Whatcha Readin'?

Do y’all realize this is the twelfth Whatcha Readin’ article? Crazy! That means one full year of you sitting down with me once a month to email me a picture of your bookshelf (yes, I really do get those emails and I LOVE them!) or what you just finished that you couldn’t put down. That’s so exciting! I sincerely hope you’ve gotten some good recommendations from this column, and that you keep expanding my to be read (TBR) pile.

Still, in September I read 11 books, five of which were four stars or better. Here they are, in no particular order:

Straight Man by Richard Russo is a hilarious contemporary fiction novel about a college professor going through a midlife crisis. This had legit laugh out loud moments and felt very much like a coming-of-age story. Reflective and slow-to-medium-paced, it doesn’t feel like a long book even though it is.

Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon is a nonfiction art book that you’ll fly through in a few minutes, but it’s chock full of inspiration and ideas for the creative in your life and would make an excellent Christmas gift or stocking stuffer as it’s not very large.

The Creative Act by Rick Rubin is a nonfiction and inspiring book about being creative and the artist’s life. Reflective and fast-paced, this is one of the best books I’ve read about overcoming our fears, imposter syndrome, setting goals, etc. An excellent book for the creative in your life, although this one won’t fit in a stocking.

Breaking Clean by Judy Blunt is a slow-to-medium-paced memoir about growing up a rancher in eastern Montana. It is at times heart-breaking and hilarious and has the very best/worst chapter about the winter of 1965 that I’ve ever read. Definitely one of my all-time top-five favorite memoirs.

Galactic Hot Dogs #1: Cosmoe’s Wiener Getaway by Max Brallier is a middle grade science fiction book that’s told in a comic book/graphic novel format. My kids thought the whole thing was excellent and I laughed out loud a couple of times. Definitely crude toilet humor, but the underlying themes of conquering our fears, fighting for what’s right, and overcoming the things that set us back or set us up for failure are wonderfully dealt with.

I’m currently in various stages of reading:

-Contents May Have Shifted by Pam Houston

-The Witches by Roald Dahl

-Descended from a Travel-Worn Satchel by Chris LaTray

I hope all your wood is in, your garden bounty’s put up for winter enjoyment, and your bookshelves are overflowing. I very much hope to see you all at the Thompson Falls Public Library on Wednesday, October 25 at 1 p.m. In the meantime, drop me a line and let me know Whatcha Readin’.

Sunday Dutro is an avid reader and eBook convert living in Thompson Falls with her beautiful family and an enormous “to be read” pile. Reach her at [email protected] or sundaydutro.com