8 Best Books of 2018

I know we’re not quite halfway through December and there’s still plenty of reading time left. Still, I thought I’d share my best of the year list today.

I haven’t divided my selections into audiobooks and print or into genres. And what’s more, I have only 8 titles on my 2018 list. Although I read plenty of books I liked and many I’d recommend, when I went through my reviews, these are the books that really jumped out and made me say, "Oh, yeah—that was a great book."

So here, in alphabetical order, are my top 8 reads of the year. The links lead to my reviews/thoughts.

• The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah (St. Martin’s Press): a novel set in Alaska in the 1970s. I liked the difficult themes (PTSD, domestic violence) and the tribute to the stark and beautiful Alaskan landscape.
• Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson (Nancy Paulsen Books): a novel about a group of special-needs sixth graders, set in New York. Through the voices of the children we learn how many of the larger contemporary social issues affect even the most innocent.
• The House of Impossible Beauties by Joseph Cassara (Ecco): a novel set in New York at the start of the AIDS epidemic (based on true events). A heartbreaking story of the Latino ball scene and the boys and men who were rejected by their families and society, left resource-less with few options for survival.
• How Long ’Til Black Future Month? by N. K. Jemisin (Orbit): a collection of short stories; speculative fiction. The powerful and fully realized pieces in this book explore feminism, fertility, being different, motherhood, and other themes universal to Jemisin’s work.

• I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara (Harper Books): investigative journalism; true crime. An engaging yet graphic account of the search for the Golden State Killer; includes details on the crimes, victims, and suspects.
• Look Alive Out There by Sloan Crosley (Macmillan): a collection of personal essays. Through sharp observations and a dose of humor, Crosley explores adulting in contemporary New York.
• Only Killers and Thieves by Paul Howarth (Harper Books): a novel set in the Australian outback in the late 19th century. A coming-of-age story of two very different brothers finding their place in a harsh world in the aftermath of a family tragedy.
• Whiskey When We’re Dry by John Larison (Viking): a novel set in Rocky Mountains in the 1880s. The story of survival, choices, and consequences as a young woman searches for her brother, an outlaw with a bounty on his head. A fresh look at the lawless American west.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: 5 Good Books

Oh boy, I certainly jumped right back into reading with a vengeance. It's always a good week when it's filled with books. And reading was made easier with cooler temperatures and lots of rain. What else is there to do but read or do household chores while listening to an audiobook?

Anticipating much less time spent outside, we've started getting the house back in shape for indoor living. We generally work on one room at a time, dealing with the accumulated clutter of the summer and starting with the kitchen. Deep cleaning, as I said, gives me lots of time to listen to audiobooks, so I can barely complain.

On the television, we finished season 1 of Marcella, caught up with Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, and finished Sharp Objects. I'm not sure what's up next for us, but I like the feeling of having completed at least a few seasons of old shows before starting something new.

Peter Mayle's My Twenty-Five Years in Provence (Knopf, June 26) was a bittersweet read, knowing the author died earlier this year. Long-time Mayle fans will recognize many of the twenty-one stories collected in this volume, though some were new to me, such as his relationship with movie director Ridley Scott (A Good Year) and his thoughts about John Thaw's portrayal in the television show based on A Year in Provence. I also liked Mayle's reaction to being awarded France's Legion d’Honneur. Of course, I loved the descriptions of life in the French countryside and especially the many food and wine references, particularly his introduction to how to drink the French spirit pastis. Mayle's signature sense of humor and astute observations shine, making me a fan all over again. The audiobook was nicely read by John Lee (Random House Audio; 4 hr, 3 min). I appreciated Lee's pronunciations of the French words and his sensitive and thoughtful performance. My full review on the audiobook production will be available through AudioFile magazine.

A big shout-out to my friend Jennifer from Literate Housewife who is not only a real-life friend but one of my trusted sources of audiobook recommendations. She said I would love Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen and read by the wonderful Katherine Kellgren (Audible Studios, 2010, 8 hr, 4 min), and she was right. Set in the United Kingdom in the early years of the Great Depression, this is part sly commentary on the royal/noble set and part mystery and all tons of fun. Despite being thirty-something in line for the throne, Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie (better known as Georgie), is actually without resources since she's unmarried and no longer feels comfortable living with her brother and his family on the crumbling ancestral estate. Fortunately, she still has a good relationship with her cousin the queen, giving her a certain cachet among the gentry. A secret assignment from the palace and a dead body in her bathtub, are just two of Georgie's worries as she negotiates life in London without a maid. Kellgren's characterizations, accents, and pacing bring the story alive and I found it really hard to stop listening to this audiobook. I may just have to binge listen through this series. (personal copy)

