2019 TBR List

Time to set some reading intentions for 2019! I’ve already started this year off strong by finishing two books in the first 14 days (that’s a big deal for me believe it or not), and I’m hoping to keep the momentum going through the next 11 months. I’ve compiled this list of books that are high on my reading list, but I know I’ll probably add a ton more before the year is up. Keep in mind this list is highly aspirational. I’ve listed 24 books in this post, and it’s not likely I’ll actually read every book on this list, but I’m going to try. Since I’m already listing out so many books, I’m going to keep the descriptions SHORT. Let’s get started!

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Fiction

There’s not much to say about fiction. I love reading it, and I hope I get to read more of it in 2019. So many books, so little time!

1. Circe by Madeline Miller
A fictitious tale featuring a range of mythological heroes and villains, Madeline Miller’s Circe features a female protagonist that is forced to find her power when Zeus banishes her from Mount Olympus. Circe discovers an ability to “transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves,” and after finding her place among mortals, Circe must choose between returning to the Gods or remaining on Earth.

2. The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
The Immortalists follows the journeys of four adolescents who decide to go for everything they’ve ever wanted when they find out the date of their impending death from a traveling psychic that has ended up in New York City.

3. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Moneyman
After living a careful life absent of meaningful social interaction, Eleanor finds the strongest of friendships imaginable in her fellow loners, Raymond and Sammy. Together, the trio learn how to truly live life and find adventure and acceptance in one another.

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Historical Fiction

I absolutely love historical fiction, but I’m not drawn to them when I see them on the shelves at the book store. I’m going to try to be more intentional about the historical fiction books I’m reading in 2019.

1. Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly
This novel follows the stories of three young girls whose lives are forever changed by World War II. When one of the girls is captured and send to Ravensbrück, the other girls are more determined than ever to tell the stories of those who were forgotten during the war.

2. A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Count Alexander Rostov is sentenced to house arrest in 1922 in a hotel across the street from the Kremlin. As he watches history unfolding outside his window, he turns inward to reflect on what is means to live a life of purpose.

3. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
World War II has infiltrated Germany and France. An orphan boy from a mining town and a blind girl from France have their lives intertwine in unexpected ways to survive the destruction of the war.

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Classics

There’s an embarrassing amount of books I’ve pretended to have read just because I should have by this age. Not anymore! Getting some classics off my list by reading at least one a month in 2019!

1. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
This story follows the lives of four sisters while they try to survive life in New England during the Civil War.

2. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
This book takes place during the Reign of Terror in Paris, and it brings together a French aristocrat and an English lawyer as they try to survive the bloodstained streets.

3. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
Following the story of a young man who sells his soul for eternal life and beauty, The Picture of Dorian Grey tackles complex morals and is said to be a semi-autobiography of Oscar Wilde himself.

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Young Adult

Truth be told, I really neglected the Young Adult genre in the last few years because an ex-boyfriend didn’t think the genre was scholarly enough. Unfortunately, I listened to him for far too long. I’m planning to open my heart to YA again this year fully by reading at least one YA book a month. YAs and Classics, what a combo!

1. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
The land used to be ripe with magic, and Zélie is determined to bring it back, even if it means risking her life.

2. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Celaena, an 18-year-old assassin who has just served our her year of hard labor, is enlisted to participate in a competition to become Prince Dorian’s royal assassin. If she succeeds, she will serve the crown for four years, and then be free. Before she can win her eventual freedom, someone starts killing the other competitors, and Celaena must find out who is doing the killing before she becomes a victim herself.

3. Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl
A group of friends have their world shattered when one of their team dies. One year later, the group comes together again searching for answers and closure about their lost friend. But the unexpected happens. The group is stuck in a time-loop unless they make an unthinkable decision.

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Non-Fiction

I’m always drawn to non-fiction books when I browse the shelves at Barnes and Noble — I think it’s because they tell you everything you need to know about them from the title. Time to dig into a bunch on my list to make me a better me in 2019.

1. Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
Gladwell explores the cultures, family structures, and unique experiences of the famous and successful people in our society.

2. All the President’s Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward
Bare bones: Bernstein and Woodward investigate and document the Watergate scandal.

3. Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
From economics to sex and gender, Stephens-Davidowitz explores how having information at the tips of our fingers has influenced humans and the world as we know it.

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True Crime

I’ve been listening to My Favorite Murder since August, and it’s really nurtured my love of true crime. I’m planning to really dig into the interest through books in 2019.

1. Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders by Curt Gentry and Vincent Bugliosi
…the story of the Manson murders.

2. I’ll be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
Written by a crime journalist who actually died suddenly during the writing of this book, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark chronicles the ten year crimes of the Golden State Killer and how he terrified the state completely.

3. Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
The Osage Indian Nation in Oklahoma was one of the richest segments of people in the 1920s. And when they started to get murdered one by one, anyone that started to investigate was killed in turned. As the first big case of the recently created FBI, the Osage murders revealed one of the most sinister conspiracies in American history.

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Biography

I’ve always loved reading about other people’s lives because I feel like there’s so much to learn from those around us.

1. You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day
Felicia Day was one of my favorite characters on Supernatural, so jumping into her book headfirst about her unique upbringing, feminism, and perspective on creativity seems like the perfect decision.

2. I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot By the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai
She’s a badass. Why would I not want to read about her?

3. Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
This biography inspired the musical hit Hamilton, but it contains much more detail about his life, his influence on the Federalist Papers, and the greater role he played as a founder of this country.

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Self-Improvement

Who doesn’t love a self-improvement book? I’m always looking to be my best self, so where better to start than with reading about how to do it?

1. You Can Do Anything: The Surprising Power of a “Useless” Liberal Arts Education by George Anders
Anders outlines every way to use a liberal arts education to open doors and unleash opportunity. I’m trying to figure out what I really want to do with my life, and Anders book seems like the perfect place to start.

2. The Productivity Project: Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention and Energy by Chris Bailey
Getting more done in the day? Count me in.

3. Nobody Want to Read Your Sh*t: Why That Is and What You Can Do About It by Steven Pressfield
Understanding that nobody wants to read what you have to say is the first step to becoming a real writer. I’m always interested in upping my writing game, and this book has been highly recommend by various writers and bloggers that I follow.

What books are you hoping to read in 2019? Let me know in the comments below.

Happy reading,
Kimberly