#17: End of Year, End of Decade "Best Of" Lists
The end of a year, the end of a decade. Perfect time to create “best of” lists for books and movies.
I had a lot of fun compiling these lists. With no further ado, I give you my favorite books and movies of 2019 and favorite books and movies of the decade spanning 2010 through 2019.
Top 10 Books of 2019
(My top 5 also made my "best of decade" below)
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
7 Principles for Making Marriage Work by John M. Gottman
Rocket Men: The Daring Odyssey of Apollo 8 and the Astronauts Who Made Man's First Journey to the Moon by Robert Kurson
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling by Matthew Dicks
The Mouse and his Child by Russell Hoban
Top 6 Movies of 2019
1. Knives Out – This was my favorite theater experience of the year. I was delighted and entertained by this movie from start to finish.
2. The Farewell – Charming, endearing, and emotional, I thought this was so well done.
3. The Dawn Wall (2017) – A rock climbing movie that rivals Free Solo. I watched it three times this year with three different groups of people and the story and characters never get old. Check it out on Netflix.
4. Shazam! – A miracle occurred this year and I got my wife to watch a superhero movie with me -- and we both liked it! Second best DC Comics movie of the decade after Wonder Woman.
5. Frozen 2 – This movie surprised me. I had low expectations and yet the dialogue and music spoke to me with positive messages. It was a fun time at the theater.
6. Avengers: Endgame –Marvel movies are like candy that taste sweet in the moment but leave me feeling empty inside. This one left me satisfied with how things wrapped up.
Top 10 fiction I read this decade
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. Putting this at number 1 for the decade could be due to how fresh it is in my mind, but I also don’t recall anything else on my list filling me with such vitality and energy. A well-written book about frontier men taking action, being tough, caring for each other, and doing heroic things…I don’t see how it couldn’t be my #1.
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. A singular reading experience. I believe this book has life-changing potential and I told myself I’d read it every 5 years. Time to get on that!
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. This book floored me. Ms. Tartt writes with such rich detail that I was completely engrossed. When I think back on outstanding books I've read in the last 10 years, I always think of this one.
No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy. Mr. McCarthy is so succinct and direct. I still remember driving home in the dark listening to this and being outright terrified. It’s a raw and gritty thriller that will raise your pulse.
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. This thoughtful book spans generations and tastefully addresses themes and topics that I don’t confront enough. I highly recommend the entertaining audible performance by Kristoffer Tabori.
Kindred by Octavia E. Butler. This book deals with the subject of slavery in the Antebellum South and the horrors and complexities of living through that time period in a truly unique way.
The Martian by Andy Weir. If you haven’t read this yet, do it! I don’t care if you’ve seen the movie already.
Watership Down by Richard Adams. A family favorite, I reference this book often with my 4-year-old son, telling him to “be brave like Big Wig.” I’m glad I discovered this book about courageous bunnies in 2017.
True Grit by Charles Portis. Another fantastic western, I probably like this book more because of the 2010 movie that was so perfectly cast that I can’t help but see Hailee Steinfeld and Jeff Bridges as I’m reading.
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. Another one benefiting from freshness in my mind, but also quite brilliant and entertaining.
Honorable Mentions: The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman; Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews
Top 10 non-fiction I read this decade
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. Easily my top non-fiction for 2019 and the decade, this true story of adventure reads better than most fiction. The explorer’s on Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic voyage endured such physical and mental hardship that I find myself thinking of them whenever I want to complain about something.
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. I’m a sucker for survival stories and this one delivers. You’ve probably read it already but if you haven’t, put it on your 2020 list.
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson. I don’t know how Mr. Larson did it, but he made a book about project management interesting. I suppose inter-cutting chapters about a sadistic murderer probably helped. If you don’t know the story of how things went down at the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893, give this a read.
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris. I loved this book so much that I named my child Theodore. The man lived so passionately, almost aggressively, and reading about him gave me a push to do the same.
12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson. Mr. Peterson thinks deeply about the things he writes about. His 12 rules are just a cover story for hundreds of behaviors and thought patterns that, if practiced, will help a person overcome their worst tendencies.
