‘Tis the season for book lists! Just in time for gift giving or list making, newspapers, magazines and stores publish their “Best Books of the Year” in December. The book nerd in me can’t pass them up. In addition to comparing how many books on each list I have actually read (it gives me a weird sense of accomplishment), I get a ton of ideas for books to read. If I am lucky, I find the perfect book for someone on my Christmas list. Here are some of my favorites and why.
The Gold Standard
The New York Times, of course. Their bestseller list is popular year-round but in December they publish two lists: The 10 Best Books of 2020 and The Critics’ Top Books of 2020. I’ll admit that I count how many of their Top 10 books I have read – this year it was three: The Vanishing Half, Hidden Valley Road and A Promised Land. I loved all these books. To me, the NYT reviewers are the toughest and most respected print reviewers. I read their book reviews regularly and occasionally catch their Book Review podcast.
Every Genre You Can Imagine
NPR’s Book Concierge is an exhausted, interactive, year-end guide based on their staffers’ & critics’ feedback. You can see their Staff Picks, pick your favorite genre or one of their fun categories like “No Biz Like Show Biz”. I bookmarked this list so I can return when I’m in the mood for a specific type of book. The list is so diverse that I guarantee you will find books not on other ‘best of year’ lists.
Looking for Something Different?
Book Riot is a great website for book reviews, book podcasts and all things books. They are committed to diverse content and strive to hire staff that reflects the diversity of the US. They blog about everything book-related. So if you are looking for a book that might not be on other lists give Book Riot’s Best Books of 2020 at try. I added The Orchard by David Hopen to my to-read list.
Find it & buy it!
Did you wait too long to finish your Christmas shopping? Go to Barnes & Nobles 10 Best Books of 2020. You won’t get lost in different genres and can be confident that your selection has pleased the masses. (If all you know is that your daughter’s new boyfriend loves to read, stick with something safe.) This year’s list even includes a cookbook and book of poetry. If you don’t find the write book on that list, they create lists by genre on their Best Books of the Year page.
If you are overwhelmed, here are several books that I saw on different lists repeatedly:
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (fiction)
A Promised Land by Barak Obama (non-fiction)
Caste: The Origins of our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson (non-fiction)
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell (fiction)
Deacon King Kong by James McBride (fiction)
Uncanny Valley: A Memoir by Anna Weiner (non-fiction)
So have fun on a dreary, winter day – find some books to take you into sunshine, to another world or in another person’s shoes. Happy Reading!
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