This year I had a goal to read 12 books but guess what: I didn't. I read 11 and that's just the way it is sometimes. I will say that I did start about 10 other books that I either got bored with, am currently half through, or found something I wanted to read more. My currently reading and to-be-read piles may never empty.
I continued to get into audiobooks this year. Don't get my wrong- I do not consider this technically reading- but if you should choose to read these books because of my recommendation then more power to yah!
I definitely had some great reads this year, some re-reads and some serious p.o.s's (in my humble opinion) so without further adieu, here are my 2018 reads:
1. Nocturnal Animals- Austin Wright
This was the first book I read in 2018 and that really blows my mind because I started it in April. What a lazy, hazy beginning of the year I had!
I was super excited about this book when I first started it. The premise is that a man is sending his book manuscript to his ex-wife and she is reading it throughout. You bounce between the ex-wife's life/reality and the book manuscript. The book manuscript was super interesting (at first) and really jumps into the action right away. It also did a great job of making you feel super anxious and getting you into the characters' feelings.
I spent the entire book being super excited for when everything was going to come to a head and then it just didn't. There was no big payoff. No point when everything was explained or addresssed. It was quite an unsatisfying read.
2. The Child Finder- Rene Denfeld
Now this was a beautiful book.
It's about a woman who has an amazing knack for finding lost or kindnapped children, because she was kidnapped as a child, herself, even though she can't remember anything but her escape. In the book she searches after a little girl who went missing in the woods. The books goes back and forth between The Child Finder's point of view and the little girls. It was really a beautiful book and I loved the parts from the little girl's point of view. It really reminded me of ROOM.
3. I'll Be Gone in the Dark- Michelle McNamara
This book is my #1 pick from the year. It was incredibly amazing.
Michelle McNamara spent years researching, searching for and writing about The Golden State Killer. She even gave him his name when she realized he was being referred to at the East Area Rapist and the Original Night Stalker. Michelle died suddenly in 2016 before she could finish her book. Her husband and a couple of her researchers pieced the book together with what she had- which was amazing because even in her pieced-together and unfinished chapters we still didn't lose Michelle's voice throughout.
This book was honestly terrifying. I've never gotten scared from a book before but this book made me check my locked doors and close my curtains at night. I think that's an amazing testament to Michelle's writing and this insane story.
When I finished the book I was so frustrated with the fact that this crime still hasn't been solved. I couldn't have imagined what people who had been working on this crime for decades felt. Amazingly THEY CAUGHT THE GOLDEN STATE KILLER THIS YEAR! This was one of the most satifying endings I could have imagined.
If you like true crime read.this.book!
4. Down the Rabbit Hole- Holly Madison
As you know, I have almost no shame in what I'll read. If it's well written and interesting I'll take it (this is why 50 Shades of Grey got a chance but then was subsequently burned for terrible, unforgivably awfully writing- I mean come on E.L get yourself a damn thesaurus PLZ).
I'm fascinated by tell-alls by people from truly bizarre worlds so Holly Madison's look into the Playboy Mansion has been on my to-read list for a long time.
The book is definitely a tell-all and Holly doesn't hold back. She shares every dirty detail inside and outside the Mansion and basically smears Hef, the Girls and even her later boyfriend Chris Angel. I was all for it. She obviously manages to come out smelling like roses and it was obvious that she was doing everything to paint herself that way. If nothing else this was a fun read that entertained me as much as a good gossip sesh.
5. Hunger- Roxanne Gay
This book was a real hearbreaker.
Roxanne Gay wrote about her experience being morbidly obese and navigating her way through the world in a body that people don't understand or accept. She shares the childhood trauma that led her to wage a war on her body and cause her to feel the need to control her feelings and create an uncontrollable comfort in food.
This book was a tough read because it really puts you in her mindset of exhaustion, defeat and embarrassment. It also brought to light a lot of considerations that as a non-obese person, most of us don't see. She also brought sympathy and a sense of realness to a topic that to be honest, most people, including Roxanne herself, don't always have a lot of sympathy for.
I would definitely recommend Roxanne's work- especially if you're looking to be challenged and broken open.
6. Brave Enough- Cheryl Strayed
Cheryl Strayed is one of my personal heroes. She wrote Wild, which I listened to last year, about her experience hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. She is also one of the most wise, nurturing, truthful and amazing people I've ever read. I even bought a book of her book of quotes, Brave Enough, this year and basked in her wisdom!
She wrote an advice column and I was super excited to read her compelation of columns in this book. I really loved her advice and the way she treated each person with so much love, while also hitting them with the tough stuff when they needed it.
7. Party Monster- James St. James
Speaking of bizarre lives: this one was definitely a doozy.
Party Monster is the true story of the murder of Angel Melendez. It takes place in the 90s New York City Club Kid world where drugs were flowing, costumes were the uniform and everyone basically seems like they're living in the world of Gossip Girl but meaner, and dirtier, and hazier.
This was a fun and interesting ready, if not a bit hyper since the writer was very liberal with WRITING IN ALL CAPS. It was definitely an interesting look into the post-Studio 54 days in New York City where people wanted to be wild and to stand out. Basically, these club kids paved the way for a lot of the amazing drag we now see on Ru Paul's Drag Race. It was a cool look at a counter-culture and definitely made me never want to try ketamine (or Special K) but it did make me want to paint blue dots on my face and walk into a club while greeting every single person, even if I don't know them.
