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. 😲
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 fiction—my favorite genre—this 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 mention—LinkedIn. 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? 📚📚
XO,
Elisa
Some moms nag their adult children about their relationship status, their living situation, or simply calling home more often.