Okay, here's what I read in 2019. The links will take you to a post, and in 2019, for the first time, those posts mostly include photos of the relevant pages of my hand-written Reading Journal. As I explained in my first post last January, I hoped this approach, complemented by posts on my Instagram reading account (with links to those posts included in the corresponding blogpost), would be a more manageable way to keep and share a record of the books I read. The "reviews" are sketchier than I'd like, quick impressions, a few notes that I hope will refresh my memory later.
The books outlined in green are the ones I recommend most highly. I used Yellow to point out others I think deserve attention for various reasons, but when I look through the list again, I see other titles I could highlight as well except then I'll quickly end up with the entire list highlighted, which rather defeats the purpose.
In fact, if you're looking for a mystery, most of those I've read are entertaining and well-written, although I was lukewarm about two or three and I say so in the linked posts. Ditto for the literary fiction and the memoirs. The Jemisin series is very good science fiction, if that's your genre. Neither it nor fantasy are really mine; hence I haven't highlighted.
So without further ado. . . .
1. C.J. Samson, Dissolution (historical mystery)
2. Kate Atkinson, Transcription (literary fiction)
3. Michael Robotham, Shatter (mystery/thriller)
4. Samantha Dion Baker, Draw Your Day: An Inspiring Guide to Keeping a Sketch Journal
5. N.K. Jemisin, The Fifth Season (science fiction)
6. Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, The Leopard, trans. Archibald Colquhoun (literary fiction)
7. Paul Auster, 4 3 2 1 (didn't finish, although I did get to almost 500 pages) (L.F.)
8. Philippe Georget, Summertime: All The Cats Are Bored (mystery, set in France)
9. Anna Burns, Milkman **** (L.F., won the Booker 2018)
10. Térèse Marie Mailhot, Heart Berries: A Memoir
11. Jackie Kae Ellis, The Measure of My Powers: A Memoir of Food, Misery, and Paris
12. Helen Atlee, The Land Where Lemons Grow (creative Non-Fiction -- Italy, cultural history
13. Katherine Paterson, Bridge to Terabithia (Children's novel; read to my granddaughter)
14. Helene Hanff, 84 Charing Cross Road (20-year relationship told through correspondence; read to my husband, second time reading this little gem)
15. N.K. Jemisin, The Obelisk Gate (Science Fiction)
16. Guillaume Musso, Demain (en français)
17. Glynnis MacNicol, No One Tells You This (Memoir)
18. Vivian Gornick, The Odd Woman (Memoir)
19. Donna Leon, The Golden Egg (Mystery)
20. Robin Robertson, The Long Take (Noir, Literary Fiction, Told in Verse & Prose, Booker finalist, Goldsmiths winner
21. Abu Bakr Al Rabbeah and Winnie Young, Homes (Memoir, as told to)
22. Denise Mina, Still Midnight (Mystery)
23. Donna Leon, By Its Cover (Mystery)
24. Rebecca Makai, The Borrower (LF, delightful, recommend)
25. Mick Herron, Slow Horses (mystery/thriller)
26. Mick Herron, Dead Lions (mystery/thriller)
27. Philippe Georget, Les Méfaits d'Hiver (mystery, en français)
28. Denise Mina, The End of the Wasp Season (mystery)
29. Philippe Georget, Les Violents d'Automne (mystery, en français)
This might be my favourite of the three "seasons" of these mysteries by Georget. It really clarified for me, once and for all, what was what with French Algeria and independence & pieds noirs & De Gaulle, etc. . . .
30. Rachel Cusk, Outline (LF)
31. James Lee Burke, New Iberia Blues (mystery)
32. Elizabeth Hay, All Things Consoled (memoir, parental loss)
33. Elizabeth Gilbert, The Signature of All Things (novel, historical fiction, botany)
34. Elly Griffiths, The Stranger Diaries (mystery)
35. Raynor Winn, The Salt Path (memoir, highly recommend)
36. Sarah Moss, The Ghost Wall (LF/mystery/thriller)
37. Marcus Tanner, Croatia, A Nation Forged in War (still in progress. . . ) (non-fiction, history)
38. Mary Gabriel, Ninth Street Women: Lee Krasner, Elaine de Kooning, Grace Hartigan, Joan Mitchell, and Helen Frankenthaler: Five Painters and the Movement That Changed Modern Art Recommended, Art History, Feminist and Cultural History
39. Denise Mina, Gods and Beasts (mystery)
40. Julian Barnes, The Only Story (LF)
41. John Keahey, Seeking Sicily: A Cultural Journey Through Myth and Reality in the Heart of the Mediterranean. (armchair travel)
