Need a good book?

I read a lot of books. Mostly fiction, with more non-fiction creeping in every year. I read many excellent books in 2021 and instead of writing a list of my favourites, I've suggested books to read by need.  

What to read when…

you need hope. Love Stories by Trent Dalton. Trent Dalton is an Australian author and journalist who wrote one of my favourite books, Boy Swallows Universe. Amidst the pandemic, he sat on a street corner in Brisbane with a table, two chairs and a sign that said ‘sentimental writer collecting love stores’. In this book Dalton tells the beautiful love stories people shared with him. Be prepared to shed a few tears, I know I did.

you want to escape. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I am a Taylor Jenkins Reid fan and think her books are getting better and better. I loved the two before this one – Daisy Jones and the Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo but Malibu Rising is my favourite. Miami, 1980s, surfers, models, rock stars. Need I say more?

you’re in a reading rut. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave. The Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick for May, 2021. It’s a mystery novel about a woman who thinks she’s found the love of her life until he disappears… I couldn’t put it down.

you want to change. Atomic Habits by James Clear. This book is about creating good habits and ditching bad ones. It’s entertaining, easy to read and jam packed with awesome strategies to improve your habits. One of my favourite strategies is habit stacking where you introduce a new habit by attaching it to an existing habit. Say you want to drink more water and you’re a tea addict like me you attach the habit of boiling the kettle for a cup of tea with drinking a glass of water. If you want a taster, Brene Brown interviewed James Clear on her podcast Dare to Lead (only on Spotify).

you’re heading on a beach holiday. The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller. The Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick for July, 2021. Set in Cape Cod at a family beach house, it’s about a woman deciding whether to stay with her husband or explore what could have been with her childhood love. The plot unfolds over a 24 hour period with flashbacks to the past. Get ready to devour this book to find out who she chooses in the end!

you want to blow your mind. Breath by James Nestor. James Nestor is a journalist who spent years researching and experimenting with how to breathe while examining breath in different cultures and disciplines. Be prepared to change how you breath after this! Mouth breathers be warned.

Come As you are by Emily Nagoski. Emily is a sex educator and this book has all the things we should have been taught about sex in high school but weren’t. She uses stories from clients to explain different concepts so it’s really easy to read and interesting. It’s not about what to do in bed but about the science of the brain and how important context is for sex. It’s fascinating.

you’ve got a long road trip ahead of you. Listen to Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey on audible. It’s the best audiobook there is, tied with Harry Potter read by Stephen Fry of course. Greenlights is a memoir where McConaughey shares stories about his life amidst bumper sticker catch phrases. It’s not nearly as Hollywood as I expected and just a delight to listen to in McConaughey’s Texan drawl.

you want crime without being terrified you’ll be murdered on the way to the bathroom. Thrillers get my heart racing as if I’m down that back alley with the character. I stopped reading them to help my nervous system but I still love a whodunnit.

The Thursday Murder Club and The Man Who Died Twice, by Richard Osman. These books are funny, with lots of twists as crimes are solved by four residents in a retirement village in Kent. The start of The Thursday Murder Club is a little slow but stick with it. Steven Spielberg has optioned The Thursday Murder Club to make a movie and all my fingers and toes are crossed that Helen Mirren will play the lead, Elizabeth.  

you want to hear vulnerable stories. I’ve been drawn to books that are authentic and honest of late, particularly those with mental health struggles.

Your Own Kind of Girl by Clare Bowditch. This book is brilliant. Clare Bowditch is an Australian musician and this book is her story up to age 26. Be warned, the first half is heavy but oh so beautiful. The second half is hilarious and filled with so much hope. It’s about childhood tragedy, Clare’s mental health struggles and her journey to recovery and there’s an epic love story thrown in the mix. She even gives the voice in her head a name (Frank) and tells it to f-off! I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that’s so raw.

The Resilience Project: Finding Happiness through Gratitude, Empathy & Mindfulness by Hugh van Cuylenberg. This is the story about how van Cuylenberg came to found the Resilience Project and the tools he uses to promote happiness. It’s easy to read, filled with stories and not preachy at all. I am a big fan of Hugh’s podcast, The Imperfects, which he hosts with comedian Ryan Shelton and his brother, Josh van Cuylenberg. There’s something really powerful about Aussie men discussing mental health with lots of laughs and authenticity. I particularly loved the episode with Ben Crowe, professional mentor and a mindset coach who has worked with everyone from Ash Barty to Andre Agassi and Stephanie Gilmore.

If you have any recommendations for books, I’d love to hear them!