Ultimate Best Books of 2019 List

[@cindyo6298]

I'm also reading On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous currently, and I love the author's use of language!

[@EricKarlAnderson]

He has a gorgeous way with words!

[@kellygrant4759]

Wow, thanks for this! I can always count on you to talk about books I haven't heard of yet & I'm excited to add these to my tbr. 🤗

[@EricKarlAnderson]

😃📚

[@jonnaah9683]

People questioned whether The Testaments was a necessary sequel to Handmaid's Tale, but I felt it enriched the picture. I was not disappointed.

[@toasted_.coconut]

Thank you so much for this video. Ive only recently started to get back into reading in August of this year. The last series I read was Twilight in 2008 ish (so embarrassing to admit that), and such a long absence and my own personal growth I've really struggled to find books I love. Every book you discussed sounds fascinating. Ive wrote them all down so Im prepared when I vist the library later this week.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

No need to feel embarrassed. We all have life things which intrude upon reading time. Hope you pick up some good stuff from the library! 📚

[@josmith5992]

Haven't read any of the list Eric but have heard of most of the biggies. Much more interested in the lower echelons but there are so many I'm interested in I wouldn't know where to start. Thanks for sharing the list.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

😃📚

[@SM-vr8dz]

Nickel Boys, Memory Police, and On Earth...are all on the top of my tbr list. Also, thinking of starting The Collected Schizophrenias next. Too many books and not enough time. I would love to hear your thoughts on The Man Who Saw Everything. I loved it! Btw, I also scour book lists. 'Tis the season of book lists.

[@jonnaah9683]

You've interested me especially in several I've not read. The trouble is that now I'm trying to keep up wth 2020! Chasing the horizon...

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Yeah, it can feel overwhelming surveying all the good books out there. Best to just pick some which perk your interest and try them out!

[@robynd.7503]

New subscriber to you channel...what a great compilation! Lots of books have been added to my list, Thanks 🇨🇦😊

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Thanks! Nice to meet you! 😃📚

[@bianquita1]

On Earth ... was only a 3 stars for me. The Nickel Boys didn't do it for me either, despite its subject, the writing style kept me at a distance. I'm keen to read Fleishman, despite the mixed reviews. Normal People is one of my year's favourites. It's not a romance novel, they have HEA. I loved Olive, Again. I enjoyed The Dutch House, despite some issues. Never heard of Trick Mirror. Red At the Bone was good, I didn't love it as much as many of my friends. I hope to read Lost Children Archive.I'll have to make sure I read Toews. Daisy JOnes is fun. The Memory Police is on my TBR. Mrs Everything was enjoyable, albeit not memorable.

[@sandrazuks9017]

I heard Zadie Smith read from 'Grand Union ' and that was impressive. I am about 7 books away reading it. I loved the 'Memory Police", blew me away. She wrote it in 1995 which also amazed me.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Oh, I was wondering when Memory Police was actually first published. Thanks for letting me know. That is crazy it came out so long ago and took so long to be translated!

[@CharlieBrookReads]

There are lots of these I want to read esp Yiyun Li's book . Thank you for sharing this list with us Eric xx

[@EricKarlAnderson]

😃📚

[@liliapereira8474]

Thanks! Great compilation!

[@EricKarlAnderson]

😃📚

[@johnhunt8388]

A very interesting list with some books I haven't heard of before on it. Very interested to read The Memory Police. I know you are passionate about this book. From what I have read about it it looks very good and one I would enjoy. Glad to see Normal People on this list. I adored that book so much. It was so raw and powerful. I cried reading it. Sally Rooney writes so wonderfully. Some other books on the list I am keen to read. I love Zadie Smith but I think her work is sometimes over hyped. Margaret Attwood is an author I have never read. Her books don't appeal to me. I must be odd as everyone else raves over her work.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

I think if you don't have an inclination to read Atwood it's totally fine no matter how much her books are praised. You know your reading tastes the best and, while it's good to try new things sometimes, there are also so many good books to get to you shouldn't stress about reading the ones you're not interested in.

[@jonnaah9683]

I'd like to add two novels from my best 2019 list. Both authors and central characters are Indian American. Quichotte, by Salman Rushdie. "Key-shot", as we are informed. Not to be missed/not for everyone. Inspired by Cervantes' novel, none the less original and full of imagination, humor, and meaning. A good hearted, eccentric, man is infatuated with a talk show host. For much of the novel, he travels his imaginary son. Too much to tell here. Gun Island, by Amitav Ghosh. Wonderfully written page-turnrer for me. First person is a rare book dealer. The narrative reads like the author is telling a true story. One wishes it were true by the end. Deals with environmental and refugee issues and more. Moves among Bengali region, US, Venice, and elsewhere. Both worth rereading.

[@joniheisenberg6691]

“The Nickel Boys” is in a league of its own. Hands down the best book of 2019.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

🙌

[@jonnaah9683]

In Red at the Bone, Woodson succeeded at writing an effective multi generational saga in a very short book, with well drawn feeling characters.

[@wardellmitchell2690]

I literally just opened a package from one of my best friends that is On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous. He's from the UK, so I got the pretty cover too!!! Haha, I look forward to diving into it.

[@1book1review]

What an interesting list/overview of 2019 books. Quite a few I want to read but many more I am not interested in currently, and I just DNFed Daisy Jones today. oops.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Oh interesting!

[@mrl9418]

Why don't you (booktubers) do a list of the literary fiction that flies under the radar, the underground cult stuff

[@mrl9418]

"The underground cult stuff" sounds like the title of a novel

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Yeah, it'd be good to see. I did one a year ago just before Christmas about underrated books from 2018.

