TheShortList

Your Words

What isyour most cherished family heirloom?

A doorjamb from my grandparents’ home. It has the annual measurements of all the children and grandchildren by name and year.

@TORYENCLEAN

A set of two large seashells. My father brought them home from the South Pacific, where he served in the United States Army during World War II.

KRIS LASHER, ANAHEIM HILLS, CALIFORNIA

The women who shared the photos in this column will receive our Tess Drawstring handbag. Get 20 percent off with code RSSTYLE20 at realsimplestyle.com. Want to be considered for this column? Tag photos on Instagram with #WOMENIRL. An old Nancy Drew book, No. 54 to be exact, that my father’s high school English teacher signed. Itreads, “Dear Jacquelyn, As I write this, you’re sitting on your daddy’s lap drinking a bottle. I hope when you’re old enough, you enjoy this book. You have a great daddy. Have a wonderful life.”In 30 years, it’s never left my side.

JACQUELYN SCHWITTER, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY

A collection of songs from my great-grandma that were passed down the line to me. I sing them to my children in hopes that they one day sing them to theirs. Each time my girls and I sing them, I can hear my grandma and mom. Songs might not be a tangible item, but to me they’re priceless!

AMY ERRANTE My grandfather dug up an opal in Mississippi. He took some jewelrymaking classes and created a beautiful heartshaped necklace for my grandmother.It’s my favorite.

DANA BETSILL, MARIETTA, GEORGIA

My greatgreat-greatgrandmother’s handwritten diary from 1869. Her penmanship is so beautiful.

TINA S. MYERS, WEBSTER, NEW YORK

A telegram from my mother to my father. In 1943, she was a young woman who had never traveled outside Louisiana and took a leap of faithto travel across the country to marry a young man who was in cadet training in Pasadena, California. Halfway there, she sent a telegram to tell him when she would arrive. And their story began. They were married for more than 60 years.

KRISTI McCLENDON, OMAHA, NEBRASKA #WOMENIRL “TODDLER + LONG AND FUN DAY = FALLING ASLEEP WITH A BOOK ON YOUR FACE.” @THESTUDIOBPHOTO

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My grandfather’s first driver’s license.

Itwas printed on cloth. He gifted it to me because of my passion for genealogy.

RACHEL REIN, CALIFORNIA

The ShortList

FIVE BOOKS THAT WON’T DISAPPOINT

By Nora Horvath

Greatfor bookclub

In One Station Away, readers meet Magnus Colin, an accomplished neurologist, through the eyes of three women: his paralyzed patient, his famous pianist mother, and his late fiancée. Olaf Olafsson’s emotional novel takes Magnus around the globe as he searches for a way to heal his patients—and himself. International thriller

When successful Italian film producer Oscar Martello goes missing after a fire destroys his glamorous villa, Rome is left in shock. Was the fire set by his beautiful muse, his best friend, or someone else altogether? In his heart-pounding novel, We’ll Sleep When We’re Old, Pino Corrias explores the dark secrets of the city’s elite. Forgotten history

Enchantress of Numbers imagines the life of Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, known today as the world’s first computer programmer. In this fascinating homage, Jennifer Chiaverini traces not only King’s professional accomplishments but also the romance and family drama that tainted her personal life. Food for thought

Why is the first bite of blueberry pie more delicious than the last? And why are shoppers with reusable bags often more likely to treat themselves? In Why You Eat What You Eat, neuroscientist Rachel Herz, PhD, dives into how we interact with what’s on our plate. Readers will take away fun facts along with useful tips to curb cravings and eat smarter. Wisememoir

In No Time to Spare, National Book Award winner Ursula K. Le Guin reflects on her lifetime of experiences. This collection of essays, originally published on Le Guin’s blog from 2010 to 2015, touches on her feelings about everything from feminism to swear words in fiction. Each entry is filled with warmth, insight, and humor.

For more book recommendations, visit realsimple.com/books.