I read a ton of fiction every year. I had the hardest time narrowing it down so brace yourself for a long list. I've divided it by general fiction, YA, and romance. These books were not necessarily published this past year but this is when I read them. I hope you'll love them as much as I do!

Disclosure: Affiliate links included in this post. 

 

 

All The Ugly And Wonderful Things- Bryn Greenwood

The fact that I gave this 5 stars is all due to the author. It is exceedingly well-written, deft and nuanced, but the empathetic portrayal of a situation that is at first glance unconscionable is what took it to the next level. Wavy is 8 and Kellen a decade or more older when they first meet. They are drawn to one another from the start and while Kellen is aware of how the situation could look from the outside, he is more aware of how Wavy and her brother Donal have no one looking after them. When her mom is in a drug-induced haze, Kellen goes to the parent-teacher conferences and brings groceries. It is a needed and valued role for him to play. Greenwood illustrates the long-ranging effects of child abuse and neglect. When your parents both scar and fail you, you don't know how to relate to other people in a healthy way. Kellen and Wavy were both traumatized by their parents and in some ways, it makes perfect sense that they would recognize a kindred spirit in each other. And yet there's no denying a romantic relationship between them is wrong, especially when Wavy is young. Kellen recognizes this but he also doesn't ultimately rebuff Wavy's advances. This propels the plot along and I had no idea what would happen next or how I should feel about any of it. Part of me was rooting for Kellen and Wavy to find a way to be together once Wavy was older, if indeed she still felt the same way by that point. The other part of me recognized this relationship would never have happened if any of the adults in Wavy's life had intervened at some point, whether it was her parents actually taking an active, healthy role or a teacher speaking up or her aunt and uncle stepping in. Wavy was failed time and again and it is no wonder she developed feelings for the one person who was always there for her. This would be perfect book club fodder.

 

 

The Winter Sea- Susanna Kearsley

As an Outlander fan, this was a fascinating precursor to the Jacobite Uprising Gabaldon depicts. I learned so much about the exiled King James, who, from my limited understanding, seemed like he would have been a great king, much better than his great-great-grandson Bonnie Prince Charlie. This is my favorite kind of novel- interweaving a present-day storyline with a historical one- and I loved how Kearsley twisted it by playing with genetic memory, a concept I wasn't familiar with but which took the story in entirely interesting directions. Throw in the love stories between Sophia and John and Carrie and Graham and I was quite the happy camper. I also loved that Carrie was a novelist and that we got to see how her manuscripts come together.

 

 

 

 

The Wonder- Emma Donoghue

This novel (full review here) raises excellent questions of faith, doubt, and miracles. The story is densely layered, with facts and clues doled out to us in a perfectly paced manner, not only about Anna and her family but Lib herself. I raced through the last 80 pages wanting to know whether Anna would die, if Lib would ignore the rules of the watch, and just whether a miracle had occurred after all. The way Donoghue (author of Room) brought it all together at the end blew me away. Masterfully done. (Disclosure: I was provided an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.)

 

 

 

 

 

The City of Mirrors- Justin Cronin 

The Passage was one of my favorite novels in 2015. I held off on reading The Twelve because it would be a long wait until The City of Mirrors finally came out. The Twelve fascinated me because of Cronin's bold choices in how to move the story forward toward it's ultimate conclusion. The bold choices only continued with The City of Mirrors. While there are a few minor quibbles I have with two things that happened toward the end, they did not distract me from the amazing way Cronin drew this trilogy to a close. We see how character development pays off (or doesn't), we learn a key character's origin story and what that has to do with everyone else, we are treated to more of the complex, nuanced social commentary Cronin served up in the first book. The literary and religious references add depth and richness throughout. And the ending was satisfying and not at all what I expected. Some day I will read all 3 books back to back and I'm sure I will walk away with even more insights. For now, I'm in awe of Cronin's genius. If only I could pick his brain and learn how this giant story came to be!

