The town of Elkin, North Carolina was nominated as one of The Coolest Small Towns in America by Budget Travel and it is very easy to see why. This quintessential town located right in the heart of Yadkin Valley Wine Country has so many things to do it would take you weeks to see and do them all.
From mountain views and waterfalls, hiking trails, biking trails, riverside trails, playgrounds, historic sites, small town shops, countless vineyard and wineries, some of the best restaurants in the area, festivals and music venues, fishing, swimming, kayaking, tubing, camping…the list goes on and on and there is literally something for everyone here.
The lineup on things to do in and around Elkin is long and as frequent visitors to the area we’d love to share some of our favorite spots with you. Below you will find ideas on some of the best hiking spots, vineyards, restaurants and activates to do while visiting the area.
We live in Charlotte, NC and Stone Mountain is one of the closest day trips for us. No matter the season we seem to gravitate towards this way and the trails never disappoint. A short hike to the summit or the waterfall, a pretty good exercise taking the 5 mile loop that goes past the Homestead, an easy 2 mile Wolf Rock and Cedar Rock Trail or waterfall sliding at Widows Creek Falls – there is no shortage of hikes you can pick from depending on your hiking abilities and time constrain. We have a full article on Stone Mountain that you can find on our website where we share in length all the details on the trails that you can find here.
Some of the trails start at the Lower Parking Lot and some of them begin at the Upper Parking Lot. The Widow Falls Creek trail has it’s own Parking Lot. Make sure to check our website before hitting the trails to get directions.
This beautiful just over a mile trail is located about 10 minutes from the center of town right by Byrd’s Branch Campground and close to Grassy Creek Vineyard. Remains of what once was a powerhouse that supplied the electricity to the Town of Elkin and the surrounding area are visible along the well maintained path that leads to the Falls. The cascades and the falls are absolutely stunning and the hike itself following the river is peaceful and lovely.
A 240 foot suspension bridge named “The Bridge of Dreams” will be constructed 60 feet above Carter Falls and would be the long awaiting connecter of the Mountain to Sea Trail that goes through the the town of Elkin, passed Stone Mountain and all the way to the coast. If you’d like to be a part of the construction of the Bridge you can make a donation by purchasing and sending in a “ribbon” here. Your dream ribbon would be eventually tied to the finished bridge creating a colorful creation hovering over the Falls. You can also volunteer some of your time and help in the creating of the 20 miles of new trails leading to the Falls the Elkin Valley Trail Association has tirelessly been working on. More information on how to get involved can be found here.
Carter Falls is the ultimate trail for all skill levels. The wooded, flat path is easy for small children and pets and for hikers not looking for a strenuous hike. It offers great reward with little to no effort and is accessible throughout the entire year.
There are several ways to get to the Falls. There is a parking lot for about ten cars at the trailhead of the Falls located at 633 Pleasant Ridge Rd Elkin, NC where you can park and descend to the trail. If the parking lot is busy (which is rare) you can park at the Campground by their office cabin and start the hike from there. That would extend your adventure by less than a mile round trip. If you are looking for a longer hike but still want to incorporate Carter Falls, park your car at Grassy Creek Vineyard and start the trek from there. A parking lot is located behind the Red Barn Tasting Room and a sign that points to the direction of the Falls is easily visible from there. That would extend your hike by about 2 miles round trip.
#3 ELKIN and ALEGHANY RAILTRAIL
This easy and flat 3.3 mile trail begins at the Elkin Municipal Park and tells the story of the East-West NorthEastern N.C. Railroad that extended through here in 1890 coming from Winston-Salem and going to North Wilkesboro and the history of the textile industry at the time.
The path starts at the parking lot by the building and follows the river for some time, passes the dam before heading into the woods. There are stairs visitors can take that lead to the bottom of the dam. Benches are located along the way for rest and multiple large metal gongs can be found to the side of the path. It states that you can make a wish and hit them 3 times (but not more) your wish will come true. It is real fun for little kids.
Signs with pictures of what the area used to look like back in the days can be found along the way and are worth a stop and a read if you want to know more about the fascinating history of the town. The path is used by pedestrians and bikers and 5 extra miles can be added to your trek by taking any of the trails to the side of the main path. Multiple bridges and small cascades would be found along the trails here. This trail is not heavily trafficked but do watch out for mountain bikers.
The first Forest Bathing Trail in North Carolina awaits you just outside town limits. Located on the trail to Carter Falls from Grassy Creek Vineyard this short but quiet and rejuvenating space is carefully designed to create experiences that enhance nature connectedness while boosting the therapeutic and restorative effects of the forest. If you are looking for a nature based wellbeing therapy that promotes positivity, health and mindfulness this trail is for you.
The trail begins at the parking lot behind the Red Barn Tasting Room at Grassy Creek Vineyard. Following the path through the woods you will reach a small picnic area and a creek crossing. Ones you cross the bridge over the creek the trailhead to the Forest Bathing Trail will be to your right. From there follow the path through the woods that weaves through the forest before reaching Klondike Lake. Take it slow and let the forest speak to you. The state of your mind designs the state of your life is what forest bating is all about. On your way back don’t forget to pop in and say Hello to our friends at the Winery and grab a glass of red or white.
