January 1, 2019

5 Books That Wowed Susan Orlean

Susan Orlean, author of Reese’s Book Club January ’19 book pick, “The Library Book,” shares some of the books she loves the most.

Story By: Susan Orlean

5 Books That Wowed Susan Orlean

Susan Orlean, author of Reese’s Book Club January '19 book pick, “The Library Book,” shares some of the books she loves the most. Story By: Susan Orlean

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

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Whether she’s writing about The London Blitz or the life of a middle-aged detective, Atkinson is brilliant. Her writing twists and turns and then makes another twist. She’s the master of using simple words in complicated ways.

Sometimes I stop and marvel at one of her sentences and try to figure out how she put it together; it’s like trying to dissect a stopwatch. Her female characters are especially wonderful. “Life After Life” follows one of them, Ursula Todd, through every different possible outcome of her life; it’s a sort of sophisticated version of “Choose Your Own Adventure.”

This might sound like a peculiar device, but it becomes a fascinating and emotional meditation on fate and destiny.  This is one of my very favorite books. I loved it so much that I started rereading it as soon as I finished it.

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

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Does anyone write the way Esi Edugyan does? Every one of her sentences dances on the page. The writing is so animated and fresh that you feel like it is its own new language. The book follows a boy who escapes slavery in Barbados in a hot-air balloon.

He and his companion and the woman who had protected him in Barbados are beautiful characters, and the story soars, but the real star is Edugyan’s voice. I can’t wait to read more from her.

Regeneration by Pat Barker

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“Regeneration” is one part of a trilogy about World War I, and all three of them are spectacular. The books focus on two characters – a working class kid who becomes an officer in the British Army, and a doctor who is responsible for treating traumatized soldiers and “curing” them so they can be sent back into battle.

I don’t know how she does it, but Barker makes you feel as if she had been in the front lines of the war. The writing is dense and deep and gorgeous. I think about these books all the time. Be warned that they do take a lot of concentration, but the rewards are enormous.

Slouching Toward Bethlehem by Joan Didion

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This is the book that made me want to write non-fiction. It’s a perfect hybrid of reporting with writing that just… dazzles. Every image is as crisp as a photograph, and every sentence is lean and elegant. I read this for the first time in college and my course in life was set: after I read it, I just wanted to do what Joan Didion was doing.

I reread it at least once a year, and I keep it on my desk when I’m writing and flip through it all the time, reading sections here and there. It still inspires me.

Department of Speculation by Jenny Offill

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This novel is written like a series of brief dispatches, which at first seem disjointed and random, but slowly build on each other to create the portrait of a failing marriage. The book has a dream-like, fragmented quality, and yet, almost magically, the story feels complete and rich.

I have no idea how Offill has done it.  It’s amazing how tiny bits can cohere into such a powerful whole. I read the book in one gulp and it has lingered with me ever since.

There’s never a dull moment in the Reese’s Book Club WhatsApp channel! ✨

Our Chief Lit Chatter Officer @daniellerobay is diving into the chat, connecting with book lovers, and chatting all things books, like what you’re reading this fall. So, what’s the better cozy read — a thriller or a romance? Head to our link in bio to join the channel and vote now!
We’re thrilled to welcome author @charlottemcconaghy, and her romantic gothic mystery, Wild Dark Shore, to Reese’s Book Club! Dive into our captivating November Pick at our link in bio!
#ad Looking for last-minute Halloween costume inspo? 🎃 We’ve got you covered! In partnership with @adobeacrobat, we’ve created a PDF Space designed to help you with everything from finding costumes based on Reese’s Book Club picks, to discovering fun fall activities for your book club. Head to our link in bio to start planning your costume in The Cozy Chapter PDF Space!
GIVEAWAY: Our November Pick is here! We’re selecting 5 lucky winners to receive a copy of Wild Dark Shore, a haunting mystery by @charlottemcconaghy ✨

To ENTER:
1. Like this post 💙
2. Follow @reesesbookclub and @hellosunshine
3. Tag a friend!

Giveaway ends 11/10/25 at 11:59 PT. (5) winners will be notified by DM from @reesesbookclub. No purchase necessary. U.S. only. See official rules in our link in bio.
Let the page-turning commence 📖 Our November Pick is here and it’s one you won’t be able to put down. Wild Dark Shore, by @charlottemcconaghy, is a breathtaking novel of romance, mystery, and twists that will shock you. Uncover the secrets of this New York Times bestselling read at our link in bio now!
Great Big Beautiful Life's story already sparkles. Now it's time for the cover! ✨

🎥: @brookebedazzles
#AppleBooksPartner Teamwork makes the dream work! ✨ After hearing their incredible conversation about Gone Before Goodbye at the Apple SoHo store, we’re thrilled to dive into the twists and turns mapped out by @ReeseWitherspoon & @HarlanCoben. Head to the link in bio to start reading or listening on @applebooks.
Grab your cozy drink and a copy of Gone Before Goodbye because we're about to have the ultimate fall weekend. 🍂

Pick up your copy at our link in bio!
Introducing... the exclusive cover of the page-turning thriller Gone Before Goodbye by @ReeseWitherspoon & @HarlanCoben!

Grab your copy at our link in bio!
Bringing a book to screen isn’t just about translation — it’s about transformation. Some stories, like Regretting You, feel destined to leap off the page and into our hearts. 

On this live taping of Bookmarked, the Reese's Book Club podcast, Allison Williams @AW and @DanielleRobay dive deep into the power and pressure of adaptation, what it means to truly connect with a character, and why Regretting You will speak to you at any stage of your life. It's a conversation you don't want to miss and a movie you can't help but fall in love with. 

Start listening to Bookmarked and buy tickets to see Regretting You at our link in bio.