Do you remember the hobbies and passions you had as a child? Do you make time and space for them in your adult life? I knew I could seriously improve in this department in my own life, so I turned to books. Here’s a list of books sure to spark a passion in you, too.
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This Is Not a Book about Benedict Cumberbatch: The Joy of Loving Something–Anything–Like Your Life Depends on It by Tabitha Carvan
I read this book from cover to cover with a smile on my face and a spark in my heart. Tabitha Carvan has given readers the gift of joy: pure, unadulterated joy that sustains our days and lifts our level of happiness. For her, that joy came in the form of Benedict Cumberbatch. Her unexplained obsession of the man seemed at first, odd. But after a deep exploration into why it was so needed in her life, it was perfectly natural and even expected. This book explores what it means to love something for no reason at all and to reclaim the parts of ourselves that may have been buried and hidden. This is a must read, especially for mothers.
Unraveling: What I Learned About Life While Shearing Sheep, Dyeing Wool, and Making the World’s Ugliest Sweater by Peggy Orenstein
This memoir was utterly enchanting. I am not a knitter, I did not have any burning questions I needed answered about the pastime, nor did I ever wonder about where the clothing I take for granted came from. Until this book. This book is bursting with passion, with learning and with unflinchingly honest insights about life. Orenstein beautifully threads together (yes, pun intended) her reflections on life and living with her current project to make a sweater literally from scratch, starting with shaving the wool off a sheep herself, and adds in a layer of fascinating facts about the knitting industry from the beginning. I was hooked. I might not take up knitting, but she’s lit my heart on fire to rekindle a passion of my own. Thank you, Peggy.
Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This book is captivating. Carrie Soto has spent her entire life working to be the best player tennis has ever seen. With 20 Grand Slam titles to her name, she had accomplished just that. But when an up-and-coming player threatens her record six years into retirement, Carrie comes back to tennis to reclaim her record at 37 years old. With her father as her coach, she challenges herself both physically and mentally as she works toward greatness once again and perhaps at all costs. This book was an intense read. The characters were riveting, the story was propelling and the ending was emotional. I’ll be channeling my inner Carrie Soto for years to come.
The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal
At first, I thought this was a book about pie. But then, I thought it was a book about beer. And now that I’ve turned the last page, I know it’s a book about finding yourself, finding your passion, what it means to be a family and that it’s never too late. Just like Stradal’s Kitchens of the Great Midwest, the intriguing nature of the book’s structure had me at hello and I stayed for the deep connections I was forming to the characters and the content. This is book to help you find your passion, reflect on your life decisions and make choices to make both better. This is a must read!
