My Hygge Home

My Hygge Home: How to Make Home Your Happy Place 

By Meik Wiking 

Abrams Image, 2022. 271 pages. Nonfiction 

Inspired by Danish design and traditions, this inspiring book, featuring tips based on research from The Happiness Institute in Copenhagen, shows how to turn a home into a cozy sanctuary regardless of available space or budget. 

I’m honestly bummed I read this just after coming out of the winter season, because this book, filled with tips and tricks to make your home cozy and warm, would have been perfect for those dreary winter days. If you’ve read “The Little Book of Hygge” by the same author, this one is very similar but it delves more into the psychology behind hygge and why it’s valuable, especially since the pandemic shook our routines and habits. If anything, the need for intentional coziness has only grown over the last few years. 

If you like My Hygge Home, you might also like: 

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning 

By Margareta Magnusson 

Scribner, 2018. 117 pages. Nonfiction 

In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering called döstädning, dö meaning "death" and städning meaning "cleaning." Margareta instructs readers to embrace minimalism, and suggests which possessions you can easily get rid of (unworn clothes, unwanted presents, more plates than you'd ever use) and which you might want to keep (photographs, love letters, a few of your children's art projects). Digging into her late husband's tool shed, and her own secret drawer of vices, Margareta introduces an element of fun to a potentially daunting task. Along the way readers get a glimpse into her life in Sweden, and also become more comfortable with the idea of letting go. 

Marie Kondo’s Kurashi at Home 

By Marie Kondō 

Ten Speed Press, 2022. 223 pages. Nonfiction

From the #1 bestselling sensation and Netflix star comes her guide to designing not just the home-but the life-of your dreams, fully illustrated with more than 200 photographs from inside the Marie Kondo lifestyle.

LA

Plan A

Plan A 

By Deb Caletti 

Labyrinth Road, 2023. 404 pages. Young Adult 

After finding herself pregnant by unexpected means, 16-year-old Ivy and her steadfast boyfriend Lorenzo, embark on a cross-country trip from Texas (where abortion is illegal after six weeks) to her grandmother’s house in Oregon. They visit friends and family along the way, where stories of vulnerability, strength, and above all, choice, help Ivy realize she isn’t alone. 

This was such a thought-provoking read. It’s not revealed until late in the book exactly what happened to Ivy, allowing readers to speculate, yet this also allows readers to evaluate their own biases and stereotypes through how we view Ivy, her decision, and the various women she encounters. As a character, I love Ivy. She’s trying so hard to do everything right (work hard, get good grades, plan for college, etc.), yet she’s forced into a position where she has to make a very controversial decision that sets many in her very religious community against her. She handles it the best she can, but she’s still ostracized and friendships fall apart. This is a great reminder that we don’t fully know what anyone else is going through, and kindness goes a long way. 

If you liked Plan A, you might also like: 

You Don’t Know Me but I Know You 

By Rebecca Barrow 

HarperTeen, 2017. 323 pages. Young Adult 

Ignoring a letter written years earlier by her biological mother, Audrey attempts to fill in the missing pieces of her life until an unexpected pregnancy compels her to learn the truth about the history and choices that led to her own existence. 

A Shot at Normal 

By Marisa Reichardt 

Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers, 2021. 341 pages. Young Adult 

The Jade family lives an all-organic homeschool lifestyle that means no plastics, no cell phones, and no vaccines. Juniper contracts the measles and unknowingly passes the disease along, with tragic consequences. She is shell-shocked. Now, with the help of Nico, the boy who works at the library and loves movies and may just be more than a friend, Juniper comes to a decision: she is going to get vaccinated. How much is Juniper willing to risk for a shot at normal? 

ACS

Reading the Gaelic Landscape = Leughadh Aghaidh na Tire

 

Reading the Gaelic Landscape = Leughadh Aghaidh na Tire

By John Murray

Whittles Publishing, 2019. 264 pages. Nonfiction

Reading the Gaelic Landscape is essential for anyone who is interested in the Scottish Highlands and its native language. It enables people to read and understand place-names in Gaelic, providing insights into landscape character and history. Following the success of the first edition, this new edition has been expanded and improved with additional images and enhanced drawings.

