I also enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow, once I got into it. It took three tries, but once I got there, I loved it!

I hardly ever read non-fiction, but I read two this year that were very moving: Isaac's Storm by Erik Larsen and Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.

Donna

I really don't keep lists of books read during the year. But I will say my two favorites were probably the last duo that I read: "Killers of the Flower Moon" and "Close your eyes, hold hands". (The latter is by Chris Bojalian and is absolutely unforgettable).

I didn't read as many books this year as last year, but there were definitely some good ones on the list. My top two:

The Swerve: How the World Became Modern by Stephen Greenblatt

Circe by Madeline Miller

I'm another who does not record her reading, but I did read a number of books I loved, as well as any number I abandoned midway. I have not read Circe yet, but it is on my Christmas wishlist so I may be reading it soon. I have the author's earlier book Song of Achilles on my library request list.

This was an especially rich year for science fiction for me, though of course I always read SF. Just off the top of my head, and I may well be missing books I loved, here is my list.

City of Stairs, City of Blades, City of Miracles, a trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett

The Broken Earth Trilogy by N. K. Jemison: - Fifth Season, Obelisk Gate, Stone Sky

Nevernight and Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff, with the concluding volume to come in January

Death's End by Cixin Liu, concluding volume to the trilogy that began with The Three Body Problem which I read last December while traveling in New Zealand with Tom. He had an attack of gout which lead us to spend a couple of days loafing around Queenstown instead of hiking the Routeburn Track. Fortunately we found a lovely little bookstore there, small, but beautifully curated. I liked the middle book less, so I am not listing it here.

Recently I also found a wonderful garden book, Rick Darke and Doug Tallamy's The Living Landscape. After years of figuratively rolling my eyes when the native plant true believers started preaching, I finally get why it really is important to include a decent portion of native plants in the garden. Okay, I am convinced. If you want birds, and I do, it actually does matter.

I hope to add a couple more books before the end of the year (and I am one of those who keep a reading journal), but these are the stand-outs so far:

Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe. Although I didn't particularly like the protagonist Okonkwo, Achebe does a fantastic job of capturing the culture in which he lived and how it was being irrevocably changed by the European colonialists who had no understanding or sympathy for the culture they were busily destroying.

Tool of War - Paolo Bacigalupi. Third in a YA set that began with Ship Breaker and The Drowned Cities, this is the best so far. Tool is a marginal character from the earlier books, a part-human biological construct designed as a weapon of war but an 'improved' version with greater intelligence, enough to recognize his kind's existence and conditioning as slavery. An exciting, fast-moving story that makes you think with almost every turn of the page.

A Cold Welcome: The Little Ice Age and Europe's Encounter with North America - Sam White. Ohio State historian focuses on 4 colonization attempts: Spanish advances into Florida and into the Southwest from their base in Mexico, English settlements on east coast, especially Jamestown, and the French settlement in Quebec, and how Europe's limited understanding of climate (it was still equated with latitude in that era, so the Europeans assumed that the climate of North America would be much warmer than it is) and their consequent lack of preparation created survival problems that were magnified by the impact of the Little Ice Age that stressed both the American and European nations.

Not All Tarts Are Apple - Pip Granger. Remember this title came up in the monthly game? I found the book in the library, which turned out to be a totally charming rags-to-riches story of a little girl in 1950's London, and one of the books I most enjoyed this year.

The Murderbot Diaries - Martha Wells. A set of 4 science fiction novellas featuring a security robot/cyborg with a similar theme to Bacigalupi's Tool of War above, but a fast-paced space opera told in first person by the cyborg with a snarky attitude. Incredibly fun to read. The first of the 4 parts won the 2017 Hugo for novellas.

And finally, I'm still trying to decide if Samuel Delany's Nova should be on this best-of list too. :) I thought it would at the time I read it back in May, but it's retreating into the distance for me now.

I especially liked The Monk Upstairs by Tim Farrington, The Day of the Dead by Nicci French, The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith, the War at Home series by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, Magpie Murders by Anthony Horrowitz, The Clockmaker's Daughter by Kate Morton, The Ashes of London by Andrew Taylor, and The Last Hours by Minette Walters.

Donnamira, they mostly all "retreat into the distance" for me. I read so many books that it is difficult to remember much of the content, but then I don't read much intellectual stuff. Those I listed are just ripping good stories, along with lots of others "too numerous to mention".

I love reading our "favorite books" thread each year. I have been holding back, hoping another gem might find its way into my hands in the final weeks of the year. It hasn't happened yet, and seems unlikely at this point, but you never know, do you? I'll be back in a week or so. Meanwhile, Merry Christmas!

