ASAP Book Reviews (2019)
If you read my last post, you'll learn why I chose this time of 2020 to share my reviews on the books I read in 2019. It's already the end of March and the beginning of spring. Most of us put 2019 behind us as soon as the fireworks sounded at midnight on December 31st.
However, there's also this weird thing happening to all of us at this very moment called self-quarantine, because of our unprecedented encounters with a rampant virus.
While we're all striving to perfect our social distancing abilities & stay safe whether we have to leave the house for work or not (God bless my healthcare friends), we are all trying to push past this pandemic and trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
During this quarantine time, we know there are less options than usual for leisure activities. The main options are entertainment streaming, indoor exercise, or creatively hosting a solo party. To me, reading is a great option to make use of this unprecedented time at home and to potentially learn something new. Even if you don't usually enjoy it, I say try it! You might discover a historically significant event, form a bond with a spunky protagonist, or marvel at the twists in a mystery novel.
I am excited to write my thoughts on all the books I read last year, however I don't want to give you even more quarantine screen time. I'll give you a quick description ASAP review— As Short as Possible— for each of these books. Then you can pick one up and have your own little escape!
2019 Book Reviews– ASAP
1. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Blind, Jewish girl lives in Paris during WWII. Girl’s father works at a museum guarding precious artifacts. In parallel, a young boy in Germany joins the Hitler Youth.
Breathtaking, beautifully-written. Sometimes I found myself overlooking extra details. I fell in love with these characters & the way their stories intertwined.
2. Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis (audiobook)
Mother of 4 who owns a media company shares advice on marriage, family & business. She coaches readers on how to accomplish their goals.
I admire Rachel’s determination & her pursuit of balance. I didn’t love her voice & how she over-emphasized certain sentences. Her writing was a bit preachy for me, but I did learn some practical tactics.
3. The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
Young woman, second-oldest of 4, reflects on her life being raised by 2 nomadic parents who were unconventional & unstable.
I love memoirs & this will always be 1 of my favorites. Jeanette is a gifted storyteller with a keen memory, I’m impressed by her change in tone to reflect each age range during this autobiography. It was hard for me to believe the harsh reality of this true story.
4. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Famous Chicago architects construct the World’s Fair of 1893, amidst great difficulty and resistance. Near the fairgrounds, a psychotic man owns a hotel where he murders unsuspecting guests.
This book heightened my interest in historical fiction and taught me a lot about Chicago’s architecture. Some details felt dry & unnecessary, but most were fascinating. The characters were infuriating and the story was intriguing from beginning to end.
5. The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
Sage tragically loses both parents within 3 years, & now her closest relative is her grandmother. In grief counseling, she befriends an elderly man whom she learns has a dark past.
Characters were much deeper than I expected. Sage’s grandmother flashes back to a story within the story, which added so much excitement and emotion to this novel. Would make a fantastic movie.
6. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Single woman in her late-twenties is socially awkward & painfully stuck in a routine. This routine changes when her coworker tries to be her friend & show her the joys & connections passing her by in life.
When discussing with friends, I realized how many ways Eleanor’s story can be interpreted. Every reader can relate to her in some way. I laughed out loud, I cried, and I was quite surprised by a twist at the very end. Also, this is Honeyman's novel which she wrote while working full time in a corporation, which is super inspiring to me.
7. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson
Entrepreneur uses personal anecdotes & historical references to present practical advice for business, romantic relationships, and everyday life. Read more & you’ll learn the benefits of this anti-self-help Self Help book.
I was constantly amazed at Mark’s choice of stories to convey practical lessons, and I was impressed by his ability to break complex ideas into simple and doable actions. I would recommend this to any person in the professional world hoping to improve their awareness and interpersonal skills.
8. Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
Two best friends live in an all-female boarding house in late-1930s Manhattan.
The two lead characters captured my attention right away, & made me shocked the author was a male. The story flow, imagery, and character’s relationships kept me hooked. I’d recommend it to any friends in their 20s about to graduate college or currently in the workforce. It might make its way into my top 10 favorite books ever.
9. Bygone Badass Broads by Mackenzi Lee
What started as a Twitter hashtag grew into a compilation of short stories revering forgotten female figures who accomplished great feats throughout history.
What blew me away, even more than the diversity & span of time between each figure, was how few of them I’d ever heard of. This book gave me pride for women but frustration for how many were forgotten or not credited. Each made a great impact in their time, sometimes even as teenagers or among grave adversity. Great option to read even just 3 or 4 excerpts.
10. Less by Andrew Sean Greer
Arthur is nearing his 50s & gets invited to his ex-boyfriend’s wedding. As an excuse not to attend, he plans an elaborate trip around the world while promoting his latest novel.
The writing style was very intellectual but still accessible and witty. The story itself was sometimes cringe-worthy and hard to follow, but I think that was Greer’s way of putting us in his indecisive, awkward, stressed-out protagonist’s mind. I loved the imagery & cultural insight into all the places he traveled and people he met.
11. I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
Journalist becomes obsessed with a California serial rapist whom she dubs “The Golden State Killer.” She walks us through her intensive research, her personal & professional reasons for tracing this man’s past, and how her project affects her family life.
