So we had our baby on my birthday and my wife is a hero. Instead of the usual Unslush newsletter this week, I want to know what you’ve been reading this year. Some brilliant fiction? A fantastic biography? Maybe even a book about writing? I’ll give you my book of 2019 first and I’d love you to share yours too. Join the discussion and I’ll compile them for an exciting future email.
By far the most important is Invisible Women: Exposing Gender Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez. Every human being ought to read this.
On a related theme, Kaja Sadowski’s Fear is the Mind Killer is all about creating training environments that work for more than just straight white men.
Regarding novels, I’m enjoying Sebastien de Castell’s Shadowblack series, re-reading Modesty Blaise, and Jill Paton Walsh’s reboot of Sayer’s Peter Wimsy detective fiction.
Sebastien de Castell is hilarious, with these moments of emotional resonance. I've loved his series. They remind me of Vlad Taltos by ... Brust, I think?
Best book I’ve read this year without a doubt is I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. It’s a dual POV, YA contemporary about family, grief, love - and it’s got the most beautiful lyrical style I’ve ever read, but not in a pretentious or showy way, and the VOICE of the protagonists is incredible. Both super distinct, super authentic, and just gorgeous.
As it's coming up to Christmas, I am up for a look-in on the children's book selection front unslush. They rarely get a look in on forums. I want to recommend "You're Called What?" Already bought it for our grandchildren, all nine of them. One negative reviewer on Amazon said, 'No story here." Hey! Sometimes kids just want unadulterated stupidity and fun. So that's my fav of the year.
Yep! Toll is the second book in Matt’s Kestrel series, the third is due out soon. And Caledonian Gambit sets up the world for Dan’s Galactic Cold War Series. There’s a second book out on my list, and a third coming this spring.
Slow Horses by Mick Heron - not a new book but the first in a series that a lot of people in my various timelines mentioned this year (most notably the author Warren Ellis) and I loved it so much I’m greedily devouring the rest in the series
Great stuff. I’m so pleased that this conversation is throwing up so many books that I wasn’t aware of. That’s going on the list too. (It’s becoming a long list.)
Loved The Nickel Boys, loved Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, loved Normal People, loved the bonkers space adventure of Gideon the Ninth. I just did my own top-ten year end list so I’m tempted to keep going, but I’ll stop myself there.
Well done you are the first person to mention Normal People! I thought it would come up much sooner. I still haven't read it but really must in the new year. I'll take a look at the others on your list too. 🙌
I liked Conversations with Friends very slightly more (my friend has a theory that you prefer the Rooney book you read first, which might be true), but I read that one last year! My full list (plus a roundup of other end-of-the-year lists) is at cokey.substack.com. Thanks for hosting this discussion, I always love to know what people are reading!
Just finishing reading: Atomic Habits. It is a helpful read about starting to build healthy habits and eliminate toxic ones. Easy in theory, but tough to implement. Looking for a good fiction read (sports related). As I want to write my next book about sports...
My pal was just talking about this book on a podcast I produce for the company he works for. I'll have to take a look. What sort of sports are you into?
soccer (Futbol), basketball. I wrote my first book about futbol (fiction) about coaching a youth team. I've been thinking about book #2, but haven't arrived at anything as of yet.
In no particular order: Jacqueline Woodson’s Brown Girl Dreaming, Ali Smith’s Autumn (not that impressed by the others, sadly), Therese Mailhot’s Heart Berries and an amazing YA novel in Swedish: Trädhjärta by Gabi Frödén.
I feel the opposite about Ali Smith's books--I've liked each successive one better! But I do think Autumn is more coherent as a stand-alone novel (and of course quite good).
Those Ali Smith seasons books are on my to read pile. I really like her writing so I'm expecting to enjoy them too. Don't know the others though so I will take a look. 👍
Hi Ian. Loving this discussion. Congrats to you and yours. My favourite book of the year was Three Women by Lisa Taddeo. So engrossing. Closely followed by Milkman by Anna Burns. It is dark, but is also extremely funny (it's a Northern Irish funny!) Justine.
Thank you! We are very lucky indeed. I've heard good things about Three Women and as I mentioned above, still need to get around to reading Milkman. I'm enjoying the discussion too. So pleased people are sharing. Thank you!