 

 

 

Inspector Gamache series- Louise Penny

Friends have recommended the Inspector Gamache series for a few years now and I decided to finally see why. I bought Still Life (Penny) from Parnassus Books while I was back in Nashville, as a plane debacle on the way there led to me reading three books in one day and I was in need of reading material for the flight back. It's a delightful character-driven murder mystery. Still Life sets up some interesting premises and I liked learning more about the town and its inhabitants. The mystery itself could have gone in several directions, which led to some surprises. The series has only grown stronger since. There's a bigger overarching mystery introduced a couple of books in and the way Gamache and his squad respond is fascinating. Plus, I adore the inhabitants of Three Pines and wish desperately I could cozy up at Olivier and Gabri's cafe, while away hours at Myrna's bookstore, and talk art with Clara. Penny writes about life, death, faith, and hope in such nuanced ways. There are 12 books so far in the series and I've just finished #8, each better than the last.  

 

 

 

The City Baker's Guide To Country Living- Louise Miller 

I have long loved food memoir but sadly, food fiction has been more miss than hit for me the last few years. I am relieved this fine novel exceeded all expectations. First, the food descriptions are incredible but I also really appreciated Olivia's approach in the kitchen and seeing the trajectory of her career. Even though she's earned major accolades, she wasn't showy about it and she concentrated more on the quality of whatever her ingredients were than anything else. Second, this allowed us to experience how much the kitchen has overtaken her personal life and therefore see what changes occur when she starts working at the Sugar Maple. Third, I loved getting to know the people in the town and how these relationships softened Olivia and allowed her to take some chances. Of course, she's not perfect and sometimes I marveled at how her best friend put up with her, as well as how men seemingly fell at her feet in spite of poor behavior. But this all allowed for some major character development and the way the novel twisted and turned through all of it had me enthralled. Plus: allow me to dreamily sigh over Martin. The way Miller built the relationship between Livvy and Martin is worth a good look, especially because of one particular choice she made with the characters. But what a payoff in the end! Absolutely lovely through and through. (Disclosure: I was provided an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

 

 

Before The Fall - Noah Hawley

Everyone is right: do NOT read this on a plane. But once you're between travels, by all means pick this one up. I loved how Hawley built the story, starting with a plane crash and then introducing us to the survivors and the deceased, while interspersing the present day investigation. The role of media in tragedy and what an unruly beast it can be was quite fascinating. My heart rate was elevated whenever I read a scene involving a Fox News-like newscaster, similar to how I react when someone is spreading outright fear and misinformation. 

 

 

 

 

 

Jane Steele- Lindsay Faye

If you love Jane Eyre or Gothic novels or well-written creative fiction...If you've ever wondered what Jane Eyre would have been like had she believed the people who told her she was wicked, this is the novel for you. It's not a retelling of Jane Eyre but the novel features prominently, as it is dear to our main character for the ways her life is similar to Jane Eyre and for the ways it is entirely different. To wit: it includes the line, "Reader, I murdered him." It is a DELIGHT! It kept me enthralled and guessing the whole way through. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YA:

The Serpent King- Jeff Zentner

Three high school misfits band together in their small rural town in this debut. It's their senior year and while they long to graduate, their futures do not all hold the same possibilities, making this a rich coming of age story. Questions of identity are raised: how well do we know ourselves and others, especially when people try to limit or make us smaller than we are. The impeccable character development and bold plot choices made this book hard to put down, as well as hard to forget. I could not love it more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Raven King- Maggie Stiefvater

This was a very satisfying end to the series with some lovely unexpected developments. I was especially heartened by Ronan and Adam's storyline, as well as the addition of Henry. I'm going to miss these characters. Start with The Raven Boys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tell Me Three Things- Julie Buxbaum

Buxbaum perfectly captures the angst of being a teenage, albeit self-aware, girl, while also offering a nuanced depiction of Jessie's grief over the death of her mom, which is complicated when her dad ups and marries a woman he met online. Jessie's grieving and then starting a brand-new life in California right as she starts junior year. Then she receives an anonymous email from someone offering to help her navigate her new school and a wonderful depiction of friendship and potential romance evolves. While I was pretty sure I knew who SN was, Buxbaum made me second guess myself up until the very end but oh how happy I was with the ending. Moving in places but also filled with wit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Romance:

The Winston Brothers series and Knitting In The City series- Penny Reid

I am full on obsessed with Penny Reid. She writes nerdy, quirky romance and I have laughed out loud with every book. The plots are unpredictable and completely satisfying. Whether she's writing about a family of siblings or a circle of friends, I love how deep and varied the relationships are. So true to life.

