As many of us now have extra time on our hands, I thought I would offer up some book suggestions, organized by mood.
Mood: Heart-pumping adventure set in post-viral apocalypse…Try “A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World” by C.A. Fletcher
When the family dog is stolen, young Griz must set out across an empty world to bring her back. Entirely compelling, this book is a tale of survival, hope, love, companionship, and loyalty.
Mood: Whimsical family character drama…Try “My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry” by Frederik Backman
This book made me laugh. It made me cry. The characters in this story are so quirky you can’t help but love them. The story is simple: a little girl delivering messages for her grandmother. But the pure imagination, the interweaving of B-stories, and the beautiful frailty of the characters are the best reasons I can give to read this book.
Mood: Enveloping Fantasy…Try “The Name of the Wind” by Patrick Rothfuss
If you’re a big fantasy fan, you’ve probably read the King Killer Chronicles at least twice. Like me, you’re probably twisting in agony waiting for the third book to finally come out. But if you don’t usually read or enjoy fantasy, I would recommend you try this book anyway. It is beautifully written. Every sentence is crafted. At one point, you meet a character similar to Titania from Midsummer Nights Dream and she speaks in iambic pentameter. I couldn’t make this up if I tried. The characters are at once incredibly endearing and deeply flawed. The magic system is unique, intricate, and incredibly difficult. I love this book, as well as its sequel, “The Wise Man’s Fear.”
Mood: Pure poetry…in novel form…Try “This is How You Lose the Time War” by El Motar Amal and Max Gladstone
Queer “Romeo and Juliette” meets “Terminator” meets time travel. Not exactly the description you would expect under the heading of ‘Pure Poetry,’ but this is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. The plot is simple – the passing of messages – but the ingenuity, creativity, and sheer beauty of the prose and storyline is what makes this short novel truly special.
Mood: Nostalgia… Try “Becoming” by Michelle Obama
Dreaming of a time when America had a sure-footed and dependable leader? Mrs. Obama’s memoir is funny and insightful, and her prose has a way of making me feel like everything is going to be all right after all.
Mood: Restore your faith in humanity Try “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr
Set in Paris and Germany, this stunning novel follows the paths of a blind French girl and a poor German boy as the second world war ramps up. Poignant, heartbreaking and pitted with beautiful moments of kindness, it is ultimately a story about why people need to be good to each other.
Mood: Light and fluffy….try “Someday, Someday Maybe” by Lauren Graham
Written by Gilmore Girls and Parenthood star, Lauren Graham (and performed by her on the audiobook), this story is about a young woman trying to make it as an actress in NYC. The plot is about as cliché as it gets, but it is charming and often laugh-out-loud hilarious. If you’re looking for high literature, maybe pass this one by. But if you’re looking for a laugh and a heroine who makes you feel pretty good about yourself, this might be the book for you.
Mood: Uplifting non-fiction… try “The Rainbow Troops” by Andrea Hirata
Set on the Indonesian island of Belitong, the Rainbow Troops is a story about eleven desperately poor children and their quest for an education. Assisted by two marvelously dedicated teachers, these students fight tooth and nail to save their school from bureaucrats, weather, mining – you name it. The audacity and strength of the students and teachers is inspirational. But Mr. Hirata does not gloss over the realities of life on their island, and the glaring inequities can be enough to break your heart.
Mood: Educational non-fiction… try “A Grown-ups Guide to Dinosaurs” by Ben Garrod
Were you obsessed with dinosaurs as a kid, but have since forgotten the difference between an Apatosaurus and a Brachioaurus? Me too! This book taught me more about dinosaurs than I ever knew I’d forgotten. Hilarious and well-researched, this short book is a great read for anyone who wants to be constantly reminding their friends that dinosaurs walk among us.
Mood: A thriller that doesn’t make me want to throw it against the wall… try “The Family Upstairs” by Lisa Jewell
I’ve read a lot of bad thrillers. Unrealistic heroines, plot holes the size of a school bus, ‘surprising’ twists that I was pretty sure were going to happen since chapter 3. But this isn’t one of them. Perhaps it’s because the murder-mystery isn’t actually the most important aspect of the book. It’s about character. A young woman finds out she has inherited a mansion. A middle-aged mother living on the streets tries to find her way back to London. A young boy watches as his home becomes the center of a cult. These three storylines are woven together beautifully, and though there’s no real “gotcha” moment, it’s very satisfying when all the pieces fall into place.
Mood: Non-Western Historical Fiction… try “Pachinko” by Min Jin Lee.
Beginning in the early 1900s, the novel follows a Korean family through several generations as they emigrate to Japan, survive both World Wars, and try to make a better life for their children. It is a story of love and sacrifice, ambition, and loyalty. I learned a lot of Korean history from this book, including the treatment of Koreans living in Japan.
Mood: I want to chew on an idea … try “That Kind of Mother” by Rumaan Alam
This book is all about ideas. It’s about motherhood, in all its unique forms. It’s about the trials of breastfeeding, the social isolation of having a newborn. It’s about transracial adoption and all the pitfalls of a suburban white woman raising a black child. I have read a lot of books dealing with adoption (my little sister is adopted, so it’s a topic close to my heart), and white adoptive mothers are usually cast as selfless angels or self-absorbed women of privilege with no real connection to their child. Instead, Rebecca Stone is a fully-fledged, multidimensional character, with good intentions, powerful desires, and huge blind spots that cause her to stumble. If you are looking for a book with a lot of action, this is not the book for you. If you want a deep dive into motherhood and the perils and joys of transracial adoption, I can’t recommend this book more fully.
And yes. Rumaan Alam is a gay black man. To me, that just makes the beauty, depth, and intimacy of this portrait of a suburban white mother even more impressive.
Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy!