This is my third annual list of favourite reads of the year. I upped my reading game this year after reading On Writing by Stephen King (for reasons explained below).
The first four books in this list just happen to be by Maine authors, which wasn’t planned.
I hope you’ll enjoy these books as much as I have.
Louise x
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King. This book tops my list of favourite reads for 2018. I haven’t read any of King’s fiction books as I’m a wimp when it comes to horror, but I LOVED this book. It’s part memoir, part instruction manual. If you want to be a writer this book should be on your list. I took his primary advice to heart: read lots and write lots. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Settled in the Wild by Susan Hand Shetterly. I saw a stack of these books in the Camden Public Library in late Spring and felt the familiar magnetic pull that lets me know when there’s something good inside. If I write a book about my time in Maine, this book will be my benchmark. Her stories of life in Down East Maine are like medicine you didn’t know you needed. The story of Chac, the abandoned baby raven she rescues and raises, will delight you, and the paving of her beloved dirt road will make you cry. It’s so, so good.
Vacationland by John Hodgman. (My) John got this book for Christmas last year. I opened it at a random page, started reading, and immediately started laughing. I especially loved the section about Maine and Maine humour. Look out for the angry boat builder and veiled references to a beloved Maine children’s author. Pure comic genius with a generous sprinkle of tender moments.
The Magic Mala by Bob Olson. Special thanks to Cheryl Richardson for spreading the word about this book, otherwise I wouldn’t have known of its existence. I even bought my daughter a copy for Christmas, along with a set of mala beads. I don’t want to give too much away. Just read it and then let’s talk.
Walking Home by Sonia Choquette. Sonia’s sister Cuky, a gifted healer and Lomi Lomi Master, once shared with me that every Lomi Lomi session she does is a life that she doesn’t have to personally live. Meaning: she learns so much from each healing there’s no need for her soul to live a similar incarnation. That’s the way I feel about books, especially this one. Sonia walked the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage when her life fell apart. Her story is painful, raw, honest and deeply healing. I looked forward to reading another chapter every night and felt that I, too, had experienced a healing by the end. This is by far my favourite of all of Sonia’s books.
Your Three Best Super Powers by Sonia Choquette. I found my favourite ever meditation exercise in this book. It’s packed full of useful tools and training. Everyone will get something out of this book.
The Legacy of Luna by Julia Butterfly Hill. If you’re American and older than a millennial then you’re probably familiar with Julia and how she lived in a tree for two years to save it from being cut down. I, on the other hand, had never heard of her and her extraordinary dedication to Luna, the tree she rescued. I love the trees surrounding our home and can only imagine what it would be like to see vast expanses of old-growth forest cut down with no regard for the damage caused. I wrote down a quote from the book that especially moved me, “… all living things have the right to be alive.” If you wonder what one person can do (with the support of a small committed community) you’ll find the answer in Julia’s book.
A Higher Loyalty by James Comey. I admit this might seem like an unusual choice, but I do my best to keep up with American politics and decided this was a must-read. I was surprised to find myself warming to the man who is accused of meddling in the 2016 presidential election. However, when I read what he was up against at the time, and his quest to do the right thing, I felt like he had done the best he could with his integrity intact. I was also fascinated to read how childhood trauma led him to pursue a career in law. A very interesting read.
Capital Gaines by Chip Gaines. This was the year I discovered Chip and Joanna Gaines and their Magnolia empire. I know, where have I been? This is a surprising motivational book and I was especially moved by the two different obituaries Chip writes for himself. If he could outlaw fear-based living, he would. I dare you to read it.
To Heaven and Back by Mary C. Neal, MD. I love reading about heavenly experiences, but Mary’s stands out for me because of what happened when she returned to her body after a kayaking accident. Three simple but profound sentences she shares could be enough to shape your earthly experience. I’m so grateful for this book.
