Happy 2019! As a lover of reading, I look forward to writing this post each year. Finishing a book, thinking about how to describe it in a few words, and putting together these colorful collages of the covers, is a true joy of mine. The books below make up the majority of the books I read this past year and are all ones I would recommend. I hope some of these books interest you!
Where I Was From: Joan Didion is a fantastic essayist with a distinct style. I read a couple of her books while living in New Hampshire, but reading this one about her life in California while living in the state was very fun as many of the places she describes in detail are familiar to me. I wrote a bit about this book previously here.
The Night Diary: Before picking up this book, I didn't know too much about the Partition of India and ensuing forced migration of tens of millions between Pakistan and India in 1947. The tragic migration was the largest in human history. This book is excellent and tells the story of one family from the point of view of a young teenager. While designed for middle grades, it's a fantastic book about a time of relatively recent history we don't know too much about in the United States.
The Fire This Time: Jesmyn Ward is an incredible writer and voice on present-day racism and the black experience in America. I never tire of her non-fiction and fiction books. This book of essays from multiple writers brings the voices of the Black Lives Matter movement to the page and is especially timely today.
Factfulness: Excellent! The author makes the case for accurate facts in reporting and perception, particularly related to global health. He brings forth the facts that poverty and disease are being eradicated globally and the health and wealth of the world is often better than we think it is. Fascinating facts, charts, and an encouragement to look at the world and a myriad of issues with slightly more optimism.
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet: One of my very favorite books from this year. A heartfelt and touching story. While reading it, I wished I had learned more about the specific experience of Japanese Americans during World War II even sooner. Living in California and being interested in the topic allowed me to seek out additional sources of information and museums in the Bay area bringing light to the forced incarceration of American citizens during World War II.
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: I've long wanted to read this book but the print version was so overwhelmingly long and I started and stopped it a few times over the last several years. It was the audiobook that allowed me to finish it, mostly while moving a couple of hours away and taking several driving trips in the process. It is an overarching and somber account of the political experience of Native Americans in 19th century America. It is sad and important and I hope continues to be read in the future.
The Angel's Lament: Local authors often interest me and when living in Meredith, New Hampshire a few years ago I read the pre-cursor to this book, Etched in Granite which was set in a nearby equally-small town in the 1870s. It was a fantastic historical fiction novel and it was fun to read this sequel taking place in Lowell, Massachusetts. I felt a definite connection to my New England ancestry.
Wine. All the Time.: As someone who loves food, cooking, and hopes to learn more about wine, this book was truly useful and very funny. I checked it out from the library but have been considering purchasing it as there were so many helpful pieces of knowledge related to how wine is made, how to purchase it, and the very detailed differences between different types.
Exit West: This book deserves all the praise its received. Telling a modern story of refugees attempting to reach safety and passing through multiple nameless places in search of a better life, it's vagueness makes it all the more powerful.
Becoming: Just as amazing as I had imagined and hoped. If you like or are inspired by Michelle Obama, you'll enjoy it!
A Piece of the World: Just lovely. Set on the coast of Maine and told by Christina, the figure in Andrew Wyeth's painting Christina's World, the book is a fantastic dive into early twentieth century life in rural/coastal Maine and explores themes of family and disability.
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry: I hoped this book would boost my science knowledge/awareness as I struggle to remember much about scientific news. The main piece of knowledge I took away/recall is that galaxies are carnivorous.
Spirits of the Earth: A Guide to Native American Nature Symbols, Stories, and Ceremonies: This book was a really wonderful immediate follow-up to Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. This was a celebration of Native American culture and I sought it out wanting to learn more about our connection to nature as humans. The stories, beliefs, and recommendations about connecting with nature in this book are really wonderful and a great reminder to live and communicate with nature as often as possible.
The Nightingale: A hard-to-put down novel taking place in France during World War II. Both sad and inspiring.
South and West: Another great book by Joan Didion. South and West came out in 2017 but is made up of her travel diaries from the 1970's chronicling California and the Deep South. The book reads very much like a travel diary and has a bit of stream of consciousness to it.
The Secret Lives of Color: A really fun art history/color history book. Very cool to learn about how hundreds of shades of colors came about.
Born a Crime: Extremely funny, enlightening, and fun. I listened to the audiobook and the many short stories about Trevor Noah's childhood in South Africa are touching, powerful, and excellently told.
Angela's Ashes: I had been wanting to read this popular book for awhile. It was just as sad as the reviews shared, but still provided an interesting light into Ireland before the second World War.
The Sun and Her Flowers: Rupi Kaur's poems are meditative and explore beautiful themes. She's a talented poet.
The Storyteller's Secret: A page-turning novel about India exploring past and present with themes of family, love, and opportunity.
Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness: I wrote a bit about this book here. If you like trees and nature, it's simply fantastic.
Dollbaby: I've long loved novels about the Civil Rights-era South, and Dollbaby doesn't disappoint. Set in New Orleans in 1964, the characters, setting and story come alive.
A Carnival of Losses: Notes Nearing Ninety: I wrote about Donald Hall here when he passed away last summer. I had never read any of his books and this series of essays was a fun read and also very connected to my native New Hampshire. His stories of family, growing old, rural life, community engagement, and grief were captivating.
Educated: Just as powerful, intense, and unbelievable as many of the reviews made it out to be. A powerful memoir.
Image credits go to Amazon for these fantastic book cover images!
