One of my goals for 2011 was to read 50 books throughout the year, with about 10 of them having a spiritual theme. It’s been a delight to actually finish books again. I try not to finish books I don’t like unless forced (ahem, Life of Pi, stuck on an airplane, anything is better than Sky Mall), so you can take this list as a full enthusiastic recommendation, unless noted.
Here’s my regularly updated list:
1. Speak, Memory V. Nabokov
2. Practicing the Presence of God Brother Andrew
3. Franny and Zooey J.D. Salinger
4. Home by Choice: Raising Emotionally Secure Children in an Insecure World Brenda Hunter
5. Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
6. Human Smoke: The Beginnings of WWII, the End of Civilization Nicholson Baker
7. Better: A Surgeon’s Notes on Performance Atul Gawande
8. The Anthologist Nicholson Baker
9. Vox Nicholson Baker
10. Solo Rana Dasgupta
11. Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son’s First Year Anne Lamott
12. Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at the Table Ruth Reichl
13. Tinkers Paul Harding {Unexpected Pulitzer Prize winner, a story built around clocks, epilepsy, the refuge of nature, and the occasional cruelty of family.}
14. Cheerful Money Tad Friend
15. Two-Part Invention: The Story of a Marriage Madeleine L’Engle
16. My Korean Deli Ben Ryder Howe
17. Lady’s Hands, Lion’s Heart: a Midwife’s Saga Carol Leonard
18. The Imperfectionists Tom Rachman
19. Just Kids Patti Smith
20. Spiritual Midwifery Ina Mae Gaskin
21. The Red Tent Anita Diamant
22. Breathing Lessons Anne Tyler
23. The Blessing of a Skinned Knee Wendy Mogul {an amazing parenting book! Of course, I’m a sucker for anything that riffs on Jewish practices.}
24. Reasons for and Advantages of Breathing: short stories Lydia Peelle
25. The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing Melissa Bank
26. Getting a Life Helen Simpson
27. Slouching Towards Bethlehem Joan Didion
28. Life Among the Savages Shirley Jackson
29. Poser: My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses Claire Dederer
30. The Hunger Games Suzanne Collins
31. Catching Fire Suzanne Collins
32. Mockingjay Suzanne Collins
33. Great with Child: Letters to a Young Mother Beth Ann Fennelly
34. Bossypants Tina Fey
35. Loving Frank Nancy Horan
36. A Visit from the Goon Squad Jennifer Egan
37. A Movable Feast Ernest Hemingway
38. Pulphead John Jeremiah Sullivan
39. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Rebecca Skloot
40. Cooking for Mr. Latte Amanda Hesser
how was ‘Franny and Zooey’? i’m a fan of salinger, but have never read that one. .
It’s a little mind warping; good to read when you have time to pay attention. Great characters–the Glass family is addictive to read.