Most importantly: this book was originally titled Disco Bloodbath and that is the best band name I've ever heard. Someone puhlease make this band. I'll support you forever.
8. Little Fires Everywhere- Celeste Ng
I said it last year when I read Everything I Never Told You: Celeste Ng is a beautiful writer and she completely gets the simmering dynamics of families. She writes stories that remind you of your life and the slight injustices and moments of misunderstanding that happen within a family and shape who you are and how you understand the people you love.
I loved spending many of my summer afternoons reading this book and wrapping myself up in a blanket of sadness for all the characters.
9. I Am The Messenger- Marcus Zusak
A lot of people know Marcus Zusak as the author of The Book Thief but I'll choose I Am The Messenger over that any day- even if I've never truly understood the ending of this book (and still don't).
The story is about an average guy who starts receiving Aces in the mail. Each Aces has three different people on it that he has to find and help. It's one of my favourite books and has been since I first read it in higschool. This book is pure magic and it makes me so happy, heartbroken, and everything in between every single time I read it (which has been about 10 times by now).
Seriously, read this book!
I actually started this book near the end of last year, put it down for most of this year and finally finished this November. I have no idea why I put it down because it's.so.good!
Since I was a kid I've been fascinated with criminal profiling. This is when a detective can look at a crime and can tell the police what the person most likely looks like, where they most likely live, what they most likely do and so much more. It's definitely not a perfect art and they get it wrong a lot but the things they do get right are amazing. I spent a lot of this book slapping Jordan on the arm and re-telling him what I just read. I honestly think criminal profiling is just the coolest.
11. Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs- Chuck Kolsterman
Now listen, you know I love a good piece of pop culture gossip and I'm also a big fan of dissecting why people are they way they are so I figured this book would be a no-brainer because it's just essays on pop culture. It breaks down The Real Wold, cover bands, journalists, serial killers and a lot more. Unfortunately this book easily dates itself (it was written in the early 2000s and a lot of his pop culture references flew right over my head). That didn't keep me from enjoying most of the book though, especially his essay about serial killers because, obviously.
I did, however, find the author to be a bit of an asshole, which I think he's well aware of. He came off as the type of guy who would debate anything with you and in the end do his best to make you feel like you were dumb. He also said some offensive things that I'll chalk up to being from a time before we were so #woke. I wouldn't fault him for his rude 'tude if he were at least 25% funnier about it since my moto is: if you're gonna be offensive you have to at least be hilarious.
My final feeling on the matter is: he's no Jon Ronson.
In addition to reading a bunch of books this year, I also listened to a few as well! (Don't worry- I don't consider this "reading"- that kind of thinking would be sacrilege).
Listened:
1. Strange Piece of Paradise- Terri Jentz
This ended up being one of my favourite books this year.
In 1977 Terri Jentz was on a cross-country bike trip with a friend when a man ran over their tent with his pickup truck and hacked each of them with an axe. They both lived and while Terri's friend didn't remember a thing and didn't want to- Terri was left to experience and remember the ordeal alone. 15 years after the attack she went back to the small town in Oregon where it happened and went to investigate her own attempted murder.
I loved this book a lot. It's completely gutting and frustrating- like most true crime. Terri is so brave and strong and her story was an amazing one to hear. I highly recommend this book!
2. Behind Closed Doors- B.A Paris
This was one of those books that I had seen so many people read and recommend that I finally gave in and decided to listen to it. Boy, was I disappointed.
The story was about an abusive marriage and I honestly just found it completely unrealistic and silly. The villain in the story- the husband- was always dramatically monologuing his master plan and it all came off incredibly dumb. I don't think you need to get that out-there with a story like this to help the reader understand the fact that abusive relationships are terrifying. I thought this would be a great psychological thriller that really delved into abusive marriages but in the end it was more like watching an episode of children's television where the villain is always "trying to take over the world" for some undeveloped reason. Also, the writing left much to be desired. Boo to this book. BOO!
3. To Shake the Sleeping Self- Jedidiah Jenkins
I'm a big fan of books about people testing their limits, especially against themselves and nature. I especially love books about people hiking or traveling across great expanses (like Wild or Girl in the Woods), so this book was a no-brainer for me.
At 30 Jedidiah Jenkins decided to bicycle over 14,000 miles from Oregon to Patagonia (the southern most tip of South America). The story was super inspiring (and definitely helped me push myself at the gym while I listened to it- you just can't quit running early when you know there's someone in the world who biked for over a year). I like Jed's honestly throughout the story and his quest to find himself and understand his relationships. The booked faded a little near the end and got a little bit boring but the last couple chapters brought it back. I'd definitely recommend this book and Jed read the book on tape himself so that was a fun surprise.
Well pals, those are my books from this year. I definitely read less than I hoped to (I didn't even finish my first book this year until April!) In 2019 I've set my goal to read 12 books (one for each month), though I do hope I surpass it!
Hope you enjoyed my annual book club!
From the desk of:
Taylor Brown
Bibliophile
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