Favorite Books from 2019

My list may not be the same as the New York Times bestseller list or another “best books of 2019” list, but here are some of my favorites reads from the past year. I read about twice as much nonfiction as fiction, but there are some great novels in this group.

Nonfiction

• Becoming by Michelle Obama
• Thick and Other Essays by Tressie McMillan Cottom
• The Book of Delights by Ross Gay
• The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby
• All the Colors We Will See by Patrice Gopo
• Educated by Tara Westover
• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Fiction

• Elinor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
• Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
• The Neapolitan Quartet (My Brilliant Friend, The Story of a New Name, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay, The Story of the Lost Child) by Elena Ferrante
• In West Mills by De’Shawn Charles Winslow
• Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
• Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout

My goal for 2020 is to keep up the pace of about one book per week, although some take longer, others, less time to read. I typically stay with one book at a time and I look forward to settling in on a Sunday and starting new book. Many readers like to use audible and e-books, but I prefer the actual book, for the experience and feel of the book, so I can make my own notes (I know e-readers let you do this), because I want to take my time with the story, trying to figure out structure and pacing and how an author keeps me turning the page. I also found that I read more since I started setting an annual goal, because I make time to read rather than waiting to have time.

How do you decide what to read—booklists, recommendations from friends and other readers, reviews, book club? I’d love to hear how readers choose their books.