42. Elly Griffiths, The Stone Circle (mystery)
43. Deborah Levy, Swimming Home (LF)
44. Ian Rankin, In a House of Lies (mystery)
45. Natalie Babbitt, The Search for Delicious (children's novel/"chapter book")
46. Rae Dunn, In Pursuit of Inspiration (creativity, making)
47. Siri Hustvedt, The Blazing World (LF) Liked this very much.
48. Mario Giordano, Auntie Poldi and the Vineyards of Etna, translated from German by John Brownjohn (mystery)
49. Jean-Christophe Rufin, Les Sept Mariages d'Edgar et Ludmila Read en français, highly recommend if you read French
50. Tommy Orange, There There (LF, recommended)
51. Slavenka Drakulić, Cafe Europa: Life After Communism Croatia, journalism, history
52. Kate Atkinson, Big Sky, Mystery
53. Sue Gee, Reading in Bed Novel
54. Denise Mina, The Red Road Mystery
55. Denise Mina, Blood, Salt, Water Mystery
56. Etaf Rum, A Woman Is No Man Novel, Immigration, Women's Lives
57. Cherie Dimaline, Red Rooms Linked Short Stories
58. Elizabeth Gilbert, City of Girls Novel, New York, theatre, independent women. . . Recommend as entertaining.. .
59. Carlo Levi, Words Are Stones, Intro. Anita Desai, Trans. Anthony Shugaar, Also here Sicily, journalism, essays, cultural history
60. Viglis Hjorth, A House in Norway. Trans. Charlotte Barslund LF
61. Nell Painter, Old in Art School: A Memoir of Starting Over Memoir, recommended
62. Simon Armitage, Walking Home travel memoir
63. Tembi Locke, From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home Sicily, Memoir, Grief
64. Alice Zeniter, L'Art de Perdre LF (Goncourt Prix de Lycéens) France-Algeria Recommended
65. Steven Price, Lampedusa LF, Sicily
66. Jill Ciment, The Body in Question, LF
67. Kate DiCamillo, The Miraculous Journey of Eduard Tulane Children's "chapter book"
68. Cynthea Masson, The Amber Garden (3rd volume in The Alchemists' Council) Fantasy
69. Mick Herron, Real Tigers Mystery
70. Julie Whelan, My Oxford Year Contemporary Romance,
71. Ta-Nahesi Coates, The Water Dancer LF, Historical fiction,
72. Melissa Harrison, All Among the Barley LF,
73. Donna Leon, Falling in Love Mystery
74. Deborah Levy, Hot Milk LF
75. Keigo Higashino, Midsummer's Equation Mystery
76, remembered and added January 30, 2020: Flynn Berry, Under the Harrow Thriller/Mystery
Comments, questions, suggestions always welcome. Thanks for looking through my 2019 reading list. I'm very happy to have you here, reading alongside, in 2020.
The books outlined in green are the ones I recommend most highly. I used Yellow to point out others I think deserve attention for various reasons, but when I look through the list again, I see other titles I could highlight as well except then I'll quickly end up with the entire list highlighted, which rather defeats the purpose.
In fact, if you're looking for a mystery, most of those I've read are entertaining and well-written, although I was lukewarm about two or three and I say so in the linked posts. Ditto for the literary fiction and the memoirs. The Jemisin series is very good science fiction, if that's your genre. Neither it nor fantasy are really mine; hence I haven't highlighted.
So without further ado. . . .
1. C.J. Samson, Dissolution (historical mystery)
2. Kate Atkinson, Transcription (literary fiction)
3. Michael Robotham, Shatter (mystery/thriller)
4. Samantha Dion Baker, Draw Your Day: An Inspiring Guide to Keeping a Sketch Journal
5. N.K. Jemisin, The Fifth Season (science fiction)
6. Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, The Leopard, trans. Archibald Colquhoun (literary fiction)
7. Paul Auster, 4 3 2 1 (didn't finish, although I did get to almost 500 pages) (L.F.)
8. Philippe Georget, Summertime: All The Cats Are Bored (mystery, set in France)
9. Anna Burns, Milkman **** (L.F., won the Booker 2018)
10. Térèse Marie Mailhot, Heart Berries: A Memoir
11. Jackie Kae Ellis, The Measure of My Powers: A Memoir of Food, Misery, and Paris
12. Helen Atlee, The Land Where Lemons Grow (creative Non-Fiction -- Italy, cultural history
13. Katherine Paterson, Bridge to Terabithia (Children's novel; read to my granddaughter)
14. Helene Hanff, 84 Charing Cross Road (20-year relationship told through correspondence; read to my husband, second time reading this little gem)
15. N.K. Jemisin, The Obelisk Gate (Science Fiction)
16. Guillaume Musso, Demain (en français)
17. Glynnis MacNicol, No One Tells You This (Memoir)
18. Vivian Gornick, The Odd Woman (Memoir)
19. Donna Leon, The Golden Egg (Mystery)
20. Robin Robertson, The Long Take (Noir, Literary Fiction, Told in Verse & Prose, Booker finalist, Goldsmiths winner
21. Abu Bakr Al Rabbeah and Winnie Young, Homes (Memoir, as told to)
22. Denise Mina, Still Midnight (Mystery)
23. Donna Leon, By Its Cover (Mystery)
24. Rebecca Makai, The Borrower (LF, delightful, recommend)
25. Mick Herron, Slow Horses (mystery/thriller)
26. Mick Herron, Dead Lions (mystery/thriller)
27. Philippe Georget, Les Méfaits d'Hiver (mystery, en français)
28. Denise Mina, The End of the Wasp Season (mystery)
29. Philippe Georget, Les Violents d'Automne (mystery, en français)
This might be my favourite of the three "seasons" of these mysteries by Georget. It really clarified for me, once and for all, what was what with French Algeria and independence & pieds noirs & De Gaulle, etc. . . .
