Have you heard about the Danish happiness magic called hygge? It’s been having a moment in popular culture the last few years and it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Practicing hygge can be a great way to add a bit of happiness to your everyday life, especially if you struggle getting through the dreary months of fall and winter. Here are a ton of ideas to add more hygge to your life, plus info on the best hygge books to read to get you started.
How to pronounce the word hygge
First things first. Hygge is definitely a tricky word to pronounce! The ‘y’ is a vowel that we don’t really have in English. It sounds a bit like hoo-guh. The best way I’ve heard of pronouncing it is to make an “eeee” sound (like in read), but then round your lips so that they make a little ‘o’ shape. You might feel stupid doing it at first, but that trick really helps! But if you decide not to make the weird vowel sound and just say hoo-guh instead, no one will judge you!
What is hygge?
You’ve probably heard at least some definition of hygge already since it’s having a moment in pop culture right now. It’s a Danish word that explains how they survive the loooooong winters every year. More precisely, it’s defined as“a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.” There’s not really an English translation for it. The closest word we have might be “cozy,” though that doesn’t encapsulate everything. Hygge is about an attitude or feeling of contentment, coziness, and peace. It’s an experience and a state of mind.
You don’t have to be familiar with the term to experience it, and the fun thing is that people will experience hygge in all sorts of different circumstances. For one person, a hygge moment might involve lighting a candle and curling up under a blanket to read a good book. For another, it might involve gathering friends or family around a board game at the kitchen table.
This is the first book I read about hygge. I listened to the audiobook on my commute, which was fun since the author read it himself. It’s always such a treat when authors narrate their own books! This book was particularly enjoyable because it gave me some ideas to savor cozy moments in my own life, but it was also a peak into the Danish culture. I didn’t know a lot about Denmark before reading this, so it was fun to learn more about the beautiful country! It’s a quick read, which is great if you need an easy book for your Goodreads Challenge! Meik Wiking also happens to work at a happiness think tank in Denmark, so there’s a fair amount of (non-boring) research put into it as well. I would definitely start here if you’re wanting to read more about hygge.
This was a much different read than The Little Book of Hygge, but still incredibly enjoyable. Each page has a quote from a Danish person sharing their own personal experience of hygge. It really opened my eyes to the variety in the concept, which makes it a lot easier to apply to my own life. The design of the pages felt very Danish to me, with lots of white space and muted colors. A lot of the photography was also beautiful to look at. This definitely feels more like a coffee table book than something you would read through like a novel or biography.
I just stumbled across this fictional hygge book and it sounds like a really fun winter read! Here’s the publisher’s summary:
It’s autumn in Yulethorpe and everyone is gloomy. It’s cold, drizzly and the skies are permagrey. The last shop on the high street – an adorable little toy shop – has just shut its doors. Everything is going wrong for Yulethorpe this autumn. Until Clara Kristensen arrives.
Clara is on holiday but she can see the potential in the pretty town, so she rolls up her sleeves and sets to work. Things are looking up until Joe comes to Yulethorpe to find out exactly what is going on with his mother’s shop. Joe is Very Busy and Important in the City and very sure that Clara is up to no good. Surely no one would work this hard just for the fun of it?
This looks like a really fun book to get you through a long winter. It’s filled with all sorts of cozy projects to inspire hygge feelings. The reviews describe the photography as being beautiful. I might just have to get my hands on this one. It would also make an amazing Christmas gift for anyone who has a rough winter ahead of them.
While this isn’t a book strictly about hygge, I’ve heard a lot of really good things about it and it’s been on my TBR for a while. Here’s a summary from the publisher:
When she was suddenly given the opportunity of a new life in rural Jutland, journalist and archetypal Londoner Helen Russell discovered a startling statistic: the happiest place on earth isn’t Disneyland, but Denmark, a land often thought of by foreigners as consisting entirely of long dark winters, cured herring, Lego and pastries.
What is the secret to their success? Are happy Danes born, or made? Helen decides there is only one way to find out: she will give herself a year, trying to uncover the formula for Danish happiness.
From childcare, education, food and interior design to SAD, taxes, sexism and an unfortunate predilection for burning witches, The Year of Living Danishly is a funny, poignant record of a journey that shows us where the Danes get it right, where they get it wrong, and how we might just benefit from living a little more Danishly ourselves.
My favorite hygge tips
The awesome thing about hygge is that, with a little intentionality, it’s really easy to start enjoying. Here are some of my favorite ways you can start practicing hygge right away.
Candles. Candles everywhere.
