Two years of books! WHAT!

Hey {NAME}, According to the email service I use to send these updates to you, this is email #25. That means this book club is two years old!!! That's crazy! Time flies, huh? Thank you for sticking with me these past two years. (Okay, I know it's been slightly over two years because I missed a few months here and there.) I am truly honored you've stuck around for so long! This book club forces me to read more. I often think to myself "Oh no! I missed a month! I need to read more or I'll fall too many months behind!" It is the accountability I need to never fall behind on my promise to read more. So thank you for providing an incentive to always be reading. Like we did after our first anniversary, I want to take a trip down memory lane and highlight my favorite books from the last two years in case you missed an email or just want to reread something good: The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Lost: A Memoir of Three Continents, Two Friends, and OneUnexpected Adventure by Rachel Friedman Rachel Friedman bought a one way ticket to Ireland before making her way to South America for a crazy journey around the continent. This irreverent tale is well written, funny, and inspirational. Her story of going from confused inexperienced traveler to seasoned veteran is an inspirational story that will have many of you saying "if she can do it, I can too." Out of all the travel memoirs I've read in the last few months, hers is one of the best. I related a lot to this story. It's simply a wonderful read. The Caliph's House: A Year in Casablanca by Tahir Shah Inspired by the Moroccan vacations of his childhood, Tahir Shah decides to buy a house in Casablanca and moves his family there from England in hopes of breaking out the monotony of life in London and exposing his children to a more carefree childhood. I randomly picked this up in a bookstore and then couldn't put it down. It's beautifully written and endlessly enthralling. Shah is a masterful writer, and I was glued to every word. While dealing with corruption, the local bureaucracy, thieves, gangsters, jinns causing havoc, and the hassle that seems to come with even the most simple interactions, Shah weaves a story that is simply one of the best I've read all year. Dispatches from Pluto: Lost and Found in the Mississippi Delta by Richard Grant Richard Grant and his girlfriend move from NYC to the little down of Pluto in the Mississippi Delta. You don't read a lot of books about Mississippi and as someone who has been and feel in love with it, I like how this book comes to no conclusions about the state and the people there. Right when you are going to paint them in one light, they surprise you and do the opposite. To me Mississippi is one of the most underrated and misunderstood states in the Union. I was shocked at how much fun I had there and this book does an excellent job of discussing the complexities and people of the state. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life= by Mark Manson This book is another book that flies off the shelves. Mark Manson's book about learning to not sweat the small stuff is an incredibly powerful read. It's the right book at the right time. I may be friends with Mark but that doesn't change my opinion that this book is powerful. I think so many of us get caught up in the small stuff that we miss the bigger picture. A lot of people think this book means not caring at all but that's not the point of the book at all. If you're looking for a great book on how to stop letting the little things bother you, this is it. An Embarrassment of Mangoes by Ann Vanderhoof This book was recommended by a member of the book club and it was incredible. I totally understand why this was a bestseller. In the mid 1990s, the author and her husband decided to take a break from their soul sucking jobs in publishing and sail from Toronto down to the Caribbean and back again. During the trip, they travelled more than 7,000 nautical miles, dropped anchor in 16 countries, and adapted to 'island time'. What I loved about this book was the change in the author: how she and her husband went from workaholics with rigid schedules to just going with the flow people who realize they don't need a lot of stuff and loved the freedom of their journey. You can really get a sense of how Ann changes in the story. It was very powerful. This book is well written, smart, inquisitive, and paints a vivid picture of the Caribbean. A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle A classic book, this book follows the author’s year living in Provence and realizing his dream of owning a small farmhouse with his wife. It chronicles the struggles and joys of adapting to a new culture. From getting used to the French method of contraction (some work here, some work months from now) to discovering tiny restaurants and befriending colorful locals, this book reminded me of my own trials and tribulations of adapting to life in Thailand when I lived there. Wonderfully and wistfully written, I can understand why it continues to be such a classic after nearly two decades being written. A Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country by Helen Russell When suddenly given the opportunity to live in rural Jutland, journalist Helen decides there is only one way to find out the secret to Danish happiness: to live there. From childcare, education, food and interior design to SAD, taxes, sexism and everything in between (turns out the Danes love to burn witches), Helen writes a funny, poignant story showing us where the Danes get it right, where they get it wrong. I really loved this book. I couldn't put it down, I loved the writing, and how she structured her book. I highly recommend adding this to your list. It's incredible. