I read a lot of books. More than most people, and that’s because it’s a huge priority for me. That being said, remember as you’re reading this that I like books more than dating, sex, working out, watching TV, cooking food, knitting, nature walks, or cat videos; and just slightly less than playing cards with my mom, traveling to Italy, standing in line to buy an oat milk latte that I cannot figure out how to make at home, going to dinner with friends, and clumsy attempts at gardening. Meaning, if this feels like a lot of fucking books, that’s only because reading is important to me the way laying in bed with your kids or creating your own fabrics or collecting rocks might be to you (it’s also my job). I make an exceptional amount of space for it and I spend more money on books some months than I do on groceries. If you ever look at my reading list and think you aren’t reading enough, perhaps instead think, “she’s definitely out of clean underwear” and know that’s a true assumption.
I love your honest critiques of the books you read or chose not to read. I would love to send you mine that was published in December. This Side of Alcohol. Your book was such an inspiration to write my own. I am so glad you are back.
As someone who is single, childfree, workfree and homefree, your love for reading was the best part of this essay for me! Yes I can only compare it to what others seem to feel about their kids... I also want to talk about the books (kids) aaaaall the time and show you pictures of the covers and compare them to other books :D
I really enjoy this format. And I respect the book recommendations that you provide as I have read off your previous list prior. As someone who does not have time to do enough proper research to select books, I appreciate the lists. I just broke my foot so I will order a few to keep me occupied these next few weeks. Thanks Holly.
Great format Holly! I love the descriptions and also the fact that you are able to not finish books! I feel weird guilt about doing that, but maybe I will give it another shot!
Love love love this new feature. And the total uninhibited embrace of reading all the books. The Dawn of Everything and The Urge sound like really worthwhile reads. As well The Weight of Air - and completely heartbreaking and tragic that David Poses left this earth. I completely understand feeling very porous about addiction memories. Whenever I'm really into a book, I have this whole ambient feel of it kind of living with me in the background of my life as I'm going through my day. I'm 1/4 into Barbara Demick's very very good book "Eat the Buddha" about a Tibetan town, and the history of China's destruction of the Tibetan culture and imprisoning and killing of Tibetans. I'm going to come back to it. Very hard to read at the moment, knowing what's going on currently in Ukraine. The best book I've read in quite some time is "Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals" by Oliver Burkeman. Completely changed my thinking around productivity, time management, and trying to "optimize" my time. It's actually an incredible spiritually relevant book. I loved it. Love Pema Chodron. Speaking of good dharma books : Highly recommend anything by Joan Tolifson. "Bare Bones Meditation: Waking Up From the Story of My Life" and "Awake in the Heartland: The Ecstasy of What is" are both fantastic and available on Kindle. Joan went through a very intense period of alcohol addiction in her twenties and she writes about it in a way that I've never seen addiction written about before. The mark of a really good and consequential book for me is holding on to it, not ever wanting to lend it out, and going back to it for a second or third read to keep germinating and metabolizing all the good ideas. As a fellow bibliophile I love that you're doing this feature, Holly.
This is great. And a double thank you for the books not finished section. You mean I am not a big failure for trying something and it just not working out and that I may try again later- who knows?! Love you.
This list couldn't have come at a better time for me. Currently living in a small town in Nova Scotia that just so happens to not have a bookstore!!! Think about a town of people with no access to books aka any other view of the world... 😩
Anyway, I've escaped for 2 days and my #1 priority is to shop books 😃
Right after my psych assessment (no that's not a joke) LONG story for another time lol
As an avid reader I love this. I understand your hesitation with a rating system, I struggle with this and I'm just rating on goodreads. I look forward to reading Oh William! Best book I read this month was the essay collection These Precious Days by Ann Patchett, I didn't know she was sober before reading, definitely recommend (it's not about sobriety at all, it just comes up once or twice)!
I used to love to read, too. I was an avid reader. Since I got sober 3 years ago, I have extreme difficulty reading because I have trouble comprehending it. Unfortunately I think it's because I fucking damaged my brain with the alcohol. Are most of these on Audible and would they even translate well on that format?
