Trying to Follow Elin Hildebrand’s Advice
About a year and a half ago I had the privilege of getting to attend an event where Elin Hildebrand was the keynote speaker. Elin is one of my absolute favorite authors – to date I have read 18 of her 33 books (number 19 is sitting beside me ready to be cracked open). Elin posts about her writing process on Instagram, but hearing her speak about it in person was fascinating. The two things Elin stresses keep her writing juices flowing are writing daily and reading often.
I love to write – obviously I have a blog and I have been an avid reader my whole life. The problem I have is balancing those two passions with actual life. Everyone in this house knows when I get into a book, they should probably give up talking to me, because my nose will stay buried until I’m finished. Once that happens “they” (usually Brian) need to be prepared for me to discuss it. One of my very favorite things to do is watch a show or movie based on a book I have read, and then point out every difference between the two (usually to Brian). He is a big fan of this and always gets really excited when I say “Oh! I read the book, I can’t wait to watch that.” (This is obviously sarcasm, he always entertains my enthusiasm with lukewarm responses, but that isn’t what this whole thing is about.)
The thing I’ve found is my best writing happens when I’m emotional. Some of the best and easiest things I’ve written have been born from some very difficult and stressful situations. Those times are when the words flow easily for me. What I have struggled with is coming up with things to write about when life is OK and I don’t have that crushing weight of anxiety prompting me to get it onto paper. (Like this one: https://tryalittlebitharder.com/repost-from-3-23-18-trying-to-see-the-light/) For the last year plus I’ve been trying to follow Elin’s advice to read and write more, to keep those creative juices flowing. I have struggled to a) find and/or make the time to write, and b) when I do make the time, I often end up with some rambling chaos or nothing at all.
Earlier this week, I shared on Instagram stories that I have been reading a lot and a few people asked what I’ve been reading. It seemed like a good excuse to work on my writing while sharing details of the books I’ve read so far this year. There is nothing like sitting down and cracking open a physical book, but I do also enjoy audio books while I’m driving or doing housework – the books I’ve consumed so far this year are a mix of the two. My goal for the year is 50 books and I’m well on my way!
2024 reads to date:
1. Distant Shores by Kristin Hannah:
I had downloaded this book ages ago on Audible and for whatever reason, had never listened to it. I have read and/or listened to many of Kristin’s books; her historical fiction is my favorite. This one was a story about the trials and tribulations of marriage. I liked it and found some of it relatable to real life. It was an easy listen, didn’t cause me any anxiety, had enough twists and turns to keep me interested, and I liked how it ended. I’ll give it 4 stars because it was good, but didn’t leave me wishing for more.
2. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell:
I’m not sure what prompted me to listen to this book – it may have been a recommendation from a friend or Instagram. I liked it, it was creepy and a little disturbing, but it kept me engaged. I gave it 4 stars because it did give me a lot of anxiety and maybe a nightmare or two. Honestly, authors that come up with stories like these freak me the hell out a bit.