30. Rachel Cusk, Outline (LF)
31. James Lee Burke, New Iberia Blues (mystery)
32. Elizabeth Hay, All Things Consoled (memoir, parental loss)
33. Elizabeth Gilbert, The Signature of All Things (novel, historical fiction, botany)
34. Elly Griffiths, The Stranger Diaries (mystery)
35. Raynor Winn, The Salt Path (memoir, highly recommend)
36. Sarah Moss, The Ghost Wall (LF/mystery/thriller)
37. Marcus Tanner, Croatia, A Nation Forged in War (still in progress. . . ) (non-fiction, history)
38. Mary Gabriel, Ninth Street Women: Lee Krasner, Elaine de Kooning, Grace Hartigan, Joan Mitchell, and Helen Frankenthaler: Five Painters and the Movement That Changed Modern Art Recommended, Art History, Feminist and Cultural History
39. Denise Mina, Gods and Beasts (mystery)
40. Julian Barnes, The Only Story (LF)
41. John Keahey, Seeking Sicily: A Cultural Journey Through Myth and Reality in the Heart of the Mediterranean. (armchair travel)
42. Elly Griffiths, The Stone Circle (mystery)
43. Deborah Levy, Swimming Home (LF)
44. Ian Rankin, In a House of Lies (mystery)
45. Natalie Babbitt, The Search for Delicious (children's novel/"chapter book")
46. Rae Dunn, In Pursuit of Inspiration (creativity, making)
47. Siri Hustvedt, The Blazing World (LF) Liked this very much.
48. Mario Giordano, Auntie Poldi and the Vineyards of Etna, translated from German by John Brownjohn (mystery)
49. Jean-Christophe Rufin, Les Sept Mariages d'Edgar et Ludmila Read en français, highly recommend if you read French
50. Tommy Orange, There There (LF, recommended)
51. Slavenka Drakulić, Cafe Europa: Life After Communism Croatia, journalism, history
52. Kate Atkinson, Big Sky, Mystery
53. Sue Gee, Reading in Bed Novel
54. Denise Mina, The Red Road Mystery
55. Denise Mina, Blood, Salt, Water Mystery
56. Etaf Rum, A Woman Is No Man Novel, Immigration, Women's Lives
57. Cherie Dimaline, Red Rooms Linked Short Stories
58. Elizabeth Gilbert, City of Girls Novel, New York, theatre, independent women. . . Recommend as entertaining.. .
59. Carlo Levi, Words Are Stones, Intro. Anita Desai, Trans. Anthony Shugaar, Also here Sicily, journalism, essays, cultural history
60. Viglis Hjorth, A House in Norway. Trans. Charlotte Barslund LF
61. Nell Painter, Old in Art School: A Memoir of Starting Over Memoir, recommended
62. Simon Armitage, Walking Home travel memoir
63. Tembi Locke, From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home Sicily, Memoir, Grief
64. Alice Zeniter, L'Art de Perdre LF (Goncourt Prix de Lycéens) France-Algeria Recommended
65. Steven Price, Lampedusa LF, Sicily
66. Jill Ciment, The Body in Question, LF
67. Kate DiCamillo, The Miraculous Journey of Eduard Tulane Children's "chapter book"
68. Cynthea Masson, The Amber Garden (3rd volume in The Alchemists' Council) Fantasy
69. Mick Herron, Real Tigers Mystery
70. Julie Whelan, My Oxford Year Contemporary Romance,
71. Ta-Nahesi Coates, The Water Dancer LF, Historical fiction,
72. Melissa Harrison, All Among the Barley LF,
73. Donna Leon, Falling in Love Mystery
74. Deborah Levy, Hot Milk LF
75. Keigo Higashino, Midsummer's Equation Mystery
76, remembered and added January 30, 2020: Flynn Berry, Under the Harrow Thriller/Mystery
Comments, questions, suggestions always welcome. Thanks for looking through my 2019 reading list. I'm very happy to have you here, reading alongside, in 2020.