After what seemed like the LONGEST winter ever, spring is finally here! The weather is beginning to warm up enough to start adventuring outside (book in tow, obviously). We’ve been having a “super bloom” here in California thanks to all the rain that we’ve been having, and the flowers are phenomenal. My little garden is starting to make an appearance as well, and I can’t wait until I can throw some fresh, homegrown basil into my dishes or a sprig of mint into my lemon water. At least, I hope they get that far; because as much as I love plants and desperately want to have a green thumb…. they tend to die in my care. I’m crossing my fingers that practice makes perfect here. Anyways, I digress. To me, spring time is a time of regrowth, of second chances, love, hope, and new beginnings. Below is my Spring Reading List – a selection of books that I feel incorporate some of those themes.
“After all,” Anne had said to Marilla once, “I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.” {L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea}
CLASSICS
Anne of Avonlea
By L. M. Montgomery
For anyone who knows me, they know that the Anne series is my go-to read. Whether I’m in a slump, happy, sad, hustling day in and day out, or just longing for a kindred spirit – Anne gets me. The Anne Series just gets sweeter with each book – slowly maturing and blossoming like its heroine. This is the second book of the series, and it picks up where the first book left off. She’s sixteen, and starting out her career as the Avonlea school teacher (am I the only one who wishes times were that simple still and careers just fell into your lap right after high school?). She’s now in charge of her own classroom and little humans and has all the great teacher stories that go with it. Also, Anne decides to give Gilbert another a second chance at friendship which just gives me ALL the feelings. Montgomery does such a beautiful job painting the scene and weaving Anne’s story. And just because Anne’s older doesn’t mean she’s through with getting into scraps (which honestly is a big consolation, because I’m well into my twenties and show no sign of fully maturing and becoming flawlessly graceful). So, prepare yourself for another book full of shenanigans, friendship, romance, life lessons, and bits of wisdom.
Set the mood: “That is one good thing about this world … there are always sure to be more springs.”
Read if: You loved the first book – because the second is just as lovely.
FANTASY
The Hobbit
By J. R. R. Tolkien
There are some books that I believe every person should read at least once in their lifetime, and I would argue that The Hobbit is one of them. The Hobbit is a genre defining book. It’s a classic on the highest of scales. Tolkien literally created the rise in popularity of fantasy in his time period through The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. He even invented the elven language (complete with consistent grammatical rules), so he’s basically a literary genius. He also expertly paints a detailed picture of Middle Earth, the world in which all this takes place, and teaches the reader valuable lessons throughout it. It’s beautiful, magical, and instantly transports you. I always feel like this tale starts off in the spring. The shire is always green and full of life, there’s parties and fireworks and vegetables in everyone’s garden. Bilbo is your average, respectable hobbit, and enjoys his quite life in the shire where nothing unusual or unexpected ever happens. And then a wizard and a group of dwarves show up and throw him right into an adventure (which is highly unusual for a hobbit). In the quest to help the dwarves take back their home, Bilbo faces down wargs, orcs, goblins, and even a dragon.
Set the mood: “If more of us valued food and cheer and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”
Read if: You’re in the mood for an adventure of epic proportions.
The Princess Bride
By William Goldman
When you hear “The Princess Bride”, most people think of the cult classic 1987 film. However, did you know that William Goldman also wrote the screen play for the movie? So, there’s the same style, basic plot, and humor in the book that made the movie such a hit. At the beginning of the book, Goldman tells us that this is his abridged version of The Princess Bride, originally an epic work by Florinese author S. Morgenstern (a fictional author from a fictional country). This may sound confusing but it works out amazingly. Goldman’s hilarious interjections alone make the entire book. I was quite literally laughing out loud during the whole experience. Some of my favorite parts of the book are the random side “facts”, like “blue jeans were invented considerably before most people suppose” and “originally, jealousy pertained solely to plants, other people’s cactus or ginkgoes, or later, when there was grass, which is why, even to this day, we say that someone is green with jealousy.” The more you know, apparently! It’s a great adventure read filled with humor, love, friendship, and of course – the ROUS’s (you’ll have to read it to figure out that one).