This is a book that has an impressive amount of data and information concerning Gaelic place names, diving into the different names for hills, mountains, stones, to place names that reference animals, objects, body parts, and violent events of the past. If anyone was planning a trip to the Highlands of Scotland, this would be very worthwhile. But it is deeper than that as well, for it tells the story of the marginalization of the Gaelic-speaking people of Scotland, and how even before the 'Highland Clearances' which began in the 18th century, the language and the people who spoke it were thought of in terms of being foreign and other. Therefore, many of these places were named in a time when the whole population spoke Gaelic, and as that population was driven out, either to other parts of the land that were not as fertile, or out of the country entirely, those names were forgotten (in the 2010 Census in Scotland, only 1.1% of the population now speaks Gaelic!).  As someone who has studied Scottish Gaelic, it is especially poignant to read. I recommend this to anyone who would like to know more about this little-known part of history (unless you're an Outlander fan!), or who loves the natural world and is fascinated by the words and phrases the Scottish people used, and still use to describe it. 

If you like Reading the Gaelic Landscape, you might also like: 

The Old Ways: a journey on foot

By Robert Macfarlane

Viking, 2012. 432 pages. Nonfiction

In this exquisitely written book, Robert Macfarlane sets off from his Cambridge, England, home to follow the ancient tracks, holloways, drove roads, and sea paths that crisscross both the British landscape and its waters and territories beyond. The result is an immersive, enthralling exploration of the ghosts and voices that haunt old paths, of the stories our tracks keep and tell, and of pilgrimage and ritual. Told in Macfarlane's distinctive voice, The Old Ways folds together natural history, cartography, geology, archaeology and literature. His walks take him from the chalk downs of England to the bird islands of the Scottish northwest, from Palestine to the sacred landscapes of Spain and the Himalayas. Along the way he crosses paths with walkers of many kinds--wanderers, pilgrims, guides, and artists. Above all this is a book about walking as a journey inward and the subtle ways we are shaped by the landscapes through which we move. Macfarlane discovers that paths offer not just a means of traversing space, but of feeling, knowing, and thinking.

Clanlands: whisky, warfare and a Scottish adventure like no other

By Sam Heughan & Graham McTavish

Hodder & Stoughton, 2020. 294 pages. Nonfiction

From their faithful camper van to boats, kayaks, bicycles, and motorbikes, join stars of Outlander Sam and Graham on a road trip with a difference, as two Scotsmen explore a land of raw beauty, poetry, feuding, music, history, and warfare. Unlikely friends Sam and Graham begin their journey in the heart of Scotland at Glencoe - the site of a great massacre and major clan feud - and travel from there all the way to Inverness and Culloden battlefield, where along the way they experience adventure and a cast of highland characters. In this story of friendship, finding themselves, and whisky, they discover the complexity, rich history and culture of their native country.

The Debatable Land

By Graham Robb

W.W. Norton & Company, 2018. 334 pages. Nonfiction

Two years ago, Graham Robb moved to a place of legend called the Debatable Land, an independent territory that once served as a buffer between Scotland and England. The oldest detectable territorial division in Great Britain, the Debatable Land was once the bloodiest region in the country. After most of its population was slaughtered or deported, it became the last part of Great Britain to be conquered by England and Scotland. Today, it has vanished from the map and its boundaries are matters of myth and generational memories. Under the spell of a powerful curiosity, Robb began a journey--on foot, by bicycle, and into the past.

