Looking back on 2015, I had quite a good reading year. While my stats below don’t seem that impressive, I was happy with the quality of books and the array of literary gems I found. I’ve never been a speedy reader, I like to mosey and hold on to books that I’m reading for a while, dreaming about their worlds and narration, noting passages I like etc. Nor do I rush on to the next book very quickly. I need a down day or so before leaving one behind for the next author’s voice or book’s setting that enters my head. It’s just my meandering way I guess, and I always like to take time to write a review for each book.
I’m not sure if everyone saw the New York Times article about looking back on the year in book publishing, but I found it pretty interesting. It seems e-book sales surely tapered off this year, which is true for me as I don’t read many e-books compared to regular books, and audiobook sales soared, which is also true for me, since I started to regularly listen to audiobooks for the first time ever. I found them quite nice for dog walks, commuting, gardening, and even doing laundry, though they are a different experience than the process of reading, which is impossible to replace or enumerate all of its magic ways. Anyways, the article also mentions the proliferation this year of coloring books for adults, which is a trend I haven’t understood well or can’t fathom for myself, though they do seem a de-stresser for some. What an odd trend — don’t you think? The rest of the article speaks for itself. Now on to my 2015 stats and book favorites (which weren’t necessarily published in this year.)
44 Books Completed
30 Read books
14 Audio books
11 Nonfiction
33 Fiction
25 Female Authors
19 Male Authors
My Top 5 Favorite Nonfiction Books in 2015
The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party by Daniel James Brown
My Salinger Year by Joanna Rakoff
Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen by Mary Norris
On the Move: A Life by Oliver Sacks
Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg
My Favorite Novels in 2015
The Enchanted by Rene Denfeld
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
Sweetland by Michael Crummey
Euphoria by Lily King
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
The Transcriptionist by Amy Rowland
The Dinner by Herman Koch
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
My Sunshine Away by M.O. Walsh
Circling the Sun by Paula McLain
A Sudden Light by Garth Stein
Painted Horses by Malcolm Brooks
A Constellation of Vital Phenomenon by Anthony Marra
Stoner by John Williams
The Secret River by Kate Grenville
The Jaguar’s Children by John Vaillant
Long Man by Amy Greene
As for my rating of movies below: 3 stars means they were pretty good in places; 3.5 star movies are ones I found quite enjoyable; 4 stars means there was something special about the movie, and 5 means there’s various things I found that made it one heck of a film. I plan to see more movies that are nominated before the Academy Awards airs on Feb. 28.
Notable 2015 Movies I’ve Seen:
The Big Short (5 stars)
Spotlight (4.5 stars)
Steve Jobs (4 stars)
In the Heart of the Sea (3.5 stars)
Brooklyn (3.5 stars)
The Martian (3.5 stars)
The Lady in the Van (3.5 stars)
Bridge of Spies (3.5 stars)
I’ll See You in My Dreams (3.5 stars)
Woman in Gold (3.5 stars)
While We’re Young (3.5 stars)
The Intern (3.5 stars)
Ex-Machina (3 stars)
Trainwreck (3 stars)
Remember (3 stars)
Z for Zachariah (3 stars)
Clouds of Sils Maria (3 stars)
Mad Max: Fury Road (3 stars)
Notable 2015 Movies I Have Not Seen Yet:
Carol
The Revenant
Room
45 Years
The Danish Girl
Concussion
Son of Saul
Youth
Macbeth
Learning to Drive
Suffragette
Far From the Madding Crowd
Lastly, below are albums I liked this past year. I guess the genre I generally listen to these days might be labeled adult alternative or folk/country rock or whatever else have you. Three of the ones below are from Canadians so you might not recognize them; I never did before moving here.
My Favorite 2015 Albums
Coldplay’s “A Head Full of Dreams”
Brandi Carlile’s “The Firewatcher’s Daughter”
Glen Hansard’s “Didn’t He Ramble”
Tobias Jesso Jr.’s “Goon”
Jason Isbell’s “Something More Than Free”
The Weather Station’s “Loyalty”
Great Lake Swimmers’ “A Forest of Arms”
Rhiannon Giddens’s “Tomorrow Is My Turn”
Alabama Shakes’ “Sound and Color”
Florence and the Machine’s “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful”
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds’ “Chasing Yesterday”
How about you — are any of my favorite books, movies, or albums from this year — ones that you have liked as well? Or would you suggest others? (As for the photos above, they were taken over the weekend when we went to the mountains to go skiing.) Here’s to more good releases in 2016!
The Indifferent Stars Above was one of your most commented posts, I think, which was so exciting. I so want to read that book at some point.
I’m planning to read this year Station Eleven and Euphoria. I would also like to try The Dinner at some point.
You saw so many movies from this year. I’ve seen a few. I agree with your ratings for Woman in Gold and Z for Zachariah. The Martian, though, turned out to be quite a disappointment for me. The photography was unparalleled, but I didn’t like the musical score (disco music courtesy of the captain of the expedition), and the jokes were too far between and the ones that actually landed felt flat. I don’t think Matt Damon was a good choice for that role.
I still have to watch Pawn Sacrifice, for which I got a rental discount, and Jurassic Park.
Among this year’s albums I liked Selena Gomez’s and Adele’s 25. I bought both for half the price, which it’s quite exciting.
