(A list of all the books I read this year is on my 2019 Book List page; for a more visual overview, see my Year in Books on Goodreads)
This past year was a busy one for me; with the start of grad school and related volunteering opportunities, my priorities were definitely rearranged somewhat as compared to recent years. Reading a certain set number of books by the end of the year wasn't really a goal of mine; rather, reading as a form of self-care became my main focus more than ever when choosing books.
Picking out favorite reads is always tricky, but out of the mix of 88 books, the following make the top of my list (in no particular order):
Dandelion Wine - Ray Bradbury
I fall back to echoing the thoughts in my original review; Dandelion Wine is "... awash with beautiful prose; interwoven with nostalgia, philosophy, and the occasional unexpected tinges of science fiction and horror. All in all, this is a moment of Americana captured and bottled - dark and bright, full of endings and beginnings." If you've ever tried Bradbury before and not clicked with him, try this.
Let Me Tell You - Shirley Jackson
This collection of previously-unpublished Shirley Jackson stories was very readable, even though a number of the works have an unpolished feel. It's an intriguing starting point for new readers of Jackson, and a treasure trove for those already very familiar with her work.
Sabriel - Garth Nix
Lirael - Garth Nix
Abhorsen - Garth Nix
Garth Nix's Abhorsen Trilogy's unique storyline, detailed world-building, strong and realistic female lead characters, and good fantasy/reality blend make it one of my top YA picks of the year.
The Truth - Terry Pratchett
The Fifth Elephant - Terry Pratchett
Picking out favorite Terry Pratchett books out of the eleven that I read this year was hard, but both The Truth and The Fifth Elephant combined interesting plot, an impressive array of characters, and signature humor in such a way that they stood out just a little above the rest. For those new to Terry Pratchett, The Truth stands alone fairly well in the Discworld series.
Dogsbody - Diana Wynne Jones
This little gem is one of Jones' earlier works, much less known than the likes of Howl's Moving Castle. It tends to be perhaps a little dark and rough around the edges for YA; however, I don't consider this a failing.
Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
A true classic - I'm always amazed at how timeless Austen can feel. I've watched the 1995 Emma Thompson movie innumerable times, but somehow had never read the book all the way through in recent or past memory. Reading a few chapters of Sense and Sensibility at bedtime was just what I needed as the fall semester of grad school was winding down.
Ubik - Philip K. Dick.
Philip K. Dick seems to invariably make my favorites list in the years he shows up on my book lists. Ubik is a good starter book for those who haven't yet dipped their toe into the treasure trove of PKD's myriad works. I got hints of Lovecraft and Gaiman's Coraline from Ubik; it's a seminal work for the genre, slightly horrifying and deliciously strange.
Bonus Runners-Up (maybe a little more niche, but still stood out to me this year):
Lovecraft Country - Matt Ruff
This book felt a little incomplete, but it addresses important topics and history in a fascinatingly weird way.
Salad Anniversary - Machi Tawara
I'm sure there are core elements that are lost in translation, but this collection of modern tanka felt like the perfect coda to my end-of-year trip to Japan.
Picking out favorite reads is always tricky, but out of the mix of 88 books, the following make the top of my list (in no particular order):
Dandelion Wine - Ray Bradbury
I fall back to echoing the thoughts in my original review; Dandelion Wine is "... awash with beautiful prose; interwoven with nostalgia, philosophy, and the occasional unexpected tinges of science fiction and horror. All in all, this is a moment of Americana captured and bottled - dark and bright, full of endings and beginnings." If you've ever tried Bradbury before and not clicked with him, try this.
Let Me Tell You - Shirley Jackson
This collection of previously-unpublished Shirley Jackson stories was very readable, even though a number of the works have an unpolished feel. It's an intriguing starting point for new readers of Jackson, and a treasure trove for those already very familiar with her work.
Sabriel - Garth Nix
Lirael - Garth Nix
Abhorsen - Garth Nix
Garth Nix's Abhorsen Trilogy's unique storyline, detailed world-building, strong and realistic female lead characters, and good fantasy/reality blend make it one of my top YA picks of the year.
The Truth - Terry Pratchett
The Fifth Elephant - Terry Pratchett
Picking out favorite Terry Pratchett books out of the eleven that I read this year was hard, but both The Truth and The Fifth Elephant combined interesting plot, an impressive array of characters, and signature humor in such a way that they stood out just a little above the rest. For those new to Terry Pratchett, The Truth stands alone fairly well in the Discworld series.
Dogsbody - Diana Wynne Jones
This little gem is one of Jones' earlier works, much less known than the likes of Howl's Moving Castle. It tends to be perhaps a little dark and rough around the edges for YA; however, I don't consider this a failing.
Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
A true classic - I'm always amazed at how timeless Austen can feel. I've watched the 1995 Emma Thompson movie innumerable times, but somehow had never read the book all the way through in recent or past memory. Reading a few chapters of Sense and Sensibility at bedtime was just what I needed as the fall semester of grad school was winding down.
Ubik - Philip K. Dick.
Philip K. Dick seems to invariably make my favorites list in the years he shows up on my book lists. Ubik is a good starter book for those who haven't yet dipped their toe into the treasure trove of PKD's myriad works. I got hints of Lovecraft and Gaiman's Coraline from Ubik; it's a seminal work for the genre, slightly horrifying and deliciously strange.
Bonus Runners-Up (maybe a little more niche, but still stood out to me this year):
Lovecraft Country - Matt Ruff
This book felt a little incomplete, but it addresses important topics and history in a fascinatingly weird way.
Salad Anniversary - Machi Tawara
I'm sure there are core elements that are lost in translation, but this collection of modern tanka felt like the perfect coda to my end-of-year trip to Japan.
