Best Books of 2019

I do enjoy a good book, whether reading it the old fashioned way or listening to an audio version while driving or flying across the planet. In no particular order, here are the ten best books I read this year:

The Buried: An Archaeology of the Egyptian Revolution, by Peter Hessler

What can I say? It’s by Peter Hessler, truly one of the greatest writers of our time. I’ve long loved his books about China. In this one, he works his magic on Egypt.

Britt-Marie Was Here: A Novel, by Fredrik Backman

If you read Backman’s book My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, you’ll recognize the character Britt-Marie. In this book she takes here quirky personality to a small community and unexpectedly finds a place to belong.

One Child: The Story of China’s Most Radical Experiment, by Mei Fong

This one was difficult to read. In fact, there were times I found myself seething. But it’s a story that needs to be told.

Heaven Cracks, Earth Shakes: The Tangshan Earthquake and the Death of Mao’s China, by James Palmer

In July of 1976, a powerful earthquake hit China, killing hundreds of thousands of people. Later that year, Chairman Mao would die. This book is a fascinating look at how those 2 events shook (literally) the nation.

The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World, by A.J. Baime

When F.D.R. died in 1945, Harry Truman became president. This book tells the story of his first four months in office. Fascinating!

China Dolls: A Novel, by Lisa See

Any book by Lisa See lands on a list of favorite books (at least in my mind). This is the story of three Chinese-American dancers in the 1940s. It has one of the most amazing last lines of any book I’ve read. 

Educated: A Memoir, by Tara Westover

Tara tells her story of growing up in a fundamentalist Mormon family in Idaho, and how she defied her parents to get an education. Again, an amazing story.

Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded: August 27, 1883, by Simon Winchester

The effects of this eruption were felt around the world in terms of climate and economics. Yet, most of us have never heard of it. This book will fix that!

Meaning of Everything Story of the Oxford English Dictionary by Winchester, Simon [Oxford University Press,2003] [Hardcover], Simon Winchester

Again, what can I say? It’s Simon Winchester, the only writer who can make the story of the Oxford English Dictionary a page-turner!

In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex, by Nathanial Philbrick

A gripping story of the Essex and how some of its crew survived following the destruction of their ship by a whale.