Yesterday, as I was making the new buttons that you see on the sidebar (aren’t they gorgeous? I love them way too much.) I realized I had hardly any good pictures of my favourite books to use as a background image. So I went through and pulled a few tomes from my shelves and snapped some pictures. I realized today that this picture is also an opportunity to share a few of my well-loved books with you! These are books that I have read, enjoyed, and would recommend for a great read.
The History of Love – Nicole Krauss: I remember reading this book in fading, early summer light on my back porch. It’s a very lovely story, written about love and the trajectory of a book that was almost lost or forgotten. The characters are wonderful, especially the elderly Leo – his story is touching and moving. Krauss is married to Jonathan Safran Foer – they are quite a literary couple!
The Man of My Dreams – Curtis Sittenfeld: This book was almost painful to read at times, especially since the character’s struggles were so relatable. The story follows the main character, Hannah, through her university years and into her twenties, complete with the hardships and the joys that afflict all of us in these years. Curtis Sittenfeld is one of my all-time favourite authors, I’ve read all her books.
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie – Alan Bradley: An amazing series by a Canadian author! I love Flavia DeLuce’s character – an 11-year-old detective who is smarter than the policemen and enjoys solving murder cases in her fairly sleepy hometown. There are three books about Flavia so far, and they’re all great.
Pretty Little Mistakes – Heather McElhatton: A fun “choose your own adventure” book that is more like “choose your own future”. The first choice you get is on the “last day of high school”, the book asks: do you go to school or not? What do you major in? Do you volunteer? Based on these choices, you’re given a series of well-written vignettes with yet another choice at the end of each. Sometimes the ending might not be exactly what you want! It’s a cool book.
The Tipping Point – Malcolm Gladwell: Another of my very favourite authors. Gladwell has this amazing curiosity that he applies to all kinds of ideas (check out his TED talks to see what I mean) and researches + presents them in an understandable way. I’m sure many of you have either read or heard of him and his books, but one of my favourites was The Tipping Point because of its applicability to everyday life. These are really fascinating ideas, that really change the way you look at the world.
Kitchen Confidential – Anthony Bourdain: If you’re interested in the restaurant industry, this is a must-read. For those who want to get a restaurant job, this will debunk any and all myths you might have, and for those who want to hear some of the behind-the-scenes secrets, Bourdain holds nothing back (as usual). He also presents quite a few mouthwatering descriptions of food, which is great if you’re a foodie. Actually, when this book first came out, it was quite scandalous, and has since led to some changes in restaurants. Very interesting.
Lullabies for Little Criminals – Heather O’Neill: This book is set in Montreal, so if you live there (like me!) you can get a kick out of recognizing street names, and experience a really cool sense of familiarity with the locations in the book. It’s about one girl’s loss of innocence due to having a drug-addicted single father, and it’s a really touching portrait. I really enjoyed this book, though I did read it quite a while ago.
So there you have it, a few books I’ve really enjoyed. Keep in mind, this is only the tip of the iceberg! I’ve read many books on Kindle (that can’t be photographed, at least not easily), or borrowed them from friends or from the library. These are just a few that I own.
That being said: What are some of your favourite books? Read anything good lately?
