This past quarter was jam-packed with non-fiction reading and listening for me. Not only have I been doing research for my next novel that required some non-fiction reading, but I have a new assignment at my day job and I wanted to read more on management and leadership as well. My four favorites are listed below, but you can still check all of my ratings and reviews on Goodreads.
Below are my favorite read of Q4 in 2018:
Lethal White by Robert Galbraith – I had been patiently (ok, not so patiently) waiting for the fourth installment in the Cormoran Strike series and thankfully logged onto my local library at the exact right time to be high up on the wait list. I think I was the seventh person in my area to get the book. I simply couldn’t put this book down. I loved the mystery itself, but I really enjoyed the focus on Robin and what was going on in her life as well. Unfortunately, I finished the book quickly and now I am waiting for the fifth installment. If you haven’t started this series, or if you only read the first novel, I would highly recommend reading the series this winter.
Into The Water by Paula Hawkins – The Girl on The Train was a book that I loved to hate. The characters just drove me crazy, but I couldn’t put it down. I had to know how it would end. Hawkins did an amazing job at making me feel all the things and keeping my attention. When I started Into The Water I braced myself for another emotional rollercoaster. Thankfully, I found that I did like the characters in Into The Water much better and I still couldn’t put the book down. This was a very well done follow-up and did not disappoint. I was guessing about “whodunnit” until the very end.
All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai – In my research for my upcoming novel I have read a lot of books in this space. (The hints are so heavy!) I really enjoyed the way that the author seamlessly blended science and the narrative. I really enjoyed the sense of adventure that was present in the book and the happy ending. After reading so many dark and sad books, it’s nice to see a happy ending.
The Hidden Reality by Brian Greene – This has been the most helpful non-fiction book in my research to date. The others that I have read and listened to have helped me to feel more confident in the scientific elements that are referenced in my next book, but Greene’s book has helped me to understand new concepts that will be critical to making my next book more nuanced and real. It was nice to be able to read something that was so technical and detailed but was still so accessible.
What are your top reads for 2018 so far? Have you picked up any popular books and did they live up to the hype?
MK Williams 