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12 Books I Read During 2018

Includes: A Handful of Classics, a Dash of Comic Books, and More!

By michael oPublished 5 years ago 4 min read
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Throughout my entire life, I have always used books to sate my curiosity for the world. Last year was no different.

Out of the 22 books I read over the course of the year, here are my top 12.

Without further ado, let's hop into our list!

JANUARY: 'To Kill A Mockingbird', by Harper Lee

To be quite honest, January 2018 wasn't the first time I've picked up a copy of To Kill A Mockingbird. It was a book that I've had for a while but never got around to reading.

However, my senior year writing class required us to scrutinize Harper Lee's novel from cover to cover. My only regret in my journey with her book is that I dared to put it down before reading it.

While I'm not the first to say that To Kill A Mockingbird is a literary masterpiece (and I certainly won't be the last), Harper Lee's acclaimed novel lives up to its reputation.

If you haven't picked it up yet, I urge you to read it now.

FEBRUARY: 'Something Wicked This Way Comes', by Ray Bradbury

I happened across a copy of Something Wicked This Way Comes while waiting for a delayed flight in the airport and decided to pick it up because my class would be reading Fahrenheit 451 later that semester.

Initially, when I began reading it, I was confused. Bradbury's writing style takes a while to understand, but when it finally clicks, you realize that he is truly an incredible writer.

The twisted world of Something Wicked This Way Comes is genius. It is one of the books I constantly revisit, and find myself being absorbed by over and over and over again.

MARCH: 'Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda', by Becky Alberti

The hype of the then-upcoming movie Love, Simon was what prompted me to pick up Alberti's novel at my local half-price bookstore. Honestly, I was worried that the story would be overhyped. However, I ended up being completely enthralled by the story.

APRIL: 'Symptoms of Being Human', by Jeff Garvin

After Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda renewed my interest in YA novels, I found myself back at the bookstore holding Garvin's Symptoms of Being Human and a lighter wallet. If Simon's story drew me in, then Riley's story completely shattered me. As a non-binary person, it was more than refreshing to see a story starring a genderfluid protagonist on the market. It made me laugh, it made me cry, but most of all, closeted-me felt less alone after finishing the book.

MAY: 'Heart and Brain', by Nick Seluk (@theawkardyeti)

I've always been a fan of Seluk's comics, but I never had a chance to peruse through Heart and Brain until this summer. Seluk personifies organs and other body parts and, through the simplicity of comics, creates a hilarious narrative. It's a book that made me laugh—something that I desperately needed at the time.

JUNE: 'Torn', by Justin Lee

Torn is an autobiographical narrative that explores Lee's experiences as a gay Christian. Interestingly enough, it was a book that my then-pastor recommended to my mentors, who recommended it to me.

Of course, I was skeptical. I didn't want to find myself reading a story about how another LGBT+ person "converted" to becoming straight/cisgender. But I decided not to judge a book by its cover and give it a chance.

JULY: 'Butter', by Erin Jose Longe

I borrowed a copy of Butter sometime during middle school, and never got around to finishing it. Years later, while looking for nothing in particular, I came across Longe's novel. Through the eyes of our 16-year-old protagonist, whom his classmates dubbed "Butter," Longe granted me an interesting perspective that I've never considered before. Needless to say, I'm definitely glad that Butter and I crossed paths a second time.

AUGUST: 'Super Late Bloomer', by Julia Kaye

Julia Kaye's Super Late Bloomer brings us back to the underrated world of comics. Super Late Bloomer is an autobiographical comic book following Julia Kaye's transition. Because of her honesty about her anxieties, self-perception, and the obstacles of transitioning, she's able to connect with her audience in a way that makes both parties feel understood.

SEPTEMBER: September Morning, edited and compiled by Sara Lukisan

I came across this beautiful compilation while visiting the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in NYC. It's beautiful and well-organized, leading the reader through a decade of 9/11 ceremonies that occur amidst an aftermath of tragedy.

OCTOBER: 'Yesterday I Was the Moon', by Noor Unnahar

Yesterday i was the moon is one of the few poetry books I read this year and the only one that's made this list. Noor Unnahar boldly shares her journey of self-love and womanhood with her audience. It's a remarkable collection of poetry that doesn't only comfort, but empowers.

NOVEMBER: 'Us Versus Us: The Untold Story of Religion and the LGBT Community', by Andrew Martin

Surprisingly insightful, Us Verses Us also promotes healthy dialogue between Christians and the LGBT+ community. Martin, who was previously a pastor in the predominantly LGBT+ area of Boystown, Chicago, shares his observations through a lens of research, statistics, and conversations with other LGBT+ folx. It's a must-read book that's somehow been overlooked.

DECEMBER: 'The Sacred Enneagram', by Christopher L. Heuertz

Heuertz's book (whose intro is written by the songwriter behind the popular Sleeping at Last) takes the reader through the nine different personality types and explores each through a spiritual yet objective lens. The Sacred Enneagram was definitely not something I thought I'd read, but nethertheless, it was surprisingly useful.

In Conclusion?

Whether or not you expect a book to be exciting, you will always, always learn something from it. Here's to a bright, book-filled 2019!

literature
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About the Creator

michael o

they | them | theirs

I'm a content creator. Check out my linktree for my art and other publications: https://linktr.ee/inkybattlefields

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