Yeah Carmen you’re right about The Indifferent Stars Above — I did get my most comments on that one. It seems others had that book in mind. I’ll be curious to hear what you think of it and Station Eleven which is a bit different. I can understand your thoughts on The Martian movie; the book seemed a bit better, but not for everyone perhaps. I liked Adele’s first two albums a lot but haven’t bought her latest one — wasn’t sure I’d get into it as well but with your comments about it — it seems you like it and I should. thanks.
Good lists! I am reminded once again that I must read The Enchanted. I read Stoner a few years ago and it really got to me! I am way behind on movies since I don’t go out to see movies in the theater that much but I will see them as they come out on DVD. As far as music goes, it is strange that I don’t keep up on the new releases, since I was a musician once myself. I found myself listening to Joni Mitchell and Patty Griffin mostly. But I enjoyed your favorite books lists and I am so happy to be connected with you in the blogosphere!
Thx Judy! So nice of you to say! I guess I was enchanted by The Enchanted, ha. Dark but rather alluring. Yeah Stoner was quiet but cut to the bone in its truths, sad too. I see movies mostly at certain times of the year – when the good ones are out and then I don’t see them for months at a time, but for ones on pay-per-view TV. I’m sure you were a great musician & still are; were you a pianist / keyboardist & singer? Oh I’m a big fan too of Joni Mitchell and I like Patty Griffin as well. That’s music right up my alley. I guess my favorite Joni album is Court and Spark which is amazing to me still, and then Blue. What kind of music did you play? I’m sure I will read more great books because of your reviews & recommendations. Glad to find your site too.
You read some great looking books last year. Many of them I want to read myself. As I intend to read more contemporary Science Fiction this year I hope to get to Station Eleven soon.
Happy reading in 2016!
Thanks Brian, yeah I was happy with the good books I got to in 2015. Made all the difference! I really hope you like Station Eleven. I found it quite creative; it wasn’t just a survival story; it had more to it, and various characters too. Happy reading to you as well in the new year!
What a great list of books! Several of them I have also loved, and many of them are still on my to-read list. I like that you included movies. I’ve never even heard of The Big Short – I better go look it up!
Hey thanks Naomi. Well if you’re Canadian The Big Short might not be as important since it’s about the US economic collapse in 2008 caused by faulty sub-prime loans which sounds boring but it’s quite a good & creative movie. Check it out.
I want to see several movies on that list and have plans to see Carol next week.
Oh good Kathy, I want to see Carol too. I will check back with you to see if you liked it.
I think I’ve read one book on your list: Station Eleven and I’ll be honest that I didn’t love it as much as others (obviously, including yourself 🙂 ). I have heard of many of the others, probably because you’ve mentioned them here. Any one besides Station Eleven that you think is a must-read?
Out of the movies you reviewed, I’ve seen one: Mad Max: Fury Road and I actually liked it better than I thought I would. I might even buy a copy. The Big Short: I’ll have to check it out when it comes out on DVD.
Music: I’ve heard Tobias Jesso Jr.’s album and liked it. I like Rhiannon Gidden, the little I’ve heard from her, and my wife loves Glen Hansard, I know. Oh, Alabama Shakes, yep, one of my favorites from 2015 too.
Hi Bryan, From my book list, I think you might like The Dog Stars by Peter Heller; it has a bit of action that keeps one guessing. For movies, my husband & I recently rented Mad Max Fury Road since it received quite a bit of recognition. It was wild for sure. Glad you liked Tobias Jesso’s album — me too. Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks, Susan. I’ll look for that one.
I enjoyed Everything I Never Told You, My Salinger Year, and I really want to read The Dinner.
As for movies, I saw Carol yesterday and really enjoyed it. I wanted to see Learning to Drive, but it has not “visited” this stupid city in which I live…LOL.
Suffragette is another I want to see, along with Room. Also…these have not been here; or Suffragette was here, but so briefly I couldn’t quite manage it.
Thanks for sharing…and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
Yeah Laurel — The Dinner novel is quite a doozy — good; you should get it. Glad you liked Carol — I hope to see it. I might rent Learning to Drive on pay-per-view. I think it’s available now. Maybe that film is from 2014? I have so many left to see!
I just placed a hold on the audiobook of The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party by Daniel James Brown. I loved his book, Boys in the Boat so I will take your recommendation. Happy New Year.
Oh good Anne. I think you’ll find it intriguing. I’m still fascinated by the Pioneers who journeyed across the country then. The story of the Donner Party is tragic.
Looks like you had a great year! I try to see all of the movie nominated for Best Picture and I’m way behind this year. The only movie I’ve seen that might possibly be nominated is Steve Jobs. Nominations come out Friday!
The adult coloring book trend is not for me. I know it’s supposed to be relaxing but I would be thinking about all the things I need to get done and could be doing if I wasn’t coloring!
Exactly Rachel, I don’t have time for coloring either! What did you think of the Steve Jobs movie? A lot of dialogue right?! Fassbender is pretty awesome. I think I might see Carol this week.
It looks like you read some amazing books, saw some even better movies and listened to great music. I can’t think of a better way to spend the year. I hope your 2016 is just as successful!
Thanks Michelle. Yeah 2015 turned out to be a good one! Let’s hope 2016 is as well.
Out of your best of nonfiction list, I’ve only read Lean In, which I really enjoyed too! I’d also like to pick up The Indifferent Stars Above. I’ve only heard good things about and the story seems fascinating, if a bit macabre 🙂
Yeah Katie : The Indifferent Stars Above is definitely unsettling in parts, not easy to read. I’m glad you liked Lean In — at least it raised interesting food-for-thought so to speak.