5 Boring Books I Recommend
A couple of years ago I was talking to my cousin about a movie (I wish I could remember the name of the movie to drive this point home…) and she said “But you know I love a good boring movie”. Not too long after, I was talking to a client during a counseling session about possible books to read and she said “I love boring books.” I realized that I, too, love a “boring” book - I had just never thought it that way. Boring books might have a beautiful story but don’t usually have any big twists and turns, no mystery to be solved, or love match to be made. With these types of books you aren’t on the edge of your seat waiting for the big reveal. Sometimes a slow and steady story is just what the doctor ordered for our nervous system.
5 Boring Book Suggestions
1.The Sun Was Electric Light, Rachel Morton
A story about a woman finding herself mainly through solo travel in a foreign country. The main character is excruciatingly lonely and working through trauma and loss. We watch her maturing as she continues to learn about the fragility of life and relationships.
The backdrop: Guatemala.
Themes: Death, loss, trauma, LGBTQ+.
What makes it boring: There is no real story arc or climax in this book. It is a story told simplistically, there is no flowery language or big action scenes. The storytelling really mimics the pace of the life that the main character is living.
2. Sandwich, Catherine Newman
A story about family, and marriage…and menopause. Set in Cape Cod, the story is told through the eyes of a mother and wife during her annual family vacation. It is a beautifully told story about growing up and growing old in the “Sandwich” generation.
The backdrop: Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Themes: Parenting, LGBTQ+, Grief, Family
What makes this boring: This is just the story of a family. There are a few things that happen that are surprising but overall no big reveals or giant story arcs. Things just happen as they would in real life. Purchase here
3. The Dutch House, Ann Patchett (see my post here)
A story about shifts in family, the unbreakable bond of siblings, and how a house can be symbolic of so many things. It is also about perception of ourselves and others.
The backdrop: Pennsylvania and New York.
Themes: Family,. Resentment, trauma, abandonment, grief.
What make it boring: The Dutch House does have a fair amount of drama but overall I would still categorize it as “boring.” It is slow and does not have a big reveal or mystery to be solved. The audiobook is narrated by Tom Hanks - I highly recommend it. Purchase Here
4. Tom Lake, Ann Patchett
Another story about family. Three sisters return home to their family cherry orchard to live with their parents during the covid pandemic. We learn about the life of their mother, who once dated a celebrity. As this story unfolds, new details emerge and the daughters begin to examine their own lives.
The backdrop: Cherry Orchard in Michigan
What makes it boring: While there is a little twist at the end, there is nothing overly exciting that happens. It is just a story about a family.
Themes: Family, love, addiction, moral dilemmas. The audiobook is narrated by Meryl Streep - another I highly recommend. Purchase here
5. Nymph, Sofia Montrone (see my brief review here)
Nymph tells the story of a young girl growing up in both the US and Italy. Throughout the story we learn about long family histories, complicated family dynamics, and tragedy. The main character explores her sexuality and there are beautiful pictures painted of the Italian countryside throughout the book.
The backdrop: Italy.
What makes it boring: While there is tragedy in this book there are no particularly exciting moments. The story is told through the eyes of the character as a child and then as a teenager.
Themes: Addiction, LGBTQ+, Family, growing up Purchase here
If you are looking for more book suggestions you can follow me on IG and TikTok. Nymph and The Sun Was Electric Light were both Book of the Month picks.
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