Hello, and welcome back to my annual book discussion

As usual, one of my goals for 2019 was to read 24 books. I would be lying if I said I came anywhere close to that goal. Some years, you just have to face the facts and admit defeat. (2020 will totally be my year, right?) Below is a little review of the books I did read over the course of 2019.

1 and 2
The Day is Ready for You, Alison Malee
Crown Anthology, Various poets  

I’m combining the first two books since they’re almost the same book. The first two books of the year that I read were Alison Malee’s poetry compilation “The Day Is Ready for You” and a poetry collection called “Crown Anthology,” which is a collaboration of many different poets. As some of you might know, I’m a huge poetry fan, but I would compare some of the newest poetry out there to sugary snacks – cheap, easy to digest, but lacking in any substance or value. These books were no exception.

3
All Quiet on the Western Front, Erich Maria Remarque

I read this classic novel with a high school student I’m tutoring. I couldn’t put it down. It was horrifying and disturbing, but also raw and real. I would never choose to read a war novel, but this one impressed me. I highly recommend this WWI novel, written by a WWI soldier himself.

4
The Inescapable Love of God, Thomas Talbott

I read this non-fiction book along with a friend of mine for a book discussion. If you like to explore and dissect Christian philosophies, this is the book for you. It reads like a textbook, complete with footnotes that occasionally take up more space than the main text. That being said, I would completely recommend this book to anyone NOT looking for a light read.

5
Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer

I also read this book in order to help a student. This book is journalist Krakauer’s story about Christopher McCandless, a young man whose love of adventure ultimately leads him to his death in the middle of Alaska. The story tries to piece together McCandless personality and motivations through his encounters and correspondences. While the topic should have been interesting, I found the book a bit dry.

6
God is Young, Pope Francis

This book is a collection of interviews with Pope Francis. Very easy to read and insightful. Excelleny for anyone who wants to know more about the current pope’s outlook on life and faith.

7
The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood

This is probably the best book I read all year. This is a dystopian novel asks all sorts of questions about society, government, religion, and feminism. Atwood’s writing is gripping and poetic. And no, I haven’t seen the TV show. I don’t even want to see it. I don’t think anything could be better than the novel itself.

8
Make Your Bed, Admiral William H. McRaven

This short book gives some life lessons that Admiral McRaven learned as a Navy Seal. I couldn’t agree more with his chapter on making your bed. He suggests that it is key to a productive day. I am completely on board with this. Anyone else with me?

9
The Taming of the Shrew, William Shakespeare

I’m a huge Shakespeare fan, so I naturally enjoyed reading this. Not my favorite of The Bard’s plays, but fun to read nonetheless. It’s also fun to read opposing analyses of the script: was it a sexist reflection of the times or a secretly feminist storyline?

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