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Books read 2019

Roxanna

Veteran

I posted this in my IG account and then I thought I would post here - because I’d love to hear what some of your favorite books were in 2019!

Books read in 2019: 52.

This year, I made a concerted effort to read more #ownvoices books, read outside of my comfort zone, and try new genres like science fiction, books in translation and romance.

My favorites of the year:

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
- a sweeping, operatic story about an ill-fated coup of a Vice President and some international hostages in a South American country. A commentary on humanity and the bonds that tie strangers together, even in the most dangerous circumstances.

Among the Ruins by Ausma Zehanat Khan - a political mystery set in Iran and Toronto, following a Pakistani Canadian police officer. Part murder mystery, part tour guide through Iran, Pat gut-wrenching look into Iran’s inhuman treatment of political prisoners.

Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshni Chokshi - A Harry Potter style romp through the Mahabaratha with two unlikely heroes - pre-teen girls. Inventive, surprising while still being relatable. My kids loved this on audio.

Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan - An intimate and personal memoir about love, loss and how to listen. I took so many lessons into my own life.

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35 replies

Latest reply was from Sara L.

Runcarla

Veteran

I tend to avoid books with heavy topics as a reaction to compassion fatigue from my work. I’m hoping it will fade with time, now that I’m retired, but what I read or watch on TV still sets me off. One book I read that was ‘heavy’ but also beautiful was:

‘They Left Us Everything’ by Plum Johnson - a woman and her three brothers are responsible for clearing out the family home for 55 years after the deaths of their father and mother.

On a lighter note, I really enjoyed ‘The Gown’ by Jennifer Robson - a fictional story based on a real event, it is a tale woven around the making of QE2’s wedding dress told from the POV of two embroidery experts working in designer Norman Hartnell’s attelier.

This year I re-read all the Jane Austen novels, and I’m looking forward to watching Sanditon on Masterpiece theatre later this month. I’ve just started ‘The Clergyman’s Wife’ by Molly Greeley. It is a Pride and Prejudice inspired novel about Charlotte Collins.

Helena

Veteran

Following with interest ... Reading own voices books is one of my 2020 goals, although I didn't know that term!

Last year I read and loved The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, and an American Marriage by Tayari Jones. I also read a few terrific YA books that my son was keen for me to read, by Alan Gratz. Refugee was one and Allies the other; he does a great job of making complex situations readable for young audiences and representing different voices within the story. I am currently reading Infidel by Aayan Hirsi Ali (autobiography). Will add some of your recos to my list! I am also hoping to find some good Indigenous authors to read this year.

pil

Veteran

Carla, based on your recommendation (not having read it myself) I suggested The Gown to several people at the library where I work. All but one really enjoyed it and it is now in the book club kit rotation for patrons to check out.

kkards

Veteran

for much of the year i read "lite" because i'm just so fatigued from work.
on the lite end i really enjoyed these books
"My Ex Life" by Stephen McCauley...about 2nd chances and using what you've learned in life to move forward
"Nine Perfect Strangers" by Liane Moriarty.

on the slightly more "meaty" end
i was surprised at how much i like "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens.
loved "The Summer Before the War" by Helen Simonson. its a lovely old fashioned kind of book, with a great story about a different time and place, but in the end reminds us that essentially we all have one story, that is our quest for love and acceptance
and i cann't remember if i read this book in 2018 or 2019, but i really enjoyed it, so i'll recommend it, "Manhattan Beach" by Jennifer Egan

Sara L.

Veteran

I'm fairly obsessive about tracking what I read on Goodreads (follow me if you like). I read 187 books in 2019. Some general fiction but mostly a mixture of fantasy, romance, and YA (not because I love YA so much but because books written by women who write fantasy with female protagonists get classified as YA). Anyway I just finished Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston and it was one my favorite books of 2019. So good - all the feels.

