BOOKS I LOVE
These are some of my favorite books. I don’t have a favorite genre and I love anything that is well crafted and memorable.
They're arranged in no particular order so pretend you’re browsing in a book store. There are few words about why I like them and a button to buy them on Amazon.
I want to highlight four books that every single woman I know should read.
1) The Dovekeepers
2) The Stories of Eva Luna
3) A Personal History
4) The Handmaid’s Tale.
These books are all written by women and present complex, inspiring, and honest portraits of what it means to be a woman. All are on the list below.
So let’s start off with my new favorite:
Seriously, this book has no equal. It is written in beautiful, unforgettable prose and it is set in a completely original fantasy world. It’s a detective story and travelogue with an extraordinary protagonist whose voice will never leave me. What’s it about? Everything but mostly life itself. According to some reviews, it took Susanna Clarke 10 years to write this book and I’m glad she went to the effort. Warning: It’s not really a casual read, get a cup of tea, sit down and commit to reading it cover-to-cover. It’s also may not be for everyone. If you don’t like fantasy or you don’t like mysteries it isn’t for you.
IMHO, here are the four books every woman should read.
A Historic Novel about the Lives of Women
This is a story about resistance and the roles that powerful women can play in society.
A Must Read for Every Woman
This is the beautiful and lyric companion to Eva Luna, which is a Scheherazade story set in Latin America. Isabelle Allende sees women and portrays them in ways both unique and powerful (See below for Eva Luna the companion book.)
Don't Just Watch it on TV.
Back in the 90's everyone I knew was reading this, and at the time, it was just a virtuoso work of speculative fiction. These days it seems closer to reality than I find comfortable. Even if you watched the Hulu series, it is well worth reading. Margaret Atwood is one of the greatest writers of our generation.
A Real Life Female Super Hero
One of my favorite non-fiction books. It is an absolute MUST READ for every American woman. Her perspective on being a woman in the 20th century sheds light on who we are and where we are today.
Some more books I love, in no particular order.
Brilliant Poetic Prose
This is possibly the most poignant book I have ever read. I remember when I read the last page I sobbed (not just cried, SOBBED.) It is beautifully written, surprising, and profoundly true. After I made this list, my friend Daria said, “Didn’t you tell me this is the best book I ever read?" (Do I have to have one favorite? Can’t I have 23 favorites?) So here it is Daria, right at the top… well okay very near the top.
I love everything about these romantic books.
Set in Egypt during the Second World War, they include some of the most lyric and beautiful prose in the English language. The first three books view the same events from the perspective of three different people, and the fourth is set six years later. Durrell plays with perspective, psychology (then a relatively new science), and metaphysics. I’ve given you links to kindle if you’re on a budget but I recommend buying them as four separate paper backs and giving yourself the option to read them later in a different order. Try this order the first time and then mix it up, Justine, Balthazar, Montolive, and Clea. You can find many sources on the internet that will disagree about what order to read them in.
The Funniest Book on Home Renovation EVER.
A naive Westerner embarks on the hilarious remodeling project in Casablanca. (Warning: there are demons and goats involved.)
An Author Who Makes a Screwed Up Childhood Hilarious
This is the funniest book I've ever read. I'm. Not. Even. Kidding
Wonder-filled and Magical.
This is an extraordinary coming-of-age story as well as a eulogy to earth as a dying planet.
Don't Be Afraid of How Thick it Is.
This is one of my favorite works of fiction, pirates, prisons, poisoning and romance. If you haven't read it, seriously, there's a reason its been in print for over 100 years.
Surprising and Suspenseful
This mystery is a wild, unexpected pleasure about an artist who is drawn into a strange commission that turns dangerous.
The Detective Novel That’s Where The Murder isn’t the Main Thing.
This is a great detective story by James Lee Burke, a master storyteller. It's one of my favorites in his Dave Robicheaux mysteries and some of the key characters in the series are introduced. .
Not a Single Lawyer.
