet, and since then I have not revisited her until reading The Bell Jar. I will start by saying Plath is a great storyteller. The way she describes things in this novel is so poetic like. Originally published in 1963, the story does contain some questionable racial aspects. The story also gets pretty morbid, as it touches heavily on mental health, self-harm, and suicide. Ultimately, I did enjoy the read, but it may not be for everyone. 7.5/10

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Here’s to more in 2025!