favorite books from the past year

I rarely read books the year they’re released, but here are my favorite reads from the past year (in no particular order):

The Lowland – I just like the way Jhumpa Larhiri writes fiction. (I preferred The Namesake, but this was also very good.)

The Speechwriter – Quick, telling read about working for Mark Sanford before and during his scandal. Captures the unique stress of working for a difficult boss.

Thank YouFor Your Service / Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk – Both document the plight of Iraq/Afghanistan veterans; and while Thank You For Your Service (non-fiction) seemed better paced and structured and more comprehensive and superior in almost every way, there was something deeply visceral about Billy Lynn (fiction) that sticks with me more.

Being Mortal – Seems to paint a slightly neater picture of the modern aging dilemma than reality, but definitely worth reading. (Read this excerpt if you don't have time for the book -- or don't want to sit through an entire book about dying.)

Sideways – A fun read. And semi-autobiographical, which I like. (The only books he has published are Sideways and two sequels.)

The Martian – Gave me an appreciation for the level of thinking that goes into a mission to Mars. And funny too.

Fates and Furies – I enjoyed diving deep into the lives of this fictional couple. Comparisons to Gone Girl are inevitable, but they’re different. The writing can feel overdone at times, but most of the time it's very good.