According to the Danes, candles should be unscented. They’re to be enjoyed for the sight and the ambiance. As an America, however, I have to admit that I’m a huge fan of scented candles. Why deprive yourself of good smells to go along with your soft lighting?
No overhead lights.
Speaking of soft lighting, overhead lights are a no go when it comes to hygge. The light in a room is something that people pay a lot more attention to in Denmark than they do here. It’s crazy how much the lighting in a room can affect you without you realizing it. Try turning off the lights in the ceiling and turning on a few lamps instead. I promise that the atmosphere will instantly feel cozier.
Soft music.
I’m not great at remembering to play music when I’m just hanging out around the house. I forget how much music can change the mood of the room. Try finding a cozy fall playlist or some peaceful piano music to listen to. Whatever makes you enjoy the moment most.
Little things to help savor everyday moments.
The awesome thing about practicing hygge is that it doesn’t require a complete life overhaul. It just requires doing a little bit more of what you already love and savoring the experience. That might mean making an event of watching a show by pulling out your favorite blanket, making a cup of tea, and grabbing a couple squares of chocolate first. It’s not hard, but it goes a long way in making you feel happier.
Put your phone down.
I feel like we can’t be reminded of this enough. If you’re feeling like you never have peaceful moments that you can enjoy, chances are you’re just missing them. Hygge and phones don’t mesh very well — though I’m not saying it’s impossible! If you’re wanting to practice hygge more though, start by putting your phone down a bit more often. It’ll do wonders in making you feel more present and peaceful.
How to hygge with friends
One of the neat things about hygge is that it can be done completely alone or with friends. Here are some great ideas for fostering hygge with friends.
Watch a comedy
Normally screens can make hygge challenging, but I can’t think of a better way to savor a moment with friends than with laughing. I don’t watch a lot of comedies (okay, none), so let me know if you have good ones you’d recommend!
Play a game
Board games are definitely coming back in style and there are so many fun ones to choose from! I’ve heard great things about Ticket to Ride, but the classic ones like this oneare always fun too! Charles and I have been enjoying this card game lately.
Listen to an old-fashioned radio show together
There’s a skill on Alexa that you can use to play old radio shows together. It sounds like a really unique and cozy activity!
Have a soup potluck
Invite a few friends over and have each one bring a pot of their favorite soup. It’ll be a great way to spend time with friends and try some new recipes at the same time!
Learn a craft together
Is your friend awesome at knitting beanies? I seriously can’t thing of a more hygge activity than that. Invite her over and ask her to teach you. Maybe you’ve both wanted to scrapbook (does anyone do that anymore?) or you could all buy macrame kits and learn together (people are definitely doing that still!). This onelooks like lots of fun!
Hygge at work
Creating an incredibly enjoyable work environment was something that, crazily enough, never even occurred to me. I guess I’ve had the mentality that work is work and it’ll never be cozy. I loved reading how people in Denmark practice hygge in their workplace environment. Sadly for us Americans, most of us aren’t allowed to burn candles at work, but here are a few other ways you can practice hygge without burning candles.
Nature is very hygge. If you ever have a chance to bring nature in, do it. I love these tiny little pots that would fit on a desk perfectly.
Have a killer work playlist
Find something that makes you feel cozy, happy, or inspired. I listen to this playlist when I just need a bit of white noise. This is a great playlist if you enjoy cozy-sounding acoustic music.
Spend lunch outside, weather allowing
I have zero windows in my office, which is kind of a downer. It’s especially hard in winter, when I show up at work when it’s still dark and leave with only an hour or so of sunlight left. Bringing some walking shoes to change into and soaking up some vitamin D during my lunch break would definitely be a good hygge activity.
Bring pictures to work
I love visiting other people’s desks and seeing pictures of their family. It’s a great conversation starter, plus it always feels good to be reminded of your loved ones when you’re slaving away at the office. If you don’t have any pictures that make you happy at work, bring some in! If you haven’t brought in any new ones in a while, freshen them up a bit.
Plan a work potluck
It’s easy to wait for the designated people to organize lunch activities, but a work potluck doesn’t have to be difficult at all. Coordinate with different people you work with to bring in something special for lunch. You could even make it a weekly or monthly thing. There’s something special about connecting over food.
Things for your hygge wishlist
I currently have myself on a spending freeze, so I won’t be buying anything new right now, but these things are definitely on my hygge wishlist.
I mentioned fairy lights for office decor, but fairy lights make for great hygge home decor too. I love the idea of clipping pictures of your loved ones to them.
We actually have two and I love, love, love them. They’re super soft and cozy. Bonus: it makes for a great backdrop to your Instagram photos. See here, here, and here.
