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Our Winter Reading List

January 8, 2016 by Joy the Baker 54 Comments

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Hello, friends!  

Let’s talk about books.  

Winter reading is different from warm-weather Summertime reading.  Winter reading involves slippers, a hoodie jacket pulled well over our heads, and hopefully a hot toddy.  Winter words don’t flit about on beaches during Summer vacation.  I like a little more weight to the books I read in the cold weather, some thing that will match the heavy wool blanket I keep on my bed; the one that’s comforting despite how dang itchy it is.  

Here are some reads for our Winter-selves.  Aren’t you glad the holidays over so we can be regular people who flop on the couch with books instead of… running around not doing that? 

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff  •   The twisty, uncomfortable, intimate, and beautiful story of a marriage. I’ve read this and it hurts so good.  It’s beautifully written.  

Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein  •  From Sleater-Kinney and Portlandia, tell us how you happened, Carrie. 

We Are Water by Wally Lamb  •  It would be fair to say that everything Mr Lamb writes is worth reading.  He writes very well about resilience.  See also:  She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb  •  Remember how engrossing this was? 

No One Else Can Have You by Kathleen Hale  •  Let’s throw in some young adult, murder mystery fiction.

It’s What I Do: A photographers life of love and war by Lynsey Addario  •   A female conflict photographer’s life. I’m reading this now and it’s amazing!  I can’t put it down.  Let’s choose our lives and live them all the way.  

The First Bad Man by Miranda July  •  Miranda July and Carrie Browstein occupy the same space in my brain, but the way Miranda July tells the story of her characters makes me laugh and breaks my heart.  

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi  •  A brand new book.  A man goes from doctor to patient and explores what makes a meaningful life.  Life and cancer and other easy topics.  

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith  •  Let’s read a love story.  

A Movable Feast by Ernest Hemingway  •  Hemingway invites us to 1920’s Paris where we can be broke, beautiful, and in the best company.

I hope you find something cozy to read.  What’s on your reading list that I should know about?  

xo Joy

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  1. Amy

    February 2, 2016 at 9:32 am

    I am late to the game on commenting, but I devoured Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl over the holidays. Highly recommend.

    Reply
  2. Bip

    January 26, 2016 at 6:34 pm

    You have to read Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson. Hysterical…loved this book – laugh out loud.

    Reply
  3. Rebecca

    January 24, 2016 at 8:09 pm

    Thanks for the ideas! Looking forward to snuggling up with some of these.

    Reply
  4. Jessica

    January 24, 2016 at 2:26 pm

    Always love the book posts and the comments. I’ve gotten quite a few good reads off of past posts. Many of these are already on my list, so glad to know that many others have enjoyed them!
    In the similar vein of When Breath Becomes Air, I recommend Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. It’s about medicine and care at the end of life – a subject most don’t want to discuss as it is definitely not a happy one. But this is a very well written book about it. After several years of working with patients in long term care facilities, assisted living facilities and hospice, this is a book I wish more people would read before they are put in these stressful and emotional situations.

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      January 24, 2016 at 3:48 pm

      thank you for sharing this!

      Reply
  5. Alexis

    January 14, 2016 at 12:17 am

    It’s What I Do was by far the best book I read last year in a year of many great reads. Lindsay Addario had me hooked when I heard her on Fresh Air and once I started reading it, I could not put it down. Enjoy.

    Reply
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