M. Suzanne Terry

I am skeptical about self-help books. I want to know the author’s credentials (formal or experiential) before I commit to taking what they have to say seriously. But credentials are not enough. If, at any point, I get the sense that the author is trying too hard to make a point or wrap something up in a neat, little trite bow, it’s hard for them to get my attention back. I will DNF* a book meant to advise or inspire me faster than any other type of book if I am the least bit dissatisfied with it. Or worse, I will finish it out of spite just so I can rant about how bad it is on the internet.

Sloppy advice books are the Twilight saga of nonfiction.

But when the writers get it right, these books become some of my favorites. I 5-star them on Goodreads, give them away as gifts, and recommend them with reckless abandon. Here are the first five that come to mind.

1. Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes – I didn’t expect to like this one as much as I did. I thought it would be a fun weekend read from the person who writes some of my favorite TV dialogue. But I hadn’t even finished the first chapter before I was reaching for my notes journal and scribbling down all the lessons I was learning. If you feel stuck and suspect it may be nerves or fear holding you back, this is just the kick in the pants you need.
2. The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp – Speaking of kick in the pants, this is one of the best books I’ve ever read to get out of creative slump. Tharp’s main art is dance, but the principles in this book can easily be applied to any creative pursuit. Highly recommend to artists of any kind.
3. Burnout by Amelia Nagoski and Emily Nagoski – In all my therapy sessions, not once have I ever been taught how to complete a biological stress cycle. Or – that’s not completely true. I have been given good advice on things I can do to relieve stress, but this book breaks down why it works and what to do when it doesn’t. Reading this book cut the occurrence of my panic attacks in half because I learned how to identify the signs that lead up to them so I can head some of them off at the pass. Eternally grateful.
4. Quiet by Susan Cain – I apparently have not marked this one as read or rated it on Goodreads, but I have pages and pages of notes on it. Before reading this book, I knew in my head that there was nothing wrong with being an introvert, but Cain’s social commentary showed me that it’s not just not-wrong. It’s a superpower. This is a very gratifying and encouraging read.
5. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo – Ok, hear me out. This book is not just about having an organized home. I mean, it is, and it will absolutely help you do that. But it also reminded me not only of the importance of surrounding myself with beauty and joy but also just how easy that is to do.

Honorable mention goes to The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and Professional Troublemaker by Luvvie Ajayi Jones. Both of these books remind me to stay focused and give practical advice for doing so. Also, if Luvvie doesn’t make you cackle out loud, your sense of humor is broken.

What books inspire you?

I’m writing about my favorite books this month.

*DNF = Did not finish

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My vacation officially started yesterday, so I’m looking forward to a lot of reading in the next week. I’ve already finished two books that I had begun earlier, so we’re off to a good start. When I plan vacation reading, I typically lean toward favorite series and authors. There are many authors who, when their new books come out, I will always read. Here are the first five who came to mind.

1. ACF Bookens – One of my favorite cozy mystery authors. I am heavily invested in the lives of both the St. Marins and the Stitches in Crime characters, and I am super excited to read anything she comes up with in the future.
2. N.K. Jemisin – If you haven’t read The Broken Earth Trilogy, stop reading this and go read that instead. It’s so good. Anyone who enjoys fantasy or sci-fi should check her out. The City We Became is very close to the top of my TBR list, and I may just have to push it ahead next week while I have some time.
3. Louise Penny – I was delighted to remember that I already had purchased the audio of The Madness of Crowds when I was preparing a list of books to bring with me on the trip to the farm. I’m about 2.5 hours into it, and of course I’m already hooked. I love the Three Pines mysteries, and I still mourn the original audio reader for the series (RIP).
4. Jasmine Guillory – Damn, she can write a sex scene. You don’t have to start with The Wedding Date, as each novel can stand on its own, but that’s where I would start.
5. Helen Hoang – Also very hot sex scenes. I love the incorporation of neurodivergent characters in her romantic stories. The Kiss Quotient is my favorite, but they’re all fantastic.

There are so many others that come to mind, but I never hesitate to pre-order new books these authors put out the moment I’m able to do so.

What authors are on your “always read” list?

I’m writing about the books I love this month.

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I am finishing You tonight because a) it’s spooky season and this book definitely qualifies and b) it was recommended by the librarian who runs the public library book club which is tomorrow. I am enjoying it a lot, not only because this narrator is well-developed but also because he works in a bookstore. I am a sucker for books about books. Or even if they’re not really about books, feature books to a significant extent.

