Favorite Read of 2019

Happy New Year! It’s been a long one for sure, and I’m very excited to get started on my 2020 reads. New year, new playlists, movies, books, podcasts. 

I read twenty books in 2019, eight more than my goal, and for the most part, it was a very good reading year. I genuinely enjoyed almost every one I read. I’m pretty easy to please, though, I’ve only ever DNF-ed maybe three books in my life. This year, there was one book in particular that I loved more than any other: The Secret History by Donna Tartt.

I read The Goldfinch a few years ago, and it held up to be one of my favorite books of all time. Despite poor reviews, I enjoyed the movie as well—Oakes Fegley was incredible! But Tartt’s first novel takes the cake for me.

The Secret History details the events of a small group of Greek students at a tiny, elite liberal arts college. You find out in the first few pages that these students have killed someone in their group, Bunny, and then you rewind and watch the events that culminate to Bunny’s death unfold.

All of the characters, though protagonist Richard the least, are unlikable. They are entitled and selfish and deeply screwed up, living in a fantasy world of wealth and no consequences. Richard is on scholarship and has a moral compass. He’s an outsider, desperately trying to gain access to this group, to be one of them. As a reader, you just want to scream at him that they’re not worth it! They’re bad people! But somehow, you still want them to find redemption. You want them to be good people in the end, even though you know they all end up killing someone they’re supposed to be friends with.

The writing is beautiful and every word has a purpose. Tartt’s research into her work is incredible. So much depth to the story and the characters. I feel a million times smarter when I read her books. This one was truly fantastic. I want to read it a million more times and unpack every word, every sentence, every syllable. The Goldfinch was amazing, and Theo will always be close to my heart, but The Secret History is one that I will never stop thinking about. Richard’s need for acceptance and inclusion; Henry’s pomp and big head; Bunny’s cynicism and cold heart; Charles and Camilla’s messed up dynamic; Francis’s somewhat good intentions but terrible executions. Other than Richard, I’d say that Francis, though deeply flawed, is only other relatively sympathetic character. At least, I tried to think of him that way.

I still have so much to dissect with this book. So many nuances between the characters I didn’t catch. I haven’t loved a book like this in a long time.

I don’t want to say anything to spoil it, even though I may already have. I HIGHLY recommend this book to every single person, even the non-readers. Those latter folk might hate it but only because it’s too beautiful and might be too big of a leap from The Great Gatsby, their last high school-required read. Hey, it’s the roaring 20s 2.0, right?

My first read of 2020 is The Institute by Stephen King, one of my favorite writers. I have a busy January ahead of me, and I’m very excited for all the new adventures that await (and all that New Year, New Me yada yada). Not looking forward to the work stress, but it’s all a part of life, I suppose. I’m hoping for a big reading year, since I have quite a few on my personal list, as well as a few I’ve exchanged with two of my friends (dying to read One of Us is Lying Karen M. McManus, and now I’ve got it in my hands!).

Honorable mentions: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn; My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell; A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles; and Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby

What’s your favorite 2019 read? What are you starting with in 2020?