My name is Michelle Cohen. I live in Evanston with my husband and two children. When I’m not designing lush gardens and landscapes for my clients, I can usually be found reading a book, or at the very least, talking about them.
1) Notes From No Man’s Land by Eula Biss (2009)
Intimate and nuanced essays about living in a racist society. Essential reading.
2) The Door by Magda Szabo (1987)
This novel about female friendship, secrets, and living and writing in Communist Hungary deserves a wide readership. It is smart, emotional and difficult to put down.
3) A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr (2000)
A quietly lush book about reintegrating into British society after war WWI. A beautiful exploration of the powers of art and the work of memory.
4) At the Existentialist Cafe: Freedom, Being, and Apricot Cocktails by Sarah Bakewell (2016)
A serious but playful engagement with early twentieth century European philosophy and the rise of Existentialism. Wonderful portraits of Simone De Beauvior, Jean-Paul Sartre, Martin Heidegger, and Albert Camus, among others. Fun and fascinating!
5) A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (2015)
This much-talked-about book deserves a read. You may struggle with the considerable pain in the story, but the example of love and friendship it offers is redemptive (almost). A story that is truly hard to forget.
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