Quick Lit: What I’ve Been Reading Lately

Crow Talk by Eileen Garvin

Crow Talk is a story of loss, healing, and ornithology set in the glorious Pacific Northwest. My mom and I heard Eileen Garvin talk when she passed through Albuquerque over the summer. I was especially interested in this novel because I’ve written my own Corvid book. I loved how Aiden, a little boy who hasn’t spoken in over a year, finds connection with a crow family. This beautiful book is the sort that makes me feel bigger than myself. Highly recommended.

1776 by David McCullough

This was a recent book club read (because everyone loved John Adams last year) that sparked a long and heated text discussion long before our in-person meeting ever took place! McCullough writes history in such an accessible way, making it personal and memorable. Focusing on the fall of 1775 through the following year, this book was a reminder that everything was stacked against an American success in declaring independence. (General Washington wrote at the time “Could I have foreseen what I have and am like to experience, no consideration upon earth should have induced me to accept this command.”) A remarkable time captured by a remarkable writer.

Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker

Most of us know that most of us don’t get the ideal 7-9 hours of sleep a night. But did you know how critical sleep is to every part of our lives? Author Matthew Walker argues that sleep is foundational to good health (even beating out movement and diet) and walks readers through the importance of REM sleep (creativity, brain repair, learning and memory) and NREM sleep (consolidating new material, physical growth and repair) at various stages of life and the risks of sleeping six hours or less on a regular basis (every bodily system is impaired and disease is more prevalent). I learned a lot of surprising things: In 2007 the WHO declared night-shift work as a possible carcinogen (!) Drowsy driving causes more accidents than DUIs (!) “Sleeping on it” really does help us process what we’ve learned and experienced. And if you don’t sleep well, there are tips at the end to help you get a better rest.

What have you been reading lately?