Style Fan

Veteran

I read Bel Canto years ago. I also try to avoid books that remind me of work because of compassion fatigue.
I read a few books this past year. I have been working my way through the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. I will read about 2 or 3 of them and then take a rest. I also read An Odyssey by Daniel Mendelson. I read Run, Hide, Repeat by Pauline Dakin after hearing an interview with her on the CBC.
This year I am planning on reading Middlemarch by George Eliot. I listened to a discussion on the CBC about this book and decided I would reread it. I read it in an English course at University when we read a novel a week.

Runcarla

Veteran

@pil - cool!

@Stylefan - as an avid (maybe rabid) CBC Radio listener, I get a lot of my book ideas from the interviews and reviews they do. Wasn’t that ‘Middlemarch’ discussion interesting? I went on a classics women author kick a few years back and read all the George Elliot and Elizabeth Gaskell in addition to Jane Austen and the Brontes. I find that you get different things from these books when you read them at different ages and stages of your life.

Books in my ‘to read pile’ - so I can’t comment on quality -

‘Juliet’s Nurse’ by Lois Leveen
‘Girl Runner’ by Carrie Snyder
‘A Literate South’ by Beth Schweiger

rachylou

Veteran

I read a lot but almost 100% syfy, with a little historical mystery thrown in. I did however finish last year crazy, ex-spook Kevin Shipp’s book - I found it in a little library and it took me something on the order of 5 years to read his 150 pages of large print. Lol. He really is a nut, but I think his basics are factual.

The other book that sticks in mind is Gunslinger Girl. Ok story only, but you can’t beat the setup: Sharp Shooter in a Post Apocalyptic Circus. You know there’s some good clothes there. Lolol

nemosmom

Veteran

I didn't read nearly enough last year. I used to read several books a year, but with my new job, my brain struggles to "let go" enough to escape into a book these days. I have a few on my wish list for this year, but who knows if I will get to them.

MsMaven

Veteran

Last year I bought 39 books and read 31--typical for me. I haven't yet instituted a book-buying-ban, but I'm going to try not to buy more until I finish.

Fall quarter DH and I took a class in Don Quixote--50 years after I took a similar class as an undergrad. I saw Salmon Rushdie on TV and bought his book, Quichotte, which I enjoyed tremendously. I think it's worth reading even if you haven't read Cervantes. Brilliant book in my opinion. My favorite for last year.

Right now I'm finishing Thomas Jefferson: the Art of Power, by Jon Meacham, a book I received as a Christmas present a year ago. I am enjoying this--and the parallels between the early American republic and today are fascinating. I enjoy Meacham's writing and hope to read more of his books.

I like to read biography and history. Another book I enjoyed was Richard White's Railroaded on the building of the transcontinental railroad. We visited Promontory Point about 5 years ago--I have no memories of visiting there (before the official park) when I was a kid growing up in Salt Lake, and don't remember learning much about it in school, so this is an interesting experience.

On the lighter side: I discovered I was several books behind on my favorite mystery writers, Martha Grimes, Ellie Griffiths, and Daniel Silva. I caught up on the last 2 Grimes books on the airplane and I'm going to have to get Silva's book soon.

My friend sent a couple of her favorite novels for Christmas, so I have those on my to-read pile as well.

anne

Veteran

Just a quick answer rather than encompassing the whole of 2019 - here's what I read in my recent 3 day holiday.

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Molly Mac

Veteran

I love book recommendations. I am not sure how many books I read last year, but I read approximately one a week. Historical fiction is my favorite but I will read almost anything. Some of my favorite books I read this year are 1)The Underground Railroad by a Colson Whitehead-This is a moving story of a young woman fleeing slavery in the antebellum south. It has some magical realism. 2)The Winter soldier by Daniel Mason-A medical student in Vienna pre WWI becomes a surgeon in the military when war breaks out. A young nun who is also a nurse, becomes his mentor and something more. 3)The Lager Queen of Minnesota-J. Ryan Stradal-this is a story of two sisters, betrayal, and beer. 4)The Bolter-Frances Osborne-The real life story of Indina Sackville. She married 6 times and was part of "The Happy Valley Set" in 1920's colonial Africa. I also loved The Raven Boys series which was a recommendation from a YLFabber (I can't) remember who. Maybe we need to start a YLF book club

Roxanna

Veteran

Omg - I just love hearing about all the great books you all are reading!

