Teresa Reads & Book Review
My Reading Journey…
Teresa Reads is where I share the books I’ve read, the stories that stayed with me, and the ones I’d happily recommend.
I don’t consider myself a bookworm. It just so happened that when we were in elementary and high school, we were required to do a book review every quarter. Back then, I didn’t really enjoy reading. Funny enough, I would sometimes reuse my brother’s book reviews just so I’d have something to submit. LOL.
But somewhere along the way, I started reading books seriously.
When I was little, my uncle gifted me a set of children’s books, and that’s where some of my earliest memories of reading began. Later, I discovered Sweet Valley High and Nancy Drew through books I borrowed from our school library. I loved getting lost in those stories.
Then, during high school, I discovered Sidney Sheldon, who became one of my favorite authors. And I think that’s when it really started—the little girl who once didn’t enjoy reading slowly became someone who genuinely loved books.
I don’t read just for the sake of having something to read. I read according to my mood. Sometimes, I find a book so captivating that I finish it in one sitting. Other times, I deliberately take my time because I want to sit with the story, feel the scenes, and let the words sink in.
For me, reading isn’t always about getting to the last page. Sometimes, it’s about staying in a moment a little longer.
I’m still not the kind of person who can call herself a bookworm. I don’t finish every book I pick up, and there are definitely periods when I don’t read at all. But over the years, I’ve discovered that some books find us at exactly the right time.
Books That changed Me
The Alchemist — Paulo Coelho
This book changed the way I look at the journey toward our dreams.
I read The Alchemist years ago, but its message stayed with me. Santiago sets out on a journey to find a treasure he believes is waiting for him somewhere far away. Along the way, he meets people, faces setbacks, learns to listen to his heart, and slowly discovers that the journey itself is part of the treasure.
It made me realize that sometimes, we become so focused on reaching our destination that we forget to notice what the journey is teaching us.
Perhaps the treasure isn’t only what we’re looking for at the end. Sometimes, it’s who we become along the way.
What it taught me: Don’t lose yourself while chasing the treasure.
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Why I recommend it: A beautiful reminder that the journey toward our dreams matters just as much as reaching them.
Find the book: Google Books
The Pilgrimage — Paulo Coelho
After The Alchemist, I found myself drawn to The Pilgrimage, a story based on Paulo Coelho’s own journey along the Camino de Santiago in Spain.
The book follows his pilgrimage toward Santiago de Compostela, but the journey becomes about much more than simply reaching a destination. Along the way, he encounters challenges, people, and experiences that make him look deeper into himself and what it means to find his own path.
What stayed with me was the idea that sometimes, the road itself is part of the answer.
Perhaps that’s also why the Camino de Santiago has remained on my bucket list. Reading about the journey made me imagine what it would feel like to walk that road myself—not simply to reach Santiago, but to slow down, reflect, and see what I might discover along the way.
One day, I hope I’ll get to walk the Camino myself.
What it taught me: Sometimes the road itself teaches you where you’re meant to go.
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bucket-list connection: Camino de Santiago
Find the book: Google Books
My Reading Companion
I don’t always carry physical books when I travel. Here’s the e-reader I use/recommend and why I think it’s useful for travelers and readers. Want to know more about the e-reader I’ve been using? Check out my next article, where I’ll be sharing my full experience and review.
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