Friday Favs: Winter Reading List

3 words: worst. winter. ever. The upside: I've had the chance to read a LOT of really good books. So get cuddled up under some blankets as snow storm #1000000 of the winter moves in this weekend and enjoy some good reads (for free):

PS: My Kindle Paperwhite is the best gift I have EVER received (hint hint to everyone looking for V-day gifts). With the click of a button I can check out books from the library, so while a Kindle is a little pricey at $100, I haven't paid for a book in over a year which has saved me about $100- aka paid for itself in less than a year. The Paperwhite is the one that has brightness adjustments so I can read outside or in the pitch black, and it's easy to hold in one hand AND swipe the page while holding onto a bus pole with the other hand. Ok, that's enough for my ode to my beloved Kindle. About the books:

1. Defending Jacob by William Landay: The DA investigates the murder of a small town boy only to discover his SON is the #1 suspect. It's written by an actual DA, and since I just finished up my week of jury duty I pretty much consider myself a courtroom vet at this point. But for real this suspense/mystery/family conflict will have you on the edge of your seat.
2.  The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory: Queen. Kings. Sex. Victorian Era cheating scandals. What else do you need to know?
3. The Paris Wife by Paula McLain: Based on true events and letters from Ernest Hemingway's first wife, this book takes you through the intense, emotional journey that was being married to Hemingway.
4. Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg: If you are a woman in the workplace do yourself a favor and read this. This book was full of those "wait so it's not just me?" moments with actionable advice for being a successful woman in the workplace. Sidenote- Sandberg is waayyy more of a normal person than I was expecting. I would totally go to happy hour with her.
5. The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeanette Walls: Walls tells the story of growing up in extreme poverty with her non-conformist, nomadic parents in such a real yet touching and respectful way that you won't be able to put this one down. Walls and her siblings' incredible will to persevere is incedible- I laughed, I cried, I got inspired. Oh and this is going to be a major motion picture starring none other than Jennifer Lawrence.
6. Sister by Rosamund Lupton: When her mom calls to tell her that her younger sister has gone missing, Tess returns to London expecting to find her and give her the usual lecture all older siblings are accustomed to giving. This thriller truly captures the bond between siblings- if you're an older sibling you HAVE to read this one. And it has one of the biggest plot twists I have ever read.
7. The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter--And How to Make the Most of Them Now by Meg Jay: Look it's no secret that I was a hot mess in my early 20s. Apparently that's normal, and apparently it's normal to be doing what I'm doing now too. Meg Jay, a psychiatrist who specializes in 20-somethings, explains the psychology behind why we 20-somethings are so (insert every adjective your parents have ever called you here). She tells actual stories about her patients and gives advice for how to deal with being in your 20s in the era of "30s are the new 20s".
8. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver: The mother of a school shooter recounts raising a son who turns out to be a school shooter. My point of view changed approximately 100 times while reading this, and I'm still haunted by aspects of the story.
9. Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian: A murder-suicide (or is it?) rocks a small town. The plot thickens when the pastor runs away with a Hollywood-esque author who writes about angels. Nothing's what it seems (dun dun duuunnnn!)
10. Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality by Jacob Tomsky: The memoir of a guy who has worked every job in every type of hotel. He shares a few secrets (like how to clear out the minibar without paying), but the main thing is - you will never look at hotels the same.  

Want more book recs? Check out my page on goodreads.

Fall Must-Reads

Really what is better in the fall then curling up with a good FREE e-book under a pile of blankets (while hungover from college football maybe..) as chili cooks in the crockpot? Yeah, not a whole lot. The books below are amazing. Just read them. And then talk to me about them because I loved these books and everyone is tired of hearing me talk about the characters like they're my friends.