I have more of these books on my TBR list than on my finished list, but here are five that I have read and recommend:

1. Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Annie Spence – I would like to write a book like this someday. It’s a fun premise – writing letters and breakup notes to books that have influenced her life. I love any book that makes me feel like I’m having a conversation with the author, and this one did.
2. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde – This book/series is one of my favorites. I may mention it a lot this month. It’s set in a fantastical world where people can actually enter books and alter them. The writing is so clever.
3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Annie Barrows and Mary Ann Shaffer – A mysterious book society? Sign me up!
4. The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George – I think most book lovers have dreamed of walking into an unusual bookshop with a seller who can make the perfect recommendation. Full of literary adventure, this books takes the idea to another level.
5. The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan – The title of this book is confusing – I suppose that a bookshop in a van could be on the corner but it could also be around the corner or out in the middle of a field. Anyway, the curious nature of the title doesn’t detract from my delight in the story at all.

One day, I’m going to have a shelf that’s all books about books.

These days, I’m writing about books.

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As I mentioned yesterday, I attribute part of my ability to read as much as I do to the use of different media. I have five apps on my phone through which I read, but I have other bookish apps that I use just as much (if not more). Today I want to talk about the five I probably use the most and why I like them.

[Aside: While I do have Audible and Kindle on my phone, I didn’t list them here because I’m trying to wean myself off Amazon, which is not easy because many of the indie writers I like to support only sell through Amazon currently and also because Amazon owns so many things.]

1. Goodreads – Yes, I know – owned by Amazon. And I’m open to alternatives, but I haven’t found any that can come close to everything I have through Goodreads. Most of the tracking I do, I do through this app. Because of Goodreads, I can tell you every book I’ve read since 2012. I also have a gargantuan TBR list stored there. Best of all, I get a lot of recommendations from people I’ve met through various walks of life – online friends from fandom/writer groups/book clubs, face-to-face friends, coworkers, friends from grad school, writer contacts, and a unique group of like-minded readers whom I met through the app itself. It’s social media for readers, which some days, is the only kind of social media I’m into.
2. Scribd – Through this paid subscription (currently about $10 a month), you can choose from their large selection of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, short stories, essays, etc., and there’s no limit to how much you can read or save to read later. I don’t find every book I want to read there, but it’s my frequent go-to for book club selections when I have already exhausted my book budget for the month and there is a waitlist for them at the library. Or when someone else puts a hold on a library book I’ve started and I can get it to them faster by finishing the book on Scribd. I also use it to keep track of specific TBR lists (e.g., my books about joy that I’m reading this year). As with most subscriptions, there’s no guarantee that any book that is available now will always be available, but I use the app enough that it definitely saves me time and money in the long run.
3. Kobo – This is my “ultimately replace Audible and Kindle” app. It offers the same kind of subscription for audiobooks (1 credit for a monthly rate), and you can either have an ebook subscription (all you can read for $10/month) or you can purchase the ones you want to keep individually. It gives you a list of titles that you can get for free (and also lets you prioritize your favorite genres), and each purchase also earns points toward free books. If I ever purchase another ereader, it will be through Kobo. I feel like it’s trying to be every reading app I love but in an even more organized and user-friendly way. It seems like it’s here to stay – so much that some of my fave indie authors have worked their way over to also sell through Kobo, which is exciting.
4. CloudLibrary – This is the ereader/audiobook app that our local library uses, so it’s the one I use. My current selections through CloudLibrary are the audio version of a print book I’m reading at night because I’m at a part that is very exciting and I have errands to run this afternoon, which will delay my getting-home time and I don’t want to wait until I get home to hear what happens next, my current lunchtime book, and the next book in the Phryne Fisher series because the library doesn’t have a print copy. It’s free through my library login (also free). Selection, of course, varies according to what the library purchases. It’s worth checking out which ereader your library uses (I also like OverDrive and Hoopla but don’t use them very often).
5. Libib – Y’all. I have a lot of books. So many that when I’m out and about at bookshops or library sales or garage sales that I find myself veering toward when that stack of unwanted books looking for a home catches my eye on the drive-by, I don’t always remember off the top of my head what I have and don’t have at home. Especially if it’s by an author I particularly like (and thus compulsively buy). So I am cataloguing my collection, slowly and surely, through Libib. You can also keep track of the music, games, movies, etc., you own, if that interests you. The free version does limit you to 5,000 items, which is plenty at this stage of my collection (really, if I ever need more, I should just quit my job and become a library). Also, you can share your shelves with others (useful for people who browse bookstores on my behalf). If my home ever catches fire, this is what I’ll use to rebuild my collection/annoy my insurance company (because priorities).

Do you use these apps? Others? What do you like about them?

I’m writing about books all month!

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