The Intentional Legacy by David McAlvany. The overarching message of intentionality and creating a family identity struck a chord with me. I recommend it to Christian parents seeking to raise children in the faith and pass along more than a financial legacy, but a legacy of grace, forgiveness, and identity.
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. This book was researched extremely well and the interviews were extensive and detailed. It created the illusion that I know the whole story, the whole man, and that nothing of relevance has been left out. Obviously not true, but I tip my hat to Mr. Isaacson for writing with candor.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. This book taught me about myself. I listened to the audio book and now need to read more thoroughly and dive into the research.
Mastery by Robert Greene. If you’re like me, you don’t know what you want to be when you grow up. This book taught me that it’s OK to explore your interests and redefine your career over time because all the skills and experiences synthesize into a whole picture that is You.
The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore. I am fascinated by the Thomas Edison vs George Westinghouse “current war” around the turn of the century and the role Nikola Tesla played. This is technically historical fiction but Mr. Moore spins a good yarn while keeping things true to history.
Top 15 Movies of the Decade
15. Black Panther – I consider this the best Marvel of the decade, although it doesn’t quite stick the landing.
14. The Grand Budapest Hotel – Funny and full of heart, easy to love.
13. Bridge of Spies – The movie is slow and plods along at times, but I just love it. Tom Hanks playing a professional negotiator doing his job well. The final scene made me cry.
12. Whiplash – Well directed, well acted, and one of the best endings I’ve ever seen. This is not an easy film to watch, but the payoff at the end makes it worth it.
11. Moneyball – Snappy writing. Sorkin at his best!
10. La La Land – The music and the charm and the way this movie depicts the reality of relationships makes it stand out in my mind.
9. Inside Out – A movie I’ll reference for years, especially once my kids become pre-teens.
8. The Social Network – Sorkin and Fincher are a match made in cinema heaven.
7. Spider Man: Into the Spiderverse - Best animated movie, best spider-man movie, and one of my favorite super hero / comic book movies. They did it right and it is a joy to watch.
6. Star Wars – I’m force-ing myself to pick between this and The Last Jedi. I had a better time at the theater with Force Awakens than with any other Star Wars movie, but I do love The Last Jedi and it deserves a spot in my top 20.
5. Edge of Tomorrow – One of the best action movies ever.
4. Sing Street – I tell everyone about this movie because it isn’t well known but it’s so good. Watch with subtitles so you get all the smart dialogue.
3. Inception – A visual feast with a game-changing score. Cinematographer Wally Pfister deserved the Oscar he won for his work on this movie.
2. Knives Out – This is everything a movie should be. A tightly written, well executed, surprising, satisfying whodunit.
1. Mad Max: Fury Road – Best action movie of all time, plus it has great acting and a lot of emotional beats. Unfortunately, I missed this one when it was in theaters, but I watched it at home back when I owned a home theater and I stood up and cheered (alone in my living room) when it ended. It is incredible.
Honorable Mentions - I'd happily watch any of these movies again....
Captain Fantastic, Whiplash, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Me Earl & the Dying Girl, Shazam!, Wonder Woman, Get Out, Paddington 1 & 2 , Brooklyn, Arrival, Captain America: Winter Soldier, The Hunt for the Wilderpeople, First Man, Kubo and the Two Strings
Other Movie Awards:
Director of the Decade: Damian Chazelle. He made Whiplash, La La Land and First Man and won an Oscar. He's 34 years old.
Franchise of the Decade: Mission Impossible for Ghost Protocol, Rogue Nation, and Fallout. Highly entertaining, this franchise has definitely hit its stride and I’m excited to see where they go with future entries.
Worst Franchise: X-Men. I kinda hate these movies and refuse to watch anymore of them.
Best Year: 2015. Scroll through a list of movies released that year and see what I mean.
Best Comeback: Robert Pattinson. I take him seriously as an actor now.
Best Re-branding: Steve Carell. I also take him seriously now.
Thanks for reading! What made your lists?
I hope you had a great year and decade and that you're looking forward to a new one. Next week I'll have my list of books that I'm excited to read in 2020.
Kyle