2019 Top 10 Books that I Read and Loved
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Most of my friends know that I’m a huge huge bookworm 📖🐛. I love the sense of escapism books provides. I love how I can learn firsthand about a person’s struggle and success. I love how I can gain new insight into various topics. It helps me keep my mind sharp. More importantly, reading books in English was how I learned the language quickly when I moved to America 15+ years ago (Mandarin is my first language).
One of my longtime rituals is to read before bedtime. That’s how I wind down from the day and leave it all behind. Multiple people have told me to keep track of the books I have read year after year, but I always shrugged it off. To be honest, I’m not even sure why.
Something shifted this year and I decided to start keeping track of the books I read. It has been extremely exciting to keep track of my progress. I never had the intention to read an X amount of books this year because I don’t want to pressure myself to read a book fast for the sake of reading (unless it’s truly a boring book). Later half of this year, I got more serious and dedicated to my readings that I was basically going through a book every week. I ended up reading 41 books thus far and wanted to share my list of top reads with everyone since many were curious. Enjoy!
Top 10 Books of 2019
In no particular order. Included links where you can get a copy yourself.
Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman
Ok I lie, even though I said this list is in no particular order, “Call Me By Your Name” is my favorite book I read this year. I first heard about the movie and its hype during awards season and kept it in the back of my mind. Too many times, movies do not give the book a faithful adaptation so I decided to read the book first. Aciman’s writing was enchanting and I fell in love with the spiraling prose language. I did read the sequel that came out this year, “Find Me,” but it is painfully bad. The movie was brilliant and mostly faithful to the book, even lifting several passages from it.
2. Know My Name by Chanel Miller
Chanel Miller reclaims her voice as a survivor of sexual assault by Brock Turner in this powerful memoir where she tells her side of the story and the struggles she dealt with in the aftermath. As a WOC, I appreciate how Miller doesn’t shy away from her identity and the importance of it. There are so many powerful passages from this book about the struggles women deal with on a daily basis. Highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
3. The Defining Decade by Meg Jay, PhD
As someone who is exploring and figuring things out in her early 20s, this book was a godsend. Jay, a therapist, argues why your 20s are one of your most important decades and lays out ways to take control of it. Too often her clients in their 30s come in bemoaning to her how they wished they took X thing more seriously. Yes, being in your 20s is an exciting time, but you can’t run from reality forever.
4. Nothing to Envy by Barbara Demick
I love a good historical fiction or nonfiction book. My more recent historical reads have been set during WW2 so I was ready to expand my focus. Demick does a great job weaving the stories of six North Korean citizens and the history of the country. The country has long been shrouded in mystery and media has obviously portrayed it a certain way. Demick’s reporting and interview with the citizens give readers a chance to see first-hand what was truly happening.
5. This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay
I have a hard time reading comedic books. Nothing against it. It’s just that I’m more of a visual comedy person if that makes sense. The book details Kay’s time doing his UK medical residency and you can’t help but empathize, laugh, or cry throughout each diary entry. I have more respect for the stuff doctor’s go through on a daily basis (which if you read Kay’s book, is a lot).
6. Bad Blood by John Carreyrou
If you’re looking for a fascinating thriller, this is it. The book gives you a full story of what led to the rise and downfall of the much-hyped multibillion dollar bio tech startup, Theranos, founded Elizabeth Holmes. Carreyrou was the first reporter to break the story and he turned it into an intriguing read that I could not put down. After reading the book, you should watch the HBO documentary “The Inventor,” which covers this topic as well.
7. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
While the stigma of mental health is slowly eroding, it still exists. Gottlieb herself is a therapist and had everything she wanted. Things come crashing down unexpectedly, which led her to start seeing a therapist. Gottlieb details her journey and four of her personal clients about their struggles, hopes, dreams, desire, and guilt. The book gives a refreshing honest perspective on being human. My biggest takeaway was how Gottlieb points out that too many times, people come to see her when stuff hits the fan and think coming to see her once or twice will solve it. Mental health is a journey and needs to be prioritized more.
8. The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger
In his debut book, Iger shares the lessons he’s learned along the way and the values he instills as the current CEO of The Walt Disney Company. It was such a great read; you can feel the warmth and care he has for his employees. He explores four main principles that he believes are essential for leadership: optimism, courage, decisiveness, and fairness. This book is great to read if you want to gain better leadership skills, but also any person who wants to be a better person, professionally and personally.
9. China Marine by E.B. Sledge
I was inspired to read this book after reading Sledge’s first book, “With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa,” where he shares first-hand his experience fighting in the South Pacific during WW2 (the book helped launch the HBO show “The Pacific,” sequel to “Band of Brothers”). This second memoir details his experience after surviving WW2, being sent to China as part of the US occupation, and reintegrating himself into civilian life back in Mobile, Alabama. Sledge does not shy away from the horrors of war, what it does to people both physically and mentally. A short read that packs a punch with a deeply personal experience.
10. Memories by Lang Leav
I have been a fan of Leav’s writing for a couple years now and for some reason, haven’t read “Memories” before. Reading it made me fall in love with Leav’s writing all over again. Some poems are so simple yet so true. Her poems are always eloquently written about topics of love, loss, and memories. I believe anyone can resonate with some of these poems on a certain level no matter where you are in life.
Check out my Goodread’s account to see the other books I have read this year. I’m still updating my “read books” list from over the years so please be patient. Would love to connect with you if you have an account too!
What were some of your favorite books this year? Please comment below so I can add it to my 2020 reading list!