I absolutely adored the first three books in her Winston Brothers series: Truth Or Beard, Grin and Beard It, andBeard Science (full review here.) I am full on swooning over the brothers Winston. Can we take a minute to marvel over those cross-stitch covers? The best! 

I've also read the first four books in her Knitting In The City series. They are pure fun, while also being educational (random trivia! boy bands! bitcoins!) and I have not been able to stop myself from guessing the main characters' Enneagram types. (One of my quirks.) Start with Neanderthal Seeks Human (free on Kindle and Nook!) I don't know if I've ever encountered a character like Janie before. She was incredibly endearing, even if she was a walking Jeopardy contestant. She is quirky as all get out and incredibly brilliant. She struck me as a classic Five (the need to perceive, all logic all the time), though Nine was an initial guess. She was incredibly stuck in her head and unaware of her emotions and completely oblivious to glaringly obvious things...and I loved it! The way her relationship with Quinn unfolded was so fun to watch, especially seeing what they had to teach one another. Quinn was incredibly dreamy and mysterious and so much more of a good guy than he believed he was. I loved the build up to their relationship and then seeing how they navigated dating. And then you have to read the follow up Neanderthal Marries Human!

 

 

 

 

How Not To Let Go- Emily Foster

This is the follow up to How Not To Fall. This was one of the best depictions of a character working through past trauma and their own inner demons I've ever seen. The way it built toward the HEA was phenomenal. Charles and Annie's love story should be read and enjoyed by all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Girls Night Out series- Victoria Dahl

If you're looking for a great contemporary romance, I highly recommend the Girls Night Out books by Victoria Dahl. Start with Looking For Trouble. Taking The Heat was my favorite. I loved how the friendship between these three woman was such a central part of the series and how their conversations didn't always center around their love lives. Fun fact: a few of the main characters are librarians, which definitely contributed to me dusting off my old dream of becoming a librarian myself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Indecent Proposal (The O'Malley's #3)- Katee Robert

Before The O'Malleys series, I had no idea how much I loved mafia romance. It reminds me of how my friend Jamie describes herself as a feminist who likes to get pushed around. These books make me wish I could fall in love with some Boston Irish mobsters, although with less violence and killing, of course. Each book in this series gets better and better and An Indecent Proposal blew me away. First, I loved the "will they, won't they" nature of Cillian and Olivia. Olivia has valid reasons for not getting involved. (Sidenote: I normally don't like children in my romance novels but I really liked Olivia as a single mom trying to do right by her daughter and make sure she had a different childhood.) Second, consent plays a major role throughout the novel and it was handled so well. I loved how Cillian deferred to Olivia on everything, including what information he could give his family and whether he could approach her daughter. Third, the character growth and depiction of grief was just stellar and also laid some groundwork for the next couple of books. I cannot wait to see what Robert does next! (Disclosure: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

 

 

It's time for my annual book roundup! Here are the best nonfiction books I read in 2016. These are the ones I couldn't stop thinking about, that I referenced in conversation and begged other people to read so we could discuss them. 

Disclosure: Affiliate links included in this post. 

 

 

When Breath Becomes Air- Paul Kalanithi

A wonderful addition to the end-of-life canon. I wish he would have delved into his palliative care team but that is one of the limitations of writing a book while dying. There is much more he could have explored and yet the material he did give us is rich, impressive, and necessary. What a gift he gave us. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Necessary Trouble: Americans In Revolt- Sarah Jaffe

If you asked me what the Tea Party and Black Lives Matter have in common before I read this book, I would have said, "nothing." But after reading Necessary Trouble, I can now point to any number of post-2008 movements and see the common threads. Whether Walmart employees or environmental activists, Jaffe shows how the deep dissatisfaction with and anger over the present state of affairs has been channeled into action and change. It's no longer business as usual. People are risking arrest and starting movements to disrupt the system and it is often working. (Glory be!) Jaffe shows each movement's strengths and struggles and I was particularly impressed by how she delved into the racism of certain segments of the Tea Party. I also loved the emphasis on intersectionality and the way class was highlighted as a common bond. Well researched and incredibly engaging, I underlined and asterisked my way through this book. It's a game-changer. If you read it, let's discuss. (Disclosure: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

 

 

 

 

Between The World And Me- Ta-Nehisi Coates

I am a huge fan of TNC's writing and this is no exception. There is so much in it that is ripe for discussion that I really think we'd move forward collectively as a country if everyone read it and took its message to heart. Not to be missed.

