Last year around this time, I did a post on my top 10 books for the year.
Readers seemed to like it, so I thought I’d try it again. Writers are readers first, after all, and it’s fun to spread the word about books that touched us for one reason or another.
I’m excited to add that this year, I’m also involved in a new book club. I’ve long thought I would enjoy being part of one, but the opportunity just wasn’t there until about four months ago. We’ve only met three times so far, but I’m loving it. It feels like a gift to find others as passionate about books and reading as I am.
I’m lucky enough to be with a very smart, open-minded group of ladies and our conversations so far have been stimulating, educational, and thought-provoking. If you haven’t joined a book club yet, I highly recommend it!
Following the pattern I established last year, I’m sharing my top 5 fiction, top 4 non-fiction (writing-related), and 1 indie spotlight. Keep in mind: I’m no book reviewer, so you won’t find reviews here. Instead, I give a few comments on what I liked about each one, along with the book description and link in case you’re interested in finding more information.
Happy reading, and if you have some favorites you’d like to share, please add them to the comments. I’m always looking for my next great read!
Top 5 Fiction Books
In no particular order…
1. Olive Kitteridge, by Elizabeth Strout
I’ve heard that this is a miniseries now, but that’s not why I picked up Olive Kitteridge. I watched a YouTube video of a Q&A with the author (she was speaking along with one of my favorite authors, Andre Dubus III), and was impressed by what she had to say. So I went out and picked up the book.
Oh my gosh. The writing is so incredibly amazing. The way she can describe things. I was shaking my head at her brilliance as I was reading, but it’s not just her way with words—it’s her ability to get so deeply into her characters it’s as if she was raised around all of them.
The main story of the central character—Olive—picks up steam toward the end, and I was happily reading along and then I read the last page and was suddenly moved to tears. My own reaction startled me. It wasn’t a particularly sad or tragic ending, but yet it was deeply moving nonetheless. This book is a monstrous achievement and certainly worthy of the Pulitzer Prize.
Synopsis: In a voice more powerful and compassionate than ever before, New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Strout binds together thirteen rich, luminous narratives into a book with the heft of a novel, through the presence of one larger-than-life, unforgettable character: Olive Kitteridge.
At the edge of the continent, Crosby, Maine, may seem like nowhere, but seen through this brilliant writer’s eyes, it’s in essence the whole world, and the lives that are lived there are filled with all of the grand human drama–desire, despair, jealousy, hope, and love.
At times stern, at other times patient, at times perceptive, at other times in sad denial, Olive Kitteridge, a retired schoolteacher, deplores the changes in her little town and in the world at large, but she doesn’t always recognize the changes in those around her: a lounge musician haunted by a past romance: a former student who has lost the will to live: Olive’s own adult child, who feels tyrannized by her irrational sensitivities; and Henry, who finds his loyalty to his marriage both a blessing and a curse.
As the townspeople grapple with their problems, mild and dire, Olive is brought to a deeper understanding of herself and her life–sometimes painfully, but always with ruthless honesty. Olive Kitteridge offers profound insights into the human condition–its conflicts, its tragedies and joys, and the endurance it requires.
2. Bridge of Sighs, by Richard Russo
I was lucky enough to meet the author at a writer’s conference many years ago, and I picked up several of his books then. I read his Pulitzer Prize winner, Empire Falls, first, and though I recognized the genius in the book, I wasn’t quite as drawn in by the characters, and didn’t care as much about what happened to them.
Bridge of Sighs sounded more interesting to me from the synopsis, and as I started reading, I was quickly drawn into the story. I’ve taken my time reading it, savoring Russo’s writing, and allowing the story to unfold slowly. This is another book that is so impressive in its scope and depth of characterization, yet it’s also just a fun read as I couldn’t wait to see how the story would end.
Synopsis: This moving novel follows Louis Charles Lynch (“Lucy”) as he and his wife of forty years are about to embark on a vacation to Italy.
Lucy is sixty years old and has spent his entire life in Thomaston, New York. Like his late, beloved father, Lucy is an optimist, though he’s had plenty of reasons not to be—chief among them his mother, still indomitably alive. Yet it was her shrewdness, combined with that Lynch optimism, that had propelled them years ago to the right side of the tracks and created an “empire” of convenience stores about to be passed on to the next generation.
Lucy’s oldest friend, once a rival for his wife’s affection, leads a life in Venice far removed from Thomaston. In fact, the exact nature of their friendship is one of the many mysteries Lucy hopes to untangle in the “history” he’s writing of his hometown and family. And with his story interspersed with that of Noonan, the native son who’d fled so long ago, the destinies building up around both of them (and Sarah, too) are relentless, constantly surprising, and utterly revealing.
