My Winter Reading List
WORDS: CHYKA KEEBAUGH
PHOTOS: LISA ATKINSON
Tough times call for a good book!
A book that can change our way of thinking, a book that can distract us from our thoughts and a book that can make us laugh and smile and dream of faraway places. My love of reading is well known and I am always on the hunt for the next, most entertaining book.
There really is nothing better than sitting down and readying yourself for that escape. An escape from our everyday lives and the realities of the world is exactly why I love reading. During these difficult times when we’re not feeling great, having an amazing book to sit down with and read is so important. They are my absolute escape at the moment, In fact, right now I am curled up on the couch reading a new book that has just been sent to me, it hasn’t even been printed yet. How exciting is that?
My reading list from this winter…
Lady Sunshine by Amy Mason Doan
I’m currently reading this book and absolutely loving it… I’m about 3/4 of the way through and it’s an easy read spanning 20 years, about a girls moment in time with her bohemian uncle on the California coast in the ‘70s. Fast forward to now and the repercussions of infinite freedom that was had in that time, think adventurous living, inspiring characters and a mysterious Aunt all add to this entertaining read. I highly recommend this.
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
I spotted this book on a few bestseller lists recently and I couldn’t wait to get it. I’m yet to start this but I have heard so many good things and have been told that it is one book you just can’t put down.
“ Then she dives beneath the surface of the freezing water to the shocking memory of the sudden passionate encounter she had the night before, up against the wall outside the house, as her husband and mother chatted to the dinner guests inside. So begins a story that unfolds over 24 hours and across 50 years, as decades of family legacies, love, lies, secrets, and one unspeakable incident in her childhood lead Elle to the precipice of a life-changing decision. Over the next 24 hours, Elle will have to decide between the life she has made with her much-loved husband, Peter, and the life she imagined would be hers with her childhood love, Jonas, if a tragic event hadn't forever changed the course of their lives. “
This book came recommended to me by one of my Instagram followers and it is the story of Joe Kennedy and his and favourite sister Kick Kennedy. She marries one of the most eligible men in Britain and it’s the story of her incredible life. I am someone who truly loves an autobiography and I can’t wait to read this one.
“ In ‘Kick’, Paul Byrne tells the story of a woman who was more than simply the second sister of Jack, Bobby and Ted: a feisty and unique product of two countries, she was the force of personality the Kennedys rarely mentioned, a life long hidden from the legendary family history. ”
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
I love a book you can’t put down and are obsessed with from the first page! And this book is exactly that, soon to be made into a TV series with Julia Roberts this is the story is of a husband and father who just disappear one day, and the stories that are later discovered by his wife. It really is a great mystery and an easy to read page-turner that I devoured!
The Paris Library by JanetSkeslien Charles
I have had this book on my bedside table for the last six months and I really can’t wait to read it, it’s just that I constantly get new books that seem to come first. Do you do that also? Just pile the high! I love any book that spans time (particularly from World War II onwards) and is described as “A novel of courage and betrayal in Occupied Paris”. It is right up my alley, has been highly recommended to me and I cant wait to get started!
It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
This book is just so incredibly moving and powerful but broke my heart in many places. This story revolves around a promising relationship, abuse in a marriage and how it affects the child from that family. I found this really hard to read in some places but definitely a book I highly recommend… Just be aware there is a trigger warning for violence and domestic abuse.
A Recipe For A Kinder Life by Annie Smithers
This book is by the incredible Annie Smithers, who in my opinion one of the best chefs in Australia. You may remember I was lucky enough to eat at her amazing Trentham restaurant called Du Fermier when travelling with friends, and once again I count my luck as I got an early copy of this book from Annie who is a dear friend.
“Part meditation, part memoir, the book offers practical advice and wisdom gleaned from a life dedicated to seasonal food and living lightly on the ground beneath her feet.” This beautiful book explores her quest for a more sustainable life, about how she created her kitchen garden and some great stories of her career and of course, lots of different recipes. This is definitely the book for the food lover.
Need a few more book recommendations?
Great places to find out what’s new in the book world are book clubs! Online book clubs are great sources of information and I find myself subscribing just for the recommendations.
• Oprah’s Book Club is a fantastic place to start, just persuing through her Instagram highlights for past books inspires me to get involved.
• Reese’s Bookclub is another online club that offers recommendations, gifts and more. This club looks at books that push women to the centre of the story and I am here for it!
• Booktopia is my go-to for ordering books online, and I love to check out their blog section for all the book-related gossip. From reviews to interviews, this site is great.
• The Goop book club focuses on stories that make us think, that move us, that raise complex questions, that open up important conversations. With live chats and a chatty Facebook page.
Another thing I always do is when I am recommended a book is keep a list ! Whether it be in a notebook or on my phone - having a growing list means I am always reading something! Once I have a few titles written down on that list I log into my account on Booktopia and order it straight away. I love knowing I have a pile of books that are always there for me to read. I am also someone who really loves to read a proper book and not a kindle because I just love the feel of a book in my hand, the fresh pages and the glossy cover - love it! But one of the reasons for always purchasing is because I love sharing my collections. There is nothing better than passing on a loved book to a friend, moving from one reader to the next.
For Father’s day last year, I gifted my Dad a subscription from Bookabuy which is a fantastic concept for book lovers! Every month he receives a surprise book ( and a sneaky block of chocolate) for him to read. You can choose how many months you want the gift to be sent, and fill out a questionnaire on the style of books do you think the person receiving the gift would love. My dad has absolutely loved this gift and never knows what’s coming which is part of the surprise - inspiring you to read genres you might otherwise steer away from.