Favourite Reads 2018

By Juhi Bansal

This has been a good year as far as reading goes. I have already finished 42 and there’s still about a month left in the year! Suggestions for what I should pick up next are welcome. Here are my top picks from 2018.

You can also check out my picks from 2017 and 2016.

Stillhouse Lake & Killman Creek by Rachel Caine

A complete page turner full of action, gore and paranoia. Also a sweet story of a mother running away from her scary past in an attempt to keep her kids safe.

I loved how the sequel also has 3 other perspectives and not just the protagonist’s. Keeps you engaged till the end. When I finished reading the books Gwen’s (the protagonist) life haunted me for atleast a week. I am glad this one had a happy ending (but really? because why would there be a third one then!). The third part (Wolfhunter River) is out early next year and I can’t wait!

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Eleanor is one of those characters that grow on you. She made me laugh, shake my head in disbelief and even shed a tear or two. A very unlikely (and unlikeable in the beginning probably) protagonist- with all her quirkiness she still ends up endearing herself to the readers. If you’re only going to read one book this year- make it this one! You heart will swell with love and hope.

The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton

This is my second Sharon Bolton book and man did it give me the creeps! Sinister to the core, yet a heartening story of love for your family and your ownself, self preservation, friendship in the most unexpected places and hair tingling thrill. Written in her inimitable style, you’re glued to the book till the literal last word- I like that about her previous book as well- while most stories end before the final chapter and the epilogue is all about tying loose threads, this one leaves you hanging by the thread till the last word. If you’re ready for a rollercoaster- this one is it!

Sapiens- A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

I am not really a non-fiction person. However, this book was highly recommended by the husband. Yuval takes you through several millennia of our journey as Sapiens. He divides the stages into 4 revolutions and how each one of these has contributed into making us “extraordinary”. It’s a great mix of Anthropology, Biology and History (truly interdiscplinary- something I keep working hard on at work) and while it’s not exactly a difficult read he makes sure he doesn’t dumb anything down for his readers. It’s a fun read- he quotes several examples we can identify with. It’s also quite thought provoking especially when he equates Politics to Religion (with scientific evidence) and how everything is but a figment of our imagination.

What I Know for Sure by Oprah Winfrey

I’ve been a fan of Oprah’s grit ever since I remember. This book isn’t really her autobiography but she still manages to share various anecdotes from her life and how they’ve taught her things- she knows for sure. Needless to say she is talking about how not to sweat the little stuff and look at the big picture etc but coming from a celebrity with real life instances it somehow became real. Also, since I heard the Audible version, her voice made a lot of difference. You may want to get hold of this one!

Me Before You by Jojo Meyes

I read this over one single night. I just couldn’t put it down. It’s a fairly predictable story. You can guess the flow of the story even before you start. And I can’t put my finger to what worked for me but how the story has been told is beautiful. I have never felt more invested in the characters. I was in love with both Lou and Will and their vulnerabilities. I cried with them, laughed and hoped for a different ending. Even when I knew that if that different ending did happen- I would have called it Hollywood-ish. I knew what was coming but I still couldn’t let go until I had read every single word. It’s the first part in a trilogy and I was excited that the story won’t end with this book. That I’ll have more of the characters- that there is still a long way to go. However, the sequels are both let downs and I am sure you’ll get your closure from this one.

Pictures from a recent collaboration with House of Furniture (HoF). Whether I am lost in my Wonderland, watching TV or reading a book (three of my favourite pastimes), a comfy couch can take the experience several notches higher.