Books For All Occasions

Many of us have a huge list or pile of books we want to read, and choosing the right one can be a bit of a challenge. Here are some catagories to think about in order to narrow down your next great read, along with some suggested books based on those I have enjoyed. Whether you are going on vacation or curled up at home this winter, if you let me know what types of stories you like to read, I have the perfect recommendations for you.

A Short Book…

Mothers/Daughters/Dementia – The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka

Reimagined Future – The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid

Short Stories – To Be A Man by Nicole Krauss

About Race…

The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour

The Vanishing Half by Britt Bennett

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

Historical Fiction…

Eleanor Roosevelt and Loretta Hickok – White Houses by Amy Bloom

J.P. Morgan’s librarian – The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Cristopher Murray

Child of a Black medicine woman and a white slave master – The Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

Woman sharpshooter during World War 1 – The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

Man who fought in Vietnam War – The World Played Chess by Robert Dugoni

Memoir…

Left on Tenth by Delia Ephron

All In by Billie Jean King

In Love by Amy Bloom

Going There by Katie Couric

Letters From Max by Max Ritvo and Sarah Ruhl

World War ll…

The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner

The Forest of the Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel

Women…

USA/Europe – Woman On Fire by Lisa Barr

South Africa – If You Want to Make God Laugh by Bianca Marais

India – Honor by Thrity Umrigar

Palestine – A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum

Japan – Fifty Words For Rain by Asha Lemmie

Afghanistan – Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi

Family Saga…

Night Sleep Death The Stars by Joyce Carol Oates

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Nonfiction…

Sackler family and opiod epidemic – Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe

Separate stories of contemporary mysterious cases – Rogues by Patrick Radden Keefe

Jewish family trying to escape during the Holocaust – The Unanswered Letter by Faris Cassell

A Book with a Sequel…

It Ends With Us and It Starts With Us by Coleen Hoover

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and All the Broken Places by John Boyne

Mystery…

Searching for Sylvie Lee by Jean Kwok

Reef Road by Deborah Goodrich Royce

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkenen

Love…

Tin Man by Sarah Winman

The Sight of You by Holly Miller

Contemporary Stories…

Sole survivor – Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano

Disabled sisters – One Two Three by Laurie Frankel

Deaf students – True Biz by Sara Novic

Aging woman (and an octopus) – Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Abused woman – Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

Teenage boy and older woman – Have You Seen Luis Velez? by Catherine Ryan Hyde

A Journey…

Giraffes transported from east to a west coast zoo – West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge

Boys searching for their mother – The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

People and Relationships Set in Another Country…

Russia – A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

England and Italy –Still Life by Sarah Winman

Iceland – The Color of Ice by Barbara Lynn Probst

Quick Reads

With a little mystery…The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

With a little wackiness…Hurricane Girl by March Dermansky

With a little charm…The Guncle by Steven Rowley

The Options are Endless!

The list of great books is infinite and ever-changing. Not every book has to be considered a literary masterpiece; stories are enjoyable for all different reasons. Whether it is the writing that is stellar, the compelling plot, the lovable (or detestable) characters, the exotic setting or the chapter lengths and the fast paced dialog…I learn new things and find something to appreciate in all the recommended books above. Please let me know YOUR last great read in the comments!