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The Best Books of 2015
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
The Truth Contributor
As you look back over your year, there are a lot of things
you notice.
You had fun – probably more than once. You had some really
great meals with really great friends – also probably more
than once. And in my case, there were books – definitely
more than one. Over 320, to be exact, but here are my Top
Picks of 2015.
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 taught. 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
seven-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…
NON-FICTION
You may find Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the
Lusitania by Erik Larson on other Best Of lists this
year, for a 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 it 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.
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
If you ever had an imaginary friend, then The
Imaginary by A.F. Harrold, illustrated by Emily Gravett
is a book to read – or to give to your
nine-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.
And there you are – books for you, books for your family,
the best books I’ve read in the past 12 months. Pick them
up. You won’t be sorry.
Happy Reading!
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