Books I read in May 2026
From contemporary fiction to a classic search for human meaning, here are the books I read and enjoyed in May.
Story of the Warrior and the Captive Maiden: Borges Marathon, Part 30
Like most Borges stories, this one isn't quite what you might expect. Here's what it means to me.
Why I Don’t Know What My Favourite Book Is
"What's your favourite book?" It should be a simple question for someone like me, but it really isn't.
The Theologians: Borges Marathon, Part 29
Jorge Luis Borges uses a debate between two medieval theologians to explore themes of infinity, orthodoxy, and personal identity.
The Dead Man: Borges Marathon, Part 28
Borges takes us to the vast plains of the Brazilian frontier for an epic battle of wills between a grizzled gang leader…
Sublimation by Isabel J. Kim
What would life be like if you left a version of yourself behind when you migrated? This thoughtful sci-fi novel introduces "instancing" as a…
What is this “rules-based international order” you speak of?
Stop lamenting the demise of a system that never existed, and start imagining what it would be like if rich nations really…
The Immortal: Borges Marathon, Part 27
What would immortality feel like? Jorge Luis Borges takes us beyond the quest for eternal life to see what happens to someone…
Sisters in Yellow by Mieko Kawakami
My thoughts on Mieko Kawakami's latest novel, in which the bland recounting of everyday events conceals deeper themes.