My book of the year was "Self-Inflicted Wounds: Heartwarming Tales of Epic Humiliation" by actress and comedian Aisha Tyler. I listened to the audiobook, read by the author, whilst out walking. It was so funny that I got distracted, walked out into oncoming traffic, and nearly got run over. I literally almost died laughing.
I started a creative writing masters in September so I've read a lot, and I'm in essay mode at the mo so my brain is mush. However, a couple of the books on the reading list made it up there into my favourites: The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles, Milkman by Anna Burns. Outside of compulsory reading though, and probably book of my year = Franny and Zooey, J.D.Salinger - so much character and emotion!
It's pretty left-field, particularly considering where my taste is normally, but its style is unique and just demands to be talked about. Would recommend to anyone but with the caveat that it's not the happiest thing you'll ever read.
Eleanor Gordon-Smith’s Stop Being Reasonable is a brilliant, cackle-begetting essay on the injustices that simmer under the surface of “rational” debates. It shatters the philosophical illusion that we can just use “reason” to stay on the safe side of fairness, and is at once rigorous and casual. It’s really damn brilliant.
Book-format essay! Best termed an essay because it’s at once non-fiction, biographical, polemical, analytical, etc — but also funny. Published with Scribe in May. Second chapter is essentially a transcript, with added snark, of a segment Gordon-Smith did for This American Life a while back, where she confronts catcallers with a recorder, and tries (to utter failure) to persuade the offenders to stop it.
Three from me, in categories... Best fiction: The Accusation by Bandi // Best non-fiction: How to be right by James O'Brien (or maybe WTF by Robert Peston) // Most inspirational: The Way Home by Mark Boyle.
Okay – I'll go first. The best book I read in 2019 was Lanny by Max Porter. It's just fantastic. I loved his first novel, Grief is the Thing With Feathers, and Lanny was similar in tone but brilliant in its own peculiar way. Just superb writing. Exactly my sort of thing. Read it immediately.
Hat tip to The Boy Who Stole Attila’s Horse by Iván Repila too, which was also incredible. A very short novel about two brothers trapped in a hole. Completely gripping. What about you?
I've not read Lanny yet, but I did read Grief is the Thing with Feathers when it first came out. A bit of an impulse purchase on the strength of the cover art (sometimes you SHOULD judge a book by its cover - that's what they're there for, after all) and really enjoyed it.
Hmmm...again and in repetition, "365 Days"/R. Glasser, MD -- as it was in 2009, 1999, 1989, etc. -- described, I suppose, using the (to me) oxymoron "creative non-fiction" to describe vignettes of the one-year tour that was our military fait échet of the past century by a fellow who had to mop up the human mess it caused. Prefaced with verse by a wounded medic, Ace Evers, that sums things up best, it's a failing reminder -- needs must -- to choose our wars more carefully.
All about Milkman this year for me. I can't stop thinking about it, and I read it 4 months ago! If you've ever lived with hyper awareness of the norms that govern your subsection of society, and wanted to break out of those norms, it will light a fire in your mind.
Wow – what a great endorsement. My bleary eyes might struggle with it at the moment, but I shall make sure I get to it some point in the new year. Thanks so much for sharing.
It's hard to choose only a couple of books, but the ones that prompted consideration included Leisure: The Basis of Culture, Draw Your Weapons, White Fragility, and Copperhead. I also enjoyed the second book in The Honors series and The Dragon Republic. Someone mentioned de Castell, and I read a lot of his work this year, along with Aaronovitch and Vivian Shaw. I wouldn't say they're brilliant, but they're fun and could be reads for a parent on night duty with a new baby. :)
By far the most important is Invisible Women: Exposing Gender Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez. Every human being ought to read this.
On a related theme, Kaja Sadowski’s Fear is the Mind Killer is all about creating training environments that work for more than just straight white men.
Regarding novels, I’m enjoying Sebastien de Castell’s Shadowblack series, re-reading Modesty Blaise, and Jill Paton Walsh’s reboot of Sayer’s Peter Wimsy detective fiction.
Some interesting selections there. Invisible Women is on my go read list and I will check out the others too. Thanks for sharing.
Sebastien de Castell is hilarious, with these moments of emotional resonance. I've loved his series. They remind me of Vlad Taltos by ... Brust, I think?
yes, Stephen Brust iirc. Castell's Greatcoats series does have echoes of Brust, you're right. I hadn't noticed before.
Patton Walsh is great! Such a relief that those books were in competent hands.
