2018: A Year in Books

Here they are, folks - the 25 books I read in 2018. And while there's a myriad of genres, styles, and authors on display, I must admit that I mostly read for fun this time around. As opposed to 2017, I didn't go out of my way to read "challenging" texts, instead using literature to escape reality as opposed to expanding it. Yes, this was the year of literary lethargy, and it was wonderful. 2018 presented its share of frank challenges; I used the following books to ease the tension, to loosen life's perpetually tightening screws. Even the titles I didn't love offered escape - a primeval forest to explore, an ocean to sail, an abyss of stars yearning to be charted. I'm grateful for each and every one.

These books are presented in the order I read them, with a letter grade next to each expressing my overall impressions and enjoyment.

1.) Turtles All the Way Down by John Green ... A-
2.) The Grownup by Gillian Flynn ... C+
3.) Apart in the Dark by Ania Ahlborn ... B- 
4.) From A Buick 8 by Stephen King ... A
5.) Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine ... A+
6.) The Wave by Todd Strasser ... C- 
7.) The Complete Far Side, Volume 1 by Gary Larson ... B
8.) Strange Weather by Joe Hill ... B- 
9.) Roadwork by Richard Bachman ... B 
10.) The Complete Far Side, Volume 2 by Gary Larson ... B+
11.) Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood ... B 
12.) Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King ... A
13.) Political Tribes by Amy Chua ... A+ 
14.) I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara ... A- 
15.) The Mist by Stephen King ... B
16.) The Complete Far Side, Volume 3 by Gary Larson ... B+ 
17.) Survive the Night by Danielle Vega ... C
18.) The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt ... A
19.) Elevation by Stephen King ... B+
20.) Cardboard by Doug TenNapel ... C+ 
21.) Batman: The Court of Owls Saga by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo ... A
22.) Five Ghosts: Volume 1 - The Haunting of Fabian Gray by Frank L. Barbiere and Chris Mooneyham ... A- 
23.) Descender: Volume 1 - Tin Stars by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen ... B- 
24.) Deadly Class, 1987 - Reagan Youth by Rick Remender and Wes Craig ... B- 
25.) Death or Glory: Volume 1 - She's Got You by Rick Remender and Bengal ... B+