As far as I know this is the only book John Grisham ever wrote that isn't set in a court room or a law firm. It's beautifully written and a memorable story about life on a cotton farm and unexpected connections.
Beautiful Story, Beautifully Told
This book was famously touted by Hemingway as the most brilliant prose he had ever read. Beryl Markham is one of the least- known writing geniuses from that era. This memoir records her childhood and life as a bush pilot in Africa. There were moments when I read this book that I literally had to catch my breath.
Unforgettable and heartbreaking
Brace yourself for a dose of tragedy. Louise Erdich writes brilliantly not only about the Native American experience but also about folklore, family and love. This book is part of a series that circle around her protagonist, Fleur, and other unforgettable characters.
Lyric and Insightful
The lives and loves of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas written with a beautiful, lyric wit. Warning: It will make you very hungry.
Romance, British-Style
Two beautiful companion novels about the lives and loves of an eccentric British family.
A Cross Cultural Love Story
A rapturous, unforgettable cross-cultural love story set in Egypt. It offers a wildly different perspective from The Alexandria Quartet.
Powerful Portrait of Femininity
This is the book that inspired The Stories of Eva Luna (above). Isabel Allende is one of the most important authors of the 20th century and her perspective is at once fully human and entirely feminine.
Easy, Satisfying Foray into the World Jane Austen.
No book list would be complete without Jane Austen, this one is my fav. Don’t miss Persuasion which was supposedly Ms. Austen’s fav.
Sweeping and memorable
Who doesn't love the French Resistance, spies, and romance all in one book?
Original, Weird and Unforgettable
If you like sci-fi, this is one of the most original things you'll ever read. The world he creates and his concepts about life and ETs will blow your mind. It's a mystery and thriller and horror story all rolled up into one. Warning: This is not for everyone, but I loved it! I read it twice because the first time I was like, what the heck just happened?! PS. For writing geeks, he released all three volumes of this saga in the same year.
A Brilliant Mystery Author Shows Off Her Spec Fiction Chops
This fantastic novel is about mankind coping with their eminent extinction. As far as I know, it is PD James' only foray into the realm of sci-fi/speculative fiction. (This was made into a movie that has almost nothing in common with the book aside from the name and the premise. Don't bother to see it, REALLY)
Characters Who Will Never Let You Go
An unforgettable foray into speculative fiction, you'll have to read it to figure to what the scary premise is. Ishiguro, who is famous for writing The Remains of the Day, is another author who fearlessly crosses genres. Also made into a superb movies starring Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightly and Andrew Garfield. (See Below)
The Movie Version Will Never Let You Go.
I mean if seeing Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightly and Andrew Garfield all in one film isn’t enough?? The movie directed by Mark Romanek and written by Alex Garland (a long time friend of Ishiguro) captures the simultaneously eerie and hopeful atmosphere of the book. The music, the production value, the locations are all spot on.
The Best Single Source for Understanding Mythic Structure.
I read this book 20 years ago and it completely changed my understanding of storytelling, conflict and the hero’s journey. An absolute MUST for all storytellers.
An Utterly Unique Literary Voice
A beautiful, lyric memoir about a troubled childhood and redemption.
No He Hasn't Won an Oscar Yet... I included this because it is genuinely an interesting read and I know the author, but also because my husband, Boyce, is quoted in this book.
Poignant and Magical
This is by the author of the bestseller, "A Man Called Ove." I loved this mixture of fairy tales and real life drama. Lovely and lovable characters.
A Surprising Thriller about the Power of Love
When I read this I loved the relationship between the narrator and the child she befriended. Hoeg is a master story teller.
Beautiful Memories of Life in Russia by a Master
Makine's language and imagery is powerful and beautiful. An unforgettable story of the love of place.
Station Eleven
I really like speculative fiction and this one is a favorite. It is one of the few post-apocalyptic stories that envisions mankind doing better after the collapse of civilization. It's also beautifully written and a real page-turner.