2018 in Reading

— Y E A R I N R E V I E W —

Well, 2018 was one of the hardest years of my life professionally and one of the fullest years of my life personally. I suppose that's neither here nor there. On to the books:

Classic and Lovely: The Haunting of Hill House
Subtle, Scary, Satisfying: Let the Right One In
The Main Character did WHAT: The Poppy War
Plot Twist Party: The Woman in the Window
Stranger Than Fiction: Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
Fuck Yeah Feminism: Circe
Biggest Disappointment: Tangerine
Best Discovery: Every Heart a Doorway
Biggest Mindfuck: Behind Her Eyes
Most Satisfying Reread: The Hobbit
Tried Too Hard: We Were Liars
Quintessentially Kelly: Ghostland
No Regrets: Annihilation

TOP 5:

5) Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay in fifth place for being dreamy, creamy, luscious and rich. Like a milk chocolate truffle with brandy inside. Sweet and warm and tingly on your tongue. 

4) Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh takes fourth place due to the size of its balls, and for being sharp and bold and grotesque. As I said in my review, it's a joyful slap in the face. 

3) You by Caroline Kepnes swings in at third for adorably (and successfully!) tackling toxic, entitled masculinity. I fell in love with Joe's voice and just ... damn! The audacity! I loved every word. 

2) Night Film by Marisha Pessl will probably get a reread every year. It's that compelling. It's definitely the moody, emo kid in the art class that is this list, but I don't care. Take me down that rabbit hole, baby. 

1) The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee floats into first for being fucking incredible. To quote my review, "the writing was so thoroughly badass; that specific type of badass I would use to describe an orchestra, or flan, or the word 'cornucopia.'" This book commands your allegiance and demands your respect. In a good way. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!