For a number of years, I had developed a rhythm of reading a balanced collection of classic literature, a murder mystery, and a presidential biography. Suddenly, I have grown weary of mysteries, especially after completing the 27th book in a series. Then, as I reached the biography of Woodrow Wilson, I became disheartened by my challenge of reading through the biographies of American presidents. After reading about McKinley, Roosevelt, and Taft, I noticed their issues seemed eerily familiar to the policies and trends in our current politics. I could sense an origin point of the current political state, which only deepened my fatigue. I felt lost and uncertain, so I tried to find new types of books to read. Then, I discovered two different ways to discover new books.

First, upon discovering a book in the classics section that I had never heard of before, I was amazed at how the story resonated with my struggle for contentment and solitude, and I was moved to tears. I yearned for more books that struck a similar chord, resonating with me in the way they spoke to my soul, as well as in the beauty of reading introspectively. This led me to search for more Pulitzer Prize-winning authors and books that are simply well-written.

Secondly, I am discovering the benefits of reading books that share similar themes, writing styles, and tones to what I aspire to use in my writing. This learning through osmosis works well for someone like me, who learns better through visuals and practice rather than theory and abstract concepts. This journey has led me to books I would never have considered otherwise, and the broadening of my reading selections has enriched me greatly.

Here are the books I read in May:

TEACHING A STONE TO TALK: EXPEDITIONS AND ENCOUNTERS BY ANNIE DILLARD

I had read A Writer’s Life by Annie Dillard and found her writing to be incredibly philosophical and thought-provoking. Although the writing had the same vivid imagery and Dillard’s ability to bring to life even the most trivial matter, I could not connect with Teaching A Stone To Talk. The book definitely read like a collection of essays; however, to me, it did not seem to have the cohesion I was hoping for, with each essay building on or working with the others. I still enjoyed Dillard's writing, her reflections upon nature, and thoughts about life, but found the writing to be scattered.

2.75/5 Stars

THE PROFESSOR’S HOUSE BY WILLA CATHER

I stumbled across The Professor’s House as I was browsing the classics section of the local library. I had not read anything by Cather, but I was intrigued by the synopsis of Professor Godfrey St. Peter, a man attached to his old study in the attic of his house and about to move to a new residence surrounded by comfort. What follows are reflections on his connection to Tom Outland, one of his remarkable students and former son-in-law, and his adventures in the southwestern plains.

At first, I did not understand the connection between the professor and Tom Outland. Yes, he was a student and would have been his son-in-law if not for WWI. The story of the professor not wanting to move didn’t seem to complement Tom’s journals from travel in the southwestern United States. They appeared like two completely different stories until everything came together in the end. The final pages revealing the professor’s longing for solitude and meaning were incredibly touching. I was deeply moved by Cather’s gentle tone, somewhat similar to Ishiguro’s, and the subtle way she made her characters meaningful. The need for solitude amidst a wonderful life touched me deeply, and I felt like someone had finally articulated the emotions I had been feeling for a long time.

Intrigued by Cather’s writing, I looked up more of her books to see what else she had written. I discovered that she won a Pulitzer Prize for her novel One of Ours in 1923. I'm not sure the plot will move me in the same way that this one has, but I have added it to my TBR list and will have to see if her writing in other books has the same eloquence.

4.5/5 Stars

SILENCE BY SHUSAKU ENDO

A powerful book about two Portuguese Jesuit priests in the 1640s who traveled to distant Japan to help the brutally oppressed Japanese Christians and uncover the truth about their mentor, a famous teacher rumored to have renounced his faith. The entire book portrays the cruel regime of the shogun and his determination to eradicate the Christian faith from the country. The story is told through the perspective of Father Rodrigues, who is forced to make an impossible decision after facing severe religious persecution: abandon the people he has come to shepherd or denounce God.

Silence was one of the books I discovered to help me with my writing. I was searching for books that touched on faith without being preachy or having an agenda. Although Silence was neither of those things, it was not exactly the kind of book I was looking for. It is more like a historical fiction novel, almost verging on non-fiction. Based on the historical Italian Giuseppe Chiara, the many letters and notes he had taken while he and his fellow priest were hidden in Japan. Yet, Endō goes beyond just a retelling of a story, but portrays the reality of 17th-century Japan. If it was not enough that the leaders did not want the Christian faith on their shores, they also caused much of the poverty and humiliation that peasants had to suffer, bringing people low and subjecting them.

I read through the book quickly, partly because of Endō's magnificent writing, partly because the punishments were so horrific and cruel that I didn't want to stop reading, and partly to reach the inevitable conclusion: the death or denouncement of Father Rodrigues. The back-and-forth of his strengths and failings kept me turning pages, not knowing what would happen until the very end.

At first, the title didn’t resonate with me because I wondered what silence could mean, and then I read about it repeatedly. The idea of silence from God kept recurring. Then, the question shifted to how anyone can call on God and expect Him to respond exactly. The challenge of interpreting God’s purpose and the act of prayer—crying out to God—would unfold in different ways. The Bible contains many accounts of people crying out to the Lord, and He answers; however, what we often overlook in the complexity of Scripture is the importance of timing and the perspective of hindsight. Amid severe struggle and torment, it’s understandable to wonder what God truly means by it all, especially when we forget to consider the free will of cruel men.

As stated, Silence reads like a historical fiction book, filled with vivid imagery and an accurate portrayal of the Edo period under the Tokugawa shogunate. Intrigued by such extreme religious persecution, I researched Christianity in Japan today and found that there are only 1.1% today! The reason I keep returning to historical fiction is the ability of writers to transport me back in time and the way they answer the question of how the world looks as it does in the present. Silence was an incredible book, educational, and disturbing, yet one that I couldn't put down.

4.25/5 Stars

MAY 2025 READING LIST

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