If someone needs joy, Bill Bryson. Someone in grief, Joan Didian's A Year of Magical Thinking. Great audiobook, Poisonwood Bible. Improved Quality of Life, I recommend Power of Moments by Chip Heath or Chasing Daylight memoir. Beach Read recommendations, Romantic Comedy, Nora Goes off Script, Remarkably Bright Creatures. Daily devotional, Treasures in the Dark by Katherine Wolf is wonderful!
I love Goodbye Mr Chips, A Reading Life by Pat Conroy. Just so many wonderful books that enrich and change us. I'm so thankful that I am a reader!!!!
Look at you! Such a good way to think about it. This is the bookish equivalent of your good friend who always has what you need in a purse: tissue, cough drop, chocolate, nail file, safety pin. I love it!
My go-to is The Boys In The Boat. I think it checks so many boxes - history and suspense (even though it tells you how it is going to end at the beginning). There are traditional villains and surprise ones. If you enjoy an audio book, it's a great listen.
Oh! I just commented on another post about a book about a child’s death that I was reluctant to read but did, and loved, at my mom’s behest (A Heart That Works by Rob Delaney). The One-in-a-Million Boy came to me in exactly the same way and I loved it SO MUCH.
Anne Bogel was an early recommender of The One in a Million Boy. The author has a new book out very recently, How to Read a Book. Here's the Goodreads blurb - A charming, deeply moving novel about second chances, unlikely friendships, and the life-changing power of sharing stories.
But some of the books that I quite literally clutched to my chest upon finishing, swooning and saying, “Gah…that was so good!” are: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (my first and now longtime favorite), Hamnet, 11/22/63, and Deacon King Kong. Also if you like middle grade, I will never stop extolling the delights of Jessica Townsend’s Nevermoor series.
That´s so hard! Definitely the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny: wonderfully developed characters, twisted mysteries and great settings. I also love The Book Thief by Markus Zusak; it has a very special narrator. Another book I like is The Rabbit Factor by Antti Tuomainen, who is a Finnish author with a very particular sense of humor and who sets his books in an amusement park. That book was also marvelous on audio.
My go to is a book that seems to have flown under the radar! I read it in early 2023 and even with all the chaos in my life since then, I think about it almost daily Properties of Thirst by Marianne Wiggins.
My comments still stand
This is Immersive literary fiction at its best. Set in 1942 Owens Valley, CA, Wiggins’ descriptive language brings the reader to a vivid understanding of the land and the challenge to maintain it for future generations. Thirst is an overarching theme of the books as the title suggests, but thirst for what? Following the narrative from one property of thirst to the next is a journey in discovery and a thought-provoking exploration. Complex characters expand the reader’s understanding of generational trauma and grief while telling a gripping story of family love. This author reminded me of Amor Towles’ writing as she takes you down one rabbit hole after another leading you to the discovery of the story and the why of the characters. Major historic references that provide the backdrop for this story include LA water rights disputes, Pearl Harbor and the 1942 Executive Order forcing the incarceration of Japanese Americans. Cooking is also a major theme in this book so it will appeal to those who find solace in the kitchen and appreciate the art and depth of gourmet food preparation.
You might enjoy The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. I learned things about internment camps from that book. I'm currently reading East of Eden, seems like some similar themes to Properties of Thirst. I've added that title to my list! Thank you
Tough question. These books stayed with me for a long time. "Still Life" by Sarah Winman - tenderness, humor, found family, unforgettable characters. "Haunting Paris" by Mamta Chaudhry - light, life, beauty, grief, loss, unforgivable events. "A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet" by Becky Chambers - another found family, world-building, adventure, multi-species, unique characters you grow to care about.
I LOVE Becky Chambers. I’m usually not a big Sci Fi buff, but her writing transcends the genre. So good. I read the first book, and promptly binge-read through everything she has written.
