The Library

On The Nightstand (Adult):

Seriously, the stack is this high. Maybe yours is higher.

• Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig. RIP. Total re-read and appreciating the re-read.
• A Man Called Ove, Fredrick Backman (wept on the gym treadmill as just recently finished it on my Kindle–sorry, those around me)
• Hidden Figures, Margot Lee Shetterly (do not miss, especially if you have not seen the movie yet)
• Today Will Be Different, Maria Semple (actually I’ve read it, but it stays on the nightstand, with Bernadette)
• All Ngaio Marsh. How did I miss her, especially being an Agatha Christie-maniac? To be fair, I’m reading her on my Kindle, so she’s not actually on the nightstand, but sometimes at night the Kindle is on the nightstand, so…
• How To Party With An Infant, Kaui Hart Hemmings AND her collection of short stories, House Of Thieves
• Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates (everyone has to read this book–and listen to the interview on NPR)
• The Sea Around Us, Rachel Carson (any nightstand’s ultimate staple)
• Silent Spring, Rachel Carson (will never leave the nightstand)
• Building Your Child’s Self-Esteem, Dorothy Corkille Briggs (stays on nightstand!)
• Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte (can never get enough of JANE JANE JANE JANE)
• The Ocean World, Jacques Cousteau (will be reading in perpetuity)

On The Nightstand (Children’s/YA–see also “read/children’s/YA” below)

• The One And Only Ivan, K.A. Applegate (truthfully? I finished it–I love it–why did it take me so long to read? Do not miss it–medal winner, ok? Read!)
• When You Reach Me, Liar and Spy, Goodbye Stranger, First Light, Rebecca Stead (seriously loving them all? but When You Reach Me–oh, oh, oh–can’t wait for more from this author)
• Treasure Hunters, James Patterson. Is there nothing this man does not write? Apparently not. My son loves these MG books by the uber-famous author.
• A Diamond in the Desert, Kathryn Fitzmaurice (this book is a MUST-READ! Gorgeous, poetic, riveting–will stay on nightstand for inspiration)
• Destiny, Rewritten, Kathryn Fitzmaurice (exquisite–will also keep on nightstand for inspiration)
• Starry River of the Sky, Grace Lin
• The Knife Of Never Letting Go, Patrick Ness

Read And Filed To The Livingroom Bookshelves–Or Not… (Adult):

• All the Single Ladies, Rebecca Traister (how can you NOT read this book?)
• To The Bright Edge Of The World, Eowyn Ivey (actually on my husband’s nightstand because I said YOU HAVE TO READ THIS and he is, having loved The Snow Child, about which, I confess, I said: YOU HAVE TO READ THIS)
• All the Light We Cannot See, Anthony Doerr (his best so far and he is an author of bests)
• Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel (riveting)
• Where’d You Go, Bernadette?, Maria Semple (can’t wait for the movie)
• The Luminaries, Eleanor Catton (genius)
• The Rehearsal, Eleanor Catton (fascinating)
• All of Louise Penny’s novels. What a find! Gamache and THE FOOD! Do not read any of these novels on an empty stomach. Her latest is due this year. Bring on the mystery and bring on the brie slash baguette! Louise’s novels are treasure!
• The Orphan Master’s Son, Adam Johnson (I survived)
• State of Wonder, Ann Patchett (I don’t want to go the rainforest EVER, but I loved the novel)
• The Goldfinch, Donna Tart (gah! but will keep)
• The Signature of all Things, Elizabeth Gilbert (gah! but will keep)
• The Descendants, Kaui Hart Hemmings (so much more rewarding than the film–and I loved the film)
• The Tiger’s Wife, Tea Obrecht (beautiful)
• Unbroken, Laura Hillenbrand (genius amongst us)
• Let The Great World Spin, Colum McCann (book club–a beautiful read)
• The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows (will always totally suck me in)
• White Noise, Don Delillo (all hail)
• A God in Ruins, Kate Atkinson (bildungsroman on speeeeeeed!)
• Alice I Have Been, Melanie Benjamin (lived in Oxford when I was a child—perception of Lewis Carroll now changed forever…gah…great read!)

