M. Suzanne Terry

I’m sad today. My friend Des died. He was a gentle, kind person, and the world is worse without him in it. 

So much of my own grief and general sadness processing is so internal that it is a challenge for me to understand those who work these things out socially. Understanding is not necessary for acceptance, though, so I’m leaving this here as a reminder to myself not to isolate too much, for their sakes.

There’s a lot going on otherwise, too. Work and life and the world are all pretty overwhelming right now. 

One of the things I love about reading is that it’s not just a pastime. It’s a comfort, a balm, an inspiration, an excitement, a focus.  

Any month is a good mood-reading month, but reading exactly what I need at the time I need it is especially essential right now. There are a lot on this list, so this will likely extend into September. 

Book Clubs

Talking about books with other people is one of my favorite things.

• Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
• By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult
• Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

Recommendations

I love when someone lends me a book they think I’ll like. I automatically feel closer to them when I read it. And then I get to see them and bond over what we liked about it when I give it back to them.

• The Fury by Alex Michaelides
• Books: A Memoir by Larry McMurtry
• The Last Russian Doll by Kristen Loesch
• All Fours by Miranda July

New Books

Ah, the excitement of a new release! I enjoy being among a book’s first readers (even if that group is in the millions). It’s a specific part of the larger global-ish book community that I particularly enjoy. It inspires me to keep working so that I may be able to experience it as an author someday. 

Also, I need to get these back to the library so folks in my larger local-ish book community who have them on hold can read them, too.

• The Other Side of Now by Paige Harbison
• The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb
• Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson

Series

When an author develops their characters well (or builds a fascinating world, or tells a great story), I will read (and sometimes re-read) every book in the series. I just can’t get enough.

• Still Life by Louise Penny (deluxe edition comes out at the end of September – I may hold out until then to start this series over)
• The Lady With the Gun Asks the Questions by Kerry Greenwood 
• On the Way to the Wedding by Julia Quinn
• Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas, and since I devoured both the first and second books in this series as well as the collection of five prequel novellas in less than four days last week, I’m going to go ahead and add…
• Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas

Romance(ish)

When I need something lighthearted where everything works out in the end or at least a reminder that sometimes things do work out. If we can subvert some tired expectations and/or gender roles, throw some sunshine into a grump’s life, or redeem a villain – even better!

• Love at First Sighting by Mallory Marlowe
• The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
• Back After This by Linda Holmes
• Peter Darling by Austin Chant
• Experienced by Kate Young
• Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

Comfort Reads

A bit of a catch-all category for anything homey, whimsical, charming, cozy, or quirky, these are tea and a warm blanket in book form. The characters are lovable, the storylines are typically low-risk/high-reward, and there is a general sweetness to all of it that is particularly useful when I feel like that sweetness is lacking everywhere else. Or there’s just really good food involved/promised.

• The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
• The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
• The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley
• Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club by J. Ryan Stradal
• The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler
• Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan
• My Friends by Fredrik Backman
• Dinner in One by Melissa Clark
• Keep It Simple, Y’all by Matthew Bounds
• The World’s Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant by Liza Tully

Suspense/Mystery/Hardship/Oh My

When I need a reminder that things could always be worse and the stakes could always be higher (and historically/currently are for others). 

• Go As a River by Shelley Read (about halfway through – maybe the best-written book I’ve read all year – highly recommend)
• Neighbors and Other Stories by Diane Oliver
• Lucky Dogs by Helen Schulman
• The Bang-Bang Sisters by Rio Youers
• The Maidens by Alex Michelides

Inspiration/Motivation/Reflection

When I don’t just want to be reminded that things could be worse but also want to know more about what I can do about it.

• Microjoys by Cyndie Spiegel
• If You Live to 100, You Might as Well Be Happy by Rhee Kun Hoo
• Year of the Tiger by Alice Wong
• Pleasure Activism, written/curated by adrienne maree brown
• Knitting Pearls, edited by Ann Hood
• The Witches Are Coming by Lindy West
• On the Brink of Everything by Parker J. Palmer
• The Courage To Teach by Parker J. Palmer
• The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly by Margareta Magnusson
• Rural Voices, edited by Nora Shalaway Carpenter
• How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith

As always, I reserve the right to read every book or no book on this list. Wherever the wind takes me.

Lots of love to you and your people, friends.

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