“Eighty percent of everything that is true and beautiful can be experienced on any ten-minute walk.”

― Anne Lamott,
“Somehow: Thoughts on Love”

Anne Lamott, whose Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, has guided me on both for decades, visited Columbus, Ohio this year to promote her new book, Somehow: Thoughts on Love.  When she read this line—a quote from her husband—I immediately knew it would be in this year’s calendar.

“I don’t believe that blood makes a family; kin is the circle you create, hands held tight.”

— Tayari Jones, An American Marriage

Tayari Jones reminds us that family isn’t bound by blood but by the love and loyalty we choose to share. This novel explores the themes of the American dream through the lives of a Black family in Atlanta, and the impact of incarceration.

“We all come into the world unfinished, still stitching ourselves together.”

— Maggie Smith, You Could Make This Place Beautiful: A Memoir

Columbus, Ohio-based poet Maggie Smith stitches together raw honesty and resilience in her first memoir, proving that great writing not only reflects life—it transforms it.

“We are all migrants through time.”

— Mohsin Hamid, Exit West

Mohsin Hamid’s Exit West—a standout from the New York Times’ best books of the 21st century—offers profound empathy in a time we need it most. The list transformed my Libby app, and this book transformed my perspective by stepping inside the lives of two lovers escaping a civil war.

“It seemed almost sacrilegious to spoil the silence that followed a perfect song.”

— Asha Lemmie, Fifty Words for Rain

A 2024 visit to Japan piqued my interest in stories set there. Asha Lemmie’s Fifty Words for Rain is a poignant work of historical fiction based in post-World War II Japan. Her coming-of-age story beautifully captures the nuances of culture, silence, and resilience.

“Your brain is telling you that you can't, but you don't always have to listen to it.”

— T.J. Klune, In the Lives of Puppets

This delightful blend of The Wizard of Oz and Wall-E—is a whimsical yet profound reminder to challenge our doubts and embrace possibility through a narrative about a family of robots living deep in the forest. 

“The sum of the whole is this: Walk and be happy; walk and be healthy.”

― Emma Gatewood (Quoting Charles Dickens), Grandma Gatewood’s Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail

In 2024, I joined the Board of Directors of the Buckeye Trail Association, deepening my appreciation for this valuable resource—and its inspiring history. Emma 'Grandma' Gatewood, a legendary figure of the trail, often quoted Charles Dickens as she broke barriers and blazed trails. Her remarkable story is beautifully captured in Ben Montgomery’s Grandma Gatewood’s Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail. If you haven’t met Grandma Gatewood yet, you’re in for an unforgettable journey.

“People buying apples and green beans usually have some degree of joy in their hearts.”

― Barbara Kingsolver, Demon Copperhead

As a lifelong lover of farmers markets and produce departments, this line from Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead stood out and I jotted it down immediately. It’s a quote you’re unlikely to find on a magnet, but its truth is undeniable.

“Take the trail that promises a view. Get lost. Break your toes. Bruise your knees. Pet trail dogs.”

― Joy Sullivan, Instructions for Traveling West

By far my favorite book of poetry this year, Joy Sullivan’s Instructions for Traveling West is both rugged and tender. As the poet-in-residence for the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio, Sullivan captures the spirit of adventure perfectly. Buy this book and keep it by your bed for emergencies.

“For me, the door to the woods is the door to the temple.”

― Mary Oliver, Upstream

While waiting for the solar eclipse, I read from Mary Oliver’s Upstream, and these words spoke to me:.My favorite place to backpack is Dolly Sods, and my favorite part is a section where the light filters through a pine grove. I’ll drive six hours and hike five miles just to see it. Mary Oliver gets me there more efficiently.

“The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live.”

— Grace M. Cho, Tastes Like War

I love a good food memoir, and Grace M. Cho’s Tastes Like War is a standout. Exploring a Korean American daughter’s journey through food and family history put everything in perspective.

“Enjoying a moment is a victory.”

― Rumaan Alam, Leave the World Behind

This book is now a Netflix movie, but I haven’t seen it because I replaced my (somewhat expensive) subscription with my (very free) Libby app. (See a trend here?) Although it was an easy read, the book featured meditation-worthy prose.

“When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light. For your life and strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks. The fault is yours.”

― Often attributed to Tecumseh, From The Ohio Country, “Episode 9: Renewing a Shawnee Identity”

A drive to Chicago in early December flew by quickly with the help of the 12-episode podcast about the history of the region we now call Ohio produced by WYSO and funded by the Ohio Humanities. Long story short, the people who occupied the Ohio territory are alive and well, and this podcast shares the stories of American Indian people reconnecting with their homelands in the Ohio River Valley. It’s worth your time.

https://www.wyso.org/podcast/the-ohio-country