Memorial Day: Reader Suggestions
It's your turn for WSIR #28
Shaking it up here on ye olde “What Should I Read” because it’s a holiday weekend in the US! People are getting vaccinated! There was a lunar eclipse and Mercury is in retrograde! It’s joyful chaos energy up in here, people. JOYFUL. CHAOS. So let’s do something different, shall we?
I’m curious how you keep track of what you want to read; personally, when I see a book I want to read or when someone recommends one to me, I add it to my holds list at the local public library. This is because the library is a magical place where you get books for free, based on trust and the civic contract, but also because when you read quickly, as I do, there’s simply no room to buy and keep all the books.
And the more *I* talk about books, the more people talk *back* to me about books, which is the best kind of conversation! This results in a holds list that is currently 43 books and counting (JOYFUL CHAOS), and it also results in people sharing books they love.
So this week, I’m breaking from my usual format and sharing the book suggestions that have come in as a result of this seven month book newsletter experiment, along with some of my anticipated summer reading. If I haven’t read ‘em, I can’t attest to the quality, but the more book ideas the merrier, I say, especially from a community as well-read as this one! Enjoy!
If You Love … Celebrity Memoirs
This topic spurred a LOT of suggestions (you can see my initial recos here). It seems that almost everyone loves at least one memoir by at least one notable person. Here were the most mentioned:
The Education of an Idealist by Samantha Power (really need to get to this!)
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey
Faithfull by Marianne Faithfull (apparently you’ll love it if you loved Just Kids, which I only … just liked, but know is quite popular!)
Open Book by Jessica Simpson
One reader’s reco: “Is there a celebrity memoir I haven’t read? Jessica Simpson’s was delightful. I’m not even a fan but it was juicy!”
If You Love … Books about the AIDS Era
Apparently I’m not the only one who feels drawn to reflect on this time period (see my initial recos here.) Suggestions included:
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin, recommended by reader Kira W!
And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts, a non-fiction account of AIDS activism. This was reco’d by keen reader Danielle, and she’s right - it’s a great one.
The Prettiest Star by Carter Sickels, a novel
I’m also very eager to read Let the Record Show by Sarah Shulman (currently #4 on my library holds) … should we start a book club?
If you love … YA & Children’s Classics
I was thrilled to hear so many favorites in these categories (see my past young adult and children’s classics recos). Childhood reading is a treasure, and as friend and reader Courtney said: “one of the best parts of parenting - rereading my favorites!”
SO many people named The Chronicles of Narnia as their favorite - and I’ve actually never read a single one. Putting them on the list for summer reading!
Where the Red Fern Grows also had a sizable fan base.
Karen M. named Pride and Prejudiceas her favorite YA book, which is both a testament to an intellectual woman and also - YES! Were you even a teen if you didn’t read this comedy of manners?
Joanna M. asked, “does Wonder count?” and - I don’t see why not!
And finally …
No reading list on incarceration is complete without Shaka Senghor’s memoir, Writing My Wrongs, written about the 19 years he served in prison for dealing drugs. Several readers suggested this, and I concur - it’s powerful and honest.
And last but certainly not least, very smart Shayna says this about The Year of Magical Thinking, which I am afraid to read (see other books for grieving here):
“I hope you'll dig into The Year of Magical Thinking. It gutted me, but is also funny and clever and wonderfully completely Didion.”
Maybe, Shayna. Maybe.
Tell me … what’s ONE book you’re excited to read this summer? Remember, this is a no-judgment zone.
On the top of my summer reading list are Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead and The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz