Taipei

Even though I read this book quickly, I felt like I was meandering through it. It is written in a casual and almost journalistic style, where things are chronicled that seem meaningless, yet some of these things do contain meaning, and as the reader, you get to sift through random thoughts and feelings and experiences. I felt like I was wandering, alongside the main character, Paul, as he drifts along through a confusing period of his life where he forms relationships, takes copious amounts of drugs, and struggles with a lackluster sense of self - all while juggling a book tour, trying to assuage the fears of his mother, and doing the day-to-day activities we all do, like eating fruit at Whole Foods. Some of the most poignant moments of this book are not major plot developments or dramatic events but rather simple showcases of the weirdness and dullness of life in the 21st century. The relatability of trying to successfully navigate life is captured in brief clips and blips, and in just one long, complex sentence that you’ll read over and over, you'll contemplate stupid things you’ve done at parties or in front of strangers or in an interaction with a lover and suddenly realize that you have no idea where your own life is going. So it’s best to just keep reading Taipei and not think too much about it, because life is short and so is the half-life of MDMA.