Best Reads of 2019

As this year draws to a close, we’ve been reflecting on the books we’ve enjoyed the most this year. Together, we’ve read over twenty books ranging from romance to horror. Some have been good, some have been bad. Here’s a list of our personal favorites! In no particular order, and this list was written by the both of us.

Carrie by Stephen King

When people ask me what my favorite book is, a few books come to mind, but Carrie is always at the top of the list. I can’t say how many times I’ve read this book. I try to revisit it at least once a year. My copy is from 1999. It was purchased when I was in high school, and I have to say, it’s in pretty good shape considering it’s 20 years old. The book is short. It’s only 253 pages and I can read it in a day, if I’m really into it.

Somehow I always forget that this book is written as a kind of news report. There’s news clippings, articles and interviews mixed in with the story telling. That is something all of the movies have left out, except for one (the made for TV version). I really don’t know why. It’s such an interesting way to tell the story.

I always like to read the introduction to the book because it tells about the girls that inspired King to create Carrie. And well, what I love most about this about this book is… plain and simple, the character, Carrie White. She is a child of unfortunate circumstances. Due to her upbringing, she comes off as weird and strange around her peers. I know we all have seen these kinds of kids in school. Maybe some of us have even been that kid. I think what makes Carrie, the book, so good is how real Carrie White feels. Sure, the prom scene and the destruction that follows it (stuff that the movies have never gotten right, by the way), is fun to read. But what I love most about Carrie is the character. It’s really a tragic tale about someone who just wants to fit in and feel ‘normal’.

Room by Emma Donoghue

I had watched the movie before I read this book, so I knew the basics of what happened. What I didn’t know was that this book was written entirely from the point of view of five year old, Jack. Wow. I’ve never read a book like this before. And while it was a bit confusing at times, adjusting to reading the way a five year old thinks, this book instantly pulled me in. To those of you that don’t know, it is about a little boy that was born and raised inside a tiny room. Four walls, a skylight and some furniture. That’s it. What makes this book different from other plots with kidnapping and capture, is that this little boy knows nothing other than this room. He’s never been outside. He’s never felt the wind on his face. Never seen grass or smelled the scent of rain. Things that we take for granted are completely unknown to him. And Emma Donoghue writes him SO WELL. It’s easy to see why this book was a national best seller. It is definitely unique and one of a kind.

N0S4A2 by Joe Hill

So I picked up Heart-Shaped Box at my local bookstore and gave it a read. I was instantly a fan of Joe Hill. It pulled me in, and I couldn’t stop until he book was finished. From there, I went to Horns. It was a favorite movie of mine, and now sadly, the movie has lost my favor because the book is ten times better. Horns was a wild ride, but yet another book I couldn’t put down. And when that book was finished, I purchased N0S4A2. I’ve loved all three of these books but this one, it is definitely my favorite one.

This one took me longer to read. It’s huge. A total of 686 pages. Most of the time, books that big are intimidating to me. I guess because it feels more like a chore to read them. N0S4A2 wasn’t a chore at all. This book is put it simply… magical. His descriptions of Christmasland are both beautiful and haunting. I love the little drawings through out the book, that give hints to what is going to happen in each section. I love the map drawing that not only connects his other books to this one, but one of his father’s books (Stephen King), as well. I love the main character. She’s similar to his other characters but this time we get a female character (in his other two books, they were both men). Vic is a bit of a bitch, and chalked full of flaws, but I love that about her. Nobody’s perfect, no matter how some people pretend to be. And I have to mention the character, Lou, because he feels SO real. I instantly fell in love with him. He feels like… a warm hug. It sounds corny, but if you’ve read this book, you’ll know what I mean.

I could go on and on about this book but I’m trying to keep this short. Basically this book is so incredibly good. It is written in Joe Hill’s own unique style. The descriptions are written so well, that, to me, at times, it felt almost more like watching a movie. I could picture everything vividly. I really can’t say that about most books I read.

Don’t be intimidated by the length of this book. It is well worth your time.

Run No More by Catherine Mulvany

Of course we’re going to have some romance on this list! First I want to talk about Run No More. I loved this book in so many ways. I picked it up as a random buy, during one of our fun trips to the used book store. I was drawn in because of the heist plotline. Despite being someone who would never dream of stealing in real life, I’m fascinated by stories about big heists and cat burglars.

This story is about a young woman who becomes the apprentice of an old retired jewel thief. You find out early on that Ian is confined to a wheelchair and spent most of his life in prison, after his partner betrayed him during a heist. So initially, the plot is focused on revenge.

