My New Morning Routine + Book Recommendations
My very first blog post on The Denver Darling was a book recommendation. I wrote about Paris, My Sweet - a book that I absolutely loved. That was 2015, and although I’ve published many book recommendations since then, I’ve only just started to figure out how to read on a more consistent basis.
To explain, let’s start with my new morning routine.
In the summertime I’m an early riser, and I love it. But when I wake up at 7 and don’t log on to work until 8:30, there’s plenty of time where I get to choose how to start my morning. When I would typically use this time to workout, I’ve found I didn’t enjoy working out “just to get it over with” (that’s a different blog post though).
So, I began dedicating this early morning time to reading. With this dedicated time, I feel less of a pull toward other things (that can usually wait), allowing myself to be more focused on one thing - reading.
More importantly, I leave my phone AWAY. I am so guilty of picking up my phone every single time it vibrates, so I decided - out of sight, out of mind (as much as possible, that is..).
Arguably even more importantly, I make sure to make my coffee before sitting down to read. This way, I can pick a place to settle in and get cozy to start my morning right.
A few things I’ve noticed from this reading time:
My attention span has grown. If you know me, you know I have the attention span of a carrot. Since starting this new routine and forcing myself to focus on one task, I’ve noticed my attention to other activities improving too. I’m proud of myself for it!
I genuinely look forward to this time in the morning. I get excited to make my coffee, sit outside in a hoodie and just read. It gives me a sense of purpose for the day right from the jump.
Now let’s get to the book recs. I keep a list of all the books I’ve completed in the notes on my phone, so this is every book I’ve read since the start of 2020.
BOOKS
City of Girls - Elizabeth Gilbert / A fiction based on a young girl who moves to New York City at 19 years old to live with her aunt after dropping out of college. She discovers everything showy and glamorous and boozy about New York City in the 1940s with a new crowd by her side. If you read any book from this list, let it be this one :)
Boom Town - Sam Anderson / A brief-ish history of Oklahoma City and why it is the way it is. I personally loved this book because I feel in love with the state while in college. The author wrote this in such a way that he connected professional basketball, the land run, Wayne Coyne and urban development - and he made it make sense.
The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho / “And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” This book is a lesson in life, in love and in dreaming. It is full of quotes to take away and keep with you as you move through seasons of life. I bought this book a long time ago and never finished it (oops), so I thought now would be a good time. It’s a short read, too!
Where the Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens / This is a fiction book placed in the 1950s and 60s and based around a girl who was abandoned by her mother, siblings and abusive father. Not only does the book describe her survival tactics and resiliency, it follows the murder of a young man in a nearby town, of which the main character, Kya, is accused of committing. If you read two books on this list, let it be City of Girls and this one :)
Big Magic - Elizabeth Gilbert / If you consider yourself a creative person in any way, I would recommend this book for the inspiration and motivation you might need to get moving on it. If for nothing else, she tells some really great stories. I read this book simply because I wanted to read something else by Elizabeth Gilbert. She’s my favorite author!
A City Baker’s Guide to Country Living - Louise Miller / I read somewhere that this book gives off a Gilmore Girls vibe. I can’t take credit for coming up with this description, but I can confirm it’s 100% accurate. I would recommend reading this one in the winter if you can! It’s set in a small town in the Northeast, so you can cozy up and imagine you’re there too.
The Perfect Couple - Elin Hilderbrand / If you like beachy, Nantucket summertime books, this one (or many other books by this author) is for you. If you like a murder mystery, this one is also for you! It took me so long to read a book by Elin Hilderbrand, but I’m so happy I finally did! I’m excited to read another one of her books sometime soon.
The Old Man and the Sea - Ernest Hemingway / A short story, the storyline of this book was intriguing and just long enough to keep me interested through the end. To be honest, this is the first book I’ve ever read by Hemingway. I was inspired to read something by him because my family is heading to Key West later this summer.
Right now, I’m working on On Whale Island, a nonfiction recollection on a man’s year-long journey with his family to live on an island he once purchased. I will be sure to post an update once I have a new set of books to recommend… :)
