Books and Podcasts
2021 Recommendations
November's Recommendations
Book: The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
This one of the few books that earned a 5 star rating from me. I was actually surprised how much I liked this book! Usually I gravitate towards more romance or psychological thrillers for fun, exciting reads, but this historical fiction piece was so good. This novel follows the lives of 5 women who take up the job of starting the first traveling library in rural Kentucky. Based around historical facts, this novel covers the lives and expectations of women during that time, the complicated relationships between friends, and also how important this job was during this time period. I also enjoyed this book having gone to college in Kentucky. It was fun being able to recognize places I had heard about or visited!
Book: The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
This is the second novel by the famed Silent Patient author and it did not disappoint. While I did not give it the 5 stars I gave the Silent Patient, it still kept me guessing and had me on the edge of my seat. The novel is written almost as a spy/investigation/who done it novel as you follow the weird study group, the Maidens, and try to find the killer for each one of these girls. In true Michaelides form, everything is connected and all will reveal itself in the end.
October's Recommendations
Book: The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
Another month and another international fiction pick! The Henna Artist tells the story of a young woman who escapes an abusive marriage when she is just 17, and flees to the city of Jaipur. Lakshmi starts her journey as a young bride, but quickly learns about some of the horrid truths that exist in arranged marriages and is left with no other choice but to leave.
As she works to establish herself in a new city, Lakshmi takes the job as a henna artist for the city's most wealthy women. In doing so, she is privy to all of their secrets, but also has to tread lightly, avoiding the jealous gossip from the women. However, all of that is put at risk when her former husband tracks her down in her new city...
Podcast: Murdaugh Murders
This podcast is still being updated as new information gets released (like the most recent arrest of Alex Murdaugh), but with each update, the story gets juicier and juicier. It took me a minute to transition from the voice of Ashley Flowers on Crime Junkie to Mandy Matney, but I so appreciate her research and the facts that she brings to each episode (disclaimer: it seems like each episode there is a few minutes of her addressing some of the haters or making excuses for why it has been so long in between episodes, but I usually just skip ahead).
This podcast covers that entangled lives of the Murdaugh family, starting with the boat crash that started it all. Mandy Matney covers the entire history of the Murdaugh's and how their family has ruled over this small town in South Carolina for years. Murders that they are connected to include a young girl in the boat crash, Stephen Smith, their former nanny, and probably many more. Talk about family drama!
September's Recommendations
I am not usually big on historical fiction but I am big on international fiction...these two books are some of my favorite international reads from this past year. I know there has been a bit of controversy for American Dirt, but I love the story.
Book: Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
After the death of her grandmother, Marisol Ferrera travels to Havana, Cuba where she discovers a family secret that has been hidden since the revolution. This novel bounces back and forth between the present, 2014, and the past, 1958, as it follows both Marisol's life and her grandmother's life as she was growing up during the revolution. Both women are faced with a forbidden love and also the almost impossible task of navigating life during a revolution.
What I loved most about this novel was how beautifully intertwined both stories of Marisol and her grandmother were. The author moved back and forth seamlessly between the two, painting a picture of what pre, during, and post revolutionary life in Cuba looked like.
Book: American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
This novel reminded me of the short story by Flannery O'Connor, "The Barber", which if you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. It poses the age of old question of morality and are humans innately good or innately evil.
Lydia Perez owns a book store in the Mexican city of Acapulco. While she stocks the popular novels and magazines, she also has a small section of books that she likes. One day, a man walks in and buys a book from that section, which starts many conversations about life, love, and literature. However, when Lydia finds out that this man is the new leader of the city's deadliest gang, she is forced to leave the city with her son, which starts her long and tumultuous journey to America.
August Recommendations
Book: You Think It, I'll Say It
This book was one of my favorites to read over the summer. Think Chicken Soup for the Soul, but better. This novel is a collection of 10 different short stories that focus around judgement, guilt, competitiveness, motherhood, and so much more. Each character was totally relatable in so many ways, and I found myself continuing on to the next story, hungry for more. My favorite short story from the group was "The Prairie Wife" which was about a woman who obsessively read the blog of another woman who she use to be friends with. It could have been that there are so many similarities between that world and the world we see on social media, but I absolutely loved the main character in that one. This is such an easy read that will keep you entertained through the entire book.
Book: Whisper Network
This novel is a total girlfriend's novel! I totally felt like I was part of the group and could relate to so many of the situations discussed in this book. The Whisper Network follows a group of women who are all friends and work at a law firm. They are lawyers, mothers, some married, some single, but all focused on their career and what it takes as a woman to rise to the top in a male dominated practice. It opens with the death of a man who works at their firm, and then flashes back to events that took place leading up to his death. While it is focuses on the mystery of who pushed Ames, the situations discussed leading up to the death are things that so many women have had to endure.
July's Recommedations
Book: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
In this story, Evelyn Hugo tells her life story to writer Monique Grant and includes everything from her rise to fame in the 1950s, her decision to leave the industry in the 1980s, and her seven husbands. Through this journey, the reader also gets to hear about her ruthless ambition, forbidden love, and the lengths she had to go to keep control of her own career. You also learn about Monique's life and her struggles as well and you won't believe how these two are connected...
Bonus Book: Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This is another historical fiction piece and another great choice from this author! This novel covers the rise and fall of the iconic rock band from the 1970s and their beautiful but at times self-destructive lead singer, Daisy Jones. It is written in an interview style and you can really hear the voices of everyone involved in the band and you learn about why they ultimately broke up. Reading this, I felt like I was living the rock and roll life! It is definitely sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll.