Bridge of Sighs, from the beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls, is a moving novel about small-town America that expands Russo’s widely heralded achievement in ways both familiar and astonishing.
3. Educated, by Tara Westover
A member of the book club I mentioned above chose Educated for us to read, and I’m glad she did as I really enjoyed it. First of all, it’s set in my home state of Idaho, and it was cool to see some of the towns I’m so familiar with showing up inside a New York Times Bestseller!
Second of all, it’s very well written. I was surprised it was this author’s first release as it’s a great achievement. Though I cringed at the characters—they matched the stereotype often attributed to Idahoans (as if we’re all backwoods survivalists preparing for governmental collapse)—that didn’t stop me from enjoying it. The author does a great job of weaving her own experience into a compelling and page-turning story. I also like what I took to be the theme—that education is so extremely important to every individual, and to society as a whole.
Synopsis: Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent. When another brother got himself into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home.
4. A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman
I was first drawn to this author while perusing the shelves at the bookstore. It was actually another of his books—My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry—that got my attention first. I enjoyed that one, so I went ahead and read A Man Called Ove too, and have to say this was my favorite of the two.
Both deal with quirky, adorable characters, both have a lot of humor in them (I was laughing out loud at times), both have a theme of “community” and it’s importance, and both have characters who are dealing with significant loss.
There’s something about Ove, though, that I really enjoyed. His gruff attitude and many of the things he said reminded me of some of my relatives, and I felt right at home with him. I have to add that this book is incredibly popular. I had it on my trip home from my yearly writing retreat, and everyone from the airline check-in attendant to the fellow sitting next to me in the plane commented on how great it was! If you’re looking for a more lighthearted, heartfelt read, you’ll enjoy either one of these books.
Synopsis: Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon—the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him “the bitter neighbor from hell.” But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn’t walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?
Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations.
5. The Bone Clocks, by David Mitchell
I was introduced to this author through the movie adaptation of his novel, Cloud Atlas, which starred Tom Hanks and Halle Berry. I was amazed by that movie and watched it more than once. I later got the book as a present, but by then I’d started reading The Bone Clocks, so I haven’t yet returned to read Cloud Atlas.
I found this book to be rather hard reading, as it jumps from character to character and time to time and I got a little lost on occasion. It’s also very long—over 600 pages. But the author has an amazing imagination—his stories paint a version of reality that is unlike any other I’ve ever come across. There is an intelligence and logic to what he does, as is often the case in good science fiction, allowing the reader to imagine a reality in which things might be exactly as he says they are.
I also find myself thinking back on this story often. I’ll hear something in the news or something else will trigger a scene that I read, which is another sign to me that this was a keeper.
Synopsis: Following a terrible fight with her mother over her boyfriend, fifteen-year-old Holly Sykes slams the door on her family and her old life. But Holly is no typical teenage runaway: A sensitive child once contacted by voices she knew only as “the radio people,” Holly is a lightning rod for psychic phenomena. Now, as she wanders deeper into the English countryside, visions and coincidences reorder her reality until they assume the aura of a nightmare brought to life.
For Holly has caught the attention of a cabal of dangerous mystics—and their enemies. But her lost weekend is merely the prelude to a shocking disappearance that leaves her family irrevocably scarred. This unsolved mystery will echo through every decade of Holly’s life, affecting all the people Holly loves—even the ones who are not yet born.
A Cambridge scholarship boy grooming himself for wealth and influence, a conflicted father who feels alive only while reporting on the war in Iraq, a middle-aged writer mourning his exile from the bestseller list—all have a part to play in this surreal, invisible war on the margins of our world. From the medieval Swiss Alps to the nineteenth-century Australian bush, from a hotel in Shanghai to a Manhattan townhouse in the near future, their stories come together in moments of everyday grace and extraordinary wonder.
Rich with character and realms of possibility, The Bone Clocks is a kaleidoscopic novel that begs to be taken apart and put back together by a writer The Washington Post calls “the novelist who’s been showing us the future of fiction.”
