Good morning. I hope this finds all of you well and taking care of yourself and your loved ones during this pandemic holiday season. If you are hunkering down at home then I hope this post will be helpful for you. I’ve collected a list of things that I’ve been reading and listening to lately.
FICTION BOOKS I’VE READ LATELY
I’ve been on a pretty strong reading kick for the last few months. The only problem is that I’m so tired when I get in bed that I don’t get far in my books so it takes me forever to finish. I’m trying to get better about reading in small spurts during the day too instead of going straight to reading the news app on my phone or opening Instagram.
Here are the books that I’ve read recently. I have found myself very drawn to fiction and nothing too heavy. It’s just what my brain needs right now.
The Lies that Bind by Emily Giffin
I tend to like Emily Giffin books and this was no exception. This was an enjoyable read that kept me engaged and turning the pages. I liked the main character a lot and I also appreciated some of the overall themes of not settling in relationships and figuring out and making the best of tough situations.
This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens
I’m almost done with this one. It’s an easy, cute book and would be a good choice if you tend to like the British romcom genre.
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
Loved this book, so much. There aren’t many books that make me cry but the tears were streaming at the end of this one. A beautiful book about friendship, love and life.
The Last Flight by Julie Clark
This was the best suspense book that I’ve read in a while! Highly recommend.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
“A wedding celebration turns dark and deadly in this deliciously wicked and atmospheric thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie from the New York Times bestselling author of The Hunting Party.”
This is another thriller. It takes place around a wedding celebration on a remote island in Ireland. I was very surprised by the ending.
My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing
This one was so twisted but I couldn’t turn away.
PODCASTS I’VE BEEN LISTENING TO LATELY
“In My Feelings” a podcast from Thought Catalog talks about the humanness and realness of being a sensitive and feeling person.
I have become a big fan of Bianca Sparacino over the last year. She’s the editor of Thought Catalog and records this podcast. If you are a sensitive/empath type of person, you might enjoy this podcast but if you tend to be more direct/practical you may think this crosses the woo-woo line and want to skip out. 🙂
Tara Brach: Remembering Our Belonging, Part 1 and Part 2
If you’ve been reading along with my blog this year, you’ve heard me mention Tara Brach on several occasions. She has been the most relatable and impactful teacher for me in 2020 and I can’t get enough of her talks and meditations. I loved these recent talks she gave on Remembering our Belonging. So relevant for this difficult year.
Rachel Hollis Podcast, Episode 170: What To Do When Everything Feels Hard
I don’t listen to the Rachel Hollis podcast regularly but every now and then there are episodes that I really like. This was one of them. I absolutely loved the distinction here between “are things actually hard or do they feel hard?,” recognizing both as valid and creating actionable strategies for dealing.
MUSIC I’VE BEEN LISTENING TO LATELY
Along with everyone else in the world, I got my Spotify 2020 Wrapped a couple of weeks ago. There was A LOT of listening time in 2020. In addition to using Spotify for all of my yoga and fitness classes, I also have it playing all the time in my car, on my laptop and on my kitchen speaker.
Here’s a playlist with my top 100 songs of 2020 if you want to follow along. Warning: you will hear Super Buster at some point. 😉
Taylor Swift’s New Album, Evermore
I must be living under a rock because I had no idea that Taylor Swift was releasing another album last week. I’ve been listening to it a lot the last few days and I think it’s great. I think I may like it even more than Folklore.
Josh Groban Holiday Radio on Pandora
Josh Groban Holiday Radio on Pandora is my favorite holiday music station for a fun and festive mix of beautiful holiday music. I also like Christmas Cocktail Jazz and Peaceful Christmas Piano on Spotify when I want something more low-key and instrumental in the background.
QUESTIONS
What books have you read this fall? Any that you would recommend?
What podcasts are you listening to right now?
Do you use Spotify? Who was your top artist and what was your top song of 2020?
What do you think of Taylor Swift’s new album?