We already mentioned Widows Creek Falls once above but we have to give this trail a special notice. We absolutely love visiting the Falls in the summer. It’s our kids first choice every time we ask them what would they like to do today. Of course nothing beats swimming and sliding down a waterfall on a hot summer day so we totally understand the pull.
The trail to the falls is located inside Stone Mountain State Park. The path is almost flat and only .2 miles long which makes it easily accessible to almost everyone. There is a pretty large parking lot and the trek leading to the falls begins right off of it. The trailhead is located to the right just past the lower parking lot at the Park if you are coming from the main entrance. If you follow the GPS you might be directed to the back entrance of the Park. A small section of this road is gravel so make sure to plan accordingly. There are no bathroom facilities right at the trailhead here but you can find some at the parking lot just up the road.
The gorgeous falls consist of a large cascade that drops into a shallow pool and than continues on to a wider cascade that falls into a large pool. Kids love wading at the top pool and sliding down the bottom part. Bring a tube to make it easier for sliding and a picnic. There are several spots to sit in the shade and enjoy a treat.
#6 DOUGHTON PARK and THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY
Doughton Park and The Blue Ridge Parkway are less than a half an hour drive from Elkin, North Carolina and offer a wide variety of hikes for every skill level. The Bluff Restaurant and Café located next to the Doughton Park Visitor Center recently reopened it’s doors and is worth the trip any day. Some of our favorite hikes in the Recreation Area are:
- The Bluff Mountain Trail is a 7.8 mile hike if you are looking for a long hike.
- Wildcat Rocks Overlook is a short .2 miles walk and offers stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
- Flat Rock Ridge Trail is a 13 mile strenuous trail if you are looking for a great workout.
- The Alligator Bach Trail is a short and easy trail perfect for kids and dogs and offers beautiful views.
- If you put the Doughton Park Visitor Center coming from Elkin and follow the road you would be greeted by multiple overlooks along the way that would take your breath away.
Doughton Park is the less traveled part of the Blue Ridge Parkway yet offering absolutely stunning views around every turn. That being said it is the best choice during the busy fall months as most people head towards the Boone and Blowing Rock area crowding the roads there. That leaves you with the opportunity to enjoy the Mountains and the changing leaves without battling the crowds here. If you are heading this way in the winter months make sure to check for closures on the trails. For most part unless there has been severe weather the Parkway is open to drive through but do check ahead of time just to be on the safe side.
There are over 20 Wineries in Elkin and each and every one of them is unique in it’s own way. We have gone to most of them and would love to share few of our favorites and why we love them. Keep in mind most of the time we have kids in tow and they travel with us so one of our first criteria while visiting a place is – is it kid friendly. Every Vineyard in Elkin have proved to be and some are so sweet that they even offer smores and juice boxes for the kids ( Golden Road Vineyards! We appreciate you! 
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- GRASSY CREEK VINEYARD and WINERY. Great open outdoor space, friendly, great selection of wine, live music and events, food truck on weekends, lovely views from the covered pavilion overlooking the grapevines, hiking trails…
- ELKIN CREEK VINEYARD. Great outdoors right by the Big Elkin Creek, great wine selection, events, oven baked pizza on Sunday (to die for!), vacation cabins and walking trails.
- GOLDEN ROAD VINEYARD. So sweet and friendly, love the outdoor firepit and views of the grapevine, events, live music, food trucks.
- MENARICK VINEYARD AND WINERY. Great open outdoor space and lovely tasting room, their sweet wine selection is lovely, events, sitting by the firepit in the winter overlooking the pond and grapevines is a dream.
- SLIGHTLY ASKEW WINERY. Unique wine produced from local juices. Their location is great! Right in the heart of town with plenty of parking space in the back of the tasting room.
#8 SKULL CAMP BREWERY, WINERY and SMOKEHOUSE
We intentionally did not mention Skull Camp along with the wineries above despite them offering some delicious wine because they are so much more than that. The unique atmosphere of Skull Camp Brewery can be sensed from miles. You can not miss the large rustic looking building located right in town. Cozy, warm spacious indoors with a fireplace in the center of the back room and lovely wide open back patio with plenty of space to spread on. We absolutely love the history of Skull Camp and their small batch beer selections. The food is out of this world delicious and if you love wings and barbeque this is the spot for you. Ask for their home cut fries made extra crispy. Trust us you would be drooling over them long after you’ve gone home.
Skull Camp Brewing has two locations with the second one in Round Peak offering not only wine, beer and gorgeous views of the near by peaks but gorgeous vacation rental properties and disc golf right on the property by the tasting room so all you need to do is get here, park your car and enjoy a weekend of adventure.
