According to Goodreads, I’ve read 85 books in 2019. There was a time when I’d read a book a day, but now, with a family and a full time job, I’m very satisfied that I still manage to make books a priority. I have pretty eclectic taste, but my year in review consists mainly of mysteries and thrillers, teen fiction, a fair number of memoirs, a bit of literary fiction, and nonfiction, mainly about science and medicine.
At this time of year, “Best of 2019” lists are everywhere, and many of those titles are on the list of books I finished this year. But as I looked over my list, a few titles jumped out at me. These books were outliers, not fitting neatly into my usual tastes. Some of them were recommended by friends, colleagues or library patrons. Some passed through my hands while I was cataloging or emptying the book return. Some came from the media: magazines, online, and even an episode of This American Life.
In all cases, these books were some of my most memorable reads of 2019.
After I rediscovered the pleasure of lighter reading, I followed The Friend Zone with Good Luck with That by Kristan Higgins and My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren. I’m keeping these authors in mind for the next time I need a relaxing escape or a literary palate cleanser, because I still love books about the darkest sides of humanity.
I don’t know what my 2020 list will look like, and I don’t have any particular reading goals, but I’m hoping to remember the rewards of reading outside my comfort zone.
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