Potted plants
Having potted plants in your home is a great way to add style, and they’re good for so many other reasons, like purifying the airand boosting your mood. I love the mid-century modern plant stands that are trendy right now.
Unless you hate reading anything, then reading a book definitely counts a hygge activity. You can check out my personal fall reading listfor inspiration if you’re not sure what to start with!
Listen to an audiobook while crafting
There are so many good audiobooks out there, it’s hard to suggest just one or two for a cozy evening. Wuthering Heightsis a great fall read, all moody and gothic. I’ve been enjoying TheChief Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny. They might actually be the coziest books I’ve ever read.
Light all the candles
I think it’s actually impossible to talk about hygge without talking about candles. It’s a central tenant to the philosophy.
Snuggle up with a pet
If you don’t have your own, borrow a friend’s! (just maybe ask first). There’s something extra warm and comforting about having a dog or cat snuggled up next to you.
Bake something
Baking is very, very hygge. If you love baking, consider this your excuse to get back in the kitchen.
Hygge on a budget
Another cool thing about hygge is that it doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are some free or cheap ways you can add more hygge to your life.
Learn to crochet
Crocheting is super peaceful and relaxing, and it’s really inexpensive to start. All you need is aball of yarnand acrochet hook. You can rent a book from your library that’ll teach you the basics. My favorite way to learn is by watching YouTube videos. If you’re brand new to the world of crocheting, it’s better to find an easy pattern before you buy the yarn and hook, otherwise you might get the wrong kinds.
Stock up on library books
I’ve been making a lot more trips to the library lately and it’s so worth it. I always feel a thrill of excitement coming home with new books. I also don’t feel incredibly guilty if I don’t finish a book because I didn’t spend a ton of money on it.
Use fireplace white noise
There are lots of apps you can download for white noise, not to mention the fireplace on Netflix. When my neighbors are noisy, I just tell Alexa to play fireplace sounds and the atmosphere is instantly more peaceful.
Get board games from a thrift store
I discovered that a lot of thrift stores have great board games when I needed one for a school project. Sometimes a piece or two is missing, but you can get a great board game for just a couple bucks. Hard to beat!
Buy candles from the Dollar Tree
The Dollar Tree has a tooooon of white un-scented candles that you can get for a really affordable price. Check them out, or stores like them, to kickstart your candle stock.
How do you plan to hygge?
Have you been practicing hygge already? What’s the one thing that gets you in the hygge mood? Any hygge books I should know about? I’d love to hear! Leave a comment and let me know.
Any true booklover will have at least one full bookshelf of books. Personally, my bookshelf is pretty much always overflowing, no matter how many books I try to re-home. When planning a fun weekend, you’ve never probably thought to yourself, “Hey, you know what would be fun? Organizing my books!” If you have, you’re definitely in the right place. There are a ton of fun different ways to do it, from the practical to the pretty. Read on to see how to organize your bookshelves.
Take everything off and clean
This is my preferred method of organizing pretty much anything: bring everything to the middle of the room so you can get a good look at it. It always gets 100x worse before it gets better. But I feel totally justified by the fact that Marie Kondo suggests this too, only on a whole other level. But yes, take ALL your books off your shelves and pile them up on the floor or on a long table. If you have books spread across multiple rooms, you probably want to gather those up too.
Sort your books
Now’s your chance to evaluate whether or not you want to keep all these books and how you want to organize them if you do. Definitely consider giving your books new life by selling them or giving them to someone else who would enjoy reading.
Decide What to Keep
Think through what to keep, what to sell, and what to donate. This is HARD. Some things to keep in mind as you do this is how much space you have right now, whether you have room (or even want to) buy a new bookshelf, and whether you want to be prepared for a change of situation. For example, if you currently live in a rental with tons of built in shelving, think about how long you expect to be there. If you’re going to be moving soon, will you want to buy 5 new bookshelves to store all your books (or whatever your magic number is)? There’s never as much time to move as we anticipate, so don’t assume you’ll organize them all then. You’ll most likely just shove them into boxes that become too heavy and then plop them on the new bookshelves 6 months later (or maybe that’s just something I would do).
Definitely keep the books that you love, have marked up with your thoughts, and have read more than once already. If you have any books that are family heirlooms and know that your children will cherish them, keep those too. The number of books we keep is such a personal thing, so think through what you value most and what might be some bad tendencies you need to work against. If you get rid of things too quickly and regret it, think twice before giving away those family heirlooms. If you keep everything that was ever given to you, think long and hard about how much it might help you and your loved ones if you give some books away.