#9 ANGRY TROLL/222 PUBLIC HOUSE
Tasty beer and yummy food awaits you at the Angry Troll brewing and restaurant. Located centrally in town this spot is where it’s at. The food is great, the beer plentiful and the space is roomy, open and inviting. The transformed downstairs are loaded with arcades to keep you and your friends entertained and they offer a large variety of events to choose from for every day of the week. If you love sushi their Thursday night sushi night is the best in town as is their oven baked pizza.
Southern hospitality and excellent food. If you only have time for one restaurant visit while in town than you have to check out Southern on Main. Located right in the heart of Elkin this true gem is superb. The food here is always delicious, their ever changing lunch menu offers something that will be sure to please your taste buds and the wine list is extensive. The atmosphere is ambient and cozy and the stuff is so very friendly. The outdoor seating is a must in the cool fall and spring nights and the perfect lunch spot in the summer. WE give it 10/10 every time.
#11 THE REEVES THEATER and CAFE
Reeves Theater is known as the Home for Music in the Heart of the Foothills. The locals have grown up and are so font of this beautiful Art Deco movie house that has been part of the town since 1941 and would love to sit with you and tell you all about it’s history, the hardships and the revival this special place has gone through throughout the years. And if you have a minute or couple of hours we urge you to open the door to it’s lobby, find a table and grab a drink and ask them about it. Or catch a a show, lunch or an open mic session- you would not be disappointed either way. A full list of their shows, events and menu can be found on their website here.
While strolling the cute downtown in Elkin right between the Angry Trill and Reeves Theater you’ll find the November Room. This charming indoor artisan market has everything from local crafts and gifts, postcards, paintings and photographs by local artists, kitchen décor and knitted goods to ice cream, chocolates, snacks and local wines. The shop offers weekly classes and activities for you and your little ones so if you are in town and looking for something to do check out their page for a list of events and for the newest arrivals at the store. We absolutely love their painting classes that keep our kids entertained for few hours while we sit at the shop and unwind with a glass of wine.
For some excellent wine tasting option we highly recommend The Wisdom Table located downtown Elkin right across from the Southern on Main. This bottle shop offers a spectacular selection of more than 100 North Carolina Wines and just as many wine choices from around the world. The beautiful shop has a pretty chill vibe and intimate atmosphere. The Wisdom Table is the ultimate date night spot for you and your significant other and a great option for a night on the town. If you are a lover of everything wine related this is the spot for you.
If you are in the mood for something other than wine Fruition it is. Tucked away in downtown Elkin this beautiful cocktail bar serves the best drinks in town by the friendliest staff. Cozy and intimate atmosphere with floral decals and lovely outdoor sitting Fruition will be sure to charm you. Their trivia night is worth the pop in if you are ever in town on Wednesdays. For opening hours and menu check it their Facebook Page here.
Every Saturday the town of Elkin, North Carolina offers visitor the chance to enjoy locally grown produce and goods. From fresh organic fruits and veggies (depending on the season), baked pastries, honey, fresh flowers even doggy treats.. the Market gives visitor the chance to support local growers and crafters while also enjoying the community, live music, food trucks and other special events. The Farmers Market is located at the market shelter just one block from the historic downtown and is open weekly on Saturdays from 9-12 during the months of April till October and from 10 to 1p.m. from November till March.
If you find yourself in Elkin on a sunny gorgeous day get to know the town by taking a mural walk. The town currently has 10 murals and another one on the way so you will get a pretty good stroll finding and seeing them all. They are located in a close proximity to each other so once you park your car just walk around the town to catch a sign of them and maybe grab a selfie. Here is a detailed walking tour website with directions and pictures of all the murals in town.
#17 GRAB A CUP OF COFFEE AT DIRTY JOE’S
While cruising around town and need a pick me up and possibly a delicious freshly baked pastry check out Dirty Joe’s coffee shop located right downtown Elkin. They recently opened a second location making it convenient for a quick pick up if you are on the go. We love the murals at their downtown shop and the coffee is always fresh and extra tasty.
While in town plan a visit to the Foothill Art Center. They offer a wide variety of workshops, special activities and exabits by varies talented artists fostering community and creative practice through education, collaboration and entertainment. Arts and crafts instructions, performing arts, visual arts the Center is a labor of art. The gallery is currently open for tours by appointment or on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check out their website here for details on where to find the historic building and ways to plan your visit.
#19 ROUND OF GOLF AT CEDARBROOK COUNTRY CLUB
The long history of the land the golf course is siting on is equally as spectacular as is the course. 18 holes set in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and only minutes away from town this spot is outstanding. The greens are so very well maintained, the golf carts are new and equipped with the latest, the country house is everything one can expect and more. Plan your visit for a round, a special event or treat yourself to a membership. Whatever you choose you would not be disappointed.
Plan a visit to Late Bloomers Flower Farm located at 1143 Cool Spring Church Road in Elkin. Each year sometime in April the farm invites you to come on over and pick your own tulips. Visitors can pick from a great selection of red, purple, yellow orange and white. The farm is located right off the road and the patches are easily accessible.
