Sarah and I had a great time sitting fireside (I don’t think it was on, but it was cozy nonetheless) for our pilot of an upcoming segment series all about books! We hope you will join us every other month for a themed discussion around our reading experiences and specific book titles for every age group, babies through adults.
Today’s conversation began with a brief peek into each other’s general reading preferences and habits before we dove into specific titles that we loved and didn’t love in 2018.
Listen to our conversation here (we start around the 44:00 mark).
Books We Started But Didn’t Finish
The Maze At Windermere (Gregory Blake Smith) – I picked up a copy of this before our family visit to Rhode Island last summer, with the idea that a historical fiction novel set in the place we were headed would give me a greater appreciation for the place. It was good…but not un-put-down-able enough for me to see it through. –Sarah
Great Expectations (Charles Dickens) – I made my way through about 90% of the Dickens classic last year, before mounting library fines forced the issue. I’d still like to go back and finish, if only to say I did. ๐ –Sarah
When Life Gives You Lululemons (Lauren Weisberger) – As a huge fan of The Devil Wears Prada novel and film, I was really expecting to like this sequel, however, I found Emily, the main character to have transformed too dramatically from the character we’re introduced to in Prada to really invest in her the same way I did in the first book. –Katie
Fiction We Loved In 2018
Lincoln In The Bardo (George Saunders) – Don’t say I didn’t warn you: This is an off-the-beaten-path pick for fiction. It’s nontraditional in its format (written like a play) and strange in its subject matter, but it stuck with me and held me captive, especially after the first 80 pages or so. If you like historical fiction or literary fiction, it’s a really compelling read. –Sarah
All We Ever Wanted (Emily Giffin) – Told by three alternating narrators, All We Ever Wanted is the story of one teen’s scandalous social media post that impacts the lives of all those involved in ways that you wouldn’t necessarily expect. This pick lends enough meat to discuss at a book club but enough airiness to read on vacation. Disclaimer: this book does contain a scene that involves date rape; nothing is graphically depicted, but it could be a trigger for some. –Katie
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (Betty Smith) – I re-read this coming of age classic for the first time since I first devoured it the summer between 8th and 9th grade. It’s at once gritty and hopeful, beautifully written and emotionally honest. I happen to love almost any story set in New York, especially old New York, so the sense of place in this novel is like a familiar favorite character for me. If you haven’t read it, do; if you have, it’s worth the revisit.
Anne of Avonlea – As the sequel to Anne of Green Gables, this delightful coming of age novel continues to document Anne’s adventures and misadventures against the beautiful backdrop of Prince Edward Island. A couple charming plot lines center around Anne’s early teaching career, Marilla and Anne’s adoption of orphaned twins, and the transformation of a curmudgeonly neighbor. –Katie
We Also Mentioned…
- the musical Dear Evan Hansen
We’d love to hear some of your top 2018 book picks in a comment below!
I’m vowing to read more this year (and stay off my phone!).
I’m a fiction girl, so here’s what I have loved recently:
-Say You’re Sorry and Her Last Goodbye by Miranda Leigh
-Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren (such a fun, quick read!)
I’m a former elementary school teacher, so I’ve loved diving into juvenile or young adult fiction. The stories are great, but I can read them fast so they keep me engaged and make me feel so accomplished with a toddler and a newborn! Sarah, Allegra might be ready for some of these:
-The War That Saved my Life and The War I Finally Won (read in order- don’t remember which is first!)
-The Thing About Jellyfish
-A Long Walk to Water
-Fish In a Tree
-Rain Reign
-The One and Only Ivan
Thanks for the list of fiction, Rebecca! I’m going to have to check out those first two titles you shared. ๐ -Katie
I’m a huge reader. I reached my 2018 goal of 60 books and plan to read even more this year. I love romance and sappy love stories but also love self-help and a good educational nonfiction.
I’m currently loving The Library Book by Susan Orlean. I keep looking up places on the map in reference to Los Angeles. So, I love when books make me want to learn more about a particular subject. I’m super into hiking and the outdoors and so I’m looking for a lot of nonfiction revolving around that. I borrowed 60 hikes with 60 miles (Phoenix area) from the library and that’s fun to plan trips around.
A great historical fiction I recently read was The Masterpiece by Fiona Davis .
Finally, my daughters and I (they are 13 and 11) have been co-reading The Mother-Daughter Bookclub series by Heather Vogel Frederick. We’re on book #4 and have been reading since last summer. They are so fun!
Happy Reading ladies! I’m so excited about your book series for this year.
Thanks for sharing some of your favorites from both your personal book list and the one you are doing with your girls! I love the idea of reading with your kids well beyond the early years. And 60 books, wow! ๐