Where you can sell your books
Selling used books is really difficult. In general, you don’t make a lot of money off of them unless you’re selling recent editions of textbooks or limited edition books. I’ve had good luck selling old textbooks on Amazon. Another great option is to take them to a book resale shop, like Halfprice Books. You certainly won’t get as much as they’re worth, but considering how much time is involved in selling used books, it’s usually worth it.
Where you can donate your books
There are a number of places where you can donate books. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Do a quick google search to see what the needs are nearby. Don’t overthink it. Just find a place that needs books, pack them in your car, and drop them off. It’s as easy as that.
Determine Your Shelving Strategy
Now that you’re finished sorting, take a look at what’s left and come up with your shelving strategy. There are three main ways to shelve your books.
Option #1: Genre
This is the more traditional method. Separate your books based on what genre they’re in. For example, you might sort them into: non-fiction–spiritual, self-help, reference, biography, and fiction. Depending on how many fictional books you have, you can sort those into historical fiction, Young Adult Literature, Classics, contemporary, etc. Once you’ve separated your books into genre, you can organize them in alphabetical order. If the aesthetics of your bookshelves matters to you, you can also organize based on height of the book for a neater appearance.
Option #2: Color
This is an incredibly popular way to organize bookshelves right now. I remember the first time I saw a bookshelf organized this way on Pinterest and I was amazed. It never would have occurred to me to do this. Lots of people say that since they’re so visual, it’s easy for them to find the books they’re looking for. I tried this shelving strategy myself for a while. For the most part, I was able to find everything I needed fairly easily, but not always. I don’t think I’m as visual as some people, so sometimes I was looking for a specific book I hadn’t read in years and I couldn’t remember what the color on the spine was. This definitely made it harder for me to find. Even so, I only had one bookshelf at the time, so it didn’t take all that long in the grand scheme of things. You could also use google to help jog your memory for what a particular book looks like.
I wish I had this much room for books.
Option #3: Read – Not read
To be honest, I haven’t seen ANYONE else do this with their books, but it’s something that I just did because I’m crazy I wanted an easy way to get through the books that I already own. After the sorting process, I ended up with 2 shelves full of books that I haven’t read. Within these, I have them organized by genre, because this is often how I pick out what I’m going to read next. I really enjoy reading multiple genres at the same time because it helps me get a lot more reading in.
Lately I’ve been reading non-fiction faith-based books first thing in the morning, personal development books during lunch, personal finance books in the afternoon/early evening, and fiction at night. I don’t necessarily plan it this way, it’s just what type of reading mood I’m usually in at these times. (I feel like there’s probably some kind of lesson or analogy somewhere in here. Feel free to share if you find one!)
Fill in with knick-knacks
If you’ve ever turned on HGTV, you’ll know how often people fill in their bookshelves with creative and pretty things. If you have extra shelf space, this is a great way to fill in some of the gaps and make it pretty at the same time. Here are some (non-professional-designer) tips for doing this.
Remember that less is more
It’s easy to cross from ‘creative’ to ‘cluttered.’ If you want your shelves to look like a professional put them together, remember the Less is More rule. Chances are, you probably have more pretty things to fill your bookshelves than you actually have space for. If that’s the case, use the following two guidelines.
Make it meaningful
Put the things that bring you joy out on display. Maybe this will be your grandmother’s vase or your favorite childhood picture of you and your siblings. If you can decorate with something that you’ve inherited or that’s a sweet gift that fills you with nostalgia, that’s definitely the best option.
Make it functional
Of course, not every object in our life is going to hold deeper meaning. If you can’t make your knick-knacks meaningful, make them functional. Maybe it’s a clear vase filled with buttons or a pretty box that’s full of stationary. When my husband proposed to me, he borrowed a picnic basket from a friend who later gifted it to us. It’s sitting next to our bookshelf and I use it to hide all of our chargers.
In Conclusion
There’s no one right way to do it. Organizing bookshelves is a deeply personal thing, which is probably why you can learn a lot from a person by skimming their bookshelves. Do you have a bookshelf that you’re particularly proud of? If so, I’d love to see it! Send me an email with a pic or tag me on social media. It’s always fun to share these things with bookish friends 🙂
Fall always feels like the perfect season to turn serious. To get ready for a winter of hunkering down and spending a bit more time indoors than out. It’s less summer pool party vibes and more hot apple cider and a good, long book vibes. Of course, in Oklahoma, that weather doesn’t actually turn until late October. I’ve planned out my reading list accordingly, starting with subjects that feel more like summer and ending with the fallest books that I could find. Because reading moods are important.
