Top 10 Books of the Last 10 Years
As we not only finish another year, but close out a decade, I wanted to do a countdown of the top 10 books I’ve read in the last 10 years. There are so many great books out there I can't wait to see what 2020 and beyond brings. And just maybe my novel Posthuman (www.amazon.com/dp/B07WRL35FX) will make someone’s top ten list.
10) The Terror, Dan Simmons
While published more than a decade ago, I only read this book a few years ago. This spot of the list is a tribute to all the books I’ve discovered many years after their publication dates. The Terror mixes history and fiction in an old school monster/fear of the unknown plot. While cozied up on a couch, the descriptions of ice, snow, and cold were so compelling I found myself pulling the blanket I was wrapped in tighter around me to stay warm. A good story stands the test of time - and The Terror is a good read. Skip the AMC series and just read the book.
9) Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, Neil deGrasse Tyson
If I were smarter, I’d be an astrophysicist. As it is, I’ll have to be one at heart. I find the universe, the creation of planets and stars, and the evolution of live fascination, as well as awe-inspiring. It is so easy to be short-sighted in day-to-day life, but the universe is vast and understanding gives perspective and inspires. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry is an easily digestible explanation about how the universe works on micro and macro levels. Neil deGrasse Tyson’s 2014 Cosmo’s series is also fantastic and there’s a new session this year! So, heads up.
8) Horns, Joe Hill
Son of Stephen King, Joe has some big shoes to fill. While he’s defiantly carrying the mantle of his father, he has his own unique voice. I found Horns and his debut novel Heart-Shaped Box to have an intimate writing style. Moreover, I related to the protagonist's downward spiral in Horns, as he struggled to make things right in his troubled life at the same time as he transformed into a devil. The details and realism of the transformation were well done and laced with dark humor. This book was also made into a movie, but as often is the case, didn’t transition well to the silver screen, so do yourself a favor and stick to the book.
7) Moonglow, Michael Chabon
Who doesn’t think they come from a weird family? But my crazy uncle stories pale in comparison to Mr. Chabon’s memoir of his grandfather. My own grandfather had some pretty wild stories about growing up in the depression and living through WWII, which is perhaps why this book spoke to me. Even without that family history though, Moonglow is a remarkable narrative, with sparkling prose penned by a Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
6) IQ, Joe Ide
Everyone loves a super-intelligent detective, or at least I do. But I’m pretty sure Sherlock Holes would back me up. IQ was my most recent read on this list. I’ve read the first three books in the series and I’m looking forward to more. The gritty, urban setting is the perfect setting for this nontraditional detective. The characters are vivid and the dialogue sharp. These books are a quick smooth read and it’s a pleasure to have a dependable series like IQ to add to my bookshelf.
5) Sourdough, Robin Sloan
Sourdough is a book I picked up on a whimsy. It was a complete unknown to me, and it delivered. Mr. Sloan weaves a tale that blends tech and history, and of course food! As someone who likes to cook it’s no surprise that this quirky tale about a software engineer who becomes obsessed with making the perfect loaf of sourdough would appeal to me. Anyone hungry. After reading Sourdough, you will be.
4) The Martian, Andy Weir
I have a crush on near-future sci-fi, and I’m betting a lot of you out there have read The Martian, and with good reason – it’s a great read. Now I know some people liked the movie more than the but, but those people are wrong. The movie is respectable, but the book has all the juicy technical details that out of brevity can’t go into a screenplay. But wherever your allegiance falls, the red planet calls, and I look forward to seeing someone step foot on Mars during my lifetime.
3) The Lonely Polygamist, Brady Udall
I’ve read all the top three books on this list at least twice, but The Lonely Polygamist has a special significance. Mr. Udall was a faculty member who I’d hoped to study under when I was applying for some MFAs in creative writing. The title of the book captures the paradox of modern life: while technology has made it easier to communicate, many people are increasingly isolated. I also enjoy stories that take me into a subculture that I know little about (Winter’s Bones is another that comes to mind). Sweet, poignant, relatable, and very funny, The Lonely Polygamist easily earns its spot in the top three.
2) The Magicians (Trilogy), Lev Grossman
I’ve heard The Magicians described as “Harry Potter for adults,” which if it is, I’ll take it over Harry Potter any day of the week. Harry Potter for me was too juvenile, naïve, and broke its own magical construct too easily (and yes, I know I’m in the minority with this opinion). Perhaps my point of view would have been different if I’d grow up on Harry Potter. But I didn’t, I grew up on C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia - the original Harry Potter if you will. The Magicians took me back to the magical worlds of my childhood, but from an adult perspective. These more mature themes added depth to the books and examines how magic (rather than just being used to confront a pure evil) might not make life better or fix complicated relationships. Some might see that as a cynical perspective, and not everyone will love The Magicians, but I did.
1) Ready Player One, Ernest Cline
Okay, if you skipped right to the number one spot, are you surprised? We are in a lovefest of the 80s, and as someone who grew up then, and transitioned from an analog to a digital world - Ready Player One blended both those worlds perfectly, and in one helluva fun treasure hunt to boot! To me, Super Nintendo and pixel graphics are nostalgia heaven. So yes, clearly, I’m the target audience. Much of the book is a trip down memory lane, but it's not just the video game references, but the VR experience all gamers dream of. For those of you too young to understand any of the pop culture references in the book and grew up on 4G and Marvel movies, don’t worry, at some point you look back at this decade and touchscreens will look super clunky and retro compared to your neural implants and augmented reality. Until then, cheers! -M.C. Hansen.
