That's my motto, too: in case of doubt, go to the library or your trusted local book shop. And there trust your intuition, it might lead you to what you need right now.
As we need a good nights sleep for what is ahead, I recommend for problems with sleeping to read nature writing in bed. Poetic descriptions on animals and flowers ease me to sleep, and connect me to nature, ground me. My favourites are:
Neil Ansell, Deep Country
Bernd Heinrich, Ravens in Winter
Henry Beston, The Outermost House
If I need a playful approach to change or achieve something, or if I need encouragement to do sth about a difficult situation, I turn to Superbetter by Jane McGonigal.
And the past two years I read anthologies of female poets and short story writers from all over the world. My books are in German so useless for you, but you'll find something. You will never be alone, whatever your problem, someone has been there before.
Thank you for this wonderful list! It is exactly what I need right now as I navigate a career break and some difficult family situations. I look forward to diving into some of these! I would also add "Instructions for Traveling West" which is a beautiful poetry collection by Joy Sullivan. She left her relationship, job and home during the pandemic to move west and start again. I think it's a moving and wonderful collection for those who have ever dreamed of starting again or reinvention.
Thank you so much for writing about bibliotherapy. It’s such a meaningful way to address those feelings of “too late,” and I really appreciate the thoughtful approach you’re taking. Your work is bound to resonate with so many people who need that gentle reminder that books can guide us through even the toughest emotions. It sure resonates with me. 💕
I love your list and the snippets on why to read a certain selection, Jennifer. Can’t wait to dig into a few of these, including Why Bother! My last binge read was The Women by Kristin Hannah. Also loved On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good by Elise Loehnen. (Read if you want to understand how women have been culturally conditioned to believe we aren’t good enough.) If you’re looking for something inspiring, I liked Ladder to the Light: An Indigenous Elder’s Meditations on Hope and Courage by Steven Charleston.
This is a compelling story of Ann's rite of passage, navigating Lake Superior during what turned out to be the worst weather in history. What a courageous, humble woman who inspires love for the natural world in its ferociousness and beauty.
THE BEEKEEPER'S QUESTION by Christina Baldwin. Christina is a superb storyteller. I will read this again and again for its questions and to clarify my own answers.
Read is you want some honey in your heart in these difficult time.
Read if you want to curl up with an original story with characters you wish you lived near.
Read if you want to understand how Othering can destroy and maybe mend community. Set during WWII in a small Montana town.
The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman is fantastic! It just came out a few weeks ago. Great for those who think it's too late for love (with witchy healing brews, to boot).
Jen I LOVE how you curated this list. It reminds me exactly of a book I read earlier this year, called "The Hyunam-Dong Bookshop" by Hwang Bo-Reum. It was originally written in Korean, and it part of a genre called healing fiction (which is just incredible that that even exists!). It's about a woman who leaves her corporate job to start her lifelong dream of a bookstore, and centers on questions about the meaning of work, how she develops a community through the store, and how she as a person evolves. I can't recommend this book enough!!
Oh and Jen, thank you for this list and your loving and welcoming sharing with those of us on similar paths of renewal and sometimes wrought with the “too late” worry! I just got my get your bother on journal and I’m journaling my way to Taos next April!
Joy is my Justice! Tanmeet Sethi, MD, A playbook for recovering and finding joy in life again after devastation!
Wonderache, poems for seekers, to celebrate and reinvent and move through and grow and everything that matters, period! By John Roedel, comic, writer, poet. ❤️
Thank you for this yummy list. As a weekly visitor to my excellent Naperville, IL library, I appreciate the "read if..." comments. And I appreciate your heartfelt wisdom!
Oh my gosh I can’t forget Susan Kaye Quinn, who has been writing speculative fiction and hopepunk and is now diving into solar punk. She self publishes so you can go straight to her website. I also get her newsletters which I look forward to almost as much as yours.
First, I love this idea! I have been making reading a priority after years of denying the pleasure to myself because i was Way Too Busy. (Can i get an amen?) Now that I have recognized my chronic health issues, uncovered my autism and I finally understand how ADHD affects me, rest, rest and more rest has become a priority and so I get to read ALOT.
I recently read Tj Klune’s book at the rec of my cousin (she gave me the book) and found it soooo comforting. I second that one!
I think I have been wanting to read some Becky Chambers for awhile so I just reserved the first two in that series at my library.
I read alot of sci fi. These are a few I love:
1. Tehanu by Ursula K LeGuin is an amazing book that focuses on a Very Strong Woman who is taking care of everyone else. If you’ve never read LeGuin, I just know all of you here would most likely love her.
2. The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold. The series starts from the point of view of Cordelia and as the series progresses her son Miles becomes the focus. Her writing is deceptively simple and pulls you right into the stories.
3. Anything by Terry Pratchett, but I found the Tiffany Aching Series to be super comforting as well.
Thanks again for doing what you do! It means so much to me, and I am certain the others here.
I found Maggie Smith’s You Could Make This Place Beautiful so inspiring. And I love that it’s a memoir written in vignettes and poems.
I just got that and am about to crack open the cover!
Enjoy!
That's my motto, too: in case of doubt, go to the library or your trusted local book shop. And there trust your intuition, it might lead you to what you need right now.
As we need a good nights sleep for what is ahead, I recommend for problems with sleeping to read nature writing in bed. Poetic descriptions on animals and flowers ease me to sleep, and connect me to nature, ground me. My favourites are:
Neil Ansell, Deep Country
Bernd Heinrich, Ravens in Winter
Henry Beston, The Outermost House
If I need a playful approach to change or achieve something, or if I need encouragement to do sth about a difficult situation, I turn to Superbetter by Jane McGonigal.
