I am behind on my top books list for 2019, but better
late than never, right? I read a lot of outstanding books this past year and
had a hard time narrowing my list down to only the top ten, so instead I am doing
a top 14 books of the year. I also
noticed most are historical fiction or historical non-fiction books, you can
definitely tell my favorite genre. These books were not necessarily books
published in 2019, but they were books I read in 2019. I did not include books that I was rereading,
but only books that I’ve read for the first time. They are only in the order of
when I read them through the year of 2019. Click on the titles for the full review of the book.
And now without further ado, my top ten books of 2019.
The Gown by Jennifer Robson – The Gown was one of the
first books I read in 2019 and it was one of the best. It told the riveting story of the women who
made Elizabeth II’s wedding gown and was a great look at the bleakness of life
in post WWII era England.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas – I read The Hate U
Give as part of the Kewaunee Library book club and I don’t know if any other
book has every prompted so much discussion on race and current news
topics. It was an eye-opening novel that
gives you a different perspective.
The Huntress by Kate Quinn – The Huntress was set
during and after WWII and told the story of three different women. One is a daring aviatrix flying bombing raids
for Russia, the other is a young girl in post WWII America with suspicions
about her Step Mom, and the third is the Step Mom who may be more than she lets
on with a secret cruel past in Nazi Germany.
Courting Mr. Lincoln by Louis Bayard – I still keep
thinking about this novel. It was a
wonderful book about the relationship between Mary Todd Lincoln, Lincoln, and
his best friend, Joshua Speed. I couldn’t
put this book down. I loved that the story framed Lincoln as the enigmatic lead
that both Mary and Joshua loved. The
story was told through their point of view.
It reminded me again why Louis Bayard is one of my favorite historical
fiction authors.
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom – This non-fiction
book was written in the 1970’s and tells Corrie Ten Boom’s story of her family,
faith, and survival after being persecuted by the Nazis for helping Jewish
people escape. It was an inspiring read.
Refugee by Alan Gratz – This middle grade fiction read
should not be missed by adults. It is
set in three different time frames and tells the story of a Jewish boy trying
to flee German on a boat to America, a Cuban girl trying to flee Cuba to America,
and a boy trying to flee Syria to Germany.
It gives a great understanding to the plight of a refugee and connects
the stories wonderfully at the end. This
is a must read.
The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See – The Island of
Sea Women told a part of history that I sadly knew nothing about. The Island of JeJu is off the coast of Korea
and is a matriarchal society run with its main industry being deep sea diving
for fish by the women of the island. As
WWII looms, both Japan and Korea force atrocities on the island that will
change their lives forever. This is an
unforgettable story.
The Summer Country by Lauren Willig – The Summer Country
was another wonderful historical fiction novel that explores race and love. This was another book I couldn’t put down once
I started reading it. It was a
multi-layered Victorian story with a mystery involved. Set on Barbados, the story dug into what it
meant to be a slave and to own slaves in the society. This novel was a Jane Austen manners novel,
mixed with Charlotte Bronte gothic, with a modern look at race relations. It also includes a Cholera epidemic, which is
fitting for this year’s reading.
Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham – Midnight in
Chernobyl is a fascinating look at what lead up to the incident in Chernobyl
and the aftermath. It is non-fiction,
but reads like fiction.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens – I loved the
mystery, nature, and romance of this novel.
I felt like it was a grown-up version of A Girl of the Limberlost.
The Martian by Andy Weir – Quite simply, The Martian
is one of the best science fiction novels I’ve ever read. The story itself was a fast-paced adventure,
and I loved the real science involved.
The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff – The Only Plane in the Sky was the
best audiobook I have ever listened to.
It was another book I just couldn’t stop listening to. It used first person narration to tell the
story of 9/11 in real time. I think this
is another must read for all Americans.
They Called Us Enemy byGeorge Takei – My 11-year-old son Daniel and I read this graphic novel
together. I have been a lifelong fan of George
Takei loving him in Star Trek and now loving him on social media. I love that he took the story of his life and
has been telling it in person, with a play, and with this graphic novel so that
we can take an honest look at our past and see that we did not always treat our
citizens right. Takei’s look at his childhood
in the Japanese internment camps is both heartbreaking and eye opening.
The Testaments byMargaret Atwood – I was amazed that Margaret Atwood was able to follow up the
unforgettable The Handmaid’s Tale with the Testaments, a novel that continues
the story in the world of The Handmaid’s Tale and turns everything you thought
you knew upside down. This was another
book that kept me up too late at night.
Other books I loved this
year, but didn’t quite make my top 14 included:
- With this Pledge by Tamera Alexander
- Never Caught: The Story of Ona Judge by Erica Armstrong Dunbar
- Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner
- The Doll Factory by Elizabeth MacNeal
- Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
- White Elephant by Trish Harnetiaux
- Best. Movie. Year. Ever: How 1999 Blew Up the Big Screen by Brian Raferty
For more top reads from the past, check out my lists
from 2018, 2017 & 2016, 2015, 2014, 2010, 2009, 2008, and 2007.
What were your favorite books of 2019?
