My to-be-read shelf and Kindle homepage is so out of control. I actually read quite a
bit this summer, but I barely made a dent in the pile of books I want to read. For a false sense of control, I like to at least mention the books I hope to read soon. And hey, last time I did a post like this I listed Jessamyn Hope’s novel Safekeeping and I just finished it two nights ago. So there.
Also, I got a new Kindle (this version), and I’m so pleased with the cover that I wanted to share it here. Yes, I’m bragging. (I got the cover from here, and it looks like they already have some new patterns.)
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT TO READ NEXT? I like to have some “spirit of the moment” in my choices. Though often times what comes from the library gets pushed ahead of what I own because of the due dates for the library books. And for reasons I’m not sure I can explain, free books sit around for even longer. Print books get read before ebooks because I’m eager to move them off of my nightstand. And if I’ve read a few nonfiction in a row, I usually go for a novel next. That’s about it for the psychology of my reading choices.
MY TO BE READ LIST IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
– Dear Mister Essay Writer Guy: Advice and Confessions on Writing, Love, and Cannibals
by Dinty Moore because I love everything Dinty Moore writes on the subject writing.
– Mosquitoland
by David Arnold because my friend, Sue, said I would love it, and we share book recommendations often. (EDITED on 8/27 to say I read it and LOVED it!)
– The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins because they say it’s this year’s Gone Girl and that specific marketing pitch doesn’t seem to be going away yet.
– Jewish Soul Food: Traditional Fare and What It Means by Carol Ungar because that’s two of my interests right there–Judaism and food.
– The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
By Marie Kondo, but ugh. Will I keep anything I own? Probably not.
– The Rooms Are Filled by Jessica Null Vealitzek because Chicago and Minnesota are both part of the story and Jessica is one of my fellow reviewers at Great New Books and I can’t wait to read her novel.
– A Writer’s Guide To Persistence: How to Create a Lasting and Productive Writing Practice
by Jordan Rosenfeld because Jordan is incredibly prolific and I want her secrets.
– The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph
by Ryan Holiday was recommended by very smart friend and neighbor.
– The Wonder Garden
by Lauren Acampora must have been recommended by someone I trust but I can’t remember who it was or when it was.
– This Is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared: The Days of Awe as a Journey of Transformation
by Alan Lew because my Kveller colleague Jordana Horn said it’s the best prep for the High Holidays and I totally trust her taste.
– Family Trees
by Kerstin March because I love to dig into novels by local authors.
– Strength to Stand by Sheyna Galyan for the same reason as above!
– Days of Awe by Lauren Fox is sitting on my Kindle. I wanted to read it before her visit to the Twin Cities, but I couldn’t make it to her event so I haven’t read it yet.
WHAT’S ON YOUR LIST?
* Links are affiliate links which means if you click one and buy the book I may earn something like half of a penny. Maybe.
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25 Responses
Thanks for sharing. You sold me at least three books straight away 🙂
Happy reading!
Cheers!
Davide Mana recently posted..That time Gandhi wrote to Hitler
Oh good! 🙂
This is Real is awesome. Read it last year before the HH and started re-reading this week. I recommend starting now so you can read as close to the time periods he goes through as possible. Such an amazing read!
For sure I need to get on that one ASAP!
love knowing someone else has as large a list as I do…and like you, I read a lot but never seem to make a dent! I never know what I’ll read next- it’s as the spirit moves me- but I have The Sandalwood Tree at the top of the pile right now!
Jennifer recently posted..What Is The Best Way To Capture Moments?
I love to let the spirit move me! That’s why I never commit to more than a few reviews for specific people in a year. I’m not a book blogger and I don’t want all my year’s reading to be obligations, etc.
I’ve read a couple on your list and found a couple from yours to add to mine (Jordan’s looks amazing). I seem to pick haphazardly these days, based on gut reaction and the first page. I always have one novel going on my Kindle (for the gym) and one paper. Right now I’m reading two paper books… The Fault in Our Stars and Go Set a Watchman. On the Kindle I’m reading Painted Horses by Malcolm Brooks. After I finish these, next up is Octavia Butler’s Kindred. Like you (probably even more so) I barely made a dent in my TBR pile this summer, but I do seem to be reading more than last year, so that’s good! p.s. I’m very envious of your new Kindle!!
Julia Munroe Martin recently posted..Summer, How I’ve Grown to Love Thee
I loved Fault! And I feel like I’ve read so much about Watchman that I’m tired of it already. Does that every happen to you? I’ll be curious to hear what you think. (Yeah, I’m excited about that cover!)
I’m in complete agreement about Dinty Moore’s writing. I read his book on Personal Essay writing — it’s now filled with highlights and Post-Its. I wasn’t aware of this new book, so I’ll get on that one right away.
I finished The Girl on the Train not long ago and enjoyed it. I don’t often read suspense genre, so maybe my sentiments are skewed, but I recommend this one.
