You know what I like about us? I like that we read together. This summer we put together a Summer Reading List. It was super satisfying. I asked you what you were reading on Twitter, and you filled my life with new titles and old classics. I totally appreciate your point of view.
It’s a new season, and it’s time to pull out a new stack of books. Here’s a peek at what I’m reading and what I’m cooking from this Fall. Some are new. Some are old. All of them feel like that super worn in sweater that you wear despite its smell… or maybe that’s just me.
Letters To My Daughter by Maya Angelou. Maya is one of the best voices of our time. Her story, and her willingness to be so open, so vulnerable, and so imperfect, poetic, and uplifting is everything we need to hear. Everything.
The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri. Her words just bleed with this depth of story, and passion, and knowing. I’m in the middle of The Lowland now and I’m reading slowly because I never want it to end. I get so attached to her characters it’s hard to say goodbye.
A Million Little Ways by Emily Freeman. I love when books invite me to look at my life and creativity differently. This is that book!
The Mac and Cheese Cookbook by Allison Arevalo and Erin Wade. It’s cold and I want cheese. This cookbook is all about comfort as evidenced my Mac and Cheese + Minty Peas.
Tender by Nigel Slater. If you’ve never read a Nigel Slater, it’s like you’ve never fallen in love with a process. Nigel’s recipes appear in paragraph form, and read like a ode to the kitchen. It’s a very grounding vacation from the kitchen game.
Good Meat by Deborah Krasner. I pull this book out every Fall and make meat. I just do. It’s a dictionary of meaty guidance. Let it happen. This book is great for a carnivore’s housewarming present. FYI.
The New Complete Cook of Pasta by Maria Luisa Scott. You might have to find this book used, but it’s so worth it! So much pasta. So much classic and peculiar pasta. I could drown, in the best/most pasta-y way possible.
The French Market Cookbook by Clotilde Dusoulier. Take me away! Take me to your French Market, and fresh kitchen. Thank you.
And and and! One of my favorite authors EVER EVER has a new book out! Wally Lamb wrote us We Are Water. I’m diving right on in. If you have not yet been funny destroyed by I Know This Much Is True, perhaps start there.
There are some good reads that come directly to my email inbox. They keep me pithy and informed. I’ve told you about The Skimm before. It’s totally reliable, totally informed, real/not Kardashian news. Sign up and every morning you can read about the what’s going on in the world while you check email in bed. I also super love Next Draft, which is basically a distilation of the days most interesting news. With Next Draft I get to read about my age measured in altered DNA, and what it’s like when a grown woman wears Axe body spray for an entire week. I mean…
denise kelley
Try “The Last Banquet” by Jonathan Grimwood. It’s all about his ultimate search for the ultimate flavor. It’s brilliantly told, edgy, moving, completely satisfying.
Cate
Gonna add these to the wish list, thanks for sharing, x
Becky
Finished The Lowland in 6 hours. Was so captivated, could just not stop reading. Subtle and beautiful, just like all of Jhumpa Lahiri’s other books. T
But The Namesake still remains my favorite :)
Jen
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home. Obsessed.
Laura
Start with Wally’s “She’s Come Undone”!
jo
Books are my love, after my 2 teen-age boys..of which one is dipping into the grooming products.. Axe. I must admit, one can’t be neutral when it comes to whatever they stuck in there.
Koa
How have I missed your book lists before? I thought I was a super fan and now to find books, ah, books about emotions and cheese and trashy websites. Love your site soooo much. I mean, I might love you, but I’d never admit it in public like this. ha.
Amelia
Wally Lamb is my all-time favorite too! I’m re-reading She’s Come Undone for the 270th (estimate) time!
kitchen afternoon
Slater’s books are also very very pretty – try Fresh next!
Nica
Glad to discover a nice blog that does not show fashion.
The street style blogs overkill was getting at me ; so glad I grubbed a little deeper into the blogosphere and discovered blogs that are inspirational and show us beautiful pictures too.
Just like yours.
You’ve got a new follower ; looking forward to upcoming posts.
Nica
http://seeyouatnine.blogspot.com
Jen
A friend of mine JUST recommended A Million Little Ways to me. It must be a sign! …That I need to read it with some browned butter blueberry muffins. ;)
joythebaker
you must you must!
Haley
Working my way through all three of Gillian Flynn’s novels. SO good. I highly recommend them!
Linda
I’m always looking for good books to read. You might want to give Stephen King’s new one a peek. My book club enjoyed it and it stimulated good discussion .
Cara
I know I already commented on Facebook but I can’t be stopped! The Mast Brothers, who own the real-life grown-up (Brooklyn) version of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory just came out with a cookbook and it’s so beautiful I want to eat the actual book. Also just picked up a novel called “The Night Guest” by Fiona McFarlane and so far it’s creepy and mysterious and totally awesome. Okay I swear I’ll stop now.
Alana
Since it’s Thanksgiving, I’m always looking for blogs that will give me plenty of ideas. My friend just told me about “Cooking With Mr. C.” on Facebook (also a blog). I just “Liked” his page. He dedicates November for all Thanksgiving ideas. I was hoping I may find some things on your blog this season too. Alana
dixya| food, pleasure, and health
I have always enjoyed your book recommendations – will be looking out for some soon. Thanks :)
Kristin
Thank you for combining two of my favorite things in your blog: cooking and reading!
jaime @ asweetroad
I’m always looking for new books to read, thanks!
Gretchen
I love when you do these reading lists, Joy, it feels like a big internet book club. Do you ever read the blog Yummy-Books? I forget the blogger’s name (senior moment!) but she writes about food scenes from books, and also gives book recommendations, I think you would like it. I can’t believe there is a whole book on macaroni and cheese. Keep up the great work.
