Best Books I Read in 2019

This year, 2019, was a year I read a lot of books. 415 books. It was difficult to decide on my top ten.

#10  Eiffel's Tower for Young People by Jill Jonnes

I know it says it's for young people, and, no, I haven't read the original version for adults, but this book is mesmerizing.

#9  Big Wonderful Thing: A History of Texas by Stephen Harrigan

When you grow up in Texas, you are forced to do Texas history in fourth grade and seventh grade and in high school. So I've read a ridiculous amount of Texas history. Nevertheless, Stephen Harrigan looked at the old stories with fresh eyes and found lots and lots of new stories for all of us who are forced by birth or choice, exacerbated by a strange sense of deep pride, to love this crazy part of the world.

#8  The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

I was so afraid of being disappointed by this book (I so love Secret History) that I waited years and years and years to finally read it. Don't wait. It's magnificent.

#7  Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Another book I was sure was overhyped. I was wrong.

#6  The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11

Load yourself up with boxes of Kleenex before you read this one. The Kleenex will come in handy for the horrifying break with ordinary life that many in this book experience, but it will also be needed for the almost unbelievable acts of deep heroism that are shared in this book.

#5  The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton

Classics are classics for a reason: classics speak to people across time. Age of Innocence speaks to us across time.

#4  Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

Stories of people in deep pain. A therapist who listens and can share a strategy or insight in a way that provokes positive action. 

#3  Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy

War and Peace is one of my few failures; a few years ago I tried and gave up on it. People told me to try Anna Karenina first. Excellent recommendation. Now I'll try War and Peace again.

#2  Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? by Michael J. Sandel

Bonnie of Bonnie's Books led me to spend my Thanksgiving weekend simultaneously reading Justice and watching the online Justice course. It was almost enough for me to try enrolling in Harvard at 63.

#1  Moby Dick by Herman Melville

Irony. Moby Dick is one of the books I always said I'd never read. When Bronwyn of Brona's Books announced a Moby Dick readalong, I couldn't help myself...I joined in. And then Moby Dick turns out to be my favorite read of the year. 

And, just because I couldn't bear to leave out lots of my other favorites, here are some favorites by category:

Did you read any of these last year?
What were your favorite reads of 2019?

Mon. | Dec. 30 – Favorite Books Read This Year #AMonthofFaves Join this year’s hosts  Girlxoxo and Traveling with T for our annual #AMonthofFaves blog event – a fun way to recap the year that was (Estella’s Revenge is taking a hiatus for this year). We have a schedule of topics planned out, so feel free to join in anytime for some or all of the topics. There will also be a link-up on our blogs so that we can all stop by each other’s posts to leave comments, high fives, good vibes and well wishes.

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each Tuesday That Artsy Reader Girl assigns a topic and then post her top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join her and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.