If you’re anything like me you began the summer with a couple of book recommendations from friends you were excited to tackle. I read those first few books quickly and then found myself combing through book reviews in my favorite magazines for my next finds. I’ve had no trouble finding great books this year, and am blessed to live at the beach where I’m able to read quite often. Whether you’re looking for a great read to take to the beach or simply looking for something to read at home, here are a couple of recommendations of books I’ve enjoyed that are sand-tested and girlfriend approved:
Call Your Daughter Home
A Novel by Deb Spera
I. COULD. NOT. PUT. THIS. BOOK. DOWN.
It’s that simple, and I’m not kidding. I read this book in a day, and I think you will too. I was fascinated with the book review for this one when I read it in Garden and Gun magazine last month, and was not disappointed. This story follows 3 women from vastly different backgrounds whose paths intersect as they struggle with their own circumstances in pre-depression era South Carolina. I found myself invested in the characters as soon as I was introduced to them by the author and was rooting for them as they struggled through the curve balls life threw their respective ways.
This debut novel by Deb Spera has also just been placed on Oprah’s summer reading list, so if you don’t want to take my word for it, you can rest easy that Oprah agrees this one is not to be missed.
City of Girls
by Elizabeth Gilbert
New York City’s theater community in the 1940’s and the quote: “You don’t have to be a good girl to be a good person” grabbed me, and thankfully Elizabeth Gilbert’s latest novel didn’t let me go.
This story takes the reader through the ups and downs of its main character Vivian as she’s sent to live with her Aunt Peg in New York City after she was kicked out of Vassar. Aunt Peg runs a theater in town, and Vivian is introduced to all the glitz (both real and imagine) of the theater lifestyle of the times. We follow Vivian as she dabbles in the mistake-making business involved with coming of age, and watch as she picks of the pieces of her near-ruin along the way. I hope this one becomes a movie so I can be one of those people who tells all her friends (again) “The book was SOOOOOO much better!”
The Moment of Lift
How Empowering Women Changes the World by: Melinda Gates
Stick with me here. This isn’t a novel, but rather a part memoir and part call to action. I’ve always believed the way to change the world is to continue to educate and empower women, and in this book Melinda Gates thoughtfully walks us through her experiences learning about issues that are facing women all over the world. Her explanation of several cause and effect scenarios those trying to make a difference face was enlightening, and I finished this book with a renewed belief that any small action we can take to empower a single individual to better herself can have a ripple effect. If enough of us do that, we really can change the world.
That’s all for this book recommendation post. I’d love to know what you’re reading and recommend. If this has been helpful, I’ll gladly continue to make some suggestions of books I’m reading.
Again- whether you’re heading to the sun and sand with your girlfriends to read or simply hiding for 15 minutes of peace and quiet once the kiddos have gone to bed, I hope these three books will delight you as much as they delighted me.
Until next time!
