Reading update.

So I just looked back at my entries over the past few months, and I realized I haven’t done a reading list update since January! Definitely time to fill all of you in on what’s been downloaded on my Kindle. If you recall, January was a great reading month for me…I finished seven books! I haven’t been quite as aggressive these past few months, but I’ve read a couple of wonderful books that I’d love to suggest to you!

“Songs Without Words” by Ann Packer: So let me start by saying that “The Dive From Clausen’s Pier” is absolutely one of my favorite books of all time. Heart-wrenching and real…and it was made into a Lifetime movie. What says fine fiction like a made-for-TV movie, right?? All kidding aside, I loved it. However, I was not so in love with Ann’s newest. The concept is pretty depressing (which I usually like), but it didn’t seem to have enough depth or emotion for me to really feel for the characters.

“Left Neglected” by Lisa Genova: My momma recommended this one because she knew that I used to like reading Jodi Picoult novels. Don’t get me wrong, I still do, but I think I’ve read everything she’s written, and she can’t seem to write new novels at my reading pace. ;-) So I gave it a shot, and I actually really liked it. It’s about a woman who gets this mysterious disease called Left Neglect where you literally don’t recognize the left side of your body as being present. It stems from a right brain injury, and the story is about this woman dealing with being a working mother while recovering from this injury.

“The Language of Flowers” by Vanessa Diffenbaugh: This one I absolutely loved. You need to read this. So beautiful and sad and hopeful. It’s the story of the foster system in the Bay Area, and this ever-changing story about the human condition and what we are capable of at our very weakest is outstanding. It’s definitely the best book I’ve read so far this year.

“The Blue Bistro” by Elin Hilderbrand: Ya’ll know I love Elin, and this one didn’t disappoint. In fact, I think it’s my favorite Elin thus far. Shauna Niequist (my absolute favorite) blogged that this was her favorite Elin book, so for that reason alone I picked it up. And it’s absolutely true.

“The Virgin Suicides” by Jeffrey Eugenides: Honestly, I didn’t love it. Which is strange because I really liked “The Marriage Plot” and I loved “Middlesex.” But this one just didn’t do it for me. The narrator is extremely detached from the story, and even though it’s about the suicides of sisters, I didn’t cry once. Not normal. But, I’ve heard that the movie is excellent, so I’m definitely going to check that out.

“Firefly Lane” by Kristin Hannah: I loved this. I know this one was popular like two years ago, but I just got around to it. I’m so surprised that I haven’t read anything by Ms. Hannah before because I really love her writing style. This book reminded me so much of “Summer Sisters,” which is probably my favorite book of all time. (Who doesn’t love Judy Blume?) It’s the story of two women set over their lifetime, and they change and develop so much that you really feel like you’ve known them forever. I think this was especially powerful to me because I’m in such a state of changing friendships that the way we relate to our girlfriends is really apparent to me right now. And I loved watching these two women grow apart and come together.

“Beachcombers” by Nancy Thayer: Nancy is like the second coming of Elin. She also writes about Cape Cod, and I’m so glad I found her because I’ve almost read everything Elin has published. I listened to this one on audiobook, and I loved the story. It kept me intrigued while being a fun and sweet story. Definitely a recommendation for beach reading.

“The Blue Sweater” by Jacqueline Novogratz: This one has been a long time coming. My sweet friend recommended this to me after she read it about a year ago. She thought of me because the main character started her career as a banker. But the story is so much more than that. It’s an incredibly insightful look into the world of philanthropy and giving and making big differences…and it depicts charity as something that’s absolutely part of the corporate world. When I get wrapped up in my job, I think of philanthropy and business as two entirely separate entities, but Jacqueline reminds us that the best philanthropy is sourced from the very groups who benefit from it while being results-driven and sustainable. I’m amazed at how much this woman accomplished by the age of 25. In fact, it made me a little self-conscious about how little I’ve contributed to the world. And aside from motivating me to be a better global citizen, she’s reminded me to be present in my work, no matter what it is, and to persevere.

So that’s what I’ve been reading for the past few months. I’d love to hear what you’re reading, too! Still up on my “to-read” bookshelf on Goodreads (if you’re a reader and not yet on Goodreads, please join and find me!) are the following:

“A Million Miles in a Thousand Years” by Donald Miller

“Lift” by Kelly Corrigan

“Bloom” by Kelle Hampton (but I’ll be getting this one in hardback for the photography!)

“Midwives” by Chris Bohjalian

To summer reading,

Lia