Confession: another goal in my fall reading list is to also finally finally finish books I already own. Nineteen of these 25 books are already patiently waiting on my shelf. I’m so excited to see how many of these books I can get to! Without further ado, here’s what’s on my fall reading list.
I remember wanting to read this in 5th grade. That’s how long I’ve been waiting to get around to this charming-sounding book with mice and other woodland creatures. Can’t wait to finally dive in!
This is one of those books that I never had to read in school but wish I had. But just because I don’t have an English teacher threatening me with a pop quiz doesn’t mean I can’t read it.
I’m a huge Harry Potter fan but never read this, which makes me sort of question my own identity. I was somewhat discouraged by the bad reviews when it first came out, but I’d still like to check it out for myself.
I’ve been hesitant to read this because I hear everyone dies, good old George might not actually finish the series, and it’s really violent. But I’ve been curious about it for a while so I’m going to give it a shot.
I have been hearing about this book everywhere. Carol Dweck teaches about having a growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset. I definitely have a fixed mindset in a lot of ways and it’s something that I’d like to look on.
I feel like I have to work really hard for structure and organization. Anything that helps with those is definitely something I’d be interested in reading.
I had the pleasure of meeting Professor Granger at my university when he came and spoke. He has a lot of insight into literature and brought out so many things in Harry Potter that I never noticed.
With only a year of marriage under my belt, I know I still have a lot to learn. This felt like a good place to start. Also, can you tell I’m trying to work on my prayer life?
What are you reading?
My reading list feels like a lot, but I can’t wait to dive in and see what happens! What are you reading this fall?
This summer was the first time that I picked out a bunch of books to read over a season. I found that I really enjoyed it! Picking books to read over a certain season can direct your reading life and ensure that you get to the books you want to read most, not just the most convenient or first ones you thought of. Here’s my summer reading recap.
I heard about this book from the Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide. I love love loved this book. It was a bit dark, a bit twisty. But it definitely had that dark fairy tale feeling that I love. It’s been compared to this book that I also really enjoyed, so I think I’ve found myself a new genre. If you’re looking for some good fall reading, this book definitely feels like fall.
Because I loved this series and this seriesby Rick Riordan, I had really high hopes for this one as well. I read the first two but then decided that it wasn’t worth reading the last book in the series. It felt like he put less effort into this series. The characters weren’t as vibrant, the plot not as twisty and well-developed. It’s rare that I don’t finish a series, so this shows how little this one caught my interest.
The audiobook of this book is fantastic. The narrator does such a great job with the different characters and accents, which made this really fun. I had to brush up on my Star Wars knowledge before reading, but once I did it was really enjoyable.
This book came out last year and was really popular. I don’t read a lot of this genre so it was a fun experience. I’m a sucker for criminal investigative tv shows, so this book was certainly enjoyable. I was reminded why I don’t read a lot of this genre when I stayed up way too late and neglected my responsibilities to figure out what happened. I was somewhat dissatisfied with the ending, to be honest. But this is a spoiler-free zone so I can’t tell you why.
I decided to read this book purely because of the cover and because Anne Bogel recommended it. Obviously that kind of decision-making can sometimes steer me wrong. But Anne Bogel knows what’s up, because this book was wonderful. It’s a debut novel for this author, but her writing style was a delight. I’ll definitely be reading any future books she comes out with. This book sort of felt like Grey’s Anatomy (for the drama and medical setting) mixed with Where’d You Go Bernadette? (for the word choice and some of the writing style). Definitely read this book.
Laura Vanderkam’s first time management book completely changed my life, so I had high expectations for this one. It felt like it was a deeper look into 168 Hours and how the application of those principles played out for her and others over the years. There was definitely a lot of food for thought, especially for how I can put more time into what makes me feel happy and cope with spending time on what doesn’t make me feel “off the clock” but is still necessary and good.
I didn’t love it as much as 168 Hours, so if you haven’t read any of her books, start there. If you’re a time management junkie like me, definitely read Off the Clock for some philosophical musings on time management.
I’ve known of Cait Flanders for a couple years but haven’t actually followed her blog much myself. I was pleasantly surprised by how vulnerable and authentic she was with her issues with alcohol, changing family dynamics, and her spending. I think she has a pretty great philosophy about money and I love how she wrote it as a memoir rather than just a how-to. Oddly enough, I get so much more out of the financial memoir books than the “12 step process” books.
If for no other reason, read this book if you’re curious to see if someone can not buy any new clothes/home goods/other random miscellany for an entire year and still survive.
