Yossa Dwi Hartono

Yossa Dwi Hartono

Computational Biologist / Structural Bioinformatician

2020 book list

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Hopefully in 2020 I will read even more!

Well, you know what, past me, something happened in 2020…
I would have to restart my reading habit again – it has been erratic recently.

2020

The Plague | Albert Camus Unfinished. Will borrow from the library again someday.

Newcomer | Keigo Higashino ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Quite a simple murder thriller case, actually, but the way it is written is very interesting. Higashino leads the reader through red herrings, which form self-contained stories themselves, before finally bringing us to the real clue that unravels the case.

The Obelisk Gate | N. K. Jemisin ⭑⭑⭑⭑ The Stone Sky | N. K. Jemisin ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Just wow. It is certain that we are heading towards a tragic ending, but somehow I am happy with the ending.

Quicksilver | Neal Stephenson Unfinished. Was expecting sci-fi but turns out it’s historical fiction. Stephenson’s repertoire is mind-bogglingly vast.

Story of your life and others | Ted Chiang ⭑⭑⭑⭑ I got ahold of this book coincidentally right after I watched Arrival. The titular short story is of course good and thought-provoking. Other stories in the collection are also gripping though. Ted Chiang definitely has a unique voice among sci-fi writers – there is some sort of… mysticism, sometimes? Which makes the narrative multi-facetedly richer.

The Fifth Season | N. K. Jemisin ⭑⭑⭑⭑ It is sci-fi and it is supernatural at the same time. “Earthbenders in climate-apocalyptic world” would be not so far off. Not a cheerful read for sure, especially when the erratic climate in the book could be one of the scenarios we are heading to. Looking forward to read the rest of the trilogy.

The Periodic Table | Primo Levi ⭑⭑⭑⭑ Interestingly structured memoir of Primo Levi, appearing as essays under the headings of the elements. Levi is a rare scientist-writer hybrid and his description of chemistry is beautifully poetic.

The meaning of marriage | Timothy Keller ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ A must read for a Christian, married or not yet. The content is probably not eye-opening for those who are already married, but it would still be good reminder. It is an eye-opener for me.

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2021 book list

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Compared to 2020, I slowly regained my reading habit again. One notable book is Camus’ The Plague that I didn’t finish in 2020, but picked it up again. Nothing really stood out for me, but I would recommend the starred ones.