MGB

More Than A Body

More Than A Body
By Lexie Kite, PhD & Lindsay Kite, PhD
HarperCollins, 2020. 346 pages. Nonfiction

"Your body is an instrument, not an ornament." WOW. This nonfiction masterpiece on the way we feel about our bodies, versus the way our bodies look, is one of the most powerful I've read as of late. The authors are identical twin doctors "whose physical attributes have been scrutinized by others and each other all their lives." Shifting our thinking is difficult, because we've been conditioned our entire lives to view bodies, specifically female bodies, as needing to be pleasing to look at. It's a lesson on self-liberation that I didn't know I needed, and now I can't stop telling other people about this book! "When you know that you are more than a body," they write, "you will find that your sense of self, empowerment, and life possibilities are expanding. You will find out that the path to fulfillment and achieving your personal potential is bigger and better than simply forcing your body to fit a perfect mold." I came away from listening to this audiobook with even more passion for taking care of my body because of all that it can do for me, not for the way it looks. 

If you like More Than A Body, you might also like:

Good for A Girl

By Lauren Fleshman
Penguin Press: 2023. 274 pages. Nonfiction

One of the most decorated collegiate athletes of all time and a national champion as a pro, Lauren Fleshman has grown up in the world of running. But every step of the way, she has seen how our sports systems--originally designed for men and boys--fail women and girls. Girls drop out of sports at alarming rates once they hit puberty, and female collegiate athletes routinely fall victim to injury, eating disorders, or mental health struggles as they try to force their way past a natural dip in performance for women of their age. Fleshman gives voice to the often-silent experience of the female athlete and argues that the time has come to rebuild competitive sports with women at their center.

What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat
By Aubrey Gordon
Beacon Press: 2020. 197 pages. Nonfiction

By sharing her experiences as well as those of others-from smaller fat to very fat people-she concludes that to be fat in our society is to be seen as an undeniable failure, unlovable, unforgivable, and morally condemnable. Fatness is an open invitation for others to express disgust, fear, and insidious concern. To be fat is to be denied humanity and empathy. Advancing fat justice and changing prejudicial structures and attitudes will require work from all people. This book is a crucial tool to create a tectonic shift in the way we see, talk about, and treat our bodies, fat and thin alike.

The Body Liberation Project

By Chrissy King
Tiny Reparations Books: 2023. 303 pages. Nonfiction

This book is about finding actual freedom in our bodies by discovering strength and aspects of fitness, movement, and eating that work for YOU. It's about realizing that the goal is not to look at our bodies and love everything we see; it's to understand that at our essence we are so much more than our bodies. But it's also about recognizing the harsh realities that prohibit people in marginalized bodies from being able to do so. Society constantly bombards those who fall outside Eurocentric standards of beauty (think Black, fat, trans, etc.) with the message that they are less attractive, and part of the journey toward body liberation is examining your own privilege, acknowledging the harm you may be causing others, and mourning your old ideas about what a body "should" look like. Recognizing that none of us are free until all of us are, Chrissy King shares the wisdom, the tools, and the inspiration to motivate readers to find body liberation and, even more important, to pass it on.

LKA

 

Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries and Just One More Page Before Lights Out

Why We Read: on Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights Out 

by Shannon Reed 

Hanover Square Press, 2024. 329 pages. Nonfiction 

What makes someone a capital-R Reader? What appeal factors draw us in to a special book ? Reed, an essayist, teacher, and voracious reader, shares memories from her life as a bookworm as well as charming stories about the ways in which books have impacted the generations of students she's worked with. Readers will be smitten with this introspective, humorous, and lovely book. 

As a reader who finds such joy in books (go figure, the librarian who loves books),  I found this book so much fun to read. In the past I have incorrectly assumed certain characteristics of a person’s reading habits were needed to qualify them to be a True Reader. I’ve since dismissed that notion, but reading this book has me even more converted to the idea that everyone can, and should be a reader and that every reader is unique. There’s no right way to be a Reader and so much joy can come from sharing your love of reading with others. Reed's writing was candid and each essay was engaging and witty. One of the essays included in the book was about the Pizza Hut BOOK IT! program. If you know, you know.

