The best authors are those who read extensively. Here is what I’ve been reading lately.

If you're interested in learning more about the non-fiction books I've read and the insights gained from them, be sure to listen to the Two Booked Up podcast.

July included a lot of family time with my boys on school holidays. Being the 'entertainer’ for my youngest child meant less time for reading.

Additionally, I’ve been busy writing the next Single in Sydney book, which means reading has taken a back seat to creative pursuits. That said, I still read some great books!

Fiction Reads

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

When I visited my sister recently, she suggested I might like to read this book. She very rarely recommends a book to me, so I decided to give it a try, and enjoyed it immensely! One night Lauren finds a strange man in her flat who claims to be her husband. All the evidence – from photos to electricity bills – suggests he’s right. Lauren’s attic, she slowly realises, is creating an endless supply of husbands for her. A fabulous premise and a lot of fun. It frequently made me laugh out loud, much to my husband’s annoyance!

The Whale Rider by Witi Tame Ihimaera

I listened to the audiobook version of this classic book, read by Jay Laga’aia, as my youngest son and I had some long drives ahead of us, and it seemed like a book we’d both enjoy. And we did! Kahu’s story and her relationship with her great-grandfather and the ancient bull whale are very moving, mixing myth and realism. There were moments when my son and I laughed and a few where I wept. This is a classic book that was turned into a multi-award-winning film.

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

A book chosen to meet the reading challenge prompt ‘about a historical event’, The Year of Wonders, is set in 1666 and told from the perspective of Anna Frith, an eighteen-year-old young woman, wife, and mother quarantined in a small community. A plague had spread through London, but northern England had remained unaffected until a bolt of cloth arrived from the capital, unknowingly carrying the bubonic infection to the tiny Derbyshire village of lead miners and hill farmers where Anna lived. The story follows her struggles to save her family and soul during that extraordinary year. As with the other books I’ve read by Geraldine Brooks, it is meticulously researched and full of reminders about the power of love, grief and learning.

The Recovery Agent by Janet Evanovich

This is another challenge prompt book, rounding out the third book in the prompt, ‘three books by the same author’. Having read two Stephanie Plum novels in April and May by Janet Evanovich, this was an easy choice. The Recovery Agent is a new series with another feisty, fearless female lead, Gabriela Rose, a recovery agent. She knows how to find things others have lost and get them back. I enjoyed this book immensely: lots of crazy adventures, great chemistry between her and her ex-husband and brilliant, quirky, comic characters. A hugely entertaining read!

Non-Fiction Reads

House Rules: How to Decorate for Every Home, Style, and Budget by Myquillyn Smith

Reading this book was the equivalent of browsing a handful of blogs and flipping through interior styling magazines but in book form! That is to say, it made me very happy AND inspired some action around my home (much to the delight of my family! Haha), especially as the ‘rules’ were relatable and practical. The House Rules provide a guide for understanding why some rooms look great and others don’t. I was unfamiliar with Myquillyn’s blog, podcast, and earlier books, but now I want to check out her other content and books. A quick read, but great for inspiring some action!

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

Another challenge book! And like last month, I’m doubling up with this one as the prompt, ‘reread a favourite,’ appears on both my fiction and non-fiction reading challenge lists. I first read Big Magic in 2016 and loved it. Re-reading, I was pleasantly surprised to realise how much I recalled from that first read and how many insights and lessons I’ve put into practice as a result. Re-reading it now, with eight years of writing completed, was a very different experience. I think I enjoyed it even more than the first time!

Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel

One of my favourite non-fiction writers, Arthur C Brooks, recommended this slim volume as a must-read. It was an interesting and, at times, challenging read. The central premise is that through years of practice, one will achieve Zen. One has to transcend technique so that art becomes “artless art” and grows out of unconsciousness. In this way, as the author shares and demonstrates, archery becomes a path to greater understanding and enlightenment.

What have you been reading lately? Do you have a recommendation for a book you read and loved?

*Please note that while I enjoy supporting local bookstores and libraries, I also recognise and appreciate the convenience of purchasing books online. This post includes affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase using one of these links.