My office is filled with stacks and stacks of books. When I have a few minutes or an entire evening, I try to carve out some time to read. This year I am making a concerted effort to read more. Here is what is currently on my bookshelf:
- Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarity
- Dear Mr. You by Mary-Louise Parker
- My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout
- A Year with Rilke: Daily Readings from the Best of Rainer Maria Rilke by Anita Barrows
- Advice from My 80-Year-Old Self: Real Words of Wisdom from People Ages 7 to 88 by Susan O’Malley
- The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
- In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri
- Why We Write: 20 Acclaimed Authors on How and Why They Do What They Do by Meredith Maran
What’s on your bookshelf? Would love to hear your recommendations.
Image: bookshelf spectrum by chotda via Flickr.
Welcome! I am a lawyer turned freelance writer, essayist, and editor. On staff at Literary Mama and the co-founder and co-editor of the literary journal, The Sunlight Press, my essays and reported work have appeared in The Washington Post, The Lily, Saveur, Civil Eats, Brain, Child, ESPN and elsewhere. I am currently at work on a memoir on grief and culture and how it provides perspective on life’s ordinary graces. I invite you to appreciate the ordinary with me. I hope my daily practice of seeing the magic in the mundane helps you celebrate and find more of these moments in your life too.
I’m reading a Liane Moriarty right now! “What Alice Forgot.” I was reading “The Husband’s Secret” and “Big Little Lies” is next. I’m wondering which of those is your favorite?
Also I didn’t know “the” Mary-Louise Parker was a writer, assuming that’s the actress?
And Meredith Maran’s book sounds crucial!
I’ve read “The Husband’s Secret” and plan on checking out “What Alice Forgot.” Moriarity always brings compelling characters to the page.
Yes, Mary-Louise Parker, actress, wrote Dear Mr.You (I was surprised too!). She is a gifted writer and I think you will like her book.
Valentine’s Day is a busy time for my business and as much as I wanted to read , the time was not there . I finished reading Essays after eighty and I truly enjoyed Donald Hall. The next one for me is The Ramblers . Is this your library?
I love Donald Hall’s work. Aidan’s book is next – once I get through my current list. Looking forward to reading her latest!
I just finished Between the World and Me which was, as I expected it to be, rugged and powerful. Next up is Lucy Barton and then Why We Write About Ourselves! xox
I cannot wait to hear what you think about Lucy Barton. I always love your reviews!
Great list! A fellow blogger just finished Lucy Barton and gave it high praise, so I’ll be looking forward to that one soon. I read The Little Paris Bookshop last fall.
I’ve just started Anthony Doerr’s collection of short stories. I’ll keep you posted on how that goes. 🙂
I look forward to exchanging thoughts on Lucy Barton. I’ve heard great things about Strout’s recent work. I didn’t realize Doerr had a short story collection. . . must put that on my to-read list. Thanks for the rec.
Did you like The Little Paris Bookshop?
I can talk books ALL THE TIME. Any time. I have been trying to share that passion more on my site so that I can get feedback because posts like yours make me so happy. Some of these I haven’t heard of, so adding them to my Goodreads!
I am the same way. Reading books fuels my writing and when that happens, all seems right with the world – you know what I mean? Looking forward to hearing about what you are reading in the upcoming months.
SO MANY things on my nightstand, shelves, and Kindle. I’m 3/4th into Anne Lamott’s Traveling Mercies, 1/8th into Curtis Sittenfeld’s Eligible, and 1/2th into Julie Gardner’s Letters for Scarlett.
I know what you mean. . . so much to read and so little time. I can’t wait for your reviews.