Thanks to all of you who tell me how much you look forward to these recommendations. Writing this post is one of the few consistencies in this blog!
As of now I’ve read 70 books this year, and I’ll read a few more this December. The recommendations below come from the 70, but narrowing it down was difficult. My first list was 16 books! From there I got it down to eight, and I’ll call the other eight honorable mentions. So here goes.
My favorite work of fiction was The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. A brilliant story about a Latina and the challenges of her life. Yes, it was written decades ago, and yes I’m slow to finally get around to reading it. But what a book!
The best pure fun but well written book was Unexpectedly, Milo by Matthew Dicks. The author creates quirky characters who grab our imagination, then puts them in all kinds of awkward but plausible situations. I didn’t want the book to end!
The best historical fiction book was easily Ireland by Frank Delaney. This book was beautifully done. It tells the story of Ireland effortlessly and with passion, while reading like a novel. Thank you, Mark and Cathy, for the suggestion!
The best true historical story had to be Code Name: Lise by Larry Loftus. She was the most highly decorated spy of World War II, and you probably never heard of her. This is book clears up several myths as it also shares the story with a new generation. Inspiring.
The most interesting business book was Butler to the World by Oliver Bullough. The banking and financial systems in London come out looking terrible, at least ethically. Definitely a book to read if you are in finance of some kind.
Sometimes it’s difficult to differentiate between history and contemporary story. The Last Slave Ship by Ben Raines is a bit of both. The author is trying to find the last slave ship to arrive in the USA, so he tells the historical story as he also tells the detective work he did to find it.
One more fictional book for you. Rachel Joyce is the author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, which she followed up with The Love Song of Queenie Hennessy. She completes the trilogy with Maureen, and it is a great wrap-up to the story.
If you prefer a book about ideas, then check out Hidden Potential by Adam Grant. The author is an organizational psychologist and this book explains how we can find our hidden potential. Part storytelling, part pep talk, and part research paper. Well worth reading.
Here are the honorable mentions:
His Name is George Floyd, which won the Pulitzer.
Jesus’ Alternative Plan, written by the remarkable Richard Rohrs.
American Sirens, an eye opening true story of the first EMT’s and why they got started.
Band of Angels, which explores the impact of women on the early church.
Cuba, a sweeping historical book that also won the Pulitzer.
Fever in the Heartland, a hard to read look at how the KKK tried to take over an entire State in the 1920’s.
The Art Thief, a fairly contemporary story of one of the greatest art thieves in history.