0
Book ListReadingSelf-CareUncategorized

Leisurely Reading Book List

By July 9, 2019 No Comments

*Please note that some of the following recommendations include affiliate links, which means that at no cost to you, I will earn a commission (which will help with costs of running the site) if you click through and make a purchase*

One of my goals this past year has been to read for pleasure, rather than to just read parenting and profession-related books (which, for me, are typically related to sensory processing, child development, feeding, motor skills, and behavior). I have always enjoyed leisurely reading, but have not made as much time for it in the past few years. I regularly take my kids to our public library, and started checking out more books that I wanted to read as well. One of my girlfriends even started a book club, so I happily joined in and have since found great value in our little group of gals who talk, laugh, eat, and drink together every two months while discussing our latest read.

My favorite genres include, non-fiction and fiction, especially historical fiction. I have read a few self-help type books lately as well, which have offered some practical tips that I have folded into our everyday lives. Though I have my faves, I like to think of myself as pretty open minded in regards to book genres, save for science fiction–I just can’t seem to get as excited about this type of book (except I did enjoy the Hunger Game series). That being said, I am always open to suggestions and ideas of new books to read and enjoy.

My favorite way to read a book is split now–I like a good old fashioned book where you turn the pages, it smells like fresh paper (or musty paper, depending on where you get it from), and I have loved my Amazon Kindle for the past 10 years. I recently ordered a new Kindle (and protective cover!) due to my old taking a spill and officially biting the dust. I have yet to try an audio book, but I hear it’s the way to go for some, and several of my book club gals swear by them (through Audible).

Following is a list of some of my favorite books I have read over the past year. I would love to hear what others are reading, so feel free to comment here, or on my Facebook and Instagram (@otmamacita) so that I can add to my list of “must reads.” Also, I am not a book critic, far from it in fact. I just enjoy a good read that takes me to another place. Thus, the brief reviews I provide below are my humble opinion, and I would love to hear your own opinions on the same books.

Happy reading!

-OT Mamacita

Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

This historical fiction is a quick read, with twists and turns the whole way through. You root so hard for the main character that the end of the book will have you in tears. One of my favorite reads in a long time.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

Regardless of your political affiliations or beliefs, this memoir is elegantly written and starts from her childhood up until when she and President Obama left the White House. All in all, I found her life story to be fascinating.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

This book was a little slow to start for me, but as the complexity and back stories of the main characters develop, you find yourself engrossed and turning page after page in oder to reveal the mystery of who set the house on fire in the first chapter of the book.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

This series I found to be funny, totally outrageous, and dramatic like a bad reality TV series you can’t stop watching. The last book (Rich People Problems) has the ending that you’re hoping for, and you put it down feeling satisfied by it. 

Drop the Ball by Tiffany Dufu

Tiffany Dufu hit me in ALL the feels and with ALL of the truths about being a working mom. I found myself nodding my head and saying “Yes!” in response to many of her experiences of figuring out how to balance being a super mom, a super career woman, and a super wife. She illustrates how she learned to “drop the ball” so that she could use her talents to their fullest.

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

This book is written in simplistic terms using a conversational style, therefore making it a breeze to read. While I usually find it difficult to say “yes” to everything, Rhimes describes how her year of saying yes to everything brought a deeper fulfillment to her life.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

I enjoyed the twists and turns of this book, as it was like a glorified terrible high school clique with a few very unexpected revelations and events at the end. If you have HBO, the show is best watched after reading the book, as the character development is so much deeper and robust in writing.

Born Survivors by Wendy Holden

A gut-wrenching, and ultimately hopeful account of three women (parallel stories in the book) who survived the Holocaust while pregnant. The detailed accounts of the horrors these women endured will have you heartbroken and stunned, then relieved for them when their ordeal is over after their liberation from the camps.

Small Sacrifices by Ann Rule

Small Sacrifices is an unflinching account of a very mentally ill mother who does the unthinkable to her children, then ultimately becomes pregnant again after the tragedy she caused. You won’t put this true crime story down, I promise.

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

I have not seen the hit Hulu series, but I hear that it’s amazing. The book I found to be a little slow, though interesting because it’s not a story I would have ever dreamt up. I was also disappointed in the end, but it let me use my imagination, which results in a happier ending (in my head).

Leave a Reply