Indie Spotlight
Gift of the Phoenix, by Donna Cook
What a delight to read a self-published indie book of this quality! The author’s writing is fantastic, and certainly just as good as any fantasy author published by the big five (and better than many). The way Gift of the Phoenix unfolds is also masterfully done, holding my attention even though this book is also near 600 pages long. I looked forward to reading it each night. This author is one that excels in more than one genre—she also writes romance. Congratulations to Donna Cook! To read more about Donna and her work, check out her posts on Writing and Wellness:
Synopsis: A nation’s fate rests in the hands of three strangers, thrust together by their common destiny to protect the Phoenix, and their world, from destruction. The Three must learn to unite in spite of what separates them, and unlock the magic of three stones that seem to harm as much as they help. But uniting will not be easy for Nicolai, the simple peasant with a powerful secret; Marcellus, the warrior prince who’s no longer heir to the throne; and Corren, a gifted wizard whose ambitions threaten to ruin them all.
Their journey leads through unexpected doors. Along the way they encounter a cursed people, a haunting vision, a woman on the run. It all begins and ends with the gift of the Phoenix.
Magic, mystery, adventure, strong characters, and a touch of romance, this book has it all. Written as a stand-alone, Gift of the Phoenix is an epic fantasy adventure that takes the reader deep into the heart of a wondrous world and the Three who are destined to defend it.
Top 4 Non-Fiction
In no particular order…
1. The Story of a Happy Marriage, by Ann Patchett
My brother got me This is the Story of a Happy Marriage for Christmas a few years ago. I hesitated to get going on it as I have read several of the author’s novels and though I recognize her writing ability, I’ve often felt they were a bit too slow moving for my tastes. This is a collection of her essays, though, and I really enjoyed them. Though one is about her marriage, there are many others. I particularly enjoyed it when she shared some about her life as a writer, and got into some of the details of her writing process and publishing experiences. I also liked her story of going into training to be a police officer strictly for research, and to please her father, who was an officer. She really sacrificed during that experience, which reminded me of the dedication writers have to their craft and to understanding their characters.
Synopsis: Blending literature and memoir, Ann Patchett examines her deepest commitments—to writing, family, friends, dogs, books, and her husband—creating a resonant portrait of a life in This is the Story of a Happy Marriage.
This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage takes us into the very real world of Ann Patchett’s life. Stretching from her childhood to the present day, from a disastrous early marriage to a later happy one, it covers a multitude of topics, including relationships with family and friends, and charts the hard work and joy of writing, and the unexpected thrill of opening a bookstore.
As she shares stories of the people, places, ideals, and art to which she has remained indelibly committed, Ann Patchett brings into focus the large experiences and small moments that have shaped her as a daughter, wife, and writer.
2. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, by Mark Manson
It was after reading the author’s blog, “The Most Important Question of Your Life,” that I found out about this book. (I’d highly recommend you click on over and read the post—it’s well worth your time.) I was so impressed by the common sense yet insightful wisdom in the blog that I wanted to see what else the author had written.
I had seen The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck in the bookstore prior to that—I mean, the title and color of the cover make it pretty hard to miss—but once I had more of a background on the author, I checked into it more carefully. I ended up getting the hardcover and remember laughing out loud through about the first 100 pages.
Manson addresses some of the common problems we’re seeing in society today—entitlement, the endless pursuit of happiness and comfort, the desire to feel special—but does so with an in-your-face sort of humor that makes it fun to read, even as you may recognize yourself in some of the issues he explores. I felt the book lost a little steam toward the end, but it was still well worth the read. It’s quick—only 200 pages.
Synopsis: In this generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be “positive” all the time so that we can truly become better, happier people.
For decades, we’ve been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. “F**k positivity,” Mark Manson says. “Let’s be honest, shit is f**ked and we have to live with it.” In his wildly popular Internet blog, Manson doesn’t sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it is—a dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that is sorely lacking today. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k is his antidote to the coddling, let’s-all-feel-good mindset that has infected modern society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up.
Manson makes the argument, backed both by academic research and well-timed poop jokes, that improving our lives hinges not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade, but on learning to stomach lemons better. Human beings are flawed and limited—”not everybody can be extraordinary, there are winners and losers in society, and some of it is not fair or your fault.” Manson advises us to get to know our limitations and accept them. Once we embrace our fears, faults, and uncertainties, once we stop running and avoiding and start confronting painful truths, we can begin to find the courage, perseverance, honesty, responsibility, curiosity, and forgiveness we seek.
There are only so many things we can give a f**k about so we need to figure out which ones really matter, Manson makes clear. While money is nice, caring about what you do with your life is better, because true wealth is about experience. A much-needed grab-you-by-the-shoulders-and-look-you-in-the-eye moment of real-talk, filled with entertaining stories and profane, ruthless humor, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k is a refreshing slap for a generation to help them lead contented, grounded lives.
3. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, by Robert B. Cialdini, Ph.D.
