Monday, February 11, 2019

Best Books Read in 2018

So one of my last post was my general stats for 2018 reading. I was going to write a little something about the best books I read last year as well but as the post was getting a bit long, I figured it would make more sense to split this into two posts. Plus then I get two posts out of this so wins all around.
Since I did a LOT of rereading this year (42%), I'll split the best reads into rereads and new rereads. Because obviously if I'm going to reread something, it's a book I love. Why would I spend my time rereading a book I was lukewarm about? That'd be dumb. Don't do that.

Also I suppose this will end up being more mini-reviews? Except I think even shorter cos there are a lot of great books I read last year. Mini mini-reviews. At this rate I'm going to get to posts where my book reviews are a single word. Not a helpful word like "Good" or "No" but something that does not tell you anything about whether you should read the book or not. "Effervescent". "Lilac".

Anyway, hey here are some good books

Fav reads of 2018 (new to me books)
The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
This was so good and/but also made me cry several times in public. Excellent

Herding Cats by Sarah Andersen
Hilarious webcomic about awkwardly adulting. Yes plz

Texts from Jane Eyre by Daniel Ortberg
Also hilarious but instead of webcomic it is famous literary people/characters texting each other nonsense and the Hamlet chapters(?) are the best because 100% what he would be like (i.e., a pain the ass)

Relish by Lucy Knisley
You know, I said I do not care for graphic novels or graphic memoirs and such, and yet here is a second one on this list. I don't know what I'm talking about, is what I'm getting at. ANYWAY, Knisley's stuff is great and this is about food so doubly great.

Becoming by Michelle Obama
This made me sad to listen to, given the current political climate, BUT when not making me sad, it was a wonderful memoir.

Fav reads of 2018 (rereads)
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
I should really, read more mysteries. Or maybe more specifically, more Christie cos I have basically just read this one but it's so so good.

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (which I reread TWICE in 2018 alone)
I just love this book so much. It's so funny and it is as much about female friendship as it is a rom com and I want to hug it.

Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard
It's ridiculous and absurd and hey, this is the second Hamlet-referenced thing on this list, so that's fun.

World War Z by Max Brooks
I've already re-listened to this in 2019 because it's that good, always.

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
I think...I think the movie might be better than the book. BUT the book is still excellent, it's just that the movie is soooo good. I read this in anticipation of the movie, mostly while sitting by a pool in Hawaii, which enhanced the re-read experience that much.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
You know, I don't think of myself as a rom com fan, and yet here is a third one that is funny and sweet.

Notes from a Small Island / Neither Here Nor There / I'm a Stranger Here Myself by Bill Bryson
This is technically 3 books, except I got an audiobook copy of all of them together as one, but they were abridged versions so. Bryson is great, love his travel experiences and his curmudgeonness

Comments (9)

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Yeah, I'm glad there was a book of CRA so that there could be a movie of it. :) But I also do still plan to read the third one. Because, in the right mood...yum.

I've never read Attachments, but I do want to hug Eleanor and Park (I think we've talked about that one before), so I guess now I'll have to pick up Attachments too.
2 replies · active 317 weeks ago
The movie is sooooooo good, right? I may need to watch it again today. I've read all 3 books in the CRA series and the other 2 are fine. I like the first best still but they other 2 were entertaining and lots of rich things so still swell. I am pretty excited for the next movies and I'm hoping they continue to improve & tighten the stories, as they did with the first movie.

YES I should re-read E&P. That's another book that gets hugs. Though I find it harder to re-read knowing it's sad and Attachments is definitely less heavy
It sure is. When I was a teenager I immediately rewatched all the movies I loved. This was one of those movies which reminded me sharply of that lost-habit!
OH, and also, thanks again for recommending Sarah Andersen: I just lurv her comics.
1 reply · active 317 weeks ago
So so glad that you like her stuff. I need to get so much more of her.
MAN, like, I just cannot get behind Attachments. I couldn't let go of how much it squicked me out that the guy was reading all the emails. That's an awful thing to do! No excuse for it! I can't get back in on a romantic hero after behavior like that!
1 reply · active 317 weeks ago
BUT reading people's emails was his job AND he felt bad about it. Though I mean, he still did it, so not totally innocent but at least he knew enough to feel guilty even if he was SUPPOSED to be reading their emails. And I mean, he wasn't reading all of their emails, just the ones that got flagged and ended up in his folder of emails he was supposed to check. He COULD have read all of their emails, even those not flagged but chose not to
I will never stop re-listening to WWZ, I love it so much. I think I've recommended it to everyone I know multiple times.
1 reply · active 316 weeks ago
Oh I have absolutely told people multiple times that they HAVE to listen to this book. Required.

ALSO did you hear Max Brooks has a book about Minecraft out? And the audiobook is read by Jack Black

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