Best book I’ve read this year without a doubt is I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson. It’s a dual POV, YA contemporary about family, grief, love - and it’s got the most beautiful lyrical style I’ve ever read, but not in a pretentious or showy way, and the VOICE of the protagonists is incredible. Both super distinct, super authentic, and just gorgeous.
Sounds ace. I want to read some YA next year so I will happily add this to the list. Thanks for sharing. 👍
Sourdough by Robin Sloan made me absurdly happy—no small thing I think—and for that I give it my best read of the year.
Don't know it so will happily have a search and check it out. 📚
Have you read his first book, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore? I loved that one, too.
Oh, and Robin Sloan's weekly newsletter is one of the best things I get in my inbox.
As it's coming up to Christmas, I am up for a look-in on the children's book selection front unslush. They rarely get a look in on forums. I want to recommend "You're Called What?" Already bought it for our grandchildren, all nine of them. One negative reviewer on Amazon said, 'No story here." Hey! Sometimes kids just want unadulterated stupidity and fun. So that's my fav of the year.
Stupidity and fun sounds good to me. 👍
The best book I read this year was The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker.
Runners up were, in no particular order:
- Toll by Matt Gemmell
- Artemis by Andy Weir
- The Caledonian Gambit by Dan Moren
Some familiar names from the tech world there. 👍
Yep! Toll is the second book in Matt’s Kestrel series, the third is due out soon. And Caledonian Gambit sets up the world for Dan’s Galactic Cold War Series. There’s a second book out on my list, and a third coming this spring.
Slow Horses by Mick Heron - not a new book but the first in a series that a lot of people in my various timelines mentioned this year (most notably the author Warren Ellis) and I loved it so much I’m greedily devouring the rest in the series
Great stuff. I’m so pleased that this conversation is throwing up so many books that I wasn’t aware of. That’s going on the list too. (It’s becoming a long list.)
Loved The Nickel Boys, loved Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, loved Normal People, loved the bonkers space adventure of Gideon the Ninth. I just did my own top-ten year end list so I’m tempted to keep going, but I’ll stop myself there.
Well done you are the first person to mention Normal People! I thought it would come up much sooner. I still haven't read it but really must in the new year. I'll take a look at the others on your list too. 🙌
I liked Conversations with Friends very slightly more (my friend has a theory that you prefer the Rooney book you read first, which might be true), but I read that one last year! My full list (plus a roundup of other end-of-the-year lists) is at cokey.substack.com. Thanks for hosting this discussion, I always love to know what people are reading!
Ace! Just subscribed.
Just finishing reading: Atomic Habits. It is a helpful read about starting to build healthy habits and eliminate toxic ones. Easy in theory, but tough to implement. Looking for a good fiction read (sports related). As I want to write my next book about sports...
My pal was just talking about this book on a podcast I produce for the company he works for. I'll have to take a look. What sort of sports are you into?
soccer (Futbol), basketball. I wrote my first book about futbol (fiction) about coaching a youth team. I've been thinking about book #2, but haven't arrived at anything as of yet.
In no particular order: Jacqueline Woodson’s Brown Girl Dreaming, Ali Smith’s Autumn (not that impressed by the others, sadly), Therese Mailhot’s Heart Berries and an amazing YA novel in Swedish: Trädhjärta by Gabi Frödén.
I feel the opposite about Ali Smith's books--I've liked each successive one better! But I do think Autumn is more coherent as a stand-alone novel (and of course quite good).
Those Ali Smith seasons books are on my to read pile. I really like her writing so I'm expecting to enjoy them too. Don't know the others though so I will take a look. 👍
Hi Ian. Loving this discussion. Congrats to you and yours. My favourite book of the year was Three Women by Lisa Taddeo. So engrossing. Closely followed by Milkman by Anna Burns. It is dark, but is also extremely funny (it's a Northern Irish funny!) Justine.
Thank you! We are very lucky indeed. I've heard good things about Three Women and as I mentioned above, still need to get around to reading Milkman. I'm enjoying the discussion too. So pleased people are sharing. Thank you!
It is! I forgot to mention the humour in Milkman, even laugh out loud funny in places. Cuts neatly through the darker themes.
Also what an amazing birthday present!
I know. Just completely ridiculous but also very special. Whether she thinks so in a few years time remains to be seen though!
Congratulations to you and your family, Iain!
