come, let us reason – and read – together.

Like most – or, really, all – writers, I am a passionate reader.

In fact, when I made my vision board for this year, one of my goals was to spend several hours each day reading. Of course, as y’all know, life went off the rails unexpectedly in January and that didn’t happen. Nor did work on writing my book, as the two are often linked pretty closely.

So, going into February, it’s time to get back on track.

It’s been a busy week and my body is overdone so I will be resting and healing for the next several days.

And reading and writing.

This weekend, I’ll be reading Sherwin Nuland’s How We Die and my precious Kara Tippett’s Big Love, both as part of working on my book. For pleasure, I’ll be taking in Annie F. Down’s Remember God. I’ve been trying to get to it for some time now and am so excited about it.

(I’m also setting some new writing goals – I am trying out a new book writing app I’m stoked about that has a timer! 🙂 – of writing for three hours a day and posting here daily.)

As I’ve been thinking about organizing my time and getting my work done each day, I also hope to share some reading time with y’all. I’ll be posting some book reviews as I go along.

I would also love to encourage you all to pick up a new book – or an old favorite – and share with me what you are reading.

I’m working on a list of my all-time favorite reads for another post but that is HARD – 😉 – so, for now, I wanted to share some books I recommend if you need some inspiration. Some of these will be on my favorites list as well – and they are all so good.

Assorted Recommended Reading

Love Is A Mix Tape – Rob Sheffield. This book will be on my favorites list for sure. Rob is an editor at Rolling Stone, and, in this book he writes stunningly about losing his wife suddenly at 31. He tells their love story through music and remembers his late wife so perfectly. It is funny and heartbreaking and sweet and just wonderful. Especially if you are around my age – 41 – all of the musical references will really resonate with you. I can’t recommend this one enough.
Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte. I have to throw a classic recommend in here and this one has just been my favorite since middle school.
The Ragamuffin Gospel – Brennan Manning. Another of my all time favorites, I still have my highlighted, worn-half-to-death copy from high school. If you want to read a fresh perspective on grace and the love of Jesus, this is your book.
Love Does – Bob Goff. This book is just pure joy. That’s all I can say.
Choose Joy – Sara Frankl. I’ve written about my friend Sara’s book many times. She suffered terribly with autoimmune disease throughout her life but still was just the brightest light despite her circumstances. I highly recommend this one, especially to my fellow spoonies.
Slouching Toward Bethlehem – Joan Didian. If you are in an essay reading mood, any of Joan’s will knock you off your feet – but this particular time capsule is just unbelievable. The things she documented in the Height in the late 60’s are just surreal. And her writing style is unmatched.
Devotions – Mary Oliver. If you are in a poetry reading mood, this collection of the selected works of my favorite poet, Mary Oliver, is just sublime. Treat yourself.
Raw Faith – Kasey Van Norman. This is another book I would especially recommend to my fellow spoonies. Kasey wrote it about her journey through her cancer diagnosis and it will really encourage you and strengthen your faith and your fight.
The Fault In Our Stars – John Green. As you can probably tell from the above list, fiction reading isn’t really always my jam. However, I read this with my children several years ago – and it is so beautifully written that I highly recommend it to everyone. Read the book, then watch the film. Buy the three pack of Kleenex first.
Beach Music – Pat Conroy. As my precious other mother, my bestie’s mom, Marie, used to say, “I would read a cookbook if Pat Conroy wrote it.” All of his books are beautiful but this one is my favorite. Don’t miss it.
The Broken Way – Ann Voskamp. While I particularly love this one, I suggest reading all of Ann’s books. Really. Just do it. You’ll be glad you did. ❤

I hope some of my suggestions are helpful and I hope you’ll join me in picking up something fabulous to read.

I’m setting my Goodreads goal for the rest of the year at 150 books – because I’ll be reading A LOT for my own book – but it doesn’t matter the quantity. It matters that you get going and find joy and growth in it.