Although I haven’t been able to read as many books as usual due to the birth of a new grand baby and my knee replacement surgery, I have read some really profound and great books this year.

Here is my list of the best books I read this year:

Horse by Geraldine Brooks. This book is a contender for my “best books of all time” list. Brooks masterfully meshes storylines from the 1800’s with a story line from the current day and explores the history of horse racing and slavery in a profound and impactful way. This should be on everyone’s “must read” list.

Another must read book is The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. The writing is full of rich details of the early 1950’s when two brothers embark on a quest that changes their lives. This is more than just a coming of age story, it is about the love and trust between two brothers and the ways we create family. This is a book to savor and enjoy and discuss in a book club or with friends. Even though I read this in January, it still lingers in my mind.

Another book that keeps lingering in my mind is Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. Who knew that an octopus could be a main character of a deeply moving and touching novel? If you don’t believe me, then you have to read this book! Van Pelt’s simple yet evocative writing pulls you in and before you know it you are invested in the life of an octopus in ways you never thought possible! 

The was also a year in which I read a number of feminist novels that were quite enlightening. The Change by Kirsten Miller, When Women were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill, and Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn were all thought provoking to read and spoke to the many ways that women are and have been diminished, ignored and dismissed. Each author has a unique perspective on how their female characters were able to take back their power and that makes these books extremely satisfying!

Finally, Perestroika in Paris by Jane Smiley was a gentle and remarkable story about a race horse who befriends a small boy in the heart of Paris. Smiley is masterful in keeping the story simple and it is in its very simplicity that it becomes profound.

I hope this list gives you some ideas for reading in the new year, and let me know if there was a book you read that you think should be on this list!

Happy New Year!