Favorite Books

Actress, Designer, Ultimate Girl Crush, and Book Worm

There’s a lot to love about the multi-talented Sarah Jessica Parker: While she’s probably tired of being likened to Carrie, it should come as no surprise that she knows good writing. In fact, SJP is part of a book club we’re gagging to join: They read yet-to-be-published, soon-to-be classics, meaning that we’re constantly knocking on her door for recs. Here, some of her all-time favorites, both new and old.

New Grub Street
by George Gissing

“This story about publishing and love is one of the great, turn-of-the-century sweeping tales. It’s one of my all-time favorites.”

“Was Anthony Marra really just 27 when he wrote this magnificent and heartrending tale? He tells the story of war-torn Chechnya and a handful of characters living in and near the tiny and devastated village of Eldar. You don’t have to know a whole lot about the history of Chechnya to truly love this extraordinary book, or to find yourself recommending it to everyone you know. And to be very excited about this young writer’s future.”

To Rise Again at a Decent Hour
by Joshua Ferris

“This is the story of a Park Avenue dentist named Paul O’Rourke, who is a lonely and sad sort of fellow. I was really surprised at how much I loved this book about a depressive man longing for connection. Ferris’ keen observations of the details of life are a gift to his reader, and he surrounds his protagonist with wonderful, honest, funny, and colorful characters that only add to the delight of reading this novel.”

The Goldfinch
by Donna Tartt

“Where to begin? Simply put, I’m indescribably jealous of any reader picking up this masterpiece for the first time. And once they do, they will long remember the heartrending character of Theo Decker and his unthinkable journey.”

The Way We Live Now
by Anthony Trollope

“This perfectly satirical novel tells the story of new money arriving in Old England. It is a commentary on privilege, money, and who is invited. But it also includes a great romance, and though it’s massive in page count, I was completely absorbed and loved every single moment, big and small.”

Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital
by Sheri Fink

“This brilliant, non-fiction book is brutal and minutely-researched: It describes, in shocking detail, the horrific conditions and chaotic, terrifying, and unfortunate days of a big public hospital in New Orleans struggling to serve its community in the five days following Hurricane Katrina. Just as importantly, it is a graphic portrait of the complicated, difficult, and highly-controversial decisions the doctors and nurses had to make.”