i am proud of me for that, too. and glad i still read. so many people stop after high school because they are no longer required but i cannot imagine my life without books.
Thank you for putting together this list!! I also gravitate to stories of women and mothers and recognize a few of the reads in your list (side note: I only just started getting into Louise Erdrich a year ago — I’ve read Love Medicine and Future Home of the Living God so far — and am so excited that she’s written so much more I have yet to read) so I really appreciate your recommendations. Going to save this for future reference!
My pleasure! I'm happy to hear that it landed for you in such a meaningful way.
"Future Home..." is one of 3 Louise Erdrich books I haven't read, so I really need to move that one up on my TBR list! Tracks is probably my favorite in the Love Medicine series, in part because it was the first book I read. And Fleur is one of my favorite literary characters ever. If you're going to dive deep into Louise Erdrich, making your way through all of the Love Medicine series novels is a wild adventure.
I am so thrilled to hear that we share some favorites. Reading can be so subjective and when I first talked about the idea for this piece (off substack in a private fb group), I got so much pushback about how wrong I was about both the NYTimes and about the books I prefer. So it's nice to know that I'm not alone in loving these books 😊
If you have any to recommend that aren't on my list, please feel free to share them. Always looking for more books to add to my ever growing TBR list!
ooooo i’m using this to pick some of my next books. i work at a bookstore on the weekends and try to have read one book by all the main authors—louise erdrich and lisa see have been on my list to do next, so i’m glad for your recs for them! Demon Copperhead was my first Barbara Kingsolver, and i adored it (the last page??!! are you kidding me!! wow), so i’m glad to have another two recs of her books too!! love this!
So many adds to my TBR...
Happy to be of service! And speaking of things to read, I have your last 2 substacks to catch up on!
Reading is everything. And you’ve been a voracious reader from early on. Always proud of you for that
i am proud of me for that, too. and glad i still read. so many people stop after high school because they are no longer required but i cannot imagine my life without books.
Thank you for putting together this list!! I also gravitate to stories of women and mothers and recognize a few of the reads in your list (side note: I only just started getting into Louise Erdrich a year ago — I’ve read Love Medicine and Future Home of the Living God so far — and am so excited that she’s written so much more I have yet to read) so I really appreciate your recommendations. Going to save this for future reference!
My pleasure! I'm happy to hear that it landed for you in such a meaningful way.
"Future Home..." is one of 3 Louise Erdrich books I haven't read, so I really need to move that one up on my TBR list! Tracks is probably my favorite in the Love Medicine series, in part because it was the first book I read. And Fleur is one of my favorite literary characters ever. If you're going to dive deep into Louise Erdrich, making your way through all of the Love Medicine series novels is a wild adventure.
Great recommendations! Many of my favorites are on your list, and I just added some to my running list of what I want to read. 🤩
I am so thrilled to hear that we share some favorites. Reading can be so subjective and when I first talked about the idea for this piece (off substack in a private fb group), I got so much pushback about how wrong I was about both the NYTimes and about the books I prefer. So it's nice to know that I'm not alone in loving these books 😊
If you have any to recommend that aren't on my list, please feel free to share them. Always looking for more books to add to my ever growing TBR list!
Looove Island of Sea Women and Homegoing. Could not stop thinking about those books for a long while after finishing them. Really enjoyed Circe too.
Thank you for this article! I added many of the books you included to my TBR list.
(Pretty sure Random Family is on the NYT list though!)
I'm so glad you enjoyed this piece! And that you have some new books on your TBR list!
And you are correct. Random Family is #25 on the list. I meant to say that in my write up but apparently forgot. Editing it in now!
ooooo i’m using this to pick some of my next books. i work at a bookstore on the weekends and try to have read one book by all the main authors—louise erdrich and lisa see have been on my list to do next, so i’m glad for your recs for them! Demon Copperhead was my first Barbara Kingsolver, and i adored it (the last page??!! are you kidding me!! wow), so i’m glad to have another two recs of her books too!! love this!