I read 47 books in 2012. I don’t usually keep track so closely, but last January I joined a Forty for 40 challenge organized by members of my Mount Holyoke class. We graduated in 1994, and many of us turned 40 in 2012. And so, Forty for 40!
Signing on to read 40 books in 2012 wasn’t a New Year’s resolution. Though looking back now I realize having a goal made it fun to check in on Goodreads and take a tally of how I was doing, of how many more books I had to go. Having a set goal that was exactly perfect for me–not too easy, not too much of a stretch–made it almost easy and definitely fun to work toward. And who doesn’t like success? I have something to celebrate now!
Revealing the books that I’ve read feels vulnerable in a way that it shouldn’t be to a person who writes publicly on the Internet. But there’s something inherently intimate about reading–and writing–and I find myself wanting to not share certain books. The ones I hesitate to mention aren’t the popular trilogies (The Hunger Games, Fifty Shades–yes, I read them all) but the ones that touched me most deeply, whether for their flawless writing or the purity of the subject matter or simply the timing of when I read them and how they spoke to me because of what I was going through in my life at the time.
And yet, isn’t that what writing (and therefore reading) is all about? Letting in the vulnerability. Sharing personal experiences. Reaching out to others and encouraging feedback. Starting a conversation. And so, as 2012 comes to a close and I look toward 2013 and my goals for the written word, I decided to be brave and share a few of the books that meant the very most to me this past year.
When Women Were Birds: Fifty-four Variations on Voice by Terry Tempest Williams. This book is like a miracle. TTW, as my dear friend Liz refers to Williams, is simply gorgeous. She exudes kindness and calm and beauty, both in her written words and in person. I had the pleasure of hearing her read from her previous book, Finding Beauty in a Broken World, four years ago (and Liz has met her in person more than once!). TTW is remarkable. And this book is one that I will return to again and again, each time marking up the margins more.
Several Short Sentences About Writing by Verlyn Klinkenborg. I have long admired Klinkenborg’s writing. His words have always spoken to me directly. His writing is visual, full of textured simplicity. Though I read this book straight through, I think I’ll enjoy it just as much or more as I pick it up and settle on passages at random.
The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker. In June, my sister Sarah and I went to a writing retreat with Dani Shapiro. During the three days we were privileged to be sitting in a beautiful yoga studio thinking and talking of nothing but the craft of writing, Dani mentioned this novel at least twice. I’m so glad she did. By the jacket synopsis, I’m certain I wouldn’t have picked it up. And yet, it was one of the most beautifully written books I read all year. How did Walker write such lyrical prose? And how did she do it while working full time? This book inspires me in more ways than one.
Making Toast by Roger Rosenblatt. How do you outlive your daughter and come to be a parent to your grandchildren? This, from the jacket of the book: “Luminous, precise, and utterly unsentimental, Making Toast is both a tribute to the singular [Rosenblatt's daughter] Amy and a brave exploration of the human capacity to move through and live with grief.” Don’t let the subject matter keep you from reading this slim volume. It’s full of life and beauty.
The Fault in our Stars by John Green. Adolescence. Life. Love. I picked up this book, fell into it, ignored my family and didn’t put it down till I’d turned the last page. Then I told everyone I know to read it. Read it.
The Grief of Others by Leah Hager Cohen. This book made me want to write fiction again. Really write it. Commit myself to it. Dig out the drafts piled high with dust and Get. To. Work.
Room by Emma Donoghue. I resisted this book for a long time. I knew enough about the premise to be terrified to read it. And it is terrifying. And heartbreaking. It’s also a wonder of a book. The details of voice and experience are so precise, so perfect, it’s simply masterful. And unforgettable.
The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe. This is one of the last books I read in 2012, yet I’ve already returned to a passage about creativity that appears toward the end: “It’s almost taken for granted now that people–children especially–should be encouraged to create. Mom certainly appreciated that. But she also was content not to make things but just to enjoy them. ‘Everyone doesn’t have to do everything,’ she told me. ‘People forget you can also express yourself by what you choose to admire and support.’”
I’d love to hear your thoughts on these books or the ones that meant the most to you this past year. My list of books to read grows longer daily, and I’m grateful for any and all recommendations. The power of books gets even more powerful the more I give myself over to them, one word at a time.
Jen lives with her partner John and their three children in western Massachusetts. Since 2009 Jen's been blogging at Momalom, where she mostly writes about her life as a mother writer, the demands and rewards of each, and what it means to be a creative person always striving for more. She works full time as a writer, editor, and social media strategist at a Massachusetts college but is usually thinking about how she can find more time to write. She's been a contributor to Project: Underblog since November 2012.
Wonderful recommendations!! Have grand reading plans this year!
Thanks for coming to read me here, Aidan! From one reader to another, I hope you have a great New Year!
Thanks to you, I’ve read (and loved)most of these. Lucky me to have a well read daughter. Can’t wait for this year’s recommendations.
Our virtual mother-daughter book group is always an inspiration to me, Mama.
Wild by Cheryl Strayed. Her honesty, her struggle, her courage– all spoke to me when I needed to hear of each. Thanks for your recommendations. I’m definitely going to look into a few!
I read Wild last year. It didn’t make it to my top-tier list, but then, I’m a total snob when it comes to writing. Her story was inspiring and memorable, and I definitely got a lot from the book. But I was disappointed by her writing. (Go ahead, punch back. I can take it!)
I would agree with that- no need for punching! I found myself moved by her story more than her writing, and I think it was because I could identify with her struggle so closely.
Have you read Bird by Bird? It’s one of the only “non” academic books I got to read for my PhD and it is still my favorite book on writing!!
