on my nightstand

From World War I love stories to memoirs of minimalists to the prairie obsesesed, here’s what I’ve been reading in June.

Somewhere in France: A Novel of the Great War, Jennifer Robson: Class, war, love – think Downton Abbey Season Two The Book. This was a somewhat predictable love story about an upper class woman joining the war effort which was exactly what I was looking to read on a recent weekend getaway.

Lost Lake, Sarah Addison Allen: A young widow returns to a childhood vacation spot that she learns is being sold and of course pasts are revisited, old and new relationships kindled. Another solid summer read where you don’t have to work too hard.

The Wilder Life – My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie, Wendy McClure: When I was around eight and finished the Little House series, I cried and cried because it was over. I had come to love the characters so much. In this non-fiction book, a Laura Ingalls Wilder enthusiast journeys to all of the books’ home sites in search of the Laura World she loved as a child. After reading this, I’m totally starting the series again with Little House in the Big Woods.

Everything That Remains, Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus: Earlier in June I got to meet the authors of this book and learn more about their philosophy. If you are interested in learning more about minimalism and living with less, this memoir is a great introduction. Even if you don’t want to be a minimalist, it’s a well-told story.

Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son’s First Son, Anne Lammott: I think I hit my Anne Lammott saturation point this month after a few months of having her on my reading list. I couldn’t get that far into this book. I wanted Operating Instructions but it wasn’t at the library and brought this home instead. Maybe if I was in the baby stage this would have hit me harder? Final results – unfinished.

Flyover Lives, Diane Johnson: From the author of Le Divorce (admittedly never read this book but enjoyed the Kate Hudson movie more time than I care to admit), I was expecting more France in this memoir. Instead I’m getting a historical deep dive into the author’s midwestern roots. Plugging through, but if we don’t get out of the drudgery of life in the 1830’s soon, I might be abandoning the journey.

Hope you have some good reads on your nightstand. Would love to hear what you’re reading in the comments. For other books and reading recommendations, check out my nightstand from past months.

PS Also on my nightstand is this Acure Organics lotion that I picked up at Whole Foods. It is super hydrating for my very sensitive skin and is unscented which is a must for me plus their products don’t have a lot of junk that you find in more traditional skin care. And because it doesn’t break the bank, I’ve switched to their face wash, shampoo, and facial serum.