Bibliophilia: 2025

Well, somehow it is the end of the year. It always amazes; how quickly it all goes by these days. Surprisingly so, my year of "rest and relaxation" was one of the harder ones. I had a lot of hopes and aspirations, and I feel pretty good about how it all went. I wish I had been more consistent in sharing my writing, but considering the progress I have made, I am choosing to be proud regardless. I will continue to grow and expand, and I appreciate any and everyone who is cheering me on through their screen. I completed The Artist's Way and have been consistent in my morning pages for four months! Another of my goals, was to read 35 books this year; I surpassed it! Below is the top three books I read this year, in case anyone is in need of a good read. I also included a list of all 37 books I read this year. If anyone ever wants to book club with me, I would be more than thrilled :) Happy new year loves <3

Top Books of 2025:

1. Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion As a writer, her writing inspired me beyond words. Reading about California felt like a hug from back home. I felt so seen in her piece on keeping a notebook and in so much of the writing in general, in place and time and soul. One of my new all time favorites. I cannot wait to reread it already.

2. The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer I first fell in love with Dr. Kimmerer because of her book: Braiding Sweetgrass. She blends everything I love most into her studies and writing. This book was short and sweet, a call to action. It inspired me to operate from an abundance mindset and in better harmony with nature. Now more than ever, we have to challenge the status quo and think outside the box; this book does just that.

3. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara I have never read a book quite as haunting as this one. Reading does many things for me, but one of the strongest parts of reading is learning empathy through experiencing something you otherwise have not or could not in this life. Emotions were written in such a vivid way here, that I felt I could truly understand living with mental illness and trauma beyond my current comprehension. Reading provides you with understanding you would otherwise never have, and that is precisely what this book did for me. It also made me realize how hopeful I am, even when the signs are all pointing south, I will hold on to my hope until the very end.

A Complete List of Books Read:

1. Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez Recommended by my long time friend and work wife, Kamila. She taught me that, at times, anger is power.

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (#7) by J.K. Rowling The end of the first step in feeding my inner whimsy and child-like wonder.

3. I Remember by Joe Brainard The first of many books shared with Chris this year.

4. All About Love: New Visions by Bell Hooks A re-read before continuing with the series.

5. First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston A fun audiobook borrowed from my mom's library during our first van trip in Australia.

6. The House on the Water by Margot Hunt Skip!

7. Outlander (#1) by Diana Gabaldon Made me think of Eva and winter and pulling each other upright into our new lives.

8. Communion: The Female Search for Love by Bell Hooks I gifted this to an old friend; I don't think she ever read it.

9. Sex and Rage by Eve Babitz There was this time I tried to have a book club (again), and it failed mostly (again).

10. Brave Hearted: The Women of the American West by Katie Hickman Trying to read more women authors and stories!

11. Dragonfly in Amber (#2) by Diana Gabaldon Was escaping.

12. No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy Really, truly loved this. I love a cowboy, wild west story.

13. Voyager (#3) by Diana Gabaldon Still trying to escape, but starting to hate the books.

14. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Sidonie raved about this book years ago; my love language is reading books my friends love and giving them books I love.

15. My Brilliant Friend (#1) by Elena Ferrante I was genuinely uncomfortable reading this book until I realized it was making me think about being a young girl.

16. Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver by Mary Oliver I feel like my writing evolved a lot reading her. It was a perfect backdrop being immersed daily in the best nature.

17. Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion #1!!

18. Drums of Autumn (#4) by Diana Gabaldon The last Outlander book I will read. The story is so good but the books are drawn out and written boringly. I truly tried.

19. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr Chris read this and said it was so good. He was correct.

20. Bunny by Mona Awad Not really my cup of tea, but I enjoy pushing myself to read a bunch of different things (as you can see).

21. Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton I wanted to read a novel by an Australian author. Super whimsical and unlike anything I have read before.

22. When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities by Chen Chen Thank you Claire for the poetry!

23. All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy Not as good as No Country for Old Men, but still made me feel like a cowgirl out west.

24. The Story of a New Name (#2) by Elena Ferrante This series continued to strike me in varying ways, encapsulating emotions and thoughts that are usually left unsaid, unacknowledged.

25. A Brief History of Time by Stephen W. Hawking Pushed myself to read something challenging that I wanted to understand more of. Life-long learner.

26. The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera This book was vying for a spot in my top three for sure. I don't know why exactly, but I loved it a lot.

27. Down the Drain by Julia Fox A testament to creative living and how that can be your greatest art.

28. The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer #2!

29. The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter by Meg Jay Truly changed my mind and helped usher me into my next phase. Highly recommend to all my peers.

30. Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain I love Bourdain's writing style, the rawness, grit, and chaos. Listened as an audiobook and would highly recommend - his voice is perfect.

31. Lunch Poems by Frank O'Hara Thank you Hillary, for keeping my shelves stocked with poetry :)

32. Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay (#3) by Elena Ferrante This series is much less narrative driven - though it has a lot going on that front. It is much more character portraits and relational development.

33. The Women by Kristin Hannah Read this mainly for the Vietnam content in prep for my travels there next year.

34. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara #3 Have a box of tissues.

35. Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry Another borrowed audiobook from Mary Kay's library.

36. The Story of the Lost Child (#4) by Elena Ferrante I was happy to finish this series.

37. The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune Heartstrings were yanked. Brooke and I read this together - thank you for keeping me tethered to the world dear friend.