10) The Terror, Dan Simmons
While published more than a decade ago, I only read this book a few years ago. This spot of the list is a tribute to all the books I’ve discovered many years after their publication dates. The Terror mixes history and fiction in an old school monster/fear of the unknown plot. While cozied up on a couch, the descriptions of ice, snow, and cold were so compelling I found myself pulling the blanket I was wrapped in tighter around me to stay warm. A good story stands the test of time - and The Terror is a good read. Skip the AMC series and just read the book.
9) Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, Neil deGrasse Tyson
If I were smarter, I’d be an astrophysicist. As it is, I’ll have to be one at heart. I find the universe, the creation of planets and stars, and the evolution of live fascination, as well as awe-inspiring. It is so easy to be short-sighted in day-to-day life, but the universe is vast and understanding gives perspective and inspires. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry is an easily digestible explanation about how the universe works on micro and macro levels. Neil deGrasse Tyson’s 2014 Cosmo’s series is also fantastic and there’s a new session this year! So, heads up.
8) Horns, Joe Hill
Son of Stephen King, Joe has some big shoes to fill. While he’s defiantly carrying the mantle of his father, he has his own unique voice. I found Horns and his debut novel Heart-Shaped Box to have an intimate writing style. Moreover, I related to the protagonist's downward spiral in Horns, as he struggled to make things right in his troubled life at the same time as he transformed into a devil. The details and realism of the transformation were well done and laced with dark humor. This book was also made into a movie, but as often is the case, didn’t transition well to the silver screen, so do yourself a favor and stick to the book.
7) Moonglow, Michael Chabon
Who doesn’t think they come from a weird family? But my crazy uncle stories pale in comparison to Mr. Chabon’s memoir of his grandfather. My own grandfather had some pretty wild stories about growing up in the depression and living through WWII, which is perhaps why this book spoke to me. Even without that family history though, Moonglow is a remarkable narrative, with sparkling prose penned by a Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
6) IQ, Joe Ide
Everyone loves a super-intelligent detective, or at least I do. But I’m pretty sure Sherlock Holes would back me up. IQ was my most recent read on this list. I’ve read the first three books in the series and I’m looking forward to more. The gritty, urban setting is the perfect setting for this nontraditional detective. The characters are vivid and the dialogue sharp. These books are a quick smooth read and it’s a pleasure to have a dependable series like IQ to add to my bookshelf.
5) Sourdough, Robin Sloan
Sourdough is a book I picked up on a whimsy. It was a complete unknown to me, and it delivered. Mr. Sloan weaves a tale that blends tech and history, and of course food! As someone who likes to cook it’s no surprise that this quirky tale about a software engineer who becomes obsessed with making the perfect loaf of sourdough would appeal to me. Anyone hungry. After reading Sourdough, you will be.
4) The Martian, Andy Weir
I have a crush on near-future sci-fi, and I’m betting a lot of you out there have read The Martian, and with good reason – it’s a great read. Now I know some people liked the movie more than the but, but those people are wrong. The movie is respectable, but the book has all the juicy technical details that out of brevity can’t go into a screenplay. But wherever your allegiance falls, the red planet calls, and I look forward to seeing someone step foot on Mars during my lifetime.
3) The Lonely Polygamist, Brady Udall
I’ve read all the top three books on this list at least twice, but The Lonely Polygamist has a special significance. Mr. Udall was a faculty member who I’d hoped to study under when I was applying for some MFAs in creative writing. The title of the book captures the paradox of modern life: while technology has made it easier to communicate, many people are increasingly isolated. I also enjoy stories that take me into a subculture that I know little about (Winter’s Bones is another that comes to mind). Sweet, poignant, relatable, and very funny, The Lonely Polygamist easily earns its spot in the top three.
2) The Magicians (Trilogy), Lev Grossman
I’ve heard The Magicians described as “Harry Potter for adults,” which if it is, I’ll take it over Harry Potter any day of the week. Harry Potter for me was too juvenile, naïve, and broke its own magical construct too easily (and yes, I know I’m in the minority with this opinion). Perhaps my point of view would have been different if I’d grow up on Harry Potter. But I didn’t, I grew up on C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia - the original Harry Potter if you will. The Magicians took me back to the magical worlds of my childhood, but from an adult perspective. These more mature themes added depth to the books and examines how magic (rather than just being used to confront a pure evil) might not make life better or fix complicated relationships. Some might see that as a cynical perspective, and not everyone will love The Magicians, but I did.
1) Ready Player One, Ernest Cline
Okay, if you skipped right to the number one spot, are you surprised? We are in a lovefest of the 80s, and as someone who grew up then, and transitioned from an analog to a digital world - Ready Player One blended both those worlds perfectly, and in one helluva fun treasure hunt to boot! To me, Super Nintendo and pixel graphics are nostalgia heaven. So yes, clearly, I’m the target audience. Much of the book is a trip down memory lane, but it's not just the video game references, but the VR experience all gamers dream of. For those of you too young to understand any of the pop culture references in the book and grew up on 4G and Marvel movies, don’t worry, at some point you look back at this decade and touchscreens will look super clunky and retro compared to your neural implants and augmented reality. Until then, cheers! -M.C. Hansen.
No comments have been added yet.
