What Should I Read: The Intro Edition

Yes! I have a few suggestions!

First Things First

If you’re asking what to read, you should know my motto, which is: you should read whatever you want.

I’ll say it again - You should read Whatever. You. Want! Life is too short to read anything you don’t want to, or to feel guilty about what you read. 

So you’re an intelligent person who also only wants light rom-coms? Why not, who doesn’t love a fairy tale, smartypants? 

Is page-turning narrative non-fiction your jam? Congrats, you have great taste! 

Revisiting childhood favorites as a middle-ager? (Raises hand enthusiastically) 

Only interested in business books? Oh, dear, you’re probably not going to love most of my suggestions, but glad you’re still reading.

So if you need permission for reading anything, permission is hereby irrevocably granted!

But if you’re like me, sometimes you’re looking for a certain style of book, a certain mood, or just something you might never find on your own. A discovery that’s, say, somewhere between the Amazon best seller page and the endless dusty shelves of years-old library books that might be great. But how would we ever know?

That’s what you’ll find in this newsletter: new and old book suggestions for fiction, non-fiction, everything in between, and recommended reading lists grouped by admittedly arbitrary themes. (What, were you expecting Dewey Decimal?) Plus, it’s a way for me to reflect on what I’m reading, what I’ve read, what I stopped reading, and what I re-read over and over. 

Okay, thanks. But really, what should I read?

Oh, you want a suggestion like … right now? OK! Here are two books I recommend to everyone:

The Literary Suggestion: All the Light We Cannot See 

Confession: as soon as I see the description of “sweeping tale set against the backdrop of WW2,” I’m resistant because there are SO many of these books, and often I find myself mentally trudging. 

This is, of course, a silly bias, because the reason it’s a cliche is that this setting makes for such great reading. But maybe it does explain why this book was sitting on my shelf for two years before I finally picked it up? And what do you know, turns out that, yep, those Pulitzer Prize judges made a good choice! 

Power summary: The stories of a blind French girl who flees Paris and a German orphan boy who joins the army, eventually intertwining in occupied France. 

It’s beautifully written but very accessible. The plot is complex and ambitious but also seamless. And the horrors of the war are laid completely bare, but it’s still epic and tender and a little magical. You’ve probably already read it, but if you haven’t - a great read!

The Pop Culture Suggestion: Daisy Jones and the Six

Boy, is this book a Vibe. It’s “Fleetwood Mac” meets “Almost Famous” meets 1970’s Laurel Canyon summer and I loved it. 

Power summary: It’s an “oral history” style fiction of the creation and dissolution of a 70’s generational rock band, and the story of Daisy, their mesmerizing lead singer. 

It’s swoony, and hazy, and romantic, and cool. Sex! Drugs! Rock and roll! But also a moving story of group dynamics, and power, and love, and youth.

Also, there’s a line toward the end which I have thought about weekly for the past 19 months since I read it:

“If you’re waiting around, hoping that something’s going to crack, I just … I have to tell you that it’s not gonna be me. And I can’t let it be him. Which means it’s gonna be you.”

(That probably means nothing to you out of context but trust me, it’s a knockout blow.)

Next time: Mysteries, but make them series!