Despite my TBR list being a few miles long, I’m always on the hunt for book recommendations. Recently, I found this feature on the NYPL website where you fill out a small questionnaire and a librarian will respond with 3 book recommendations within 3 business days. P.S. I got mine back within the hour when I submitted during the week.
c/o New York Public Library
I asked for books with complex and well-written characters and I chose Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi as a book I recently enjoyed. Here are the recommendations I received:
I love books. My dream job is being paid to read. On the other hand I have such ADD, which seriously inhibits my ability to conquer my To Be Read List.
I’m typically a library gal because of my lack of money and space, so those 3 weeks to finish a book often turns into my very own version of The Amazing Race. The upside to the sad state of affairs in this world, is that I barely watch TV anymore, so this month I plan to make a commitment to read more. Here are my picks for October. .
Jennifer Egan is such a talented writer. She can weave a narrative like nobody’s business. She won the Pulitzer Prize for her last novel, A Visit from the Goon Squad, which is one of the most unique, well-written, and moving books I’ve ever read. Manhattan Beach is more of an historical novel set in Brooklyn during the Depression through World War II, complete with organized crime, sailors, and a young woman trying to find her way in a man’s world.
Okay, this is a photography/humor book, but I am obsessed with Laura and her daughter, Joey, ever since she dressed her up as Eleven from Stranger Things. This book features all of the characters Laura dressed Joey up as during her naps this past year. I religiously follow her on Instagram @lauraiz, and sadly for me it’s the highlight of my day. I love watching Joey grow up, and look forward to seeing what costumes Laura will come up with next.
It is an understatement to say this past year has been beyond horrific. I never thought I would see a sex offender in the White House, a revival of white supremacy, or have to worry about a nuclear holocaust. The one good thing that came out of this for me and many others has been becoming more politically and socially engaged with what’s happening in our country. I am really interested to see how Coates breaks down the events that led to this point in history, and hopefully this will help us begin to heal as a nation.
Let’s see if I can read them all this month! I am confident I can do it! Happy Reading!
Here's to the Late Bloomers 