reading list: 2025
I am seriously going to have to up my reading game if I am going to get to all the books in my house!Â
THE COVENANT OF WATER by Abraham Verghese
An epic, tragic, beautifully written novel. I listened to it and loved the author’s voice carrying me through this generational tale.
DEMOCRACY AWAKENING by Heather Cox Richardson
Love Heather’s contextualizing of current events into a historical perspective in her daily writing and FB live talks. Highly recommend.
THE FIVE WOUNDS by Kirstin Valdez Quade
Struggled to finish this. The lead character continually disappointed everyone and it was exhausting.
reading list: 2024
I joined a Facebook book club and I cannot keep up! Lots of great recommendations though.
ENOUGH by Cassidy Hutchinson
Very detailed account of Cassidy’s time in Washington. Well worth a listen.
THE LEMON TREE by Sandy Tolan
A great, heartbreaking history lesson that continues today.
BEACH MUSIC by Pat Conroy
Picked up this classic but felt pretty dated.Â
THE KITE RUNNER by Khaled Hosseini
So nice to read the character’s love of Afghanistan and so sad to think of where it went later in the story and where it is now.
GOING CLEAR by Lawrence Wright
Glennon Doyle said ‘if you’re in an organization that says it has all the answers, you are probably in a cult.” So true.
THE POWER by Naomi Alderman
This started out very intriguing but got too dark for me.
THE WIDOW’S GUIDE TO DEAD BASTARDS by Jessica Waite
Can’t recommend this enough. Fantastic book on grief and healing.
IN DEFENSE OF FOOD by Michael Pollan
Took me a while to get to this. Still relevant.Â
BEACH READ by Emily Henry
Another book of my daughter’s to help with my insomnia.Â
WASHINGTON BLACK by Esi Edugyan
Hard story but the writing was so fantastic. Looking forward to read more of her.
LINCOLN HIGHWAY by Amor Towles
Lots of discomfort for the protagonists when someone else’s agenda sends them offtrack too many times!
LIFE AFTER LIFE by Kate Atkinson
Took me 10 years to crack this one. Glad I did. Writing is impressive.
REMARKABLY BRIGHT CREATURES by Shelby Van Pelt
Remarkably great first novel!
BOOK LOVERS by Emily Henry
This was good company during my insomnia!
EVERY DAY by David Levithan
A writing feat. So many characters written in depth.
HUMAN KIND by Rutger Bregman
Loved this book! Read it!
LET’S JUST SAY IT WASN’T PRETTY by Diane Keaton
Enjoyed her other memoir more!
MY NAME IS BARBRA by Barbra Streisand
Her commitment to her art is admirable.
MEET ME AT THE LAKE by Carley Fortune
Great read and nice to see a book set partially in Toronto.
WATCH MEÂ by Anjelica Huston
Amazing recall for details or great journaling!
THE CONFIDENCE CODE by Kay and Shipman
Some interesting points!
HOW SHOULD A PERSON BE? by Sheila Heti
I wish I liked it, but I didn’t.
THE GUESTÂ by Emma Cline
Keeps you on edge the whole time. And kinda uncomfortable.
SHADOW OF THE WIND by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Hubby bought after a trip to Barcelona. Was great to read about all these places we had just been.
reading list: 2023
So many books, so little time!!
LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY
Read just in time for the TV series which feels like a great adaptation.
LEAVING THE WITNESS by Amber Scorah
So honest. Riveting.
PURE COLOUR by Sheila Heti
I wanted to like this so much but had trouble connecting.
FAYNE by Ann-Marie MacDonal.
EPIC!
BEWILDERMENT by Richard Powers
I loved this book from the first few pages.
END CREDITS by Patty Lin
Always fascinating to read a writer’s experience.
ROMANTIC COMEDY by Curtis Sittenfeld
Hubby gave to me because I seem to be obsessed with SNL!
SPARE by Prince Harry
Being caged is no life.
HOTLINE BY Dimitri Nasrallah
Amazing book. Highly recommended.
THE FOURTH ARCHANGEL by Sharon Butala
I bought this book 30 years ago and finally read it! Enjoy her writing very much.
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL by Mayte Garcia
Have to say, did not like Prince much after reading this memoir.
THE SLEEPING CAR PORTER by Suzette Mayr
Very interesting writing style. I was exhausted by this story. No sleeping!
THE DUTCH HOUSE By Ann Patchett
It had a slow hard start but paid off in the end.
