On March 17, Laughs at Funerals turned two. To celebrate, and to thank you all for following along on this adventure, I’m hosting a giveaway revolving around one of my favorite things . . . books! To enter, all you have to do is follow @laughsatfunerals on Instagram, like the giveaway post, and tag three friends. The winners will be announced at 9 pm on Thursday, March 28, 2019. What’s the prize, you say? Head over to Instagram to find out!
In the meantime, here are a few good books I’ve read lately:
The Next Right Thing by Emily Freeman
Did you know we make over 35,000 decisions in a day? Just typing that statistic makes me tired. If you struggle with decision making, or if you’re like me, and you’re exhausted by all of the decisions you have to make, this book is for you. It’s calming and convicting all at once. I loved how each chapter opens with a quote and ends with a prayer and a practical way to apply Freeman’s advice to everyday life. I wrote down so many quotes as I was reading, but my favorite is this one about the importance of silence in our lives: “The silence serves as a colander, helping me discern what I need to hold on to and allowing what I don’t need to fall gently away, making space to access courage and creativity, quieting to hear the voice of God.” Freeman speaks truth to the soul.
I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of the book, as it doesn’t release until April 2. The good news is, if you pre-order a copy from your favorite bookseller by April 1, you will receive all sorts of fun bonus material. For more info, check out nextrightthingbook.com.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
This book has been surrounded by a lot of hype, and while I liked it, I’m not sure I loved it. The story itself kept me hooked, and Kya’s ability to survive blew me away, but I found myself getting bogged down by all of the descriptions of the marsh, no pun intended. While the story seemed far-fetched at times and made me think Owens was trying a bit too hard to be Pat Conroy, overall, I enjoyed the book. I was definitely intrigued by the characters and their lives.
Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton
This book is also part of Reese Witherspoon’s book club, but I read it because a friend, who I actually know in real life, suggested it. Turns out, they were both right in praising this one. Next Year in Havana tells the story of Marisol, who has returned to Cuba to spread her grandmother’s ashes. While there, she learns the true story of her grandmother’s life in Cuba, one filled with love and heartbreak during Castro’s takeover. Not only was this a beautiful story, but I learned so much about Cuban history and culture as well. I Googled everything from Cuban politics to a recipe for ropa vieja while I was reading, and it definitely made me want to visit the country.
Dad Is Fat by Jim Gaffigan
A friend recommended this book a while back, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to read it because I wasn’t sure I thought Jim Gaffigan was funny. Well, after about the first two pages, I was assured he is, in fact, quite hilarious. And insightful as well. He nails the parenting experience, especially the topics of children’s literature, kids’ obsession with candy, and the enigma that is the adult swim shirt. That chapter was so funny, I literally fell off my stool when I was reading it at my podium during silent reading.
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
When I posted about how much I liked Hannah’s The Great Alone, everybody told me I just had to read this. I wasn’t really looking forward to it because I worried it was just another WWII romance. After reading it, however, I feel like I can safely say it is THE WWII romance. One word of caution . . . don’t read it in public . . . or at least don’t read it at your podium during silent reading with a bunch of teenagers staring at you. When my eyes started sweating, it was a little awkward for everyone involved!
Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon
I got this book for Christmas and have loved reading it. It’s part biography, part cookbook, part guide to being a true Southern lady. So many things Reese describes remind me of growing up in the South and spending a lot of quality time with my grandmother, just like Reese did. One of her grandmother’s pearls of wisdom was to never stir coffee with a knife because it brings strife. That could explain why some of my days are better than others! Even though this is organized like a coffee table book, you can definitely read it cover to cover.
The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
This was a fascinating story of intrigue and deception. Amber has her sights set on becoming the next Mrs. Parrish, but in order to do so, she has to befriend and then deceive Daphne, the current Mrs. Parrish. To everyone’s surprise, Daphne isn’t quite as naive as she appears, and Amber’s plan quickly begins to unravel. A real page turner!
My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan
My Oxford Year tells the story of Ella, an American Rhodes scholar studying at Oxford. I was immediately transported back to my own days of foreign study. Of course, I didn’t fall in love with a charming, if somewhat secretive, Brit, so I enjoyed living vicariously through Ella’s adventures. Ella’s year in at Oxford is one of love, friendship, and self-discovery. If you like JoJo Moyes, you should add this to your list.
A Few Sites I Love for Book Recommendations:
And you can always find updates and reviews of what I’m reading on my Books page. Happy reading!