Best Books of 2019

I always find it interesting to look back over the books that I rated "Best Of" for the year. I read over 70 books in 2019 but it still surprised me that I had 14 books that made my "Best Of" list - I thought it would be less as I felt like I had a lot of duds. When I went back and reviewed the list, I found myself not only nodding my head at the amazing memories that each of the books evoked but, I was surprised by the variety of genres.

It also reminded me that I want to read more by these authors and writing this post prompted me to check out several other ebooks by these authors from my library. I have decided that when I get old, I am going back to all of my "Best Of' lists from previous years (links to Best Of lists are on the right hand side of this blog) and reread them - something to look forward to!

What were some of your 'Best Of' books from this past year?

The Silent Wife by Kerry Fisher

My Rating: 3.5

This is the story of two women who are both the second wives of Italian brothers, It is told in alternating perspectives between each of the women.

This is a story of lies, history, being a step-mother and trying to forge your place in a family as a second wife. At times this really pulled me in and the author's writing had real promise but unfortunately the majority of the book felt rather formula.

Maybe In Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid

My Rating: 3.2

Having recently moved back to L.A., Hannah goes out on the town with her best friend Gabby. She reconnects with her old boyfriend Ethan. Then the plot splits into two storylines - like Sliding Doors. In one version, she goes home with Gabby and in another version she goes home with Ethan. It goes back and forth between each version of the story.

This is a fluffy easy read and follows the author's format of her early books. It doesn't compare with her current books (Daisy Jones & The Six or The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo ) which I hope are indicative of the new direction she is going with her writing but, it was a fun light read.

The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand

My Rating: 2.0

Alexis/Lex's brother has committed suicide. Lex is a math major and her psychiatrist Dave recommends she journal her feelings. She is keeping the secret that her brother sent her a text before he died and she is carrying that guilt.

This wasn't bad but after reading so many other similar Young Adult books, it was very cliche. A Y.A. novel dealing with a tragic topic. This deals directly with a lot of difficult topics including suicide, grief, depression, guilt, etc.

A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza

My Rating: 4.8

This is about Rafiq and Layla's children Hadia, Huda, and Amar, first generation Americans trying to define their paths while deciding how to incorporate their parent's customs and beliefs. This covers the children's journey from children to adults...and the parents journey as well.

I loved all of the characters. To my surprise, I particularly loved Part 4, where the same circumstances were retold but this time, from the Father's perspective. I am glad I didn't read too much about this and when my gf from India recommended it, I remembered I had it on my kindle and moved it to the top of the queue. It is about coming of age, Muslim-Americans, struggling with different cultures and being a parent. More than anything, it is about family.

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes

My Rating: 4.0

Evvie is a widow and everyone feels sorry for her - not knowing that she was going to leave her husband the night he died.

Dean is a major league pitcher who suddenly can't throw straight, and has no idea why.

When Dean moves into the apartment in the back of Evvie's house, they both agree to not talk about their biggest issues - her being a widow and his not being able to pitch. This is the start of an unlikely friendship that grows into more.

I honestly didn't know if I was going to stick with this one. It was fluffy, wholesome  and predictable. Once I adjusted my expectations, I quite enjoyed it.

Things You Save In A Fire by Katherine Center

My Rating: 4.7

Cassie is one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse. She's a total pro at other people's tragedies, but when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to give up her whole life and move to Boston, Cassie suddenly has an emergency of her own. Cassie reluctantly decides to move and embarks on a new firehouse, a new relationship and a new journey.

At times, this was a little off the meter for me on the romance scale but, overall I enjoyed it. I felt that it brought the firehouse to life and I really enjoyed that. Although Cassie's relationships - with her mother, with the rookie and others - was rather predictable, it wasn't so cheezy as to lose me. A very enjoyable read.

The Law of Moses by Amy Harmon

My Rating: 2.7

Moses is strong, beautiful and a wee tad crazy. He expresses this through his painting which, when it ends up on barns and bridges, is not always appreciated. Georgia is drawn to Moses and quickly discovers his quirky side.

This had unfulfilled promise. It crossed over into the paranormal but it was the Harlequin Romance parts that killed it for me. It had a strong Young Adult feel....and not in a good way.

Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris

My Rating: 3.0

At age 16, Cilka ends up in a concentration camp and, when she is singled out by the Commandant,quickly learns that power, whether chosen or not, can help her survive. After the war is over and the camp is liberated, Cilka is sent to another camp under charges of sleeping with the enemy. This is her story in the Siberian Camps.

