If you would have told me that I would do any kind of running after the 11th grade, I should have asked you for winning lottery numbers.
I am a runner. Those four words are a revelation for me. Running entered my life when I felt discouraged by it. I learn discipline, distance, and endurance. On any given week, I run 16.5 miles. I traverse through my neighborhood, knowing my route like the beat of my heart. My breath harmonizes with my sweat.
Reading is a wonderful rhythm of discovery. The following book suggestions embolden discovery and pace that can be associated with running. All of the books are also available on audiobook for a steady jog or brisk walk.
My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due is the first of a three-book series. Jessica learns a deep secret about her husband, David, as many of her close friends die mysteriously and violently. With David, Jessica fights to protect her family, including her young daughter, with a forbidden ritual. I wanted to read horror for years; to rise out of my skin while embracing vivid, dark language. This novel was incredibly scenic as the story is set in Florida. The narration is fantastic. Due is also a great follow on Twitter.
The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan is a YA novel with a gorgeous book cover. Leigh grieves the passing of her mother, who died by suicide. She realizes that her mother has turned into a bird. Leigh, half-Asian and half-white visits her maternal grandparents in Taiwan while understanding her feelings towards her best friend, Axel. I loved the structure of the novel and how grief is processed. I saw many colors as I read Leigh move forward with her life.
Daring to Drive: A Saudi Woman’s Awakeningby Manal Al-Sharif is her memoir. She leads by supporting a woman’s right to drive in Saudi Arabia. Her father was a taxi driver. She became a religious radical, standing up to the exalted ideals of men. I listened to this memoir. Al-Sharif’s voice is affirming and calming.
What have you been waiting to discover as a reader? Enjoy what you find out.