If picking a bouquet isn’t necessarily something you enjoy but still want to surprise someone with a beautiful one a call can be scheduled ahead of time and a tulip bouquets would be ready for you to pick up at their location. While supplies last. The phone number for online ordering is 910-538-4719. The Farm accepts cash or venmo.
In late July and early August the Farm also offers sunflower pick you own and bouquets as well as mixed bouquets with flowers from the farm. Make sure to check their callender and stay up to date on when the flowers are in bloom and their operating hours and happy flower picking!
Food Truck Friday returns to downtown Elkin with a bang. Delicious Food trucks, live music by various artists, arts and crafts, local goods, wine and craft beer await you every Friday evening in the summer. This even is always the highlight before the weekend and we hardly can’t wait for next summer to come.
#22 ANUAL EVENTS, FESTIVALS, CONCERTS
Elkin has so much to offer but some of the best is their annual festivals that have been drawing people for many many years. We have a list with dates on some of our favorites below:
- NC TRAIL DAYS happening the first weekend in June is an event like no other. This annual event that lasts three days includes guided hikes, music, exhibition, trail blazing, 5k Stone Mountain Run and so much more. It is our favorite time of the year to be here. If you are planning to join in on the fun next year make sure to plan ahead as this is a very popular celebration and the town gets busy.
- ELKIN ROOTS MUSIC FESTIVAL. This celebration of music of all kinds event happens on the Third Weekend of June and surprises us all with different line up and absolutely spectacular performers every year and we can edge you enough to plan a trip here during it and enjoy the lovely, heart filling atmosphere.
- REEVESTOKE MUSIC FESTIVAL. Come and enjoy all that the local restaurants, wineries and breweries have to offer in a special, community oriented celebration filled with music, events, kids activities and so much more. The festival happens annually on the first weekend of August.
- BIG ELKIN BRRRFEST
- This event brings the community together with a big cookout and beer and wine from local breweries and wineries and is perfect for the whole family.
We visit the town of Elkin as a family and like to have space to spread and let our kids run around to run off energy so hotel isn’t ideal. After several visit we have found our favorite little home away from home and would love to share it with you in case you are visiting and need a special place to stay. Why we love this spot is because it is close to town, trails and vineyards yet it feels perfectly secluded. The views from the front lawn of the cows grazing and the sunsets we’ve seen are splendid, the backyard deck feels as if you are at a tree house and having coffee out there in the morning is my favorite thing. A glass of delightful local wine on the front deck while kids play happily at the game room few feet away from us after along day on the trails is a dream and the house is clean ad cozy you can barely believe it’s even real. If you would like to stay at this spot you can book it on Airbnb here.
#23 WINE TOUR COMPANIES IN ELKIN, NC
A great option if you are visiting the town of Elkin and will be doing a wine tour is to call one of the wine tour companies that would come and pick you up within a certain location and bring you to some of the best wineries in town. They are so much fun and would leave you with unforgettable memories to hold on for a long time. Two of our favorites that have picked us up at the cottage while we’ve stayed there without kids are:
Make sure to call and make a reservation way in advance especially during the busy months of the year as they get booked quickly.
For everything Elkin check out the Explore Elkin Website that keeps tabs on all the happenings in town and has a pretty good calendar of events, specials and possible adventures. Make sure to find us on INSTAGRAM to get ideas on trails, restaurants, vineyards and breweries. Happy Trails!
]]>But there is a place near town that you have not heard of unless you are a local or know one that is willing to share this hidden gem with you. The Enchanted Forest- a magical place hidden in the woods that harbors the secrets of woodland animals and whispering trees. Look up, look down, look around you but don’t ever forget to keep an eye behind you, because you never know what kind of creatures are lurking in the deep dark wood.
Located right by the Byrd’s Branch Campground and near Carter Falls the Enchanted Forest well.. is ENCHANTED and even gets haunted during the month of October. With magical creatures along the heavily wooded, pine needle carpeted path this short one mile easy stroll is the perfect adventure for lovers of all things magical and is good for all ages. Bring the little ones during the day and have a picnic at either end of the path or come at dusk for a spooky treat. The Campground store offers ice cream in the summer and refreshments throughout the year so make sure to stop by, say hi and grab a snack for the road. Pets are welcome here and are likely to enjoy the stroll through the woods just as much as their human friends with lots of opportunities to sniff new unfamiliar objects along the way.
There are several ways to reach the Enchanted Forest. If you are looking for a longer hike start your trek at Carter Falls. From the parking lot of the Falls cross the road and follow the path that weaves though the campground. Continuing passed the Byrd’s Branch Campground Office follow the path through the grass before reaching the road. Make sure to look both ways as there is traffic on this road and once you cross it you’ll see the sign for Grassy Creek Vineyard and the opening in the woods where the Enchanted Forest Trail begins. From here walk the forest and come back to the falls or continue on the path to the Grassy Creek Vineyard passed the Forest Bathing Trail. You can take this trail as well if you really want to extend your hike or turn around here and go back to the Falls.