HA! This is fun. I read and loved both Still Life and Haunting Paris — and Dave really loved A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. I saw a DNF review of Still Life on Goodreads the other day, and I was, like, WHAT?! —Mel
Since I get most of my recommendations from you guys, I'm not surprised at the overlap! Can I add "The Seville Communion" by Arturo Perez Reverte? I'm still sad that this didn't become a series and I still wonder what would have happened to Father Lorenzo.
Coming back to this question because you mentioned it on the pod! I always used to go blank when someone asked this but a side benefit of having a tattoo from ‘Station Eleven’ on my forearm (‘survival is insufficient’ of course…) is that it’s a great prompt/reminder when someone asks it…
Is it odd that the detail I remember most vividly from reading Charlotte's Web as a kid — and I haven't read it since — is the ingredients in the slop. I've been obsessed with food, even table scraps, my whole life. What a weirdo!
This mostly depends on the person BUT I have found that I can recommend BORN A CRIME by Trevor Noah to almost everyone. One of the best memoirs I've ever read.... listened to. Audio is the only way to go on this one.
THESE SILENT WOODS by Kimi Cunningham Grant - Incredible story of friendship, with a touch of eeriness but not scary at all.
MARY JANE by Jessica Anya Blau- A delightful coming-of-age story set in the 1970s.
I'm going to recommend I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger to everyone. It's a cli-fi, dystopian, quest, love, mystery literary fiction story with sentences written so beautifully I had to sit with them for a moment. The main character is loveable and relatable, the setting (Lake Superior and surrounding lands) is vividly described, and there's such human hope woven throughout the story, even though it has sad parts. It's somehow a magical blend of all those elements above without being too much of any of them.
Time and Again, by Jack Finney. I have read this 7 times over about 21 years. A reliable adventure/romance involving a secret government project exploring the mental nature of time travel. The Dakota building in New York plays a role (John Lennon lived here).
I like to recommend Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. I like this even better than a Gentleman in Moscow. I love a twist that I did not see coming. Maybe I should have seen it coming. A second book that I love is The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Who doesn't love this book?
At the moment, hands down, it is APERIGON, by Colum McCann. This most relevant book is extraordinary in scope, subject matter, and writing style. It is a fictional telling of a real-life friendship between a Muslim and a Jew, drawn together by unimaginable personal tragedy. Heartbreaking, heart warming, mind stretching. I loved it, and so has everyone I have recommended it to. One of those books that stays with you a long, long, time.
Wow that’s hard because I find my taste is definitely not for everyone, The Mistress of the Art of Death series , The Historian, Rebecca, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime , John Rebus series by Ian Rankin
If someone needs joy, Bill Bryson. Someone in grief, Joan Didian's A Year of Magical Thinking. Great audiobook, Poisonwood Bible. Improved Quality of Life, I recommend Power of Moments by Chip Heath or Chasing Daylight memoir. Beach Read recommendations, Romantic Comedy, Nora Goes off Script, Remarkably Bright Creatures. Daily devotional, Treasures in the Dark by Katherine Wolf is wonderful!
I love Goodbye Mr Chips, A Reading Life by Pat Conroy. Just so many wonderful books that enrich and change us. I'm so thankful that I am a reader!!!!
Look at you! Such a good way to think about it. This is the bookish equivalent of your good friend who always has what you need in a purse: tissue, cough drop, chocolate, nail file, safety pin. I love it!
My go-to is The Boys In The Boat. I think it checks so many boxes - history and suspense (even though it tells you how it is going to end at the beginning). There are traditional villains and surprise ones. If you enjoy an audio book, it's a great listen.
Also a great read for an Olympic summer!!
Oh, that is SO true!
This is hard. I think there are few books that are food for everybody. But I'll choose these two:
Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequiest. She is a spiritual writer, but I do think she has broad appeal. She talks a lot about hospitality and family.
The One in a Million Boy. I chose this because I chose it for my book club, and I think everyone loved it. A sweet, emotional story.
Oh! I just commented on another post about a book about a child’s death that I was reluctant to read but did, and loved, at my mom’s behest (A Heart That Works by Rob Delaney). The One-in-a-Million Boy came to me in exactly the same way and I loved it SO MUCH.
