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Our Spring Reading List, 2019

April 26, 2019 by Joy the Baker 27 Comments

Hello my friends!

I’m back atcha with another reading list!  I always have a book in my big purse these days in an effort to spend less time on my phone when I find myself with a few minutes.  It totally works.  If you’ve got a good read, it trumps Instagram by a mile. 

This spring reading list holds a few books I’ve read, a handful I’m looking forward to hauling around and reading, a few that you resoundingly suggested, and some old classics for good measure.  We’re in between beach-read and bathtub-read season so some of these books are thrillers (I love a scary book at the beach!), and some are lady memoirs (perfect inspiration for a nighttime bath).  

I hope you find a page turner on the list below.  After each title there is a link to buy the book on amazon or one of my favorite independent bookstores across the country.  

•  I’m really loving these thoughtful and honest essays in I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott (Amazon or Parnassus) 

•  There is always time to have our very bones shifted by Toni Morrison.  The Source of Self-Regard by Toni Morrison (Amazon or Garden District Bookstore) 

•  The long and epic classic that I’m on my fourth read with:  East of Eden by John Steinbeck. It’s so deeply beautiful.  (Amazon or Book People) 

•  A moving high school read that I picked up in a Little Free Library a few weeks ago and read in almost one sitting in an increasingly chilly bath: The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien  (Amazon or City Stacks) 

•  Your resounding internet recommendation is Where The Crawdad’s Sing by Delia Owens. At least 14 of you shouted this book into my DMs and thank you!  (Amazon or Pages Bookshop) 

•  I can’t wait to read Florida by Lauren Groff because I loved Fates and Furies so so much. (Amazon or Elliott Bay Bookstore) 

•  No question, we all have to read Educated: a memoir by Tara Westover (Amazon or Book People) 

•  In the genre of famous lady memoirs we have:

I Might Regret This  by Abbi Jacobson (Amazon or Unabridged Bookstore)

This Will Only Hurt A Little by Busy Phillips (Amazon or City Stacks)

•  I heard Ruth read from her new memoir at Cherry Bombe Jubilee and it sounds like such a treat, but every piece of writing from Ruth is.  Save Me The Plums by Ruth Reichl (Amazon or Greenlight Bookstore) 

•  A twisty suspense.  I love to read thrillers at the beach especially. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell (Amazon or Powell’s) 

•  Need an intense book based on real events?  Women Talking by Miriam Towes (Amazon or Parnassus)

•  Set in 1974 Alaska, this family saga feels important:  The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (Amazon or Greenlight Bookstore) 

•  A guilty pleasure I in no way feel guilty about:  all Nora Roberts books.  Let’s go ahead and read them all starting with Angels Fall.  (Amazon or Powell’s)

My love to you and happy reading!

xo Joy

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  1. Christy

    May 7, 2019 at 9:25 am

    Joy,
    Thanks for the reading list..I haven’t read (but have queued up) Educated and How to walk away by Katherine Center. I have read The Great Alone, and in my humble opinion, didn’t live up to the hype…but that’s my opinion…Also, Nora Roberts..nuff said! Have a great day!
    Regards,
    Christy

    Reply
  2. Sara

    April 30, 2019 at 7:22 am

    I just started Sourdough by Robin Sloan last night and I’m already 30% done! It’s wonderful. :)

    Reply
  3. Jillian

    April 29, 2019 at 9:09 pm

    Thank you for this! I finally realized how crucial reading is to my self-care, and how terribly I’ve missed it in the 18 months I’ve been a mom. Hoping to carve out a solo hour each weekend to read, and very grateful for these recommendations! I’m return, I highly recommend Random Family by Adrien Nicole LeBlanc. I’ve read it countless times and it never fails to challenge, educate, and transport me into the story it tells.

    Reply
  4. Elin

    April 29, 2019 at 3:42 pm

    I also try to keep a book in my purse instead of looking at my phone, it’s a great thing. Thank you for sharing this list!
    Elin / bakingandbeautybyelin.com

    Reply
  5. Frankie

    April 29, 2019 at 11:02 am

    I haven’t read Women Talking yet (it’s on my nightstand) but I hear it’s upsetting and excellent. Miriam is a fantastic Canadian writer with a catalogue of novels that are all moving (All My Puny Sorrows) and often hilarious (The Flying Troutmans). Read her. She’s a treasure!

    Reply
  6. Jessica

    April 26, 2019 at 7:28 pm

    I read The Things They Carried many years ago in college and remember it being so incredibly good. I’m thinking I should pull it off my bookshelf and re-read. Thanks for sharing your list with us!

    Reply
  7. Graham Campbell

    April 26, 2019 at 6:49 pm

    Nice to find your column today. Reminder to read more.
    Thanks Joy

    Reply
  8. Katie

    April 26, 2019 at 5:19 pm

    Going off of your shelfie, I just had to comment on the fact that you have both “As Always, Julia” and “Sourdough” on your shelf. They are vastly different, and yet so good :)

    Reply
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