What’s on my nightstand?
One of my fondest childhood memories is weekly visits to the Sunnyvale public library. I’d sit on the floor in the children’s section surrounded by books, perplexed by the dilemma of which five (the maximum allowed) to check out. Graduating from the children’s area to the young adult section was a thrill. I remain an avid reader to this day - thanks to those library visits and my mom, Judith, for fostering my love of reading.
Since writing and publishing my own book, I’ve committed to reading even more than usual – partly to support my sister She Writes Press authors, but mostly because I just love it. Since you’re reading this – I’m guessing you do too, and if you’re like me, you prefer personal, word-of-mouth recommendations.
Taa – daa! Welcome to the inaugural edition of What’s on my Nightstand? I’ll be sharing some of my favorite recent books as well as books I plan to read. Most or all of these books will fall under the genre categories of historical fiction, contemporary fiction, and (no big surprise) memoir. So if you’re a fan of mystery, Sci-Fi, thrillers, romance, or self-help – you may want to look elsewhere for ideas.
So, what’s on my nightstand?
Recently read:
The Burning Light of Two Stars, A Mother-Daughter Story by Laura Davis
323 pages, Girl Friday Books
Full disclosure, Laura Davis is my writing teacher so I already was madly in love with her writing. Already an accomplished author with her publication of The Courage to Heal in 1988, in her newly published memoir Laura bravely explores her complicated relationship with her mother Temme, navigating her family’s denial of incest and her own coming out. Of particular interest to me was Laura’s ambivalence around caregiving for Temme, considering their volatile and tumultuous past. Beautifully crafted, passionate, and relevant.
Hamnet, a Novel of the Plague by Maggie O’Farrell
305 pages, Vintage Books
As an avowed and unashamed historical fiction lover, especially when set during the Elizabethan era (I also admit to a strange fascination with the black plague,) I was intrigued by the premise of this narrative. O’Farrell tells the story of Shakespeare’s family mainly from the point of view of Agnes (aka Anne) Shakespeare, while never mentioning William’s name. O’Farrell’s writing is simply exquisite. I cannot improve on this Washington Post endorsement – “A novel told with the urgency of a whispered prayer.” I’d never read Maggie O’Farrell before but wow, just wow. I can’t wait to dive into her one of her seven other novels.
One Pound, Twelve Ounces, A Preemie Mother’s Story of Loss, Hope and Triumph by Melissa Harris
263 pages, She Writes Press
Melissa endured the unimaginable, giving birth to the tiniest of babies – a micro-preemie - at only twenty-three weeks. She writes about her experience with grace, wit and the same grit she showed in keeping little Sam alive, despite several life-threatening setbacks. While my own two children were full-term, I was kept on bedrest with pre-term contractions, continually warned of the dangers of a premature birth. One Pound, Twelve Ounces is an important story, reminding us of the fragility of life and that determination and perseverance can produce miraculous outcomes.
Up next:
Paper Airplanes, a novel by Tabitha Forney
296 pages, She Writes Press
I’m guardedly excited about diving into this novel set in NYC following 9/11; guarded because although I was safely on the west coast and didn’t lose anyone in that devastation, I know it will trigger the trauma of that day. Tabitha’s dedication itself foreshadows a spine-tingling read: “To all the victims of 9/11, and to those they left behind. May we never forget.”
Keep your eyes on this blog for my review of Paper Airplanes and more books on my nightstand. In the meantime, happy reading!