God Bless,
Gretchen.
Maddy
Signed up for The Skimm, thanks for the rec! :)
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan
I adore these posts, thanks Joy!
Robyn
Will def check out a couple if those mentioned- firstly the Wally lamb novel. I just finished 1913 which was a favorite read in quite some time- written by florian illies. I’m enjoying ‘ let’s explore diabetes with owls’ ( as kooky as it sounds!) by David sedaris
UnicornWrangler
I’m finally catching up with my summer reading list (whoops) thanks to an Amazon gift card birthday present — I recently finished “The Shining Girls” by Lauren Beukes (so creepy… so engrossing) and am now devouring “The Flamethrowers” by Rachel Kushner. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a strong female lead… Thanks for reading inspiration!
Jessica Bell
I have been in a rut of what to read next. This definitely helps me out :) thank you!!
Amie
I am devouring The Dark Tower series by Steven King. Then I may move on to some more contemporary books. I haven’t explored outside of my usual fantasy realm in awhile. It will be nice to take a break from Martin, Jordan, Sanderson, and McCaffrey.
Diana
What great suggestions! I’ve been meaning to read something by Wally Lamb, and this definitely convinced me to go for it!
Some of my favorites from the past few months: Tell the Wolves I’m Home (Carol Rifka Brunt), Me Before You (JoJo Moyes), and Where’d You Go, Bernadette (Maria Semple). I’m also working my way through The Girl Who Fell From the Sky (Heidi Durrow), which so far is fantastic.
joythebaker
these are such great suggestions!!
Leigh Kramer
I adore Wally Lamb and can’t wait to read his new one. He’s actually going to be speaking in town soon and I’m hoping I can finagle a way to go see him.
If you want a fun, unexpected read, try The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. His Thursday Next series is a must for any lovers of literature.
Amina | PAPER/PLATES
Love the list, Joy! If you liked “Letters to my Daughter,” you may also enjoy Maya Angelou’s newest book, in which she explores her relationship with her mother, Mom & Me & Mom. Coincidentally, I just posted a review of this on my blog this week: http://www.paperplatesblog.com/2013/10/21/maya-angelous-mom-mom-whole-wheat-muffins/#.UmkcHpSxM1A
[Bonus: We included a recipe for whole-wheat muffins to go with it!]
joythebaker
I just ordered that book, too! Thanks for the review!
Amina | PAPER/PLATES
My pleasure!
Melissa
I love when you post reading list! It always leads me to wonderful new books and its cool to see what other people are in to reading.
Betsy
Two excellent and edgy novels I’ve devoured of late are “The Dinner” by Herman Koch and “Miss Peregrin’s School For Peculiar Children” by a ransom Riggs. I also enjoy the Chocolate trilogy by Joanne Harris. Yes people, the story didn’t end with Chocolate! Sensory delights and enchanting characters continue on in two other very different works, “The Girl With No Shadow” and “Peaches For Father Frances”. Good books to curl up with!
Candice @ The Savory and The Beautiful
Joy, thank you for putting me onto The Skimm, I love it! By the way, Happy It’s-almost-the-weekend!
Xoxo
Candice
Diné
I also love Wally Lamb! Thank you for the recommendations :)
Emma @ Poires au Chocolat
Thanks for the suggestions! I’ve just finished The Siege of Krishnapur by J G Farrell, which was excellent.
Audrey J.
There’s a French Market at my doorstep 5 days a week (yes, in France…) You should come for a visit and compare with what they’re saying in the book! :)
Patty
Just finished “Me Before You” by Jojo Moyes. Kinda a chick book but LOVED IT,,
joythebaker
i’m not too proud to read a chick book.
Amina | PAPER/PLATES
Another awesome book! Gotta say, Joy, you and your other readers have excellent taste.
mallory
All of these look so great! Can’t wait to dive in to some of these reads with you! :)
Amy
My reading list has spilled off a page in my notebook and the stacks and piles and haphazard mounds have taken over every spare inch of my bedroom! And I can’t help but keep buying more…
Currently I am reading ‘Life After Life’ by Kate Atkinson – it is so fantastic that I keep reading until I fall asleep slumped over the page!
I also recently devoured ‘Snow Child’ by Eowyn Ivey, and I am thumbing through ‘What Katie Ate’, ‘Plenty’, and ‘Sprouted Kitchen’ to get some seasonal recipe ideas for our burgeoning summer produce.
Happy reading!
Sally - My Custard Pie
I like that you’ve mixed the cookery books and fiction together – just reading. Exactly as it should be – and recognised by all of us who snuggle up in bed with a good cookery book :) Great range of titles.
Alana - Paper Planes
I love how you have the books themselves and not on a Kindle/iPad!!
cindy
I’m currently re-reading The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson and next up I’ll be reading some Alice Munro b/c I love her and when I heard she won the nobel prize, I literally clapped.
I read She’s Come Undone and I Know This Much is True when I was in high school and both were definitely those kind of books that rocked me and made me think of them for weeks after I was finished. I will definitely check out We Are Water…thanks for the great recs!
meg
Thank you for the list! You have excellent taste….I will be looking for some of these soon :)
Mallory @ Because I Like Chocolate
Thanks for all of the suggestions! I need to take some time for leisurely reading, I have been too caught up in scholarly reading with school lately!
Shobelyn
It is weird because I was just thinking of book lists that I wanna read about and then I accidentally opened your site ( through Saveur) thanks for the list. i looking at Maya Angelou’s.
Alisha
Oh I LOVE Wally Lamb! I’ve been so busy reading other books lately (I work in publishing, so hard to keep up!) that I had no idea he has another out. Yay!