Reflecting on my reading journey in 2023, I didn’t quite hit my ambitious goal for the number of books read. Nonetheless, amidst the whirlwind of friends and exams, these 3 books stood out as captivating distractions instead of my usual scrolling on Tiktok:

1. “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides
   This psychological thriller revolves around Alicia Berenson, a famous painter who shoots her husband and then goes silent, refusing to speak about the crime. The story is narrated by Theo Faber, a psychotherapist who becomes obsessed with uncovering Alicia’s motive and breaking her silence. Though I predicted the ending, the narrative’s gripping nature kept me engaged from start to finish.
2. “Where The Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens
   I found out about this novel on TikTok, due to the controversies surrounding rumors that it was a confession of a real murder case or had links to the author’s personal life. Despite these speculations, the book’s narrative about Kya Clark, known as the “Marsh Girl,” growing up isolated in the marshes of North Carolina, beautifully weaves together themes of nature, love, and a murder mystery. It kept me captivated until the very last page!
3. “Circe” by Madeline Miller
   I’m a huge fan of Greek Mythology and had to pick up this book after reading “The Song of Achilles” by the same author. This book delves into Greek mythology, focusing on the enchantress Circe (known for her witchcraft and potion-making) from Homer’s “Odyssey.” I thought the book provided a fresh perspective on her life, weaving a tale of gods, mortals, and powerful sorcery.

While I delved more into fiction this year as an alternative to other forms of entertainment, my goal for the next year is to read more non-fiction books.