EDIT: HOLY CRAP I FORGOT!
Aquicorn Cove by Katie O'Neill should have been on this list. How could I have forgotten about it?! It is a stunning, adorable, and beautiful little graphic novel, as is to be expected of O'Neill. Read my review of it here. So yes, in hindsight this should have been a Top 13 Best 5-Star Books of 2018 list. But oh well, I've tried to rectify that now, to an extent.
Enjoy reading on!
12. History vs Women: The Defiant Lives that They Don't Want You to Know by Anita Sarkeesian, Ebony Adams
An entertaining and educational short history book about pioneering women, published this year. Quite powerful and vital, and the illustrations are fierce, as is the writing. Review here.
11. Practical Magic: A Beginner's Guide to Crystals, Horoscopes, Psychics, and Spells by Nikki Van De Car (Writer), Katie Vernon (Illustrator)
Wonderful, accessible, well-written, and nostalgic. Interesting info about witchcraft and spirituality, and about relaxation. Lords knows I needed to relax and take better care of myself this year. "A refined mystique" - Review here.
10. Useless Magic by Florence Welch
Pretty much indescribable, in the best way. Only my review here can do it justice.
9. Harry Potter: A History of Magic (Harry Potter: A History of Magic Exhibition) by British Library, J.K. Rowling, Various
Exactly what it says. A bubbling and gorgeous cauldron of info about all sorts of magical facts, not just about Harry Potter. The details that went into creating this world-changing series is astounding. An inspiration. A book that must be on the shelf of every Potterhead. "A museum in a book" - Review here.
8. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
A novella not to be missed. Yet another reason why we should all be feminists. Even Gilman knew that in the late 19th century (not that she was intersectional in any way; she was a product of her time in that area). Unsettling, harrowing, and relevant. All the details are explained in my Review here.
7. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
One more classic horror novella from a woman's perspective that I surprisingly love. Gripping, enchanting, creative, suspenseful, creepy, and tragic. In addition there are fascinating and brilliant characters to follow around and get to know. Shirley Jackson's other novella (twenty pages), The Lottery, is also timeless. Read my review of The Haunting of Hill House here, if you dare...
6. Bygone Badass Broads: 52 Forgotten Women Who Changed the World by Mackenzi Lee (Writer), Petra Eriksson (Illustrator)
The most entertaining non-fiction book of its kind that I have read since Rejected Princesses. Like History vs Women, it is also a 2018 publication. Funny, snarky, educational, and hella engaging. Also contains beautiful illustrations. Mackenzie Lee is obviously passionate about her research and writing. Who doesn't want to acknowledge and learn about the thousands of amazing but forgotten and ignored women in history? Who helped to shape our world and improve humanity (or not, as they are not perfect paragons, but human beings)? One of the thousands of reasons why feminism matters. Review here.
5. Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened by Allie Brosh
One of the funniest things I have ever seen, period. I giggle every time I think about it, if not spontaneously burst into fits of laughter. Yeah, don't read it in public. A freaking brilliant autobiographical graphic novel, containing many hilarious anecdotes. It is strangely drawn (it was originally a webcomic), but it works effortlessly. And it is a journey through a person's depression. So many things about it can change someone's life. Review here.
4. Supergirl: Being Super by Mariko Tamaki (Writer), Joëlle Jones (Artist)
Finally, a comic book that made me like Supergirl. I'd read a lot of bad ones. It took a female writer and artist team to achieve the best. The story and characters are terrifically written. Overall it is exciting, philosophical, refreshing, and powerful. And... super. Sorry, I had to go there. It is super modern girl power. Anyone of any age can get invested in it. Review here.
3. A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss, Marlon Bundo (Inspiration), E.G. Keller (Illustrator)
I don't think this needs any introduction. One of the best picture books for children ever. All you need to know is from my review here.
2. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (Writer), Emily Carroll (Artist)
Achingly haunting and beautiful. A perfect graphic novel adaptation of Laurie Halse Anderson's classic YA book Speak, one the first to expose and combat rape culture. The artwork suits it so well it's scary. Painfully depressing, yet enticing, hopeful, and growing in flawless development at the same time. Like a tree. In the cycle of life. It is such a relief to see this story, and others like it, receiving the attention they desperately deserve. Oh, I was laughing, and now I am crying. There is more to Speak in my review here.
1. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
It couldn't have been anything else. This was one of the first novels I read this year, and its status as my favourite book of 2018 - nay, one of my all-time favourites - hasn't changed. It is just a phenomenal book that gets everything right. It has everything, and it can be read by any adult, anywhere; on the beach, on holiday, at work, or in the park. Every emotion and sense of the heart there is - it is expressed in this novel. The writing, the characters, the relationships, the mystery, the filmmaking aspects, the social commentary, the damning humanity - it is all gorgeous. Reid is such a talented writer. Evelyn Hugo needs to be made into a film, pronto. Hollywood needs more diversity, and a good long look in the mirror and realise what is has done for nearly one hundred years now. Review here, while I go and cry some more again. But they are ultimately happy tears. For I feel privileged to have encountered and read these truly special tomes this year, even if in general it has been a disappointment.
Wow. Half the entries on my favourites list are non-fiction books. Didn't expect that.
Have a Happy Christmas and New Year, everybody. Try to stay positive. Try to think about the positive things. Take care of yourselves, and your loved ones. Take nothing and no one for granted. Express your emotions, and then move on, and remember to love and enjoy and be grateful for what you have. Communicate your selfless, broadening thoughts. Bring peace and kindness to others.
Believe in inner beauty.
You are loved. You matter.
Have faith.
Keep going.
Keep wishing for a better year.
This is Artemis Crescent, bidding everyone adieu, for now.
:) :) ;)
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