During my recent trip to Portland, our group visited Powell’s City of Books, the world’s largest independent bookstore. As the daughter of a librarian, no place makes me feel more safe or peaceful than a bookstore or library. I left with a stack of books (and tote bag, because I knew there wasn’t enough room in my suitcase to bring them home).
Although I own a Kindle for travel, nothing compares to the feel of a book in your hands, or the crisp sound of a page turning. The built-in shelves in our loft are filled with books, but for so long, I couldn’t find the time or energy to read them. Summer was the busiest season at my former organization. When I wasn’t working or out at an event, I was sleeping or editing photos/video.
With a flexible schedule now and commitment to a healthy work/life balance, both reading and writing have become top priorities for me again. I even joined a book club! Shout out to my “Reading Between the Wines” crew.
The books I’m currently reading (some for the second or third time) are ones I chose to spark creativity and/or think critically about issues weighing on my heart: adoption, immigration, racial justice. They’re not your typical light summer read, but, for me – the practice of reading and being introspective is relaxing, regardless of topic.
The Line Becomes a River by Francisco Cantú
Light the Dark: Writers on Creativity, Inspiration, and the Artistic Process edited by by Joe Fassler
The Primal Wound: Understanding the Adopted Child by Nancy Newton Verrier
All You Can Ever Know: A Memoir by Nicole Chung
Decolonizing Wealth: Indigenous Wisdom to Heal Divides and Restore Balance by Edgar Villanueva
QUEST FOR JUSTICE: Louis A. Bedford Jr. And the Struggle for Equal Rights in Texas by Darwin Payne
No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters by Ursula K. Le Guin
What’s on your current reading list? Share your recommendations in the comments, so I can add them to my Amazon cart!