I love to read. I love getting suggestions on what to read. I love carving out a little time to read. Every summer, I imagine a beach bag full of books and snacks, and myself on a blanket engrossed in a story. Every summer, I have a beach bag full of snacks and books, but I don’t get to read because I have to make sure my kids don’t drown when they try to swim to Long Island from the Connecticut shoreline. Because, despite what they truly believe, they cannot swim. Not in a pool, and definitely not in the ocean.
I also like to give people suggestions on what to read, but it hurts my feelings when those suggestions are disregarded. So if you choose not to read any of my suggestions, don’t tell me. If you do read any of these, I would love to hear how you like them. Even if you don’t like them.
The Pillars of the Earth
I had no idea that building a cathedral in 12th century England would entail so much raping and pillaging. This is an amazing novel that spans 50 years and is full of heartbreak and triumph, and I would never have read if it wasn’t recommended by a friend. I am doing you that same favor right now. The sequel is called World Without End.
Bossypants
In the category of smart, funny women, Tina Fey is queen. I adore her wit and self-deprication, and loved hearing the story of her journey to Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock. I have read this book twice and just last week listened to the audio version.
Divergent
This dystopian novel is the debut for Veronica Roth, and had rightly been compared to The Hunger Games. The main character is a teen girl who chooses to leave her family and join one the other five factions in which this futuristic society is divided. It is the first book in a trilogy, and it’s an easy and engaging story.
While I’m thinking of The Hunger Games, it isn’t on this list because I assume everyone has already read it. See also: Harry Potter and anything by Jodi Picoult.
Gone Girl: A Novel
I could not get over how much the characters in this book pissed me off, and I mean that in the very best way. Gillian Flynn crafted a couple so real yet so unbelievable, the reader can’t help but be emotionally invested in their story.
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)
I love Mindy Kaling, and I love a good underdog story. The way she talks about her childhood made me laugh multiple times, and her unapologetic love for all things girly was very refreshing. Her uncoolness is the coolest thing about her.
The Passage: A Novel
An epic trilogy, this post-apocalyptic story has the United States almost annihilated by a vampire-like virus that stems from a military project gone wrong. It was rumored to by written by Stephen King under a pseudonym but that was put to rest after some fact-checking. It does feel like a King novel, and that is a compliment. This story also has a young girl as the heroine, but also has tons of bad guys.
Under the Dome: A Novel
Speaking of Stephen King, this book is set to become a television show. It is fantasy, with a small town being encapsulated by a mysterious transparent dome, but the characters are very real. The story lines are rich, and the way the locals movers and shakers use the dome entrapment to their advantage is small town politics at it’s best. Or worst.
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells
A story that jumps from the 1930s to present day, it follows four women, who grew up together in a small southern town, through their journey of raising children of their own and managing these adult relationships. The way the different personalities come together to create an unbreakable bond of friendship and family will stay with the reader long after the story ends.
I Just Want to Pee Alone
Here’s another book I’ve read more than once. In the same way I love a book full of dynamic characters, I love a collection of essays that has more than one voice. I can hear my coauthors reading their stories, and as a reader I appreciate different voices taking on one theme. Also, as I’ve mentioned more than once, I love funny women, and this book has 37 of them.
What are you reading? What is your favorite book? Hit me up on Goodreads if you want to see more of my book reviews!