Favorite Books of 2019

[@caitlinreads7641]

I’m so happy you’re back. Any time you talk about a book, you make me want to read it.

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

Highest compliment!! 🥰

[@lipsohlips97]

I LOVED Beartown. It really suprised me. I put of reading it for long time because I new it was darker read and I kept saying oh I'm not in the mood. When I finally did pick it up I was so surprised. The first 1/3 was actually very light and funny. You really get to know all the characters. Backman is amazingly talented. I also started Reading "man called Ove" but didn't get to finish because I had to return the book to the library. Definitely planning on coming back to it because it was enjoyable. The author is truly someone special but I can see how it might not be everyone's cup of tea. One of the most masterful parts of Beartown was DEF character building. Like you said, it wasn't all good or all bad. You feel for victims and you feel for perpetrators even if you hate what they did.

[@readingwithjade8014]

Ah Katie, I could just listen to you talk about books all day - you are so articulate with regards to your thoughts about books and your passion of certain elements shine. I have added a few books you've mentioned here to by ever expanding wishlist. I also have a couple of recommendations for you... I read The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction by Meghan Cox Gurdon, in which the writer talks about her experience of reading aloud, including as a family - I think you may like that. Also, by way of middle grade fiction, have you read any books by Emma Carroll? She is a UK MG author, and is well known and loved for her historical fiction here. I loved hearing all about your favourites of 2019, and wish you happy reading for 2020!

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

Definitely adding the read aloud book to my list! And Emma Carroll! I have never even heard of her. Do you have a suggestion about where to start??

[@readingwithjade8014]

@@LifeBetweenWords1Oh gosh, all her books are wonderful. Ha! My particular favourites are Frost Hollow Hall, The Girl Who Walked on Air, and also In Darkling Wood - those are actually the first three books published by her, and whilst I have loved the ones that have followed, those three really standout to me still even years after reading.

[@rasaslase]

There is no enough words to describe how happy I am that you are back making videos. 💛 I really enjoy Middle Grade books too. Can wait for March. I have heard a lot of good things about Bear Town and am thinking about reading it.

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

Oooh that makes me so happy to hear Liene!

[@ColorfulBooknester]

I absolutely loved the audible version of Once Upon A River soooo much! I am trying to get through all the book son my shelves, OK at least a majority before getting a new one - but because of Kate Howe and now YOU! I want to get to Gamache very much! Haha "Sometimes you have to kill your darlings."love that! So looking forward to seeing and hearing from you in 2020!

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

I think you’ll really enjoy Louise Penny’s books!!

[@YourTrueShelf]

I'm so excited to have stumbled across your channel - fellow booktube mamas are my favourites to find!! I really enjoyed watching, and I have added 5 to my wishlist. You talked about the books so beautifully that it really made me want to read them 🙂

[@hotmommyto2]

I am currently reading "Beartown" and I hope that I love it as much as you did. I own "Gone with the Wind", but have always been a little intimidated by the sheer size of it. I have seen the movie, but it has been years. I am glad to see you back and posting videos again!

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

Don’t be intimidated by Gone With the Wind! It is so very readable!

[@anitahayne8621]

The reason I have always enjoyed your videos so much is because of your enthusiasm for reading and books.

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

Oh thank you!! Books mean so much to me!

[@carliegoddard1426]

I also loved Ordinary Grace so very much. I had lost my dad a month before I read, and it was so moving. I will be reading This Tender Land with a friend of mine this year and really looking forward to it.

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

I think there’s something about the freshness of grief and reading about death in such an honest and profound way. It was sad, but it was also so beautiful. I hope you love This Tender Land! It’s equally deep, but a much more adventurous story!

