Current Reading List
A selection of books I am currently reading or have finished reading recently, in no particular order. This list might contain books from different genres and authors. Maybe there is something for you in it as well?
Before the coffee gets cold - Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Heartwarming and gently philosophical novel set in a small, hidden café in Tokyo that offers its patrons a unique opportunity: the chance to travel back in time. But there are strict rules, the most important being that the traveler must return to the present before their coffee gets cold. Through four interwoven stories, the book explores themes of regret, love, loss, and reconciliation, as each visitor hopes to revisit a pivotal moment from their past.
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World - Elif Shafak
Set in Istanbul, the story unfolds through the final moments of Tequila Leila, a murdered sex worker whose consciousness lingers for ten minutes and thirty-eight seconds after her death. In that brief span, she recalls vivid memories from her turbulent life, each tied to a scent or taste. As Leila’s story unfolds, so too does the tale of her five loyal friends, outsiders like herself, who seek justice and dignity for her in a world that has long denied them both. The novel is a powerful meditation on love, marginalization, and the human spirit’s resilience.
Flowers for Algernon - Daniel Keyes
Charlie Gordon, a floor sweeper born with an unusually low IQ, has been chosen as the perfect subject for an experimental surgery that doctors hope will increase his intelligence - a procedure that has been highly successful when tested on a lab mouse named Algernon. All Charlie wants is to be smart and have friends, but the treatement turns him into a genius. Then Algernon begins to fade. What will become of Charlie?
The Cat Who Saved Books - Sosuke Natsukawa
Natsuki Books was a tiny second-hand bookshop on the edge of town. Inside, towering shelves reached the ceiling, every one crammed full of wonderful books. Rintaro Natsuki loved this space that his grandfather had created. He spent many happy hours there, reading whatever he liked. It was the perfect refuge for a boy who tended to be something of a recluse. After the death of his grandfather, Rintaro is devastated and alone. It seems he will have to close the shop. Then, a talking tabby cat called Tiger appears and asks Rintaro for help.
The Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde
Dorian is a good-natured young man until he discovers the power of his own exceptional beauty. As he gradually sinks deep into a frivolous, glamorous world of selfish luxury, he apparently remains physically unchanged by the stresses of his corrupt lifestyle and untouched by age. But up in his attic, hidden behind a curtain, his portrait tells a different story...
Risikogesellschaft - Auf dem Weg in eine andere Moderne - Ulrich Beck
In an age increasingly defined by uncertainty, Ulrich Beck’s groundbreaking work, "Risk Society," examines how modernity itself creates new global risks — from ecological catastrophes and climate change to technological hazards. Beck compellingly argues that contemporary societies are no longer organized by the distribution of wealth alone, but increasingly by the distribution and management of risk. He critically examines our response to environmental crises, highlighting how industrial advancements intended for progress now threaten our very existence. A seminal exploration into the paradoxes of modern life, this book challenges readers to rethink society’s relationship with uncertainty, environment, and collective responsibility.
The Vegetarian - Han Kang
Yeong-hye, an ordinary woman in contemporary South Korea, suddenly decides to become a vegetarian, prompted by grotesque recurring nightmares. This sets off a dramatic transformation that disrupts her marriage, family, and entire existence. As she becomes increasingly withdrawn and resistant to societal expectations, her quiet rebellion spirals into an intense exploration of desire, violence, identity, and freedom. Han Kang's award-winning novel is a haunting, poetic portrayal of one woman's attempt to reclaim autonomy in a rigid society — questioning the boundaries of sanity, self-control, and the consequences of defying convention