Now that I've read Jacqueline Woodson's Harbor Me (Nancy Paulsen Books, August 28), I can see why it has been getting so much buzz. There are several layers to this middle grade novel, giving it strong crossover appeal to older readers. The book is about a half dozen diverse special-needs sixth graders who become friends after their teacher gives them weekly unsupervised free time in an empty classroom. The kids slowly open up to each other, sharing the burdens of their learning disabilities and home life, including issues with immigration, being poor, and being bullied. On the surface, the novel is a story of friendships, but it also helps readers understand how larger political and social issues (police profiling, for example) have an impact on even the most innocent of our citizens. Because the audiobook was so short (Listening Library; 3 hr, 50 min), I also listened to the full-cast performance of the book. The narrators strengthened my emotional connection to the story, reinforcing the idea that we must all try harder to care for each other. The audiobook ends with a not-to-be missed frank discussion between Woodson and her son about some of the lessons found in the story. (review copies)

Quick Takes on Series

• I also listened to the next In Death book: Witness in Death by J. D. Robb (Brilliance Audio; 11 hr, 22 min), read by Susan Ericksen. This is the 10th book in the series, so reviewing without spoiling the story and finding new things to say are becoming difficult. I'm really impressed with how Robb has managed to keep the books fresh by allowing the characters to grow and change. Not only is Eve and Roarke's relationship reaching a new level but the recurring secondary characters are also blossoming. I'm thoroughly enjoying getting to know each one. Ericksen, as always, delivered consistent, believable characterizations and perfect pacing. (personal copy)
• The second book in the Sean Stranahan series--The Gray Ghost Murders by Kieth McCafferty (Recorded Books, 9 hr, 36 min), read by Rick Holmes, was also a winner. I love the way McCafferty interjects diversity and contemporary issues into his murder mysteries, which are set in some of Montana's best fly-fishing territory. Great characters, good descriptions of the outdoor life, and a multilayered plot make for good listening. I particularly like the references to other authors, from Sparse Grey Hackle to Ivan Doig. Holmes is perfect for this series, tapping into the characters' personalities and letting the humor come through naturally. (personal copy)

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Best Reading Week of 2017

What is the huge benefit of working ahead so one gets a full four days off for the holiday last week? Lots and lots of reading and listening time. Especially listening time, because cooking and cleaning were in order to prepare for our annual July 4 party.

Even better is that I'm back to a normal work schedule, so my evenings have been relaxing and I even stayed out of my office this past weekend. I know the easy life won't last, but I am making the most of it while I can.

The icing on the cake has been the mild weather. I don't even mind the bouts of gentle summer rain because the windows are open and the house is cool and comfortable. This is what summer is all about, isn't it?

What I Read

• The Purple Swamp Hen and Other Stories by Penelope Lively (Viking, May 9): I wasn't quite sure what I was going to think about this collection because the opening (and title) story was told from the viewpoint of a swamp hen in Pompeii, just before the volcano erupts. I'm glad I stuck it out though, because I was soon giving my full attention to the remaining stories, which take place in a variety of more contemporary time periods and focus on different kinds of relationships and how well we really know the people in our lives. The audiobook (Recorded Books, 7 hr, 6 min) was read by Davina Porter, one of my favorite narrators. She was expressive and teased the right emotional level out of the short pieces, though sometimes I had difficulty telling male from female voices. My full audio review will be available from AudioFile magazine.
• A Different Pond by Bao Phi (Capstone Young Readers, August 1): This short graphic novel is written for a young middle grade reader and tells the story of a young Vietnamese American boy who goes fishing with his father in the wee hours of the morning. While at the water's edge, his father tells him about his boyhood across the ocean. The messages in this comic have cross-over appeal and can sow the seeds for a larger discussion on immigration, family, and people who are different from ourselves. The illustrations by Thi Bui are rendered in a beautiful range of predawn colors, and although fairly simple in detail, the panels add to the emotional impact of the book. Highly recommended.
• Hello Sunshine by Laura Dave (Simon & Schuster, July 11): I reviewed this fun escape novel on Saturday for my Weekend Cooking post.