Read And Filed To The Living Room Bookshelves–Or Not… (Children’s/YA):

• Doll Bones, Holly Black (those crazy boat-stealing kids!)
• Walk Two Moons, Sharon Creech (QUEEN Sharon Creech)
• The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, Jacqueline Kelly (instant classic)
• The Mysterious Benedict Society, Trenton Lee Stewart (for the thinking child)
• Across The Universe, Beth Revis
• Goblin Secrets, William Alexander (2012 NBA Winner)
• The Year the Swallows Came Early, Kathryn Fitzmaurice (5 gold stars)
• Through The Ever Night, Veronica Rossi (excellent 2nd book)
• Furthermore, Tehera Mafi
• Pills & Starships, Lydia Millet
• The Fires Beneath the Sea, Lydia Millet (another YA author writing middle grade–or is it the other way around?)
• Divergent,Veronica Ross (am now officially burned out on kids killing kids)
• Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs (So clever, imaginative, intelligent with gripping action scenes. A must read!)
• Liesl & Po, Lauren Oliver
• The Book Of Three, Lloyd Alexander (all the books are must-reads)
• The Changeling, Zilpha Keatley Snyder (no, not every chapter ends with a page turner—why? Because the author is extremely busy TELLING A STORY, the way authors used to before being told that if a first page doesn’t grab the reader, the manuscript goes in the trash. ZKS is one to learn from. There’s a reason she’s still popular, won so many awards and written a book a year for the past 42 or so years—a book a year).
• The Egypt Game, Zilpha Keatley Snyder (not only does she get right down to business, but she is uber-sensitive to her own storytelling–details, mindful explanations, descriptions both simple and complex. Look: She gets down to business in a manner that doesn’t gyp her readers.
• The City Of Ember, Jeanne DuPrau (if I was 11, I’d be writing her fan letters…Hm…)
• Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins (I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a character passing out so many times in one novel)
• The Adoration of Jenna Fox, Mary E. Pearson (FINALLY I read it, loved it, spooky, creepy dystopian drama so well presented, believable characters, intelligent writing)
• The Giver, Lois Lowry
• The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan (the only book of his I’ve read and it’s fast-paced, interesting, clever)
• The Cuckoo Tree, Joan Aiken
• The Tail Of Emily Windsnap, Liz Kessler (our stories are NOT alike)
• A Wind In The Door, Madeleine L’Engle (have you read it—again—lately?)

Poetry:

• The Traps, Louise Mathias (get this book)
• The Glimmering Room, Cynthia Cruz (get this book)
• Small Porcelain Head, Alison Benis White (get this book)
• Stag’s Leap, Sharon Olds
• Randall Jarrell, The Woman At The Washington Zoo
• Above All Else, The Trembling Resembles A Forest, Louise Mathias (look–if you love poetry, you must read Louise’s chapbook–case closed)
• Twin Cities, Carol Muske-Dukes (a generous mentor)
• Black Hope, Marsha de la O
• Wolf Lake, White Gown Blown Open, Dianne Seuss (title poem a mindblower)
• The Sleep Hotel, Amy Newlove Schroeder (a luminous debut)
• Dearest Creature, Amy Gerstler (I hope I meet her some day)
• Glass Town, Lisa Russ Spaar (I always return to it)
• Always returning to Sarah Hannah’s books. They haunt me.

Music

• Florence And The Machine (what took me so long?)
• Courtyard Hounds (so beautiful I cry—but then, I cry at Curious George…)
• Dixie Chicks
• Bent (try the Bent station on Pandora–great for writing/revising)
• Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band
• Elbow
• Lord Huron
• Fleet Foxes (ahhhhhhh…………)
• God Willin’ And The Creek Don’t Rise, Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs
• Jesca Hoop
• Cold War Kids

Feel free to recommend a read in the comments section of this page. Thank you!

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