“The Guest List” by Lucy Foley

The story of a wedding taking place on a remote Irish Island and the drama that ensues when the various guests begin to realize that they all have some secrets in their otherwise idyllic lives.

“God Spare the Girls” by Kelsey McKinney

I read this in a single weekend because I could not put it down. It’s an original and modern coming-of-age story set in a hot Texas summer.

“Out on The Wire: The storytelling secrets of the New Masters of Radio” by Jessica Abel and a foreword by Ira Glass

Previously read and loved.

“Lonesome Dove” by Larry McMurtry

I am slowly making my way through the classics and this one kept coming up from friends and family as one of the best novels they had ever read. I’m loving it so far, especially the character development.

“Constructing A Nervous System” by Margo Jefferson

Although it bears the subtitle “a memoir,” what Jefferson achieves in this book is closer to a hybrid form that integrates elements of both cultural criticism and personal history. A Pulitzer Prize-winning critic, Jefferson takes stock of the influence of a wide range of artists, writers and musicians upon her life and work – including figures such as Ella Fitzgerald, Willa Cather, Ike Turner and Josephine Baker – deftly exploring the ways in which we construct a sense of self through our encounters with others. But the chief pleasure of the book might be Jefferson’s writing itself: her prose is electric and theatrical, making for a captivating literary performance.

“The Sweetness of Water” by Nathan Harris

I just started it … historical fiction about the South during reconstruction.

“Chasing Me to my Grave” by Winfred Rembert

I most highly recommend the book, “Chasing Me to my Grave: An Artist’s Memoir of the Jim Crow South,” by Winfred Rembert as told to Erin I. Kelly. The book had a profound impact on me – an unforgettable story about overcoming adversity and the redemptive power of art. I was thrilled to learn last month that it received the Pulitzer Prize in the biography category.

“Liarmouth” by John Waters

If you don’t mind risqué humor and unsavory language, John Waters’ new novel, “Liarmouth” is laugh-out-loud hilarious. And so clever. I can’t remember reading a book where I laughed as hard or as much. But please know that if you don’t like foul language, you should avoid the book.

“The Vixen” by Francine Prose

Another book I read this year and thoroughly enjoyed was the novel “The Vixen” by Francine Prose. It’s set in 1953 in New York City, about a recent college graduate who gets a job at a prestigious publishing house, and accidentally discovers some intrigue. 

“Every Good Boy Does Fine,” by Jeremy Denk

I look forward to reading a book I received for Mother’s Day from my kids – “Every Good Boy Does Fine,” by Jeremy Denk. He is an amazing pianist and witty as well. This is his memoir, and I can’t wait to read it.

“The Yellow House” by Sarah M. Broom

Author Sarah M. Broom explores the story of her family and her connection to home through one house in New Orleans East, a house that is eventually destroyed during Hurricane Katrina. I loved how she combined personal narrative with the history of New Orleans, showing how it often has ignored its own residents as it caters to tourists. “The Yellow House” won the National Book Award in 2019, so it’s no secret that it’s good.

“Time Is a Mother” by Ocean Vuong

This is a poetry collection I’m looking forward to reading this summer. I really enjoyed Ocean Vuong’s two previous books—the novel “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” and his first poetry collection “Night Sky with Exit Wounds.” Each was full of so much beautiful writing and wisdom. Vuong seems to speak in the same way. I had the chance to hear him talk in Atlanta and he captured the audience’s attention from the moment he took the stage.

“Music is History” by Questlove

It’s an anthology of moments from various years throughout American History and how the creation of certain hits, or the songs they were inspired by, told the story of life at that time through music. If you’re looking to dig into the crate or expand a playlist, this is the way.

“Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor E. Frankl

Chronicle of Vicktor Frankl’s experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during World War II, the methods he and others in the camps used to remain positive, and the effects of the camps on their lives after escaping.

“Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law,” by Mary Roach

I first heard the author on “Bullseye with Jesse Thorn,” and as a fan of good science writing, I was immediately hooked by the stories she told. I was not disappointed once I picked up the book. Roach has an eye for the unusual and evokes humor in ways that support the science and the stories she’s telling. Well-researched and expressed with the perfect mix of wonderment and wit.

“How to Be Perfect: The Correct Answer to Every Moral Question,” by Michael Schur

When Lois Reitzes sat down to interview Michael Schur, creator of TV comedy hits such as “Brooklyn 99,” “Parks and Recreation,” and “The Good Place,” I expected his book to be a “wink-wink” exploration of pop philosophy in support of a few jokes. Instead, I was riveted by how thoroughly Schur plunged into both classic and modern philosophy and applied it to the questions we all face. Don’t be daunted by the topic. Schur uses simple questions that we might ponder in the course of our lives and brings centuries of thinking to bear on how we can make the right choices. Funny and insightful.