I was immediately intrigued by Michelle’s dedication to unveil this killer, almost 4 decades after his last known crime. Remarkable scene-switching from Michelle’s personal perspective & research to the living victims’ accounts of various attacks. Her dedication to bring individual’s stories to light & help them heal is as impressive as her investigative abilities. HBO has the rights to make a show, and the late Michelle’s husband is Patton Oswalt, so keep an eye out!
12. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Dedicated neurosurgeon perseveres through residency. He is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. He writes this memoir while he and his wife– also a doctor– figure out the best ways to prepare for his family’s future life without him.
The story was stunning, dynamic, depressing and heartwarming all wrapped up together. Paul’s fate, from the beginning of his story, is not a surprise. What struck me most was his humility, his loyalty to friends & family, & his unwavering ability to be a physically & emotionally competent doctor for all patients, even while he suffered.
13. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (audiobook)
A girl named Kya grows up in a North Carolina marsh & gets abandoned by her family. Her life’s passion is to boat around the lagoons while studying animals & nature. Simultaneously, the small town near her home is disturbed by a mysterious murder.
The jumping of time periods throughout Kya’s life felt disjointed sometimes, & I often couldn’t get past extra details to find the important plot points. That is partly due to listening on Audible, although I loved the narrator’s voices for each character. I’ve heard mixed opinions from readers about Kya’s choices as she raises herself & connects with other characters, but everyone is fascinated by the story. Different from anything I’ve ever read.
14. Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig
A couple adopts a school-aged girl who has Autism. Ginny loves the new parents but struggles to understand why she can’t go back to living with her biological mother.
This book greatly exceeded my expectations. I replayed scenes in my head as if it was a movie. Ginny was such a lovable character. The dramatic irony in the story made me heartbroken for her & made me wish I could reach in & help her understand her situation. The author, who also has a child with Autism, did a fantastic job of writing in a child’s voice & cleverly conveying their feelings & thoughts.
15. The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
An 18th century Irish-American girl is left alone. She gets discovered by a Virginia plantation owner who makes her an indentured servant, so she lives in a little house with black slaves, until it will be time for her to join white society.
One of the most upsetting & heartbreaking stories I’ve ever read. There’s a subtle violence throughout the story, & it’s hard to see the bright side, but it’s attention-grabbing for that reason. This author is extremely talented & I’d like to read her spinoff novel as well.
16. All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
Nicolette returns to her small town after 10 years to reconnect with her brother & their aging father. A new report of a missing girl drudges up Nicolette’s tragic teen years when her best friend went missing.
I don’t usually reach for thrillers first, but my sister highly recommended this author. Miranda’s writing is so down-to-earth and features just the right amount of detail to keep things moving and to keep mysterious hidden for as long as they need to be. Her mid-twenties female protagonist was so relatable for her personality, even if not for her tragedies. I was truly shocked by the twist in the story.
17. Fragments of the Lost by Megan Miranda
A highschool girl & her boyfriend break up. Shortly after, the boy is reported dead. She is tasked with cleaning out his room leading her to search for the answers to how he died.
Same author, same emotions/heartbreak, different tragedy. After getting used to Miranda’s writing style, I was still just as impressed with her ability to navigate the novel through one character’s eyes while giving glimpses into related characters’ stories. Made me reflect on how well I really know my friends & how I would react to tragedy.
18. The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes
Six-hundred-and-fifty Australian women are transported on a military aircraft carrier from Sydney to London to reunite with their husbands, who they married during World War II. The story follows four of the women who are bunkmates.
I always enjoy WWII literature even though it is depressing, but this was a unique perspective I never learned about in history classes. Classic Jojo Moyes, there was a perfect mix of romance, female independence, bonds of friendship, and just enough surprises to keep me guessing. I also appreciate the clever use of a flash-forward to one of the woman’s recounting of the story to her granddaughter.
19. Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover
A parallel story to another Hoover novel published a year earlier called Hopeless. A teenage boy deals with the ups & downs of high school after losing his childhood best friend to a kidnapping and his twin sister to suicide.
This story is just as dramatic as the description sounds. I love all of Hoover’s novels, and in this case I love her knack for maintaining the tone & attitude of the main character without over-dramatizing the story. The emotional parts are emphasized appropriately, and the other details are helpful but not overbearing. She brought all of the characters to life and efficiently connected this version to the 2012 original.
20. 300 Days of Sun by Deborah Lawrenson
A news reporter moves from Belgium to Portugal to take a break from her journalism career, enjoy the coastal lifestyle & hone her language skills. In Portuguese class, she crushes on her British classmate, Nathan. She is surprised by Nathan’s true intentions for living in Portugal & goes on a quest to help him uncover his family history.
Avoiding spoilers, I’d like to say this story was thrilling and unexpected. At the same time, it was calming to read and fueled my adventurous spirit, as the detailed imagery reminded me of my vacation to Portugal last summer. A historical flashback within this present-day novel taught me so much about Portugal’s significance in WWII, while also keeping me hooked with a bit of romance and a healthy amount of danger & mystery.
