Current Listen: Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole
Hello, reader family! Happy New Year! 2019 was a year of getting back to normal for me. I'm continuing to recover from the fallout of my ankle break, and we moved from our tiny apartment into a house. I decided to go for broke and set a goal of reading 150 books, up from 125 the year before. I'm happy to report that I exceeded my goal and read 165 books last year. Because of that, it was VERY difficult for my to compile the list that follows.
When I first started writing this post, I was pretty much writing a five paragraph essay about why I loved each book. I ended up switching to a Who/What/When/Where/Why format to make it easier to read. Let me know what you think!
Adult Fiction
1. The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
Who does it star: Khai, a man with autism, and a Vietnamese mail-order bride, Esme
What is its genre: Romance
Where/How did I read it: Preordered the paperback because I adored The Kiss Quotient, then read it at the beautiful Cassady lakehouse
When did I finish it: June
Why you should read it: Come for the unique premise and the well-written characters with autism, stay for how FRIGGIN FIERCE Esme is
2. City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
Who does it star: Vivian, a 95-year old woman telling the story of her coming of age in a vaudeville theatre
What is its genre: Historical fiction with some steam and scandal
Where/How did I read it: On Audible (11/10 recommend this audiobook) while living my life
When did I finish it: August
Why you should read it: It takes place in the 20s in the New York theatre district. Every single character is incredible, and the voice of Vivian makes it seem like you're gossiping with a girlfriend.
3. Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Who does it star: Daisy Jones and The Six, a popular band from the 70s being interviewed about their history
What is its genre: Historical fiction
Where/How did I read it: I read an ARC copy of this on the plane from Indy to New Orleans. The format makes it a quick read.
When did I finish it: March
Why you should read it: Sex and drugs and rock and roll. I didn't listen to the audiobook, but I've heard its incredible.
4. The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
Who does it star: Yale, a gay man in 1980s Chicago whose reeling from the impact of AIDS on his group of friends, and Fiona, Yale's best friend, who 30 years later is still dealing with the trauma of that time
What is its genre: Historical fiction
Where/How did I read it: Listened on Audible while sobbing and doing the dishes
When did I finish it: May
Why you should read it: To immerse yourself in the gay scene in 80s Chicago and honor the many who were lost so young to such a terrible disease
5. Bear Town by Fredrik Backman
Who does it star: The residents of Bear Town, a hockey-obsessed small town that is rocked by a violent, traumatic event
What is its genre: Contemporary fiction
Where/How did I read it: Read the paperback on my couch to fulfill part of the Pop Sugar Reading Challenge (read a book set in Scandinavia)
When did I finish it: December
Why you should read it: It's a really, really well-written look at the connections of a small town and how one person's choices can impact everyone around them. Just as good if not better than A Man Called Ove, in my opinion.
Young Adult Fiction
1. The Arc of a Scythe trilogy by Neal Shusterman
Who does it star: Two apprentice scythes, the only people permitted to permanently kill, or glean, others, since humanity has defeated death.
What is its genre: Dystopian science fiction
Where/How did I read it: I read all three books in this series on Audible while driving and doing the dishes. Very good narrator.
When did I finish it: November
Why you should read it: One of he best sci-fi series I've ever read. Such a well-built world that kept getting better and better.
2. The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas
Who does it star: Celaena Sardothien, a fierce assassin with a mysterious past she'd rather forget
What is its genre: Fantasy
Where/How did I read it: Listened on Audible throughout the summer. Outstanding, oustanding narrator. I listened to the first one in 2017 and the second in 2018, but after book 3 I couldn't stop and kept going through the 7th and final book of the series. Would literally listen any time I had a free second. Listened at the store. Listened while working out. Did extra chores to keep listening.
When did I finish it: July
Why you should read it: Elves and magic and witches and evil kings and sex and violence and piles and piles of incredibly written female characters
3. There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon
Who does it star: Sweetie, a fiercely confident track runner who won't let other people's opinions about her body stop her from kicking ass
What is its genre: Romance
Where/How did I read it: Pre-ordered this and read it in the Cassady hammock at the lake
When did I finish it: June
Why you should read it: Sweetie is the gorgeous Indian-American body-positive feminist of my DREAMS. Also read When Dimple Met Rishi and everything Sandhya writes. She is fabulous.
4. Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell
Who does it star: Simon, a self-aware "chosen one" who is at a loss after the events of Carry On (book one), and Baz, his partner
What is its genre: Fantasy
Where/How did I read it: Pre-ordered the GORGEOUS hardcover and read it the moment it came out
When did I finish it: October
Why you should read it: Its magic system is completely beautiful and Baz and Simon are the most adorable
5. Nevermoor and Wundersmith by Jessica Townsend
Who does it star: Morrigan Crow, a girl who has been whisked away to a mysterious magic school
What is its genre: Fantasy
Where/How did I read it: Got the first audiobook on the urging of one of my favorite Youtube channels, then binged both of them
When did I finish it: July
Why you should read it: Really cool, unique world, awesome characters, and also MAGIC SCHOOL STORIES ARE THE BOMB
Non-Fiction
1. Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow
Who does it star: Ronan Farrow, a journalist covering the Weinstein sexual abuse scandal, and the private investigators, spies, and NBC executives working on behalf of Weinstein to kill the story
What is its genre: Investigative journalism/memoir
Where/How did I read it: Got the audiobook and binged it in two days. Could not stop listening.
When did I finish it: December 31st, haha. Barely made it.
Why you should read it: Powerful men try to silence vulnerable women, particularly victims of sexual harrassment and assault. This shit happens ALL THE TIME and we as a society have a responsibility to expose it and smash the patriarchy.
2. White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
Who does it star: White people, and the social forces that enforce white supremacy
What is its genre: Non-fiction
Where/How did I read it: Borrowed it from my friend Robbie, then immediately knew I had to buy my own copy so I could write all over it and lend it to others to read
When did I finish it: November
Why you should read it: It will change your life. Absolutely essential for everyone, but ESPECIALLY white people.
3. Over the Top by Jonathan Van Ness
Who does it star: The beautiful fierce human known as JVN
What is its genre: Memoir
Where/How did I read it: On Audible, which was FABULOUS, because it was like having an 8 hour long conversation with JVN
When did I finish it: November
Why you should read it: JVN has overcome so much and has still managed to find this beautiful positive outlook on life. We need more books like this.
4. So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
Who does it star: Ijeoma Oluo, a fierce commentator on race and gender
What is its genre: Essays, kind of. Essays that feel almost like a guidebook
Where/How did I read it: Via audiobook with Ian. Narrated by the incredible Bahni Turpin
When did I finish it: July
Why you should read it: This book breaks down every essential topic of conversation you could have with another person about race. There's a chapter about hair. There's a chapter about intersectionality. There's a chapter about affirmative action. There's a chapter about white privilege. And it explains everything SO clearly. It can help you explain these things without triggering white fragility.
5. Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe
Who does it star: The IRA, the British Army, and Jean McConville, a woman dragged from her Belfast home by masked intruders during the Troubles and was never seen again
What is its genre: History
Where/How did I read it: Via Audible in my normal life. Warning: The narrator has a THICK northern Irish accent, which added to the telling but...damn it was hard to understand for the first hour or so.
When did I finish it: August
Why you should read it: The way Radden Keefe takes one woman's murder and then weaves the entire history of the Troubles around it is masterful. I learned SO MUCH about the IRA.
Alright. That's it. Stay tuned in the next few days for a post on my goals for this year. :) That's all she read.
