My Favorite Books of the Year

There is reading. And there is reading a good book. It’s like comparing apples and oranges.

After a few years reading mainly articles, blogs and magazines, I turned my attention back to books this year. And oh, the difference! I had forgotten how powerful and satisfying books can be. Books are MIND fuel. Period.

Here’s a rundown of my favorite books this year:

Non-Fiction

Most likely to become assigned reading in English & Writing Classes

When Women Were Birds: Fifty-Four Variations on Voice

Terry Tempest Williams

In this memoir, Williams grapples with her mother’s legacy and finding her own voice. After reading this, I was questioning the authenticity of my own voice. This was the most thought-provoking book I read this year.

Most likely to be mistaken for fiction

In The Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin

Erik Larson

This eyewitness perspective of 1933-1937 Germany reads like a novel, all while detailing the paranoia, terror and violence the German population suffered at the hands of Hitler and the Nazi Party in the years before WWII.

Best excuse for reading until 3:00 AM

Bossypants

Tina Fey

“Funny” doesn’t do this justice. You will not successfully suppress laughter when reading this.

Tina Fey is beyond funny. Not to mention wickedly smart and insightful.

Most excessive use of profanity in witty commentary about the state of modern womanhood

How to be A Woman

Caitlin Moran

Don’t mistake Moran for the “British Tina Fey”.  She’s Tina Fey mixed with a big, heaping dose of Russell Brand. A feminist rock star with untapped potential as a stand-up comic.

I may have said “I am woman, hear me roar” after reading this.

Most likely to cause fabulous dinner parties in your home

Bread & Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes

Shauna Niequist

It’s virtually impossible to read this book and not be possessed by the urge to cook and entertain.

Note: This is the perfect book club pick! If only I had a local book club….sigh….

Best wake-up call for perfectionists

The Gifts of Imperfection

Brene Brown

According to Brown, perfectionism is intrinsically rooted in judgment and shame and often leads to depression, anxiety, addiction and life paralysis. Yikes!

The antidote is theoretically easy: letting our true selves be seen.

Brene rocks…even Oprah thinks so!

Best Inspiration for the New Year

The Desire Map

Danielle LaPorte

Here’s an interesting way to approach life planning and goal setting. First discern what core feelings you’re really chasing and then plan your day, month, career, and life accordingly. Note: discerning your “core desired feelings” is trickier and more time-consuming than it sounds.

Fiction

Most likely to make you wonder about those “perfect couples” in your social circle

The Silent Wife

A.S.A. Harrison

Harrison eerily writes “life has a way of taking its toll on the person you thought you were.”

This psychological thriller will leave you thinking about the dangers of compromise, acceptance and indifference…in your own relationship.

Best reunion with that “hot mess” of a friend I haven’t seen in years

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Helen Fielding

Once upon a time, Bridget and I were singletons together. It was good catching up with her and her now middle-aged romantic misadventures.

For me, Fielding is the original queen of Chick Lit.

Most laughs at the expense of Seattle, Microsoft culture, helicopter parenting & the self-help genre

Where’d You Go, Bernadette

Maria Semple

Semple makes satire “fun” and oh so easy to read.

Bonus: the story unfolds through emails, Emergency Room bills, FBI and Psychiatrist records, letters and other formats.

Like to read? You might like these posts as well:

If These Bookshelves Could Talk….

When it’s Okay to be A Quitter

Wondering what books made the “Favorites List” of other bloggers? Click here to check out Modern Mrs. Darcy’s My Favorite Books Link-up.