I've got a good variety of books to share with you today AND, as a bonus, today's Elise Gets Crafty podcast episode features author Katherine Reay. We're chatting about her creative process for writing fiction. This is something I am so interested in because I love to read novels but I know writing one is something I'll probably never do. It was so fun to chat with Katherine and I hope you'll listen by streaming here or using your favorite podcast app.
And one more thing, I get a lot of questions about when I read. 85% of the time it's in bed before I fall asleep, but sometimes it's in the evenings after Ellerie's asleep and Paul and I have already watched an episode of TV. I am also trying to take Friday's off from work and reading (or napping) on the couch during Ellerie's nap. Switching back to real (library) books instead of ebooks on my iPad has been a HUGE help. I can't click away to "just check Instagram really quick a.k.a. find myself involved in a teenage saga about a youtube star." I also think I fall asleep faster because my eyes aren't thrown off right before bed due to that bright screen.
Those are just small things but the point is reading is a huge priority for me – it helps me feel like me – and so I fit it into my schedule.
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty / this was the second book I read by this author and my favorite of the two. It was set up as a (fairly) light-hearted murder mystery which is an interesting pairing, I know. I loved the way it was told and the casual suspense that built throughout. I think I've said this before, but I tend to enjoy stories told from various points of view and this was especially well done.
Lizzy & Jane by Katherine Reay / this is the story of two estranged sisters, both who are going through different but real challenges. I loved their relationship; it felt just complex and just real enough and I enjoyed the detail given about both their situations. There were so many food, scent and literary references included throughout the book and I always appreciate that because it makes me feel like I'm learning something from fiction. The business idea that comes out from the two sisters' troubles is genius and I hope it's a real concept (I should have asked Katherine about that!)
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande / this was the heaviest book I've read in a long time. Since Paul and I first started dating, and he read Complications, I have read all of Gawande's books and each one opens my eyes and changes my life. Somehow Gawande takes the most complex medical and human issues and breaks them down in a way that is accessible and relatable. I couldn't put this book down, though it was a hard and sometimes very sad read. In the middle I struggled because the weight of our current challenge (the baby-boomers nearing "old age") is something we (and by "we" I mean: society, me, my parents) are not prepared for. What, I wondered, could we really DO about that? There are suggestions and answers though and while it's murky, I felt like the ending shared promise and felt uplifting. Many discussions were spurred by this book. Important, valuable discussions.
I'm currently reading I'll Give You The Sun and I have a decent stack of books on my nightstand after that. What about you? Anything interesting to kick off the new year? Anyone have any reading goals? My reading goal is to never bring my iPad/iPhone to bed and instead read a book.
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