Read Your Way into 2025

Ask The Life Coach column readers tell me that one of their favorite columns is my list of top ten books. One woman told me she cuts out the column and posts it on her refrigerator.  

So, at the request of readers, here is MY TOP TEN BOOKS in no particular order.  

1. Claude & Camille: A Novel of Monet by Stephanie Cowell - The narrative, which imparts lovely images and descriptions, is a portrait of both the rise of Impressionism and of the artist at the center of the movement. I found it informative and enjoyable. 

2. The Women by Kristin Hannah - A Vietnam War story told through the eyes of the nurses serving in combat zones. This is a powerful, thought-provoking book that, at times, is difficult to read. An important and little-known addition to the history of the war. 

3. Wonder by R.J. Palacio - I read this book with my 12-year-old granddaughter. Described as a “meditation on kindness,” the story was made into a movie starring Julia Roberts. An inspiring message for young and old.  

4. The Well-Lived Life: 103-Year-Old Doctor’s Six Secrets To Health And Happiness At Every Age by Gladys McGarey M.D. and Mark Hyman - I loved this book! It starts slow but McGarey’s life continues to inspire me months after reading the book. 

5. The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro. - A fascinating novel about seeing—and not seeing—the secrets that lie beneath the canvas. You’ll like this if you enjoy the details of painting and insights into the life of an artist.  

6. The Girl In His Shadow by Audrey Blake - Described as “an unforgettable historical fiction novel about one woman who believed in scientific medicine before the world believed in her,” this book has a strong woman protagonist and many medical details from the mid-19th century.  

7.  Be Ready When Luck Happens by Ina Garten - Favorite cook (she doesn’t call herself a chef) tells her story honestly and with emotion. Being an Ina fan, I’m glad I read it, but I feel it’s been over-hyped. 

8.  James by Percival Everett - This book won the National Book Award for fiction 2024. A soulful novel that reimagines the story of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of the enslaved Jim, it offers a fresh take on a classic. The story is currently in development as a feature film to be produced by Steven Spielberg. 

9.  The Small And the Mighty by Sharon  McMahon - This narrative proves that the most remarkable Americans are often ordinary people, mostly women, who didn’t make it into the textbooks. 

10.  Angie, The Bee Lady by Mershon Niesner - I believe the adage, “If you don’t love your own book, how do you expect others to?” As the great-granddaughter of early Nebraska pioneers, I was inspired to write the story of Angie, a young girl growing into a woman in the Nebraska Sand Hills in the early to mid-1800s. Through her many adventures, she inspired me to never give up. 

I wish you a Happy New Year filled with the wonder of books!