February Reads and Favorites: 2024
Started the year off strong which meant I would somehow try to hold myself to an unattainable goal through the remainder of the year.
Here’s the List:
Refuse To Be Done: How to Write and Rewrite a Novel in Three Drafts by Matt Bell
Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi
My Vice is Your Unfathomable Agony by Otis Bateman
Write for Your Life by Anna Quindlen
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
If He Had Been With Me by Laura Nowlin
Wow, No Thank You: Essays by Samantha Irby
Wonderland by Zoje Stage
1000 Words: A Writer's Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round by Jami Attenberg
You're Not Listening: What You're Missing and Why It Matters by Kate Murphy
Chatter: The Voice in Our Head, Why It Matters, and How to Harness It by Ethan Kross
My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
What I Think You Should Read:
If you are an aspiring author On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King is a required read. I am thankful that I went with the audiobook for this one, as it was read by King himself, an important part of making this even more enjoyable. At the end of the book, there is an essay by one of his sons, Owen King, along with an on-stage interview to wrap the book up. The interview is great as it features Joe Hill, King’s son, and King talking about writing. Great addition.
You’re Not Listening by Kate Murphy had a profound impact on me, especially how I communicate with others. I resonated so much with the first chapter of this book. I was hooked and connected from the very beginning. If improving communication with others, and even yourself, is an area of your life you would like to work on, I cannot recommend this book enough.
Make Note of This One:
My Dark Vanessa is, to date, the darkest book that I have read. Not dark as in graphic detail, but subject matter. This book is told from the perspective of a 15-year-old girl at a boarding school who falls in love with a 42-year-old teacher. It is so well-written and devastatingly heavy. I will save further commentary on this read since more of my thoughts have been recorded for the next podcast episode.