Right now I’m reading Karen Joy Fowler’s We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. Ooh, what a sharp POV character!
Jackie Cangro recently posted..HerStories: Voices
Fowler’s was one that I meant to read for about a year (on my Kindle via NetGalley) and for some reason I just didn’t.
I’m adding some of your to my list as I also love when Minnesota is included in a storyline. I was not a fan of Girl on the Train, but I loved Orphan Train. Which is not like Gone Girl, it’s historical fiction and super interesting!
katie recently posted..Job Searching and Triathlon Training: Not that Different
Orphan Train was one of my favorites last year! So well done.
In my Audible Library: The Blue Zones Solution by Dan Buettner, A Week at the Lake by Wendy Wax & The Coincidence of Coconut Cake by Amy E Reichert. On my bedside: Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner, Frenemies by Jen Lancaster, The Queen Mother by Lady Colin Campbell & the Status of All things by Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke. There is no special algorithm…
I for sure want to read Weiner’s! I haven’t been doing as many audio books by the way. I blame it on all the podcasts!
Love this. People often ask me how I hear about books I want to read … I always answer that it’s a mix of sources, but chief among them is a very small group of people whose book recommendations I deeply esteem and totally trust. You’re one of them. xoxo
I feel the same way about you!
Love seeing your list, Nina. I often read what others recommend or sometimes, when I am browsing in a bookstore I pick up what seems interesting to me.
I finished Girl on the Train and liked it, but I’ve read better suspense/mystery books. Right now, I am reading Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf.
Rudri Bhatt Patel @ Being Rudri recently posted..Pay Attention to Sadness
I LOVE to do that in a bookstore and that’s why I don’t like to overcommit to reviews because then I never have the chance for pure browsing.
A Writer’s Guide to Persistence is a goodie.
As a book buyer, I get ARCs from publishers, which often determines my reading list. I also get freebies at trade shoes. And then there’s the library. The downside, if it can be called that, is this: I have so many books to read that I had to buy a storage shed to store them. Meaning? There are not enough hours in the day to read every book. And in fifty years I’ll be known as the old woman who lived in a book.
I also keep a notebook. Each page has a heading, a genre or category of book that I want to read: mystery, non-fiction, poetry, literary, short story, sci fi/fantasy, experimental, writing book, classic, new author, best seller, young adult, spiritual/inspirational. When I see a title I want to read, I jot it down on the list. The marker this week is in the “author I’ve read” category. When I finish reading a book in this group, I’ll open the notebook to the next category. If nothing’s listed, I’ll search for one in the bookstore or library. I picked up this tip from a blogger. Wish I remember who, I’d give her credit.
In my current stack?
Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
Pushcart Prize XXXVII Best of the Small Presses
Engine2 Diet by Rip Esselstyn
Dietland by Sarai Walker
Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner
How to Write Bestselling Fiction by Dean Koontz
On Writing by Stephen King
The Forest for the Trees: An Editor’s Advice to Writers by Betsy Lerner
The Author Training Manual by Nina Amir
Meditation: An In-Depth Guide by Ian Gawler & Paul Bedson
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
I’ll stop there.
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That is a great system! I loved hearing about how someone else keeps track. I’ve read a few on your current list, and I’m hoping to read Weiner’s newest as well.
You have a great list. I have so many books I want to read but my friend’s books have to come first. So I recently read Susan Shapiro’s book What’s Never Said and Ava Chin’s book Eating Wildly and loved them both.
Estelle recently posted..How to Write for The Mix
How was Safekeeping? It’s in my “to read” list.
Did I tell you I am reading Jordan’s book right now? I have been savoring it and not rushing it but totally worth it! (Can’t remember if I already told you…)
Allison carter recently posted..How to Survive a Long-Term Rental with Kids
I love that your nightstand stack looks so pretty. It looks color-coordinated, and that Kindle cover really is very cute.
I decide what to read next in similar ways; library books come first, then print books (which is mostly what I read). I also try to keep a good mix of genre and literary, plus I’m always reading a book of poetry and occasionally pick up nonfiction. Sometimes I have a specific reason that one book needs to be read soon, but other than that I let myself go with what feels exciting.
Annie Neugebauer recently posted..The Magic of Ambassadoring and Other Shots of Summerness
Over the last few years, my reading time decreased (sadly) and so I tended to reread old favorites, or else books that I can get from the library. That has been a go to more recently, as I really don’t have much of a budget (well, any, really) to purchase books. So I put things on my list and then just try to put it on reserve through the library system!
I *have* read Marie Kondo’s book and it was good… however, two things, I’m not sure how she thinks we should deal with kids and their associated things, and also for a budgetary/recycling minded person… it’s a little horrifying.
Dakota Nyght recently posted..Picking Favorites – Children’s Books We Love