Three Books I'm Reading Now, 3/16/26 Edition

The Books I'm Reading Now

I'm listening to bookseller Jeannine A. Cook's memoir about books and her inspiration in Harriet Tubman, Shut Up and Read; I'm reading Charleen Hurtubise's novel about a woman who's escaped her past and living in Ireland, Saoirse; and I'm reading Anna Quindlen's novel about friendship and family history, More Than Enough.

What are you reading, bookworms?

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01 Shut Up and Read: A Memoir from Harriett’s Bookshop by Jeannine A. Cook

Jeannine A. Cook was raised by a blind librarian, and books have always been an important part of her life. She always imagined that she'd write a book of her own, and she imagined opening a bookshop in her old age.

But instead, she found herself working three jobs, stressed out and without time to read, much less craft something of her own.

In her journal, she began an imaginary conversation with Harriet Tubman about the woman's strength and resilience. And in 2020, Cook opened a bookstore called Harriett's Bookshop in Philadelphia, which was one of Harriet's first stops on her Underground Railroad journey. But then Covid hit, and Cook had to shutter the store.

But because of Cook's strength of spirit--and the power of books--Harriett's Bookshop remains open today.

I'm listening to Shut Up and Read courtesy of Amistad and Libro.fm.

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02 Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubise

When she was old enough, Sarah ran from an emotionally cold childhood in Michigan to the rugged coast of Donegal, Ireland, where she now lives as an artist and goes by the name Saoirse.

She and her partner and two daughters live peacefully, and Saoirse often paints the members of her beloved family.

But if the truth of Saoirse's secrets came out, it would upend her existence, and she is terrified that her past will somehow become revealed. When a piece of her art wins a competition, she garners added attention and publicity that might uncover all she has done to escape her origins.

I received a prepublication edition of Saoirse courtesy of NetGalley and Celadon Books.

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03 More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen

Polly is a high school English teacher who leans on her close-knit, longtime book club for support, reason, venting, and laughter. Along with her husband, they are her closest people.

They gift her an ancestry DNA kit, and when she lightheartedly submits her results, she is matched to a stranger. Sure that it's an error, Polly digs into her family history to make sure she is who she has always thought. But the truth throws everything into question.

Anna Quindlen is also the author of After Annie, One True Thing, Every Last Thing, Object Lessons, and other books.