Podcast: Limetown
Ok, I may be partial to this because it takes place in my home state and the writer of this podcast went to high school with my husband 😁, but hear me out. This is a good one! Season one is 6 episodes long and tells the story about a town where just a few years ago, over 300 men, women, and children disappeared and were never heard from again. In each episode, the narrator tries to uncover what happened to the people and what is still going on in this town. I would classify this as science fiction but also investigative. This is a great season to binge on a long trip because each episode keeps you coming back for more!
Side note: I was not as big of a fan of season 2 but I did love the latest release from this writer called Shipworm which is a feature-length one-off audio movie.
June's Recommendations
Book: The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister
In an effort to save memories from the past, Emmeline's father has created a machine that preserves scents. She isn't too sure about her past, but what she does know is the island she grew up on, the love from her father, and all of the scent jars in their home. However, when her father dies, she is forced off her island and into civilization. This novel was unlike any I had ever read before and the concept is so interesting: what do certain scents remind you of?
Bonus Book: Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
From the author who also wrote Little Fires Everywhere, comes another coming-of-age tale about a Chinese American family set in the 1970s. The book opens with the death of a young girl, Lydia, and then follows the story of what happens after. The novel follows the thoughts and emotions of the family and the individual members as they each deal with trying to figure out what happened and why. I loved the book for the realistic characters and the family dynamic we came to love in her previous novel.
Podcast: Dr. Death by Wondery
This podcast was my first experience with a true-crime podcast and I was floored when I heard this story. I still can't believe that this surgeon was allowed to continue to practice after all of the things you hear about in the podcast. This story follows the career of Dr. Christopher Duntsch and the blind trust we often put in our health care providers. I just saw that there is now a season 2 so I will be tuning in for sure on our next road trip!
May's Recommendations
Book: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Coming in hot with my second top book pick from 2020. This book is so different from all other books I have ever read, and I could not put it down! Normally I like a little bit of romance and I am not really into fantasy, but there is something about the way Erin writes that just captivates you as a reader. This novel is about two magicians who make a bet with each other that they can each produce a superior magician. The catch: the bet could span hundreds of years and the challenge could last even longer. But it is when the circus arrives, without any warning, that the patrons are treated with sights and sounds that are beyond the human imagination. This novel tells the story of two young magicians, one willing and one still learning, and how they navigate this life they did not choose for themselves.
Podcast: Nice White Parents
If you are a Serial fan and into education and school reform then you will both love and hate this podcast. I love it because it is so interesting and had me captivated through the 6 episode series. I hated it because I continue to be surprised about how much politics play into education and education reform (even though I really shouldn't be at this point). This series follows a specific school and a group of white parents in their crusade to bring a language program to a public school, but, in my opinion, for all of the wrong reasons. In education, everyone wants what is best for their children, but the question the audience is left with is who gets to decide what that looks like?
April's Recommendations
Book: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
This month's book pick was my #1 book recommendation from last year and it is truly a must-read. If you like psychological thrillers with a twist at the end, this book is truly for you. As a former English teacher, I am usually pretty good at predicting the twists and endings, but I never saw this one coming.
This novel is about two people" a woman whose husband is brutally killed, and her psychologist at the mental hospital. Each other them share moments together but we also get to see their own stories and relive everything that happened up until the murder. Just when you think you have it figured out...the plot twist of all plot twists happens!
If you are looking for a podcast that is also about a murder then try out S-Town. This is about a reporter who gets a call from a man in S-town, Alabama who claims there have been several murders in his town but all have been covered up by the police! The reporter goes down to this town to investigate and finds out there is way more to the story. This was borderline true crime and comedy because of the colorful main character. I was intrigued and laughing the entire time we listened to it.
March's Recommendations
I stumbled across Bunga Bunga while I was cruising through the top-rated podcasts on Apple Podcasts when I stumbled on this one and it did not disappoint. Yes, the name is super weird, but the narrators are hilarious, and for me, the narrator can either make or break a podcast (shout out to Ashley Flowers, the queen on podcasts).
This one is about the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, and all of the CRAZY things he did while he was in charge. We are talking hookers, a sex mansion, and total rights over television and radio in the country. It is a mix of history and drama and the first episode sets the scene perfectly. Honestly though, has Wondery Media ever led you astray with their podcasts?!
February's Recommendations
Book: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
This is a story about a young girl who is forced to move to a remote, small town in Alaska with her parents. Her dad struggles with some serious PTSD from serving in the Vietnam War, and the mom struggles from being blinded by love. This story spans the girl's life and takes the reader through love and heartache. I was honestly surprised by some of the events and kept turning the pare to find out what happened next.
Bonus Book Rec: Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
This novel was a Reese Witherspoon book club pick and did not disappoint. This is also a coming of age story but in a totally different way. The story follows a few years of a college student's life as she learns about the realities of the people she thinks she knows and the world she is living in. In the beginning, the narrator takes the job as a nanny to a white family and begins dating a white boy, only to find out that her new boyfriend use to date her new employer. Talk about awkward! This was a great story and definitely brings up some questions on how we view race and equality.
January's Recommendations
This month for the book pick, you get 5 in 1! I started this Jasmine Guillory series and read all of these in under two weeks. You definitely need to read them in order, so make sure you check out the link first so you don't go out of order! One of the things that I loved about this series was that they feature bi-racial couples. While the books don't dive too deep into these issues, it is nice to see other narrators and characters take center stage. Definitely file these under good rom-com beach reads.
Podcast: Dying For Sex, Season 1
Ok, so this season had me laughing and crying throughout and made me feel like I was just one of the girls in the studio with the narrators. This season tells the story of two best friends, one who has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. She decides to leave her husband and explore her more sexual side. They talk about online dating, weird fetishes, and the most hilarious first dates. I will say the second season was not my favorite, but I would 10.10 recommend the first one!
