Let’s set the record straight…I’m not a voracious reader. Once I was released from mandatory reading in college I took a long leave of absence from the sport. I had a few years of working and teaching school followed by raising children. Oh sure, I read during those child rearing days…Pat the Bunny, I Love You Forever, Good Night Moon, If You Gave a Mouse a Cookie, Everybody Poops,…you get the idea. I may have read 1 or 2 books a year for pleasure. Then about 8 years ago I decided, during a moment of New Year’s reflection I needed and wanted to read more. I was lucky to be included in a very small private community book club, then joined another book club through a military spouse organization. I’m on the email list of yet another book club at the invitation of my youngest daughter’s ballet teacher at the time. These ladies are all career ladies and executive types and I never physically attended their meetings (I’m easily intimidated!) but I enjoyed many of the books they selected to read. My cookbook collection is fairly extensive and I enjoy picking up cookbooks as a souvenir of places we have lived or visited. Here are some selections from my bookshelf.

Cookbooks:

Maryland’s Way – a gift from Mom and Dad, Christmas 1978, and my first cookbook as an adult

Bon Apetite Y’all – purchased in July 2013 in Myrtle Beach SC

Nonfiction:

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, should be required reading for all medical students

Factory Man by Beth Macy…the American furniture industry and it’s struggle to keep American factories open.

The Life-Changing Magic Art of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo…yes, I have an emotional attachment to stuff.  This book helped but I could stand to read it again!

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown..an Olympic story

Still Alice by Lisa Genova, a woman’s journey with early onset Alzheimer’s

Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain… Interesting topic with some very funny moments, at times I felt like he was channelling George Carlin…the language was rather robust. (August 2012)

Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Bubner…I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to stay interested in actually reading the book so I opted to listen to this on CD in the car while performing my chauffeur duties to our teenage daughter. It was very interesting and amusing. (Feb. 2012)

The Third Wave by Alvin Toffler… I read this as part of a college consumerism class by senior year (30 years ago) Hard to believe when I read it in 1981 and wrote a paper on it (wouldn’t it be fun to see my paper…I’ll check to see if Mom has my college papers somewhere!) In 2012 so much of what I couldn’t believe then is reality now.

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin…a contributing factor to my blog journey and a motivator to make this stage of life my best.

Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan…A good read for a “transplanted farm girl” and introduced me to an inspiration gentleman, Joel Salatin. I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with Joel and later visited his farm with my mother, brother and his family.

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman…this was required reading for my oldest daughter’s college freshman English class. She recommended I read it and years later it was my selection for book group.

Fiction:

You Before Me by Jojo Moyes, needed to read it before the movie

The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood, a group of women who share a journey while knitting

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, finding hope and a reason for living in unexpected places

The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

The Downstairs Maid by Rosie Clarke

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, a World War II story about a blind girl in France

The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon…working on book 5 of 7, whew, it’s a journey. Book 4, September 2016)

The Invention of Wings...based on a true story but classified as historical fiction, the story of a family and a particular daughter who was an activist before her time.  There’s a quilt story line along with a Charleston setting.

The Kitchen House … set in colonial times in southern Virginia and Willliamsburg, our current home.  A story about an indentured servant girl. (August 2015)

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah…fabulous book about World War II and the French resistance. (October 2015)

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins…another book I wanted to read prior to seeing the movie. I’ve heard a lot about this series over the past years and quite honestly, the mother in me did not like it but as literature I enjoyed it and have picked up the next book in the series. (April 2012)

How to Eat A Cupcake by Meg Donohue…a quick read about the layers of friendship. (March 2012)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson….wanted to read the book before seeing the movie, suspenseful although the events where a little disturbing at times. (March 2012)

Comfort Food by Kate Jacobs…a book about food, family, and second chances…we need them all! (read March 2012)

You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon….a quick read of short stories about today’s military spouses written by a military spouse. (read Feb. 2012)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett…Loved it and the movie too.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen…a classic, even though my oldest daughter hated reading it in school.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee…another classic that I read with my youngest daughter’s middle school class.

Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell…as a lover of Southern hospitality, its a must read! I still love watching Carol Burnett’s rendition from her variety show!