Have you read a good book lately? It’s almost the end of the first quarter of 2018. Can you believe it? I set a goal to read 50 books this year and I’m currently working on book number 21. I’m ahead of schedule! Out of those 20 books, there have been several I really loved and highly recommend. If you’re looking for a good book, read on. These are my favorite reads of 2018 so far.
Favorite Reads of 2018 (So Far)
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1. Forty Autumns: A Family’s Story of Courage and Survival on Both Side of the Berlin Wall by Nina Willner
I just finished this book last week. It was fascinating. The author tells her own family’s story and experience of living in East Germany. I have read tons of books about World War Two and its aftermath. This is one of my favorites. It is such a personal story, but is filled with history too. I learned a lot about East Germany, and the daily struggles people living there faced. Ultimately, the story is a happy and uplifting one.
2. Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk
I was in one of my favorite bookstores in Santa Cruz, California and saw this book while I was browsing. I couldn’t justify buying it at the time (it was only available in hardback), but I snapped a picture of the cover and added it to my Goodreads list. Then, I requested it from my local library and I am so glad I did! It’s the kind of book I tell people about it whenever I get the chance. It won the 2018 Scott O’Dell Award for historical fiction. The author, Lauren Wolk, has previously won a Newberry Award for another novel. Beyond the Bright Sea looks at themes like family and loyalty, being an outsider, discrimination, and identity. I cannot recommend it enough. It is listed as juvenile fiction, but I think anyone over the age of 10 or so would love it.
3. The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams
Who doesn’t want to be happier, healthier, and more creative? I can’t remember where I first heard about this book, but I’m glad I added it my to-read list. This book took a little more time for me to read. It’s not something you can finish in one sitting. The author is a journalist who traveled around the world to discover the various ways being in nature is beneficial to our physical and mental health. From Korea and Japan to California and Utah, and even Finland, Williams looks at scientific research and studies. Don’t let the word scientific put you off this book. It is a great read. And with more and more people spending more of their lives indoors, learning about the healing power of being in nature is good for everyone.
4. The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce
This ended up on my to-read list because I loved Joyce’s 2012 The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: A Novel
5. Say Goodbye For Now by Catherine Ryan Hyde
I discovered Hyde’s s novels last year and haven’t been disappointed with one yet. This story has a lot of my favorite elements. It is set in rural, 1950s Texas. One of the main characters is a anti-social female doctor who prefers animals to people. Her ranch becomes a haven for injured animals, and, in turn, two young boys who need a safe place and an adult who cares for them. This book explores the themes of sexism, racism, and what it means to be a family.
6. As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner
I’ve read several books by Susan Meissner, so this new one went on my to-read list as soon as I heard about it. Meissner takes on a different part of history in this novel. It is set in the ending years of World War One in Philadelphia during the Spanish Flu Epidemic. Meissner creates several strong female characters who drive the story forward. The story is one of loss and love and family. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, give this one a try.
7. The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore
Technically, I haven’t finished reading this one yet, but I’m close and I had a hard time putting it down to write this post. Kate Moore tells the true story of the shining girls who worked with radium in clock dial manufacturing. They literally glowed in the dark because of the radium exposure they suffered at work. Despite terrible illness and premature death, these women fought to make changes in how radium was used. We are all safer today because of their struggles. I’ve got about 80 pages to go. That’s close to the end because the book is 400+ pages long. But it is so worth reading! Don’t let the size of the book deter you. If you love history, social justice, and strong women, this is a good book for you.
For more book recommendations, check out my 2018 To Read List here. I also wrote about 11 Books I Keep Recommending.
What have you read so far this year that you find yourself recommending to everyone? I’m always looking to add a good book to my list. Please share your favorite reads in the comments section below.
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