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho This was on my favorite travel reading list last month but it’s impacted me so much, it’s on my all time life changing reading list too! The story follows a young shepherd boy from Spain to Egypt as he follows his heart, goes with the flow, learns to love, and learns the meaning of life. I've read this book multiple times and find the writing beautiful, moving, and inspiring. It's one of those books that makes you rethink what you're doing in life. After reading it, I always walk around feeling more energized and positive. This book warms your heart and makes you think, “life really is beautiful!” I get happy reading this book and I urge you to read it! Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain I'm an introvert in an extroverted world. I would rather read books and sit by myself than be at big parties filled with strangers. This renowned book looks at why the world is so extroverted, how that affects kids and human interactions, and lessons for dealing with both introverts and extroverts. As I read through the pages, I saw myself in it and the author’s lessons on balancing your inner and outer space really helped me a lot. Introverts read this to understand why you feel and act the way you do. Extroverts, read this book to understand the introverts in your life (there are some, I promise). The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann Another book about another South American explorer, this book seeks to find out what happened to explorer Percy Fawcett when he trekked through the Amazon jungle in search of the fabled lost city of Z. Blending history, biography, and travelogue, author David Grann intermingles information about Percy’s life and expeditions with the science behind the myth of Z and the possibility that there could have been vastly advanced civilizations in the Amazon. The book reminded me of Turn Right at Machu Picchu: modern writer follows fabled explorer through the jungle. And it was equally good. I learned a lot about the region and the history of the cultures and civilizations that inhabited the land long before Westerners came stomping about killing people. On the Road by Jack Kerouac Written in 1957, Jack Kerouac's Beat Generation classic is a timeless travel novel. The story follows his character, Sal, as he leaves New York City and heads west riding the rails, making friends, and partying the night away. The main character's frustration, desire to see the world, and adventures are themes that can resonate with many of us. What I especially love about this story is that through all his travels, he becomes a better, stronger, and more confident person. I can personally relate to that. Love with a Chance of Drowning by Torre DeRoche Hands down one of the best travel books I've read in recent years, I couldn't put this book down. It follows Torre as she meets a man who is about to sail across the Pacific on his sailboat and she has to decide whether to follow him or not. The only issue is that she is petrified of the ocean. In the end, she decides to face her fear and head off into the sunset. Her story is vividly told and filled with incredibly funny stories about life at sea. I couldn't put this book down (and her new book is just as good)! Eat Pray Eat by Michael Booth I found this book while roaming a bookstore in Thailand. I’d never heard of Michael Booth before but I loved the title. Michael and his family travel to India – in part because he decided to write a definitive book on Indian food (slightly over-ambitious) and, in part, because his wife said it was about time they take a family trip together. Along the way, the jaded and bitter Michael loses his cynicism and discovers that it's never to late to change. I was reading this at a time I needed a bit of encouragement to change. But, beyond the personal reasons for liking this book, I found his dry British humor and attention to detail captivating. A Beginner's Guide to Paradise: 9 Steps to Giving Up Everything by Alex Sheshunoff I get a lot of random books sent to me by authors. I picked up this one because the author sent a coconut with it and I liked the title and cover art. IT WAS AWESOME! This book follows Alex as he quits working in NYC at the end of 2001, moves to the South Pacific in search of the perfect life, and lugs a suitcase full of books with him to pass the time. He roams from island to island trying to find that “paradise” that we so crave until one day he ends up on the island of Palau, meets a woman, and decides to stay a bit. It’s a funny, witty and inspirational memoir. Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time by Mark Adams This book by Mark Adams is about roughing it through Peru in search of Inca ruins with a surly Indiana Jones type guide who laments how easy trekking and travel has become. Whereas everyone just goes to Machu Picchu, he goes everywhere else, tracing the flight of the Incas into the mountains after the Spanish came and discovering just how empty of tourists most ruins are. It's one of best written travel books I've ever read and it opened up a whole new understanding of the Incas as well had me searching flights to Peru. I simply can not recommend this book highly enough. That's it for this month! Thanks again for joining me on this crazy reading journey! Here's to many more months and many more wonderful books! Until next month (which will feature a bunch of new books), happy reading! Best, Nomadic Matt [Unsubscribe]( | [Update your profile]( | 407 W University Ave, Georgetown, Texas 78626