@carla I also lay off the heavier books because of compassion fatigue. I too get a lot of my recos off CBC! I went through a classics kick a few years ago and read and enjoyed many of them, but then I realized how many were written by white British or American men (or occasionally women) and I wanted to read books with more diverse world views. #Ownvoices books have really changed my perspective on the world (abs helped my kids see more characters in books that look like them!)

@Helena I’m so impressed by your diverse reading list! An American marriage and The Hate U Give were already on my list but I’ll add those YA picks. How is the autobiography?

This year I also wanted to read more indigenous authors so I started with Braiding Sweetgrass: indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge and the teachings of plants. It is PHENOMENAL. Highly recommend!

@kkards I love Liane Moriarty for light reads that still have some teeth to them @nemosmom you should try one! Big little lute’s was my favorite of hers.

@rachy I always adore your eclectic picks! Adding Gunslinger Girl to my list

@StyleFan I adore Alex McC Smith - both ladies detective agency and Sunday Philosophy club (I find them the perfect palate cleansers after heavier books.)

Roxanna

Veteran

@msmaven those are brilliant recos. Adding the Rushdie and the Jefferson bio to my list.

@SaraL WHAAT?! That is incredible! I am listening to red white and Royal Blue right now on audio and loving it

Also this really resonated - “not because I love YA so much but because books written by women who write fantasy with female protagonists get classified as YA).” Grr.

@anne how was the follow up to the Tattoist off Aushwitz?

@mollymac I’ve been meaning to read Colson Whitehead but I’m afraid it will be too heavy for me right now, but it’s on my list. I adore J Ryan Streadal too.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sara L, YOU READ 187 books in one year!!! That's a new book every two days!

I don't read many books because it's not something I enjoy doing. I'd rather do something else. But I do read a few - and they are almost always about horses, dogs, and the British countryside.

JAileen

Veteran

I would like mystery book recommendations, please.

I read Bel Canto several years ago, and really enjoyed it. I also read several in the #1 Ladies Detective Agency series. I wanted to go to Botswana after that. It was serialized a few years ago.

Roxanna

Veteran

@jaileen
Louise Penny’s inspector Gamache series is my favorite. Tana French is also great but a bit darker.

As I said in my post, I loved Ausma Zehanat Khan’s among The Ruins. For a lighter cozy type series, try The Lady Hardcastle series by TE Kinsey (also great on Audio.)

MsMary

Veteran

Angie, you are like my sweet husband. He'd rather be out and about (preferably on his bike) than reading a book!

I read 52 this year and was quite chuffed about that number. It included the entire oeuvre of Liane Moriarity (Big Little Lies) as well as the entire Inspector Gamache series by Louise Perry (big shoutout to you Canadians!). Also did all of Octavia Butler (the pride of my home town) and much of N.K. Jemison.

Apart from the mystery/sci fi picks, I was wild about Ronan Farrow's Catch and Kill.

Helena

Veteran

Roxanna, it's good - tremendously difficult in some spots, and her tension with her culture (esp as a woman) are noticeable and uncomfortable - but she speaks very personally, and it is really providing some insight into the complexity of Somalia's struggles, in terms of the multi-layers of clans and traditional societies, colonialism, religion, and political opportunism and power struggles, and the clash between them all - from her perspective at least.

The YA books are written by an American man (I'm not sure of heritage), but he does share multiple voices within them - so not #ownvoices, but he does give voice to people from the past who perhaps can't do so for themselves (Refugee does tackle some current day situations too). I know your kids are younger than mine, but if they are at all inclined towards history, they may enjoy this author in a few years time - my tech-addicted son devours these.

anne

Veteran

Rosanna, I found it a gripping read, as much as the first book. It is more a novel, less factual, more based on other accounts of prisoners than her story. Worth reading for sure.

