Another year is over, and, as usual, there were so many good books to read! Here is a sampling of what I really enjoyed. There are two moving memoirs, two travel books; one is a revelatory journey around the world and the other is a trip with a talented and enthusiastic author who takes you through the regions of Spain in search of their incomparable cuisine. But, there are also fiction titles with quirky characters or unreliable narrators, Appalachian and historical fiction, a romance or two that may make you cry, a beautifully illustrated cookbook and a book about whales that will hopefully make you view these animals and their rights in a more compassionate and different light.
Lonely Planet’s The Travel Book is my vote for the best nonfiction book I read for its concise but thorough country descriptions and all the little magical facts you uncover about each country. Hands down, my favorite fiction title was Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng, and, in the interest of full disclosure, that’s partly because she paints my hometown in a realistic way that only someone who has lived here could do.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
The Killer Whale Who Changed the World