Let me Tell you About Some Books I Read (part 2)

Finally, the stars have aligned for me to write about my 2019 top five fiction reads. It's going to be hard, and many books I loved will not make this list, so if you want more recommendations, let me know. I am always happy to talk books.

My tastes in fiction are possibly even more eclectic than nonfiction. What I probably enjoy most is good fantasy, but that's not easy to find, especially such that meets my standards. I also read most of the Harry Potter series with my kids. It reminded me that prose doesn't have to be perfect to draw the reader in, or in this case even millions of readers. There are great lessons for aspiring writers in that series. Then there is some guilty pleasure reading, or as I now try to think of it, pleasure reading, which this year for me was the Sookie Stackhouse books. I never would have picked them up if I hadn't heard an interview with Charlaine Harris on a writers' podcast. I don't even remember what she said, but it was enough to pick up the first one. Then I continued to read them in between more literary reads. They're terrible, but they're fun and I feel no shame in saying so.

But here is the short list I would recommend to almost anyone even with no parameters:

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern - This is fantasy with masterful setting and dialogue and no fantasy tropes. Pulls you in right away and the story builds until you're in the middle of a magical world, and you want the answers, but you don't want it to end. It is one of those books you finish and you feel satiated with magic, but also sad because you can never again read it for the first time.

The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn Jackson - I have now read most of what she wrote, mostly in the form of audiobooks narrated by the author, so I feel a kind of familiarity that is almost like a peculiar way of knowing someone. A common theme for her books are southern culture, strong female characters, a niche occupation that plays a part in character development that is researched to painstaking depth, and a big question that you want answered badly, but is still not the only reason you keep reading. Joshilyn Jackson has such a unique voice that I believe I would recognize a page of her writing easily in a blind test. It's intelligent and witty in a candid and unassuming way. I have summarized her writing before as "entertainment with depth". A pleasure read that invites no guilt. This book is just the perfect paragon of everything I love about J.J. Content Warning for assault.

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi - I love that books can help me (almost) experience the lives of people in different times, places and cultures than my own. This is certainly one such book. The review I wrote right after I read it said "This is the closest thing to a perfect book I have read in a really long time". Each chapter is about a different character in the same family tree. I would come to love the character enough to be sad the chapter is over, but then immediately get invested in the next one. Only a great writer can do that. It's really hard to read at times. Content warning: includes depictions of assault, abuse and slavery.

The Overstory by Richard Powers - This book is immense. Like the previous one, there are many different characters, but the story is even bigger. I did stall with my reading maybe a third of the way in and read some other things before I went back to it. I would never call it perfect, but it's just so astonishingly ambitious in scope, I have to admire that. And if you come to me after you start this and you say: Really? Are you sure about this one? Yes, yes I am. Keep reading, and then let me know when you are ready to talk about how amazing trees are and how evil capitalism is and what we're going to do about it. Side effects include suddenly no longer feeling bad about slacking off on yard work. I know this sounds a bit strange, but it'll all make sense after you read it. Content warning for suicide.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman - Hey! It's Neil Gaiman! The thing about him and me is that it wasn't always smooth sailing (ha!). The first book of his I read was American Gods and it went something like: Whoa, cool! Then: That's brilliant! Then: Wait, what? Then: Wow, I wish I had thought of that. Then: Who the hell does this guy think he is? If you've read him before, you know what I mean. There's genius, there's skillful writing, there's absolutely ridiculous plot points no one could possibly get away with, and it all somehow works. Gotta love and hate that guy. But after reading this one, it's mostly love and appreciation with moments of: Of course he just did that. This story has perfect storytelling, magic, whimsy and a hearty side of weird. That's Neil Gaiman in a nutshell. Or a bucket. You'll get it when you read it. Then you'll see what I did there. As a bonus, there's a great personal story that I now always think of when I think about impostor syndrome.
Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book. Accessibility text: I'm going to tell you something important. Grown-ups don't look like grown-ups on the inside either. Outside, they're big and thoughtless and they always know what they're doing. Inside, they look just like they always have. Like they did when they were your age. The truth is, there aren't any grown-ups. Not one, in the whole wide world.