[@Tinahgirl83]

I don’t have kids but I really enjoy listening to episodes of Read Aloud Revival. I have lots of kids around me so it helps me make recommendations to their parents or to buy books for them. She has the cutest segment at the end of each episode where the kids tell you themselves what hey love and why. I had to stop reading Louise Penny. I love he series but I suffer from extremely bad anxiety and there was way too much non-crime-related intrigue going on, and it was making me ill every time I read one. I get way too attached to characters and when things happen to the main series characters I can’t handle it. Maybe one day I can pick them back up again. Bury Your Dead and The Brutal Telling are two of the best I’ve ever read. Also, as a Black person born and raised in the South, I think Gone With the Wind is an amazing book, and one of my favorite movies of all time. Slavery, even at the time, wasn’t always black and white (pun intended). It was horrendous and wrong, and yet even within my family history, there is a great deal of gray as to the relationships between individuals. It took me many years to come to terms with some of my own history and the ties that still exist between even my closest relatives and people who’s forefathers, back then, owned members of our family.

[@jbruno871]

You really make me want to read every single book you talk about, even if I feel like I'm not initially interested in it. You have a great way of expressing your thoughts about them. I hope your reading year in 2020 is also great! :)

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

That is the best compliment!! I’m such a book pusher! 🤣💗

[@ashgarstin4307]

I loved the read aloud family and put so many new books on our tbr. I also got to A Rule Against Murder and even though a lot of people said they did not enjoy it as much as the others, I really found it engaging. I am going to try and get through a few more in the series this year instead of waiting so long in between. Glad to see your videos again!

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

I really liked A Rule Against Murder! But the series gets REALLY good after that!

[@katehowereads]

This video was such a delight to watch, Katie! Sweep has stayed with me so much - I definitely will reread it at some point. I am making sure that I read The War That Saved My Life this year! Bear Town sounds like such a powerful book. I’m so glad you enjoyed Gone With the Wind! Scarlett and Rhett are such fascinating characters. I hope 2020 is also a great reading year for you!

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

I am not sure I’ve ever read more vivid characters than Scarlett and Rhett! They are both despicable (although Rhett is infinitely more likable) and yet they are SO fun to read! And I will also reread Sweep! Even talking about it makes me want to reread it!

[@tanyawillisanderson]

Katie - such a great video!! I’ve put several on my list to read. I enjoyed your thoughts on GWTW - yes, these books are meant to be ready and knowing they have that edge is key but they should still be available. Here’s to 2020 reading!!

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

Absolutely! It should always be available.

[@barbarachmura2695]

Loved your reviews and discussion of each novel. Just got Bear Town and Starless Sea. My Book Club reads a Louise Penney book each and started with Still Life many years ago.

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

Ooo Starless Sea is everywhere right now!

[@genresandjournals]

I really want to start the Louise Penny series. And man, I really need to read Sweep and Beartown. This was a great list. Hope you have another wonderful reading year in 2020!

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

You DO need to read Sweep and Beartown! They are both excellent!!

[@shajipk8676]

I am a beginer in reading.. your videos are motivating me to read more books. Looking at you gives me energy to read.. thanks. Shaji from india!

[@anancybrown]

Always a pleasure to watch your videos ^_^ also Once Upon a River was my favorite book that I read in 2019 so I got excited when you said it was in your top 10! I feel like it’s one that I will be thinking about for years to come.

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

It has really stuck with me and I read it at the very beginning of 2019!!

[@jsscraphappy]

Love your videos! Our readings tastes are so similar! I also savored and slowly read the Gamache series for years, and caught up this fall. I read Once Upon a River and loved the story telling, place etc. but I felt the characters were not developed enough. Like I was more concerned about the pig than the girl LOL! I loved Ordinary Grace. All of the others (except the middle grade) have been on my TBR for quite awhile. God bless -good to see you back! :-)

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

I totally agree about Once Upon a River! The characters felt very removed. Usually that bothers me so much! But I couldn’t get this book out of my head! Who knows??

[@annalisamoretti271]

You always make me want to read the books you talk about! Have you ever read My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante? I think you would really enjoy those books.

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

I haven’t! I gave it to my mom years ago to read, but never read it myself!

[@annie-mz9956]

So sorry for your loss in 2019. Hope you have a beautiful 2020. Appreciate your review...thank you!