[@mrl9418]

@@EricKarlAnderson have to check that out

[@bianquita1]

Mr L do you have a novel that you loved and think it should get more love?

[@mrl9418]

@@bianquita1 I can't think of one in particular off the top of my head, I was more curious about hearing what others have to say

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

I’m currently listening to Say Nothing on audio. I lived through the “Troubles” so I know the central story that links the threads in the book. Currently reading Mr Loverman by Bernardine Everisto. It’s great. Disappearing Earth is on my kindle TBR. Loved You Should Talk to Someone 💕 Drive Your Plow Over The Bones of the Dead 💕

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Ah great, I really want to read Mr Loverman.

[@jonnaah9683]

I don't think it's necessary to label a book anything, maybe not even really good to do so,, but I might call Normal People a YA coming of age story. I thought Rooney was very insightful and wrote great dialog

[@jonnaah9683]

Really liked Inland, by Tea Obreht. Both stories compelling, long wait for the connection to arrive. I dont think that's a spoiler, rather I hope it encourages some inpatient readers to hang in. I wish I could remark on an episode toward the end which incited a dramatic reaction in me, the behavior of a major character. Those who've read it may know what I'm talking about. The only aspect that I found lacking was the only treating native Americans as a threatening presence; however this can be defended as being the experience of white settlers, which is what the book was about. Camels in America, very interesting.

[@Robert.Sheard]

No great surprise, but all but a few of these are on the BookTube Prize nomination list.

[@cassidysmith2190]

I swear, for me, 2019 will be defined by me getting progressively more angry at the fact that The Nickel Boys has repeatedly failed to win/be shortlisted/even be listed in each subsequent book prize. Best book of the year, no contest✨

[@joniheisenberg6691]

Cassidy Smith I am in total agreement.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

🙌

[@andrewrussell2845]

I've got a question Eric. I've got over 1000 books on my to read list on goodreads. Do you think I should trim it back, as I struggle to keep up with all these excellent new book releases? What normally drives a decision like that with you?

[@EricKarlAnderson]

You could trim it or create an entirely new list of books you want to be more a priority. I have a similar list a mile long I just keep in a Word document. I know I'll never get to them all but it's good to have as a reference when I'm at a loose end.

[@andrewrussell2845]

@@EricKarlAnderson cheers Eric and thank you most kindly. That's a helpful response. I think I'm just going to treat it almost as an online 'library' that I can choose books from and I've now created a separate tbr. Thanks again and by the way, please keep up the excellent and informative content. I often turn to you for ideas on what is out there in the world of literary fiction.

[@jonnaah9683]

It's terribly overwhelming and frustrating, isn't it? I'm new to these booktubes. Of late I spend too much time getting to know about books and trying to decide which would be best to read. I don't want to miss anything. It takes time I could be reading books. Got to limit that, pick up one of the many books I'm sure of, and just read. I do like to talk to people about books, though. Tired of being a lonesome reader!

[@Ihearbooks]

I could not finish Three Women (tried both print and audio, got just past 100 pages but wanted to throw it so gave it away). I felt it was an attempt to gain attention for a topic about women and desire that was done so poorly it was hard to read. Too bad, really wanted to like it

[@kimswhims8435]

Interesting not an Australian on the list- I've read 12 of these and a few more on my radar. My two favourites this year Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton and The Yield by Tara June Winch are better than many of these on this list IMHO.

[@IsabellaMassardo]

I loved The Dutch House. Disappearing Earth was a great discovery for me.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

I need to seek out a copy!

[@IsabellaMassardo]

@@EricKarlAnderson The Maris Review Podcast has a great interview with Julia Philips.

[@lawrenceyuan3863]

I bought Ocean Vuong’s book purposely from Bookdepositary so that I can have the British cover instead of US version. So I totally agree with you - the British version is much prettier than US 😂version!

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Good way to go!

[@alanshadastrokeanddiedinho2897]

Shadow King is on order. Hopefully it will come in the next couple of days. Started a booktube channel. Already have six videos uploaded. They are not as perfect as your videos 😊

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Haha, my videos are faaar from perfect! But I think that's part of the joy of youtube - we don't need to be perfect; just ourselves.

[@michaeldugan3589]

Any suggestions on which books one might read for the apocalypse?

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Haha, I assume you're referring the election results. Ali Smith's books are a great solace.

[@douggordy]

Have read 23 on the list: Levy, Ellmann, Strout, Tokarczuk and Patchett were my faves ... Oyeyemi made my WORST of the year list!!

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Oh phew, I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt that way.😅

[@yomismo74]

I really tried but i can't understand the hype about Normal people. I find the writing very average and the story and the characters and mediocre, but in my country it was praised by critics too. Of course i didn't get Exit west either, or even worst The idiot (i would be still wondering what the hell Batuman wanted to say with this book, but fortunately i forgot about it the second i ended it). I wish the Nickel boys will be published here soon. I will read The dutch house by the end of the month (i loved Commonwealth)

[@EricKarlAnderson]

I know I too can feel confused when a book that's popular/gets critical praise when I didn't find it special. I guess it's just a difference of opinion.

[@xdfckt2564]

Disappearing Earth was really wonderful!

[@EricKarlAnderson]

I must seek out a copy.

[@JustJanetAshley]

I've read 15 of them.

[@EricKarlAnderson]

👍

[@jonnaah9683]

The Water Dancer I liked as a story and the views conveyed. I didn't like the lame attempt to suggest regional speech, and how it made varied sorts of characters sound about the same.

[@jorgemedina8083]

I heard that The Secrets We kept is weighed down by the authors contemporary feminism as it is applied to women in the 1960s, or else I would read it!

[@EricKarlAnderson]

Oh interesting!