Reading on the Road

If I didn’t already mention it, I’m in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and will be for another 2.5 weeks.  In total, I’ll be away from home for a little over 3 weeks.  It’s a long time in general but compared to my last two trips (4.5 and 5 weeks), it’s manageable.  One of the great things about being on the road and having time in the evenings (which I should use to blog) to reading.  I know I was sort of anti-Kindle before but that little devise has changed my travel life.  I read so much more on trips because I can load a bunch of books on before I go and even access library books and Amazon when I’m on the road.  But that’s enough with the love, let’s talk books.

I think I’m a fairly eclectic reader.  I’ll read most anything though I tend to stay away from Fantasy (does Harry Potter count?), Sci-Fi and real Romance novels.  I go through phases where I read only weird non-fiction (History of Cod anyone?) and then go on a fiction bender.  Right now I have a pretty diverse range of books I plan to read this trip which include the following:

We’ve been neglecting the blog a bit.  I know it needs some help so I thought while I had a bit of time, I’d do some blog related reading.  I randomly picked this book because I like the title, it had good reviews on Amazon (where the image is from) and it was available for checkout at the library with no wait.  I hope it’s helpful.

I love a good female comedy writer and after reading Tina Fey’s book, I decided I probably needed to read Mindy Kaling’s too.  I know some may not agree but I liked Mindy’s (I can call her Mindy because I know her – I did read the book) book better than I liked Tina Fey’s.  I think Tina Fey’s book had more laugh out loud moments but I think Mindy’s was consistently more funny and more relatable to me.  Maybe it’s the Asian upbringing, or the fact that I make that same face she has on the cover or because I feel the same about one night stands as she does, but I liked this book better.  I finished it in 6 hours. 

We’re going to Maine this summer.  I mentioned it before but you should check out the post if you missed it – we need recommendations.  We’re doing a road trip and we are spending over half our time in Maine.  I actually am really excited for Maine – more than I thought I would be. 

I think this may be the only fiction book I have on my list to read this trip.  I actually don’t know too much about the book except it takes place in the 1870s in the Ottoman Empire.  I think I picked this book because Amazon recommended it based on my reading history and again, there was not wait for it at the library.  I hope that isn’t a sign.

I am in the middle of this book and Dr. Hodes is an inspiring and amazing person.  I saw a documentary early last year about Dr. Hodes and was moved to tears.  If you know me, you will probably will say that’s not a huge feat but if you read this book or watch the documentary, you’ll be moved too.  If you are not, then you are a robot – just saying.  The short of it is that Dr. Hodes saves lives everyday.  He’s selfless, and giving and accepting of all people.  I’m only about 40% into the book and I think I’ve shed a tear 2 or 3 times already.  If you don’t have time for the book, check out his website.  It’s full amazing stories of the people he’s helped.

Early last year, I started taking on some new responsibilities on my project.  For most of my time on the project, I’ve been what I’d call an Administrative Coordinator or Administrative Jill of all Trades.  I work on budgets, opens new field offices, administratively supporting large field activities in a couple of African countries, dabble in recruiting and hiring and manage consultants and personnel issues.  Last year I had some time and starting working on project documentation.  It was only supposed to take up 15% of my time.  Eventually, I was asked if I wanted it to be 50% or more of my time.  I was really interested in the work and the guy leading it seemed happy to just have some staff time to utilize.  Let me just say that I have no experience in documentation unless this blog counts.  I had and have a lot to learn and luckily my team leader (we are officially a team of two now) has been happy (maybe) to coach me.  He recommended I read The Checklist Manifesto because he said that if I could master lists, I could do this job.  Clearly he doesn’t know me or he’d know that I LOVE lists.  This is clearly the book for me.  I’ll tell you how it is when I finish it but apparently it’s supposed to change the way I do things.  I say bring it.

Man, I love me a themed travel memoir.  Eric Weiner travels around the world to learn what makes people happy and who is actually happy.  I think we could all use a little bliss and to remember what makes us happy. 

So that’s what I’m reading this trip.  What’s on your nightstand?