(If you are someone who doesn't understand why people are upset about Trump's election, please add this to your reading list.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

All The Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation- Rebecca Traister

This is a remarkable undertaking, not only because of the scope of Traister's research and interviews but because of how well it's compiled together. She manages to validate a number of singles' experiences, while also acknowledging her shortcomings, namely the bulk of her examples are white women in their 30s and 40s in NYC. However, she does feature stories from Women Of Color, as well as drawing from research and other works. What I loved is how validated I felt as a single woman. There was good food for thought- I especially loved the chapters about cities and friendship. There's also pointed critiques of society and religion, which is much needed in this age of marginalization. You don't need to be single to gain insights from this book- in fact, I'd encourage everyone to read it. But if you are single, you'll walk away feeling heard and seen and maybe even inspired.

 

 

 

 

Generation Chef: Risking It All For A New American Dream- Karen Stabiner

This is a must-read for people who love food memoir or who dream about opening a restaurant some day. Stabiner's writing style is reminiscent of Laura Hillenbrand. Her research and access to Jonah Miller and the staff at Huertas makes for one compelling narrative. I loved getting to see everything that goes into starting a restaurant in NYC, from finding the right space to hiring to what goes into creating a menu. Miller is an interesting figure, everything you'd expect a 26 year old chef-owner to be. The sacrifices he made and all of his hard work and dedication ultimately led him to opening Huertas and through the course of the book, we find out whether the restaurant will prevail through the ups and downs. This would have been interesting as it stands but Stabiner also features other chefs' experiences and what went into the successes and failures of their respective restaurants. She also sprinkles in anecdotes from restaurant critics and Culinary Institute of America teachers, along with statistics and insights about the restaurant industry. Absolutely fascinating. (Disclosure: I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

 

 

 

 

Come As You Are - Emily Nagoski

I'm joining the chorus to say every woman should read this, whether single, married, virgin, lackluster or on fire sex life. I learned so much from Nagoski (her fact checking about the hymen blew my mind) and truly appreciated her resounding exhortation, "you are normal." Her insights will go a long way toward undoing the misinformation so many of us have been fed and even patriarchal oppression. I feel incredibly empowered! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When In French: Love In A Second Language- Lauren Collins

I do not often engage in my language geek tendencies but based on how I swooned my way through this book, I should do so more often. Collins's book is part memoir and part ode to the intricacies of language. She delves into the history and meaning, the particular dance of learning another language, and how we use words to both build and divide. Many of the stories she shares, whether personal or research, could have been expanded into long-form essays at the very least for how fascinating they are and they will stick with me for some time. It is lyrical and lovely. It also made me want to get over to Europe asap. (Disclosure: I won a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway but it did not influence my opinion.) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mastering The Art Of French Eating: Lessons in Food and Love From a Year in Paris- Ann Mah

A rich exploration of expat life in Paris. Her reflections on building community, especially while apart from her husband, resonated with me and I loved seeing where her culinary whims led her as the book progressed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race - Margot Lee Shetterly

Synopsis

The phenomenal true story of the black female mathematicians at NASA whose calculations helped fuel some of America’s greatest achievements in space. Soon to be a major motion picture starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kirsten Dunst, and Kevin Costner.

Before John Glenn orbited the earth, or Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, a group of dedicated female mathematicians known as “human computers” used pencils, slide rules and adding machines to calculate the numbers that would launch rockets, and astronauts, into space.

Among these problem-solvers were a group of exceptionally talented African American women, some of the brightest minds of their generation. Originally relegated to teaching math in the South’s segregated public schools, they were called into service during the labor shortages of World War II, when America’s aeronautics industry was in dire need of anyone who had the right stuff. Suddenly, these overlooked math whizzes had a shot at jobs worthy of their skills, and they answered Uncle Sam’s call, moving to Hampton, Virginia and the fascinating, high-energy world of the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory.

