10 Relaxing Good Read Before Bed | My Think Big Life

Over 8,000 books per year, and these were the 10 most read book reviews published in 2018.

10. Warlight

The term warlight blackouts was used to describe the dimmed lights that directed emergency traffic during wartime London. The word aptly describes the atmosphere of this haunting, brilliant novel from Ondaatje (The Cat's Table), set in Britain in the decades after World War II, in which many important facts are deliberately shrouded in the semi-darkness of history. The narrator, Nathaniel Williams, looks back to the year 1945, when he was 14, and "our parents left and left us in the care of two men who may have been criminals." Nathaniel and his older sister, Rachel, are stunned to learn that their mother's alleged reason for leaving them was incorrect. Her betrayal destroys their innocence; they learn to accept that 'nothing was safe anymore'. To the siblings' surprise, their appointed guardian, their upstairs tenant, whom they call the Moth, turns out to be a kind and protective mentor. His friend, a former boxer nicknamed the Pimlico Darter, is also a friendly guide, although he deals with illegal ventures enlisting Nathaniel's help. The story reads like a non-traditional and fascinating coming-of-age saga halfway through a violent event; the resulting shocking revelations open the second half of the novel to more surprises. The central irony is Nathaniel's ultimate realization that his mother's heroic acts of patriotism during and after the war left lasting repercussions that broke their families. Mesmerizing from the very first sentence, full of poignant insights and satisfying subplots, this novel about secrets and loss is arguably Ondaatje's best work to date. Agent: Ellen Levine, Trident Media Group. (May)

See Also: The Best Books For Kindle Unlimited Worth Reading On Kindle Unlimited

9. The Laws of Human Nature

In this detailed and comprehensive guide, Greene (Mastery)attempts to immerse his audience in “all aspects of human behavior,” as reflected by 18 laws established by Greene. He claims that studying these laws will turn the reader into a "calmer and more strategic observer," immune to "emotional drama." Those are lofty promises, but even skeptics will become believers if they dive into Greene's well-organized text. In each chapter, he describes the benefits of facing and overcoming a different form of human fallibility. For example, overcoming the "law of irrationality" leads to the ability to "open your mind to what is really happening as opposed to what you feel". For historical perspective, he highlights relevant famous figures: Howard Hughes represents the pitfalls of compulsive behavior, and Anton Chekhov embodies the benefits of overcoming self-sabotage. Greene also quotes a number of literary greats along the way, including Fyodor Dostoevsky, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Gore Vidal, whose aphorisms 'Every time a friend succeeds, I die a little' is applied, unsurprisingly, to the chapter on envy. Greene's main message is to “take a step back” from the “immediate rush of events” to gain a better understanding of one's experiences and circumstances. Greene's thoughtful examination of herself and society will provide a refreshing and revitalizing perspective for the dedicated reader. Agent: Michael Carlisle, InkWell Management. (Oct.)

8. A Thousand Books to Read Before You Die

This compulsively readable reference work by Mustich, co-founder of the Common Reader book catalogs, will no doubt send bibliophiles through the pages. The 1,000 entries (actually more when we consider the book's recommended reading lists and its many sidebars), arranged alphabetically by author, include classic and contemporary works, literary and genre titles, fiction (mostly) and non-fiction, and reading for children and adults - each supplemented with a few short but insightful sections of critical commentary. Some selections are no-brainers, including Fahrenheit 451, To Kill a Mockingbird,and Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad. Others are a little more unusual: John Updike's The Maples Stories, but not his Rabbit Angstrom novels; Margaret Atwood's Cat's Eye but not The Handmaid's Tale. There are also some surprising omissions, with no work by Joyce Carol Oates or Raymond Carver making the cut. Everywhere, Mustich shows a knack for getting to the heart of his subjects, such as when he notes' the intense drama and disdain for orthodox morality 'that distinguishes Wuthering Heights, or the myriad objections of Dan Brown's critics, but' the sheer energy of his invention ”in The Da Vinci Code. Mustich's knowledgeable reviews will drive readers to the books they have yet to read and stimulate discussion about the books they have. Agent: Paul Feldstein, the Feldstein office. (October)

7. Whiskey in a Teacup

Actress and book club host Witherspoon pays tribute to her Southern roots in this charming collection of recipes, how-tos and personal stories. She draws a lot from life lessons she learned from her grandmother, including how to be a good hostess ('Serve about an hour after the start time on the invite') and guests ('If in doubt about how beautiful it is, dress then on ''). Recipes are grouped by events with suggestions of what to serve at, say, a book club meeting (red and white wine, baked brie, hot spinach artichoke dip, olive purée, cheese, and fruit) or a pre-concert gathering (smoked pecans, crabs, champagne, and ginger beer cocktail) . Almost without exception, recipes are symbolic of country cooking and include classics such as fried okra, creamy gravy and shrimp and grits. Baked chicken, ribs (in her brother's Tennessee barbecue sauce) and pulled pork as well as sliders with bourbon sauce are highlights of many tempting dishes. The scope of the book is broad, ranging from Southern expressions ("madder than a wet chicken") and read by Southern authors (Walker Percy's The Moviegoer) to Witherspoon's love of Dolly Parton and monograms. Readers who want to take a foray into Southern cuisine and etiquette will find Witherspoon an enthusiastic guide. (Sept.)

