53 (Grown-Up) Books For Your Own Reading List

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  This touching story by Debbie Macomber is about two best friends and their journey through life. It is a true page-turner told through letters, diaries, and emails. I could not put this book down and couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next in Jillian and Lesley's lives. By the end of the book, I felt like I knew the characters in real life.

This book will especially resonate with women as it is about the unique power of the female friendships. Between Friends is a book you will want to share with your girlfriends and talk about long after you have finished it.

Nancy L. said:  In All the Light There Was, by Nancy Kricorian, young Maral Pegorian's family tries to rebuild their lives in Paris after the Armenian Genocide. Just when they think they can live in peace and start fresh in this new city, the Nazis invade Paris. The adults in Maral's life have some idea of what to expect and try to prepare for war accordingly. But Maral, her brother, and friends have no idea how their lives will change. This is a coming-of-age story that has the added dimension of being told from the perspective of an Armenian family.

Yann Martel's novel follows Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel as his family, who owns a zoo, leaves India. Their ship encounters a storm and Pi finds himself on a lifeboat with a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a tiger. The story unfolds as Pi recounts his journey to shocked officials after making it back to shore. It's a book you won't soon forget, and the motion picture is worth a watch as well.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  The Last Lecture was written by Randy Pausch, a father, husband and professor who was given a terminal cancer diagnosis and later died. He wrote this lecture on life about living it to its fullest, no matter how much time we have. He cherished his family and this book will give the reader a greater appreciation for all that life has to offer. He focused on going after all of his dreams and not worrying about the unimportant things.

It is an inspiring read that may bring a few tears, but the reader will be left with a renewed sense of purpose and love of life.

Lisa R said:  This poetic novel by Italo Calvino is my all-time favorite book. Someone is mixing up the pages in books and you, Dear Reader, are on an ever more ludicrous quest to find out who is behind it. Along the way, you'll read the tantalizing first chapter of ten, very different, novels, which will set the tone for the scenes that lay ahead in your own journey. You may never find out what happens to most of the protagonists you meet, but that's okay. The joy of reading itself turns out to be the entire point.

Tim Ponisciak said:  One of the precursors to Erik Larson's most famous book, Devil in the White City, this story is equally intense. It focuses on Isaac Cline, who worked for the U.S. Weather Bureau, and was tasked with tracking one of the worst storms to make landfall in Galveston, Texas. Storm tracking was in its infancy in 1900, and Larson does an impeccable job showcasing how much rode on Cline's knowledge of the weather.

Kelly R. said:  This riveting story by Mark Sullivan is based on the incredible life of Pino Lella, an Italian teenager who is pulled into the fabric of World War II on an unlikely journey that leads him to become the personal driver for one of Hitler's high commanders. Beautiful writing vividly illustrates the collapse of the war, Pino's secret and suspenseful fight to save innocent lives, and the powerful love that drives him onward. I couldn't put it down.

Kelly R. said:  The story of an astronaut stranded on Mars is thrilling, suspenseful, and surprisingly funny. Bravo to Andy Weir for writing a book that dives so deeply into nitty gritty science, but in an engaging and digestible way. This is a (surprisingly plausible) science fiction novel that will appeal to readers of any genre.

Kelly R. said:  Eleanor Oliphant is NOT completely fine, but I won't give away much more than that. This book by Gail Honeyman slowly unravels your first impression of an eccentric character to unveil how she became who she is.

Kelly R. said:  This is a beautifully written book about life and loss that happens to be told from the perspective of a dog. Enzo looks back on his years as beloved companion to a race car driver, and all of the ups and downs that have come along the way. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll cry some more.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  Richard Paul Evans is one of my favorite authors because his books are not only expertly written, but they are touching with deep meaning. Lost December is the story of a father and son's relationship through the best and worst of times. It is about forgiveness and appreciating what you have after you have lost it all. It is heartwarming, emotional and deeply moving. I truly love all of the author's books. They are not terribly long and even busy moms will find they breeze through them, because they are true page turners as well.

Katie G. said:  You may remember the 1992 movie starring Brad Pitt. This semi-autobiographical book was published when the author, Norman Maclean, was 74 years old. It was his first novel, published at his family's encouragement after he retired from 30 years as a university professor. A true work of a lifetime, the book includes a novella and two short stories, all taken from Maclean's youth in the Montana mountains. It's unique and powerful in its simplicity.

Tim Ponisciak said:  Travelers-at-heart will love this story of the open road. While John Steinbeck is best known for his fiction, he has also written a couple of non-fiction works, and this is perhaps the best. He tells the story of his trip across the U.S. back in 1960, accompanied by just his dog, Charley. Steinbeck helps the reader picture America as it was back in 1960 writing eloquently about both the positives and the negatives.

Nancy L. said:  Going into Town: A Love Letter to New York isn't a novel but a quick and funny read from bestselling author Roz Chast. It's part playful guide and part love letter to a great city. This will make you laugh whether you live in Manhattan, the boroughs, the 'burbs, or even further away. This is ideal for those who don't have time for a complete novel.

Nancy L. said:  Chiara Ravello is about to flee occupied Rome in 1943, but one glimpse of another woman being pulled away onto a truck with her husband and their children changes for her life forever. In that moment, Ravello is thrust into the role of caretaker for the woman's child. Early One Morning, by Virginia Bailey, is a heartbreaking story of how they not only make it through the war years in Italy but of how their lives will be forever connected, changed, and haunted.