I read A LOT of books this year and this post is an ode to those I loved so much, that I bestowed five stars on them. I talked to anyone and everyone about them for days, weeks, months even. It is hard to list them in any particular order. However, books in the #1 and #2 positions truly earned those spots. The books are on the list for me having read them this year, not that they were necessarily published in 2018.
As I was putting the finishing touching on this post, I was tagged in a year-end book meme that I thought was a really neat idea. Esther from Bite Into Books created Your Year in Books last year and it is a fun way to share the stats you've accumulated. Here are mine:
I read a total of 63,601 pages across 290 books
The average book length I read was 219 pages.
The shortest book I read was 20 pages - My Heart is a House by Stacey Rawlings.
The longest book was Perfect Murder, Perfect Town by Lawrence Schiller at 838 pages.The most popular book I read was The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, with 1,788,692 total readers.
The least popular was My Heart is a House by Stacey Rawlings, with only one other reader (seriously, spread the word about this sweet story. Such a great way to help little ones understand why preparing our hearts for God is so important).
My average rating for the year was 3.4 stars.
The highest rated book that I read and reviewed was My Heart is a House, with 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My first review of 2018 was Long Road to Hard Truth
My last review of 2018 was Obama: An Intimate Portrait
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Now, onto the books I loved this year!
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week a bookish topic is provided and everyone is invited to share their lists related to that topic.
Originally this was going to be my top ten books, but as I looked through my Goodreads list, I found roughly 30 books I gave five stars to. A few I have left off of this list were chapter books that I read with Eleanor, which were great. However, seeing as the primary focus of my blog is adult books, I selected just a few of the many books Eleanor read together all year.
(Links go to my review. Some will have no link if the review is not up yet.)
Now, onto the books I loved this year!
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Each week a bookish topic is provided and everyone is invited to share their lists related to that topic.
Originally this was going to be my top ten books, but as I looked through my Goodreads list, I found roughly 30 books I gave five stars to. A few I have left off of this list were chapter books that I read with Eleanor, which were great. However, seeing as the primary focus of my blog is adult books, I selected just a few of the many books Eleanor read together all year.
(Links go to my review. Some will have no link if the review is not up yet.)
#1 Beastie Boys Book by Michael Diamond and Adam Horowitz
#2 The Colour of Time: A New History of the World 1850-1960 by Dan Jones and Marina Amaral
Here are the rest, in no particular order.
Firebird by Misty Copeland
The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors by Drew Daywalt
Spirit of the Cage: True Accounts of Living in a Haunted Medieval Prison by Richard Estep and Vanessa Mitchell
The Last Days of Jesus by Andreas Köstenburger and Justin Taylor (You will see this book every year; I read it the week leading up to Easter)
The Mercy Prayer by Robert Gelinas
Becoming Naomi León by Pam Muńoz Ryan
Lincoln's Last Trial: The Murder Case That Propelled Him to the Presidency by Dan Abrams
The Man Who Caught the Storm: The Life of Legendary Tornado Chaser Tim Samaras by Brantley Hargrove
No Justice: One White Police Office, One Black Family, and How One Bullet Ripped Us Apart by Robbie Tolan
Unbelievable: My Front Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History by Katy Tur
Obama: An Oral History by Brian Abrams
My Heart is a House by Stacey and Monterio Rawlings
Fear: Trumplethinskin in the White House by Bob Woodward
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
Saved by the Boats: The Heroic Sea Evacuation of September 11 by Julie Gassman
No Easy Answers: The Truth Behind Death at Columbine by Brooks Brown and Rob Merritt
And last but not least, a Christmas treasure that I finished up this afternoon, and my final book review of the year:
There you have it, lovelies. Have you read any of the books on my list - if so, which one(s)? If you have created your own "top books of 2018" list, leave a link in the comments and I will take a look.
Here's to a new year full of new books, just waiting to be discovered.
Happy Reading!
Sarah
Die Hard: An Oral History by Brian Abrams
Ship Ablaze: The Tragedy of the Steamboat General Slocum by Edward T. O'Donnell
Eddie and the Cruisers by P.F. Kluge
Firebird by Misty Copeland
The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors by Drew Daywalt
Long Road to Hard Truth: The 100-Year Mission to Create the National Museum of African American History and Culture by Robert L. Wilkins
Death of Innocence: The Story of the Hate Crime that Changed America by Mamie Till-Mobley
The Day Sonny Died by M. Simone Boyd and Onnie I. Kirk, Jr.