LOVE Bird by Bird. Have read it cover to cover more than once. And my dog-eared copy is within reach almost at all times! Have you read Stephen King’s On Writing? Another MARVELOUS writing book.
“…there’s something inherently intimate about reading–and writing–and I find myself wanting to not share certain books.” My blog is mostly about books and what I read, but I think I get this. I feel that way more about music than books most of the time, but I agree that sometimes the most affecting books are the hardest to talk about. And in 2012, The Fault in Our Stars was one of those books for me too.
Hi Florinda! I’m probably contradicting myself when I say that I love to talk about books with other book lovers, especially those people whose taste in books I share or whose devotions to books I admire. I think it’s the blind posting to all the online world that makes me feel itchy! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Yay Jen
I always love to get your book responses and recommendations. I think Verlyn’s book is up next for me. I’ve been into another one recently that might interest you–The Sound of A Wild Snail Eating, by Elisabeth Tova Bailey. Here’s to discovering books and writers in 2013!
Liz! Here you are! I had to mention you in the TTW bit. I can’t believe it was more than four years ago that we went to see her together. E was in a sling the whole time. Remember?! EGAD. Am adding Wild Snail to my list NOW. Let me know what you think about Verlyn’s. It’s different. And, honestly, I didn’t love it at first. But now, Now I’m in awe.
First – so happy for you to be here! I am bookmarking this page. I did NOT live up to my “read more” resolve in 2012 year of growth (for me). So, I will start anew. Thanks for the list….keep on reading on…
Cathy, starting anew is a gift. Do it.
Thanks for coming by to see me here. Happy New Year to YOU!
Grateful for these recommendations, Jen. Of your list, I’ve only read Room, The Hunger Games trilogy (with my 12 yr old who lost interest early on), and the first of the Fifty Shades books. I started keeping a list of the books I read last year but stopped around 12 just because I’m lazy (and I’d lost the list.) I need to ask the library to give me a list. But, some of the last few I read were Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl (impressed by her writing at times but disappointed with the ending) (then I read her others and enjoyed them as well — Sharp Objects more than Dark Places); Tana French’s Broken Harbor (not as good as her others); J.K. Rowling’s Casual Vacancy (long and lots of characters to keep up with early on, but I liked it overall); Zadie Smith’s NW (similar to Casual Vacancy but I still enjoyed it even though I put it down twice). I can’t think beyond these last few but I’m sure I enjoyed others. The only nonfiction I remember was Elizaeth Edwards’ Resilience and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.
Happy new year! I’m starting it off reading Caroline Cooney’s The Face on the Milk Carton and Ayana Mathis’ The Twelve Tribes of Hattie (but I’ve sat that down already. Is it wrong to admit that I have to be “in the mood” to read about The Great Migration? I’m black, I’m supposed to want to envelop myself in “our” stories, right? Sorry, but I got it from the library and I’m just not sure I’ll get to it in January.)
I read Gone Girl, too. And felt much the same as you, it seems. At times the writing was so real it didn’t seem like writing at all. But the ending was too predictable. Even lazy? I’m grateful for YOUR book list. I read Henrietta Lacks in 2011. LOVED it. Another great nonfiction in early 2011 was The Emperor of All Maladies, which I was astounded by (in a great way) and continue to think about two years later. I’m starting off the New Year with Barbara Kingsolver’s newest, Flight Behavior. She is one of my favorites, and so far it hasn’t disappointed.
I think I’m going to start looking for conferences in your neck of the woods. Wouldn’t we have a fun coffee talk if I could get myself down there!?
How awesome that I clicked through to this from my wordpress reader and didn’t even know it was you, Jen?!
I’m hanging my head in shame…started two books this year and didn’t finish either. I just can’t find time. It’s so wrong considering what makes me happy and how I feed myself and what I want to be when I grow up.
I now have 63 books staring at me from my bedside and my shelves and my car that need me to read them. Right this very minute. Maybe, if I were a New Year’s resolutions type, I’d resolve to finish them.
Maybe I could resolve to finish one.
Maybe I could go read and check back here when I’m ready for a recommendation.
Thanks for the inspiration.
xoxo
No hanging of the head, please. It took me a long time into this mothering gig to reclaim reading. Besides, you FINISHED REVISING YOUR NOVEL in 2012. If you’re going to read just one novel this next year, ooh, baby, the one I’d recommend above all else (that I’ve read in the past two years) is State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. Worth full price in hard cover and then some. Also to add: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese is a good one. I was also surprised to be taken away by The Lake Shore Limited by Sue Miller. These are both from my 2011 list. I could go ON and ON. And I can’t WAIT to read yours! xo
I read at least a book a week. And I’m always looking for new lovelies. I haven’t read five of your favourites from last year and so Amazon loves you for the large purchase I just made. My favourite of last year was The Beginner’s Goodbye by Anne Tyler. Happy reading!
I can’t remember if I’ve read that Anne Tyler one. Gotta go on over to Goodreads and check. (I’m so pathetic.) I did love Noah’s Compass. Read that one in 2011, me thinks! Nice to see you here, friend. xo
Hello You. Catching up on all of your awesome posts here at Project: Underblog.
I have some books to add to my Goodreads list, I see. And some prioritizing to do, which I love…I’m horrible at prioritizing.
Am finding more and more time for reading these days. Or, “making time” is what I should say, I guess. I’m glad you surrendered to read Room. It was worth it. And I thank you for The Fault in our Stars, it was riveting. There’s nothing I want more than lazy mornings and afternoons and evenings with a book in my hand.
You, me, 6 kids playing in sand in water (away from us), 2 frosty glasses on a side table, books in hand, lounging on lounge chairs. A great vision. Someday soon. xo