For the shortest way to get to the forest if you are not up for much walking or have a little one with you park by the Campground office and start your stroll from there. If you choose this option the trail won’t take you more than half an hour of leisure walking through the woods. Again carefully cross the road passed the parking lot and the grass path before entering the Forest.
The Enchanted Forest becomes Haunted during the month of October thanks to volunteers and several local families. The trees get decorated with spooky ghosts and scary spiders, decorative graves with bones and skeletons get placed along the path and there are several makeshift cemeteries placed between the trees for extra spookiness. And although everything is relatively settled make sure to walk here at your own risk. If you do get spooked easily this trail might not be the best choice for you. The wind and whispering trees add special effects to the Forest. If you do love everything spooky than you should also check out the Historic Downtown Ghost Tour that the town offers that is not to be missed especially before Halloween.
For an adventure of a different kind make your way to the Forest starting at the Grassy Creek Vineyard. Grab a glass of wine beforehand or take a bottle for the way. You’ll find the path leading to the trail behind the Red Barn at the Vineyard. Following it you’ll cross a wooden bridge above the stream before reaching the Forest Bathing Trail. There are several picnic tables where you can take a short break and enjoy your wine and let the kids splash in the stream while doing so. Continue following the path through the woods to reach the enchanted forest and either continue from there to Carter Falls or turn around to get back to the winery.
The trail is especially beautiful in the fall with the leaves all dressed in different colors and the wooded plaques along the path quoting one of the most famous John Muir saying “Into The Woods I Go To Lose My Mind and Find My Soul”. It is the absolute perfect dedication to Nature in these parts of the woods and a great reminder while walking here to find stillness and renew. Make sure to walk the path of the newly done Forest Bathing Trail that snakes between the tall trees and leads to Klondike Lake. The Cascade Falls Loop trail that is just steps away from the Red Barn Tasting Room is another great option while here and a lovely scene during any season and we can not imagine a better scene to look at while holding a glass of wine in your hand.
We hope you give this trail a try and find it as enchanting as we do. For ideas on other adventures near by check out our other articles on the area.
]]>No matter which category you fall into or what brought you here you likely are looking for a masterpiece of a book an absolute page turner that would grab your or your friends attention. A book that would make them not want to put it down, make them think about it long after they’ve finished it, question, ponder, debate over the events and actions of the characters, a book that is worth taking the time to finish in this busy life we are living. Bellow I give you a list of some of the best reads out on the market that are well worth your energy and time and that you would not regret reading.
And to make it even easier I picked out books of different genre and longevity to offer something for everyone and have each and every one of you enjoy reading without dreading endless hours ahead of you that you don’t really have the luxury of sparing. All these books should be easy enough even for the busiest of people to read with just sparing an hour or so before bed. So here are my suggestions. I hope you get the time to read them all. You won’t regret it.
I am intentionally starting with this particular book because in my opinion this overwhelmingly beautiful story of a capable, young colonial girl is one that everyone should read in their lifetime. Based on historical documents, including Eliza’s letters, this is a historical fiction account of how a teenage girl produced indigo dye, which became one of the largest exports out of South Carolina, an export that laid the foundation for the incredible wealth of several Southern families who still live on today. Although largely overlooked by historians, the accomplishments of Eliza Lucas influenced the course of US history. When she passed away in 1793, President George Washington served as a pallbearer at her funeral. This book is set between 1739 and 1744, with romance, intrigue, forbidden friendships, and political and financial threats weaving together to form the story of a remarkable young woman whose actions were before their time: the story of the indigo girl.
Another inspiring story and a must read is THE BOYS IN THE BOAT by Daniel James Brown. Drawing on the boys’ own diaries and journals, their photos and memories of a once-in-a-lifetime shared dream, The Boys in the Boat is an irresistible story about beating the odds and finding hope in the most desperate of times – the improbable, intimate story of nine working-class boys from the American west who, in the depths of the Great Depression, showed the world what true grit really meant. It will appeal to readers of Erik Larson, Timothy Egan, James Bradley, and David Halberstam’s The Amateurs.
Next up is the beautifully written WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING set to be a movie in 2022. For years, rumors of the “Marsh Girl” have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life–until the unthinkable happens.
And while on the topic of books adopted into movies I can’t go without mentioning BEHIND HER EYES written by Sarah Pinborough. This suspenseful psychological thriller was picked up by Netflix for one season and after overwhelming response is supposed to add season 2. In Behind Her Eyes, Sarah Pinborough has written a novel that takes the modern day love triangle and not only turns it on its head, but completely reinvents it in a way that will leave readers reeling.
Next up is EDUCATED by Tara Westover. If you are an avid reader there is no way that’s the first time you are hearing the title of this beautifully written story. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was 17 the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent. When another brother got himself into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home.
