My dad always reinforced the importance of reading while I was growing up. “Learn everything you can Sam!” I haven’t learned everything, but I do have a love of reading. Here is my list of books that I find particularly inspiring or entertaining at the moment. Some are educational or self-helpish, but now that I’m out of my mid-30s crises I lean much more towards fiction. I almost exclusively read books by female authors, and have been making a concerted effort to read more by women of color. But, I’ll throw in the male perspective once in a while… if the book has like… really good reviews or something.
BTW the library is my best friend and I highly encourage more people to use it! I hardly know anyone that actually has a library card, let alone uses it. They literally have FREE books!!! When I say it out loud it sounds too good to be true, and yet, it exists.
I’m always looking for recommendations too, so comment with your favs. Happy reading!
Summer Reads
I think life is acting a bit crazy right now, both personally and on a global scale, so I’m sticking to light content. These easy enough reads will get you through these hot, tumultuous summer months. Also, I’m going to Italy at the end of September and that maayyyy be playing into my reading list just slightly this summer. I have not jumped on the Goodreads train just yet, thinking about it, but I’m linking their summer reading list here because it’s a lot more robust than my short list, and I’ll probably dive into several of them next. I’ll also link the book covers to the Goodreads reviews to give y’all a holistic overview. These are in the order in which they’re read.
Beware the Amalfi Curse! The Amalfi Curse – by Sarah Penner – will transport you straight to the shores of this glistening Italian coast. We’re talking gorgeous Italian men (I’m sold with just that statement TBH), stunning cliffside landscapes, sunken treasures, sirens (the sea witches, not the abhorrent sound), and a historical love story for the ages. What I enjoyed the most was the bounce back and forth between the mid 1800s lure associated with those times, and present day skepticism. This seems to be Penner’s iconic writing style and I can see the appeal. Will this book change your perspective on life or blow you away with the writing? No. But I think that’s perfectly okay! If you’re looking for a summer escape to Italy, real or imagined, I recommend this book. (BTW make sure to peep the delicious recipes located in the back of the book! What a cute little treat!)
What secrets is your family hiding? The Truth about the Devlins – by Lisa Scottoline – is honestly just okay. If you want a very easy read, simple writing, and a decent story line this is for you. It did keep me reading, and I certainly wanted to know what happened next, but I wasn’t enthralled with the writing style or the story itself. The protagonist and antagonists are male, with a couple female supporting characters, and that’s just not my vibe right now. However, I did appreciate the addition of a sassy orange cat, as it reminded me of my soul cat Monk (miss ya pop). This book gets a straightforward “C.” It’s not bad, not great. Maybe if you have a shady family member you’d really enjoy this plot.
Let’s give it up for the mixed betches! Our protagonist(s), and author, are biracial queens, and as one myself I get super exciting getting to read about characters I so strongly relate to. That said: Society of Lies – by Lauren Ling Brown – comes up short for me. I did enjoy the twisty, keeps you guessing plot, but that’s where my positive review has to end. The writing is mediocre, and the story itself is frustrating and drags on for far too long. That’s pretty much all I have to say about this one. I would not recommend.
I’m over here tryna crash a wedding and change the entire course of my life, is that too much to ask for?? The Wedding People – by Alison Espach – has a very special place in my heart. I am in a torrent of change at the moment, I’m not sure I can tell up from down, and I have no idea what comes next for me… This could be why The Wedding People felt so inspiring and emotional for me. It does have a slow start, a tad (very) depressing, enough where I allmmoosssttt stopped reading. I’m so happy I kept going! The plot is deeply touching, the writing is fantastic, and if you happen to be going through some amount of change while you read it, it might just shift your entire perspective on life. Okay, I don’t want to give this book too much credit, but I found it inspiring. If you’re looking to laugh out loud, fall in love, cry, and then laugh some more then I would highly recommend this book.
I don’t often (never) read books twice, but when I found this sitting in my bedside table in my room at my mom’s house I picked it back up, and for the second time I couldn’t put it back down. Circe – by Madeline Miller – is absolutely in my top 5, maybe top 3, favorite books of all time. I lap Greek mythology up in general, but then you add in a badass outcast witch?? Gimme a break, this is gold! Circe is a badass betch who is continuously punished, chastised, and threatened by the men around her, until she finds her power. The female empowerment alone is worth reading, but the writing is impeccable and the story will keep you entranced in a mythical world of the Gods. Obviously, I highly highly recommend this book, and I have no doubt this will be one that I read for a third time down the road. (Side note: Miller’s ‘The Song of Achilles’ is also great, but Circe takes the win IMO).
Travel, Learn, Have Fun 