what you should be reading this summer

I am an avid reader and while winter is made for curling up with a book under a quilt, summer is made for stretching out with a book on a towel.

I don't know what it is about summer, but I never want to read anything too complicated  -- I want something that sucks me through, that's easy to read -- a true beach read. Here are my suggestions for summer reads for this June.

memoirs: I am a memoir junkie. There's something about reading people's true stories that resonates with me. Here are a few of my faves:

- The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. A heart-wrenching memoir by a journalist that had a less-than-normal upbringing.

- Bossypants by Tina Fey. If you haven't read this laugh-out-loud memoir, do it. Seriously.

- Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall. A story of a relationship between a wealthy man and homeless man that creates beautiful change in both.

- Confessions of a Latter Saint Virgin by Nicole Hardy. I read this without expecting much-- it is fascinating look at Nicole's dealing with her faith, but I walked away from it loving her style of writing. Her skill in telling a story makes me want to write, and that is a gift.

Feel good chicklit: You know what I'm talking about -- the mindless reads that don't involve too much brain power.

- A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff. A girl starts a vintage dress shop in England. Despite its premise of running a dress shop, it's more about relationships than anything. Definitely the best kind of good reads. (I also suggest Wolff's other book, "Behaving Badly.")

- Goodnight June by Sarah Jio. The back story of "Good Night Moon." A quick and easy read and set in Seattle, which makes me love it more. (Jio has a number of good, easy reads-- I suggest any of them.)

- Starstruck by Rachel Shukart. A story about Hollywood in the 1930s. Totally an easy, fun read. The only bummer is that it's first in a series, and only two of the books are out!

Moving reads: Sometimes you need a story that hits you right.there.

- Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford. Gut-wrenching story about an Asian American orphan at the turn of the century. (I also heard this could be turning into a movie-- so read it now!)

- Saving CeeCee Honeycut by Beth Honeycutt. Upbeat story about relationships between family-- especially women in the family, when a young girl loses her mom to mental illness and moves in with her great-aunt.

- Labor Day by Joyce Maynard. I think this a movie-- out now? --  but this was a moving book about a woman and her son who take in an inmate for the weekend.


These are just a few of my suggestions! I also have quite a list of books to read, but I always love hearing more titles. If you're so inclined, share them in the comments. :)

xo, erika

p.s. if you're looking for book suggestions, I recommend Good Reads! You can find me on there.

february | read, reading, to read

Each month I love to share some of my reads. What can I say, I'm a book nerd and I fully embrace it.

- Behaving Badly by Isabel Wolff // super fun, light-hearted read. If you're heading to a beach, bring this along. (Also check out A Vintage Affair by Wolff)

- Carry On Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton // I've never read Momastery (not a Mom) but I love this book and her call for us to live authentically -- sharing the good and bad moments.

- Divergent by Veronica Roth // I just got this from the library. My friend told me that the first two books are incredible but that the last book in the trilogy is terrible. I'll start with this one ahead of the movie. :)

Check out my other book lists: January | October | August | May

Read any good books lately? I'm looking for some for my long, long, long plane ride to Africa!

xo, erika

p.s. do any of you use Goodreads.com to find books to read? I'm on there if you want to connect. :)

january | read, reading, to read

I thought I was due for a reads post. I love sharing the books I read (and I LOVE hearing about books you're reading.)

Here's currently what's been on my bookshelf (and loaded on my Kindle).

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom // I can't believe I had never read this. This book is astonishing. It's a true story of the amazing faith of a family who hides people during World War II. It's one of the few books that made me sob, not because it was so sad, but because I was so struck by Corrie and her sister Betsi's faith.


Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Ann Fowler // I love F Scott Fitzgerald's works and I've always been fascinated by he and his wife Zelda. This story-- told from Zelda's perspective-- is historic fiction, but it's incredibly well done.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt // Everyone (newspapers, magazines, etc) is all over this book and so I thought I'd try it because I usually like critically-acclaimed best sellers. To be honest, I enjoy Donna's style of writing-- she's incredibly descriptive-- but I have a really hard time with the main character. Anytime I can not understand the motivations behind a character (or don't like them a lot), I lose interest and in this case, I kind of want to shake the narrator at times. However, I'm working through it, (skimming some pages to get through it), just because I need to finish it. (Kindle tells me I'm 78% through... )

I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai // I am fascinated by the Middle East and definitely do not understand a great deal about the culture. I can't wait to dig into this autobiography by an undoubtedly incredible girl.

The Book Thief by Mark Zusak // I know it's going to be a movie, but I heard that on its own, it's an moving book. I have it requested at the library but if I get antsy, I may have to give in and buy it.

What have you read recently and loved? (Or hated?)

xo, erika

just read, reading, to-read: vol 3

I used to sneakily stay up late as a kid to read. I would push myself down under the covers, and position a flashlight just so, right on my chest, so I could read without my parents seeing the flickering beam. I always had a hard time falling asleep as a child and curling up with a book was the one way I could fall asleep. 

Now I fall asleep instantly -- usually as soon as my head hits the pillow- - so I don't read in bed, but I still do read voraciously -- especially during my commute to and from work on the bus -- and if no one is around -- during dinner.

Here's a bit what of what I'm been reading recently:

just read: Wild by Cheryl Strayed // Oh man. This was a fascinating read. But I'm not gonna lie, there were moments in the book where I wanted to jump in and shake the main character.

Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman // Heart-breaking. This story of a lighthouse keeper and his wife and the decision they make (no spoilers) is dramatic but written in such a gorgeous way. Sometimes when I read books, I just get caught up in the story, but the author's writing-- nearly prose-- captured me in a way most books don't.

reading: The Fault In Our Stars by John Green // I was expecting this to be an utterly life-changing book. I think sometimes when we go into a book (or movie, or restaurant) with such high expectations, we are doomed to failure. Now, don't get me wrong-- I really am enjoying this book and am almost done -- but it isn't life-changing for me.

to read: The Silver Star  by Jeanette Walls // really enjoyed Jeanette Walls' other books-- The Glass Castle and Half-Broke Horses -- so I'm really looking forward to her first foray into fiction.

want to see what I've read in past months? May | August

what are you reading right now?

xo, erika