Personally speaking, this has been a tough decade, but capped with some of the best 18 months of my life. Globally, the decade ahead is trending apocalyptic, so I’m appreciating that right now I’m privileged with incredible family and friends, a career I adore, health, safety, my beloved Obie & Ferdi & nieces and nephews, and so many amazing books.
Given how Big this year has been, it’s no surprise my reading is a little low at 81 books, but there have been some gems. My top 6 are:
- Too Much Lip by Melissa Lucashenko (I know I’m biased but this book just gets more exceptionally brilliant every time I read it),
- The Hating Game by Sally Thorne,
- Red White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston,
- Normal People by Sally Rooney,
- Dark Emu by Bruce Pascoe, and
- The Seven and a Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton.
My book of the decade is unquestionably Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers.
It’s going to take a lot for 2020 to match 2019 for me, but here’s hoping it holds its own. In the bigger picture, I hope that Australians and the World start to address climate change as the emergency it is, and rediscover some compassion and decency for refugees. In my modest, arts-centred way, that’s what I’ll be fighting towards.
Happy new year, Everyone!