It's the Little Things: A Good Book

Quite simply, I love to read. Reading a good book is like eating a delicious meal, sleeping in on Saturday mornings, laughing over wine with your girlfriends - it can just make you happy. I've read many, many books in my life, and still remember all of those that I couldn't put down, that I raced home to finish, that made me look forward to bedtime so that I could have a few moments with my story. I've been in a few book clubs, have lots of friends who are voracious readers, and am lucky to come from a family in which reading is of the utmost importance. Many of my favorite books are not unique, obscure titles; I believe that some books end up on the New York Times bestseller lists for very good reason. I'm always looking for new titles, so for my fellow bookworms out there, here are a few of my favorites...

Unbroken: This was the first historical non-fiction book that I ever read, and I couldn't put it down. Hillenbrand does an amazing job of making you feel like you're right there with the soldiers, and like you know them through intimate and personal detail. It read much more like a novel and gives an incredibly clear and open-minded view of World War II and the life of a POW.

Me Talk Pretty One Day: David Sedaris was the first writer in my young adult life who made me laugh out loud. His books of short story memoirs are hilarious, brilliant, and raw, and you'll want to read them again and again.

The Dive From Clausen's Pier: This coming of age story is about embracing life, love, and growing up. Through the big and small chapters of life, our protagonist Carrie changes before our eyes, and many moments remind the reader just how monumental the little things can be.

The Glass Castle: For anyone who hasn't read this book yet, stop whatever you're doing and get to the book store or library. Walls takes us on a journey through her troubled upbringing with parents who didn't believe that the law applied to their family. It's jaw dropping at times, sometimes painful, and always honest.

She's Come Undone: I've written about this book before. I read it for the first time over a decade ago, and have revisited it almost annually ever since. In the beginning of the story, Lamb introduces us to a young Dolores, who we learn to love and root for throughout her tumultuous life. You'll grow up with her, share her journey, and you'll never forget her.