Shari Stauch fell in love with reading at a young age, gobbling up Boxcar Children and Nancy Drew books as fast as her allowance would pay for ’em. Today she enjoys good contemporary and historical fiction, literary fiction, and non-fiction, especially inspiring stories or unique self-help offerings.
Historical Fiction
All the Light We Cannot See and The Nightingale are two of my favorites. Also One Good Mama Bone, but that’s more in the literary fiction category (either way, a brilliant read and a fave among book clubs!)
If you like your historical fiction with some searing romance, you can’t go wrong with Diana Gabaldon. Start with Outlander and meander your way through a series that spans centuries with principle characters Claire and Jamie!
Literary and UpMarket Fiction
Sue Monk Kidd’s Secret Life of Bees remains one of my all-time favorites, along with Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, Finn by Jon Clinch, The Help by Kathryn Stockett and Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult.
American Dirt – wow. Like The Help, this book changes minds – you’re carried through a thrilling and daring escape, but in the process learn what it truly means to be a victim and to struggle against that and hopefully, eventually, survive.
Non-Fiction
Anything by Walter Isaacson, but especially his big book Leonardo Da Vinci. Isaacson’s research is impeccable and he delves into his subjects to really get to what makes a true original like Da Vinci or Steve Jobs. Fascinating stuff!
On the inspirational, self-help front, anything by Jen Sincero is completely fun without being preachy. You’ll be inspired and get to laugh out loud (and who doesn’t need a little of both? Start with You Are a Badass, then make your way through the others in her Badass series.