This is was about a part of history I wasn't familiar with - after WWII in the Siberian Prison Gulags. I don't deny that the author researched this part of the book very well. What rang so false for me was that, despite spending 10+ years in concentartion camps, Cilka radiated beauty, is amazingly smart and has so much compassion and patience. I am surprised she wasn't wearing wings. It felt so manipulative and patronizing for the author to put Cilka in circumstances beyond her control to gain our sympathy and then continue to wring us dry with how perfect Cilka was in every way. The writing also felt flat and didn't convey and depth - whether the Siberian cold, the hunger or guilt - so I didn't feel for Cilka. There are so many other books that have such amazing depth and capture this horrific period of time. I would recommend skipping this one

The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo

My Rating: 5.0

This is about a mom, dad and their four daughters. It starts with the four girls being adults and where they are in their lives today but it flashes back to the 70's when their mom and dad first met. Told through current day and flashbacks, it fills in each of their stories, to where you not only understand how they became who they are but you care for each one of them. Through flashbacks and current day, this seamlessly covers half a century of these six people's lives.

This was so well done. Every character was so well developed and you understood all the nuances that made them in to who they are today. I was so sad when this ended. How is it possible that this was the author's first book?  More importantly, when is she going to release her next book!

Normal People by Sally Rooney

My Rating: 2.5

At school in Ireland, Connell and Marianne pretend not to know each other. He’s popular and well-adjusted, star of the school soccer team while she is lonely, proud, and intensely private. But when Connell comes to pick his mother up from her housekeeping job at Marianne’s house, a strange and indelible connection grows between the two teenagers—one they are determined to conceal.

I am shocked that this was a nominee for the Man Booker's Prize. Although it was well written, the dysfunctional characters were not likable. It is a very sad and depressing novel with a flat storyline. 

The River by Peter Heller

My Rating: 4.9

Best friends, Wynn and Jack share their love of mountains, books, and fishing. Wynn is a gentle giant, a Vermont kid never happier than when his feet are in the water. Jack is more rugged, raised on a ranch in Colorado where sleeping under the stars and cooking on a fire came as naturally to him as breathing. When they decide to canoe the Maskwa River in northern Canada, they anticipate long days of leisurely paddling and picking blueberries, and nights of stargazing and reading paperback Westerns. But a wildfire making its way across the forest adds unexpected urgency to the journey. They also encounter several people and try to warn them about the fire but soon regret this.

Wow, wow, wow. Oh Peter Heller I love you (ok, at least your writing). I loved The Dog Stars and this was just as an amazing experience. I loved all the characters, the sense of foreboding and the amazing descriptions. I love that 'nature' was one of the characters. I am moving some of your other books up to the top of my queue as you have a way of whisking the reader away and when they land after that last page is turned, all they can do is reminisce over the magical journey you just took us on. Heller captures the power of nature as well as man's vulnerabilities so well. I highly recommend the audio version of this book.

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

My Rating: 2.5

The Nickel Academy is a reform school in Tallahassee Florida. When Elwood gets caught up in a tragic case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, ends up serving time. The Nickel Academy.is a grotesque chamber of horrors, where the sadistic staff beats and sexually abuses the students, corrupt officials and locals steal food and supplies, and any boy who resists is likely to disappear "out back."

For myself, this was about horrific events that had no feeling behind the writing. The writing felt flat and, despite feeling sorry for Elwood's circumstances, I didn't care about any of the characters, The first half of the book was somewhat engaging but the last half of the book was so poorly written that I had trouble staying engaged. Horrific things happened but it felt so detached. This is not historical fiction but a work of fiction based around an actual reform school. None of the characters were real and it didn't have any fact and definitely didn't bring that horrible period to life which was a missed opportunity.I don't think authors that try to capitalize on tragic events without any quality in the writing are for me.

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

My Rating: 4.0

Alice Wright marries wealthy American Bennett Van Cleve to flee from her judgmental home and family in England. She rues the day as the marriage is less than idyllic. She decides to escape the Van Cleve home by joining Margery in delivering books to the back woods of Kentucky.

If you haven't heard the controversy (I hadn't until later), Moyes came out with this book just a few months after The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. Both books are about the little written about time of the Kentucky Pack Horse Library Program. For me, the similarity stops there. I felt that Moyes book was fluffy, superficial and more about the characters. This was a quick read but very romance and drama based and a little too wrapped up in a bow for my liking. I enjoyed The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek more as it felt deeper and dealt with the women's struggles and joys in delivering the library books as well as the additional layer of the Blue People. I am not saying this book was bad but, with all the talk of comparison, if I had to pick only one, it would definitely be The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

My Rating: 4.8

In 1936, 19 year old Cussy Carter lives in Troublesome Creek, Kentucky. Cussy is the last of the rare 'blue people' who is so excited to get a job in the new Pack Horse Library Project.  As she travels with her mule up the trecherous mountains of Kentucky to deliver books to the folks on her route, they soon overcome their fear of her blue color and call her "Bluet" or "Book Woman" and can't wait for her visits.

I can't puzzle out why I loved this so much, but I did. I felt that this was about two different things - the blue colored people and the library delivery system - both of which were educational and fascinating. Cussy Mary was an absolute delight and I enjoyed the glimpse into the many lives in the back hills of Kentucky. This is not a fast paced book but rather, it takes you back in time to a slower pace and allows you to peek in on their lives. Delightful read.