Book Recommendations – What I’ve Been Reading

What are you reading right now? Need some book recommendations?

Seems like I have been spending more time on social media lately than reading. Blogging requires a lot of social media upkeep. Especially in the travel blogging sphere. Unfortunately one thing that suffers as a consequence is my reading.

I have been sneaking in hours here and there for reading a bunch of authors I have never read before. Since I have been working on writing blog posts for UntitledTown, the Book and Author Festival in Green Bay later this month, I have been reading books from authors that will be making an appearance there.

The first book I picked up was Roxane Gay’s Hunger. This very real memoir on her struggle with obesity, the road that lead her there, and what life is like living in that body. It’s raw and at times dark. It’s not a book meant to be inspiring or uplifting. It is hard at times to read. She has no desire to sugar coat what it’s like to live with pain. In her case, she swallows her pain instead of reaching out to the people that love her. She finds her voice in the words she writes. This book was a total switch for me. I found myself feeling sad and wanting to hug her (she is not a hugger). Anyone that has read any of Roxane Gay’s columns for the New York Times or any of her other books knows that she doesn’t mince words.

To get in the mood to read Hillary Jordan’s Mudbound I watched the movie first. I like to do this to get an introduction to a book if both versions are available. I LOVED the movie. The story was full of history, a forbidden love, and two families whose lives are forever changed. As much as I enjoyed the movie, the book was excellent! I read it in three days. Combining racism, friendship, and a farmers wife who never bargains for the lonely life she has to adapt to, and you get a story that you will not forget! See the movie and read the book. It’s my favorite book I’ve read in a long time.

Next I picked up Wendy McClure’s I’m Not The New Me. This diet and weight loss memoir is a total 180 from Hunger. McClure takes a humorous approach to her weight loss journey. Weight Watchers fans will like this one. Much of the book is about her blog poundy.com, which was started at a time when blogging was a new thing. Here she shares her journey and gathers quite the following. Her references to what life is like living in a extra sized body are funny and real. Just looking at the vintage Weight Watchers recipe cards is worth checking out this book. Fluffy Mackerel Pudding anyone?

Currently I am reading Wintering by Peter Geye. No this is not a weight loss memoir! This book is about a father/son relationship. The father has disappeared and the son recounts the time, thirty years earlier when the two of them spent a winter in the wilderness. It’s about family, revenge, love, and adventure. I’m just half way through and enjoying the complexity of the characters.

I’m totally out of my element with a couple of these books. It’s a good thing to stretch your mind once in awhile with books that you normally do not read.

All three of these authors are making an appearance at UntitledTown Book And Author Festival taking place at various locations in Green Bay, Wisconsin beginning April 19th.

Thanks for reading!

Go explore! The world is waiting.

Lori