Second Chapter Nomad

2023 A Year in Books.

This was the year I reclaimed my love of reading. Between the divorce and the pandemic, I literally lost my ability to focus and read. The fact I’ve read this many books this year, shows the progress I’ve made. While I would love to have a Book Club like Reese or Oprah, in the meantime, I’ll at least do a year in review of the books I’ve read.

I have rediscovered the satisfaction in a real, tangible book. This is no easy feat as a nomad, but I cart around quite a heavy bag full of them. The completed ones I either pass on to my daughter, sister or niece, or leave in airports or hotels for the next lucky reader. 

Bookstores

I made many a visit to Foyle’s (https://www.foyles.co.uk/) in London, the Strand (https://www.strandbooks.com/) and McNally Jackson https://www.mcnallyjackson.com/ both in New York City, and Chaucers https://www.chaucersbooks.com/ in Santa Barbara. The smells, the touch, the quest for the next book to purchase. A real bookstore is one of the happiest places on earth.

I’ve pretty much abandoned my Kindle though I have an Audible http://www.audible.com book on the go at all times. I love listening at the gym, on a walk, while multitasking, and on airplanes when either my eyes are too tired to read or I don’t want to bother my neighbor with a glaring light.

I love keeping track of my books on Goodreads http://goodreads.com and see my virtual wish list and “to read” stack waiting in anticipation.

Are you ready? Let’s go! 2023 Books in Review.

Breaking it down. ** Means a super favorite.

SELF HELP/DIVORCE MEMOIRS AND THE LIKE

I am obsessed with this category. I always have one or two that I read usually first thing in the morning, highlighting, journaling, self-reflecting. Steers me on course for my day.

1. **Tiny Beautiful Things, Cheryl Strayed (I adored this book and the Hulu series; this is top of my list as I’ve been honored to have Cheryl follow my Second Chapter Nomad Instagram, I fan-girled on that one!)
2. **You Could Make This Place Beautiful, Maggie Smith (Listened to her exquisite soothing voice on Audible as she shared her most personal pain and rediscovery. This is when I learned “Divorce Memoir” is a genre, and I’m going to write mine.)
3. **But You Seemed So Happy, Kimberly Harrington (Another incredibly raw, honest portrait of marriage, family and divorce; I discovered Substack newsletters because of her, as I wanted to read more.)
4. ** How to Heal a Broken Heart, Rosie Green (This is half divorce memoir, half guide book, full of excellent book referrals such as the below. I related on so many levels. Reading these books makes me realize I’m not alone. I pink highlighted so many passages. 
5. **Leave a Cheater, Gain a Life, Tracy Schorn (Audible, this is the “Go Girl!” Guide to surviving the trauma of betrayal. Where was this book and this fierce bad ass narrator eight years ago when I found out about Ex’s affair and thus began the empty nest/separation-purgatory of three years followed by the perfect storm of the divorce and pandemic?? I am still healing/reeling and realizing what I actually went through to become “Second Chapter Nomad”.)
6. **How to Do the Work: Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self, Nicole LePera (This one I read and will reread over and over again. This covers many issues. It’s thought provoking and cause for self reflection.)
7. Left on Tenth, Delia Ephron (Audible version read by the author. Nora’s sister, say no more. Delia’s grit battling cancer and finding a new love later in life is inspiring.)
8. **Heartburn, Nora Ephron (Audible, went back to a classic of Nora’s inspired by her own divorce, though technically fiction. Read by Meryl Streep. Exquisite.) 
9. **Super Better, Jane McGonigal (This addresses all kinds of life challenges, with helpful “games” and quizzes. I bought this for my kids and my dear friend Brett in his last months of life.)
10. This Might Be Too Personal, Alyssa Shelasky (Audible, sassy essays on relationships, sex and other adventures).
11. **Build the Life You Want, Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey (Need I say more? I also bought the unauthorized workbook to do the exercises. This is last but not least as it just was released and I’m in the midst of it. The art and science of getting happier. Great perspective readjustment.)

LIGHT FICTION

1. The Marriage Pact, Michelle Richmond (I found this one in a pile of boxes of my Daughter’s posessions left for me by Ex to go through. Quick little read,)
2. Primates of Park Avenue, Wednesday Martin (a rare one I finished on my Kindle while in New York)
3. The Husband’s Secret, Liane Moriarty (This one loaned to me by my first cat sitting homeowner in Kingston, England; can never go wrong with Moriarty’s books full of interwoven complex characters)
4. Apples Never Fall, Liane Moriarty (because it’s Liane!)
5. Fiona and Jane, Jean Chen Ho (Audible,  a book on friendship)
6. Trespasses, Louise Kennedy (picked this up in Dublin, set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, I’m always fascinated by this time period, and of course Ireland as my son lived there for six years and my soon to be Daughter-in-Law is Irish!)
7. Unmissing, Minka Kent (Audible) (I always love a psychological thriller!)
8. Vacation Land, Meg Mitchell Moore (Audible, one of those summer reads) 
9. **Romantic Comedy, Curtis Sittenfeld  (one of my faves; love this author since “Prep” and “You Think it, I’ll Say it”).
10. Matchmakers Gift, Elin Hilderbrand (Audible, an engrossing tale, set in New York, when I was living there this summer which made it entertaining; a can’t go wrong author).
11. Malibu Rising, Taylor Jenkins Reid (My niece introduced me to this book in New York this summer; I’m now obsessed with the interconnectedness of the characters and the fun plots).
12. **Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Taylor Jenkins Reid (See above – when Mick Rivas appears! Just finished this one. So captivating. I look forward to reading in bed each night.)
13. If We’re Being Honest, Cat Shook (Audible; lots of characters to keep track of, I would’ve enjoyed this one better as a hard copy)
14. Beautiful World Where are You? Sally Rooney (I loved “Normal People”, and I love anything set in Dublin. But am I the only one who has trouble with the lack of quotation marks used in both this book and the Irish “Trespasses” above?)
15. Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Truman Capote (Fascinating classic so very different from the film. I wanted to read it while I was living in NYC this past summer. Took it to high tea at Tiffany’s! Oo-lala.)

HEAVY FICTION

This is a separate category as I usually read a “light” book and a “darker” book at the same time depending on my mood.

1. **Writers and Lovers, Lily King (really isn’t dark, but I loved it so much, it feels special and that it belongs on this list).
2. You Can’t Stay Here Forever, Katherine Lin (Audible, a dark twisty tale of a marriage gone awry, friendship and betrayal).
3. ** A Little Life, Hanya Yanagihara (Oh my word, what can I possibly say? One of the most beautifully written books, that you must finish, but also destroys you. My niece had me buy it in New York City, and we walked the streets in the steps of the characters. I carried it in my bag all over New York this summer. Read it in parks, cafes, the subway. Continued with it in London. More parks, the Tube, pubs. Saw the film of the play. I will never forget this book.)

BOOKS – FIRST QUARTER 2024

Summer in the City, NYC 2023

Reflections of a Nomad

Books – Second Quarter Review 2024 –

2024 3rd quarter Book Review

Five Years a Nomad

My Favorite Books to Heal From Divorce and Heartbreak