I don't know either of these... how fun! —Mel
Anne Bogel was an early recommender of The One in a Million Boy. The author has a new book out very recently, How to Read a Book. Here's the Goodreads blurb - A charming, deeply moving novel about second chances, unlikely friendships, and the life-changing power of sharing stories.
Certainly not every book is for every person.
But some of the books that I quite literally clutched to my chest upon finishing, swooning and saying, “Gah…that was so good!” are: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (my first and now longtime favorite), Hamnet, 11/22/63, and Deacon King Kong. Also if you like middle grade, I will never stop extolling the delights of Jessica Townsend’s Nevermoor series.
For middle grade, I would have to add: From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
I've never read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, but I've been curious about it since reading When Books Went To War https://www.amazon.com/When-Books-Went-War-Stories-ebook/dp/B00LRI90R8 because so many A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was so popular with soldiers during WWII. —Mel
That´s so hard! Definitely the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny: wonderfully developed characters, twisted mysteries and great settings. I also love The Book Thief by Markus Zusak; it has a very special narrator. Another book I like is The Rabbit Factor by Antti Tuomainen, who is a Finnish author with a very particular sense of humor and who sets his books in an amusement park. That book was also marvelous on audio.
Ooooh, Book Thief! I love that book. I need to add that to my list of novels with unusual narrators! —Mel
I thought of that when I heard you talking about unusual narrators! I also think the film adaptation is underappreciated.
Agree. I liked the movie! —Mel
Book Thief is INCREDIBLE on audio.
Oooh, good to know.
My go to is a book that seems to have flown under the radar! I read it in early 2023 and even with all the chaos in my life since then, I think about it almost daily Properties of Thirst by Marianne Wiggins.
My comments still stand
This is Immersive literary fiction at its best. Set in 1942 Owens Valley, CA, Wiggins’ descriptive language brings the reader to a vivid understanding of the land and the challenge to maintain it for future generations. Thirst is an overarching theme of the books as the title suggests, but thirst for what? Following the narrative from one property of thirst to the next is a journey in discovery and a thought-provoking exploration. Complex characters expand the reader’s understanding of generational trauma and grief while telling a gripping story of family love. This author reminded me of Amor Towles’ writing as she takes you down one rabbit hole after another leading you to the discovery of the story and the why of the characters. Major historic references that provide the backdrop for this story include LA water rights disputes, Pearl Harbor and the 1942 Executive Order forcing the incarceration of Japanese Americans. Cooking is also a major theme in this book so it will appeal to those who find solace in the kitchen and appreciate the art and depth of gourmet food preparation.
You might enjoy The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. I learned things about internment camps from that book. I'm currently reading East of Eden, seems like some similar themes to Properties of Thirst. I've added that title to my list! Thank you
Thanks @jillstitt I have read AND enjoyed Hotel. Another one that I found informative was George Takei's graphic memoir, They Called Us Enemy.
That sounds amazing! —Mel
Tough question. These books stayed with me for a long time. "Still Life" by Sarah Winman - tenderness, humor, found family, unforgettable characters. "Haunting Paris" by Mamta Chaudhry - light, life, beauty, grief, loss, unforgivable events. "A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet" by Becky Chambers - another found family, world-building, adventure, multi-species, unique characters you grow to care about.
I LOVE Becky Chambers. I’m usually not a big Sci Fi buff, but her writing transcends the genre. So good. I read the first book, and promptly binge-read through everything she has written.
Yeah. I've loved everything I've read from her. She falls into the "why aren't we already friends?" category for me. - Dave
I just read one of her books for our upcoming Outer Space episode. So many interesting ideas! —Mel
HA! This is fun. I read and loved both Still Life and Haunting Paris — and Dave really loved A Long Way to a Small Angry Planet. I saw a DNF review of Still Life on Goodreads the other day, and I was, like, WHAT?! —Mel
Since I get most of my recommendations from you guys, I'm not surprised at the overlap! Can I add "The Seville Communion" by Arturo Perez Reverte? I'm still sad that this didn't become a series and I still wonder what would have happened to Father Lorenzo.
