CURRENTLY READING
I am hard on memoirs. I realized the other day that I have more room for clunky prose and unbelievability if I’m reading fiction, but if you’re writing a memoir, I have to be able to believe it. Zauner does a fantastic job of presenting herself in an honest light, and in her memoir about losing her mother and grasping at her Korean heritage, she doesn’t give anyone the short shrift.
I’ve been wanting to re-read this for awhile now, and there is something so comforting about reading the familiar words right before I fall asleep. This was such a huge part of my childhood, so to read it again as an adult just makes me happy.
(MOST) CURRENTLY LISTENING
Few things get me as fired up as bad theology (well, maybe a lot of things), and bad theology played out in real life. Mars Hill Church and its demise is one upsetting story of faith, power, and failed leadership. This podcast put out by “Christianity Today” is phenomenal. Not only is it professionally produced with a great opening song, diverse interviews, and investigative journaling, it also doesn’t shy away from the discomfort Mark Driscoll’s story presents. Not once did it feel like he was demonized, and not once did I feel like excuses were being made.
CURRENTLY WATCHING
So, I love this show. As with many series, the first few seasons are more engaging, but at this point, I’m invested. Ross Poldark is a complex, frustrating character, and Demelza is equally (if not more so) intriguing. I love period pieces that explore psychology and social issues of the day.
CURRENTLY JAMMING
A shameless plug for my choral group, Lyricora. I’ve been singing with them since 2015, and every year, the group helps me hone my musical skills, connect with audiences, and learn new repertoire. Check out our website and our YouTube channel to hear some of our work!
RECENTLY READ
If you’ve ever been interested in fostering or adoption, this book is fascinating. I loved her writing style, and the vignette-like chapters kept me from getting bogged down in difficult content. Sentilles is an honest writer, which at times made her a bit unlikeable. I respect her ability to (finally) name what she wanted and to foster a child in need. I was humbled by my initial response to some of what she wrote, and I realized I have some work to do regarding what it means to “do good.” Highly recommend with a caveat: if children being mistreated or neglected is too painful, you may want to skip some parts. It’s never graphic or “in the room,” but it obviously deals with children in dangerous situations.
READ IN 2021
Crying in H Mart — Michaelle Zauner
The Heart’s Invisible Furies — John Boyne
Stranger Care — Sarah Sentilles
Maid — Stephanie Land
READ IN 2021
Whistling Season — Ivan Doig
I Hope This Finds You Well — Kate Baer
Uncanny Valley — Anna Wiener
The Little Book of Hygge — Meik Wiking
Writers and Lovers — Lily King
Life From Scratch: A Memoir of Food, Family, and Forgiveness — Sasha Martin
Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love — Dani Shapiro
The Devil in the White City — Erik Larson
Eat a Peach — David Chang
Fellowship of the Ring — J.R.R. Tolkien
What Kind of Woman — Kate Baer
The Seed: Infertility is a Feminist Issue — Alexandra Kimball
Mother is a Verb: An Unconventional History — Sarah Knott
Bright Evening Star: Mystery of the Incarnation — Madeleine L’Engle
World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments — Aimee Nezhukumatathil
Let Your Life Speak — Parker J. Palmer
READ IN 2020
The Excellent Lombards — Jane Hamilton
Educated — Tara Westover
Of Mess and Moxie — Jen Hatmaker
A Midwife’s Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard — Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
Showing — Agnes Howard
Having and Being had — Eula Biss
Solace of Open Spaces — Gretel Ehrlich
Freedom — Jonathan Franzen
Swing Time — Zadie Smith
Fates and Furies — Lauren Groff
Where the Crawdads Sing — Delia Owens
On Beauty — Zadie Smith
The Girl with Seven Names — Hyenseo Lee
The Dutch House — Ann Patchett
The Rose Project — Graeme Simsion
READ IN 2019
Remarkable Ordinary — Frederick Buechner
The Honey Bus — Meredith May
For You, Mom, Finally — Ruth Reichl
Speak What We Feel — Frederick Buechner
Wishful Thinking — Frederick Buechner
Kitchen Yarns — Ann Hood
READ IN 2018
Living with a Wild God — Barbara Ehrenreich
Miller’s Valley — Anna Quindlen
Enon — Paul Harding
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking — Susan Cain
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine — Gail Honeyman
When Breath Becomes Air — Paul Kalanithi
12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos — Jordan B. Peterson
READ IN 2017
[this is my most embarrassing year of reading since the age of 5 — I blame falling in love and getting married, but I’m still not so sure that’s a good enough excuse]
America’s Women — Gail Collins
My Name is Lucy Barton — Elizabeth Strout
Commonwealth — Ann Patchett
The Bean Treas — Barabara Kingsolver
Road to Little Dribbling — Bill Bryson
Upstream — Mary Oliver
READ IN 2016
Searching for Sunday — Rachel Held Evans
Captivating [sometimes I read for research…]
Yes Please — Amy Poehler
What Do Women Want? [again, research]
A Field Guide to Getting Lost — Rebecca Solnit
He — Robert A. Johnson
The Enlarged Heart — Cynthia Zarin
The Road to Character — David Brooks
Tips from the Top — Kreigh Knerr
The Giver — Lois Lowry
Pastrix — Nadia Bolz-Weber
Wise Blood — Flannery O’Connor
Ariel — Sylvia Plath
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn — Betty Smith
Far From the Madding Crowd — Thomas Hardy
The Colossus — Sylvia Plath
Gut Feelings — Gerd Gigerenzer
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- Document
I’ve been wanting to re-read this for awhile now, and there is something so comforting about reading the familiar words right before I fall asleep. This was such a huge part of my childhood, so to read it again as an adult just makes me happy.