I just finished this book and it’s given me a lot to think about. The book is very research heavy, which I appreciate, but still manages to be interesting and engaging. Daniel Pink discusses what actually motivates people, and how that differs from the things businesses put into practice. It’s definitely geared toward people in business, but certainly applicable if that’s not you.
My biggest takeaway: Think about what I find challenging and engaging and try to stay in jobs that have plenty of that. Don’t take a job just because of how much money it offers.
Y’all. This book. I’ve heard so many great things about it for a couple years now and I’m so thankful I finally decided to read it. I think I was so hesitant at first because I didn’t want to be convicted about how little effort I put into Bible study these days. But Jen Wilkin doesn’t shame you AT ALL, and has so much practical advice that you can actually put into practice even if you don’t have 3 hours of free time to study the Bible every day.
Sadly, I didn’t actually get to this one. I was bummed to discover that they didn’t have it at the library, either the physical or the digital copy. Since I’m trying not to buy more books until I read the ones I already own, I decided to wait on this one. I requested it from the library, so maybe if I’m lucky they’ll get it in stock. Fingers crossed.
I love, love, loveAnnie’s podcast so was really looking forward to reading this book. To be honest, I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as I thought I would. Whether that’s because of my season of life, because I listen to her podcast all the time, or I just didn’t absorb it as much as I should have, I’m not sure. I think she’s a woman full of wisdom though and you would probably benefit from checking this book out.
Books I read that weren’t on my list:
And because I’m an INTP, I just couldn’t help but deviate from my own guidelines. Here are the books that weren’t on my reading list but that I read this summer anyways.
Creative You by Otto Kroeger and David B. Goldstein
This was a wonderful, wonderful book. If you know youre MBTI, I would definitely recommend reading this. I love that they get rid of the notion that only certain types of people are creative and give practical examples of what creativity might look like for you. One of the most interesting tidbits I read was that extroverted artists often paint people whereas introverted artists often paint landscape scenes. Do you think that’s true? What’s your preference? Interestingly enough, I’m an introvert who strongly prefers landscape paintings 🙂
This is such a great book for figuring out money basics. I shied away from it at first because I didn’t feel like I wanted to engender the stereotype of being a broke millennial, but after reading so many raving reviews, I picked it up anyways. I love that she’s promoting financial literacy, which is sorely lacking. The book is also helpful because you don’t have to read the whole thing from front to back. You can jump around to different chapters based on what you’re curious about.
Brene Brown is a legend at this point, so I knew I would get a ton out of this book. I’ve started and stopped it for a couple years (getting my English degree was rough on my reading life). I think everyone needs to read this book.
I’ve never read any work by Emily Giffin so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I basically only knew that she was a popular author and that people were really excited about this book. She’s a great storyteller and the characters felt real and dynamic. She addressed an important topic in our society, rape culture, which I really appreciated. I think it’s certainly a topic worth examining and discussing and seeking to make better.
What I didn’t love is that every single character in the book that was bad was rick and politically conservative and every single character that was good was poor or at least grew up poor. I felt like this was a disservice to the topic she was most trying to address. She muddied it by making it a political and/or socioeconomic statement when it didn’t have to be. If we’re going to address the problem of sexual ___ in our culture, we need to acknowledge that it spans ALL political divides and socioeconomic statuses.
This was an excellent book. I picked it up on a whim when I saw it on the shelf because I’ve never read anything by Jeff Goins. He shares the story of different people who have found their life purpose, their callings, and breaks down how that process works for everyone. I think this is a book that everyone should read, whether they feel like they’ve discovered their life purpose or not.
I started this one while waiting for Off the Clock to come out. It was a really enjoyable book with some insightful ideas about money. I enjoyed the random research tidbits like how many parents who only had two children wish they had three. What I didn’t love is that it felt like Laura was writing from the perspective of someone who makes a lot of money. Her husband is a successful lawyer and she’s a successful author, so a lot of the advice she gives about using money to make your life happier doesn’t apply to the majority of people (like her advice to just higher a second nanny or outsource all your laundry). That being said, it’s a thought-provoking book if you can think about the principles behind the specific advice rather than getting caught up in the details of how much more money she makes than the average person.
I’d love to hear your summer reading recap! Did we read any of the same books? Any books I should check out next?
If you love to read but haven’t given the classics a chance, now’s the time to change that. Even as a person who got a degree in English, I sometimes find it difficult to pick up a classic. It’s hard to get away from the stigma that they’re boring and hard to read. But fear not, readers. Here’s a list of classic American literature that’s definitely worth reading.
