Stuff I Read in 2018

People often ask me, “How do you choose the books you read?” By people I mean me asking myself, no one else would really care. But I find it interesting to ask myself, so I did.

I often look at Amazon’s Best Books of the Month. Even though I know they probably get paid to choose these. But they have been a pretty reliable source, other than their monthly Stephen King selection. How many Stephen Kings are there?

I look for authors I have liked in the past. Unless I’ve already read 4 or more of their books, then I know I will just get annoyed that this one is too much like the other ones. And it will muddy my fond remembrances of the previous ones.

I look for cover art that is designed for people like me. What does that look like? I can’t describe it, but I know it when I see it. Sort of edgy, not Oprah-ish, with some snob appeal.

I read the blurbs on the back cover, and if they are written by authors I like then I will read the book. Even though I know none of them actually read the book.

I go to the library and pick up anything that looks remotely interesting, because it is free. Free books are simply the best deal on the planet, other than perhaps air. So I get a shopping cart, and just start tossing them in. I love libraries.

Anyway here is my summary of stuff I read last year.

I think of books in two categories: literary and entertainment. Literary books I read more slowly, word by word, like eating a prime filet mignon, and I feel nourished and improved. Entertainment books I just consume by the paragraph, more like Trader Joe’s salt-and-pepper potato chips, leaving me bloated and guilty. But they’re great going down.

I read lots of crime/mystery/thrillers in 2018, most of them falling in the entertainment category. But most of them are exceptionally well written; I realized this year that authors in this category deserves just as much respect as the literary ones, they just apply their talents differently. My favorites:

Angel Baby – Richard Lange is a really good writer, this one’s about a petty thief and gambler.

The Girl in the Window – expertly plotted thriller, nice twists, everybody read it so I downgraded my rating.

You Belong to Me – Colin Harrison creates great characters.

Sunburn – love Laura Lippman, this is my favorite.

How it Happened – Michael Koryta is terrific.

The Word is Murder – fun straddling of the lines between fact and fiction.

The Secrets She Keeps – read anything by Michael Robotham, especially this creepy thriller, or his last one which was even better.

The Witch Elm – Tana French is a great storyteller.

Crimson Lake – just your basic crime novel, done really well.

The Man in the Crooked Hat – kind of noirish, I like Harry Dolan.

A Dark and Sacred Night – Michael Connelley is just the best at police books.

I love books that make me laugh. It’s a remarkable thing really, to write something well enough to make someone laugh out loud, isn’t it? I get a warm feeling for authors who can make me laugh, unless maybe that’s just gas. These were my favorite humorous books last year, in descending orders of LOL’s.

The IQ series – these three novels by Joe Ide are a hoot, especially IQ, the first one. Just read it.

Today Will Be Different – few writers make me laugh like Maria Semple, I like this one about a snob who knows she’s a snob as much as Where Did You Go Bernadette?

Lawn Boy – Jonathan Evison’s ode to an underachiever.

The Satanic Mechanic – food and murder in South Africa.

Money for Nothing and What’s So Funny – a couple of old classics by Donald Westlake, the king of the bumbling burglar genre.

As for the literary books, you know, the ones you casually drop into conversations with your friends if you ever get off the internet and talk to them. These were…

The Mars Room – a powerful look at a woman on the down and out.

Bearskins – a great story about a man hiding from his past deep in Appalachia.

An American Marriage – Oprah liked it, but I did anyway. A view into a culture of which I am unfamiliar.

November Road – a compelling trip with a gangster in the 60’s.

Once Upon a River – a great storyteller’s tale about storytellers in 19^th century England.

And then there were the quirky books, the ones that defy categorization. When you read a lot of formulaic books you appreciate quirky books.

Asymmetry – the first section about an affair with a not-very-well-disguised famous writer is remarkable.

Young Jane Young – you’ll quickly recognize the protagonist in this very 21^st century story of what it’s like to be infamous.

Heather, The Totality – I loved this twisted little book. It’s a few hours of evil entertainment, you’ll feel guilty.

Here are a few acclaimed books that I didn’t like:

There, There – couldn’t keep the characters straight, gave up.

Killing Commendatore – great first half and then really weird.

The Immortalists – Great reviews, hated it.

Last and most assuredly not least, I tripled my consumption of non-fiction books this year, I read three.

21 Lessons for the 21^st Century – a very good overview of the challenges ahead, especially if you don’t obsessively consume magazine articles.

Educated – a remarkably written remarkable story. Has to be at the top of every list.

When Breath Becomes Air – I saved this for last. Written in 2017, it is on my very short list of life-changing books. I was profoundly moved and inspired by this book, and I can say that it has already made a difference in my life. Though my circumstances are somewhat unique, I would recommend it to anyone.

So that’s my summary. I’ll post the complete list further down on my blog. Please let me know if you have comments or would like to know more about any of these books, it’s great to get feedback, even from trolls. Remember the opposite of being loved isn’t being hated it’s being ignored. And on that happy note, I will sign off, happy reading!