There is nothing — and I mean NOTHING — about Memphis that I love more than grabbing a good book and finding somewhere in this city to read it. Give me a cozy corner, something delicious to eat or drink, and a few uninterrupted chapters, and I’m a happy woman.
I know I typically talk about my three teenagers and one college student, but here’s a little secret: they do not share my joy of reading. Their loss, honestly. So while they’re off living their best lives, I’m out here living mine, one book and one Memphis spot at a time. From pho and dystopian fiction to dark beer and Appalachian monsters, here’s what I’ve been reading around the city lately.
Pho 64 and Building 903 by Lois Lowry
Pho 64 is one of my favorite pho restaurants. Good, simple, clean food. Nothing too fancy, but everything delicious. I always order the same thing: beef pho and an order of chicken and shrimp spring rolls.
On this particular day, I brought along an old love: Lois Lowry. Her book The Giver is the reason I fell head-over-heels in love with reading back in middle school. Sure, I read it in elementary school and enjoyed every minute of it, but Lois Lowry turned me from a casual reader into a full-blown book devourer.
Building 903 is a classic dystopian novel that ponders what life could be like when the world is ruled by a tyrannical leader, and books and creativity are illegal (insert side-eye).
Soul & Spirits Brewery and When the Night Comes Knocking by Katherine Daniel
I absolutely love this brewery. Not only do they have some of the best beer in Memphis, but their Low Tones room is perfect for reading and relaxing. Soul & Spirits recently celebrated its fifth birthday with a flight full of stouts and dark beers, and I was EXTREMELY happy.
I paired the celebration with When the Night Comes Knocking by Katherine Daniel. Y’all, this book was creepy! But in a good way. It brings together Appalachian monsters, guilty people, and liars trapped inside a convenience store. And someone always makes someone else get killed.
When the owner of Smoke & Toast stopped by our table to hand us our food, I jumped so hard!
City Silo and Make Friends with Anyone by Wayne Francis
Memphis, I don’t know if you know this or not, but we’re all friends. ALL OF US. Even them over there. Okay, maybe some of us need a little help making those connections.
While at City Silo, I ordered my current City Silo hyperfixation meal of the year: the chicken chipotle salad with their house kombucha. I love the crunchy tortillas, the feta, the avocado, the pickled red onions, the chicken, the chipotle sauce, and the … well, I just love the whole dang salad. With my fork in my right hand, I held Make Friends with Anyone by Wayne Francis at eye level with my left. This book explores how to make friends and build lasting relationships through a biblical lens. It’s filled with Bible stories, practical wisdom, and applications for building meaningful connections.
Now, with the whole city being my boyfriend, some may say I don’t need any more friends. But what do they know?
Ritual Coffee
Ritual Coffee and Witch Is the Enemy of Magic by Adele Abbott
I’m going to be honest. I don’t remember much of what I read that day because I was sipping on a VERY strong drink. The Naked and Famous from Ritual had me struggling to make sense of what was happening on the page. But no worries. I prevailed!
That day, I was carrying my Kindle and was deep into Witch Is the Enemy of Magic by Adele Abbott. This is book number 53 in her Private Investigator series. Yes, you read that correctly. FIFTY-THREE. And yes, I’ve read all 52 books before it, plus a few from some of her other series. Good reading is good reading.
This series follows a private investigator who uses her witchy powers to solve murders, mayhem, and mysteries. It’s the kind of series that keeps you coming back for more, which is probably why I’ve made it all the way to book 53.
The next book is scheduled for February 26, 2027. That’s a Friday, and I’ll be taking the day off work to give it my undivided attention.
The beauty of reading around Memphis is that I never have to choose between a good book and a good time. I can have my pho, sip my beer, drink my coffee, and get lost in another world without ever leaving the city. So if you see me sitting in a corner somewhere, turning pages and ignoring the world around me, don’t worry. I’m exactly where I want to be.
Patricia Lockhart is a native Memphian who loves to read, write, cook, and eat. By day, she’s a librarian and writer, but by night … she’s asleep.