3. Argylle by Elly Conway
Zoe and I were totally swindled by the hype and propaganda that surrounded the release of this book. If you’re unfamiliar, the book was released about a month before a movie with the same name. The marketing insanity that surrounded it, the fact that it was a “first time author” that had a yet-to-be released book made into a movie so quickly – everyone was convinced it was written by Taylor Swift. Elly even had an Instagram account that posted VERY Taylor-like things. We went to our locally owned bookstore (shout out to Aaron’s Books) to snatch up the book as soon as it was available. Less than a chapter into the book I knew we had all been duped. If you are unaware, we are a house full of Swifties. There is absolutely no way on Earth, the woman who wrote Folklore, Evermore, and The Tortured Poets Department, ever could have written this atrocity of a book. It did eventually come out that the book was written by two barely known authors. I finished the book. We did go see the movie. The two are only loosely related. Its weird. I don’t know how else to describe it. The book is horribly written. DO NOT recommend. I posted a few BookTok TikTok’s about it while I was reading it – I had some funny thoughts if you’re interested you can find them here: (https://www.tiktok.com/@anniewiker/video/7327376457632730414?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7359606585913689646)
4. First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
This was the Reese’s Book Club pick for January; I listened to this one on Audible. I’ve read or listened to numerous Reese picks over the years and for the most part, I really like them. This one didn’t disappoint. I saw someone on TikTok discussing this book and said it was a little confusing – I could see how it could be if you were reading the physical copy. The way the audio was done, I found it easy to follow. This one had a lot of twists and turns and kept me guessing the whole way through and I never saw it ending the way it did. It was a fun one and it did not cause nightmares! Nothing earth-shattering, but entertaining! 4 Stars
5. The Women by Kristin Hannah
Hands down one of my absolute favorite books ever! I’m desperately waiting for a sequel, even though I know it won’t happen. I started out listening to this one and loved it so much, I downloaded it late one evening (when going to a bookstore wasn’t an option) and finished reading it on my phone. I could not stop reading! The book is about the women who served in Vietnam and the trauma they suffered both while serving and once they returned home. If you think Vietnam vets were disrespected when they returned home, that is nothing compared to the women who served there. Its an amazing story of friendship, service to country, and resiliency. This book is was so well researched and so well written, it makes you feel like you were there right along side the women. I actually cried in parts of it which is very unusual for me. I honestly cannot say enough good things about this book. By far one of the best I’ve ever read! I give this one 100 stars!
6. The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hildebrand
Since I started this whole post talking about Elin, its only fitting that one of her books makes my list. I actually purchased this book the day it was released last summer, but for some reason it sat unread for months. It took me a little bit to get into this book, but once it hooked me, I couldn’t put it down. Such a wonderful tale about life and friendships – it really made me think about who my Five Stars would be. This is definitely one of my favorites and in my top 5 Elin reads. It has twists and turns, but nothing traumatic or anxiety causing, just a heart-warming story of life – one that you can easily feel yourself fitting into. Definite 5 star rating for this one!
7. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
No joke, I had never read this book. It wasn’t one I had to read in school for whatever reason, however, Zoe did have to read it this year and became quite obsessed. After her texting me multiple times tying the book to various Taylor Swift lyrics (ones less obvious than “feeling so Gatsby for that whole year”), I decided I needed to read it. Again, I ran to Aaron’s Books to snatch a fancy copy of the book – its a classic, I decided we need a pretty version to sit on our shelf. I really enjoyed the book, and easily understood why it continues to be a required read for many English classes. The story is fascinating and I kept having to remind myself that it was written in the 1920’s! What a wild time! If you haven’t read it, I definitely recommend it. At some point Zoe and I are planning to watch the movie together. Another 5 Star recommendation!
8. The Beach Club by Elin Hildebrand
Another Elin book! I bought this one on Apple Books shortly after seeing Elin in person. It was her first book ever published and she spoke about it so lovingly during her talk, I felt like I was really missing something. Truthfully I was! This one lived on my phone for the last year and a half. I would read a few pages at a time while I was waiting for my kids at practice, physical therapy, etc. I don’t know why it took me soooooo ridiculously long to finish it, other than I love having something I can easily grab while I have unexpected time to kill. Elin’s writing has definitely gotten stronger since this book was released, but I loved it nonetheless. Her love for Nantucket is so evident in this story, and it did seriously leave me wanting a sequel when it was all said and done. 5 stars!
9. Redwood Court by DeLana R.A. Dameron
This was Reese’s Book Club’s February pick. I listened to this one on Apple Books. I think I would have followed this story a little easier had I read a physical copy. There are a lot of characters and places to keep track of, and I would have followed it more easily if I could have flipped back to the beginning when people and locations are all spelled out. Its a story about family and home, its heartwarming and devastating and realistic all wrapped into one. The part I loved about this book is that it happened during the same time I was growing up. References to music and other pop culture topics were very relatable for me, but the experiences were quite different. I give this one 4 stars only because I found it a little hard to follow on the audio version.
10. One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Taylor Jenkins Reid is one of my favorite authors. I picked this one up at Costco last fall and added it to my stack. One of my goals this year is to get through the stacks of books sitting around the house that I haven’t gotten to yet. I knocked this one out in a weekend. Its was a really easy, non-stressful read (honestly my favorite kind). I loved the story and was completely sucked into it. I’m still debating how I feel about the ending. It wasn’t my favorite. If you’re looking for an “escape” read that won’t cause you stress, this is a good one! I give it 4 stars just because the ending wasn’t my favorite.
11. The Housemaid (The Housemaid #1) by Freida McFadden
Honest to God I hated this book. I’m not even kidding. I listened to this one on Audible at the recommendation of a friend who usually has good taste in books. (She knows I absolutely love her and am saying this all with a smidge of sarcasm and a lot of love!). Honestly, is Freida McFadden on some sort of watch list? This book is so f**ked up. I don’t know how else to describe it. Its disturbing and filled me with anxiety and messed up dreams and who the hell comes up with this kind of stuff? There is a sequel. I will never read it. I barely survived this one! DO NOT RECOMMEND UNLESS YOU ARE DERANGED and enjoy very deranged things. The hair and the teeth – that is what got me. If you’ve read it, you’ll know what I mean. I give this one half a star – only because I finished it.
12. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
This kept popping up in Apple Books audio recommendations for me, so I took it as a hint that my phone is trying to help me get my shit together. I feel a little stupid for spending money on this one. There was nothing Earth-shattering or new. My one take away, particularly because I work from home, is to have designated places for certain tasks. For instance, I sit on the couch to watch tv and scroll my phone – I shouldn’t sit there to try to get work done. The overall theme of the book (which isn’t original to James Clear) is to try to do 1% better each day. Because I listened to the book, I do continue to hear that idea in my head on a regular basis now, and I use it to remind myself when I get stuck a rut of non-productivity. I do hear a voice in my head saying “are you doing 1% better today?” It wasn’t a total waste, but I also did not find it to be life-changing. 3 Stars for this one.
13. Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle
I’ve read two other Rebecca Serle books (One Italian Summer and In Five Years) and really liked both of them so I preordered this one. It did not disappoint! I took it along for our recent trip to Florida and knocked out a third of it on the way there, another third on the way home, and finished it that weekend. There is an other-worldliness aspect of Rebecca’s books that isn’t quite science fiction, but not quite not science fiction. I just really enjoy her style of writing and the thought that some other force is out there impacting our lives. This was an easy, non-stressful read that definitely left me wanting more at the end! 5 stars!
14. Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez
Reese’s Book Club pick for March – I listened on Apple Books. I wasn’t sure about this one – I trudged on only because its rare Reese’s picks disappoint me. I really didn’t enjoy the first half of this book, I kept going simply because of the title and I’m really glad I did. I ended up really enjoying the second half and loved the ending! I give it 4 stars only because the first half felt really slow.
And that is all I’ve completed so far this year. I’m currently reading Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann and listening to The Most Fun We Ever Had by Clair Lombardo. Killers is non-fiction (the movie by the same name was based on the book) – I typically don’t read non-fiction, but sadly it reads a bit like a novel – the whole story is so insane its hard to believe its real. Its such a horrific, sad tale of how horribly the Osage people were treated in the 1920s. I only just started The Most Fun, its the Reese’s pick for April, but I’m a couple chapters in so I can’t really give an opinion on it yet. I’ll do another update next quarter!
Have you read any of these books? What are you thoughts? What are you reading now? What can you recommend for me? And if you’re a fan of BookTok, are you following me on TikTok? https://www.tiktok.com/@anniewiker?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
