15 favorite page turning fiction & nonfiction reads that explore the creative life, the universe, life and death, philosophical explorations and/or what truly matters
I want to read Faithful, sounds beautiful! I have read some of these, I didn't love Midnight Library, I thought it was too cheesy tbh, I think I have an issue with this kind of stories and it really depends on my mood when reading them. I remember liking Joyland, and Vaster Wilds was a bit of a struggle but I liked it. That said, I started Piranesi and put it down like 20 pages later 🤣
haha, I get that about Piranesi. I thought the audio was excellent and that might've helped me stick with it. I was so lost for much of the book but I think it's one of those "open to interpretation" types of reads
Love this post, Renee! If there's Woo involved, bring it on! Three of the books you mentioned are in my top 10 favs--We Are the Light, Joyland, and The Creative Act. :) Faithful sound amazing and right up my alley... I can't wait to read The Book of Alchemy. I should probably read all of these, since WOO is my favorite genre. Is WOO a genre? Ha!
I'm in total agreement with you and ditto some of your books. Another I loved was The Life Impossible by Matt Haig. You are preaching to the choir regarding Suleika Jaouad! I happened upon her NYT column and then read the two books she wrote. I didn't know she had a new book coming out until I listened to a B&N (Poured Over) podcast on Monday where she was interviewed about the book. I "just happened" to go to B&N yesterday (new book release day) and found it prominently displayed. The cover is gorgeous.
You'll have to let me know what you think of Suleika's new book, it's going to look beautiful on my shelf and I love the bookplate she added to the front hardcover. I'm going to listen to that B&N podcast episode asap, thanks for sharing that- and the Matt Haig rec!
Great list of recommendations here, from a fellow inhabitant of the convinced end of the woo spectrum. I also adore the word alchemy and need to get myself a copy! The Midnight Library has been on my TBR for a while and you’ve inspired me to bump it up a notch or two.
I was just going to say the same thing and definitely audio! I keep a used copy at all times to give to a wishy-washy reader who is struggling to find a book that grabs them!
WE ARE THEIR HEAVEN BY ALISON DUBOIS is excellent. In this book she talks about how our loved ones are always with us to give us love, support and encouragement for growth. I think you would enjoy it. it was published in 2006.
Thank you! Adding this to my immediate tbr, I've talked with several psychics about this topic with regard to my grandma, I do believe she sends me quite a few signs:)
I think she has a couple other books out too that you might also enjoy. I’ll have to email you some time into you about my personal psychic experiences. By this I mean experiences where I had the gift of knowing. Kind of freaked me out when it happened and it’s far in view between that it did happen but it was incredible.
You are speaking my language!!!! I have an interest in every single book you listed. I also have visited psychics several times throughout the years and had some very good readings. I seem to be obsessed with stories surrounding near death experiences. I have no specific titles on the top of my brain but I can tell you that Raymond Moody has several books that I have read and in fact have one on my wish list waiting to download. I recently just read the book THIS I KNOW BY ELDONNA EDWARDS which was about a young girl with the gift of knowing. I think this book would probably be somewhat classified as Christian fiction but not sure because of the gift this little girl possessed. I loved the story and gave it five stars. It is about a young girl with the gift of knowing whose father is a minister and he knows that she has this gift but wants to deny it because it is sinful in his view of religion. It just was a great story and I loved it. Hard to explain without giving away anything about it. So you will have to check it out because I think it would enjoy reading it. if there’s any books that you left up this list please pass along to me. I’m going to save this newsletter.
When I got to reading that book, I was in a book slump. I finished it just before I got sick and in addition to being sick that book was also the reason why I just could not get into another book for the longest time. I just recently finished I’LL COME TO YOU BY REBECCA KAUFFMAN and it was almost like reading the book THE ROAD TO DALTON structure or format. It is a story about a handful of characters are connected through family or friendship. It was spooky to read this book because it was so similar structure and this book was published in 1995.
I want to read Faithful, sounds beautiful! I have read some of these, I didn't love Midnight Library, I thought it was too cheesy tbh, I think I have an issue with this kind of stories and it really depends on my mood when reading them. I remember liking Joyland, and Vaster Wilds was a bit of a struggle but I liked it. That said, I started Piranesi and put it down like 20 pages later 🤣
haha, I get that about Piranesi. I thought the audio was excellent and that might've helped me stick with it. I was so lost for much of the book but I think it's one of those "open to interpretation" types of reads
What a fun list, Renee! Love this topic and many of these books are favorites!