Book recommendations (from an author I like, such as yourself) are priceless to me. Ratings are an added bonus. I love to read and don't want to take extra time researching books. thanks for this.
Thank you for your book recommendations!! I've read many books that you've taken the time to review, and suggest (or not) throughoutthe years. I am so grateful for this newsletter and grateful for you.
I love your honest critiques of the books you read or chose not to read. I would love to send you mine that was published in December. This Side of Alcohol. Your book was such an inspiration to write my own. I am so glad you are back.
As someone who is single, childfree, workfree and homefree, your love for reading was the best part of this essay for me! Yes I can only compare it to what others seem to feel about their kids... I also want to talk about the books (kids) aaaaall the time and show you pictures of the covers and compare them to other books :D
Big fan of best books of the month format
I really enjoy this format. And I respect the book recommendations that you provide as I have read off your previous list prior. As someone who does not have time to do enough proper research to select books, I appreciate the lists. I just broke my foot so I will order a few to keep me occupied these next few weeks. Thanks Holly.
Yours (just answering the last question) :)
Great format Holly! I love the descriptions and also the fact that you are able to not finish books! I feel weird guilt about doing that, but maybe I will give it another shot!
Love love love this new feature. And the total uninhibited embrace of reading all the books. The Dawn of Everything and The Urge sound like really worthwhile reads. As well The Weight of Air - and completely heartbreaking and tragic that David Poses left this earth. I completely understand feeling very porous about addiction memories. Whenever I'm really into a book, I have this whole ambient feel of it kind of living with me in the background of my life as I'm going through my day. I'm 1/4 into Barbara Demick's very very good book "Eat the Buddha" about a Tibetan town, and the history of China's destruction of the Tibetan culture and imprisoning and killing of Tibetans. I'm going to come back to it. Very hard to read at the moment, knowing what's going on currently in Ukraine. The best book I've read in quite some time is "Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals" by Oliver Burkeman. Completely changed my thinking around productivity, time management, and trying to "optimize" my time. It's actually an incredible spiritually relevant book. I loved it. Love Pema Chodron. Speaking of good dharma books : Highly recommend anything by Joan Tolifson. "Bare Bones Meditation: Waking Up From the Story of My Life" and "Awake in the Heartland: The Ecstasy of What is" are both fantastic and available on Kindle. Joan went through a very intense period of alcohol addiction in her twenties and she writes about it in a way that I've never seen addiction written about before. The mark of a really good and consequential book for me is holding on to it, not ever wanting to lend it out, and going back to it for a second or third read to keep germinating and metabolizing all the good ideas. As a fellow bibliophile I love that you're doing this feature, Holly.
This is great. And a double thank you for the books not finished section. You mean I am not a big failure for trying something and it just not working out and that I may try again later- who knows?! Love you.
This list couldn't have come at a better time for me. Currently living in a small town in Nova Scotia that just so happens to not have a bookstore!!! Think about a town of people with no access to books aka any other view of the world... 😩
Anyway, I've escaped for 2 days and my #1 priority is to shop books 😃
Right after my psych assessment (no that's not a joke) LONG story for another time lol
Thanks a lot ❤️
As an avid reader I love this. I understand your hesitation with a rating system, I struggle with this and I'm just rating on goodreads. I look forward to reading Oh William! Best book I read this month was the essay collection These Precious Days by Ann Patchett, I didn't know she was sober before reading, definitely recommend (it's not about sobriety at all, it just comes up once or twice)!
Hi Holly,
I used to love to read, too. I was an avid reader. Since I got sober 3 years ago, I have extreme difficulty reading because I have trouble comprehending it. Unfortunately I think it's because I fucking damaged my brain with the alcohol. Are most of these on Audible and would they even translate well on that format?
Nothing profound to add, but the permission to not finish books I start is liberating. So much shame to unlearn. Thank you.
Book recommendations (from an author I like, such as yourself) are priceless to me. Ratings are an added bonus. I love to read and don't want to take extra time researching books. thanks for this.
I love your writing because it’s raw and it really brings out your sense of humor.
Thank you for your book recommendations!! I've read many books that you've taken the time to review, and suggest (or not) throughoutthe years. I am so grateful for this newsletter and grateful for you.