Style Fan

Veteran

Carla, the CBC interview about Middlemarch was fascinating. I learned so much about George Eliot and was in awe of her ability to write novels in the time that she lived.
Roxanna, I find the No. 1 Ladies Detective books to be great to read in between the 'heavier' books. They are delightful. I want to go to Botswana too.
A few years ago I read 'The Reason You Walk: A Memoir' by Wab Kinew who is Aboriginal and is now the Leader of the NDP and the Opposition Party in Manitoba. It is not a light read but a very powerful book. I also heard about from the CBC.

Bonnie

Veteran

I read 54 books last year and my favorite is usually the last one I read which was My Heart Laid Bare by Joyce Carol Oats, I am currently rereading Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie and thoroughly enjoying it. I read mysteries between the literature books and love the Michael Connelly series.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Sara, I am reeling at the number of books you managed to read! You must be a speed reader! Wowza.

I read constantly both for work and pleasure -- though most of my pleasure reading now is actually listening. I find my eyes are tired after hours on screen and looking at manuscripts either on the computer or on paper. So I listen when I walk and before I sleep.

Anyway, last year I read or listened to 84 books for pleasure (outside of work requirements), which is fewer than my total of 96 in 2018. Oops!

Favourite fiction (pretty much all literary fiction because that's my thing): Milkman, Machine without Horses, Life after Life; The Friend; Trust Exercise; The Little Red Chairs; The Great Believers; Half of a Yellow Sun; Olive, Again; Season of Fury and Wonder; Night Boat to Tangier.

Favourite poetry books read this year: Odes and Laments, Rail, The Familiar.

Favourite nonfiction this year: The Library Book; Inheritance; Older Sister, Not Necessarily Related; Sontag; The Emperor of All Maladies.

I made it a goal a couple of years ago to tilt my reading in favour of BIPOC authors and books in translation and have done so. This list of favourites doesn't really reflect that -- but I'm pretty sure it is coincidence because last year's would have included a bunch (e.g. There, There; Sing, Unburied Sing; The Boat People; Seven Fallen Feathers; Split Tooth; Old in Art School.) This year I wound up reading more Irish writers and enjoying them. That Edna O'Brien book (The Little Red Chairs) is not for the faint of heart but WOW, can the woman write.

Sara L.

Veteran

I read really fast, typically about 300 pages in 4 hours. Thanks goodness for the library as I'd never be able to afford my book habit otherwise. I also read during all the little cracks in my day -when I pick the kids up from practice and it runs late, or waiting for water to boil while making dinner. I read while I watch TV in the evenings too which drives my husband crazy - I'll all of a sudden notice the TV and say "wait, what's going on, back up".

Anonymous

I'm in shock and awe at 187 books a year. I can't even comprehend this - and I thought I read a lot! I average between 55 and 60 a year, and only get part-way through many more too but 187 boggles my mind. I'm not sure I can power through 300 pages in 4 hours either, unless it's genre fiction - although if it's not 4 consecutive hours, I can do that. Gah - off to read some more !

Sara L.

Veteran

Ha, not consecutive 4 hours. I rarely have that sort of time unless traveling. I just know that my Kindle estimates 300-350 page books in the 4 hour range and it seems to be fairly accurate.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

WOW, Sara, that just astonishes me. I don't really that fast, no way, no how -- and I always considered myself pretty quick!

It does depend on the material, though. If I have a challenging philosophical tome it's going to take me a heck of a lot longer than a novel, and if I have a dense novel where linguistic play is key to enjoyment, I sometimes find I need to read with my eyes instead of my ears.

Listening actually takes longer than reading (for me) but I still find listening increases my reading enormously just because I can fit it in at various times of day. I do what you do, Sara, and read (or listen) while waiting in line, waiting for my kid, waiting at the doctor's, etc.

Sara L.

Veteran

Suz - certain writing styles do take me longer and non fiction generally slows me down too. My oldest son (13) also reads super fast and read all 7 Harry Potter books in 2.5 weeks.

Anonymous

Wow - again ! Sara - do you find you read faster on a device than you do an actual book ?

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