If you enjoyed Educated than you should definitely check out UNORTHODOX by Deborah Feldman which is now a series on Netflix. Unorthodox is the bestselling memoir of a young Jewish woman’s escape from a religious sect, in the tradition of
Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s Infidel and Carolyn Jessop’s Escape , featuring a new epilogue by the author. As a member of the strictly religious Satmar sect of Hasidic Judaism, Deborah Feldman grew up under a code of relentlessly enforced customs governing everything from what she could wear and to whom she could speak to what she was allowed to read. Yet in spite of her repressive upbringing, Deborah grew into an independent-minded young woman whose stolen moments reading about the empowered literary characters of Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott helped her to imagine an alternative way of life among the skyscrapers of Manhattan. Trapped as a teenager in a sexually and emotionally dysfunctional marriage to a man she barely knew, the tension between Deborah’s desires and her responsibilities as a good Satmar girl grew more explosive until she gave birth at nineteen and realized that, regardless of the obstacles, she would have to forge a path–for herself and her son–to happiness and freedom. Remarkable and fascinating, this “sensitive and memorable coming-of-age story” ( Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ) is one you won’t be able to put down.
Changing the genre a little I’d like to suggest an inspiring read especially for the young adults in you book club. SHOE DOG is the story of one of the world’s most influential business executives, Phil Knight, the founder of Nike, Inc. He served as CEO of the company from 1964 to 2004, as board chairman through 2016, and he is currently Chairman Emeritus. He lives in Oregon with his wife, Penny.
Next up is a classic that is also adopted into a movie: THE GLASS CASTLE. Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children’s imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly…
Another favorite from Jeannette Walls is her HALF BROKE HORSES. So begins the story of Lily Casey Smith, Jeannette Walls’s no-nonsense, resourceful, and spectacularly compelling grandmother. By age six, Lily was helping her father break horses. At fifteen, she left home to teach in a frontier town—riding five hundred miles on her pony, alone, to get to her job. She learned to drive a car and fly a plane. And, with her husband, Jim, she ran a vast ranch in Arizona. She raised two children, one of whom is Jeannette’s memorable mother, Rosemary Smith Walls, unforgettably portrayed in The Glass Castle. Lily survived tornadoes, droughts, floods, the Great Depression, and the most heartbreaking personal tragedy. She bristled at prejudice of all kinds—against women, Native Americans, and anyone else who didn’t fit the mold. Rosemary Smith Walls always told Jeannette that she was like her grandmother, and in this true-life novel, Jeannette Walls channels that kindred spirit. Half Broke Horses is Laura Ingalls Wilder for adults, as riveting and dramatic as Isak Dinesen’s Out of Africa or Beryl Markham’s West with the Night. Destined to become a classic, it will transfix readers everywhere.
Lightening the mood a little we’d like to suggest a quick and not so heavy read. THIS WILL ONLY HURT A LITTLE is a hilarious, heartfelt, and refreshingly honest memoir by the beloved comedic actress known for her roles on Freaks and Geeks, Dawson’s Creek, and Cougar Town who has become “the breakout star of Instagram stories…Imagine I Love Lucy mixed with a modern lifestyle guru” (The New Yorker).
Busy is the rare entertainer whose impressive arsenal of talents as an actress is equally matched by her storytelling ability, sense of humor, and sharp observations about life, love, and motherhood. Her conversational writing reminds us what we love about her on screens large and small. From film to television to Instagram and now to the page, Busy delightfully showcases her wry humor and her willingness to bare it all.
BEFORE WE WERE YOURS is a heartbreaking story that would stay with you for awhile but give you a good amount of conversation topics for your next book club meet up. Based on one of America’s most notorious real-life scandals – in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country – Lisa Wingate’s riveting, wrenching, and ultimately uplifting tale reminds us how, even though the paths we take can lead to many places, the heart never forgets where we belong.
Next up is A MEMOIR BY THE YOUNGEST RECIPIENT OF THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE. I AM MALALA is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls’ education, of a father who, himself a school owner, championed and encouraged his daughter to write and attend school, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons. I AM MALALA will make you believe in the power of one person’s voice to inspire change in the world.
THE ALICE NETWORK by Kate Quinn would take you to a different time and enchant you with a tae of bravery and courage. In an enthralling new historical novel from national best-selling author Kate Quinn, two women – a female spy recruited to the real-life ALICE NETWORK in France during World War I and an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947 – are brought together in a mesmerizing story of courage and redemption.
Another worthy read from the dark times of German Occupation is THE TATOIST OF AUSHWITZ by Heather Morris. “The Tattooist of Auschwitz is an extraordinary document, a story about the extremes of human behavior existing side by side: calculated brutality alongside impulsive and selfless acts of love. I find it hard to imagine anyone who would not be drawn in, confronted and moved. I would recommend it unreservedly to anyone, whether they’d read a hundred Holocaust stories or none.”—Graeme Simsion, internationally-bestselling author of The Rosie Project.
A vivid, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful re-creation of Lale Sokolov’s experiences as the man who tattooed the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is also a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions.