And the past two years I read anthologies of female poets and short story writers from all over the world. My books are in German so useless for you, but you'll find something. You will never be alone, whatever your problem, someone has been there before.
Thank you for this wonderful list! It is exactly what I need right now as I navigate a career break and some difficult family situations. I look forward to diving into some of these! I would also add "Instructions for Traveling West" which is a beautiful poetry collection by Joy Sullivan. She left her relationship, job and home during the pandemic to move west and start again. I think it's a moving and wonderful collection for those who have ever dreamed of starting again or reinvention.
awesome thanks!
Thank you so much for writing about bibliotherapy. It’s such a meaningful way to address those feelings of “too late,” and I really appreciate the thoughtful approach you’re taking. Your work is bound to resonate with so many people who need that gentle reminder that books can guide us through even the toughest emotions. It sure resonates with me. 💕
Ah thanks!! That’s so kind.
I love your list and the snippets on why to read a certain selection, Jennifer. Can’t wait to dig into a few of these, including Why Bother! My last binge read was The Women by Kristin Hannah. Also loved On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good by Elise Loehnen. (Read if you want to understand how women have been culturally conditioned to believe we aren’t good enough.) If you’re looking for something inspiring, I liked Ladder to the Light: An Indigenous Elder’s Meditations on Hope and Courage by Steven Charleston.
awesome suggestions thanks Christa!!!
Thanks for this! As a Michigan person, I'm eager to Ann Linnea's book. I ordered some others from the library, too!
Ann’s book is so good!!
I’m thrilled to know you read it! They are a huge part of my life.
You’ll love it! As a northern MN paddler (transplanted to Whidbey Island), I couldn’t put it down.
This is a compelling story of Ann's rite of passage, navigating Lake Superior during what turned out to be the worst weather in history. What a courageous, humble woman who inspires love for the natural world in its ferociousness and beauty.
THE BEEKEEPER'S QUESTION by Christina Baldwin. Christina is a superb storyteller. I will read this again and again for its questions and to clarify my own answers.
Read is you want some honey in your heart in these difficult time.
Read if you want to curl up with an original story with characters you wish you lived near.
Read if you want to understand how Othering can destroy and maybe mend community. Set during WWII in a small Montana town.
She’s such a wonder!!
I just read this obituary about a woman who started running at 100. 😲 How inspiring is that!
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/23/sports/julia-hawkins-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Uk4.JaGl.2OUJrmytAFEB&smid=url-share
Very! And I thought I was old starting at 53!
The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman is fantastic! It just came out a few weeks ago. Great for those who think it's too late for love (with witchy healing brews, to boot).
I just entered the fourth quarter of life and am eager to get started. I will be up late tonight meeting the interesting characters and their stories.
Jen I LOVE how you curated this list. It reminds me exactly of a book I read earlier this year, called "The Hyunam-Dong Bookshop" by Hwang Bo-Reum. It was originally written in Korean, and it part of a genre called healing fiction (which is just incredible that that even exists!). It's about a woman who leaves her corporate job to start her lifelong dream of a bookstore, and centers on questions about the meaning of work, how she develops a community through the store, and how she as a person evolves. I can't recommend this book enough!!
Thank you!!
Oh and Jen, thank you for this list and your loving and welcoming sharing with those of us on similar paths of renewal and sometimes wrought with the “too late” worry! I just got my get your bother on journal and I’m journaling my way to Taos next April!
I so look forward to April!! ❤️
Joy is my Justice! Tanmeet Sethi, MD, A playbook for recovering and finding joy in life again after devastation!
Wonderache, poems for seekers, to celebrate and reinvent and move through and grow and everything that matters, period! By John Roedel, comic, writer, poet. ❤️
Thank you for this suggestion!
Dear Jennifer,
Thank you for this yummy list. As a weekly visitor to my excellent Naperville, IL library, I appreciate the "read if..." comments. And I appreciate your heartfelt wisdom!
Love, Marti
Thank you!!
Thanks for sharing this list and your insights into each book. I want to read them all! I'm in the thick of it, for sure. ❤️
I hope some of these stories help!!
Oh my gosh I can’t forget Susan Kaye Quinn, who has been writing speculative fiction and hopepunk and is now diving into solar punk. She self publishes so you can go straight to her website. I also get her newsletters which I look forward to almost as much as yours.
https://susankayequinn.com
awesome thank you!!
First, I love this idea! I have been making reading a priority after years of denying the pleasure to myself because i was Way Too Busy. (Can i get an amen?) Now that I have recognized my chronic health issues, uncovered my autism and I finally understand how ADHD affects me, rest, rest and more rest has become a priority and so I get to read ALOT.
I recently read Tj Klune’s book at the rec of my cousin (she gave me the book) and found it soooo comforting. I second that one!
I think I have been wanting to read some Becky Chambers for awhile so I just reserved the first two in that series at my library.
I read alot of sci fi. These are a few I love:
1. Tehanu by Ursula K LeGuin is an amazing book that focuses on a Very Strong Woman who is taking care of everyone else. If you’ve never read LeGuin, I just know all of you here would most likely love her.
2. The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold. The series starts from the point of view of Cordelia and as the series progresses her son Miles becomes the focus. Her writing is deceptively simple and pulls you right into the stories.
3. Anything by Terry Pratchett, but I found the Tiffany Aching Series to be super comforting as well.
Thanks again for doing what you do! It means so much to me, and I am certain the others here.
and thank you for reading what I write!!!
so glad you are finding reading restorative - it is for sure my balm for all things. and I do love me some sci-fi too so appreciate the additions!