I read my first Dr. Seuss book cover to cover before my fourth birthday, and have been escaping into stories ever since. It’s my surefire way to shut out the world – my version of meditation. There’s nothing more therapeutic than curling up with a hot cup of tea (ok, more likely a glass of wine), and listening to a story from someone else’s perspective.
“The more you read, the more things you know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss
Lately, I’ve had a lot of blog followers and friends ask me for recommendations, so here are a few of my favourites depending on what genre you’re craving at the moment.
FICTION:
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll
This is hands down my favourite book of all time. It’s sheer, classic literature that paints images even more vivid that Tim Burton’s film adaptation nearly 150 years later! Or, maybe I’ve just always related to Alice a little too well.
Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
I could recommend any of Vonnegut’s work, but Slaughterhouse represents everything I love about the voice of his books: satire, quirkiness and an element of what-the-ef-is-going-on? He has a way of taking familiar ideas and turning them upside down to give you a fresh perspective from the ground up.
Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn
Of all of the pop culture lit out there right now, this one actually constitutes literature. It’s smart, it’s fast paced, and the plot twists really do a number on your head over and over again. Flynn, also wrote the movie’s screenplay, so it keeps the full integrity of the book. If you’ve already seen the movie, you might find it a bit less of a page turner than I did pre-movie-viewing – but the ending will give you one more twist!
TRUE CRIME:
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a sucker for cheesy, fictional crime novels like James Patterson’s, but lately I’ve read a couple of real life crime stories that seemed to terrify me in that can’t-look-away-from-the-car-crash type way.
The Monster of Florence, by Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi
This story is told from the perspective of American author, Douglas Preston, who was asked by Italian journalist, Mario Spezi, to help him write this book. It’s the case of a serial killer Spezi had covered in Florence over the course of multiple decades. The killer’s targets? Young couples “getting acquainted” in cars in the beautiful Italian hillsides. This story incorporates religious red tape, mafia, police corruption and death threats to the journalist. Absolutely chilling when you remind yourself this is a true, brutal story.
The People Who Eat Darkness, by Richard Lloyd Parry
The full title of this book is The People Who Eat Darkness: The True Story of a Young Woman Who Vanished from the Streets of Tokyo – and the Evil That Swallowed Her Up. And yeah, that basically sums it up. As a pretty trusting girl who tends to travel alone, this shook me a bit.
HUMOUROUS NON-FICTION
Nice Is Just A Place In France, by The Betches
This book is the laugh out loud kind of funny. If you know me, you know my love for the Betches, and their quick, simplistic wit. This guide-to-life has all the info a girl needs to get by with doing the least amount of work possible, and offers advice like “Keep your legs closed and you, too, can rule the world.” You’ll read it in three very entertaining hours.
Bossypants, by Tina Fey
Fey is my hero in life, so I have to include her blunt, occasionally self-deprecating autobiography. Anyone from SNL has my heart, but as one of the first women to really break the mold for comedy, her outlook of simple feminism is so obvious you won’t feel the need to burn your bra… it’s more like, “Yeah, I have a vagina but now I’m going to make you pee your pants with laughter.”
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), by Mindy Kaling
Another comedy favourite, Kaling allows a clean-cut, over-achiever from an upper-middle class home find comedy in the every day. She’s incredibly easy to relate to as she addresses everything from her insecurities to achievements. Also, if you read this in public, be prepared for people looking at you while you laugh to yourself.
NON-FICTION
#Girlboss, by Sophia Amoruso
YOU. MUST. READ. THIS. BOOK. Amoruso’s story of how she came to be CEO of Nasty Gal, puts great perspective into any ambitious woman through her own realistic and profound revelations like “you are not a special snowflake”.
Queen Bees and Wannabes, by Rosalind Wiseman
In this psychological read, Wiseman identifies the strange world of teenaged girls – their hierarchy, the games, the drama and how to guide them through this tough time. You might recognize this title, as it’s the book that Tina Fey adapted into the cult classic movie Mean Girls. Of course, I would highly recommend this read to any women who have daughters or work with girls this age, but, this book is a great look into the mentality and games many women unfortunately don’t leave behind.
The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz
This should be required reading for life. If you haven’t read it, buy it now, read it every other month until you die. Words to live by.
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