First Year
A TALE FOR THE TIME BEING
by Ruth Ozeki
(July 2017)
One of the most memorable books I have ever read. The author’s unique construct for the two women’s stories to unfold still fills me with wonder and appreciation. It has a beautifully written, compelling storyline with sympathetic characters. This book has it all.
Second Year
TEAM OF RIVALS: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
by Doris Kearns Goodwin
(October 2018)
Not only do I find Goodwin’s writing engaging and this history of Abraham Lincoln fascinating, but this is the book that opened my eyes to the fact that non-fiction accounts of history can be as interesting as reading fiction. Goodwin’s ability to tell a good story, to humanize her subjects and to delve deep into “minor” role players make this truly enjoyable.
Third Year
THE OVERSTORY
by Richard Powers
(August 2019)
I have never looked at trees the same since reading this fascinating, complex, Pulitzer-prize-winning novel. Powers fills his book with interesting characters, each with engrossing stories that all come together beautifully. And the overarching theme that holds it all together is trees and their ability to communicate. A truly unforgettable novel.
Fourth Year
HAMNET
by Maggie O’Farrell
(August 2020)
The best and most original novel I have read in years. A poignant reimagination of what Shakespeare’s early family life was like before he found fame. The most deeply satisfying ending to a novel I can remember reading.
Tied With:
CASTE: The Origins of Our Discontents
by Isabel Wilkerson
(September 2020)
If having a book stay with you once you’ve finished reading it, or talking about what the author has to say in the book, are measures of greatness, then Caste is a great book. Wilkerson’s original, well-developed and beautifully written theories about race in America as a caste system are convincing, troubling and indelible.