Winter 2022 Book List
Who doesn’t love a good read? Our Woven therapists surely do! This week we are sharing some book recommendations that span all different genres. We shared some amazon links if you’d like to buy them for yourself or a friend (affiliate links), but don’t forget to check if your local library has a copy too!
Gabriela recommends: “I’m Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter” by Erika L Sanchez.
She writes: “A beautiful representation of the hardships of first-generation Mexican Americans, a story of inter-generational trauma, immigration, family dynamics, grief and teenager years.”
Helen recommends:
"Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism" by Amanda Montell
A linguist’s guide on thought-terminating cliches, aspects of cults (not just religious, e.g. MLMs, etc), and language people use to mind control.
Helen also recommends: "You are your own: A reckoning with the religious trauma of evangelical Christianity" by Jamie Lee Finch
A very comprehensive, memoir-style reflection on a whole slew of topics related to religious trauma and evangelical Christianity, including sexual repression, child abuse, and others.
Lauryn recommends “His & Hers” by Alice Feeney
She writes, "His & Hers is a thriller/murder mystery page-turner that gives us a window into the inner workings of intimate relationships. The ending will blow your mind! Sometimes it's nice to dive into someone else’s drama :)”
Moriah recommends “Turtles All the Way Down” by John Green
She writes, “Turtles All the Way Down is one of the best fictional portrayals of mental illness that I’ve ever read. It highlights how consuming mental illness can sometimes feel, but also how it does not define the people who live with it. This gentle portrayal of the complexities of mental illness makes it clear that John Green is writing from his personal experience with OCD.”
Dr. Ruth recommends “The Undomestic Goddess” by Sophie Kinsella.
She writes, “this is one of my favorites. This book is a lighthearted read, yet also paints a beautiful picture of dramatically changing course after existing under a mountain of pressure. I love the parallels to our capacity to change flight and freeze patterns, to break family molds, and to be present in our bodies.
Dr. Quincee Recommends: “Firefly Lane: A Novel” by Kristin Hannah
Dr. Quincee says “This is the story of a 30-year friendship between two women from childhood to adulthood. The book takes you on a wild ride of the ups and downs of relationships, trauma, betrayal and recovery. This story is told in a realistic way— where friends don’t always say the right things and it’s not always easy to remember the goodness in each other.”
Dr. Quincee Recommends “The Great Alone” by Kristin Hannah
In a wild, remote corner of Alaska, the Allbrights find a fiercely independent community of strong men and even stronger women. The long, sunlit days and the generosity of the locals make up for the newcomers’ lack of preparation and dwindling resources.
But as winter approaches and darkness descends, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates. Soon the perils outside pale in comparison to threats from within. In their small cabin, covered in snow, blanketed in eighteen hours of night, Leni and her mother learn the terrible truth: they are on their own.
Dr. Quincee Recommends “The School for Good Mothers” by Jessamine Chan
Dr. Quincee Says: “This story walks you through the painful ups and downs of a young second-generation Chinese-American mother. You get an inside peek at the emotional process of becoming a mother, negotiating her complicated relationships, and grieving what she lost with motherhood. It’s an honest story that a lot of women can connect with (hint: motherhood is not all roses! It’s ok for it to be hard).”
Dr. Quincee recommends “Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Novel” by Shelby Van Pelt
Dr. Quincee says “This is the story of an octopus that is living in an aquarium. He befriends a grieving older mother and the relationship brings a lot of healing to her. This is a story of grief, recovery, family relationships, addiction, and reconnection.”
We hope you’ll read some of our recommendations! Looking for more? Check out this list of books on religious trauma that our therapists are reading. Happy reading!
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