Celebrity book club: Spring break edition
It's spring break season and it's not all college co-eds partying it up. Spring break is a also a popular time for family vacations. And what better time to break open a new book? So if you find yourself sunning by the pool or holding your family's place on line at the amusement park, here's a round up of what our favorite celebrity bookworms are reading. The celebs offer up an eclectic mix of serious and seriously fun so there's plenty to start on now and a few to save for later. Because really, can you really ever have to many books? Or have too many book recommendations? That would be a nope and a nope.
Oprah
Oprah's back! Well, Oprah's back with a reading recommendation. Our fearless leader just posted a photo of herself on Instagram with a new recommended title, Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison by Shaka Senghor. The memoir chronicles the author's life from middle class life Detroit to his 19-year incarceration to his present day activism. Sitting in what appears to be a private jet, Oprah raved "If you're only gonna read 1 book this month. Read this one.@ShakaSenghor .... #WritingMyWrongs. Sharing copies with friends." Something tells us this title may make it's way on to our list, Oprah has a way doing that.
Reese Witherspoon
We see what you are doing there Reese. Loving that your latest Draper James post has you reading Decorating is Fun by Dorothy Draper. We did not see it for sale on the Draper James online store but that may be an oversight. But it appears the book's cover looks an awful lot like the awning on Reese's Nashville store. Coincidence? Hmmmm.
Okay, we know Reese loves design but let's talk fiction. Reese is our go-to-gal for pop fiction. Currently Reese's latest #RWbookclub recommendation is The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, a main stay on USA TODAY's Book list. The Nightingale has been on our list for 57 weeks, reaching as high as no. 4. This week you can find it perched at no. 8.
Reese's previous #RWbookclub recommended was her friend Kate Hudson's Pretty Happy: Ways to Love Your Body. A New and Noteworthy recommendation from our book editor Jocelyn McClurg, Hudson's book rose as high as no. 24 on our list. Pretty Happy is sitting pretty at no. 93 this week.
Emma Watson
We checked out Emma's January and inaugural pick,Gloria Steinem's My Life on the Road, last time. Since then Emma's Our Shared Shelf book club chose the classic The Color Purple, by Alice Walker, as its February pick and All About Live: New Visions by bell hooks (pen name of Gloria Jean Watkins) for March.
Of the club's March selection All About Live Emma shared on Good Reads "This month's book choice is in honor of bell hooks who interviewed me for Paper magazine this month. Maya Angelou said of bell’s work, “Each offering from bell hooks is a major event, she has so much to give us’. I love hearing from bell, I am pretty excited to start “All About Love: New Visions". It’s been on my list for a while."
Lena Dunham
Lena's latest Lenny Letter recommendations have a little bit of something for everyone. Every Thursday Lena and her fellow Lenny Letter colleagues recommend their current faves. Lena's particular recommendation for this week is So Sad Today, a book of essays by Melissa Broder. Lena's partner-in-crime editor-in-chief Jessica Gross chose The Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory, currently no. 130 on USA TODAY's best-selling book list.
Emma Roberts
Our "(L)it" girl's current pick is the biographical West of Eden: An American Place by Jean Stein. The author, whose previous historyEdie: American Girl, a biography of Andy Warhol's "It" girl, turns her pen towards the city of Los Angeles.
Oh, and it looks like Emma is the latest celeb to read Gloria Steinam's My Life on the Road.
James Franco
James has been busy promoting his latest book of poetry, Straight James/Gay James. Maybe he has been a little too busy. What are YOU reading James? Eh hem, like we said James, there is no such thing as too many book recommendations.
Kimberly Williams-Paisley
Now, Kimberly is also promoting a new book AND recommend many others. We have to respect KWP's mad speed reading skills. Where does she find the time?
Ah yes, she reads AND listen to books. Brilliant. Her latest recommendations? So That Happened: A Memoir by Jon Cryer.
A few kid lit including Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrick Backman and We Are Not Ourselves by Matthew Thomas.
Oh, and a page-turner, The Book of Unknown Americans by Christina Henriquez. Seriously, where do you find the time?
Alanis Morissette
And lastly, Alanis busted out some of her favorite female author's in honor of Women's History Month. A few have made our list - Wild by Cheryl Strayed, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath and perennial best- sellerTo Kill a Mockingbirdby Harper Lee.
Fans of her spiritual recommendations need not fear, here's one just for you!