The GERMAN HAIRESS by Anika Scott is a meticulously researched and plotted like Noir Thriller that tells a different story of the WWII – a story of characters grappling with their own guilt and driven by the question of what they could have done to change the past. Propulsive, meticulously researched, and action-fueled, The German Heiress is a mesmerizing page-turner that questions the meaning of justice and morality, deftly shining the spotlight on the often-overlooked perspective of Germans who were caught in the crossfire of the Nazi regime and had nowhere to turn.
In Lois Lowry’s unforgettable Newbery Medal–winning novel, NUMBER OF STARS, a ten-year-old Danish girl’s bravery is tested when her best friend is threatened by Nazis in 1943.
As the German troops begin their campaign to “relocate” all the Jews of Denmark, Annemarie Johansen’s family takes in Annemarie’s best friend, Ellen Rosen, and conceals her as part of the family. Through the eyes of ten-year-old Annemarie, we watch as the Danish Resistance smuggles almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark, nearly seven thousand people, across the sea to Sweden. The heroism of an entire nation reminds us that there was pride and human decency in the world even during a time of terror and war. With a new introduction by the author.
From the author of Dark Dark woods comes another master thriller that would keep you on your toes right until the very end. With surprising twists, spine-tingling turns, and a setting that proves as uncomfortably claustrophobic as it is eerily beautiful, Ruth Ware offers up another taut and intense read in THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10—one that will leave even the most sure-footed reader restlessly uneasy long after the last page is turned.
An instant New York Times bestseller, The Woman in Cabin 10 is a gripping psychological thriller set at sea from an essential mystery writer in the tradition of Agatha Christie.
If you love a mystery, then you’ll devour.. Riveting, atmospheric, and exquisitely written, NORTHEN SPY is at once a heart-pounding story of the contemporary IRA and a moving portrait of sister- and motherhood, and of life in a deeply divided society. A producer at the BBC and mother to a new baby, Tessa is at work in Belfast one day when the news of another raid comes on the air. The IRA may have gone underground in the two decades since the Good Friday Agreement, but they never really went away, and lately bomb threats, security checkpoints, and helicopters floating ominously over the city have become features of everyday life. As the news reporter requests the public’s help in locating those responsible for the robbery, security footage reveals Tessa’s sister, Marian, pulling a black ski mask over her face. When the truth about Marian comes to light, Tessa is faced with impossible choices that will test the limits of her ideals, the bonds of her family, her notions of right and wrong, and her identity as a sister and a mother. Walking an increasingly perilous road, she wants nothing more than to protect the one person she loves more fiercely than her sister: her infant son, Finn. The acclaimed author of Under the Harrow and A Double Life returns with her most riveting novel to date: the story of two sisters who become entangled with the IRA.
The SANATORIUM is a must read sine-tingling breakout by Sarah Pearse. An imposing, isolated hotel, high up in the Swiss Alps, is the last place Elin Warner wants to be. But she’s taken time off from her job as a detective, so when she receives an invitation out of the blue to celebrate her estranged brother’s recent engagement, she has no choice but to accept. Arriving in the midst of a threatening storm, Elin immediately feels on edge. Though it’s beautiful, something about the hotel, recently converted from an abandoned sanatorium, makes her nervous – as does her brother, Isaac. And when they wake the following morning to discover his fiancée Laure has vanished without a trace, Elin’s unease grows. With the storm cutting off access to and from the hotel, the longer Laure stays missing, the more the remaining guests start to panic.
THE GIVER OF STARS comes to you from the author of Me Before You, set in Depression-era America, a breathtaking story of five extraordinary women and their remarkable journey through the mountains of Kentucky and beyond.
What happens to them – and to the men they love – becomes an unforgettable drama of loyalty, justice, humanity, and passion. These heroic women refuse to be cowed by men or by convention. And though they face all kinds of dangers in a landscape that is at times breathtakingly beautiful, at others brutal, they’re committed to their job: Bringing books to people who have never had any, arming them with facts that will change their lives. Based on a true story rooted in America’s past, The Giver of Stars is unparalleled in its scope and epic in its storytelling. Funny, heartbreaking, enthralling, it is destined to become a modern classic – a richly rewarding novel of women’s friendship, of true love, and of what happens when we reach beyond our grasp for the great beyond.
Next up is the haunting novel WHEN THE RECKONING COMES that follows the story of a Black woman who returns to her hometown for a plantation wedding and the horror that ensues as she reconnects with the blood-soaked history of the land and the best friends she left behind. More than a decade ago, Mira fled her small, segregated hometown in the South to forget. With every mile she traveled, she distanced herself from her past: from her best friend, Celine, mocked by their town as the only white girl with Black friends; from her old neighborhood; from the eerie Woodsman plantation rumored to be haunted by the spirits of slaves; from the terrifying memory of a ghost she saw that terrible day when a dare-gone-wrong almost got Jesse – the boy she secretly loved – arrested for murder. As the weekend unfolds, Mira, Jesse, and Celine are forced to acknowledge their history together, and to save themselves from what is to come
A striking and surprising debut novel from an exhilarating new voice, SUCH A FUN AGE is a bighearted story about race and privilege, set around a young Black babysitter, her well-intentioned employer, and a surprising connection that threatens to undo them both. With empathy and piercing social commentary, Such a Fun Age explores the stickiness of transactional relationships, what it means to make someone “family”, and the complicated reality of being a grown up. It is a searing debut for our times.