Golden Hill by Francis Spufford

I forgot to list Beartown by Frederik Bachman. I really liked that novel. Odd, I have absolutely no interest in hockey and actively dislike books written in the present tense. But this one overcame those flaws to be enthralling.

I have four favourite novels, and one nonfiction.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. I loved the idea of such a contained stage for the story, which still managed to tell Russia's history in a tumultuous time.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. I listened to this and the narrator added to the story. A story of growth that managed not to be sickly sweet.

Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton. The author is an Australian journalist who has some nonfiction publications. This is an astonishing novel that reminded me a little of John Irving's works (Owen Meany, Hotel New Hampshire). The unnerving part is that it is semi-autobiographical, with a junkie mother and a babysitter who has come out of prison after serving time for murder!

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. This was another audiobook. I laughed and I cried, but it was a heartwarming story.

Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker. I would recommend that everyone read this book. I was amazed at how many bodily functions are influenced by sleep. As a quick example, vaccinations work better if you have had good sleep (at least 7 hours a night) for a week before you have the injection.

I had to check my book journal to see what I've read this year and while I read fewer books than usual I did find some gems. By far, the outstanding book for 2018 for me was Birds in Fall by Brad Kessler. I know that I'm going to find a copy of it somewhere at some sale and be just thrilled to pieces. I'm looking forward to that day. Others that I enjoyed in no particular order: Our Souls at Night by Kent Hanuf, The Book of Stillmeadow by Gladys Taber. This is non-fiction about her life and times homesteading and breeding cocker spaniels in Connecticut. I'm just starting to collect her books. The others are Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger and The Yellow Lighted Bookshop by Lewis Buzbee (another non-fiction work). Fewer books than normal but better enjoyed. Retirement reading has it's own pace and rewards.

I've completed my last book of the year, so I'm ready to commit:

Ordinary Grace -- William Kent Krueger
I really loved this book and bought copies for a couple of people and recommended it widely. I learned about it on Reader's Paradise when Reader_In_Transit recommended it in 2017. I discovered during a RP site search however, that it had also been listed as a favorite of Artiste8 in 2014. I didn't remember that.

We Are Called To Rise -- Laura McBride
I was attracted to the title of this book when I saw it on a shelf at the library. It was a great find!

Little Fires Everywhere -- Celeste Ng
I read this for my book club. I had read one previous novel by Ng (Everything I Never Told You) that, for me, was not enough to entice me to read a second by her, so I'm very glad that my book club made me take a second look at this author.

Nomadland -- Jessica Bruder
I have my book club to thank for this one also. I don't pick up much nonfiction on my own, but I thought this one was incredibly interesting.

Birds in Fall -- Brad Kessler
After reading Skibby's list, I had to come back and add this one. On her recommendation, I read it and really enjoyed it also.

My favorites, hands down for 2018 we're

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller and Radium Girls by Kate Moore.

Christine, I just got Song of Achilles from the library, and am reading it right now instead of the book club book I ought to be reading. ;-]

Rosefolly, I enjoyed The Song of Achilles more than I enjoyed Circe. I think that I enjoyed it more because of the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus.

So far I like them both. Circe has always been an intriguing character to me.

I've just finished Door in the River by Inger Ash Wolfe. It is the third of her books I have read, all this year, and s/he (author's name is a psuedonym) really knows how to tell a story! I have given all three books four stars on Goodreads. These are mysteries featuring Hazel Micallef who is a police officer in a small town in Canada.

Carolyn, did you read The Monk Downstairs ( the prequel to The Monk Upstairs ) by Tim Farrington ? They really are best read in order to make sense of what is going on , but both are enjoyable. I found the first one on the "free books" shelf at our library and after reading it I had to order the Upstairs sequel ! What a delightful discovery.

Yes, I read both those books (in order) and loved them both, probably Downstairs the most.

Yes, that was my favorite as well.

I was waiting until the end of the year to comment, just in case something came up to add to this list (it didn't).

Contrary to 2017, in 2018 I did not read any book that I would call wonderful. I read some books that were good or very good.

In descending order:

Lost Among the Birds, Accidentally Finding Myself in One Very Big Year (NF) -------Neil Hayward

Dear Committee Members ------Julia Schumacher

Postmark Chene Bayou ------Gwen Roland

The Lost Painting (NF) -------- Jonathan Harr

This is the first time since I've been doing this end-of-the-year list here at RP that a non fiction book is my favorite one.

Thanks, Sheri, for this thread that helps us look back.