 If you like Why We Read, you might also like:

Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks

by Annie Spence

Flatiron Books, 2017. 244 pages. Nonfiction

 If you love to read, you know that some books affect you so profoundly they forever change the way you think about the world. Some books, on the other hand, disappoint you so much you want to throw them against the wall. Either way, it's clear that a book can be your new soul mate or the bad relationship you need to end. In Dear Fahrenheit 451, librarian Annie Spence has crafted love letters and breakup notes to the iconic and eclectic books she has encountered over the years. From breaking up with The Giving Tree (a dysfunctional relationship book if ever there was one), to her love letter to The Time Traveler's Wife (a novel less about time travel and more about the life of a marriage, with all of its ups and downs), Spence will make you think of old favorites in a new way. Filled with suggested reading lists, Spence's take on classic and contemporary books is very much like the best of literature sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, sometimes surprisingly poignant, and filled with universal truths. A celebration of reading, Dear Fahrenheit 451 is for anyone who loves nothing more than curling up with a good book ... and another, and another, and another!

 

I Will Judge You by Your Bookshelf

by Grant Snider

Abrams ComicArts, 2020. 125 Pages. Graphic Novels

It's no secret, but we are judged by our bookshelves. We learn to read at an early age, and as we grow older we shed our beloved books for new ones. But some of us surround ourselves with books. We collect them, decorate with them, are inspired by them, and treat our books as sacred objects. In this lighthearted collection of one- and two-page comics, writer-artist Grant Snider explores bookishness in all its forms, and the love of writing and reading, building on the beloved literary comics featured on his website, Incidental Comics.

 

JK

Someone You Can Build a Nest In

Someone You Can Build a Nest In

By John Wiswell

Random House, 2024. 310 pages. Fantasy

Nursed back to health by Homily, a warm-hearted human, shapeshifting monster Shesheshen falls in love with her only to discover she’s a monster hunter, and since devouring her girlfriend isn’t an option, she must learn to build a life with, rather than in, her soulmate.

The book is told from the viewpoint of Shesheshen, and they do not disappoint with their development from "monster" to something altogether quite human in response to their relationship with Homily.  And while the novel is in turns gore ridden and darkly humorous, I would contend that the overall message focuses on familial trauma and the complicated nature of healing from it (and it does so with aplomb!).  This isn't a physically steamy romance, as our main character is navigating their first romantic relationship, but it is rewarding nonetheless! Definitely one for dark fantasy lovers to put on their TBR list. 

If you like Someone You Can Build a Nest In you might also like:

Thornhedge

By T. Kingfisher

Tor Publishing Group, 2023. 116 pages. Fantasy

The tale of a kind-hearted, toad-shaped heroine, a gentle knight, and a mission gone completely sideways.

The Monster of Elendhaven

By Jennifer Giesbrecht

Tom Doherty Associates Book, 2019. 159 pages. Fantasy

A thing with no name—after washing up on the docks, empty, alone and unable to die—teams up with a frail young man who can twist minds with magic, and together they launch a dark and cruel plan that consummates their horrible passion for each other.

RBL

Never Lie

Never Lie

By Freida McFadden

Poisoned Pen Press, 2024. 296 pages. Fiction 

Newlyweds Tricia and Ethan are searching for the house of their dreams. But when they visit the remote manor that once belonged to Dr. Adrienne Hale, a renowned psychiatrist who vanished without a trace four years earlier, a violent winter storm traps them at the estate with no chance of escape until the blizzard comes to an end. In search of a book to keep her entertained until the snow abates, Tricia happens upon a secret room. One that contains audio transcripts from every single patient Dr. Hale has ever interviewed. As Tricia listens to the cassette tapes, she learns about the terrifying chain of events leading up to Dr. Hale's mysterious disappearance. Tricia plays the tapes one by one, late into the night. With each one, another shocking piece of the puzzle falls into place, and Dr. Adrienne Hale's web of lies slowly unravels. And then Tricia reaches the final cassette. The one that reveals the entire horrifying truth. 