Even as Virginia’s Jim Crow laws required them to be segregated from their white counterparts, the women of Langley’s all-black “West Computing” group helped America achieve one of the things it desired most: a decisive victory over the Soviet Union in the Cold War, and complete domination of the heavens.

Starting in World War II and moving through to the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement and the Space Race, Hidden Figures follows the interwoven accounts of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden, four African American women who participated in some of NASA’s greatest successes. It chronicles their careers over nearly three decades they faced challenges, forged alliances and used their intellect to change their own lives, and their country’s future.

 

Buy The Book Here:

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

Review - 4.5 Stars

What can I say about this remarkable book?

I was drawn in from the moment the author described how the story first came to her- literally through an off-handed comment from her dad as they were driving through her hometown. She was the right person at the right time and place to discover, research, and then write about the women who directly impacted NASA's space race.

Just as those women were in the right place at the right time to integrate NACA (what later became NASA) and then ascend its ranks, many going from computers to receiving the designation of mathematicians and even engineers.

I had never heard heard about the West Computers before. Nor had I thought much about how the NASA program came to be or just how much math was involved, especially before electric computers were around. And I definitely didn't have a sense about how exciting this time was. I found this book to be incredibly educational on many fronts.

Hidden Figures is part history book, part profile of several of these computers. It's in a similar vein as The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Unbroken, and The Boys On The Boat. Hidden Figures covers more than 25 years between when the first black women were hired in 1943 to the successful launch of Apollo 11 in 1969 and a little of the years after.

The story of what these women accomplished is incredible in itself. I'm not mathematically gifted so reading about the calculations they were figuring out and how it was used to invent plane and then space technology boggled my mind. Katherine Johnson, who is probably the most well known of the West Computers, directly contributed to the space launch. But if anything is evident after reading this book, it's that every single employee, from the janitor to the engineer, made that accomplishment happen and it is sad that history books tell us about the astronauts and maybe the engineers but that's it. For that reason, I'm so glad to now know the names of Katherine, Dorothy, Mary, and the others.

Each of the women profiled deserve to have a book written about them alone! I do wish some of their stories had been further fleshed out. A few narrative threads petered out sooner than necessary and I was left with a couple of questions that the epilogue didn't address either. But overall, Shetterly did a great job bringing these amazing women to life and showing how they helped one another, whether they were there from the beginning or brought in along the way.

What elevates this book even further is its consideration of racism and sexism. Just because NACA was at the forefront of integration does not mean its black workers were treated fairly. There were separate bathrooms and a separate table in the cafeteria. They could work alongside white colleagues but they were still kept in their "place." Each person responded to this differently. And as the times changed, so too did NACA and this was gratifying to see. It also highlighted the disparity with the state of Virginia, which greatly resisted desegregation.

This was also at a time when men didn't believe women's delicate brains could handle tricky mathematics so all women, black and white, started out as computers, even if they had college degrees in math, even though men with the same experience were hired as mathematicians. Women had to prove themselves over and over again and some eventually got to pursue higher degrees and were promoted, though this often depended on which engineer they worked for and how progressive they were.

All of this makes the West Computers' accomplishments that much more impressive. Shetterly effectively used the backdrop of WWII and the Civil Rights Movement within this narrative.

All people deserve to be treated fairly and to have the same rights. What might have happened had NACA delayed integration? Would we still have sent men to the moon? Maybe eventually but Apollo 11's success depended directly on the decision to hire black women to be computers.

The decision to do the right thing shouldn't be based on what we can get out of it. We should speak out against racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and ableism because it's the right thing to do. Because we are better together. Because we have so much to learn from one another.

It's a lesson we need to keep in mind these days.

"It's a story of hope, that even among some of our country's harshest realities- legalized segregation, racial discrimination- there is evidence of the triumph of meritocracy, that each of us should be allowed to rise as far as our talent and hard work can take us.

The greatest encouragement along the way has come from black women...For me, and I believe for many others, the story of the West Computers is so electrifying because it provides evidence of something that we've believed to be true, but that we don't always know how to prove: that many numbers of black women have participated as protagonists in the epic of America." p. 248

I'm so glad Shetterly wrote this book and I'm grateful to the women who were her inspiration. 