I'm so glad you liked that one! He has a very particular writing style, right? —Mel
Coming back to this question because you mentioned it on the pod! I always used to go blank when someone asked this but a side benefit of having a tattoo from ‘Station Eleven’ on my forearm (‘survival is insufficient’ of course…) is that it’s a great prompt/reminder when someone asks it…
What an excellent tattoo! Love it. —Mel
Charlotte’s Web. Even for those who read it as a child. It is a book I try and read every year!
Is it odd that the detail I remember most vividly from reading Charlotte's Web as a kid — and I haven't read it since — is the ingredients in the slop. I've been obsessed with food, even table scraps, my whole life. What a weirdo!
This mostly depends on the person BUT I have found that I can recommend BORN A CRIME by Trevor Noah to almost everyone. One of the best memoirs I've ever read.... listened to. Audio is the only way to go on this one.
THESE SILENT WOODS by Kimi Cunningham Grant - Incredible story of friendship, with a touch of eeriness but not scary at all.
MARY JANE by Jessica Anya Blau- A delightful coming-of-age story set in the 1970s.
That last story about Trevor's mom! -- BAM! right in the feels. - Dave
Oh, good one! Born a Crime is an excellent idea.
I'm going to recommend I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger to everyone. It's a cli-fi, dystopian, quest, love, mystery literary fiction story with sentences written so beautifully I had to sit with them for a moment. The main character is loveable and relatable, the setting (Lake Superior and surrounding lands) is vividly described, and there's such human hope woven throughout the story, even though it has sad parts. It's somehow a magical blend of all those elements above without being too much of any of them.
Oooh, I've heard good things about this book. Thank you for the reminder!
I love a book that requires me to take breaks because it's just too good. –Mel
The Chet and Bernie Mysteries by Spencer Quinn
Time and Again, by Jack Finney. I have read this 7 times over about 21 years. A reliable adventure/romance involving a secret government project exploring the mental nature of time travel. The Dakota building in New York plays a role (John Lennon lived here).
Oh, that sounds really cool. Did I hear about this book on What Should I Read Next? ... like, ages ago? I think I did! —Mel
I like to recommend Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. I like this even better than a Gentleman in Moscow. I love a twist that I did not see coming. Maybe I should have seen it coming. A second book that I love is The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Who doesn't love this book?
Oh! Rules of Civility is such a good idea! Have you read Table for Two yet? —Mel
Table for Two. I have had it on hold from the library for over a month. Have you read it?
I read the NYC-based short stories but haven't read the novella set in LA with the characters from Rules of Civility yet. I LOVED the other stories.
Never heard of Shadow but looks very interesting, adding to my list - gracias!!
I talked about The Shadow of the Wind in our Spain episode — love that book so much!
https://strongsenseofplace.com/podcasts/2023-02-06-spain/
I also really loved the companion book (not really a sequel) The Labyrinth of the Spirits. I talked about that one in our Library episode. https://strongsenseofplace.com/podcasts/2020-09-21-library/
HAppy reading! All four of the books in the Cemetery of Forgotten books are fantastic. (Details at the bottom of this post: https://strongsenseofplace.com/2022/04/06/14-compelling-novels-that-weave-stories-within-stories/) —Mel
At the moment, hands down, it is APERIGON, by Colum McCann. This most relevant book is extraordinary in scope, subject matter, and writing style. It is a fictional telling of a real-life friendship between a Muslim and a Jew, drawn together by unimaginable personal tragedy. Heartbreaking, heart warming, mind stretching. I loved it, and so has everyone I have recommended it to. One of those books that stays with you a long, long, time.
Adding to our database right now... —Mel
Wow that’s hard because I find my taste is definitely not for everyone, The Mistress of the Art of Death series , The Historian, Rebecca, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime , John Rebus series by Ian Rankin
So many people are skeptical about The Historian and/but, as you probably know, it's one of my all-time favorites. —Mel