Read this, not that

With my hectic SAHM schedule packed with kids, playdates, school stuff, Jr. League stuff, Daisies, house stuff, etc. I simply don't have time to be in a formal - or even informal - book club. But I read a lot and all kinds of genres, styles, fiction, non-fiction, etc. Although I don't usually read biographies. But, if you ask me, I'm happy to recommend a book that will suit any occasion, mood, theme, interest. Here are a select few favorites from the last few years, in no particular order:

People of the Book, Geraldine Brooks
Post-Birthday World, Lionel Shriver
In the Woods, Tana French
Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick
The Road, Cormac Mccarthy
House of Sand and Fog, Andre Dubus III
Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver*
Don't Lets Go to the Dogs Tonight, Alexandra Fuller
1000 Splendid Suns, Khaled Hossini
Time Traveler's Wife, Audery Niffeneger
A Fine Balance, Rohinton Mistry
A Suitable Boy, Vikram Seth
Waiting, Ha Jin
Falling Leaves, Adeline Yen Mah
Memoirs of a Geisha, Arthur Golden

And some of my fave authors:
JRR Tolkien - The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings
CS Lewis - The Narnia Series**
James Herriot - All of his wonderful books***
David Mitchell - Black Swan Green, Ghostwritten, Cloud Atlas
Michael Chabon - Summerland, Final Solution, Yiddish Policeman's Union, et al.
Sandra Gulland - The Josephine series
Ken Follett - Pillars of the Earth, World Without End
Roald Dahl - James & the Giant Peach, Matilda, BFG, Fantastic Mr. Fox
JK Rowling - Harry Potter series

And some kids books that you won't mind reading too:
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Nutshell Library - Maurice Sendak
Moomintroll books - Tove Jannson
Ivy & Bean series - Anne Barrows (I think - don't have time to confirm)
Little House on the Prairie series
Cricket in Times Square
Frog & Toad, Mouse Tales - Arnold Lobel
Black Beauty, Anna Sewell****
Nancy Drew series

Next on my reading list:
The Likeness, Tana French
Housekeeping, Gilead & Home - Marilynne Robinson
Savage Detectives & 2666 - Roberto Bolano
Downtown Owl, Chuck Klosterman


*Barbara Kingsolver is an acquired taste for me. I prefer this book to her fiction writing.
** The first series of books I ever read, age about 8
*** The second series of books I ever read, age about 9 or 10
**** The first real book I ever read, age about 7

See a favorite? Have a recommendation? Let me know!