 

 

About Margot Lee Shetterly

Margot Lee Shetterly grew up in Hampton, Virginia, where she knew many of the women in Hidden Figures. She is an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow and the recipient of a Virginia Foundation for the Humanities grant for her research on women in computing. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Find out more about Margot at her website and connect with her on Twitter.

 

 

 

Disclosure: I was provided an ARC from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. Affiliate links included in this post.

 

Yesterday marked 7 weeks of living in Minneapolis. It still doesn't feel real. I don't know that it will until I find a full-time job and move into my own place, both of which will hopefully happen soon. There has been a lot to enjoy about living here, even as I desperately miss my friends in San Francisco, especially when they text me pictures of themselves eating my favorite spring rolls or talk about how we should have watched the Gilmore Girls together. It's bittersweet.  

What mixed emotions I have about November. In truth, it's been a hard month but not because I'm figuring out a new city. I am grieving the results of the election. It has been hard not to give into despair but I have to believe- we all must believe- love will trump hate. I'm going to make sure of it.

 

Read and Reading

The fact that I gave All The Ugly And Wonderful Things (Greenwood) 5 stars is all due to the author. It is exceedingly well-written, deft and nuanced, but the empathetic portrayal of a situation that is at first glance unconscionable is what took it to the next level. Wavy is 8 and Kellen a decade or more older when they first meet. They are drawn to one another from the start and while Kellen is aware of how the situation could look from the outside, he is more aware of how Wavy and her brother Donal have no one looking after them. When her mom is in a drug-induced haze, Kellen goes to the parent-teacher conferences and brings groceries. It is a needed and valued role for him to play. Greenwood illustrates the long-ranging effects of child abuse and neglect. When your parents both scar and fail you, you don't know how to relate to other people in a healthy way. Kellen and Wavy were both traumatized by their parents and in some ways, it makes perfect sense that they would recognize a kindred spirit in each other. And yet there's no denying a romantic relationship between them is wrong, especially when Wavy is young. Kellen recognizes this but he also doesn't ultimately rebuff Wavy's advances. This propels the plot along and I had no idea what would happen next or how I should feel about any of it. Part of me was rooting for Kellen and Wavy to find a way to be together once Wavy was older, if indeed she still felt the same way by that point. The other part of me recognized this relationship would never have happened if any of the adults in Wavy's life had intervened at some point, whether it was her parents actually taking an active, healthy role or a teacher speaking up or her aunt and uncle stepping in. Wavy was failed time and again and it is no wonder she developed feelings for the one person who was always there for her. This would be perfect book club fodder.

 

As an Outlander fan, The Winter Sea (Kearsley) was a fascinating precursor to the Jacobite Uprising Gabaldon depicts. I learned so much about the exiled King James, who, from my limited understanding, seemed like he would have been a great king, much better than his great-great-grandson Bonnie Prince Charlie. This is my favorite kind of novel- interweaving a present-day storyline with a historical one- and I loved how Kearsley twisted it by playing with genetic memory, a concept I wasn't familiar with but which took the story in entirely interesting directions. Throw in the love stories between Sophia and John and Carrie and Graham and I was quite the happy camper. I also loved that Carrie was a novelist and that we got to see how her manuscripts come together.

 

I finally finished The Complete Enneagram. Chestnut has her own spin on the Enneagram. I particularly liked how she lists the key beliefs and assumptions for each type and the way she laid out practical applications. She offers one of the most thorough explanations of the instinctual subtypes (self-preservation, social, sexual) that I've come across and while that particular part of the theory has yet to resonate with me, a ton of friends were able to identify their specific type because of this. I had a huge personal breakthrough while reading the chapter on Fours, which should warrant 5 stars in itself. However, I find her explanation of arrows to be confusing and even misleading and would point people toward Riso and Hudson's explanation in The Wisdom of the Enneagram instead. I also didn't like the insets on each type's Greek archetype, though I can see why others will appreciate it. Overall, a solid resource.

 

Elements of Chemistry was another winner from Penny Reid! Kaitlyn and Martin were such complex, delightful characters and I loved every part of their story. I laughed out loud and I teared up. And per usual with a Reid romance, I learned a lot, everything from chemistry to sidekicks. The character growth was spot on. I particularly loved how Kaitlyn learned to stop hiding and start figuring out what she really wanted in life.

