I got back into fiction in the past few years and an curious about the Rizzoli series! I have been reading Lisa Jewell and B.A. Paris in that similar genre.
All my books right now are related to Sylvia Plath for research or related to grieving because of my own process around that.
One powerful book about grieving I read years ago is "A Grief Observed" by C.S. Lewis. It's basically his personal diary written as he grieved his wife's death.
I too loved Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta novels - it's been a while, so maybe those are for the 'reread' pile! I remember later reading Cornwell's book about Jack the Ripper and being rather frustrated by her early conclusion as to who the villain had actually been, but it was nevertheless a rip-roaring ride of a non-fiction exploration of a century-old set of grisly murders.
It sounds like I need to check out Tess Gerritson!
I've just started re-reading a book I'd read in the 1990s - 'House of Cards' by Michael Dobbs. I love a political thriller! I'd first come across it as a BBC TV adaptation and read the book pretty much immediately after that - all of which of course was before Netflix introduced us to a Kevin Spacey variation of the story around ten years ago.
Ah I could leave comments here all day! I highly recommend all of Rebecca Serle’s books, really entertaining and fun but also extremely powerful and evocative. Other recent favorites include Circe and Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, More Myself (Alicia Keys’ memoir) and I’m currently finishing up A Novel Obsession by Caitlin Barasch - which has been a very fun light beach kind of read.
Voice Lessons by Cara Mentzel (Idina Menzel’s sister) is also gorgeous. Last but not least, one of my all time favorites is Never Let Me Go, but Kazuo Ishiguro. Heartbreaking, and deeply changed me
But this is his first novel-- I loved how he developed the character of a woman activist-- taking the reader through a history of political and environmental movement that people my age (60-70) will recognize if you were involved. The novel explores an ethical dilemma with insight and nuance.
Hi Wendi, Thank you so much for the tips on borrowing through Libby and reading on Kindle! I just linked it now, and wow! so much better.
I am currently losing myself in fictional books. I just finished "Walk the Wire" by David Baldacci. It's a mystery-thriller-crime kind of story. It's a series under the title Memory Man, following an FBI detective who has a brilliant mind but awkward social skills due to his brain injury. If you like Detective Jane Rizzoli, you might like Detective Amos Decker ;) (hint hint as suggestion for next book to read). Baldacci also has several others protagonists who are law enforcers. All his books have been quite mind-blowing with the level of details and thrills and, at the same time, have also provided some light-hearted and fun comraderies between the characters.
A friend of mine just recommended "A Touch of Darkness," a romance novel based on the writer's imagination of Greek's God & Goddesses, Hades and Persephone's love story. A few pages in, and I've been rolling my eyes several times. But after a lot of writing and philosophical reading in the last few months, a cheesy romance might be the best medicine for the moment.
David Baldacci is actually another of my favorite fiction authors! I’ve read lots of his books, but not recently. Thanks for the encouragement to read another one!
Would you be interested in reading my in-progress children’s Bible Story book/devotional (only a few stories written so far). I'm writing from the perspective that Jesus shows us God’s love, which the Old Testament writers understood imperfectly. Do you know of Greg Boyd? On a podcast he suggested the need for a children’s Bible story book that shows how to understand Old Testament stories from the perspective of a non-violent enemy-loving God. In other words, not a warrior-like God who the people thought commanded them to fight, or brought about disasters like the Flood.
I use Libby too and borrow lots of audiobooks from the library. I just read Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. Excellent book that should be required reading for all high school students.
I just finished The Change by Kirsten Miller. Loved it. Suspense, murder mystery, with magical realism/paranormal aspects. Strong women characters. Also, Killers of A Certain Age by Deanna Rayburn. 60ish women assassins retiring, but someone tried to kill them at their retirement cruise, and well, the best defense is a good offense.
NF - The Mirror and the Palette, Rebellion, Resistance, and Revolution, Five Hundred Years of Women’s Self-Portraits, by Jennifer Higgie.
Fiction: I read and re-read Barbara Pym's novels often. If you don't know her she's a mid-twentieth century writer writing about very ordinary women, often 'spinsters', their relationships and lives, often centred on the church, village life, what she calls 'the trivial round, the common task'. They are wonderful stories. Try 'Excellent Women' or 'Jane and Prudence'.
I love 'soft' crime and highly recommend Elly Griffith's Dr Ruth Galloway series.
Also Salley Vickers' books. I recommend "Miss Garnet's Angel' or 'The Gardener'.
Non-fiction: I've just finished 'Hags' by Victoria Smith which is about the social demonisation of middle-aged women. Interesting, and very recognisable.
Oh so excited to hear that you read untamed!!!
I got back into fiction in the past few years and an curious about the Rizzoli series! I have been reading Lisa Jewell and B.A. Paris in that similar genre.
All my books right now are related to Sylvia Plath for research or related to grieving because of my own process around that.
One powerful book about grieving I read years ago is "A Grief Observed" by C.S. Lewis. It's basically his personal diary written as he grieved his wife's death.
Thank you. I haven’t had that one on my radar so I’ll add it. ❤️
Great post, Wendi!