[@stephr2433]

Welcome back!! I will be adding The War That Saved My Life and Sweep to my tbr! This Tender Land was SO good 😊

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

Oh my goodness you won’t be disappointed!!

[@HannahsBooks]

Beartown is at the top of my spouse’s list-and I just finished another of Backman’s books and loved it. Warmth of Other Suns is so good!

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

Which other books have you read by Backman? Did you enjoy it?

[@HannahsBooks]

Life Between Words I’ve only read And Every Morning the Way Home-which I read this past week and reviewed this morning. It was lovely. My husband has read many of his novels and loved them all.

[@chelseaandrews200]

Ahhh I need to read the Read Aloud Family! I absolutely loved the read aloud handbook. I need to get on that asap!

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

Oh you def need to read it!!

[@kaelag387]

Thank you for these book recommendations! I’m so glad i found your channel!

[@vickysbooknook]

Sweep was a great read! I’m looking forward to Middle Grade March this year :) I was also pleasantly surprised by Bear Town. I need to read the sequel soon.

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

Krista and I are starting to plan for it this year! So excited!!

[@Georgesmomsu]

I’m so happy I discovered your channel... although you are really killing my tbr. Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land are now next on my list. Have a wonderful weekend.

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

I’m so glad you found me! And so sorry to be killing your tbr! 😂🙈

[@BobbiReads]

Please do a video on Gone With the Wind!!! I read it in 2018 for the first time, and while I loved it I struggled with the blatant racism. I know during the 1860’s a lot of that was very real and the author was a sympathizer of the South, but man some of the language was very hard to stomach. I’ve never heard anyone do a deep dive discussion on the book and since you’ve done all the research I would love to hear your in depth thoughts!

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

Maybe I will! I probably should before too much time has past and I forget a lot of my thoughts!

[@rachellyn5897]

I'm reading Beartown now and it's so freaking good. Great video!

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

It’s SO GOOD!! I’m so glad you’re loving it!

[@sabrinacomello8126]

My favorite booktuber coming back it’s the only good think about 2020 so far 😍

[@callmeaftercoffee]

I tried to get my sister to read a man called Ove and she DNF'D it 🙈. I was so surprised because I loved it so much! I haven't read gone with the wind in like 6 years. Definitely has its flaws, but I would love to reread it at some point. But Scarlett is suuuuch a love/hate character. She's horrible, but also a survivor. I remember her just pulling up her bootstraps and making things work. But man did she do a lot of appalling things. Dang. Now I want to reread even more 🙈.

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

I’d reread it with you! But not this year. And I’d reread Ove with you if you ever want to reread that one! 😂

[@callmeaftercoffee]

Life Between Words hahaha takes a while to want to take that on again 😂😂😂. I'd probably be down for Ove again some time! But maybe not too soon hehe I just read it in the summer 😉😁.

[@lisadeale]

I DNF a man called ove. My sister recommended it and it just didn't grab me. Had to return it before I was finished and wasn't drawn to reborrow it 😶

[@starian72]

This Tender Land sounds up my alley!

[@mohammaddaigum1860]

I am a new subscriber , and You're amazing!!

[@bookellenic1327]

I really want to read Once Upon A River and Beartown!

[@SaraMGreads]

Hmm Bear Town sounds interesting.

[@RWhit774]

Your enthusiasm drew me in to be the new subbie I am! Just finished reading “The breakdown” by B. A. Paris and thoroughly loved it!! Have u read it? Thanks for all the great insight. XO

[@sierrabohnsack587]

Please make a video about middle grade reads!

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

I plan to!! I love middle grade so much.

[@LittlePrairieLibrary]

I would love to see your video about Midwestern fiction!

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

I’ll do one sometime!!

[@rhondanelson1976]

I have a question for you Katie. I am a book collector and have been admiring those black and white diamond spines in the middle of your Everyman's Library books. Do you mind sharing with me what books/collections they are?