Freida McFadden is the master of misdirection. I thought I knew where this story was going, but I was completely wrong. The story unravels through Tricia’s POV in the present and the recordings of Dr. Hale’s patients. The dueling narratives are perfectly paced and you’re never spending too much time with one or the other. This allows crumbs of the mystery to be revealed without becoming frustrating or cumbersome. Overall, this is such a fun, suspenseful read with a twist even this thriller aficionado didn’t see coming. 

If you like Never Lie, you might also like:

Hidden Pictures 

By Jason Rekulak

Flatiron Books, 2022. 376 pages. Fiction 

Fresh out of rehab, Mallory Quinn takes a job in the affluent suburb of Spring Brook, New Jersey as a babysitter for Ted and Caroline Maxwell. She is to look after their five-year-old son, Teddy. Mallory immediately loves this new job. She sincerely bonds with Teddy, a sweet, shy boy who is never without his sketchbook and pencil. His drawings are the usual fare: trees, rabbits, balloons. But one day, he draws something different: a man in a forest, dragging a woman's lifeless body. As the days pass, Teddy's artwork becomes more and more sinister, and his stick figures steadily evolve into more detailed, complex, and lifelike sketches well beyond the ability of any five-year-old. Mallory begins to suspect these are glimpses of an unsolved murder from long ago, perhaps relayed by a supernatural force lingering in the forest behind the Maxwell's house. With help from a handsome landscaper and an eccentric neighbor, Mallory sets out to decipher the images and save Teddy--while coming to terms with a tragedy in her own past before it's too late. 

Rock Paper Scissors

By Alice Feeney

Flatiron Books, 2021. 294 pages. Mystery 

Think you know the person you married? Think again. Things have been wrong with Mr. and Mrs. Wright for a long time. When Adam and Amelia win a weekend away in Scotland, it might be just what their marriage needs. Self-confessed workaholic and screenwriter Adam Wright has lived with face blindness his whole life. He can't recognize friends or family, or even his own wife. Every anniversary the couple exchange traditional gifts and each year Adam's wife writes him a letter that she never lets him read. Until now. They both know this weekend will make or break their marriage, but they didn't randomly win this trip. One of them is lying, and someone doesn't want them to live happily ever after. Ten years of marriage. Ten years of secrets. And an anniversary they will never forget.

BW

The Great Divide

The Great Divide
by Cristina Henriquez
Ecco, 2024. 321 pages. Historical Fiction

A novel about the construction of the Panama Canal in 1907, following the intersecting lives of the local families fighting to protect their homeland, the West Indian laborers recruited to dig the waterway, and the white Americans who gained profit and glory for themselves.

I love reading historical fiction that reveals the life experiences of people in diverse settings, so of course I was drawn to this account of the building of the Panama Canal. This novel covers a lot of ground, discussing themes such as colonialism and exploitation, and the history of Panama in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This is all covered with a light touch, as Henriquez weaves multiple story lines together to give a wide view of events. Each story line intersects in interesting and intricate ways, with a wide cast of characters. With so many topics and voices covered, this book kept me reading and constantly finding something new.

If you like The Great Divide you might also like:

River Sing Me Home
by Eleanor Shearer
Berkley, 2023. 322 pages. Historical Fiction

When Rachel learns of the Emancipation Act of 1834, she runs from the Barbados plantation she has been enslaved on, and sets out to find her five children who were sold. Are any of them still alive? Rachel has to know. The grueling, dangerous journey takes her from Barbados then, by river, deep into the forest of British Guiana and finally across the sea to Trinidad.

Silent Winds, Dry Seas
by Vinod Busjeet
Doubleday, 2021. 272 pages. Historical Fiction

In the 1950s, Vishnu Bhushan, a young descendant of Indian indentured laborers in Mauritius battles to experience the world beyond while he simultaneously deals with the cultural, political and familial turmoil that holds on to him.

MB