My book of the year was "Self-Inflicted Wounds: Heartwarming Tales of Epic Humiliation" by actress and comedian Aisha Tyler. I listened to the audiobook, read by the author, whilst out walking. It was so funny that I got distracted, walked out into oncoming traffic, and nearly got run over. I literally almost died laughing.
😂
I'll have to check that one out. Thanks for the congrats. It's been quite a week!
Best fiction I’ve read this year was Infinite Jest, and best non-fiction was Happy Ever After by Paul Dolan.
Honorary mention goes to Phantoms on the Bookshelves by Jacques Bonnet. It’s an ode to book collecting :)
I like the sound of an ode to book collecting. 👍
I started a creative writing masters in September so I've read a lot, and I'm in essay mode at the mo so my brain is mush. However, a couple of the books on the reading list made it up there into my favourites: The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles, Milkman by Anna Burns. Outside of compulsory reading though, and probably book of my year = Franny and Zooey, J.D.Salinger - so much character and emotion!
Loving the old school choices. I’m yet to get to Milkman but it’s very much on the list. Perhaps when I’m less bleary-eyed!
It's pretty left-field, particularly considering where my taste is normally, but its style is unique and just demands to be talked about. Would recommend to anyone but with the caveat that it's not the happiest thing you'll ever read.
Ooo, also there was A Tale of Two Cities.... Hmmm. Or non-fiction: The Ritchie Boys by Bruce Henderson... Too many to choose from!
Eleanor Gordon-Smith’s Stop Being Reasonable is a brilliant, cackle-begetting essay on the injustices that simmer under the surface of “rational” debates. It shatters the philosophical illusion that we can just use “reason” to stay on the safe side of fairness, and is at once rigorous and casual. It’s really damn brilliant.
Sounds interesting Henrik! Is it an actual essay in book format or online somewhere?
Book-format essay! Best termed an essay because it’s at once non-fiction, biographical, polemical, analytical, etc — but also funny. Published with Scribe in May. Second chapter is essentially a transcript, with added snark, of a segment Gordon-Smith did for This American Life a while back, where she confronts catcallers with a recorder, and tries (to utter failure) to persuade the offenders to stop it.
Got it! Thanks. 👍
Three from me, in categories... Best fiction: The Accusation by Bandi // Best non-fiction: How to be right by James O'Brien (or maybe WTF by Robert Peston) // Most inspirational: The Way Home by Mark Boyle.
Categories! I read the James O'Brien book and enjoyed it.
Okay – I'll go first. The best book I read in 2019 was Lanny by Max Porter. It's just fantastic. I loved his first novel, Grief is the Thing With Feathers, and Lanny was similar in tone but brilliant in its own peculiar way. Just superb writing. Exactly my sort of thing. Read it immediately.
Hat tip to The Boy Who Stole Attila’s Horse by Iván Repila too, which was also incredible. A very short novel about two brothers trapped in a hole. Completely gripping. What about you?
I've not read Lanny yet, but I did read Grief is the Thing with Feathers when it first came out. A bit of an impulse purchase on the strength of the cover art (sometimes you SHOULD judge a book by its cover - that's what they're there for, after all) and really enjoyed it.
Hmmm...again and in repetition, "365 Days"/R. Glasser, MD -- as it was in 2009, 1999, 1989, etc. -- described, I suppose, using the (to me) oxymoron "creative non-fiction" to describe vignettes of the one-year tour that was our military fait échet of the past century by a fellow who had to mop up the human mess it caused. Prefaced with verse by a wounded medic, Ace Evers, that sums things up best, it's a failing reminder -- needs must -- to choose our wars more carefully.
All about Milkman this year for me. I can't stop thinking about it, and I read it 4 months ago! If you've ever lived with hyper awareness of the norms that govern your subsection of society, and wanted to break out of those norms, it will light a fire in your mind.
Wow – what a great endorsement. My bleary eyes might struggle with it at the moment, but I shall make sure I get to it some point in the new year. Thanks so much for sharing.
It's hard to choose only a couple of books, but the ones that prompted consideration included Leisure: The Basis of Culture, Draw Your Weapons, White Fragility, and Copperhead. I also enjoyed the second book in The Honors series and The Dragon Republic. Someone mentioned de Castell, and I read a lot of his work this year, along with Aaronovitch and Vivian Shaw. I wouldn't say they're brilliant, but they're fun and could be reads for a parent on night duty with a new baby. :)