Spirit of the Cage: True Accounts of Living in a Haunted Medieval Prison by Richard Estep and Vanessa Mitchell
The Last Days of Jesus by Andreas Köstenburger and Justin Taylor (You will see this book every year; I read it the week leading up to Easter)
The Mercy Prayer by Robert Gelinas
Becoming Naomi León by Pam Muńoz Ryan
Lincoln's Last Trial: The Murder Case That Propelled Him to the Presidency by Dan Abrams
The Man Who Caught the Storm: The Life of Legendary Tornado Chaser Tim Samaras by Brantley Hargrove
No Justice: One White Police Office, One Black Family, and How One Bullet Ripped Us Apart by Robbie Tolan
Unbelievable: My Front Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History by Katy Tur
Obama: An Oral History by Brian Abrams
My Heart is a House by Stacey and Monterio Rawlings
Fear: Trumplethinskin in the White House by Bob Woodward
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
Saved by the Boats: The Heroic Sea Evacuation of September 11 by Julie Gassman
No Easy Answers: The Truth Behind Death at Columbine by Brooks Brown and Rob Merritt
And last but not least, a Christmas treasure that I finished up this afternoon, and my final book review of the year:
There you have it, lovelies. Have you read any of the books on my list - if so, which one(s)? If you have created your own "top books of 2018" list, leave a link in the comments and I will take a look.
Here's to a new year full of new books, just waiting to be discovered.
Happy Reading!
Sarah
Great list!
ReplyDeletehttps://tbrandbeyond.com/2019/01/01/top-ten-tuesday-8-books-i-could-re-read-forever/
Thank you, Happy New Year!!
DeleteHappy new year! So many of these books look fabulous. I don't think I've read that one on Lincoln. Ship Ablaze, Death of Innocence and The Final Days of Jesus also caught my eye.
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping 2019 is filled with blessings.
http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/2019/01/top-ten-tuesday-best-books-i-read-in.html
Thank you Cheryl - it was a very good book year for me! The Lincoln book was so great, and I think having the trial transcripts made all the difference, we know verbatim Lincoln's words during. I read The Final Days of Jesus every year, and the author also has one I read at Christmas time called The First Days of Jesus. Happy New Year and many blessings for you.
DeleteBeastie Boys! The Colour of Time looks interesting. Eddie and the Cruisers! Now I have On the Darkside playing in my head unbidden haha! The Last Days of Jesus which I still need to get, but I have that one written down from your review earlier in the year.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!!!
I will get the Beastie Boys Book review done tomorrow or Wednesday before Eleanor and I have to leave my mom's...I can't believe break is almost over :'(
DeleteDid I also tell you about The First Days of Jesus, by the same author? It's really good as well, and in the same format of looking at each event as it happened.
My daughter is obsessed with Eddie, as I was (am). I do recommend the book, because even though there were huge differences, Eddie was still Eddie. I was so worried he would be someone completely different, but he wasn't.
I'm not sure if you did, but now I know haha! Writing that one down too, because honestly... I love stuff like that. Adding context- I always want to know more about HOW they lived, etc.
DeleteI might be due for a rewatch of Eddie.
Sorry to hear you have to leave soon- it's always good to be home and is bittersweet when break is over. Safe travels!
Good! I did not love it quite as much as The Final Days of Jesus, but it is still a really excellent source of material.
DeleteWatch it!! And then read the book - it's worth it, I promise. So many scenes and words are word-for-word from the book and it made my heart so happy.
I'm not looking forward to leaving either, and Eleanor is bummed too. I wish I could just be paid to read and write, all day. That's the dream, isn't it?!
Happy New Year! I haven't read any of these books yet, but I love to see what books people loved!
ReplyDeletehappy New Year to you as well, Brooke! Thanks for coming by :)
DeleteMy stats are pitiful in comparison to yours, Sarah. Congrats on reading so many books - and I'm glad you found some great new favorites from all those goods. Hope 2019 is another great reading year - and thanks so much for the Finding Wonderland visit. :)
ReplyDeleteNo problem Rissi! It has been a while since I have done a TTT, and this was the perfect opportunity to get back into it and visit blogs I have not been to in a while. Happy New Year, here's to a new year full of great books!
DeleteWhat a reading year! I recognise some of these books on this list, but not all of them. You have such a wide range. Happy New Year! My TTT
ReplyDeleteThanks Chrissi! These were great, hope you get to try a few of them. Happy New Year!
