THE WHIPPING CLUB by Deborah Henry
Wow. Deborah Henry’s first novel is a powerhouse that will set you on a rollercoaster of emotions. Set in 1960s Ireland, it’s a love story between a Catholic woman and her Jewish husband. It’s also an indictment of the hypocrisy and cruelty of the Church, a story about secrets and shame, and ultimately a glorious ode to the human spirit. This is a highly original tale told in razor sharp prose. Mark my words – this book is going to be turned into a movie that will have all the A-listers fighting over it.
THE SNOW CHILD by Eowyn Ivey
A stunning debut, this magical story is so achingly beautiful, I tried to read it as slowly as possible to savor every breathtaking description. Set in 1920 Alaska, the book revolves around Mabel and Jack, determined to make a life for themselves as homesteaders in this cold, harsh wilderness. Still silently grieving over their childlessness, the couple builds a child out of snow. The next morning, the snow child is gone but they see a little blonde-haired girl running through the woods. Is she real? Can she be the daughter they’ve dreamed of? No matter how hard you try not to get to the end of the book, once you do, you will feel your own heart melting. This is a book to treasure and re-read every winter.
LEFT NEGLECTED by Lisa Genova
If you’ve read Still Alice, you know that what Lisa Genova writes stays with you long after you’ve finished reading. In her latest novel, high-powered executive and mother of three Sarah is an expert multi-tasker who can’t afford to waste one second of her day –until she has a car accident which leaves her with a traumatic brain injury and the inability to see half of her world. This is a fascinating story which hits home the point that it’s time for all of us to slow down and take a good look at what’s most important to us. Step one: put down the cell phone, let someone else do the dishes and take a few quiet hours to accompany Sarah on her life-changing journey.
BEST KEPT SECRET and OUTSIDE THE LINES by Amy Hatvany
I’m grouping both of these books together even though, subject-wise, they are worlds apart. In Best Kept Secret, recently-divorced mom Cadence has a daily glass of wine or two just to take the edge off. When those glasses turn into bottles and her secret drinking starts to effect her ability to care for her young son, Cadence must face the fact that she is an alcoholic. Although this is fiction, the story feels so real and the writing is so raw, I kept wanting to reach out to Amy on Facebook to let her know I was rooting for her. This is the kind of book you’ll feel compelled to share with all the women in your life. Amy’s characters are so complex and easy to relate to – it’s what makes all her books so special. Her latest novel, Outside the Lines, is about a young woman determined to find her mentally ill father who left her twenty years ago when she was ten years old. Thought-provoking – Does great art require a touch of madness? Is it okay for someone to choose to be homeless? How does a true artist do justice to both his art and his family? – this is a great book club selection.
THE ORCHARD by Theresa Weir
As much as I had trouble believing Best Kept Secret was a novel, I had to keep checking the cover of The Orchard to make sure it was really a memoir. This is a fascinating –often shocking – story about the personal impact pesticides have on one family. After marrying into a family of apple farmers, city girl Theresa moves to rural Illinois, where crop dusters provide the soundtrack to her new life. This is love story, a cautionary tale and a modern day Silent Spring which will have you happily spending the extra money for organic fruits and vegetables.
Q by Evan Mandery
You have never read a book like Q before. Here’s the premise: the unnamed narrator gets a visit from his future self who warns him not to marry Q, the love of his life. When he finally listens, his future selves start to make frequent visits, all from various times and all full of new advice depending on what he does differently. Not only is the story so creative but every sentence is so clever, you may find yourself smiling foolishly in appreciation.
THE CROWN by Nancy Bilyeau
Combine the religious symbolism of The Da Vinci Code with the historical fiction of The Other Boleyn Girl, and you have this juicy new novel which takes place during the English Reformation. Filled with scandal, royalty, mystery and murder, this fast-paced story will keep you reading long into the night.
SHE CAN RUN by Melinda Leigh
As you know, I like a really good thriller. This one, about the wife of an abusive Congressman who takes her children and flees, is a really good thriller. Here are the two highest recommendations I can give it: 1) I couldn’t read it before I went to sleep because it was too scary, and 2) I knew who the murderer was until a few pages later when I knew it was someone else until a few pages later when I was convinced I was right the first time. The book kept me frantically turning pages all the way to its satisfying ending.
Want even more suggestions? Click here for some more of my recent favorites.
This post originally appeared on my former blog, StyleSubstanceSoul.com.
