I have gone through seasons when I didn’t have the space – or eyes or concentration – to read. I am deeply grateful that reading has returned to my nourishing list, in full force.
Image – Inside the warm glow, Kaoru Yamada
I am especially grateful for audio books and for access through our library’s Libby app, as well as libro.fm which lets me support Turning the Tide, a local independent bookstore! (Full disclosure: if you use this link to check it out, I may receive a free book!)
Here’s some of what I have been reading recently. I hope something here finds its way to you. If it does, I would love to hear about it.
Trust by Herman Diaz
I may not have picked up this Pulitzer Prize winning novel (tied with Demon Copperhead for the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction) if it hadn’t been gifted to me.
The four narratives, four perspectives of the same characters surrounding the 1929 stock market crash, intrigued me. A starred review from Kircus described it as …’a clever and affecting high-concept novel of high finance.’ I found it fascinating.
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
I read this novel – which tied with Trust for the 2022 Pulitzer Prize – when it first came out and it has stayed with me.
A coming-of-age story set in Appalachia during the opioid crisis, it is heartbreaking and compassionate. Kingsolver’s storytelling is captivating and the characters linger long after the last page. It is one of a few novels I may read again.
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
This 2025 bestseller noted for its environmental focus and emotional depth, introduced me to ‘seed vaults’. Set on a remote island near Antarctica, home to what may be the world’s last hope for preserving biodiversity. The novel explores isolation, climate crises and resilience.
The characters have stayed with me, as they tend to all kinds of tensions and secrets.
Spiritual Intelligence by Dawson Church
I have a keen interest in the many forms of intelligence, so this book subtitled Activating the 4 Circuits of the Awakened Brain intrigued me.
Church presents spiritual intelligence (SQ) as a trainable capacity. Beyond IQ (cognitive intelligence) and EQ (emotional intelligence), he suggests SQ involves connecting to presence, meaning, and a larger field of awareness, contributing to deeper well-being.
I appreciated his practical suggestions and support for building SQ.
Burial rites by Hannah Kent
A powerful work of historical fiction, based on a true story of Agnes Magnúsdóttir, the last person publicly executed in Iceland.
Not my typical genre, but my Icelandic heritage drew me in. The bleak surroundings made me wonder about my own ancestors who lived in that region in the early 1900s. A debut novel described as hauntingly told…with sophistication and beauty.
The White Stone: The Art of Letting Go by Esther de Waal
This book spoke to me. De Waal explores the grief she experienced letting go of a home.
It reminded me of how I still – in my imagination – walk around the property I sold almost 20 years ago. I retrace the paths I walked for 30 years, checking what was emerging. I remember the brick and stone that held the home and the memories and life contained in it.
The white stone is de Waal’s symbolic object, a reminder of letting go and discovering peace in everyday life.
You might also like Interesting Reads or My reads. I would love to add your books to my list! Contact me here.
I delight in sharing my thoughts, such as these, in a newsletter, typically every few months. And now and then, ideas show up our Facebook page. Always love to hear from you via email.