I loved this Southern gothic novel so much more than I expected to. It was one of those rare books assigned to me for school that I actually finished because it was fun. It’s disturbing and thought-provoking, which is not always my taste in literature. I found myself somewhat confused from the stream of consciousness narrative throughout, but it was fun puzzling together what was actually happening. I have a feeling this is a book I could read again and again.
This is one of the first American books written throughout in vernacular English. I’ve heard people criticize the book as coming across as racist. Keep in mind, however, that it’s satire that was really against the grain during the time it was written and caused a lot of people to think in ways they hadn’t been forced to before.
This is certainly a well-beloved book that you’ve surely heard of. If you haven’t read it by now, here’s a gentle nudge to give it a shot. There’s a reason so many people love it.
I got so much more into this book than I expected to. Fair warning: it may make you want to adopt a dog into your life. I’ve banned my dog-obsessed husband from reading it until we have the space to keep a puppy happy.
To be honest, I remember almost none of the details of this book, even though I’m pretty sure I read it twice in high school. It’ll all come back to me when I start re-reading it. I do remember loving the story. This book certainly has stellar reviews.
I listened to the audiobook, read by Maya Angelou herself. It’s a heartbreaking and inspiring story certainly worth reading at least once. The Audible version is phenomenal. There’s something extra special about hearing a work read by the author, especially such a poetic work.
This is another one of those books I was assigned in school but completely enjoyed reading. It’s about the Dresden bombings during World War II, with science fiction and dark humor woven throughout. It has a strong commentary on war which I don’t 100% agree with, but it’s thought-provoking and brilliantly written. I wrote a paper about how Vonnegut wrote this book as a commentary on the Vietnam War as much as it is a commentary on World War II.
This autobiography is also heartbreaking and inspiring. Harriet Jacobs lived from 1813 – 1897 and tells the story of being born into servitude in the south and eventually finding freedom and family in the north.
Don’t let the glamour fool you. This book is chock full of deep thoughts and darkness barely kept at bay. The symbolism and character development is any literature lover’s dream come true.
I enjoyed this book quite a lot, despite my dissatisfaction with the ending. The prose is beautiful and the critique of the human condition excellent. If nothing else, this classic is certainly worth reading for understanding the cultural references alone. The book certainly takes you back to a fascinating era of American history.
This is one of those books that I thought was sweet and light-hearted when I read it as a child and then found all the deeper meanings as an adult. The writing is simple but Louisa May Alcott raises some serious questions and bucks the status quo in this book. Jo has long been a beloved character for her spunk and ability to forge her own path.
Books on my TBR
These are books that I’ve heard so much about but haven’t had a chance to read myself yet. I can’t personally vouch for them, but they’re well-beloved books by people in general (not just boring English professors).
“This is the story of two sisters—one a missionary in Africa and the other a child wife living in the South—who sustain their loyalty to and trust in each other across time, distance, and silence. Beautifully imagined and deeply compassionate, this classic novel of American literature is rich with passion, pain, inspiration, and an indomitable love of life.”
“From the moment she entered the world, Francie needed to be made of stern stuff, for the often harsh life of Williamsburg demanded fortitude, precocity, and strength of spirit. Often scorned by neighbors for her family’s erratic and eccentric behavior—such as her father Johnny’s taste for alcohol and Aunt Sissy’s habit of marrying serially without the formality of divorce—no one, least of all Francie, could say that the Nolans’ life lacked drama.”
“Set in the rich farmland of California’s Salinas Valley, this sprawling and often brutal novel follows the intertwined destinies of two families—the Trasks and the Hamiltons—whose generations helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel.”
“Guy Montag is a fireman. In his world, where television rules and literature is on the brink of extinction, firemen start fires rather than put them out. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden.”
“Aldous Huxley’s profoundly important classic of world literature, Brave New World is a searching vision of an unequal, technologically-advanced future where humans are genetically bred, socially indoctrinated, and pharmaceutically anesthetized to passively uphold an authoritarian ruling order–all at the cost of our freedom, full humanity, and perhaps also our souls.”
“The nameless narrator of the novel describes growing up in a black community in the South, attending a Negro college from which he is expelled, moving to New York and becoming the chief spokesman of the Harlem branch of “the Brotherhood”, and retreating amid violence and confusion to the basement lair of the Invisible Man he imagines himself to be.”
“The hero-narrator of The Catcher in the Rye is an ancient child of sixteen, a native New Yorker named Holden Caulfield. Through circumstances that tend to preclude adult, secondhand description, he leaves his prep school in Pennsylvania and goes underground in New York City for three days.”
Leave a comment and let me know what books stood out to you? Are any of these your absolute faves already? Least favorites? Tell me all the things.