But this story is so much more than that. It’s filled with serious surprises. I thought I knew where the story was going and, boy, was I wrong. There’s no way you could predict all the twists this book takes! I can’t even talk about all the exciting things I loved about this without spoiling it. But I will say it’s got a bit of magic and hints of time travel as well. I can honestly say I’ve never read a romance like this one. The book is well written, exciting, not at all boring. A definite page turner.

Capital Encounters by Dawn Wright

Another romance I highly enjoyed was Capital Encounters. I’ve heard this book described as Sex and the City set in DC, and that’s a perfect description. And personally, as I live in Maryland, it was fun reading about a story in DC. You never see that unless it’s a highly political story, which this one thankfully is not!

This book plays out like a TV show. It jumps effortlessly between the four main characters, following them on their individual journeys and also intertwining their stories. I really enjoyed how it was set up. Every reading session felt like tuning in to a new episode.

The characters are all unique in their personalities and their situations. I loved the variety. Even though the women were all friends, they weren’t cookie cutter replicas of each other. One finds what seems like the perfect romance while another can’t commit to even the labels of boyfriend and girlfriend. One is hung up on her ex-husband while another jumps into wealthy beds for money. Their friendships between each other are varied too. Some were closer than others, the way a real four-way friendship would be.

Reading about four main characters might sound intimidating, but the Dawn Wright pulled it off well. This book had lots of humor, plenty of surprises, and it had steamy scenes without being vulgar. It’s a quality read.

Firefight by Brandon Sanderson

Firefight is the second book of The Reckoners trilogy. It’s a story about a world where certain people, called Epics, have developed superpowers. Yet unlike the world of X-Men or the Justice League, these superpowered people are corrupt and evil. It’s a post-apocalyptic setting, where the Epics have ruined the world and rule over their own territories. Humans are forced to live in tyrannic cities, at constant risk of falling prey to the whims and tempers of the Epics.

The Reckoners are a group of humans who are fighting back. It’s extremely hard to kill Epics, they each have their own unique weaknesses, but it’s not impossible. This is a story filled with powerful villains where you’re rooting for the underdogs. Personally, I love anything superpowered. That was what initially drew me to these books. But also, Brandon Sanderson is an incredibly talented writer. I was blown away by The Way of Kings before I picked up this trilogy.

I finished Firefight, and the trilogy, in the beginning of 2019 so they’re kind of foggy now. But I’m pretty sure this second book was my favorite. It was even better than the first. I don’t want to talk about spoilers, but this book is filled with great action, tons of humor, and likable characters. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a bit of sci fi, a bit of post-apoc, or a bit of villainy in their superheroes.

Nett’s Shorts: A Collection of Short Stories by Nannette Kreitzman

While this isn’t a book, I have to include it on this list. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of short stories. I had never really been a reader of short stories, but mid-2019 I suddenly got the itch. I started seeking them out and I discovered just how enjoyable they can be. Nannette Krietzman was by far the best I read.

I loved the variety of settings and all the interesting characters. One story was science fiction, another post-apocalyptic, others modern but with unique twists like long lost twins or someone suddenly faced with blindness. Each story had me eager to read more.

I was also fascinated by her writing because, in a way, it reminded me of the writing we’ve done. Some of her settings were so similar to settings we’ve explored, and her characters felt like they’d be right at home in our stories. Of course, she crafts these short stories in ways I never could. She has a true talent. It’s just nice when you find someone who writes in a similar way as yourself.

This collection made a fan out of me and I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading short stories!

Pet Sematary by Stephen King

Last but not least, Pet Sematary. This is a book that both of us read this year. Can I say wow? Just wow.

This book is impressive. The story is exceptionally well written. I’m not one easily bothered by books. Not even other horror books I’ve read have left me feeling edgy. But this one got under my skin. It left me feeling anxious at times, upset at other times, moved at times. The way it handles the topic of death is so masterfully written. I can’t even do it justice with my own words.

There’s one certain death in this book (the one pivotal death, if you’re familiar with the story) that wrenched my heart. There were several scenes that just gutted me. I’ve never had a book make me feel as powerfully as this one did.

The only negative thing I have to say about this book is the excessive way it uses God’s name as a curse. I was put off by that. I’d rather read the F bomb every other line than read that. But the story itself is five stars, no doubt.

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This was a great year of reading. There were so many books that both of us enjoyed, too many to even list. Here’s to hoping 2020 is just as enjoyable!

-D&A