I read SO many good books in 2019 that’s it’s truly hard to narrow it down to 10 favorites!
THE GREAT ALONE: I couldn’t put this one down! It’s set in Alaska in the 70’s and follows the story of a girl who lives with her parents in a remote town. They learn to be homesteaders and start to fracture apart when her father’s PTSD from the war appears more. The end was SO GOOD. Kristin Hannah also wrote The Nightingale, which I read a few years ago and absolutely loved!
WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING: Where the Crawdads Sing: I was on multiple wait lists for this book for months and it was fully worth the hype. I loved the vivid imagery & felt like I was WATCHING the book in my head as I read (this happens to me sometimes). It was beautifully written and the story itself was so poignant. Worth the wait!!
KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON: I’ve been on a waitlist for MONTHS for this book and it was completely worth the wait. It’s a non-fiction book about the Osage Indians and how they shaped the birth of the FBI. I’d never heard of the Osage murders and I honestly had no idea how the FBI was created. This book is phenomenally researched and written, and he also wrote a book called THE LOST CITY OF Z which is a great movie on Amazon (this book is also on my list!).
UNBROKEN: This. Was. Phenomenal. I couldn’t put this book down – it’s the true story of an Olympic runner who became a Japanese POW during WWII. I got my husband to read this book & he loved it as well. It was so thought provoking and stayed with me long after I finished it. We also watched the movie and it was ehhhhh.
A MAN CALLED OVE: I cannot sing enough praises about Fredrik Backman. The man is a literary genius and I’ve read almost everything by him. I adored this book so much because it reminded me of my Gramp. It’s the sweetest story of a grumpy old man dealing with his neighbors when he really just wants to die. One of my favorites this year!!
MY GRANDMOTHER ASKED ME TO TELL YOU SHE’S SORRY: Told from the point of view of a little girl who navigates her building and it’s inhabitants after the loss of her grandmother. The imagery, twists & imagination that the author poured into this story are so amazing. I’ve never read a book like this before that has made me want to keep reading it forever (unless its Harry Potter).
UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN: One of my very favorite books of all time. A memoir about buying an old Italian villa in Tuscany and the perils of renovation and the delights of the culture. It will leave you hungry and craving a lazy, long afternoon under the linden trees with fresh bread and homemade olive oil.
BENEATH A SCARLET SKY: If you read only ONE book from this list…read THIS one!! I literally could NOT put it down (I read it on the plane and couldn’t even get out of my seat because I HAD to finish it. It’s a true story about an Italian teenager during WWII who helped smuggle Jews over the Alps as a spy. It’s full of heartbreak, daring, and will take your breath away. You won’t be able to put it down or stop thinking about it the you’re done!!
Honorable Mentions
- THREE THINGS ABOUT ELSIE: Joanna Cannon
- DEFENDING JACOB: William Landay
- WILD: Cheryl Strayed
- CODE GIRLS: Liza Mundy
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