DeleteI've got a few of these in my house ready to read-Obama An Oral History, Fear, Unbelivable, The Truth Behind Death at Columbine. This is going to be a great reading year!
ReplyDeleteYay, I'm glad you have those!! Unbelievable is just so crazy, it really lives up to the subtitle. I can still hear the creepy way trumplethinskin would say Katy Tur's name at his rallies, like a 'Kaaaty' kind of thing when he would say she isn't being nice to him. SO GROSS.
DeleteAll new books to me!
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by Nicci, hope you give one a try - they're wonderful. Happy New Year!
DeleteHoly moly your stats are incredible. Nice!
ReplyDeleteReally interesting list of books too, taking notes over here.
I just posted my 2018 favs as well, such a fun time of year. :)
Thank you Nikki! I agree, I do love this time of year, and seeing what I accomplished - and what others did as well. I hope you find some great reads on ym list, Happy New Year!
DeleteHappy reading for 2019!!
ReplyDeleteMy Top 10 Books of 2018
Thank you Erica, Happy New Year and here's to new reads that we love in 2019!
DeleteYou had quite a varied list this year! And the funny thing is, the only ones I've read on this list are the nonfiction ones - Fear, Lincoln's Last Trial, and Unbelievable. Haha.
ReplyDeleteHere is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
Most of these are non-fiction, it is what I read almost exclusively. I love non-fiction most (obviously, haha). Thanks for coming by, Happy New Year!
DeleteThere's so many great sounding books on your list. I can't believe I haven't read any of them. Happy New Year! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Ashley, I definitely lucked out with tons of good ones this year. Thanks for coming by!
DeleteLooks like you had a lot of great reads this year. I hope in 2019 you have many more. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI did Alicia, thank you! Thanks for stopping by and here's to us finding many more treasures in 2019!
DeleteYou read 290 books?! How? I wish I could do that. I’m glad you liked I’ll Be Gone In The Dark. I’m still on the world’s longest waitlist for that book. Happy 2019!
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Never cleaning my home! Just kidding, mostly.
DeleteI use the time after putting my daughter to bed to read, write, and review. I have to carve out at least an hour of reading time a day or I get kind of anxious. Reading helps calm me when I am stressed. On the evenings and weekends when my daughter has to go to her dad's, I read, write, and review then also.
Honestly, if this is a book you are truly, truly psyched for (which I think I remember us talking about it a while ago), you'd be just fine buying it. It's so, so good.
Oh my goodness, you read so many books! Congratulations! Also, I love your blog name! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThank you Niamh, it was a good year for books! My blog name came about because when I was first setting it up, every funny/witty name I tried was already in use. I got frustrated and literally said out loud, "UGH! All the book blog names are taken!" and voila, my blog was born. Happy New Year!
DeleteI love that story! And I totally relate!
DeleteThank you! It was SO TOUGH, I was getting so frustrated.
DeleteThe Girl on the Train is one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog earlier!
No problem! I have not done a TTT in a looooong while, so I made sure to hit as many of the blogs as I used to for this one!
DeleteI really loved The Girl on the Train too, I read it in like, an hour. It was so good. Happy New Year!
Great list!! I'm interested in the Obama books!!
ReplyDeleteHere’s my Top Ten Tuesday!
Ronyell @ Rabbit Ears Book Blog
Thank you Ronyell! The Souza book on Obama is absolutely gorgeous. Abrams' oral history is fantastic too, so many contributors, absolutely fantastic. Happy New Year!
DeleteWowwww, that is a lot of books for the year, congrats! And I suppose, not surprising that it was hard to narrow down! I really want to read the Obama books, but I don't think my heart can handle it without the tears yet! I saw a video the other day with legit just a clip of his inauguration and BAM, down a spiral of "but... we MISS YOU" hah. Glad you found so many gems this year, and I hope 2019 treats you well!
ReplyDeleteThank you Shannon! The book by Souza will absolutely leave you crying both with happiness and in despair. Souza chose some really beautiful moments, some tense ones, and even some not-so-great ones. Definitely get it - I got it for 50% off at Barnes and Noble on Sunday, it is normally $50. Hope 2019 is full of wonderful treasures for you also, Happy New Year!
DeleteI still have chills over I'll Be Gone in the Dark. Great list!
ReplyDeleteThank you! And yes, that book was absolutely amazing. When people tell me they are still on the waiting list for it at their library, I recommend just buying it (either new or used), because it is worth it. So good. So, so good.
Delete