 

Big Magic (Gilbert) is a great addition to the creativity canon. The chapters were short and easy to read but also packed a lot worth mulling over. It's not so much that Gilbert presented new information but that she presented it with her unique perspective and passion for creativity. I especially appreciated the chapters that addressed the idea that art must be painful and angsty, as well as how she uses curiosity in her art.

 

I read all 4 books in the Stage Dive series by Kylie Scott. They're all about 250 pages or less so they were a breeze to read and pure enjoyment. New Adult is a hit or miss genre for me but whether it's my love for bad boy rock stars or my appreciation for feisty heroines, Scott makes it work. They made me laugh out loud and a couple made me tear up. Lead (book 3) was my favorite. It had fantastic character growth (be still my heart, Jimmy!) and it made me laugh and cry. The banter was perfect and I loved watching Lena and Jimmy fall for each other. 

 

You can see all the books I've read at Goodreads. My fiction, nonfiction, romance, and YA recommendations, comprised of books with 4 or 5 star ratings, are on Pinterest.

Currently reading: The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (Alexander), Always A Bridesmaid (For Hire) (Glantz), The Art Of Happiness (Dalai Lama), A Mind Of Winter (poetry), The Association Of Small Bombs (Mahajan)

(I read 34 books this month.)

  

TV:

I'll say this about the Gilmore Girls revival:
1. Overall I really enjoyed it! It was like getting together with old friends.
2. Amy Sherman-Palladino better be working on new scripts and have actors locked down in contracts or so help me God.
3. I didn't know it was possible to like Rory even less than I already did. 

 

 

Podcasts:

As a former hospice social worker, I was all about The Town That Loves Death on Planet Money. They profile a hospital with the lowest healthcare spending of any region in the country due to its regular conversations about advance directives. I've heard a lot about this place over the years, especially when everyone was debating the so-called death panels and I'm so glad their methods have proven true. I hope it leads to more organizations talking regularly about last wishes and hosting honest conversations about dying.

This American Life had some required listening this month: Master Of Her Domain...Name, Will I Know Anyone At This Party?

Smartest Person in the Room launched its faith series and it is seriously so good. I haven't stopped thinking about Judaism as a Cultural Identity. 

I absolutely loved Rob Lowe's interview on Off Camera with Sam Jones. I still need to read his second memoir.

 

 

Highlights: 

• Addie and I had lunch at French Meadow Cafe, which is becoming a favorite place to eat.

• This was my 4th year participating in #OneDayHH and it was fun as always. One of the best parts was ending my evening at Kelly's house. Just hanging out in her kitchen like I do.

• Erika Morrison was in town and after years of internet friendship, we finally got to meet! She is such a delight. We had dinner outside on the patio at Hola Arepa and talked a mile a minute and it was perfect.

• My old friend from youth group Katie was in town for work. We hadn't seen each other since at least college but we picked up right where we left off. It was so fun to hear what all she's been up to.

• Kelly and I had lunch at Pizza Luce where I had an incredible Muffuletta sandwich. Is it ever going to get old that we can just hang out whenever we want now?

• This month involved a lot of petsitting: Sammy, Hermione, Foxy, and Abby were good pals. The dogs took me on lots of walks. And now I'm hanging out with Gus the Cat, who is trying to sit in my lap as I type this.

• Annie and I have been watching This Is Us together most weeks. I love sharing a show with a friend.

• I celebrated Thanksgiving the night before at Annie's house and it was so much fun. Her neighbor shared stories from days gone by and there might have been a little singing by the end of the night. Plus: turkey!

• Addie and I watched the last two episodes of Gilmore Girls together while eating loaded french fries and drinking The Rory cocktail she mixed up. I'm so glad we could process all of our feelings together.
• I survived my first snow in Minnesota. I have not missed this.

 

 

Favorite Instagram:

I want to be the kind of person who builds an elf house in my front yard. Such whimsey is to be praised!

(If you want to follow me on Instagram, my user name is leighkramer.)

 

 

 

What I'm Into Link Up Guidelines:

1. Today’s link-up will stay open for one week. The next What I'm Into link up will be Monday January 2.  

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3. Please include the What I'm Into button or mention you're linking up with What I'm Into at Leigh Kramer.

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What have you been into this month? 

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