1. The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis: This. Is. Everything. I heard her on the Kojo Show (I know, nerd alert) talking about the million times this book got rejected by publishers and now she's been selected by Oprah Book Club. Doesn't that in itself make you want to read it?? Anyway, the New York Times likens her writing a mix of Toni Morrison and Louise Erdrich so, duh, must read. My co-riders on the S4 think I'm crazy because they saw me miss my stop and cry twice reading this one. You journey with Hattie and her family starting in the 1920's with her migration to the north, and see the world through all twelve (YES TWELVE) of her children's eyes. I don't know how else to say this, but this is such an important book.
2. The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel: This reads like a grandma retelling a story about the good ole days. It's based on articles and journals from the wives of the first astronauts who were actually the original mainstream celebrities stalked by paparazzi. Fun facts: one of the wives built their house with no windows on the front so paparazzi couldn't CLIMB THROUGH HER WINDOWS, Jackie O was a size 10 (how did I not know that?)
3. The Weight of Silence by Heather Gudenkauf: I read this in one sitting. It follows a family the day their daughter goes missing. Drama, suspense, romance, justice...what else could you ask for?
4. Love Does by Bob Goff: All my friends were reading this and like "you have to read this!" and now I read it and I'm like "you have to read this!" to everyone else. Bob Goff, the founder of Restore International (a nonprofit human rights organization operating in Uganda and India), lives the most "whimsy", free life ever. This is his hilarious, insightful and heartwarming story. After reading it you're going to want to go do something crazy and "whimsy" (his word throughout the book) like save the world. I highlighted about 80% of this book, meaning it is REAL good. Sidenote: he talked at my church and he is absolutely as nutty sounding as he is in the book. I just want to be him.  
5. Devil in the White City by Erik Larson: Sooo this is actually a American history lesson that includes the story of a serial killer, so you can't stop reading AND learn a little too. Sidenote- I didn't know the World's Fair was actually a thing? And it inspired Disney World! 
6. Midwives by Chris Bohjalian: Take a little trip to "The Kingdom" of Vermont, because this writing makes you feel like you're there. This chronicles the daughter of a modern-day midwife as her mom stands trial for the death of a mother in her care. I read it in about two sittings, and I'm ready to read anything this guy pumps out.

FREE E-BOOKS! Hallelujah!

I love to read, especially while I'm on the bus (because the Metro is waaay too expensive for me during rush hour), especially when it's on my Kindle, and quadruply especially when my books are FREE. I also have great friends who know how much I love free stuff and always forward things to me- like THIS SITE WHERE YOU CAN GET FREE E-BOOKS.

I MEAN JUST LOOK AT THESE FABULOUS BOOKS. All you have to do is click on the link underneath the image of the book you want and download the book! You can also donate e-books on here too. Thank you, whoever did this.

You can also download free e-books from the DC Public Library website, all you have to do is get a (free) library card! It even checks them back in for you the day they're due, which means no more obnoxious $.25 late fees and no more schlepping to the library. It's great. It's also great that it only took me 3.5 minutes to get a library card at the MLK Library--don't forget to bring a photo ID and something that proves your DC residency (if your photo ID has your DC address or a utility bill or pay stub). Here is a list of their locations, you can get a card from any of them: http://www.dclibrary.org/downloads . But really you should go to MLK Library because you will get to meet Walter who is the friendliest, happiest librarian on earth (his name is Walter for crying out loud) and he will tell you how proud he is of you for getting a library card and make you feel like you did something phenomenal by filling out your address on a piece of paper and getting a card.

If you're looking for good books to read I just e-returned  these AWESOME ones to the library:

• Waiting to be Heard: Duh. Who doesn't want to know what the F happened over there? Also it reminded me of how stupid I was when I was 20. Not as stupid as her, but pretty stupid.
• A Vist From the Goon Squad: I can't say enough good things about this book. One of my new favorites. You follow people through their lives who are strangely connected, and you think about how time really IS a goon and changes everything. It really makes you think. Just do it. Just read it. And get really nostalgic about how much life changes.
• Sharp Objects: Seriously, seriously disturbing. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. Same woman who wrote Gone Girl (also a must-read). It is a look into the incredibly effed up side of small towns, drugs, psychos and of course MURDER. There's a little bit of sex too. I mean those are actually the only things I like to read about by the pool.