I don’t remember exactly why I picked up Influence. I think I heard about it somewhere, but however it happened, I’m so glad I did, as I feel this book taught me a lot about marketing, human psychology, and how our brains work.
If you’re in businesses for yourself as a writer, this book is a great resource. It’s also perfect for anyone to read, as it helps you to avoid falling into the traps marketers so often set to separate us from our hard-earned cash!
Synopsis: Influence, the classic book on persuasion, explains the psychology of why people say “yes”—and how to apply these understandings. Dr. Robert Cialdini is the seminal expert in the rapidly expanding field of influence and persuasion. His thirty-five years of rigorous, evidence-based research along with a three-year program of study on what moves people to change behavior has resulted in this highly acclaimed book.
You’ll learn the six universal principles, how to use them to become a skilled persuader—and how to defend yourself against them. Perfect for people in all walks of life, the principles of Influence will move you toward profound personal change and act as a driving force for your success.
4. The Courage to Write, by Ralph Keyes
The Courage to Write kept popping up whenever I’d go on a search for a new writing book, so I finally gave in and gave it a try. I always turn the corners on pages that I want to save for future reference, and this one became dog-eared in a hurry. Rather than try to explain, let me give you a quote from just one of these dog-eared pages:
“Any writing exposes writers to judgment about the quality of their work and their thought. The closer they get to painful personal truths, the more fear mounts—not just about what they might reveal but about what they might discover should they venture too deeply inside. To write well, however, that’s exactly where they must venture.”
If you’ve ever experienced fear as a writer (and who hasn’t), I’m sure you’d enjoy this book.
Synopsis: In The Courage to Write, Ralph Keyes, an author who has taught writing for more than thirty years, assures us that anxiety is felt by writers at every level, especially when they dare to do their best. He describes the sequence of “courage points” through which all writers must pass, from the challenge of identifying a worthwhile project to the mixture of pride and panic they feel when examining a newly published book or article.Keyes also offers specifics on how to root out dread of public “performance” and of the judgment of family and friends, make the best use of writers’ workshops and conferences, and handle criticism of works in progress. Throughout, he includes the comments of many accomplished writers — Pat Conroy, Amy Tan, Rita Dove, Isabel Allende, and others — on how they transcended their own fears to produce great works.
What were some of your favorite books this year?
Thanks for the great book suggestions! I have a long flight at the end of the month and have A Man Called Ove and Educated on my list for the trip. I’m looking forward to checking out the others, too.
Be prepared if you take Ove on the plane–strangers may want to discuss it with you! ha ha. :O)
I’m always in awe when someone can write a great memoir at around 30 years of age. I truly enjoyed Educated for many reasons. Another memoir I enjoyed by a younger woman was Welcome to the Goddamn Ice Cube by Blair Braverman. Ove is a book I loved as well. I think I was meant to live in Scandinavia given many of my attitudes toward life. Finally, Manson is awesome. I listened to the audio of his book and have followed his blog for a while now.
Agree, Jeri. It’s like, how did she remember all that? Thanks for the recommendation, and very cool that we lined up on several of these!
Wow! Thank you for featuring my book! I really appreciate that. As a long-time follower of your blog, I was curious what fabulous Indie book you’d found, and did not expect to see it was mine. 😉
I just finished Educated over the weekend, and it was stunning. Given the title, we knew she’d explore the importance of education (and man, what a struggle it was for her). What surprised me was her exploration of identity, and how one’s self-identity is complicated by origin families that are as dysfunctional as hers is. So heartbreaking. And pretty recent history, too. I’m hoping for a follow up from her in another 5-10 years, because I don’t think she’s done dealing with that.
Mark Manson is one of the other few bloggers I follow; he’s fantastic. I’ve yet to pick up his book, but maybe I need to wrap a copy for myself and put it under the tree. 🙂
Really enjoyed the book, Donna! And excellent writing. :O) I’m sure that Tara Westover will come out with more since this was her first and it did so well, but who knows if she’ll stick with the memoir? And I love what I’m seeing here about writers getting books for themselves for Christmas. Hey, we deserve it! We work hard! :O)
Thank you for this list! I’ve read The bone Clocks (and all of David Mitchell’s books thanks to the movie Cloud Atlas) and really enjoyed it – very imaginative. I’ve read a few of the others here and now also have more to look forward to. Thanks!
Cool, Caryn! Nice to find another David Mitchell fan. :O)
Thank you, Colleen. This was a timely post to help me complete my Christmas list! I even purchased a gift for my own stocking: Courage to Write.
So enjoy the light you share with the world,
Deb Bailey
Great to hear that, Deb! Hope you enjoy the book. And thank you! :O)