Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all. —Henry David Thoreau

I feel you, Henry.  I like to think that I’m a down-to-earth girl, but I will readily admit that I’m a book snob.  There I said it.  Even if time was my friend, and I assure you he’s not, I wouldn’t read drivel.  Please don’t hold it against me.  After all, books can be bliss.  

Is it snooty to suggest that you should pick books like you pick friends?  In other words, be choosy.  I feel like I have some stellar credibility on this one since I picked Rachel.  (Did I find you, or you find me?)  At any rate, I make it a point to get the scoop on good reads…you know, I do my homework.  Oh, and I have my trusted recommenders.  (We’re hoping to become those for you.)

So here are some books I’ve been eyeballin’—ones I’m ready to read in 2016, come hell-o high water.

At the top of my list is Paul Kalanithi’s When Breath Becomes Air.  I have a good feeling about this book.  It comes from a thirty-six-year old neurosurgeon who learns that he has stage IV lung cancer.  In the same vein as The Last Lecture, the dying author focuses on what matters most in life.  Award-winning novelist Ann Patchett wrote this of When Breath Becomes Air, “Those of us who never met Paul Kalanithi will both mourn his death and benefit from his life. This is one of a handful of books I consider to be a universal donor—I would recommend it to anyone, everyone.”

Another book that’s caught my eye is Girl at War by Sara Novic.  Here’s what Amazon has in bold print when you call up Girl at War. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY BOOKPAGE AND BOOKLIST.  For readers of The Tiger’s Wife and All the Light We Cannot See comes a powerful debut novel about a girl’s coming of age—and how her sense of family, friendship, love, and belonging is profoundly shaped by war.  Amazon had me at All the Light We Cannot See.  This will be in Rachel’s birthday package come February 1st.  (Lest you think me a spoiler, just remember the hope of a good book is grand like a surprise.)

Alan Bradley, mystery writer of the charming Flavia de Luce series, said that The Sultan’s Wife is “gorgeously written” and “cost [him] two days of writing time.”  Say no more Alan.  The Sultan’s Wife is now in my Amazon cart.  The minute I have a minute and I’m ready for a sumptuous read, I’ll hit buy now with 1-click without hesitating.

Don’t worry.  You’ll be the first to find out if this trio makes the best books list.  Yeah, I got your back!

Posted by Tracy