Books of the Year

One of my goals in 2013 was to read at least 25 books. I figured roughly two per month was definitely doable. It was. I read the following 32.

January 

Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart- A dystopic look at the pitfalls of our society’s obsession with status, hand held devices, and material goods.

My thoughts- I bought this book because it was listed on Barnes & Noble’s website under the title “Those who bought this book also bought” on the page for one of my favorite books of all-time, A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. This book was nothing like Goon Squad. I didn't like it from the get go, but simply powered through it.

Ranking- 32 of 32

The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman- The downfall of a globally distributed newspaper is told through the prism of its staff. Each chapter is told by a different staffer and is never solely focused on the paper.

My thoughts- I’m all about the environment of a newsroom. The relationship between those making editorial decisions fascinates me. This book doesn't have too much of that, but it was still a great read. It reads almost like a collection of short stories, but the tie to the newspaper tangentially connects them all.

Ranking- 5 of 32

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn- A reporter returns to her hometown to cover the murder of a teenage girl and her past cuts her apart throughout her investigation.

My thoughts- Gillian Flynn wrote the 2012 summer hit Gone Girl, which was amazing (outside of a weak ending), so when I saw the paperback for Sharp Objects on a discount aisle I felt compelled to give it a try. The same intense pacing and suspense that made Gone Girl such a quick read was prevalent throughout Sharp Objects. The plot wasn't as intriguing, but the ending was much better than Gone Girl, which makes me excited for Flynn’s future works.

Ranking- 25 of 32

February 

All Over but the Shoutin’ by Rick Bragg- A New York Times writer recounts his path from destitution in the Deep South to critical acclaim as a sports columnist.

My thoughts- It was interesting to see how a small town reporter made it in on a national stage, but I didn't care for the first 60 percent of the book which centered on Bragg’s incredibly impoverished childhood.

Ranking- 29 of 32

March 

April 

Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon- The owners of a local record store fear that their business will go under if a national chain opens up a new store down the street.

My thoughts- I read a fascinating review for this book by New York magazine’s Kathryn Schultz, which elevated my expectations exponentially. Toss in the fact that Chabon won the Pulitzer in 2001 and this book didn’t have a chance at living up to the hype I had created for it. It was tough to get through this one for me. The plot seemed interesting enough (there was even a fictionalized cameo by Barack Obama), but something fell flat.

Ranking- 31 of 32

Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann- An Irishman comes to America to visit his brother, who is a New York City priest that is a godsend to a ring of prostitutes. It’s another book where each chapter is told by a different character and there’s only a small connection from one to the next.

My thoughts- It took a little while before I got caught up in this book (might have had to do with the shifting narrators), but I eventually grew to enjoy it thoroughly.

Ranking- 6 of 32

all you could ask for by Mike Greenberg- Three women form a bond through their battle with breast cancer.

My thoughts- I’m still surprised that a sports talk radio show penned this novel. The first half flies by and is relatively entertaining, but the second half seems like a bit of a stretch at times and the ending is a little too cute.

Ranking- 30 of 32

Give and Take by Adam Grant- In the business world people fall into one of three categories: Giver, Taker, or Matcher. Givers selflessly offer to help others. Matchers operate under a quid pro quo mindset, and Takers get others to do things for them. Although givers can sometimes get abused they actually make the best leaders.

My thoughts- I thought this book was fantastic. It read a lot like a Malcolm Gladwell book, but with more of a real world practicality to it. There were several interesting/surprising points that I continue to use to my advantage at work.

Ranking- 1 of 32

The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson- Once you’re diagnosed (probably the wrong word) as a psychopath it’s nearly impossible to prove otherwise. Also, plenty of successful people (CEOs) fit the definition.

My thoughts- A quick read about a topic that you’d think the general populous would know more about.

Ranking- 19 of 32

May 

Ghost Man by Roger Hobbs- George Clooney’s character in Michael Clayton was a ‘fixer’ for a law firm. If something went wrong or needed to be taken care of, he made it disappear or took care of it discreetly. The protagonist of Ghost Man is a fixer for crimes. After a casino robbery goes terribly awry he’s tasked with making the damage disappear for the man that ordered the crime.

My thoughts- I was never a huge fiction guy, but once I saw that Stephen King and Gillian Flynn recommended this book I had to buy it. The most amazing thing about Ghost Man is that it was written by a 24-year-old.

Ranking- 4 of 32

The Dinner by Herman Koch- Two brothers, one of which is about to run for Prime Minister, have a tense filled dinner where they decide what to do about their sons, who were caught on videotape (but not identified) murdering a homeless man in a phone booth.

My thoughts- It’s usually pretty hard to talk me into a book/movie that announces how there is only one setting throughout (127 Hours, Phone Booth, etc.), but I’m glad I eventually picked this book up. There is a lot about family, jealousy, and protecting one’s public image involved.

Ranking- 18 of 32

The Sportswriter by Richard Ford- This novel is about the angst of a divorced middle aged man who recently lost his son and covers sports for a living.

My thoughts- I don’t know if I can accurately summarize the main themes from this mid ‘80s work, but at the same time I feel like I understood the message as I read it. The novel deals with finding true happiness and meaning in life and coping with loss.

Ranking- 14 of 32

The Hit by David Baldacci- A female assassin seemingly goes rogue and a hit man is tasked with taking her out. The two have worked together in the past and end up working together again.

My thoughts- When you mix high level crime, espionage, and government corruption I’m generally interested.

Ranking- 11 of 32

June 

Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success by Phil Jackson- Part auto-biography/part coaching philosophy. Jackson reveals his worldview as he recounts his career in the NBA as a player and coach.

My thoughts- I’ve always been a fan of Phil, so reading this book was a no-brainer for me. In many ways this book just confirmed my previous conception of the legendary coach.

Ranking- 7 of 32

The Emperor’s Children by Claire Messud- A famous writer living in New York City deals with his daughter that won’t grow up and move out of his shadow, her free spirited friend who he’s known for years, and a forgotten nephew that shows up at his doorstep looking for assistance all while he continues to work on what he thinks will be his magnum opus with the 9/11 terrorist attacks serving as the background.

My thoughts- I learned about this book in a review of Messud’s 2013 work titled The Woman Upstairs and was very intrigued. I’m sure there was a ton of social commentary that I didn't pick up on, but I thought the book was well worth my time.

Ranking- 10 of 32

July 

Salt Sugar Fat by Michael Moss- The titans of the food industry had a meeting over a decade ago where someone brought up the growing concern about the health risks involved with mass produced food in America, but nothing was really done about it.

My thoughts- This is not a book that’s going to scare you and prevent you from eating processed food (you should already be scared- it’s gross). It also does not read like a textbook. Overall the point is hammered home a little too frequently, but I still found it interesting to learn about the lengths that food companies go to just to continue tricking Americans into eating stuff that barely qualifies as food.

Ranking- 23 of 32

Silken Prey by John Sanford- A private investigator is called upon by the governor after a campaign staffer in a senatorial election winds up dead.

My thoughts- A political crime thriller that hinges on a major election? Yes, please. Can they make it a movie already?

Ranking- 9 of 32

Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls by David Sedaris- I honestly don’t know how to summarize this book. It’s a bunch of seemingly random thoughts and mini-stories told and written by Sedaris. Some are autobiographical. Others are 100% made up.

My thoughts- Funny, but not nearly as funny as critics and commentators would have you believe.

Ranking- 21 of 32

Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane- The sequel to Gone Baby Gone in which Amanda McCready goes missing again and Patrick Kenzie once again has to find her.

My thoughts- I think Gone Baby Gone is one of the best movies of all time, so I had to buy this book (written by the same author). It wasn’t as good, but already knowing many of the characters made it very easy to dive right in.

Ranking- 20 of 32

The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. by Adelle Waldman- A book about the modern dating scene in Brooklyn.

