In Mini Episode 59, Alyssa Hertzig (@alyssahertzig, @alyssaisbooked) shares how she got back into reading after a long hiatus and we do an impromptu deep dive on Ann Patchett (one of my all-time favorite authors)…plus, celebrity memoirs.
This post contains affiliate links (plus: here’s your Amazon Smile-specific affiliate link
Sponsor
This episode is sponsored by Book of the Month. Use the code SARAHSBOOKSHELVES at checkout to get your first book for just $9.99!
My May Book of the Month picks were The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe, A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight, and Untamed by Glennon Doyle.
Highlights
- How Alyssa started reading again after a long hiatus.
- The first few books that got Alyssa back into reading.
- A celebrity memoir we both loved on audio.
- How coronavirus impacted Alyssa’s reading.
- Alyssa’s recommendation for a great book to get you out of your coronavirus reading rut.
- The beloved book by one of Sarah’s all-time favorite authors that Alyssa loved, but Sarah didn’t.
- A spur-of-the-moment Ann Patchett deep dive.
- Excellent celebrity memoirs.
- A bit of a tangent about the NYC fashion scene.
Alyssa’s Book Recommendations [13:15]
Two OLD Books She Loves
- Bel Canto
by Ann Patchett | Buy from Amazon
[13:33]
- Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradel (My Review) | Buy from Amazon
[20:01]
Two NEW Books She Loves
- All Adults Here by Emma Straub | Buy from Amazon
[23:55]
- Open Book by Jessica Simpson (My Review) | Buy from Amazon
One Book She DIDN’T Love
- The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves | Buy from Amazon
One NEW RELEASE She’s Excited About
- The Chiffon Trenches by Andre Leon Talley (Release Date: May 19, 2020) | Buy from Amazon [35:29]
Other Books Mentioned
- The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe (My Review) | Buy from Amazon
- A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight (My Review) | Buy from Amazon
[1:28]
- Untamed
by Glennon Doyle | Buy from Amazon [1:46]
- The Nightingale
- This Will Only Hurt a Little
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
by Taylor Jenkins Reid (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [10:23]
- The Heart’s Invisible Furies
- 11/22/63
- Recursion
- Dark Matter
- The Dutch House
- Commonwealth by Ann Patchett (My Review) | Buy from Amazon
[18:08]
- State of Wonder
- The Lager Queen of Minnesota
- Open
- A.L.T.
Other Links
- The Sparkly Life (Alyssa’s blog)
- Alyssa’s episode of 10 Things to Tell You with Laura Tremaine
- 10 Things to Tell You Ep. 63: Working from Home with Emily Freeman
- “How I’ve Read 50 Books in 6 Months (And How You Can Too),” The Sparkly Life
- Ep.7: Ashley Spivey
- Image of Andre Leon Talley
- “Designer Ralph Rucci says the door is open to criticize Anna Wintour”, The New York Post
About Alyssa
Personal Instagram | Bookstagram | Blog | Twitter
Alyssa spent over a decade as a beauty editor at various magazines such as Allure, Brides, and Good Housekeeping.
She left the magazine world about 4 years ago to become a freelance writer.
She now splits her time as a freelance writer and editor covering primarily beauty topics…and as a blogger at The Sparkly Life, a lifestyle blog covering books, parenting, fashion, and more.
She lives in Hoboken, New Jersey (that’s right across the river from NYC), with my husband and two kids.
Next Episode
Summer 2020 Book Preview with Catherine from Gilmore Guide to Books (airing Wednesday, May 27).
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Listening to this episode now. I’m so happy to finally find someone else that did not like Bel Canto. People rave about it so much, but I just don’t get it. I’m also at 67% into Kitchens of the Great MidWest and I’m going to have to push myself to finish it. Agree with the southern/midwestern comparison you made, too. I’m thinking I should dive a little deeper into your recommendations and reviews for my TBR and see if the pattern holds! Thank you!