The Hungry Bookworm
reading + eating
Wow, the long weekend really threw me off. I thought last night was Sunday and today was Monday, but here we are — already Tuesday, and why this post is just a little bit late this time! But Tuesday means it’s time for Show Us Your Books, where I do a quick recap of everything I read over the last month. Get excited because I have some really awesome reads to share, including my first 5-star read of 2020!
Today’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is Books That Make Me Hungry… honestly, at this point that could almost be every book. I’m always looking for food mentions when I read; it’s the nature of the beast. A couple of years ago I participated in the topic Yummy Food Mentioned in Books, so I’ll try to avoid choosing the same ones here. Like I said there are a lot of books that make me hungry…
Let’s get to it!
[Read more...] about Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Make Me HungryIt’s no secret that I love book clubs. But I didn’t always. I’ve been reading for as long as I can remember, devouring books that were much too big for me even at a young age — from my first chapter book (Black Beauty) at six years old to my mother’s suspense novels as a tween. I was always reading, but I was always reading alone. Until several years ago, when I joined my first book club as a way to make some friends when I was living in New York City. I dutifully read the book, walked into a room full of strangers, and was surprised at the immediate connection. I never looked back.
Now, I’m in three book clubs. I love that, through them, I have formed several close friendships. I love that they’re often an excuse to drink wine on a weeknight. I love that they can be fun but also serious. I love how book clubs get me to read books I wouldn’t otherwise have picked up on my own.
I often read as a means of escape, but I also read to gain perspective and learn. I think it’s important to read outside of your comfort zone. This is where book clubs can really come in handy. They are all the things I said above, but book clubs are also a safe space to have deep, meaningful discussions about what we encounter in books and in life.
This is true of all of my book clubs, including the one I currently lead for my company. I work for an advertising agency that has made diversity and inclusion a pillar of its mission, and our book club is centered around diverse perspectives. I jumped at the chance to join and have been a part of it since it began about four years ago. And, I have been fortunate enough to be able to lead it for the past year and a half.
You don’t always have to read serious, academic or big, tough books to have these kinds of discussions. In fact, contemporary fiction often encourages wonderful, insightful conversation between book club members. As you can see below, a lot of the selections we read for my company-sponsored book club fall into this category.
If you’re looking to spur thought-provoking conversations through reading—whether in your own book club, a group of coworkers, or buddy reads with friends—read on!
[Read more...] about Books for Thought-Provoking DiscussionsAugust is finally here and it feels like it. My part of Michigan has finally gotten the memo that it’s summer — it like soup out there. Hot and wet. Blech. But, I guess, more time to read indoors! I actually had a pretty good reading month. Six books including two that pretty much everyone should check out. (See the 4-star section.)
Today’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is an interesting one. And, actually, it’s next week’s topic, but I’ll be doing my reading recap then, so I thought I’d get ahead of it. Anyway, I’ll be sharing my list of 10 books I’ve loved but never reviewed.
There are a few reasons I haven’t reviewed the books on this list, mostly that they didn’t have a food tie-in, and I always pair my reviews with recipes. Some, though, I read before I started blogging and haven’t gotten around to re-reading… and will I? It’s hard to say. For others, life got in the way. Still, all of these books are great and I suggest you check them out.
Without further ado:
[Read more...] about Top Ten Tuesday: Books I've Loved but Never ReviewedI cannot believe four whole years have gone by since my first Hungry Bookworm post. When I couldn't consistently find a resource for book-inspired food to accompany the books I was discussing at my book clubs, I decided to do it myself. I had no idea that it was something I would still be doing four years down the road, but, here we are! To date, I’ve posted 280 times. I’ve reviewed, in some capacity, almost 300 books. I’ve made 188 recipes. I’ve blogged elsewhere, and hosted a few guest bloggers here as well.
I’ve also had some obstacles along the way — my pregnancy last year left me too nauseated to read or cook most of the time, severely limiting my usual post output; my attempt at a cute little online Blind Date with a Book shop received a lot of love and compliments but not much business (and I "closed" it earlier this year) — but I’ve continued on. I’m so proud of myself for taking the leap to start this blog in the first place, but then to be able to keep it going week after week, month after month, and year after year is more than I would’ve thought myself capable of.
[Read more...] about 4th Anniversary: A Look Back