Popular Books You’ll Be Glad You Read

He that loves reading has everything within his reach. —William Godwin. Reading might just be America’s original favorite past time. No other hobby can take you on a journey through space or time, make you laugh and cry, or feel quite so fulfilled as when you’ve finished a good book. Check out any of the books mentioned in this blog, or pick your own favorites to join millions participating in National Reading Day on January 23^rd and Read Across America Day on March 2^nd.”

Books in a Series

For the reader who loves a good series, Lee Childs’ Night School revives the popular character, Jack Reacher. Childs takes Reacher back to his Army days for a secret mission to unravel the meaning of a mysterious message intercepted in Germany. This addictive series boasts 21 books, and The Washington Post says, “Reacher is one of this century’s most original, tantalizing pop-fiction heroes.”

Other well-liked series to try: Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum or Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon series.

Non-Fiction Favorites

Many have likely heard of the Pulitzer Prize winning, unprecedented runaway Broadway smash hit, Hamilton, but may not know that it’s creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda was inspired by Ron Chernow’s 2004 biography, Alexander Hamilton. Chernow artfully portrays Hamilton’s humble and tragic beginnings to his rise to power as America’s most progressive founding father. Hamilton’s wife, Eliza, tried in vain for 50 years after his death to repair her husband’s reputation and set the record straight; Chernow does just that. The NY Times says, “No other author captures Hamilton, the man, as fully and beautifully as Chernow.” This 800-page biography is not just for history buffs though; it has a little something for everyone.

Additional non-fiction favorites: The Boys on the Boat by Daniel James Brown or John Adams by David McCullough

From Your Favorite Authors

America’s favorite storyteller, John Grisham is at it again with his 28^th novel, The Whistler. Called “riveting” and “sophisticated” by the NY Times, Grisham introduces us to Lacy Stoltz, a strong female character that will appeal to men and women alike. Set in Florida’s panhandle, Lacy gets distracted from her predictable work on the judicial conduct board when a shady snitch gives her a whistle blower tip of a lifetime. She gets tangled up in the dangerous world of the Florida mafia, a reservation-protected casino and a crooked judge.

Other tales from prolific authors: Stephen King’s End of Watch or James Patterson’s Cross the Line.

Back to the Classics

It’s never been a better time to pick up a classic. Rated as Time Magazine’s #1 Pick for All-Time Best English Language Novel, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird should serve as a walk down memory lane for most Boomers, who likely read it as a teen. Harper Collins recently released Go Set a Watchman, Lee’s follow up to her world famous Mockingbird, set 20 years later filled with flashbacks to Scout’s childhood. While Mockingbird suggests compassion for outsiders, readers will be surprised to learn whom Watchman asks to be understood.

More classics to revisit or discover for the first time: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Just for Fun

Just for fun, pick up a book that will get you laughing. Nora Ephron’s I Feel Bad About My Neck and Billy Crystal’s memoir, Still Foolin’ ‘Em feature laugh out loud tales about growing up and maturing, Boomer-style.

Five Star Favorites

A few more books of note that can’t be ignored, and collectively have over 100,000 five-star reviews on Amazon are: The Martian by Andy Weir, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, and A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.

Read & Relax

Not only is reading considered “the great escape”, it’s also a proven stress reliever. Joining a book club is a fantastic way to embark on a literary adventure and fuel new and meaningful relationships with other residents!

Whether you join a book club or read independently, pick up a book today and see where it takes you. Check out and print the full list of recommended books below!

Recommended Reading List: