*Header image by Nina’s Clicks
I’ve got a few New Year’s resolutions, although some of them are New Years hopes. But one of the things I’m determined to achieve from the outset is to read more books for fun. Last year was the first time I was able to do this in ages, although I neglected to keep a written list. (Highlights included Clara Bow: Runnin’ Wild by David Stenn, In The Woods by Tana French, The Romanov Sisters by Helen Rappaport, Garden of Dreams: The Life of Simone Signoret by Patricia DeMaio and Brando’s Smile by Susan Mizruchi) That changes this year, dammit! I’ll be keeping track on Goodreads, Instagram and will do my best to keep this log updated here.
So far, so good!
1. Alice + Freda Forever: A Murder in Memphis by Alexis Coe (historical non-fiction; true crime)
2. My Name Escapes Me: The Diary of a Retiring Actor by Sir Alec Guinness (memoir)
3. Neverhome by Laird Hunt (historical fiction; American Civil War)
4. Of All Places! by Patience, Richard and Johnny Abbe (memoir)
5. The Romanovs: The Final Chapter by Robert K. Massie (non-fiction; Russian history)
6. Wild by Cheryl Strayed (memoir; travel)
7. All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy (fiction)
8. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach (non-fiction; science)
9. Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife by Mary Roach (non-fiction; science)
10. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (fiction)
11. Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie (biography; Russian history)
12. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell (fiction)
13. The Great Hollywood Portrait Photographers by John Kobal (film studies; photography)
14. A Girl Walks into a Bar by Rachel Dratch (comedy; memoir)
15. Follies of God: Tennessee Williams and the Women of the Fog by James Grissom (memoir; theatre)
16. In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick (historical non-fiction)
17. An Anthropologist on Mars by Oliver Sacks (psychology; neurology)
18. Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult (fiction)
19. The Natty Professor by Tim Gunn (memoir)
20. The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge by Michael Punke (historical fiction)
21. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (fiction; thriller)
22. In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin by Erik Larson (historical non-fiction)
♠ ♣ ♠ ♣ ♠
I hope you enjoyed “Runnin’ Wild” as much as I did. What a pageturner of a book – when I read it I knew nothing about Clara Bow, beyond her name and faraway stardom. I stayed up all night to finish it! And now I want to read the Signoret bio, based on your list. Thanks!
Hi John, isn’t the Clara Bow book great? I think David Stenn is a wonderful storyteller. I had heard of Clara Bow and had seen It before reading the book, but was very touched by her story. As soon as I finished that one, I read Stenn’s Jean Harlow biography. Equally as good, I thought.
I hope you enjoy the Simone Signoret book!
Hello, v interesting book list, will be looking up the Jean Harlow biography, always been interested in her since Barry Normans long ago Hollywood Greats tv Programmes! Thank you Kendra, your website is so interesting and knowledgeable , happy 2015!
Hi Veronica,
I really enjoyed the Jean Harlow biography, although I hadn’t read any others about her.
I’m glad you’re enjoying the site!
Any or all of Cecil Beatons diaries,they’re a cracking read and he has great turn of phrase.Some real laugh out loud moments.Naughty man!!