Set the mood:
Honestly, there’s no way to choose one quote from quite literally THE MOST QUOTED BOOK EVER. So, I’ll leave you with Goldman’s summary when he gets ready to read it to his grandson:
“He held up a book then. “I’m going to read it to you for relax.”
“Does it have any sports in it?”
“Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True Love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest Ladies. Snakes. Spiders… Pain. Death. Brave men. Cowardly men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles.”
“Sounds okay,” I said and I kind of closed my eyes.”
Read if: Treat yourself, and read this work of art for a riotously hilarious ride.
NON FICTION
All Creatures Great and Small
By James Harriot
You know those books that you can’t put down and stay up until 3 am on a work day because every time you try to put it down your brain starts twitching and you JUST HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS? This book is not like that – which is actually quite nice! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was able to put it down after a few chapters every evening without my brain twitching out on me (honestly, I really think I’d be a healthier individual if they made more books like this). Each chapter presents a new, hilarious memory from James Harriot’s young veterinary days in the Yorkshire countryside. I laughed, I cried, I even read some chapters out loud to my husband because it was just too good not to share.
Set the mood: “At times it seemed unfair that I should be paid for my work; for driving out in the early morning with the fields glittering under the first pale sunshine and the wisps of mist still hanging on the high tops.”
Read if: You’re an animal lover and want a truly delightful read.
HISTORICAL FICTION
The Nightingale
By Kristen Hannah
I first read The Nightingale last year, and it was by far my favorite read of 2018. Historical Fiction? Check. Strong women leads? Check. Espionage? Check. Romance? Check. This book had it all and like all Kristen Hannah books it was beautifully written. It’s an epic novel, set in France during World War II and follows the lives of two sisters who become estranged after disagreeing about the impending war and what the Nazi occupation will mean for them. One becomes a spy, the “Nightingale.” The other holds down her country house with her young daughter, trying to keep a semblance of normalcy. But soon the secrets creep in and she must do the unthinkable to save her daughter. The story showcases the bravery and heroism of ordinary woman who risk their lives in the fight against evil. I love the strong family ties and love that the author gives us. Even though the sisters disagree and go their separate ways, they find their way back to each other in the end. This is such a powerful story and I highly recommend it.
Set the mood:
“Vianne Mauriac left the cool, stucco-walled kitchen and stepped out into her front yard. On this beautiful summer morning in the Loire Valley, everything was in bloom. White sheets flapped in the breeze and roses tumbled like laughter along the ancient stone wall that hid her property from the road. A pair of industrious bees buzzed among the blooms; from far away, she heard the chugging purr of a train and then the sweet sound of a little girl’s laughter.”
Read if: Ok, so I know it says “summer morning”, but all the blooming flowers and bees reminded me of springtime here in California. Anyways, you need to give this one a read if you enjoy historical fiction at all (particularly set in the WWII time era) or are in the mood for a sweeping novel.
The Lost Girls of Paris
By Pam Jenoff
This book. This book ruined me. At one point I even cried and threw it across the room (but quickly ran over and made sure it had no scuffs on it because I got it from the Library). I absolutely LOVED it. It’s one of those books that draws you in and has you rooting for the characters as they persevere despite all the odds. This is another World War II novel, another one with strong female characters and espionage. But trust me, it’s so different from The Nightingale. It starts off as a mystery when Grace discovers a worn suitcase seemingly abandoned at Grand Central Station with the pictures of ten different women in it. Intrigued, Grace sets off on a mission to discover just who these women are. The book follows the lives of these women as they transcribe and send coded messages from across the enemy lines back to England. I’m quickly becoming a fan of Pam Jenoff, from the Orphan’s Tale to The Lost Girls of Paris, she delivers a beautiful story EVERY TIME.
Set the mood: “Often she wondered if she made the right choice. Each night before she went to bed, she told herself she might ask the next day if the offer to leave still stood. But there was something about the crispness of those mornings in the Scottish Highlands, the mist rising above the hills as the girls marched stiff-backed around the loch, that had gotten into her soul. This was where she was meant to be, and there was no turning away.”
Read if: Female espionage! Need I say more?
“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” {Oscar Wilde}
I’ve got my blanket, a picnic lunch, some lemonade, and a book. Now off to find a nice shade tree to spread out under and dream away the world for an afternoon. I’d love to hear of any good books that you guys have read lately – drop me a comment!
