At the beginning of the new year I love to look back on where we’ve been, and blog happenings are no exception. Last week I shared the 13 most popular posts of 2018, as determined by pure numbers.
Today I’m sharing my favorite posts of the year, and as you can see, that isn’t the same thing as “popular.” There is ZERO overlap between the two lists.
These are the posts of 2018 that I personally liked the most, the ones that mean a lot to me, the ones I still think about, many months or maybe close to a whole year later. Here they are, in no particular order:
1. Say what you mean to say. “What if we let the important unsaid things drive the plots of novels instead of the narratives of our lives? What if I’d grabbed a coat and headed outside in my pjs, and told my friend it was good to see him?”
2. 15 literary novels that will have you compulsively turning the pages. “I mean a book that is strong not only on interior characterization but also on plot, one that tempts me to keep reading way past my bedtime, one that makes me want to know what happens next.”
3. 38 real and relatable literary confessions. “This weekend when family was visiting from out of town, I went out to pick up bagels for breakfast. When I returned 30 minutes later, I told everyone there was a huge line, but I was actually sitting in the parking lot for 25 minutes listening to The Rules of Civility on Audible.”
4. The discipline of staying in the room. “My biggest takeaway is this: hurrying makes you feel hurried.”
5. 10 audiobooks so good you’ll want to fold another load of laundry, finish washing the dishes, or just sit in the driveway for 5 more minutes. “I don’t want audiobooks that can substitute for the written word; I want audiobooks that enhance it.”
6. A little interaction goes a long way. “It’s so easy, I’m disappointed I haven’t been doing this all along. To send a text, saying what’s on my mind: it was good to see you last night. To leave a review—I enjoyed this book—not because the world needs to know what I think but because the artist needs to know that I appreciated the work.” This comments section is pure gold.
7. The little things I do that feel like abundant living. “Don’t overthink it doesn’t have to be just about practicalities and decision-fatigue aversion. Don’t overthink it can also bring a lot more simple abundance into my life. These are little things that have an outsized effect on my days.”
8. I tried something new and I’m terrible and I love it. “Unlike everything else I do all day, nobody there expects me to be competent—let alone good. I have only the smallest idea what I’m doing, and that’s fine.”
9. 10 things I learned on book tour. “I love the internet, but it’s so worth it to turn online relationships into offline ones.”
10. One helpful piece of organizing and life advice. “One small bit of advice has made the biggest impact in how I store my stuff: if my systems are to work, I need 20% of gloriously inefficient empty space.”
P.S. My favorite blog posts of 2017 and my favorite blog posts of 2016.
11 comments
I loved your #1 and #2 posts as well! The coffee mug story totally stuck with me and compulsively readable literary novels are my favorites!
Back when you first posted, I wrote down your “hurrying makes you feel hurried” quote and went on to read OFF THE CLOCK. Both have given me much food for thought this year. Thank you!
I’m happy to hear it!
Since I am so much older than many of your readers, it has been a real treat for me to read what other younger readers are reading and thinking. Thank you to all of you who share.
This is so good to hear—thank you for sharing.
I have just reread the Abundant Living post and a few of the others too. I remember reading this post the first time around, little things really do mean a lot, thank you for the reminder. x
Oh these are some of my favorites too! I find that what you write about connecting with others really resonates with me. I have thought about “Say what you mean to say” and “A little interaction goes a long way” many times since you posted them (along with “On showing up” and “In the waiting room” from past years).
I’m happy to hear it—thanks for sharing.
Numbers 6 and 8 both stuck with me. Number 6 because I have been reading your blog for years and my whole wonderful reading life has benefitted so dramatically from your reviews and links to kindle deals. And yet I have never once commented, even though I have wanted to do so. Number 8 because I recently started rock climbing with my son and I, too, am terrible at it but still love going. It’s thrilling to see progress. So I would like to say thank you for your hard work. I hear you and I appreciate all that you do!
Thank you for reading! (And welcome to the comments section. 🙂 )
Yes, your favorites list is way better than the other list! I SO agree with you – these were some of MY favorites from this year as well. It was fun to go back and re-read them. Merry Christmas!