Blog / 2019 / The Calm before the Creative Storm

For more about the animal ABC book I am making, check out this video. (It’s from the project’s crowdfunding campaign, which just ended.)

As you may know, I just said goodbye to social media for a while, and I am already missing it. Specifically, I am sad that I no longer have a space in which to share about the books I love. So, with today’s post and with every one I do about the alphabet book, I’ve decided I will tell you about what I have been reading:

• Puddin’ by Julie Murphy

  This is the second in a series of YA novels about growing up fat in a little town in Texas. I liked Dumplin’ (the first book), but I definitely prefer the second one. You don’t have to read Dumplin’ to understand Puddin’ but it may add to the experience. Either way, I would strongly recommend skipping the movie version of Dumplin’ as it’s a whitewashed version of the book.

• Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver

  I am pretty sure that this novel started with Kingsolver discovering Mary Treat, a little known American scientist who corresponded with Charles Darwin. And then my guess is that she learned the strange history of Vineland, New Jersey (where Treat lived for a while) and felt compelled to bring it to life. However the story came about it, it’s a fascinating exploration of how our society understands truth/reality and how that understanding impacts women.

• The Library Book by Susan Orlean

  The author uses the 1986 burning of the LA central library as a starting point but then takes us on a journey of discovery of the sacred institution that is the Public Library. I am listening to the book and, though Orlean is clearly not a trained voice artist, her reading adds a delightful texture to the information she shares.

• The Vagina Bible by Jen Gunter

  This book gives you all sorts of details about the care and use of vaginas. It’s not a page turner, but I’ve enjoyed reading a chapter here and there ever since it came out last summer. Information truly is power.