about the book list (& ratings)

I spend 4-7 hours a day, around the clock, breastfeeding Naomi. This time is precious - we're snuggling. She's making cute sounds. I can feel her warm little body against mine, the rise and fall of her wee breath. And we snuggle a lot, even when I'm not nursing, but the act adds another layer, or several: sometimes it hurts; sometimes we struggle and get annoyed with one another; I'm transferring sustenance to her, she needs me, I need her. So for some of those 4-7 hours, I'm just staring at her little face, or playing with her tiny fingers, lost in thought about how wild and beautiful this is. But, 4-7 hours a day is a lot. So, I've also been spending a lot of that time reading. 

This blog is a list of all of the books I've read while nursing. There is a post per week (the cover photo is of that week's favorite, although that week's favorite might be one I just liked, not loved.) The books are all listed in the order I finished them in. The books have been chosen for all kinds of reasons - books I've heard good things about, recommended by friends, already in my house, currently available on the Libby app. 

I've given each book a rating:

1 - did not like/did not finish

2 - passable - many things to like, many cons

3 - a good book - entertaining if not literary, or important/very well-written if not entertaining

4 - the full package - entertaining, beautifully written, important

Because it's hard to make decisions, a lot of the ratings are fractions. Deal with it. 

Have you also read any of these books? Leave a comment and let me know if you liked it! Have a rec of something I should read? Leave it in a comment too! 

“Ah, the joy of suckling! She lovingly watched the fishlike motions of the toothless mouth and she imagined that with her milk there flowed into her little son her deepest thoughts, concepts, and dreams.”

Milan Kundera, Life is Elsewhere