In Tennessee I’ve become a much more interested observer of nature – simply because we have so much more of it to look at here than in Southern California! I’ve learned in the last three years that we have to start spraying down our flower beds with weed killer the first week of March and stay on top of it, or the weeds will take over. Daffodils, cherry blossoms, and buttercups appear as if overnight. Daylight savings time begins, and suddenly the days are longer. The mornings are cool, but have less of a bite. It’s warm enough in the afternoons to sit out on the front porch. Soon the magnolias will be here. Around this time, I start craving more light-hearted reads. Love stories, books set in sunny climes, and messages of hope are what my soul is longing for. Just in case this is you, too, I’ve put together a short list of books to get you in the mood for positive, hopeful change. The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert This book tells the story of Alma, a female botanist in the 1800s known particularly for her research on mosses. Alma is serious and intellectual, and repeatedly told that she is homely. She channels her frustrated passions into her science, but underneath the exterior is a woman struggling to find herself, to be set free. Gilbert explores all of the discoveries made in the 1800s – in science (think Darwin and inventions like the battery), sex, and religion. Read this if you’re in the mood for learning and, like Alma, noticing all of the natural changes around you! Read my full review here. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green The story of two kids with cancer falling in love might be a surprising choice for spring – but John Green manages to tell what could be a heartbreaking story in a way that leaves you hopeful and inspired. The two teens bond over the book An Imperial Affliction, and travel together to Amsterdam to meet the author. Their romance in Amsterdam is heartwarming and I promise will leave you with tears in your eyes (in a good way!). Read my full review here. My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante Two friends, as close as sisters, both help and challenge each other as they encounter very different lives in Naples, Italy. As their neighborhood changes and they grow up, their friendship is tested and turns competitive. I describe this book as having a gentle pace, but it’s never boring. The tension and love between Elena and Lila keep you wholly engrossed in their world. I love this book for spring because the setting on the Italian coast keeps me dreaming of the sunshine! A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle Opening with the famous line, “It was a dark and stormy night,” you can’t help but be immediately pulled into Meg Murry’s world. When her father makes an important scientific discovery and disappears, she is visited by three guides – Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which – who implore her to come save her father. Joined by her friend Calvin and her younger brother Charles Wallace, they follow the three magical women into a tale of good vs. evil. Let me tell you that little Meg is the most lovable protagonist, and you’ll be swept up in this beautiful story of love. The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman For a more modern book, enter the world of Nina Hill: quiet, sarcastic, bookish. She struggles with anxiety and therefore lives in her perfectly safe world that revolves around her bookstore job. Of course, that all goes to pieces when Nina’s long-lost father dies and she is named as one of his inheritors. She meets her siblings and family for the first time, finding some of them warm and welcoming, but most of them not. And her trivia rival, Tom, keeps pursuing her despite her best efforts at avoidance. This is a book of Nina coming out of her shell – a perfect analogy for spring – and the Larchmont neighborhood of Los Angeles is a perfect springy setting. What kinds of books do you crave in the springtime? What are you reading right now?
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