Recommended Reads (Feb 2014)
This New York winter has been long, dark and mighty cold. As I type, on March 6th, there is still snow on the ground. The inclement weather meant plenty of time for reading and I’ve devoured some fantastic books. Here are a few recommendations:
How Should a Person Be - Sheila Heti
This novel/memoir blend defies easy categorization. It drew me into a world of art, sex, drama, relationships and chaos, in the best way possible. It’s the kind of book that breaks your heart but in a really good way. Worthy of the hype. A must read for anyone who wants to do creative work.
Tiny Beautiful Things - Cheryl Strayed
I read this last summer, and the prose is still rattling around my head. A series of advice columns on everything that life has to offer: love, death, friendships, relationships, drama, grief, betrayal, forgiveness, truth and struggle. This book is about what it’s like to be human. The best book I read in 2013.
Eleanor and Park - Rainbow Rowell
I rarely read fiction, and young adult fiction is a genre I’ve never really tried. Yet, these two characters and their teenage existence drew me in. It’s a visceral, often uncomfortable read, but a powerful one. A master of characterization.
The Affairs of Others - Amy Grace Loyd
I bought this largely because it’s based in Brooklyn, where I now live. It’s the story of a young widow and the tenants in her apartment building. It’s complex and wise and driven by the clear-voiced (& complicated) protagonist. If I say any more I’ll have to yell, SPOLIERS. So, let’s leave it at that.
The Desire Map - Danielle La Porte
I didn’t want to enjoy this book - the online hooplah was a little off-putting, but it’s a solid, soulful and very interesting read. The first part covers the theory of desire; the premise of setting goals with soul that are rooted in how you want to feel. The second part, the workbook, is made up of a selection of prompts and questions to put this practice into action. A very worthy addition to the goal-setting lexicon, and a lovely read.
I Shouldn’t be Telling You This - Kate White
Whenever I feel overwhelmed with a problem in life, I try to find a book that might offer a solution. When I started a demanding new job, this was the first thing I read. It’s a solid career guide, full of actionable advice from a real-world perspective. These ‘how to’ books always leave me feeling a little inadequate, if I’m to be honest, but it’s still worth a read.
Brain on Fire - Susannah Cahalan
This fast-paced memoir tells the story of a 24 year old journalist’s descent into madness, after she contracted a rare virus. It reveals the tentative line between normalcy and chaos, the importance of getting a second (or even third) medical opinion and fragility of our sanity.
Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert
This book came to be at the perfect time. I’d just moved to New York, felt very lost and couldn’t quite remember what the hell I was doing. This book has gone from being a story to a movie, a movement and now a cliche. Despite that, the book itself is very, very good. Gilbert is warm, funny, wise and honest. Her writing is clear and compassionate; I recognized myself in her fragility in every chapter. For women in transition, this is a great read.
The Forgotton Waltz - Anne Enright
On lazy Sunday, I was craving a bit of Ireland and bought this. One line from the blurb grabbed me: “the incendiary egnomania that accompanies secret passions”. It’s the story of a 30-something Irish woman who has an affair with an average guy, without really knowing why. Of course, the secret comes out and the consequences unfurl deftly at Enright’s hand. Lovely read.
For more recommendations, check out my summer reading list. There are a bunch of other book reviews here too.