PAUL NEWMAN by Paul Newman
Every life has a story.Â
STILL LIFE by Sarah Winman
Recommended by a friend – beautiful writing.
SEA OF TRANQUILITY by Emily St. John Mandel
Amazing world building.
reading list: 2022
Catching up on some bestsellers from the past few years!
GREENLIGHTS by Matthew McConaughey.Â
Leans into life. Inspiring.
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FRIENDS, LOVERS, AND THE BIG TERRIBLE THING by Matthew Perry
Always love a memoir. This one was pretty tragic.
SURRENDER by Bono
Very poetic. Love it.
RUN TOWARDS THE DANGER by Sarah Polley
So well written. Look forward to her next book. Hint, hint.
FREEZING ORDER by Bill Browder
Quite chilling.
WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens
Kept me company on many sleepless nights.
MIDDLESEX by Jeffrey Eugenides
What a beautiful writer.
JUST KIDS by Patti Smith
What a life!
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING by Adyashanti
Always searching for answers…
THE GOLDFINCH by Donna Tartt
Hard to follow a character making so many challenging decisions but gratified in the end.
EDUCATED by Tara Westover
Late to the party on this book but wow, was it gripping!
THE DARK HOURS by Michael Connelly
Also late to the party on this series, but enjoyed it.
THE DA VINCI CODE by Dan Brown
Remember being thrilled by this the first time and really enjoyed it again.
ORIGIN by Dan Brown
Interesting debate between science and religion.
THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME by Laura Dave
Great mystery. Gutsy lead character.
MALIBU RISING by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My teenager loaned this to me.Â
AMERICAN DIRT By Jeanine Cummins
Wow. Gripping.
NO BAD PARTS By Richard Schwartz
So interesting. Must do exercises again.
POSSESSION by A.S. Byatt
An old favourite I thought I would revisit.
BOSSYPANTS by Tina Fey
Second time I read it, just as funny as the first time.
reading list: 2021
Could I BE more excited to dive into books this year!?
SAME SOUL, MANY BODIES By Brian Weiss
Brian’s books are like a warm blanket for me. They calm me.
THE ALICE NETWORK By Kate Quinn
Really lovely story spanning two wars.
WISHIN’ AND HOPIN’ By Wally Lamb
Such a cute Christmas story. Really enjoyed it.
I believe I will be reading and re-reading this for years.
This took a bit to get its hooks into me, but when it did, it did.
Loved this story. So well written. Â
A study in character…
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Riveting. Heartbreaking. Rewarding.
Anyone else find themselves constantly quoting Malcolm Gladwell?
A story not confined by time. Don’t put it down!
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Many great reminders for living an intentional life.
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Amazing memoir, very impactful.
Very informative read. Doing research for a character and this was super helpful.
Part memoir/part history.Â
Very thorough and informative history.
This book fills you with optimism that you can be the architect of your own life.
Very interesting read.
I knew the aliens would eventually show up in the story…
This is the book that details the disaster that took the life of my half-Uncle.
reading list: 2020
Books, old and new have been my refuge this year.
A prezzie from my stepson full of great tidbits that helped with my latest screenplay.
Yup I read another one.
I have had this book for 20 years and just read it. Mind blowing.
Gregg Braden is one of my favourite authors. I read pretty much everything he publishes.
This book was beautiful and devastating at the same time.
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Oy.
A thoughtful gift from my daughter. A spanning story of a life of learning.
My second Gladwell book and certainly not the last.
Heard this was a Jerry and Esther Hicks favourite so gave it a read. Â
Happier in Hollywood podcast introduced me to this author. Enjoyed it.
Up for air, and another dive.
A dive into a classic.
I had two copies on my shelf for some reason so clearly had to read it. Â
Who doesn’t want to know how to time travel?
A gift from sis!
Ain’t it the truth?
On a Brian Weiss kick. Why not?
This book started a life-long exploration for me. Love it still.
Had this since 2006 and finally cracked it. So much relevant information. Get a hand can opener!
Continuing my education…
Telling it like it is! My husband loved the advice at the end of every chapter.
A book for these times.
I will happily read every book this woman writes.
Good book to read and re-read.
Was wishing the early chapters came with a spotify playlist…
Consumed this on a plane ride in March. Bare and brave.
Subject of a book club run by sis. Loved it.
The third in a series by this author.
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Ani kept me company in a tough stretch of life and I will always be grateful to her.
Les Carter has some amazing YouTube videos on navigating challenging relationships.
I was captivated by this book and the companion podcast.
This history is so strange indeed.
