The Thread's Must-Read
Five from you!In the waning days of each year, I often come to terms with the bookish resolutions I’ve proudly completed — and the ones on which I’ve sheepishly fallen short. Let’s just say my score over the last few years is nothing to crow about.
So, for 2018, I’ve made just one bookish resolution, and that is to read more books that you love. In other words, I’ll be crowd-sourcing my reading list more often.
Here’s how it’s going so far: In early January, I turned to you on Twitter with a challenge. I would read five books in five weeks, all recommended by you. Titles poured in and I watched for consensus around great books, or for a book description that sounded so compelling I couldn’t resist.
First came “Pachinko,” by Min Jin Lee. Fantastic! Then “Turtles All the Way Down.” This is the first John Green novel I’ve ever read, and I’m sold. Third was “Beartown,” by Frederik Backman. This book made the list to assuage my guilt over missing “A Man Called Ove" — and because one tweeter told me to drop everything and read it.
I still had two open spots on my list when the news broke about President Trump's noxious remarks on immigrants from "s**thole countries." I decided the last two books would be by African or Haitian writers.
Many, many of you have recommended “Born A Crime,” Trevor Noah’s memoir about growing up in South Africa. I’d resisted it, I think, because I don’t watch Noah on "The Daily Show," but you’ve been so persuasive about it that I’m ready to dig in.
And finally, I will finish the fifth in mid-February with Imbolo Mbue’s “Behold the Dreamers,” the story of a couple who moves from Cameroon to New York City.
Thank you for all of the fantastic must-reads. Coming this spring: Tell me five young adult novels I missed that you loved.
-Kerri Miller
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