Books I love... and how to read more!
A follow up to Bookish News #1
Highly Recommended Books from 2019
Great Fiction
The Story of Artur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg: A good comfort read. This is a thoughtful book about people and accepting them as they are – themes of grief, love and friendship run throughout.
My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite: Short but incredibly well written book about two Nigerian sisters. Yes, one is a serial killer and the other tries to cover for her. The writing is sparse but excellent. This is a fun read and lots to talk about.
Ask Again Yes by Mary Beth Keane: Two families live next door to each other and find their lives inexorably intwined through a series of events. This book handles themes of mental illness and alcoholism with a tender touch.
The Gown by Jennifer Robson: Excellent historical fiction about the women that sewed Queen Elizabeth’s wedding gown. It takes place in London during the bleak post-World War 2 years.
Harry's Trees by Jon Cohen: About grief and love, a treasure hunt and a library. It is almost magical. I loved the character Oriana, who is one of the main protagonists. This book also has some dramatic moments and a great finish.
Thought Provoking
Hunger by Roxanne Gay: I listened to this and so appreciated her transparency and honesty about past trauma and being a very large woman in our society.
The Library Book by Susan Orlean: A terrific non-fiction book that reads like fiction. It is both the story of when the Main branch of the Los Angeles Library burned and the story of libraries and their role in our lives. As a book lover and native Angelino, I loved this book.
Bad Blood by Jon Carryrou– The story of Theranos, a high tech medical company that spent hundreds of millions of dollars of other people’s money essentially lying about a product they could not produce. This book was on a lot of “Best of lists” last year and it lived up to the hype.
Mysteries are MY FAVORITE
I read more mysteries than any other genre but don’t always review them. They are my comfort read, my pallet cleanser between more rigorous books. Here are a few notables from the past year. Feel free to ask for additional recommendations.
Newly Discovered Mystery Series:
Maisie Dobbs by Jacquewilin Winspear. There are 15 books in this series and I read the first two. Maisie is a young independent private investigator/psychologist in post World War 1 London. Cozy British Mysteries at their best.
Stand Alone:
Jane Harper’s third novel The Lost Man was published this year. I love all of her books (The Dry and Force of Nature are past favorites). Set in the vast outback of Australia during the searing Christmas season, one of two brothers running a cattle farm is found dead. Was he killed or was it suicide? Family history and current events compete as possibly motives. Well plotted, great atmosphere and setting.
Favorite Faith/Soul Care Books
Gracelaced by Ruth Chou Simms: This beautiful book set around seasons would make a great gift. I just discovered Simms this year and she has a new release out this fall but I found Gracelaced and loved both her art and her words.
The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman: She is a balm for the soul. Her “Next Right Thing Podcast” is one of my favorites and I love her gentle voice that seeps with wisdom. This book comes out of the podcast but builds on some of the same themes. Do you need a little calm in your life? Try Emily P Freeman.
Liturgy of Ordinary Places by Tish Warren: I loved listening to how we can embrace the sacred in the ordinary and the ordinary in the sacred. Set around our ordinary daily practices, this book looks at how small practices and habits can form us.
Hints for Make 2020 a Great Reading Year
Don’t finish books you don’t like, even if it is a popular book. Not every book is for every person and sometimes it is just not the right time for that book.
Have a vibrant To-Be-Read (TBR ) list – add titles whenever they sound interesting. Get book recommendations from podcasts, Instagram, celebrities (Oprah, Reese Witherspoon), magazines, friends and Me – ask me!
Use your library! Connect online to reserve books. Borrow electronic books, audible and physical books!
Add audible books to your reading life. I can not say enough about the Libby App which make high quality audio books available for free!
Set a timer and try reading for 20 minutes a day!
Thanks for sticking through to the end. I would love to hear your favorites from this past year or any year.
