And another year of reading passes on by…

2018 turned out to be a great year for books. Not only did I manage to start a book club but I also managed to read books outside my comfort zone, which turned out to be not a bad experience.  Most of the books read this year took me on exciting new adventures while others left me at a dead-end. Unfortunately, I was unable to complete my own reading challenge but that didn’t stop me from not only reaching my reading goal of 70 books, but also reading a diverse collection of books. Overall, my books of 2018 encouraged me to read more and get excited for what my choices will be in 2019.

The first three books were so good that I just could not choose which one was my favorite book of 2018. So, three of them share the number 1 spot:

Becoming by Michelle Obama

I was left breathless after reading this amazing memoir. I always admired Michelle Obama but after reading this memoir, I admired her in even more. Her experiences and her words were so insightful that her intellectual power will be an inspiration for future generations.

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

The best mystery from a contemporary author and one of the best mysteries I have read by far. This book will leave you puzzled by anxious to read the shocking conclusion. I could have never thought a creative, complex mystery can be this exciting.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

I wanted to cry and give this book a standing ovation. This book spoke volumes to me. This honest portrayal of loneliness and mental health issues really allowed me to take a closer examination of my life.

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

My first introduction to Daphne Du Maurier’s writing and certainly not the last. I could not put this book down! Although I would not call this a romantic book, this suspenseful novel with its twists and turns flipped my stomach and tingled my spine.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

I fell in love with this book! It was so heartwarming and beautifully written. It was a book that you wished that real life was like this. It really displays all the forms of love and makes you appreciate your family more.

Victoria, The Queen: An Intimate Biography of the Woman Who Ruled an Empire by Julia Baird

Another great biography that opened my eyes. I already had a keen interest in the life and legacy of Queen Victoria, however, after reading this, my interest continued to increase. This biography was also beautifully written, a flaw some nonfiction books have especially when they can read like an old history textbook. 

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Shirley Jackson, where have you been all my life? Her Gothic stories and cryptic messages within her stories definitely had me hooked. So far, this one is my favorite by her, just one spot higher than The Haunting of Hill House. 

Crooked House by Agatha Christie

No list can be complete without an Agatha Christie novel and this one is not exception. Christie is definitely the queen of mystery and her expertise and prowess really exemplifies in this shocking and twisty mystery.

March Books 1-3 by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin & Nate Powell

You think you know about all about the Civil Rights Movement but after reading this award-winning graphic novel, your eyes will open to one of the most important and critical time of our American history. 

Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson

I loved the young adult novel when I was a teen and I loved this graphic novel adaptation. The artwork was breathtaking and stunning and the story just as provocative.

Honorable mentions:

Mary and The Wrongs of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft

Memoirs of Emma Courtney by Mary Hays

A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza

The Road Through The Wall by Shirley Jackson

All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin

Books I Reread

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen