The best reads in fiction, nonfiction and kid-lit in 2015
GOOD READS | John Boyne, as usual, offered up one of the year’s finest novels.
As you look back over your year, there are a lot of things you notice. You had fun… you had some really great meals with really great friends … and especially in my case, there were books. Out of more than 120, here are the ones that stood out in 2015 (many with LGBT themes, characters and authors).
FICTION
I always loved author John Boyne’s books; in fact, The Absolutist is one of my Top Five Ever. But A History of Loneliness has to be right up there. In this book, a priest explains his relationship with a colleague who always seems to be moved around from parish to parish. What’s wrong will slowly dawn on you, but our narrator is a little slower on the uptake. What happens will make you want to crawl into bed and cry for an hour.
In One Night by Eric Jerome Dickey, a woman who has nothing left to lose meets a man who has everything in life. She needs money. He decides that he needs her and they embark on a one-night stand that’s almost unbearably taut. I loved the mixture of this book: psychological, erotic and sass.
Also tightly written is The Magician’s Lie by Greer Macallister. It’s the story of a small-town sheriff who finally captures a killer who’s been on the loose for some time. She’s a slippery one — an illusionist — and he hopes she’ll offer a confession. Instead, she tells him a story. The sheriff doesn’t know what’s lie and what’s not … and neither will you in this wrap-you-up tale with an ending you totally won’t see coming.
Remember what it was like to be a kid? You’ll revisit it again in My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman, the story of a 7-year-old who loses her grandmother. Else is precocious, Granny was her only real friend and she was somewhat of a rascal. And as proof of that, before she dies, Granny leaves Elsa with an assignment. Part fantasy, part childhood, all charming, this book from the author of A Man Called Ove is a wonderful winner.
The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz might be found on the Young Adult section of your bookstore or library, but I definitely thought it was more of an adult novel. It’s the story of a teenager who leaves her family because her father is abusive, and she moves to Baltimore to become a housemaid. It’s 1911, she’s Catholic, but her new employers are Jewish and the learning curve is steep. There’s adventure, heartbreak, romance, and history here — and yes, you can still share it with your favorite teen…
NONFICTION
You may find Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson on other Best Of lists this year, and for good reason. This is a historical account of the sinking of a ship but there’s more: Larson is known to tease a story out, adding small side notes and spinning off in ways that enhance the tale he’s telling. That makes for a fascinating, heart-pounding true account you won’t want to put down.
Bobby Wonderful: An Imperfect Son Buries His Parents by Bob Morris made me laugh and made me cry …. a small creek. It’s the story of Morris’ mother, her life and her death, and the relationships she had with her family. It’s also a gay man’s love letter to his very supportive Mom, and it definitely lives up to its name: it’s wonderful.
Though it may sound odd, Rain: A Natural and Cultural History by Cynthia Barnett put me in a good mood when I read it, maybe because it was as refreshing as its subject. Here, Barnett writes about all aspects of that stuff that falls from the sky — historically, culturally and meteorologically speaking — and she sprinkles readers with facts, disasters and sunshine. This book simply made me happy, which is why it’s on this list.
As a lover of All Things Scandalous, I found Good Mourning: A Memoir by Elizabeth Meyer with Caitlin Moscatello to be absolutely delicious. After Meyer lost her father, a high-powered lawyer, she realized that she was rather fascinated with death, just a little bit. So she marched into one of Manhattan’s premiere funeral homes, asked for a job and ended up being a funeral planner (think: services that are anything but dead). I loved this book for its behind-the-scenes peeks, and for the tales that only an insider can tell.
There’s a tie for the last slot on this non-fiction list: I loved Rosemary by Kate Clifford Larson for its jaw-dropping look at history, the Kennedys, and power gone wrong. I also couldn’t put down Lights Out by Ted Koppel, a cautionary, scare-the-daylights-out-of-you book on what could happen if our electric grid and internet infrastructure are attacked by terrorists.
KID-LIT
If you ever had an imaginary friend, then The Imaginary by A.F. Harrold, and illustrated by Emily Gravett, is a book to read … or to give to your 9-to-12-year-old. It’s the story of a little girl who, of course, has an imaginary friend she loves. But one day, they come to realize that the imaginary friend isn’t the only Imaginary around — and the newcomer could mean danger. This is an adventurous book with a hint of thrill and a sweet ending that adults and kids will love.
I loved, loved, loved Spelled by Betsy Schow, a fairy-tale-ish book that’s part Cinderella, part Wizard of Oz. It’s the story of a spoiled princess whose parents have sheltered her, and who’ve also chosen her new husband. Problem is, she doesn’t want a husband and when she throws a Royal Fit, all spell breaks loose. This is a great young-adult book, but it’s one that grown-ups will get a kick out of, too. Pay close attention to the language, and you’ll be captivated.
And finally, Lillian’s Right to Vote by Jonah Winter & Shane W. Evans really captured my attention this year. It’s a picture book that tells the story of an elderly woman and the first time she steps up to cast a vote. As she travels to the polling place, every step reminds her of the steps taken by others so she can exercise a privilege that others didn’t always have.
Happy reading!
— Terri Schlichenmeyer
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition December 25, 2015.