New York Times Book Review recommends M.T. Edvardsson’s A NEARLY NORMAL FAMILY and lauds it as a “page-turner” that forces the reader to confront “the compromises we make with ourselves to be the people we believe our beloveds expect”. (NYTimes Book Review Summer Reading Issue) M.T. Edvardsson’s A Nearly Normal Family is a gripping legal thriller that forces the listener to consider: How far would you go to protect the ones you love? In this twisted narrative of love and murder, a horrific crime makes a seemingly normal family question everything they thought they knew about their life – and one another.
THE WAR THAT SAVED MY LIFE is an exceptionally moving story of triumph against all odds set during World War 2, from the acclaimed author of Jefferson’s Sons and for fans of Number the Stars. Nine-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn’t waste a minute – she sneaks out to join him. So begins a new adventure of Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan – and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother? This masterful work of historical fiction is equal parts adventure and a moving tale of family and identity – a classic in the making.
THE HOME FOR UNWANTED GIRLS is where Philomena meets The Orphan Train in this suspenseful, provocative novel filled with love, secrets, and deceit – the story of a young unwed mother who is forcibly separated from her daughter at birth and the lengths to which they go to find each other. In 1950s Quebec, French and English tolerate each other with precarious civility – much like Maggie Hughes’ parents. Maggie’s English-speaking father has ambitions for his daughter that don’t include marriage to the poor French boy on the next farm over. But Maggie’s heart is captured by Gabriel Phénix. When she becomes pregnant at 15, her parents force her to give baby Elodie up for adoption and get her life “back on track”. Elodie is raised in Quebec’s impoverished orphanage system. It’s a precarious enough existence that takes a tragic turn when Elodie, along with thousands of other orphans in Quebec, is declared mentally ill as the result of a new law that provides more funding to psychiatric hospitals than to orphanages.
Fredrik Backman’s novel A MAN CALLED OVE describing the angry old man next door is a thoughtful exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others. “You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll feel new sympathy for the curmudgeons in your life.” (People)Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon – the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him “the bitter neighbor from hell”. But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn’t walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?
ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE is set In a mining town in Germany, the orphan Werner grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments, a talent that wins him a place at a brutal academy for Hitler Youth, then a special assignment to track the resistance. More and more aware of the human cost of his intelligence, Werner travels through the heart of the war and, finally, into Saint-Malo, where his story and Marie-Laure’s converge.
From the New York Times best-selling author of The Aviator’s Wife comes a story of courage on the prairie, inspired by the devastating storm that struck the Great Plains in 1888, threatening the lives of hundreds of immigrant homesteaders, especially schoolchildren. “A nail-biter … poignant, powerful, perfect.” (Kate Quinn, author of The Alice Network). Based on actual oral histories of survivors, this gripping novel follows the stories of Raina and Gerda Olsen, two sisters, both schoolteachers – one becomes a hero of the storm and the other finds herself ostracized in the aftermath. It’s also the story of Anette Pedersen, a servant girl whose miraculous survival serves as a turning point in her life and touches the heart of Gavin Woodson, a newspaperman seeking redemption. It was Woodson and others like him who wrote the embellished news stories that lured Northern European immigrants across the sea to settle a pitiless land. Boosters needed them to settle territories into states, and they didn’t care what lies they told these families to get them there – or whose land it originally was.
THE FOUR WINDS is a rich, sweeping novel that stunningly brings to life the Great Depression and the people who lived through it – the harsh realities that divided us as a nation and the enduring battle between the haves and the have-nots. A testament to hope, resilience, and the strength of the human spirit to survive adversity, The Four Winds is an indelible portrait of America and the American dream, as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation. From the number-one best-selling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes a powerful American epic about love and heroism and hope, set during the Great Depression, a time when the country was in crisis and at war with itself, when millions were out of work and even the land seemed to have turned against them.
Set over the course of five decades, The Dutch House is a dark fairy tale about two smart people who cannot overcome their past. Despite every outward sign of success, Danny and Maeve are only truly comfortable when they’re together. Throughout their lives, they return to the well-worn story of what they’ve lost with humor and rage. But when at last they’re forced to confront the people who left them behind, the relationship between an indulged brother and his ever-protective sister is finally tested. The story is told by Cyril’s son Danny, as he and his older sister, the brilliantly acerbic and self-assured Maeve, are exiled from the house where they grew up by their stepmother. The two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is one another. It is this unshakable bond between them that both saves their lives and thwarts their futures.
From the number-one best-selling author of The Nightingale and The Great Alone comes a powerful American epic about love and heroism and hope, set during the Great Depression, a time when the country was in crisis and at war with itself, when millions were out of work and even the land seemed to have turned against them.
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