“Next time I’ll show up more put together.” —the title of my pending memoir
Would it surprise any of you as much as it did me that I started this post in May of 2023? The gasp I gasped. I’d lament the state of my life the past couple years but then that may add another year before this gets posted. For now, I’ll just refer you to the above quote.
In the words of Fran Lebowitz, “Think before you speak. Read before you think.” It’s no secret we’re big believers in devouring the written word around here. Nor will it surprise anyone that we believe books to be some of our finest teachers—both the fiction and nonfiction variety. I happened to be on a bit of a true tale kick a couple months ago (ahem, a year ago) and thought I’d share three standouts.
A Must Read
Ooof. This book. This is edge-of-your-seat reading, folks. You will gasp out loud, you will rage, you will cheer, and you will be shocked at how little can change in the span of a hundred years. With the recent rise of Christian Nationalism, this book is a must read. In the words of Pulitzer-Prize winning Elizabeth Kolbert: “Timothy Egan’s history of the Ku Klux Klan’s rise and fall is absolutely gripping. It is also terrifyingly relevant.”
A Gut Punch
Every once in a while, a book comes along that completely changes my worldview (Just Mercy, I’m looking at you). Matthew Desmond’s unflinching reporting on how our very systems create and maintain poverty in America is a gut punch. The New York Times writes: “A compact jeremiad on the persistence of extreme want in a nation of extraordinary wealth . . . [Desmond’s] purpose here is to draw attention to what’s plain in front of us—damn the etiquette, and damn the grand abstractions.”
A Beautiful Read
I came to this one by way of my latest literary bestie, Ann Patchett. She’s yet to lead me astray. Honestly, I’m not sure I need say more than what Jaouad has said herself, “I decided to reimagine my survival as a creative act.“ What a gift that she let us come along for the ride. Speaking of that ride, New York Times Book Reviewer Chanel Miller put it best: "I was immersed for the whole ride and would follow Jaouad anywhere. Her sensory snapshots remain in my mind long after reading . . . Not only can Jaouad tolerate the unbearable feelings, she can reshape them into poetry . . . Her writing restores the moon, lights the way as we learn to endure the unknown.”
PS- Jaouad’s instagram feed and newsletter are two of my favorite reads. I can’t get enough of her light.