• Walking with Miss Millie by Tamara Bundy (Nancy Paulsen, July 4): I made the mistake of finishing this audiobook right before my guests were due to arrive on the Fourth. I sure hope I didn't look like I had been crying! Alice, 11 years old, is upset when her mother moves the family from Columbus, Ohio, to small-town Georgia to take care of her own aging mother. When Alice is asked to do their elderly neighbor a favor, she obeys, not realizing that she was going to make a new friend. This is a delightful and heartfelt coming-of-age story with themes of family, disability, racism, friendship, and more. I fell in love with Alice and her brother and found it difficult to stop listening to the book. Don't be thrown by the middle grade rating, you won't soon forget Alice's story. The audiobook (Listening Library, 4 hr, 39 min) was read by Catherine Taber who was fantastic. Her voice sounded authentically preteen to me, and I loved the way she picked up on the characters' personalities. A fantastic listen.
• Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane (Ecco, April 26): I'm normally a big fan of Lehane, so I started his newest thriller with very high expectations. This novel, set in the Boston area, is kind of three books in one: it starts out focusing on a damaged young woman who looks for love in all the wrong places, moves into a story of her healing under the care of her husband, and then turns into a psychological thriller. There are a lot of twists, though some of them are heavily signaled. I'm not sorry I read the book, but this wasn't Lehane's strongest entry. Credibility was stretched thin in places, and the plot took too many sharp turns. I'd give it a solid 3 stars. The audiobook (Harper Audio, 12 hr, 2 min) was nicely read by Julia Whelan, who clearly distinguished among the characters and kept me listening, even though the book itself wasn't a favorite.
• The Painted Queen by Elizabeth Peters and Joan Hess (William Morrow, July 5): It was bittersweet to have had a chance to return to one of my favorite series ever. This novel was left unfinished at Peters's death, and Hess was given the difficult chore of filling in the blanks of Peters's work. See tomorrow's post for details.

What I'm Reading Now

• Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong (Henry Holt, July 11): I am thoroughly drawn in by this novel about a women caught in that transition from being cared for by her parents to being the person doing the care giving. So far, the book is well written and easy to relate to.
• The Wildling Sisters by Eve Chase (Putnam, July 25): I started this audiobook about 15 minutes before I sat down to finish this post last night (Sunday). I have high hopes.
• Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry (Custom House, June 6): I put this novel aside while I was buzzing through all.the.books last week, but that's no reflection on the story. I just needed something a little more contemporary for my down time.

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5 Books Set in Alaska

Last week I included the novel The Alaskan Laundry in the list of books I want to read in April. That reminded me of other titles on my list that are also set in our most northern state. Here are five books that were (will be) published in 2016 that show us a variety of perspectives of life in Alaska.

Adult Picks

• All the Winters After by Seré Prince Halverson: Two strangers--a woman hiding from her husband and a man still mourning his childhood losses--find themselves occupying the same remote cabin. The story takes place over the course of a year, with the Alaskan setting playing as much of a role as the characters. Despite their deep burdens, will the pair be able to find redemption, healing, and hope? (Sourcebooks Landmark) • Queen of the Heartbreak Trail: The Life and Times of Harriet Smith Pullen, Pioneering Woman by Eleanor Phillips Brackbill: The true story of a woman who traveled west in a covered wagon, survived the hardships of pioneering, and seemingly settled down in Washington after marrying and having four children. Determined to live life on her own terms, however, Pullen left her family in the late 1800s to head north to Alaska, where she relied on her entrepreneurial spirit to gain fame and fortune and a little bit of infamy too. (Two Dots)

For a Younger Audience

• The Skeleton Tree by Iain Lawrence: Two boys are the only survivors after a sailboat sinks off the coast of Alaska. Alone and lacking supplies, food, and radio, they must overcome not only an unforgiving land and dangerous wildlife but their mutual dislike and disagreements. Action-packed and affecting. (Delacorte Books for Young Readers) • The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock: Four teens face hard choices when balancing their limited opportunities in Alaska against their dreams for the future. A coming-of-age story set in 1970s that reveals the less romantic side of growing up in an Alaskan city. (Wendy Lamb Books) • Sweet Home Alaska by Carole Estby Dagg: Based on true events, this novel follows a family that accepts President Roosevelt's challenge to homestead Alaska and find a new start during the Great Depression. Young Trip is inspired by Laura Ingalls Wilder, but her mother will need more encouragement to feel settled into their own little house in the northern wilderness. (Nancy Paulsen Books)

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