Best Books of 2019
Last year I set a challenge for myself to read a book a week and, amazingly enough, I surpassed my goal. I knew when I came up with this idea that it was going to be a weird year. My husband was job hunting and I knew we were moving but I didn't know where. I was getting the house ready for the market and wasn't taking on any new work or traveling as much. I also wasn't working on any other hobbies like knitting or painting or sewing because I was showing the house and wanted to keep it as neat as possible. In other words, I had a lot of time on my hands. Reading also helped me deal with a very stressful time. There is nothing like escaping in a book.
So, how did I do? I read seventy-five books. There is a seventy-sixth one on the list but one book was so bad I stopped a quarter of the way through. Life is too short to keep going with a bad book.
How did I do it? I mentioned before that it was a slow year but I did some other things that helped me reach my goal.
I made reading a priority. I didn't listen to as many podcasts or watch a lot of TV. I also didn't see one feature film last year.
I always had a book with me. I recently switched over to a Kindle and it has made reading so much easier. It's convenient to carry around and books are easy to download so there isn't any downtime between books. I also utilized Audible. I listened to books while doing housework or on my commute to Nashville.
I limited the length of my books. I realized what kind of page count I could get through in a week and kept most of my books around the 400-page mark. When I realized I was ahead of my goal, I added a couple of longer books but not often.
I only read one book at a time. I usually have about three books going at once, a fiction, nonfiction, and maybe a business or how-to book. It's really true; when you multi-task you accomplish less. I was able to read more when I stuck to one book to the end.
I probably spent a lot of money. I don't know how much money I spent on books last year. I wasn't spending money on any other leisure activity so I don't think it made a significant impact. About mid-year I did discover BookBub and got their Bargain-of-the-Day newsletter. That did help my wallet a little and I started paying more attention to what was on Amazon Unlimited. I pay for that each month but I don't start my book search there. I tried another audiobook company, Chirp. Thier books are cheap but the app is very buggy and one of my downloads wasn’t complete. There is no customer service so I was stuck with a partial book. You get what you pay for.
My Best of 2019
Overall: Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption - Bryan Stevenson
This is the most important book I read all year. It shook me to my core. There is a movie coming out based on this book but, like all books made into movies, I'm sure the book is better. If you only read one book this year, it needs to be this one.
Best Nonfiction
Catching The Big Fish - David Lynch
An incredible book on creativity that made me feel "seen".
Best Thriller
The Silent Patient - Alex Michaelides
It's on a lot of Best-of lists for a reason. It's a slow start but then, BAM, it knocks you backward.
Best Historical Fiction
Daisy Jones and the Six - Taylor Jenkins Reid
This book was so clever. I didn't want it to end.
The Giver of Stars - Jojo Moyes
This book based on the WPA Packhorse Library set during the depression was more complex than at first glance. It brought up a lot of societal issues that we are still struggling with today.
Best Romance
Evvie Drake Starts Over - Linda Holmes
I'm not a big reader of romance as a genre. I find them too juvenal and predictable. This book, however, is a romance for grown-ass people. Very well written and not just soppy for the sake of it.
Best Short Stories
Florida - Lauren Groff
I don't read short story collections very often but after this one, I'm seeking them out.
Best New Series
The Country Club Murders - Julie Mulhern
This is not a new series but a new-to-me discovery. It's set in the 70s and since I grew up in the 70s the references are bang on. The description of the fashion on its own is immersive.
Since I am now back with the living, my reading goals this year are less ambitious at 35 books. I'll keep track of those on my Goodreads account and only add them to my Bookshelf page if I recommend them.
I read an article last year calling into question reading challenges and that they take away the joy of reading and make it work and stressful. I disagree. The gamification of anything makes it more fun. And what are the consequences if I don't meet my challenge? Nothing. I would still be reading more than if I didn't challenge myself.
I would love to hear what you are reading and what you would recommend. Have you set an intention to read more or to read less, like me?
Let’s be friends on Goodreads!
See all the books I read last year on my Bookshelf.