6. Where the Crawdads Sing

In Owens' evocative debut, Kya Clark is a young woman who grows up practically alone in the wild swamps outside Barkley Cove, a small coastal community in North Carolina. In 1969, local lothario Chase Andrews is found dead, and Kya, now 23 and known as the "Marsh Girl", is suspected of his murder. As the local sheriff and his deputy gather evidence against her, the story flashes back to 1952 to tell Kya's story. Abandoned by her mother at a young age, she is left in the care of her strong drinking father. Unable to fit in at school, Kya becomes ignorant until a shrimp's son, Tate Walker, befriends her and teaches her to read. After Tate goes to college, Kya meets Chase, with whom she begins a stormy relationship. The novel ends in a long process, in which Kya's fate is at stake. Kya makes for an unforgettable heroine. Owens memorable portrays the small town scene and courtroom, but perhaps best of all is her vivid portrayal of the unique North Carolina setting. (Aug.)

5. Flight or Fright

This entertaining anthology of horror, mystery and literary stories about airplanes (most reprinted) will make the reader think twice about flying. The stories span the entire century of human flight, starting with Arthur Conan Doyle's gripping 'The Horror of the Heights', in which a pilot tries to discover what lies in the clouds. Most of the stories lean towards horror. In E. Michael Lewis' Cargo, the crew of a plane returning bodies from Jonestown begins to hear sounds emanating from the cargo bay. In Cody Goodfellow's 'Diablitos', an art smuggler gets more than he bargained for when he tries to bring a tribal mask to the US. Others take a different approach, such as Ray Bradbury's 'The Flying Machine', in which a Chinese emperor realizes that the flight will lead to the Great Wall of China. Notable are the two original stories: King's 'The Turbulence Expert', a perfectly tense story about a mysterious group that prevents plane crashes in unusual ways, and Joe Hill's 'You Are Released', made terrifying by the proximity of reality: it follows the crew and passengers on a 777 bound for Boston, who learn that North Korea has just destroyed Guam and that other countries are retaliating. This is a strong anthology full of satisfying stories. (Sept.)

4. Everything happens for a reason and something else

With grace, wisdom and humor Bowler (Blessed Tells), a divinity professor at Duke University, talks about her cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment in a way that breaks platitudes to show her resilience in the face of impending death. At the age of 35, after months of persistent abdominal pain and visiting specialists who had conflicting suggestions, Bowler underwent emergency surgery for stage IV colon cancer. Surrounded by her husband, very young son and a host of supportive friends, she faces the chance that she will not live a year. Responding well to treatment, she finds herself in a period of uncertainty, hoping to survive and maximize her time with her family. In her account of weekly flights to Atlanta from North Carolina for experimental therapy and realizing that every vacation could be her last, she relates her suddenly terrifying life to her academic work on the prosperity gospel - a peculiar American belief in deserved success and control. is at odds with her current life. Bowler's beautiful prose and sharp humor document her struggle to find lasting joy after her diagnosis. This poignant look at the unpredictable promises of the faith will amaze readers. (Feb.)

3. The Man I Never Met

ESPN sports analyst Schefter's thoughtful but quirky memoir tells his story of falling in love with a 9/11 victim's widow, marrying her, and moving in with her. In part, Schefter's memoir is a tribute to that man, Joe Maio, a Cantor Fitzgerald executive who died in the World Trade Center attacks. In 2005, Schefter, then a sportswriter for the Denver Post, took a job with the NFL Network and moved to New York City; he had a great job, but when he was nearly 40 he was "single, childless and lost." Over Memorial Day weekend in 2006, a mutual friend suggested that Schefter call Sharri Maio, who had a six-year-old son; Unsure that he wanted to date a 9/11 widow, he called Sharri anyway and they went on their first date. Within a short time they fell in love, got married, and Schefter moved into a "suburban house with a wife, a child and the memory of Joe." Schefter lived in and worked on the house and found that Joe was a good father who set himself high professional goals. In what initially seems like a bizarre concept for a memoir, Schefter successfully communicates his joy in finding love and family, and in a friendship with a man he never knew. (Sept.)

2. Girl, Wash Your Face

Hollis asks female readers to find their inner truths in this witty guide to healthy living. Hollis, founder of lifestyle website TheChicSite.com and married mother of four, is a self-proclaimed recovering workaholic who suffered from childhood misconceptions: “When I did it, I got praise and attention; I felt loved and accepted. But the moment the audience stopped clapping, it all went back to normal. What this taught me ... is the belief that in order to be loved, I felt that I had to produce something. Hollis implores readers to stop worrying about external pressures to always do more and instead to find fulfillment by getting in touch with their own desires and feelings. Readers will find hope and humor in Hollis' stories as they challenge them to take control of their physical, mental, and spiritual health by regulating habits, resisting unhelpful comparisons, and embracing changes like marriage and motherhood. Hollis talks about her now-husband and their rough first year of dating, and discloses that she tried too hard to make something work that didn't fit, and urges other women not to do the same by making a single person their life purpose. To make her points clear, she combines biblical lessons with personal Anecdotes Hollis's dynamic book is full of inspiration for women stuck on the path of realizing their dreams. (Feb.)

1. What if it's us?

Authors Albertalli (Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda) and Silvera (They Both Die at the End) team up for a charming, gentle love story between two very different guys. Arthur (written by Albertalli) is in New York for the summer while his lawyer mother is handling a big case. His family is wealthy and Jewish, and he's a Broadway nerd and a virgin with good grades. Native New Yorker Ben (Silvera) is Puerto Rican. His family has a tight budget, he has just lost a relationship and is stuck in summer school. Arthur believes in love at first sight; Ben isn't even sure he believes in love. After bumping into each other in a post office and then separated by a flash mob, Arthur searches the New York haystack to find an adorable high school student. But meet cute never went smoothly: complications include friends, Ben's ex, cultural differences, and the difficult and confusing nature of love. The authors - one known for happy endings, the other for breaking hearts - have credibly divided the difference, and it's impossible not to stay behind Arthur and Ben and their many iterations. From 14 years old. Agent: Brooks Sherman, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc. (Oct.)