I was inspired by Hope Coulter to write about books I’ve read from 2018. My reading habits continue to form around literary fiction, science fiction, and fantasy; but I’m reading more nonfiction and feel the need to get back to poetry. I was previously spoiled by working at a library with a vast poetry collection. If I reviewed the book, it will be linked below. My complete list of books is here.

Literary Fiction

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee.

The Overstory by Richard Powers.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett.

Science Fiction

Ancillary Justice and the following two novels in the series by Ann Leckie. The novels offer a fresh perspective and the main character is wonderful.

Player of Games by Iain M. Banks

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

Fantasy

City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennet. The novel takes place in a world were an enslaved colony has killed the gods of the colonial power and risen up. Now the former colonial empire is a messed up backwater while the former colony is on their way to becoming an empire. It’s more of an urban fantasy book with an interesting take on magic and faith.

Nonfiction

The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson.

Honorable Mentions

A Highwind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes. The novel is moving, funny, and dark as the innocence of childhood is explored through pirates accidentally kidnapping children.

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley.

Kindred by Octavia Butler.