My thoughts- I was very impressed by Waldman’s ability to get inside the mind of the modern male twenty something.

Ranking- 3 of 32

I Wear The Black Hat by Chuck Klosterman- Klosterman explores the role of the villain in real life.

My thoughts- Klosterman is an idea man. In this novel he presents some interesting theories and makes a handful of keen observations all while delivering his usual dose of pop culture references from the 80s and 90s.

Ranking- 17 of 32

August 

This Town by Mark Leibovich- An insider’s account of the Washington DC scene over the course of two years.

My thoughts- I’m a little politically inclined, so I was excited to read this behind the curtain look at how the political machine that is DC operates, but I wasn't particularly taken with the contents.

Ranking- 26 of 32

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Foster- A woman reflects on the pain of her childhood. Her sister was taken away when she was 5 and her brother ran away shortly thereafter.

My thoughts- Probably the weirdest book I read all year, but at times I found myself fascinated with the plot. I almost stopped reading when I learned of a key plot point, but I was already so invested that I had to continue on.

Ranking- 16 of 32

September 

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer- Six teenagers become friends at a summer camp for the arts and they remain in contact as they become adults.

My thoughts- This book explores how the ties of friendship change and are tested over the decades. There are ups and there are downs, but some connections are so strong that they endure.

Ranking- 8 of 32

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini- The author of The Kite Runner is back with a novel centered on a little girl being torn away from her brother and the ramification that the separation has over a lifetime. Each chapter is told by a different character at a different point in time, so you only get bits and pieces of the entire story, but enough is revealed in the end.

My thoughts- I don’t know how, but Hosseini sure knows how to latch on to the emotional core of his readers. He makes you feel deeply for the characters that he creates. I would recommend this book to almost anyone.

Ranking- 2 of 32

October 

Difficult Men by Brett Martin- A behind the scenes look at how antiheroes became the go to formula for successful television programs.

My thoughts- If you've seen The Wire, The Soprano’s, Mad Men, and Breaking Bad then you should absolutely buy this book.

Ranking- 22 of 32

David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell- We miscalculate advantages and disadvantages.

My thoughts- Not Gladwell’s best. Some of his examples hold water, but others don’t. Still a quick, thought provoking read, but not nearly as illuminating as his previous work.

Ranking- 24 of 32

November 

Night Film by Marisha Pessl- A reporter tries to figure out why the daughter of a cult hero film director has committed suicide.

My thoughts- This book takes you on a wild, dark ride that is entertaining, but a little too crazy.

Ranking- 27 of 32

The Last Alibi by David Ellis- The ultimate test of attorney-client privilege. A man tells a lawyer that two women that he knows well have been murdered, but that he didn't do it. The lawyer suspects that the man is guilty as the murders continue to mount, but he can’t notify the police unless he knows that the man will commit another crime. In a crazy twist the lawyer ends up on trial for murder after the man plants evidence against him.

My thoughts- A fast paced thriller that will almost undoubtedly become a movie in the next decade.

Ranking- 13 of 32

December 

You Herd Me! I’ll say it if nobody else will by Colin Cowherd- ESPN Radio host Colin Cowherd provides his take on 35 different sports arguments.

My thoughts- Cowherd is the best sports talk radio show host in the country, so the content is definitely interesting. The presentation is definitely different, but I’m not sure how much that will bother the masses.

Ranking- 12 of 32

Defending Jacob by William Landay- The assistant DA is the lead investigator of the murder of a 14-year-old boy…until his son becomes the leading suspect.

My thoughts- Certainly a different take on the legal thriller genre, but I feel like the crux of this book involved parenthood i.e. what a parent believed their own creation was capable of.

Ranking- 28 of 32

The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connelly- A hotshot lawyer defends a client who was recommended to him by the very prostitute who he’s accused of killing.

My thoughts- A page turning legal drama that’s perfect for a plane ride.

Ranking- 15 of 32