If you've read these, I would love your thoughts, and also any recommendations as I am building my 2020 reading list. Much love and a Happy New Year!

Let Me Tell You About Some Books I Read (part 1)

“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.”
― John Green, The Fault in Our Stars

It's been a really good year on the reading front. I have kept up tracking my books via Goodreads, and I can't be sure, but I have likely read more this year than ever before. Most of them were actually listened, but that counts. Don't contradict me, I will fight you. Most of my audio-books, and some e-books have come from Scribd. I have been subscribed to it for about 18 months now, and it works really well for people who are not specific in most of their reading. If you have tried listening to an audio-book once and decided it wasn't your thing, it may be worth trying again, with another book. Some books are not ideal for the format and there have been narrators I couldn't tolerate for various reasons.

As we are approaching the end of the year, I was reflecting on reaching my reading goal, and someone asked for my top 5. Why if you insist, I will be happy to share. As I was making it, it became clear there was a need for two, so I have one for fiction and non-fiction list. There were quite a few more books I loved that did not make it in the top 5s. You might have to stalk me on Goodreads if you want those.

Non fiction picks in no particular order:

"Educated" by Tara Westover - I read this in January and I still remember it quite well. I know there is a lot of buzz about this right now, but don't pass on it because you think it's trendy. It deserves the publicity. It is an extraordinary story told by a brilliant writer. There is a compelling personal story as well as psychology and cultural topics. Content warning for abuse.

"Shameless: A Sexual Reformation" by Nadia Bolz-Webber - For those who were raised Christian or in a Christianity-influenced culture, it is worth examining the ideas we received about sex, gender and our bodies. I gave it four stars but this book made it into top 5 because it left an impression and I think it's a significant topic.

"Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and The Future of Neurodiversity" by Steve Silberman - This one is going to hurt. Some pain is necessary and it comes with growth. This is one such instance. All the books that seem to kill you a little on the inside go into two categories in my mind: worth it and not worth it. The latter makes me furious. The former makes me feel all the things. There is so much trauma and neglect and even downright torture in the history of autism. But this must be known and never forgotten and everyone should read this book. Rest assured, it gets better in the last section, because internet. Not really but kind of. Just read it. Content warnings galore here.

"How to Change Your Mind" by Michael Pollan - The super long subtitle: What the new science of psychedelics teaches us about consciousness, dying, addiction, depression and transcendence. Yeah, it's a mouthful. Or earful. The subtitle led me to slightly inaccurate expectations. There are definitely lessons about all those things, but they're not the main purpose of the book, and they are not served up to the reader, but are there if you think and make your own conclusions. There is a lot of really interesting history, science, personal narrative and if you're like me, you will be gifted with a long-term fascination and appreciation for mushrooms in general.

"Big Magic: Creative Living Without Fear" by Elizabeth Gilbert - Yeah, the Eat, Pray, Love author. She is also the author of my internal conflict around this book. You see I don't do self help books. And I liked this book. So loving this book kind of turned my world upside down. Rude. But I am a forgiving person. There is a lot of good stuff here. It discusses perfectionism, inspiration and a lot of harmful notions about the creative process. Worth reading for all creative people in the widest sense of the word.

Well, my studious friends, I was just going to say a couple of things about each (I know, hilarious), but it turned into mini reviews, so I will end here and put my Fiction top 5 into another post. Please share thoughts on any of these you have read if so inclined, and send me recommendations for reads I don't yet know I need.

Accessibility text: A quote on a white background which reads: "If people don't like what you're creating, just smile at them sweetly and tell them to (in pink capital letters) go make their own fucking art". - Elizabeth Gilbert #"Big Magic"