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

Of course I don’t mind! They are (like you said) Everyman’s Library editions of Persuasion, Sense & Sense, and Pride & Prej! They don’t specify if they’re special editions, but they all have a portrait of Jane Austen on the covers.

[@rhondanelson1976]

Life Between Words Thanks Katie! They are simply beautiful. 😍

[@skijumpnose]

The Read Aloud Family, I think i will make that my first read of the year

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

It was fab!

[@shajipk8676]

Kindly try to present world classic book. Thanks

[@breannawilliamson9787]

I don’t think Gone With The Wind glorifies the racism. I don’t know. Maybe I’m wrong. A lot of books with racism in them are anti-racist, like my favorite book, To Kill A Mockingbird.

[@wendyhoward2699]

New sub. Love your channel.

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

Oh thank you!! And welcome! :)

[@monicaterzic]

I spy Where the Crawdads Sing 😁

[@Yesica1993]

For "Once Upon a River", does it give you at least some answers by the end? It sounds intriguing, but I get frustrated with books that have an intentionally vague ending in order to satisfy everyone, so that you have no clue what happened.

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

It’s a little vague? I felt satisfied, but you don’t get all the answers.

[@Yesica1993]

@@LifeBetweenWords1 Cool, thanks.

[@ThatBronxgirl7]

Well HAPPY WEDNESDAY TO ME!!! The Warmth of Other Suns is near perfect! Read Backman's My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry.

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

The Warmth of Other Suns should be required reading!! It was fabulously researched and even MORE fabulously told!! And I will!! I’d love to read all of Backman’s books!!

[@BobbiReads]

I felt the opposite about Ask Again Yes! It was one of my most disappointing! I didn’t like that they skipped over all of the happy times in Kate and Peter’s life and only focused on the negative. That made it a slog to get through and I would have loved to see all of it. Not just the bad.

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

Oh that’s so interesting! I mean, you’re definitely right. The bulk of their marriage was skipped over until it had fallen apart. But I found the ending hopeful and redemptive - which I guess made the difference for me?? Unless I invented that in my head? Which is possible. The last 6+ months have been a bit of a blur...😬

[@BobbiReads]

Life Between Words girl I don’t know how you’re still standing with two crazy active boys and a newborn. I’m shocked you have a clean shirt on that’s not inside out honestly. My kids are a lot older and I’m tired for you! You didn’t imagine things, the end did seem rather hopeful. I was just so bummed out we didn’t get him proposing to her, their wedding, honeymoon, her pregnancies. That was when they were happy. I wanted to see that. Especially with how rough Peter had it. While they were dating we only got a snippet and it’s when they ran in to his mom. Or we got small glimpses when she was stalking them. I remember reading and his mom is saying, oh here is Kate with a baby on her hip, and I thought, oh okay so they are married now and have a baby. That escalated a little quickly. I feel like we missed out on watching them becoming a couple as adults. Which made me more sad when they started to fall apart.

[@Prairielily04]

I just picked up bear town. Although I appreciate your reviews, I wish you would not give so much of the plot away. Unfortunately, you are not the only booktube to do so! ☹️

[@girlygirlbookworm]

You can sell me on any book you recommend!! Adding some to my wish list now!

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

I love that!! But I’m also always afraid that I’m going to overhype something! 🙈🙈🙈

[@girlygirlbookworm]

@@LifeBetweenWords1 I'm the same way! I give all of these recommendations and then when someone actually takes me up on it I freak out! I don't want them to dislike me for recommending a book that they might not actually end up liking!

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

girlygirlbookworm girl YES 🙌🏻

[@EmmyEliz1]

Been reading Ask Again Yes...trying to guess how its going to end.

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

The ending is what made it for me! :)

[@ReadinginSpurts]

Well know I am just dying to know what the picture book is that you have been reading every night.😊

[@LifeBetweenWords1]

I have Fox talk about it in my next video! But I’ll spoil it for you and tell you that it’s The Seven Silly Eaters!! SO GOOD!!