Winter has fully settled in. We Minnesotans feel it in our bones. We dread going outside, scraping snow and ice off our vehicles, shoveling the driveway – but the kids LOVE to play in it. If you’re like me, you’re torn between hating winter and loving how much fun the kids have in the snow.
One of my favorite things to do when the cold settles in is to snuggle up with my favorite blanket, a cup of coffee (or cocoa, even hot cider), and a good book.
The response I most often get from other moms regarding this topic is “I wish I had time to read!”
I get it, mama. You’ve got a lot on your plate. This is why it’s SO important to carve out time for you – whether that’s working out, journaling, doing crafts or reading. In fact, some of the reads I’ll recommend are about that very subject! I set a goal for myself to read only non-fiction this year, so I have a lot of GREAT books to recommend for you.
- Present Over Perfect, by Shauna Niequist. The subtitle of this book is “Leaving behind frantic for a simpler, more soulful way of living.” Umm, YES PLEASE!
- Love Warrior, by Glennon Doyle. (Honorable Mention: “Carry On, Warrior” is another great book by Glennon Doyle). Glennon shares intimate, painful details of her marriage, including how she learned how to heal after betrayal. Her words are poignant, and her spirit is fierce. This woman is seriously my idol.
- A Mother’s Reckoning, by Sue Klebold. If that name sounds familiar to you, it’s because she’s the mother of Dylan Klebold. Her story of parenting a child-turned-mass-murderer is gut-wrenching. I’m sure that after the Columbine shooting happened, my voice was likely one of the many that shouted “Where are these kids’ parents? How could they not have known that their kids were planning a mass murder?” After reading this book, I have an immense amount of respect for this woman.
If you’re looking to do some reading on other topics besides parenting, here are some more non-fiction recommendations:
- Call the Midwife, by Jennifer Worth (check out all three books, actually). I binge watched this entire series on Netflix over the summer, and I’m not ashamed. The books are fabulous, too!
- The Man From the Train, by Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James. As a paranormal investigator, I’ve visited the Villisca Axe Murder house in Villisca, Iowa. When I found that this book had theories of who the killer might be (as it’s one of the most famous unsolved crimes in American history), I knew I had to read it. I ended up getting completely sucked in to this book – I could NOT put it down. Bill and his daughter Rachel researched a series of murders from 1898-1912 and found connections between them, and began building a profile of the killer. This book is for you if you watch shows about serial killers on TV – like me. I don’t know what else to say about this one besides the fact that it’s the absolute best book I’ve read this year.
- This is Me, by Chrissy Metz. Yup, the wonderful actress from “This is Us” has a book – and it is FANTASTIC. I could hear her voice narrating the book as I read it. She shares about her upbringing, and her start in Hollywood as an agent. (Note: the subtitle to this book is “Loving the Person You Are Today.” I don’t know about you, but sometimes I need some help in that department).
- Beautiful Boy, by David Sheff. This one came out as a movie starring Steve Carrell in November. When I saw the trailer for the movie, I knew I had to read the book before I saw it. (I haven’t seen the movie yet – but I need to!) If your life has been touched by addiction, this book is the painful perspective of the father of a heroin addict. It’s beautifully written, and it’s a difficult read – not because of the ability level, but because of the heavy topic.
- They Cage the Animals at Night by Jennings Michael Burch. I don’t know if I’ve ever cried so hard at a book before. If crying while reading isn’t your thing, avoid this book. An abandoned child, Jennings shares stories of being tossed from home to home while in foster care. This book probably hit home for me so much because my youngest son is 8 – and that is how old Jennings was when his mother left him on the doorstep of a group home.
If you’re looking for a way to read besides using a physical book, try the Libby app! You can link your library card and read books on your phone or tablet. I choose to read on my phone, that way I can have my book with me wherever I might be (waiting at the doctor or dentist, before bed, etc). I find that I read a lot more when I have a book ready at my fingertips.
As an avid reader, committing the entire year of 2018 to non-fiction was HARD. I have been sitting on some great books that I’ve vowed not to crack open until 2019. But I learned a lot this year. Mostly, I learned that real life can be better than fiction. I read heroic stories like “The Hiding Place” by Corrie Ten Boom and “The Zookeeper’s Wife” by Diane Ackerman, both stories of people that harbored Jews during the Holocaust to prevent them from being shipped to concentration camps. I read powerful autobiographies like “I am Malala” by Malala Yousfazi and “I Can Only Imagine” by Bart Millard. I read some tragic stories – like “First they Killed My Father” by Loung Ung, and “Adrift” By Tami Oldham Ashcraft. I read about love and war, life and death, courage and tragedy.
My entire goal for the year was to use reading as a tool to help me to be the best version of myself. I’ve broadened my perspectives by reading about other cultures and other time periods. I’ve learned how to be more empathetic by reading books by people that believe the exact opposite of what I believe.
My point is this – make time to read. Even if it’s just a few minutes a day when you lock yourself in the bathroom for five minutes of silence. You will never regret reading a good book!
