These are the best books I discovered over the last year or so, and I recommend them to everyone!

5th place: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

This gave me a glimpse into Korean history and culture through the perspectives of different generations within a family. Emotive and powerful.

4th place: Educated by Tara Westover

This is a memoir about a girl who grew up in a Mormon culture and got herself educated against the odds. Inspiring and enlightening.

3rd place: Three Women by Lisa Taddeo

Exploring the oppressive dynamics that exist in the lives of ordinary women, this book wasn’t an “enjoyable” read but it was captivating. Interweaving the narratives of three very different women, it was hard to put down.

2nd place: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Beautifully lyrical prose and a heart-wrenching story of courage.

1st place: Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Awe inspiring and deeply philosophical. Although I could only read a translation, the translator Geoffrey Trousselot has conveyed the magic of this book amazingly well.