I too loved Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta novels - it's been a while, so maybe those are for the 'reread' pile! I remember later reading Cornwell's book about Jack the Ripper and being rather frustrated by her early conclusion as to who the villain had actually been, but it was nevertheless a rip-roaring ride of a non-fiction exploration of a century-old set of grisly murders.
It sounds like I need to check out Tess Gerritson!
I've just started re-reading a book I'd read in the 1990s - 'House of Cards' by Michael Dobbs. I love a political thriller! I'd first come across it as a BBC TV adaptation and read the book pretty much immediately after that - all of which of course was before Netflix introduced us to a Kevin Spacey variation of the story around ten years ago.
House of Cards sounds interesting. I love political thrillers too!
Ah I could leave comments here all day! I highly recommend all of Rebecca Serle’s books, really entertaining and fun but also extremely powerful and evocative. Other recent favorites include Circe and Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, More Myself (Alicia Keys’ memoir) and I’m currently finishing up A Novel Obsession by Caitlin Barasch - which has been a very fun light beach kind of read.
Voice Lessons by Cara Mentzel (Idina Menzel’s sister) is also gorgeous. Last but not least, one of my all time favorites is Never Let Me Go, but Kazuo Ishiguro. Heartbreaking, and deeply changed me
And I’m so glad you read Untamed!!
I just finished Chuck Collins’s book “Altar to an Erupting Sun” he’s an old friend and longtime activist (https://ips-dc.org/ips-authors/chuck-collins/)
But this is his first novel-- I loved how he developed the character of a woman activist-- taking the reader through a history of political and environmental movement that people my age (60-70) will recognize if you were involved. The novel explores an ethical dilemma with insight and nuance.
Thanks for that recommendation, Diane! I’m sure I wouldn’t have known about that book otherwise!
Hi Wendi, Thank you so much for the tips on borrowing through Libby and reading on Kindle! I just linked it now, and wow! so much better.
I am currently losing myself in fictional books. I just finished "Walk the Wire" by David Baldacci. It's a mystery-thriller-crime kind of story. It's a series under the title Memory Man, following an FBI detective who has a brilliant mind but awkward social skills due to his brain injury. If you like Detective Jane Rizzoli, you might like Detective Amos Decker ;) (hint hint as suggestion for next book to read). Baldacci also has several others protagonists who are law enforcers. All his books have been quite mind-blowing with the level of details and thrills and, at the same time, have also provided some light-hearted and fun comraderies between the characters.
A friend of mine just recommended "A Touch of Darkness," a romance novel based on the writer's imagination of Greek's God & Goddesses, Hades and Persephone's love story. A few pages in, and I've been rolling my eyes several times. But after a lot of writing and philosophical reading in the last few months, a cheesy romance might be the best medicine for the moment.
Thanks for the question!
David Baldacci is actually another of my favorite fiction authors! I’ve read lots of his books, but not recently. Thanks for the encouragement to read another one!
And I’m glad my tip about Libby helped you😁
Would you be interested in reading my in-progress children’s Bible Story book/devotional (only a few stories written so far). I'm writing from the perspective that Jesus shows us God’s love, which the Old Testament writers understood imperfectly. Do you know of Greg Boyd? On a podcast he suggested the need for a children’s Bible story book that shows how to understand Old Testament stories from the perspective of a non-violent enemy-loving God. In other words, not a warrior-like God who the people thought commanded them to fight, or brought about disasters like the Flood.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cross+vision+by+greg+boyd&crid=3FBEMFRJ56T0W&sprefix=cross+vision%2Caps%2C141&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_12
Thanks for asking, but right now I need to focus my attention on my writing and other projects that generate income.
I use Libby too and borrow lots of audiobooks from the library. I just read Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. Excellent book that should be required reading for all high school students.
I just finished The Change by Kirsten Miller. Loved it. Suspense, murder mystery, with magical realism/paranormal aspects. Strong women characters. Also, Killers of A Certain Age by Deanna Rayburn. 60ish women assassins retiring, but someone tried to kill them at their retirement cruise, and well, the best defense is a good offense.
NF - The Mirror and the Palette, Rebellion, Resistance, and Revolution, Five Hundred Years of Women’s Self-Portraits, by Jennifer Higgie.
These books sound interesting … thanks for sharing what you’ve been reading!
Fiction: I read and re-read Barbara Pym's novels often. If you don't know her she's a mid-twentieth century writer writing about very ordinary women, often 'spinsters', their relationships and lives, often centred on the church, village life, what she calls 'the trivial round, the common task'. They are wonderful stories. Try 'Excellent Women' or 'Jane and Prudence'.
I love 'soft' crime and highly recommend Elly Griffith's Dr Ruth Galloway series.
Also Salley Vickers' books. I recommend "Miss Garnet's Angel' or 'The Gardener'.
Non-fiction: I've just finished 'Hags' by Victoria Smith which is about the social demonisation of middle-aged women. Interesting, and very recognisable.
Thanks for sharing your book recommendations. “Hags” sounds very interesting to me as a middle aged woman!