I’m not much of a re-reader. This applies to both fiction and non-fiction. I’m not sure why this is. Part of it is that I tend to have a scarcity mindset. If I read a book too much, I’m afraid it’ll lose its magic. Maybe I’ll get bored with it, or maybe it won’t be as good as I thought it was. Another reason is because there are so many books in the world. I know I can’t read all of them, so reading the same ones over again seems like a waste. Nevertheless, there are a handful of non-fiction books that I’ve read more than once. In some of them the information was just that good. In others, I find their ideas helpful and thought-provoking. A few of them have helped me to understand myself better, unlocking doors to parts of myself that I didn’t realize existed.
I adore Gretchen Rubin. She has such a unique way of investigating the world and I find her insights so enlightening. In this book she recounts her year-long happiness experiment in which she focused on building new habits and trying new things each month for an entire year, all with the end goal of making her happier. At first I was turned off by the book. The idea of focusing on one’s own happiness felt selfish and self-absorbed to me. But after giving the book a shot, I realized that happiness is about much more than making yourself feel good. Her lessons can be applied to making those around you happier, developing your spiritual life, and overall self-improvement too. I’m not sure I’ll ever have the self-discipline to do a year-long project like hers, but I think it’s fascinating to read about.
This second book by Gretchen Rubin felt like a really natural progression. The Happiness Project was all about what she could do to be happier, much of which involved developing new habits or getting rid of bad ones. Better than Before is all about habits. There are so many wonderful insights in this book. I’ve already read it twice and I know I’ll probably keep coming back to it again and again as I grow and change.
This book completely revolutionized how I thought about time management. The main premise of the book is that we should look at our lives in weeks built up of 168 hours. If you:
sleep 8 hours/night = 56 hours
work = 45 hours
chores 1 hour/day = 7 hours
meals 2 hours/day = 14 hours
remainder = 46 hours
That leaves you with 46 hours each week to spend with our family, work on our hobbies, start a side-hustle, or whatever else it is that’s important to you. There’s so much freedom in realizing how much time we have that we can put toward the things we care about, as long as we’re intentional. There is lots more practical advice in the book. It’s definitely worth checking out.
Lara seems like one of those magical people that can get an inordinate amount of impressive stuff done and still look good doing it. What I love about this book is her vulnerabilityin her honest and unflinching story. She provides some great questions so that you can dig deep and get a better idea of who you are and what your dreams are. Once you’ve started figuring that out, she helps you set goals to go after those dreams. For me, the best part about the book is the spiritual side. I don’t see a lot of people examine the spiritual side of productivity and goal-setting, so this was a fresh perspective that I really enjoyed.
In this book, Elaine Aron shares her research on more highly sensitive people. This can be sensitivity emotionally and physically. This was such a fascinating book for several reasons. First of all, it made me more aware of all the ways I’m unusually sensitive, especially physically. Previously, I would try to ignore when I was overstimulated, like in a really loud, busy room for a long period of time. Now that I know to look for it, I realize how those situations are making me feel and can either change my circumstances or at least be a little more understanding with myself. Another thing I loved about the book is that it opened my eyes to how others might be sensitive in ways that I’m not. I’ve shared this book with several other people and it’s let to some really great conversations and deep insights.
In this book, Adina talks about how a person’s lifestyle as a whole affects their skin. She also gives recommendations and recipes for how to have a more natural approach to skincare. To be honest, I don’t know whether or not the science behind this is good. But the concepts were interesting enough to me to come back a second time. I definitely noticed a major improvement in my skin when I started eating more vegetables, as she recommends. I’m also impressed that she gave out the recipes for all the products that her company sells.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of this book (no judgments if you haven’t. I too like to occupy dwellings under rocks.) Marie Kondo is famous for her advice about decluttering. I started reading this book the first time because I wanted motivation to declutter my own life. I continued reading it because she’s so extreme and it’s fascinating to me. After finishing, I couldn’t bring myself to find the time to follow most of her advice, though perhaps I will the next time we move.
Susan Cain is an absolute genius. In this book, she shares lots of research, stories of successful introverts, and invaluable advice for navigating the world as an introvert. Introverts and extroverts alike need to read this book. As an introvert, it will help you understand yourself more and do a better job of setting yourself up for success. As an extrovert, this book will help you understand all those mysterious quiet people in your life.
Hi, I’m Kelsey! I live in the DC area with my husband and two cats. I currently spend my days working from home, reading all the books, and enjoying home life in our new-to-us 1940s condo. Read more about me here.
How do you plan to hygge?
East of Eden
