I’m often asked what I’m reading, what I’ve read, what I’ve liked.
While I don’t have nearly as much time as I used to to read for pleasure, I do love to talk about books (at least for as long as my piddly memory can remember what I’ve read). I’ll keep track here of some I’ve liked and what I’m currently reading. The “current reads” don’t change at a lightning pace, so don’t be surprised to see the same book for a few weeks!
While we are on the subject of reading, I participate in FridayReads, a group of people who love to talk about books. It started on Twitter and is now over 7,000 strong. Each week, readers of every age and interest share the title and author of what they are currently reading. It can be a book, magazine, newspaper– anything you’ve read during the week that you want to share. If you are on Twitter, use the #fridayreads hashtag each Friday or search for it. You can access the info (and contribute your own current read’s book title and author) by going to the FridayReads Facebook page. There is also a FridayReads website with a weekly best-read list, the week’s giveaway, and more. It’s always a great place to get an idea about what to read.
I am also now on Goodreads (www.goodreads.com) which is an easy way to see what friends are reading and what they like. You can also keep track of your “to be read” list there so you’ll never forget the titles of books you want to read in the future.
Books I recommend:
- Half a Life by Darin Strauss
- Pictures of You by Caroline Leavitt
- Lisa Genova’s Still Alice
- Rebecca Skloot’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
- If I Loved You, I Would Tell You This by Robin Black A short story collection that will stay with you.
- Katie Rosman’s If You Knew Suzy: A Mother, A Daughter, A Reporter’s Notebook Read the blogpost I wrote about If You Knew Suzy: A Mother, A Daughter, A Reporter’s Notebook
- Joe Wallace’s Diamond Ruby
- Rosanne Cash’s Composed
- Julie Klam’s You Had Me at Woof
- Devotion by Dani Shapiro (read the blogpost I wrote about this book and why writing in the margins was such a struggle for me)
- Seth Mnookin’s The Panic Virus. This is an important and interesting book about the spread of non-facts by non-experts. In a society where celebrities with no medical training and doctors who fudge statistics can take center stage and endanger the health and safety of others, it’s gratifying (and necessary) that someone delve into the issue more closely. Mnookin’s carefully-researched book is a must-read for those who want to know more about the ramifications when emotion trumps reason. Here’s the WSJ Review
- Blood Work: A Tale of Medicine and Murder in the Scientific Revolution by Holly Tucker A social history of blood transfusions. A great example of science and storytelling combined.
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I have just garnered the courage to read Emperor of All Maladies and it is excellent.