Thanks Sara!
Love this post, Renee! If there's Woo involved, bring it on! Three of the books you mentioned are in my top 10 favs--We Are the Light, Joyland, and The Creative Act. :) Faithful sound amazing and right up my alley... I can't wait to read The Book of Alchemy. I should probably read all of these, since WOO is my favorite genre. Is WOO a genre? Ha!
Thanks friend! Woo is our thing for sure:)
I love your backlist recs! I just downloaded Molly Marx on my kindle!
I hope you like it!!
What a fun topic!! Love your take of some of these on audio, several have been on my TBR for a while, so I'll give them a go that way!
Thanks! I do think audio really elevated the story of many of these. Hope you like the ones you try in that format:)
I'm in total agreement with you and ditto some of your books. Another I loved was The Life Impossible by Matt Haig. You are preaching to the choir regarding Suleika Jaouad! I happened upon her NYT column and then read the two books she wrote. I didn't know she had a new book coming out until I listened to a B&N (Poured Over) podcast on Monday where she was interviewed about the book. I "just happened" to go to B&N yesterday (new book release day) and found it prominently displayed. The cover is gorgeous.
You'll have to let me know what you think of Suleika's new book, it's going to look beautiful on my shelf and I love the bookplate she added to the front hardcover. I'm going to listen to that B&N podcast episode asap, thanks for sharing that- and the Matt Haig rec!
Great list of recommendations here, from a fellow inhabitant of the convinced end of the woo spectrum. I also adore the word alchemy and need to get myself a copy! The Midnight Library has been on my TBR for a while and you’ve inspired me to bump it up a notch or two.
Love hearing from a fellow woo convinced:) I thought that article was fun. Hope you enjoy The Midnight Library
Joyland is a total underrated gem! I love it so much and the audio is excellent too.
I was just going to say the same thing and definitely audio! I keep a used copy at all times to give to a wishy-washy reader who is struggling to find a book that grabs them!
A new one that I would say brings the woo is Aftertaste. So creative and I keep thinking about it.
I have a copy of that one! The woo factor with the afterlife angle made me request it on neutrally. Glad it was memorable for you:)
I preordered from Bookshop.org back in December. Notified yesterday (4/22 pub day) that it wouldn’t arrive until 4/30!! Cannot wait to start this one.
Bummer about the delay, hope it ends up arriving sooner. The cover is stunning and her writing and the essays are so beautiful
WE ARE THEIR HEAVEN BY ALISON DUBOIS is excellent. In this book she talks about how our loved ones are always with us to give us love, support and encouragement for growth. I think you would enjoy it. it was published in 2006.
Thank you! Adding this to my immediate tbr, I've talked with several psychics about this topic with regard to my grandma, I do believe she sends me quite a few signs:)
I think she has a couple other books out too that you might also enjoy. I’ll have to email you some time into you about my personal psychic experiences. By this I mean experiences where I had the gift of knowing. Kind of freaked me out when it happened and it’s far in view between that it did happen but it was incredible.
You are speaking my language!!!! I have an interest in every single book you listed. I also have visited psychics several times throughout the years and had some very good readings. I seem to be obsessed with stories surrounding near death experiences. I have no specific titles on the top of my brain but I can tell you that Raymond Moody has several books that I have read and in fact have one on my wish list waiting to download. I recently just read the book THIS I KNOW BY ELDONNA EDWARDS which was about a young girl with the gift of knowing. I think this book would probably be somewhat classified as Christian fiction but not sure because of the gift this little girl possessed. I loved the story and gave it five stars. It is about a young girl with the gift of knowing whose father is a minister and he knows that she has this gift but wants to deny it because it is sinful in his view of religion. It just was a great story and I loved it. Hard to explain without giving away anything about it. So you will have to check it out because I think it would enjoy reading it. if there’s any books that you left up this list please pass along to me. I’m going to save this newsletter.
I knew you'd be on board with my woo! I haven't heard of the book you mentioned but it sounds interesting
When I got to reading that book, I was in a book slump. I finished it just before I got sick and in addition to being sick that book was also the reason why I just could not get into another book for the longest time. I just recently finished I’LL COME TO YOU BY REBECCA KAUFFMAN and it was almost like reading the book THE ROAD TO DALTON structure or format. It is a story about a handful of characters are connected through family or friendship. It was spooky to read this book because it was so similar structure and this book was published in 1995.