2019 Reading Challenge discussion

Hi everyone.

I hope that this isn't too bold of me to start a new thread in here but I read a post by Jackie on a thread in here and thought she's exactly right - that one of the best things about this group is the ability to get good recommendations for books. In that light I thought it would be really really amazing if people could post the "best" book that they have read so far this year and what they loved about it (which helps people looking for recommendations know if they would also like it). Hope this helps us all find new and amazing books to read!

To get this started. My favourite book that I have read this year is Art Matters. It's not something I would normally read because it's illustrated and more of Neil Gaiman's general musings on art than an actual book but I found that not only did Chris Riddell's magnificent illustrations support the ideas in the book but also I walked away having read a beautiful explanation for why art does matter and what it does for the world. And all that in just over 100 small pages. I'm sure I'll return to this and re-read and re-read it as the years go by and it has the bonus of being appropriate for all ages of readers.

I'll list a few of my favorites. I've noticed since making it my goal to read more eclectically that I have a really hard time comparing books. I don't know if that's something I'll get better at, but like a 5 star memoir isn't the same as a 5 star romance as a 5 star middle grade graphic novel...and I struggle to rank them.

Cucumber Quest: The Doughnut Kingdom This is an adorable middle grade quest graphic novel, that does one of my favorite things, it makes fun of stereotypes and it's own genre.

I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life Musings on reading, readers, and the reading life.

My Favorite Half-Night Stand My new favorite Christina Lauren book - this is a contemporary romance between two friends. The group decides they are going to make dating profiles to get dates to an event, and then some hijinks ensue with two friends getting matched. She knows it's him, and thinks he'll recognize it's her, but when he doesn't, she kind of lets it spiral out. Full of friendship, love, misunderstandings, and cute moments.

In an Absent Dream This series is one of my absolute favorites, and this book places somewhere in the middle of them. A series where young children can be pulled into fantasy worlds, the first book showed what happened when they returned. The second and fourth (this one) showed two already introduced character's backstories and worlds.

This is How It Always Is A sweet contemporary about a family with a transgender child and how trying to keep it a secret results in problems. This hit me hard because the children seemed really really well written. Sometimes in books children don't talk or interact like real children, but these ones were saying and doing things I could imagine my own child doing and I was giggling at all their silliness.

The Kiss Quotient My first reread of the year, and I liked it so much better the second time. A fairly straight forward, a little trope-y romance, but I loved the diverse characters and connected really hard with Stella.

The Poet X This was the story in verse of a young girl who has to choose to defy her mother's wishes to find herself. This was AH-MAZING to listen to.

Recursion This isn't out yet, but it's amazing. I loved his Dark Matter and Wayward Pines trilogy and I was worried I was setting to high an expectation. This was a new story, but the same exciting feel I got from the others - sucked right in, gasping at twists and turns, heart racing.

I am heavily involved with a group that reads Classics. The Classics group has introduced to me to many good books that I might never have read otherwise. My favorites from the last year or so were:

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (who has won a Nobel Prize for Literature)
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin

and one book that I am currently reading:

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Basically anything by Daphne du Maurier is wonderful. If you like short stories she wrote:

The Birds and Other Stories

Thanks to everyone posting book recommendations. It is always good to get new ideas and broaden horizons.

Thanks for this new and interesting thread, Netanel :) I haven't heard about this Neil Gaiman's book but, as I like what he is doing, I'm gonna check it !

Elizabeth, I have I'd rather be reading and The kiss quotient in my TBR pile so I guess I'm going to take them out of there very soon :)

Lynn, I also love Daphne du Maurier's books. Rebecca was one of my favorite when I was an adolescent and I think I have one of her short stories books in my TBR pile !

As my recommandations, I can't say I have a favorite in 2019 but in 2018, I loved :

Did She Kill Him?: A Victorian Tale of Deception, Adultery, and Arsenic

Station Eleven (that was a second reading)

The Perfect Nanny (second reading as well)

Date with Death

Good Neighbors (second reading again)