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Inspiration

The books I’m reading

By April 22, 2018January 22nd, 201914 Comments

Hey champ,

As you probably know by now, I’m a voracious reader. I read every night before bed, without fail.

In fact, as I’ve mentioned on the blog before, one of the first things I asked Michael to do after the fire was read to me. I asked him to head to the library and get as many books as he possibly could. And he did.

I loved books ever since I was a kid. I guess it started with my Mum.

She’s Tahitian and a total wordsmith (did you know she’s a bestselling author – her books have been published worldwide!). When she was about ten, she won a scholarship to the most prestigious school on the island and her love affair with reading just took off. Books were always her escape.

When we moved to Australia, Mum would take us kids to the library every Friday night. It was our ritual.

Now, Mum and I take Hakavai to the library – and the ritual lives on!

Anyway, today is World Book Day, so I thought I’d honor it by sharing some of the best books I’ve read recently. These are the books I’ve read while breastfeeding, and when I can’t get back to sleep at night.

Force of Nature by Jane Harper
The Dry by Jane Harper
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Unstoppable: My Life So Far by Maria Sharapova (great insight into her competitive spirit)
In Praise of Difficult Women: Life Lessons From 29 Heroines Who Dared to Break the Rules by Karen Karbo (I always got called “difficult” as a youngster, so this was an interesting and reassuring read!)
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.
The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Grit by Angela Duckworth
The Warren Buffet Way by Robert Hagstrom
Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferris (feat. a small contribution by yours truly!)
Gut by Giulia Enders

If you want more book recos from me, check out this list I shared last year.

Lastly, I’m always looking for more books to read! Let me know your favourite books, and why you love them, in the comments below.

Turia xx

14 Comments

  • Mary says:

    Broken Open, by Elizabeth Lesser.
    Loving What Is, by Byron Katie.

  • Nur says:

    JoJo Moyes: 1)me before you 2)still me (don’t read this one before you read #1).

  • Nur says:

    Bending towards the sun

  • Nic says:

    The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane (listened to the audiobook of this one) by Lisa See (if you’ve read her before you’ll like this one too), Music and Freedom by Zoe Morrison (difficult to read at times and a little frustrating but well worth persevering), The Messenger by Marcus Zusak (audiobook again), She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb (a bit of an oldie now but one of my favourites), and most of the novels of Anita Shreve are great too. I think you’ll probably like these because I’ve read and enjoyed almost all the fiction books you posted above ?

  • Nora says:

    I really like your blog and Instagram

    Thanks for the reading list?

    My fav book is alQuraan
    it is all in one!

  • Cadence says:

    The Baby-Sitter’s Club, by Ann M. Martin (can’t beat ’em), The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins-I liked how Katniss never gave up for her and her family- The Boy In The Striped Pajamas by John Boyne- it made me cry- Wonder by RJ Palacio-it made me really feel what Auggie was going through- and Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk- it was sad, yet I kept wanting more

  • Hi Turin
    I’ve recently read Sweet Caress by William Boyd and this was such a delightful and thoughtful read. Now I’m hooked on Boyd and have discovered he’s such an incredible story teller. I’m currently reading A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and after only 10 pages I’m hooked!

  • Lisa says:

    Hi Turia
    I love your tradition how lovely to spend a Friday night at the library together.
    Would you all pick a book and read it together? I’m not a big reader myself but I’m trying to read more now especially with my son. We go to story time at the library which is nice. Please share what u do at the library I’d love to hear.
    Lisa

  • Flor Gregory says:

    That’s a great list! Have you read “On Fire” it’s pretty awesome!

  • Julia says:

    Insight by TADHA EURICH.
    The best awakening I’ve ever had.
    Thank you for inspiring the whole world to be better. You are such an inspiration, Turia!!!

  • Build Your Empire by Elena Cardone, What Would Billionaires Do and Soulmate Code both by Karen Beadle haha

  • Dawn says:

    Hi Turia,
    Thoroughly recommend The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris.
    It’s a love story that overcame all the horrors that Auschwitz could dish up.
    Love love loved it.
    Dawn

  • Jen says:

    Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton. It’s set in Australia and loosely based on the author’s childhood. I didn’t want it to end. Highly recommend it

  • Nic says:

    I think I left some recommendations over a year ago but this popped up so I wanted to add some more ? The Power – Naomi Alderman, The Children Act – Ian McEwan, Normal People -Sally Rooney, The Eye of the Sheep -Sophia Laguna, Boy Swallows Universe -Trent Dalton, Gone With The Wind – Margaret Mitchell (don’t know it until you’ve tried it). ?