When you read upwards of 180 books in a year, there are some wonderful books left when you choose your top ten (or ten percent) of the year. So I decided to create a post highlighting some of my favorites that didn't make the cut. All of these are wonderful, and they deserve some individual love.
Annie Leibovitz, Portraits: 2005-2016, Annie Leibovitz
This was a breathtaking and large group of portraits of celebrities, athletes, artists, and politicians. Some of the portraits were so moving, and most were so well done. I want a copy of this book for myself, but it's pricey.
Anxious for Nothing, Max Lucado
This was my first Max Lucado book, though he's written oodles of them. It is a faith-centered look at anxiety with Bible references throughout to support his points. It's not preachy, not too fundamentalist, and I got so much out of it.
The Book of Books, PBS
This is the companion to the PBS series, The Great American Read. Each book was well represented with a very good synopsis as well as other interesting facts about the author or time period or impact of the work. I enjoyed this one very much.
Decluttering at the Speed of Life, Dana K. White
This book was very helpful as I went through a whole-house declutter. If I could stick to the principles contained within--basically that every closet, cabinet, shelf, and hook is a container, and you can't have more of any item than what fits in/on its container--I'd never have clutter again.
The Dry, Jane Harper
Forces of Nature, Jane Harper
I read the first two Aaron Falk crime thrillers by Jane Harper this year, and they were both great. She's a wonderful writer, and I can't wait for book three due out in February. I highly recommend these.
Inside Camp David, Michael Giorgione
This was a wonderful biography of the presidential retreat, Camp David. I loved it.
Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk, Kathleen Rooney
Immediately after finishing this one (on audio), I wanted to start it again. It's one night in the life of an elderly woman making her way around New York City on New Year's Eve 1984. A perfect character study.
Magnolia Table, Joanna Gaines
I'd feared this cookbook would be full of trendy and faddish foods like quinoa and kale, but instead it's full of traditional comfort food. Every recipe looks yummy, and the book itself is very pretty.
Maisie Dobbs, Jacqueline Winspear
Pardonable Lies, Jacqueline Winspear
I discovered the Maisie Dobbs series this year, and I read the first three books in the series (I believe the 15th is due out this spring). They are flawlessly written, and I enjoy the main character, a 1920s female detective, so much. I think book three, Pardonable Lies, was my favorite. Try these books.
Miss Kopp Just Won't Quit, Amy Stewart
I don't believe I've ever included a Miss Kopp book (this is the fourth) in any top ten post, and that's really too bad, because I genuinely LOVE this series.
Movie Nights with the Reagans, Mark Weinberg
This book was the last one to be cut from my top ten percent. It was a painful cut. I really loved this book. I didn't expect much from the book, but more than any other book this year, it shamed my low expectations.
Speaking from among the Bones, Alan Bradley
The Dead and Their Vaulted Arches, Alan Bradley
I love, love, love the Flavia de Luce mystery series. With all my heart, love. The two books I read this year (books 5 and 6), really furthered the overarching plots of what happened to Flavia's mother and what will happen to the family estate, Buckshaw. I loved them both.
To the Bright Edge of the World, Eowyn Ivey
Though this is her second book, I read it first, and it was a great introduction to her work. I have signed on to be an Eowyn Ivey fan for life. The writing is wonderful, the characters are full and likable, and the setting (1920s Alaska) is a character all on its own. This book was my introduction to magical realism, and I was hooked.
Year of No Clutter, Eve O. Schaub
There's something a little bit unhinged about Eve Schaub, but I found that more charming than disturbing. I listened to this book during my declutter project, and I found myself in her real-life drama so many times. It's HARD for some people to get rid of some things. Schaub gets to the heart of that dilemma better than most decluttering expects can. Not everyone would be able to identify with this book, but I loved it.
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