Do you like to read? I’m not talking about that ABC book you’ve read your child 5,487 times. Or that gossip magazine that comes monthly and you just look at the pictures. I mean real, memorable, adult books that you can find at a bookstore, in a library, or on AMAZON (shout out to my PRIME ladies)! Whether you like to read, love it, or aspire to finish more than 3 pages of a book before falling asleep, the following (short) list is a good place to start.
As we enter a new year, I wanted to share my list of the 5 most memorable books from the past year with you and why I chose them. As moms we don’t often have the luxury of reading a good book, let alone having the time to search for and choose said book. So I hope this list is helpful for those of you searching for some laughs, insight, and understanding in your lives. I typically have two criteria for the books I read, they need to resonate with me in some way and they have to be thoroughly enjoyable. I can guarantee that all the books on this list meet those low-bar expectations!
Disclaimer: all of the books on this list are NON-FICTION. I am an information hoarder and I like to feel connected to real people, so non-fiction is my jam, but I am pushing myself in 2018 to read FICTION and get lost in the characters and worlds created. I already have my first fiction book checked out from the library that I am ready to crack open: My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent.
1.Most memorable because it is laugh-out-loud funny: Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
I can’t remember another book that made me laugh so hard, out loud. It may be one of my favorite books of all time. If I had been drinking milk, it definitely would have shot out of my nose. The author discusses her mental and physical health struggles and the shenanigans she gets into. As a woman that has had my own struggles with physical and mental health, I connected with Lawson and her experiences. I won’t give anything away, but there is a stuffed (dead) raccoon that serves as her sidekick and they torment her (very) patient husband together.
2.Most memorable because it gave me a dose of reality: I’m Fine (and other lies) by Whitney Cummings
This one threw me for a bit of a loop. If you know Cummings, you know she is a comedian and you’re probably wondering why she isn’t holding the trophy for #1. Two reasons: I don’t particularly like her type of comedy and this book wasn’t written to be an extension of her stage performance. Why did I pick it up then you ask? I heard great reviews and I have read many of the books on the market written by female comedians (Tina Fey, Chelsea Handler, Mindy Kaling), so I figured I’d get some laughs if nothing else. There were a few laughs to be sure, but a lot more insight into behaviors in relationships that Cummings has recognized on her journey. I found myself multiple times saying “been there,” and “done that.” In summary, Cummings has paid a lot of money to professionals to learn about personal tendencies that don’t serve her or others well and now she is sharing those insights with others so WE don’t have to pay the professionals, win-win!
3.Most memorable because life doesn’t go as planned: Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
Have you heard of Sheryl Sandberg? She is in the upper echelon of Facebook executives and also wrote the semi-controversial book “Lean In.” I never had much desire to read “Lean In;“ however, I wanted to give this new book a chance because it was her exploration of healing after the sudden and unexpected death of her husband. At the time I read it, I was in the middle of my divorce and needed some inspiration to get through the hard times. To write the book, she joined forces with Adam Grant (check out his TED talks) to explain how we can and should make the best of our “Option B,” because “Option A” is not available. If there has been a time in your life when things didn’t go as planned and you were not sure how you would make it through (because you are human), this book is for you.
4.Most memorable because I am a woman: Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud by Anne Helen Peterson
Every chapter in this book is dedicated to a woman or women that have been considered “too much” of something by society. Peterson explores the reasons these women are branded “too much” and why and how society tries to put them back in their place. Examples are Melissa McCarthy, Lena Dunham, Serena Williams, and the chicks from Broad City. If you are a woman that has ever felt too much of something for society’s standards, I recommend this book 100 times over.
5.Most memorable because relationships are really, really hard: The State of Affairs by Esther Perel
If you are struggling in your current relationship or have struggled in previous relationships (i.e. everyone) and you want to gain a deeper understanding of relationship pitfalls, Perel is the go-to expert. Words cannot describe the magic of this woman and my love for her. A majority of her practice as a therapist revolves around a couple’s infidelity, but this book is not just for those that have cheated or have been cheated on. This book is for anyone that wants to understand the cultural and societal shifts in marriage and what can cause infidelity as well as, (gasp!), the potential to repair a relationship after betrayal. BONUS: Perel has a podcast, “Where Should We Begin,” an inside look into issues that arise in marriage explored with real-life couples in a therapy session.
What do you think about these suggestions? Which books would have made your list?
