i am an avid reader.
books often win out over groceries in the way of my budget sometimes....
last year i had a goal of reading 50 books and while i didn't quite make it, due to a bit of sidetracking in the middle of the year, i did read 32.
i'm resetting the goal again for 2017 (already 4 books in!) and i'm also trying to make a point to use the library more again, as well as read what's already unread on my shelves as opposed to buying new books.
here are a few from last year that i especially enjoyed.
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Wild by Cheryl Strayed -- i know i know, i was late on this bandwagon, but this being my first read of 2016 was very fitting. i loved it. i'm very much a lone-traveler and this was a story whose spirit, sense of adventure and narrative resonated very deeply with me.
Spark Joy by Mari Kondo -- the sequal to The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, I loved these books. hold onto only that which brings you joy.
Hold Still by Sally Mann -- i thuroughly enjoyed reading this memoir from Virginian photographer Sally Mann. her work is nothing short of stunning and inspiring, so to get a look into the thought process and reasoning behind some of her most moving bodies of work was really amazing.
Memoirs of A Geisha by Arthur Golden-- while this book was almost a bit too long and i had a hard time maintaining interest finishing it because of it's length, it was something i couldn't put down for the first half. it's a book on a culture and a time that's completely foreign to me, and, as any good book is able to do, it was able to immerse me into that in a breathtaking and complete way. my interest in the Japanese culture has been growing in recent years and this did nothing short of jumpstart it again.
Make Your Place: Affordable, Sustainable Nesting Skills by Raleigh Briggs -- filled with so many wonderful recipes and DIYs, this book that a friend leant me is still on my bookshelf and i need to give it back... but there's so many things i want to try from it.
i think i just need to get my own copy.
Spinster: Making A Life of One's Own by Kate Bolick-- while i wasn't in complete agreement with everything in this book, there was a large amount that very much fascinated me and that i could relate to and loved. a good read for all of us living-on-our-own types.
How To Be Parisian by Anne Berest-- a fun and light read that had me wanting to return to Paris something awful.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery -- one of my favorite stories ever ever ever (having watched the old movies countless times growing up). i want to live on Prince Edward Island.
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert -- i actually feel the need to re-read this since i feel like i breezed through it during a slightly distracted let's-check-this-off-the-list sort of period in the year. but there were some golden words of wisdom in this one for sure. i also loved listening to her podcasts a while back too.
In The Heart of The Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick --i found this true story extremely riveting. but that might mostly be because of my sailing obsessed tendencies... #daughterofasailor
You'll Grow Out of It by Jessi Klein -- a hilarious read. i often like having light and entertaining reads amidst my more serious/self enlightening books. this was good for that.
Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion by Elizabeth L. Cline -- i cannot stress enough how great of a read this was for me. just education and facts wise in the way of the fast fashion industry- a topic i've become so very passionate about. i want to re-read this one as well and actually cite some of the facts for remembrance and educating others. or, again, maybe i just need to buy my own copy and underline the mess out of it...
if you don't know much about the fast fashion industry, start with watching The True Cost.
Words From A Wanderer by Alex Elle-- everything my dear friend Alex writes is radiant and light filled and amazing. i almost have all of her books now and i can't wait for her new one to come out. reading these little bits once a day for 65 days was so wonderful. i'm actually already going through this one again.
Tell The Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifle Brunt-- i tend to be quite picky about fiction but i was really surprised as to how much i loved this story. the voice of the main character is beautiful and the way the author depicts the situation and the words she uses were so unique and had me unable to put it down.
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown-- a friend and i read this together (which i highly recommend doing because i got more out of the discussion and how-do-we-live-this-out accountability of reading this book with someone more than anything). it was essential in revealing important aspects of my life in regards to showing up more fully and being more present and honoring my authentic self.
Woolgathering by Patti Smith-- a quick read that was simple and beautiful.
but i love everything Patti Smith writes.
The Peregrine by J.A. Baker-- this was another book that seemed to drag on just a bit longer than i wanted it to, but it had some one liners in it that dare i say, at the risk of being overly dramatic, have truly changed my thought process on wandering and traveling and what beauty is in almost revolutionary ways.
what were some of your favorite books from last year?
what is on your to-read list for this year?
did you read any of the above books?
give me your lists and thoughts!
let's pretend the comment section of this post is a mini book club.
xo