There are times I read voraciously. Other times, a book sits unopened for weeks, waiting for me to catch up to whatever it’s trying to say. I used to feel guilty about it, for not finishing or for moving too slowly. Now, I treat it like a ritual. The book finds me when I’m ready or it doesn’t. It doesn’t matter. I’m not competing with anyone.
This year, my to-read shelf is more invitation than obligation. I don’t care about finishing stacks. I want each page to be a gentle interruption, like rain on my balcony while I’m working or the way dusk slips through the window when I’m too busy to notice it.
Hear the Wind Sing by Haruki Murakami
This is Murakami’s first novel. It is short and understated. Some people said it wasn’t as good as the rest, but I don’t care. I’m drawn to where his work began, long before the fame. I expect quiet nights, music, and empty spaces.
Getting Lost by Annie Ernaux
I love Ernaux. Her writing style is very clinical.’ This book is a raw diary of obsession and doubt. Ernaux writes with clarity about longing and uncertainty. The subject matter is personal and direct.
Take Me With You by Andrea Gibson
I started to pay attention to Gibson’s work after discovering her on Instagram. She was bravely battling cancer and was very public about her struggles, but it was her message that touched me the most. This collection opens into pain, love, and vulnerability. Gibson doesn’t disguise what hurts. I want to spend time with poems that stay close to real feeling.
The Madness Vase by Andrea Gibson
Another book by Gibson. These poems circle fear, survival, and tenderness. The language stays plain, even when the emotions are complex and raw.
Every Body Yoga by Jessamyn Stanley
I return to yoga after abandoning my practice several years ago. I figured I need a gentler form of exercise so my perimenopausal body can cope. And since I am struggling with my larger body, I naturally gravitate to Jessamyn Stanley. Stanley welcomes every level of experience. Her voice stays grounded and open. I’m looking for guidance that doesn’t expect perfection.
Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance by Jessamyn Stanley
A collection of essays on making peace with your own body. Stanley is candid about what that process has looked like for her.
Wabi Sabi by Beth Kempton
I’m reading this now. I have gravitated to Eastern philosophy since I began to deconstruct my Christian faith. Kempton explores imperfection and beauty in ordinary life. Reading this book gives me a peaceful feeling.
Kokoro by Beth Kempton
This book considers “heart” and spirit in Japanese culture. She writes with clarity and restraint.
Freedom Seeker by Beth Kempton
Kempton traces the slow return to self beneath noise and duty. I love her, Wabi Sabi, so I think this book will resonate with me as a dogmatic religious dissenter.
The Way of the Fearless Writer by Beth Kempton
A book on writing with less fear and more presence. I’m curious what she sees that I don’t yet.
The Baby on the Fire Escape by Julie Phillips
I am so looking forward to reading this one. I think this is the first book I found on this subject. It’s a study of women who made art while raising children. It gathers stories of how creativity and care live beside each other.
I am a slow reader because I want to savor the text and let the message sink into my heart. There are days I chase after answers, but sometimes I just want to reflect on the beauty of a good line. I know these books will keep me company. They will remind me I’m not the only one who desires or questions things.
Maybe you read like this too, like a habit. If you do, I hope you find something on your shelf that waits for you and meets you quietly, without asking you to be anywhere else.
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