Thanks for the recommendations! Since our beloved “Book Works” was forced to close last June, Leland and I purchase our books from a wonderful (huge) independent bookstore in Portland – Powell’s Books. We even flew up there for a “field trip” (recommended!!). Their website is: http://www.powells.com and their phone number is: 800-878-7323. Shipping is $3 no matter HOW MANY books you order. I know that you mentioned Barnes and Noble at the beginning of your article, but it would be great if everyone considered the “independent” option 🙂 Thanks again for the list of “Must-Read Books”! – Deb
We always encourage supporting the indie bookstores but when readers need to save money, we figure Barnes and Noble is a better compromise than Amazon which is trying to take over the world! Thanks for the Powells info — I’m dying to go visit that store in person!
Oh I loved THE ORCHARD, nice quiet little memoir. And I’m only buying organic apples now…
A couple more to add to your list: I am in the middle of, and liking very much, TOLSTOY AND THE PURPLE CHAIR, by Nina Sankovitch, she decided to read a book a day as a way to heal / work through grief after losing her sister / and slow down…. also full of great book reviews sprinkled throughout.
and of course, AN UNQUENCHABLE THIRST by Mary Johnson, about becoming a nun working with Mother Teresa… and the leaving the convent twenty years later. Not just an interesting story, but well written (lovely prose), delightfully authentic and heartfelt.
Jennifer, I loved Tolstoy and the Purple Chair. Did you read our interview with Nina? http://stylesubstancesoul.com/2011/07/talking-about-a-year-of-reading-with-nina-sankovitch-author-of-tolstoy-and-the-purple-chair/
Will have to get the Mary Johnson book — sounds fascinating. Thanks for the recommendation!
I loved THE CROWN. I can’t wait to check out the other books! Thanks for the recommendations.
They are all great!
thanks for the suggestions! i’d like to add The Magic Room by Jeffrey Zazlow. co-author of The Last Lecture and author of The Girls of Ames, zazlow had a magic touch sharing true stories focusing on important steps in our lives. i say had because he just died in an upper peninsula snowstorm, driving home to west bloomfield (amy’s hometown) after giving a program about his newest book. i saw him speak two weeks before that and was very moved by how involved he got in his subjects’ lives. that certainly shows in The Magic Room, about a bridal salon in a small town in central michigan. i pretty well guarantee you’ll cry, especially as you read the final chapter.
Cathy, I was so sad to hear about his death, too — what a tragedy. We had written about The Girls of Ames when it first came out: http://stylesubstancesoul.com/2009/06/on-our-substance-radar-10/
Will definitely look for The Magic Room. Thanks for the suggestion.
Really happy to see you showcase so many talented women writers!
I’m SO glad you chose Left Neglected for your list – such an amazing book – i’ve been recommending it to everyone i know – and if you ever get the opportunity to see/hear author Lisa Genova in person, i highly recommend it – she was fantastic and i can’t wait for her next book!
Thanks for doing this. It’s great!!
Thank you for this great list! I am looking forward to some wonderful reading!
Thank you SSS for this list of books, I love the diversity of it AND that all the books are written by women.
Having remembered you put this list together I returned to it the other night and chose “Best Kept Secret” wow, what a raw story…I downloaded it and feel as if I hardly put it down. I think Amy really does an incredible job of uncorking so many different conversation pieces; from how women are judged by society and each other (alcoholism or not) to the mother/daughter relationship to the internal messaging any human being trips over…and more.
Plan to read this entire list and have added the remaining to my “to read” list.
RE: Left Neglected: if you liked it (and even if you didn’t), do not miss Still Alice also by Lisa Genova it was fabulous.
Looking forward to the next “must-read” list!
just finished home front, kristen hannah’s newest novel. she’s one of my favorites and this one is very special. husband and wife are having trouble and then wife/mom is called up along with her national guard unit to go to iraq. frightening and very moving.
Come to the Edge by Christina Haag and Let’s Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell. Both are exquisitely written memoirs. One about a love relationship with JFK, Jr., and the other about a long-term friendship between two women, one of whom becomes ill. The two books are lyrical in their writing style, finely crafted and well worth the read. These are two that I will always have copies of to both give away and keep.
Thanks for the recommendations of the books you have listed. I only wish I could read 24 /7….!
I’m just catching up on reading posts … and these books sound so wonderful; I can’t wait to check them out. Thanks!!
Thanks! I have sent for three of the books!
I thoroughly enjoyed The Snow Child. Glad to see it on the list. I am trying to read debut authors this year. This book definitely is a stand out.