CURRENTLY LISTENING
Like I wrote about in my post on being finite and learning how to be a mother, I am searching for ways not to change who I am, but to refine it. This podcast has been wonderful for me. Denaye is a thoughtful, creative woman who has approached motherhood in ways similar to me. Her desire for minimalism and the way she wants to allow her children to explore the world resonates with me. Highly recommend.
RECENTLY READ
This book came recommended from a friend as she re-read while living on a California ranch. Ehrlich does a beautiful job of exploring her own experiences while presenting the landscape of Wyoming ranch living. It is not heavy-handed, details about the author’s life and relationships are given only when needed, and it very much read like a nature memoir.
TELEVISION
So, I love this show. As with many series, the first few seasons are more engaging, but at this point, I’m invested. Ross Poldark is a complex, frustrating character, and Demelza is equally (if not more so) intriguing. I love period pieces that explore psychology and social issues of the day.
MUSIC
A shameless plug for my choral group, Lyricora. I’ve been singing with them since 2015, and every year, the group helps me hone my musical skills, connect with audiences, and learn new repertoire. Check out our website and our YouTube channel to hear some of our work!
READ IN 2020
The Excellent Lombards — Jane Hamilton
Educated — Tara Westover
Of Mess and Moxie — Jen Hatmaker
A Midwife’s Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard — Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
Showing — Agnes Howard
Having and Being had — Eula Biss
Solace of Open Spaces — Gretel Ehrlich
Freedom — Jonathan Franzen
Swing Time — Zadie Smith
Fates and Furies — Lauren Groff
Where the Crawdads Sing — Delia Owens
On Beauty — Zadie Smith
The Girl with Seven Names — Hyenseo Lee
The Dutch House — Ann Patchett
The Rose Project — Graeme Simsion
READ IN 2019
Remarkable Ordinary — Frederick Buechner
The Honey Bus — Meredith May
For You, Mom, Finally — Ruth Reichl
Speak What We Feel — Frederick Buechner
Wishful Thinking — Frederick Buechner
Kitchen Yarns — Ann Hood
READ IN 2018
Living with a Wild God — Barbara Ehrenreich
Miller’s Valley — Anna Quindlen
Enon — Paul Harding
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking — Susan Cain
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine — Gail Honeyman
When Breath Becomes Air — Paul Kalanithi
12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos — Jordan B. Peterson
READ IN 2017
[this is my most embarrassing year of reading since the age of 5 — I blame falling in love and getting married, but I’m still not so sure that’s a good enough excuse]
America’s Women — Gail Collins
My Name is Lucy Barton — Elizabeth Strout
Commonwealth — Ann Patchett
The Bean Treas — Barabara Kingsolver
Road to Little Dribbling — Bill Bryson
Upstream — Mary Oliver
READ IN 2016
Searching for Sunday — Rachel Held Evans
Captivating [sometimes I read for research…]
Yes Please — Amy Poehler
What Do Women Want? [again, research]
A Field Guide to Getting Lost — Rebecca Solnit
He — Robert A. Johnson
The Enlarged Heart — Cynthia Zarin
The Road to Character — David Brooks
Tips from the Top — Kreigh Knerr
The Giver — Lois Lowry
Pastrix — Nadia Bolz-Weber
Wise Blood — Flannery O’Connor
Ariel — Sylvia Plath
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn — Betty Smith
Far From the Madding Crowd — Thomas Hardy
The Colossus — Sylvia Plath
Gut Feelings — Gerd Gigerenzer