What are YOU reading? Here’s my recent list:
FICTION
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love a book that centers characters society puts to the margins. I’ll quote the friend who recommended this to me: “This book is candy!” I can’t wait to read the rest of the series, & a movie with an incredible line-up is coming soon.
“In life you have to learn to count the good days. You have to tuck them in your pocket and carry them around with you” (p84).
The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A generational family story focused on two women, one Sicilian, another American with Sicilian heritage. Well-developed, interesting characters struggling with women’s issues that sadly haven’t changed significantly enough over 100 years. Nice twist at the ending, too.
The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
My expectations may have been too high: I wanted this to be The Last Thing He Told Me & it’s not. It’s good, twists from beginning to end, & partially set near Santa Barbara, one of my favorite places on the planet – it’s always fun to read a well-written book set in a place I know. Definitely worth the read.
From the Author’s Q&A: “That question (I wanted to explore in the novel) centers around the idea of what it means to show up for someone. More specifically, what does it mean to be the witness to someone’s life? I love the idea that, if we are lucky, we each have a person who sees all of us-who reminds us who we most want to be. Who refuses to allow us to stray from who we most soulfully are.”
Funny Story by Emily Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I needed something light & this fit the bill.
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
In need of a delightful distraction from heavier reading & a much heavier political election season, I picked up an old favorite to enjoy a romp with a creative & confident young girl.
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
With chapters alternating between Joe & Norma’s stories, this book weaves together two families connected by one rash decision. Engaging, a picture of life I hadn’t known previously, & a fabulous debut.
NONFICTION
Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Moonwalking with Einstein is one of the oddest books I’ve read. Foer sets out to write a magazine article on the World Memory Competition &, a year later, he is the American Memory Champion & competes in the World Memory Championship. It’s a strange journey down the road less taken with fascinating twists & turns along the way. I’m not sure how practical these memory skills are, & some of the practice seemed to me a total waste of time, yet ultimately he contends that the point is about what & how you notice things – & that matters.
ADHD is Awesome: A Guide to (Mostly) Thriving with ADHD by Penn Holderness
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is awesome! I wish I’d had it when my two sons, each with a different type of ADHD, were in public schools. I discovered I have ADHD when my youngest was in middle school, so this positive perspective is still so valuable for me & for my interactions with my now young adult kids.
NONFICTION CHRISTIAN
The Story of You: An Enneagram Journey to Becoming Your True Self by Ian Morgan Cron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Putting this in the “Nonfiction Christian” category because the author is an Episcopal priest, but I don’t think one has to be a person of faith to understand & glean wisdom from the information he presents herein. My husband and I used this book to have insightful & helpful discussions about who we are, how we relate, & how we can better support one another in growing toward wholeness.
Emmanuel Promise: Discovering the Security of a Life Held by God by Summer Joy Gross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Great book! I had never given much thought to attachment theory as it applies to one’s relationship with God & the author takes a relatable approach, weaving her personal story throughout. The second half of the book includes spiritual practices to help one develop a secure attachment to God.
OTHER BOOKS
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth – 3 of 5 stars (CW: child abuse, physical violence, & drug abuse)
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren – 3 of 5 stars
Sandwich by Catherine Newman – 3 of 5 stars (CW: abortion)
One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware – 3 of 5 stars (CW: domestic & physical violence)
Absolutely loved your take on books that surprised you! It’s always refreshing to see genuine reactions rather than just hype. Speaking of unforgettable reads, I recently finished The Berry Pickers—an emotionally rich story that’s impossible to forget.
Thanks! I also really enjoyed The Berry Pickers <3