Huey Lewis was addicted to love, but I might as well face it I’m addicted to books. I always have multiple books going at once. Right now I’m reading Little Fish, a graphic memoir (as in illustrated, not TMI) by Ramsey Beyer, Radical Acceptance, a spiritual book by Tara Brach, and Wild Mama, a memoir by Carrie Visintainer. As a family, we just finished listening to Michelle Obama’s Becoming–AMAZING–and have moved on to News of the World, a perfect little novel set in the Wild West by Paulette Jiles.
But I’m starting to worry this constant reading may be a problem. I mean, even just walking up the dock to get online or use the head (that’s nautical for toilet), I’ll pop in earbuds to catch five minutes of my latest audiobook (currently The Night Child by Port Townsend author and independent bookstore owner Anna Quinn). This constant void-filling goes against everything I’ve learned about mindfulness and meditation and living in the moment. But, um, I really love books.
And so, here at saildogbark, we’re starting a new section on our blog devoted to the books we love. Savai and Talia are writing reviews, and so am I. Even Graeme, who reads as much as (and faster than) anyone I know, might recommend a read or two. Eventually.
To kick things off, I’ll start with my favorite book of 2018: Bonnie Rough’s Beyond Birds & Bees: Bringing Home a New Message to Our Kids about Sex, Love, and Equality. If you’re involved in children’s lives as a parent, grandparent, or educator, BB&B is a must-read. Why? Because it helps us make sense of what we learned about our bodies and sexual identities growing up, and how we can do better for our children, our culture, and even for ourselves. Read my full review here.
So, next time you’re looking for a good read, check out our book reviews. Or sign up to receive my annual book recs newsletter like the one below. When you click on an Amazon or Independent-Bookstore-Near-You link, we might even earn a penny for the cruising kitty, and you might enjoy knowing you’re reading the same stuff we are halfway across the world!
Screenshot of Janna’s 2018 Book Recs (click to access interactive links):
