The Very Best Books for An Early Spring
It’s 85 degrees in Savannah, and it’s not even April.
Growing up in the South, I’ve gotten used to it. But the amount of pollen that accumulates on every surface still surprises me. That golden dust is literally coating every crevice of my front door! It brings the sweet jasmine into bloom, though, so I can’t complain.
If you’re stuck inside like I was last week with seasonal allergies, this time of year can be the worst. So I’ve put together a little care basket of my favorite reads that make me feel like I’m out in the fresh spring air … without having to sneeze my way through a box of tissues.
Here are my sunniest, springiest reads for the first week of spring!
I first read Flipped on spring break as a tween. Not gonna lie, I couldn’t put this delightful little rom-com down. I was so invested in Bryce and Juli, their quirky romance that was believable to me. As an awkward tween with just as equally awkward tween crushes, this romance hit a chord!
I have reread the book through the years, and it’s always stuck with me. Outside the nostalgia factor, the pacing and dialogue are snappy, and the characters are just as quirky as they are loveable.
It’s fresh, funny, and fabulous.
(If you’re in the mood for a movie night instead, give it a watch. The film is almost as good as the book!)
The first time I read “The Little Prince”, I cried.
The second time, I also cried.
The characters fascinate me, from the fox to the pilot, to the prince and the rose. I usually don’t read more than a few pages, because I want to take time to digest what I’ve read.
What’s most profound about” The Little Prince” is the way that every time I pick it up, I walk away feeling I’ve learned something new and beautiful all over again.
And doesn’t Antoine de Saint-Exupéry sum up the patience of waiting for a new season so well —
“Well, I must endure the presence of a few caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies.”
I’m going back to the classics with “Alice in Wonderland”. How much more spring whimsy can you get than a garden tea party with mice, a white rabbit, and the Mad Hatter? Alice might have sworn to never have tea with them again, but it’s all fantastic and a little odd and altogether wonderful.
I find the prose can be a little heavy in places, but it’s still fun! If you’d rather see Johnny Depp play a stellar Mad Hatter, I really love the film adaptation of it as well!
If I want to get pulled from the cusp of spring into summer, I pick up “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt. Outright hilarious sometimes to straight up tear-jerker, it’s a colorful story with just as colorful characters.
Growing up in a small town, I especially loved the setting: Sowell Bay is absolutely charming. It’s a slower pace for people who want to live a slower life. The dialogue also really shines. It’s witty, real, and touching all at once.
Plus, I love quirky relationships, and “Remarkably Bright Creatures” has a few of those!
Well, I knew I’d eventually get around to writing about Pride and Prejudice, and what better context than a spring read? It’s fresh and fantastic and has laugh-out-loud characters (am I the only one who finds Mrs. Bennett hysterical?). Layered with scandal and satire, it’s the perfect read for a warm afternoon with a cup of Lavender Earl Grey.
Regency-era stories are always a weakness of mine, and P&P ranks at the top.
Since I’ve mentioned a few film adaptations, I’ll share my favorite here. Spoiler: it’s not the 90’s one with Colin Firth.
That’s all for now, friends! Keep taking the Zyrtec and enjoy that warmer weather.
Till next time, your friend with a pen,
Hope