Last year at this time I had read 12 books. To date, I’ve read five. A time issue? Maybe. It could be due to my new tap dancing classes, or that I’ve been dabbling in a few art projects, but mostly I just haven’t been in a reading mood. I’ve been in a rut. I’ve been in a reading slump. If you’ve been there, you know it can be frustrating. It’s not like I don’t want to select a book from my pile of recommended fiction and non-fiction titles, cradle the book in my hands as I cast an eye over the front cover, linger over the accolades on the back, browse the synopsis on the inside jacket, then glance at the dedication page, while excitement builds and I turn that first page and am taken out of my everyday life and on a journey somewhere else. I want to be engaged, really I do. It’s just that nothing has screamed, “Read me!” in a while.
So, what to do? I could’ve re-read a favorite book to pique my interest. Or picked up a short fast read to jump start my reading. Or tried a new format like listening to an audio book. Or checked out a new genre. But alas, my solution? It has been to take the dreaded “break”. A pause. An actual time out.
From my journal: February 2, 2026, Newbury Park, California
“…stopped in the Bookworm in Camarillo on Saturday…picked up a couple more books…”
It’s rare that I get into a reading “state of meh” but when it occurs, what I usually do is put my books out of reach for a week or two. Hard as it is to do, I’ve done it, and it’s worked. I am so happy to say that I just finished reading Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. Hallelujah! It was just the spark I needed to reignite my love of the written word.
Until I read it, all I knew about this book was how the N.Y. Times described it.
“A story of giving and receiving, of seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is a beautifully crafted novel about the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder to a purposeful life, and the invisible threads of kindness that bind us to one another.”
Coping with two recent losses, it sounded like it would be uplifting, so, I chose this one.
The cover and title drew me right in. At first glance, the simple black and white illustration of a feather got me thinking. Why a feather? Why just one? What does it symbolize? Then the title, Theo of Golden. Who is Theo? And “of Golden” implies a place, a city perhaps? If so, where is Golden? Is it a fictious or real place?
Scanning the back cover, intrigued me even more. On it is an illustration of a bench, a park bench perhaps, and a few birds underneath it, with a quote from the novel.
“For everything to be good, truly good, there must be love in it. Whether the art is sculpture, farming, teaching, law making, medicine, music, or raising a child – nothing is what it’s supposed to be if love is not at the core.”
Now I was hooked. Yes, the book sounded like something I would enjoy, something heartwarming, and something that I needed to read. And I was right! Without giving anything away, I loved unraveling the mystery behind the main character and city the story is centered in. Mostly, it was the range of emotions I felt while reading it…intrigue, happiness, amusement, wonder, anger, fear, surprise, and pure joy, that made me fall in love with this book. Anytime I read, that’s what I want. To feel something and hopefully widen my world view through the experiences of others.
Now that my dry spell is over, I will continue on my reading spree! Yipee! Here are a few of the many titles patiently waiting in the wings for me to choose them next.
How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez
My book club pick for April.
“A poignant, reverse-chronological novel following four sisters—Carla, Sandra, Yolanda, and Sofia—who flee a dictatorship in the Dominican Republic for 1960s New York. The story explores their difficult assimilation, shifting cultural identities, and the loss of their native language.” Genre: Bildungsroman
The Black Wolf by Louise Penny
The 20th novel in the Inspector Armand Gamache series, picks up where The Grey Wolf left off.
“A gripping, high-stakes thriller, it follows Gamache as he uncovers a massive, systemic conspiracy involving the Montréal mafia, political corruption, and an unseen enemy known as the ‘Black Wolf.’” Genre: Mystery Thriller
Young Man in a Hurry: A Memoir of Discovery by Gavin Newsom
An autobiography of the current California Governor, Gavin Newsom.
“Newsom traces the forces that have defined his ambitions as a politician and have pushed him to outpace the nation on myriad cutting-edge social issues that have since entered the mainstream. Filled with intimate family history and written with candor and remarkable personal insight, here is a deeply resilient California story of identity, belonging, and the defining moments that inspired a life in politics.” Genre: Memoir
Before I Forget by Tory Henwood Hoen
For fans of Mikki Brammer’s The Collected Regrets of Clover series.
“A funny, heartfelt, late coming-of-age story that examines the role of memory in holding us back—and in moving us forward. With laugh-out-loud humor and profound grace, it explores the nuances of family, the complexities of memory, and how sometimes, the people we know the best are the ones who surprise us the most. Genre: Coming of Age
Joyride by Susan Orlean
Orlean’s 2024 memoir, blending her personal life and career as a journalist.
“The book interweaves her professional journey—from early alt-weeklies to The New Yorker, and the making of films like Adaptation—with personal milestones like divorce, new love, motherhood, and confronting mortality, offering insights into the craft of writing and a guide to living a more curious life.” Genre: Memoir
It feels so good to be back in the “Land of the Reading”! I’m now ready to grab my next book, and begin turning the page.
A Journal Journey 