Best Books of the Year (June - December)
Best Books of the Year (June - December)
Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
I loved The Underground Railroad and the ending of The Nickel Boys was phenomenal. When Whitehead’s new novel came out this fall, I eagerly picked it up. I wasn’t disappointed either! The story revolves around Ray Carney, a furniture store owner and part time criminal. You follow Carney over an extended period of time as his store becomes more successful all while he continues to participate in the underworld of crime as a small-time player. The best part is Carney’s partial delusion – he keeps telling himself he’s not doing anything illegal or if he is, it’s small time stuff and so it doesn’t really matter. The novel is very different from Whitehead’s previous two, but it’s still excellent.
The Coddling of the American Mind by Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff
I saw this in the library and I thought, I’m not going to read it. Their Atlantic article from 2015 went viral and I already knew about some of the claims they make. And then I thought, well, this is a library and so I can always check it out and return it if I don’t like it. What a shame it would have been if I didn’t check it out! This book of nonfiction is excellent! As a parent of young children, I was particularly swayed by their argument about “safetyism” or the ways in which we harm children by trying to protect them too much. Although the book came out in 2018, it’s still pertinent to high school teachers, university students, parents, administrators of all stripes and more. I cannot recommend this book enough!
Paradise of the Blind by Duong Thu Huong
I’ve heard about this novel for years. There are a bunch of teachers that use this in their classroom (the author is listed on the PRL!) and I finally got around to reading it. I’m glad I did. You will have to find the right time and place to read it – the book moves slow at the start, but once I got into it, it was well worth it. The novel centers around three women, but really follows the story of Hang, a young woman who now lives in Soviet Russia as she thinks back on her life so far. Jumping between the absurdities of Communism with the absurdities of filial obligations, especially to the men in the family, the novel is a biting criticism of both systems and how they keep women from progressing and reaching their potential.
The Motion of the Body Through Space by Lionel Shriver
Shriver is such a prolific writer that it would be near impossible to read everything she’s ever produced. Because I liked We Need to Talk About Kevin, I picked up this novel from 2019. It’s superb! Her sarcastic take downs of athletic culture, specifically exercise habits and triathlons made me laugh throughout. It’s not perfect and there are moments that don’t work for me, but it’s worth it for her insights into the ways in which we try to hard when it comes to exercise.
While nowhere near as good as his (award winning) book of short stories Redeployment, I still enjoyed it. The plot revolves around conflict in Colombia and the US’s involvement in trying to eradicate or control the drug trade. It’s a literary thriller – well written prose that keeps you turning pages all while providing a larger commentary on war, drugs, international aid, diplomacy, the military and more.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
Okay, this is for kids (or is it?), but I’ve included it because it’s just a gorgeous and beautiful book. I was in a bookstore, was just browsing, intending to not buy anything, and then I flipped through this book. I had to purchase it! Part self-help, kind of like life advice from a variety of animals (and a boy), it’s an incredibly heartwarming book for any and all readers. And the drawings are incredible too.
Tiny Habits: Why Starting Small Makes Lasting Change Easy by BJ Fogg
My current school runs professional book clubs twice a year and this is the first one I read this year. It’s great! I particularly like the advice – even if it does feel particularly American to me – to wake up every morning and say this mantra to yourself: “Today’s going to be a good day.” The book of nonfiction is really about behavior and how to change it for the better. It covers everything from eating healthier to exercising more to reducing stress to feeling more grateful and so on. Broken down into simple and easy to understand steps, you learn how behavior works, what myths we need to stop telling ourselves, and how to change through tiny habits and routines.
One Last Thing Before I Go by Jonathan Tropper
The novel follows Silver, a middle aged, divorced, deadbeat dad who is trying to figure out his life before he kicks the can for good. His teen daughter is pregnant, his family resents him, and he’s not very likable. But the narrative voice, focusing on Silver, is so funny and sarcastic that it’s hard not to have a soft spot for Silver. Tropper excels at hilarious dialogue and there are a couple of very unexpected laugh out loud scenes.
The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa
The Travelling Cat Chronicles is a sweet little book that will bring joy cat lovers. It follows the story of Satoru and his cat Nana as they journey through life together in Japan. It’s a feel-good book that will lift your spirits if you are feeling down, even when things take a turn for the worse for these two lovable characters.
On my “books to read soon” list: Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian, Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr, and What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad
Finally, David and I are always grateful and humbled by your continued support. If you are on summer break, may you have a restful and enjoyable time off with family, friends, and good books. If you are on a winter break, may you find the time to rejuvenate after a long semester/term. If you celebrate a holiday this time of year, may it be merry. And most of all, I hope you and your loved ones are healthy and doing well.
Best,
Tim