13. You Never Know What Someone Is Going Through

On kindness and empathy, Rick Riordan, and a true crime book recommendation.

You never know what someone is going through.

I’m sure we all have heard that phrase many times in our lives. Have seen it apply to friends, family, strangers, and ourselves.

You don’t know that the girl with the happy laugh’s mom has cancer. You don’t know that the independent woman you idolize is indescribably lonely. You can’t see how your older sibling is struggling because they are your hero. The college boy with a fun Instagram feed is in weekly therapy. You have your own struggles you hide from the world, just like everyone else.

The realization of the staggering truth of that statement is part of growing up, moving from teenager to young adult. The more grief and struggle and loss you experience is not only a sign of adulthood but also of the fantastic love you have experienced and shared with the world. You start counting your breaths, realizing how purely lucky you are to feel the bite of cold air. That fight you’re having with your dad? What’s the point of it? How lucky you are to have all that you do. It inspires empathy and kindness to yourself and others.

You never know what someone is going through.

I have seen this applied in nearly every book that I have read. Our main character has to go through some sort of ordeal for the fight, purpose, and the climax in the third act to have meaning to us as a reader, for us to root for their success. They overcome, grow, and love even more from what they have gone through.

What does this tell us? That grief and obstacles are so surely apart of life that we don’t relate to a hero unless they have gone through something challenging. That something is recognizable to us as readers because we have all struggled and lost. It allows us to feel empathy for the hero, for the hero to become a person rather than a character.

As readers, we become more empathetic to others. We become better listeners and strive to help those we can. We have watched countless characters have silent battles, and therefore - I believe - can recognize that in others.

So here is your reminder, as a human, that you never know what someone is going through. Just be kind. In a world like ours, that will go father than you might think.

Some articles to check out:

1. Love, Mom by Poetical

2. What To Do When You Have More Lip Balms Than Friends by The Unpublishable

3. Your weekend inTENtion by The Ten

4. When was your first crush? by Read Like Mad

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Here’s a few book releases this week if you need some inspiration!

1. Visions of Flesh and Blood (From Blood and Ash #5.5) by Jennifer L Armentrout (Fantasy): Feb 20, 2024

2. Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life by Jamie Kern Lima (Nonfiction, Self Help): Feb 20, 2024

3. It’s Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People by Ramani Durvasula (Nonfiction): Feb 20, 2024

4. Until Forever Ends (Brandywood #4) by Annabelle McCormack (Romance): Feb 20, 2024

Books I’ve compiled from B&N Top 100, the NYT Bestsellers List, and Amazon Bestsellers in no particular order. I’ve decided to simply add the books I haven’t before, since I’ve caught up to the new additions. If you’re curious, last week’s post can be found here.

1. The Women by Kristin Hannah (Historical Fiction)

2. The Teacher by Freida McFadden (Mystery/Thriller)

3. Bride by Ali Hazelwood (Paranormal Romance)

4. The Ghost Orchid by Jonathan Kellerman (Mystery/Thriller)

5. Outofshapeworthlessloser by Gracie Gold (Memoir)

The winner on my Threads poll is none other than Rick Riordan!

via rickriordan.com

We all know and love him. Rick Riordan is the author of one of my childhood favorites, Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Of course, he also wrote The Kane Chronicles, The Heroes of Olympus, and Magnus Chase & The Gods of Asgard. I personally haven’t yet read The Kane Chronicles and Magnus Chase, but I recently reread the original Percy Jackson series as well as Heroes of Olympus. Didn’t we all go through a fascination of Greek Mythology as kids? I sure did, and Rick’s series is something I feel lucky to have had in Middle School to go along with that phase.

Rick has been reading since he was a kid and started writing short stories in middle school. He grew up in an artistic family, where this was cultivated. After graduating from UT San Antonio, he taught English and Social Studies for years. Rick came up with the idea for Percy Jackson as a bedtime story for his oldest son. Literally how freaking cute.

He and his wife, Becky, are executive producers for the Percy Jackson TV show. I have yet to watch the first season, but I have heard great things! I’m looking forward to some childhood nostalgia.

You can find a true abundance of information on his website and Instagram. What I have here is truly a dip in the sea of information [note: see what I did there?] he has out there, and I urge you to go check more out. Even if you are a teenager or adult, I still recommend reading his books as they are truly something special.

Just a reminder to submit any books you think others will love on the R&R page or to my email: thesundayreads@gmail.com!

1. The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold (Nonfiction, True Crime)

   1. This might not be for everyone, but I think it was incredible. We’ve all heard of Jack the Ripper, but what do you know about his victims? I am a firm believer of remembering the victims of crime and their lives rather than the person who stole it from them. Oftentimes, the notoriety gives them satisfaction. Hallie tells the lives of Polly, Anne, Elizabeth, Catherine, and Mary-Jane. They lived full lives, loved and lost, struggled and laughed, sang and bartered. I believe that Hallie’s research and book are an incredible way to finally give these victims the acknowledgement they deserve. If you are interested in true crime or Jack the Ripper, I truly recommend this book.

Phew. That’s all for today. Much love.

Izzy