Confession time: I buy books faster than I can read them. At last count, I have around 100 physical books that have gone unread.
How does this happen? Well, for one thing, I have a hard time resisting an indie bookstore. Window shopping is not enough for me. I need to go in and say hello to the friendly booksellers, peruse the staff picks section, explore the entire store, absorb its charm, and then select a book I deem a “must-have.” Leaving empty-handed is not an option.
Barnes & Noble has three stores within a 10-mile radius of my house. Amazon Prime is at my fingertips. And it’s impossible to avoid all the Bookstagram accounts I follow. Thank goodness Costco stopped selling discount hardcovers.
As you can see, the odds of my buying a few books during the week are high due to their availability and my inability to control myself.
But every July, I make a valiant effort (and have been successful) in not buying any books. Instead, I shop my bookshelves for current and backlist titles, and I read them. Shocking, I know. đ˛
Today, I selected four books that I plan to read this month. Here is why I chose them.
- Finding Dorothy, by Elizabeth Letts – I love The Wizard of Oz and Wicked, but it’s time to read someone else’s backstory. What better place to start than with the wife of the author, Frank Baum. This historical fiction book dives into how his widow, Maud, helps bring his story to the big screen.
- Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee – Staying with historical fictionâmy favorite genreâthis book appears on many 5-star lists. I remember buying it from an indie bookstore a few years ago because I heard great things about it. It’s been collecting dust on my shelves ever since. It’s time for me to find out what the fuss is about and dive in to this Korean family saga that spans four generations.
- Lean Learning, by Pat Flynn – I found out about this book from another source I have yet to mentionâLinkedIn. See, I told you LinkedIn is awesome (see yesterday’s post). The subtitle is what sold me on this title. “How to Achieve More By Learning Less.” I could spend my life trying to be an expert on the latest marketing trends, but I don’t want to. I want to learn just enough to use it intelligently and efficiently. AI, for instance, is not going away anytime soon. As a writer, it’s my biggest competitor. But I’m not going to learn everything about it, just enough for me to understand it and maybe convince people that I’m a better option.
- Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt – I bet many of you have read this book. Even if you aren’t a big reader, I bet you or someone you love, loved this book. It was a HUGE hit last summer, and I didn’t read it. Sometimes, I get severe FOMO for books that I wouldn’t necessarily read but must have. This is one of those titles. I hope I like it.
Okay! There are 31 days in July, and in addition to the Ultimate Blog Challenge, I will not buy any books this month. Books that I borrow from the library or other people don’t count, but clearly I have enough here to stay out of trouble.
What books are you reading this summer? đđ
XO,
Elisa
Tamara
July 7, 2025 at 2:43 am (5 days ago)Oy, it’s “book purchase ban month” again, it must feel like Dry January for other people, except you are totally allowed to read a handful of your huge TBR stack.
I’m curious how you’re supposed to achieve more by learning less? Are they saying too much info only distracts you from what’s important?
Elisa Heisman
July 7, 2025 at 7:31 am (5 days ago)If it is anything like Dry January, I really feel for those people. The struggle is real. I’ll let you know how to achieve more by learning less later this month. I think it has something to do with applying what you’ve learned right away to retain it faster.
Martha
July 7, 2025 at 1:34 am (5 days ago)That sounds like a great plan for July! Now you can read some of the books you have stockpiled and it will be like you just bought them since they are new!
Elisa Heisman
July 7, 2025 at 7:37 am (5 days ago)Exactly! I’m really looking forward to revisiting my shelves.
Kimberly W
July 6, 2025 at 5:35 pm (5 days ago)I can’t leave a bookstore empty-handed, especially an indie bookstore. How else can they survive if people walk out without buying? I have to buy something!
I spend a lot of time at my local library so I always have a fresh stack of books that didn’t cost me a dime. Here’s what I’m currently reading/listening to:
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell. It is listed on one of the Goodreads challenges and sounded interesting enough. This audiobook is fantastic, it’s really fun with multiple narrators and great production (like changing the sound of the audio when it’s a clip from the podcast vs a narrator speaking)
Fahrenheit – 182: A Memoir by Mark Hoppus from the band blink-182. He’s funny and charming, and incredibly immature (at least so far) but blink is in my top 10 bands of all time so I am loving it.
Pachinko is on my TBR list!
Elisa Heisman
July 7, 2025 at 7:39 am (5 days ago)Kimberly – My thoughts exactly! I feel it’s my responsibility to support them. So many indies don’t last long because of big box stores. We need to do our part. I also spend a lot of time at the library. I’ll check out the books you suggested next month once my book ban is over. Thanks for the recommendations. Happy reading!
Jane E. Herman
July 6, 2025 at 5:23 pm (5 days ago)I am currently reading âRemarkably Bright Creaturesâ and loving it. The perfect summer read.
Elisa Heisman
July 7, 2025 at 7:40 am (5 days ago)I’m so glad to hear it! Have you read Pachinko?
vidya
July 6, 2025 at 4:49 pm (5 days ago)I have Pachinko on my bookshelf and need to get to it. My son read and loved it. As for the others, I am now tempted to add them to my bookshelf (the last one has been on my TBR for a while). I can never leave a bookstore empty-handed as well (and we have one really good used-bookstore a mile away from my home (and on a favorite walking trail for us)
Elisa Heisman
July 6, 2025 at 5:17 pm (5 days ago)Doesn’t leaving a bookstore empty-handed feel so wrong? I’m so glad we have that in common. If you read Pachinko, let me know what you think of it. I’m probably going to start with that one.
Carol
July 6, 2025 at 3:52 pm (5 days ago)I am reading The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store with my community book club. I live in a 55 and Over community, so we tend to choose books that are at least two years old so that we can borrow them from the library. Besides, many of us got rid of lots of books when we downsized.
Elisa Heisman
July 6, 2025 at 5:18 pm (5 days ago)My book club read that one, but I had a hard time listening to it. I need to get it out of the library and try again. I know a lot of people like it.