{"id":26959,"date":"2019-12-31T13:02:13","date_gmt":"2019-12-31T17:02:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/?p=26959"},"modified":"2019-12-31T13:02:13","modified_gmt":"2019-12-31T17:02:13","slug":"the-best-books-ive-read-this-decade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2019\/12\/31\/the-best-books-ive-read-this-decade\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Books I&#8217;ve Read This Decade"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=&#8221;no&#8221; equal_height_columns=&#8221;no&#8221; menu_anchor=&#8221;&#8221; hide_on_mobile=&#8221;small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility&#8221; class=&#8221;&#8221; id=&#8221;&#8221; background_color=&#8221;&#8221; background_image=&#8221;&#8221; background_position=&#8221;center center&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;no-repeat&#8221; fade=&#8221;no&#8221; background_parallax=&#8221;none&#8221; parallax_speed=&#8221;0.3&#8243; video_mp4=&#8221;&#8221; 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class=&#8221;&#8221; id=&#8221;&#8221; animation_type=&#8221;&#8221; animation_speed=&#8221;0.3&#8243; animation_direction=&#8221;left&#8221; hide_on_mobile=&#8221;small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility&#8221; center_content=&#8221;no&#8221; last=&#8221;no&#8221; min_height=&#8221;&#8221; hover_type=&#8221;none&#8221; link=&#8221;&#8221;][fusion_imageframe image_id=&#8221;20947&#8243; style_type=&#8221;none&#8221; stylecolor=&#8221;&#8221; hover_type=&#8221;none&#8221; bordersize=&#8221;&#8221; bordercolor=&#8221;&#8221; borderradius=&#8221;&#8221; align=&#8221;none&#8221; lightbox=&#8221;no&#8221; gallery_id=&#8221;&#8221; lightbox_image=&#8221;&#8221; alt=&#8221;&#8221; link=&#8221;http:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews&#8221; linktarget=&#8221;_self&#8221; hide_on_mobile=&#8221;small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility&#8221; class=&#8221;&#8221; id=&#8221;&#8221; animation_type=&#8221;&#8221; animation_direction=&#8221;left&#8221; animation_speed=&#8221;0.3&#8243; animation_offset=&#8221;&#8221;]http:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Header-2-1-e1493098728843.jpg[\/fusion_imageframe][fusion_text columns=&#8221;&#8221; column_min_width=&#8221;&#8221; column_spacing=&#8221;&#8221; rule_style=&#8221;default&#8221; rule_size=&#8221;&#8221; rule_color=&#8221;&#8221; hide_on_mobile=&#8221;small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility&#8221; class=&#8221;&#8221; id=&#8221;&#8221; animation_type=&#8221;&#8221; animation_direction=&#8221;left&#8221; animation_speed=&#8221;0.3&#8243; animation_offset=&#8221;&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"26990\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2019\/12\/31\/the-best-books-ive-read-this-decade\/best-of-2010s-featured-image\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Best-of-2010s-Featured-Image.jpg?fit=700%2C400&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"700,400\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;1.8&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;iPhone XR&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1577013110&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;4.25&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;160&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.016666666666667&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Best of 2010s Featured Image\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Best-of-2010s-Featured-Image.jpg?fit=700%2C400&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-26990\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Best-of-2010s-Featured-Image.jpg?resize=700%2C400\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Best-of-2010s-Featured-Image.jpg?w=700&amp;ssl=1 700w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Best-of-2010s-Featured-Image.jpg?resize=300%2C171&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Best-of-2010s-Featured-Image.jpg?resize=200%2C114&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Best-of-2010s-Featured-Image.jpg?resize=400%2C229&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Best-of-2010s-Featured-Image.jpg?resize=600%2C343&amp;ssl=1 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>As I&#8217;m sure many of you noticed, I have been pretty quiet here for the past, oh, six months. That&#8217;s not been entirely deliberate, though I am okay with it. It&#8217;s been a busy time due to my day job and thanks to the fact my kids keep getting older and have more going on in their lives. So I&#8217;m not going to do my &#8220;favorite books I read in 2019&#8221; post (though I have a few that would make the list that I hope to review soon). Instead, as the 2010s come to a close I did a deeper look back over the decade and picked (some of) the best books I&#8217;ve read and reviewed here since January 2010.<\/p>\n<p>Notably, these are not the best books I read that were published in the 2010s. In fact, only one was actually published this decade. Rather, these are the books that shaped my decade in reading, and most were voices from the past.<\/p>\n<p>Can you see a theme in my picks? One might think I have had a depressing decade ruminating about the passage of time. I don&#8217;t think so, though. I turned forty this year, and I am looking forward with a little sadness for things past, but also with a lot of hope and even some awe at the beauty of the turning of the seasons.<\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{&quot;blog_id&quot;:1,&quot;permalink&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2019\/12\/31\/the-best-books-ive-read-this-decade\/&quot;}' id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-26959 gallery-columns-5 gallery-size-medium'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"192\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/A-Wreath-of-Roses.jpg?fit=192%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/A-Wreath-of-Roses.jpg?w=639&amp;ssl=1 639w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/A-Wreath-of-Roses.jpg?resize=192%2C300&amp;ssl=1 192w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 192px) 100vw, 192px\" data-attachment-id=\"15731\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2015\/07\/23\/elizabeth-taylor-a-wreath-of-roses\/a-wreath-of-roses\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/A-Wreath-of-Roses.jpg?fit=639%2C1000&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"639,1000\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"A Wreath of Roses\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/A-Wreath-of-Roses.jpg?fit=639%2C1000&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"190\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Eiseley-Volume-1.jpg?fit=190%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Eiseley-Volume-1.jpg?w=260&amp;ssl=1 260w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Eiseley-Volume-1.jpg?resize=190%2C300&amp;ssl=1 190w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 190px) 100vw, 190px\" data-attachment-id=\"19994\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2016\/11\/30\/loren-eiseley-collected-essays-on-evolution-nature-and-the-cosmos\/eiseley-volume-1\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Eiseley-Volume-1.jpg?fit=260%2C410&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"260,410\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"eiseley-volume-1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Eiseley-Volume-1.jpg?fit=260%2C410&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"193\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/The-Three-Christs-of-Ypsila.jpg?fit=193%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/The-Three-Christs-of-Ypsila.jpg?w=341&amp;ssl=1 341w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/The-Three-Christs-of-Ypsila.jpg?resize=193%2C300&amp;ssl=1 193w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 193px) 100vw, 193px\" data-attachment-id=\"6888\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2012\/01\/25\/milton-rokeach-the-three-christs-of-ypsilanti\/the-three-christs-of-ypsila-2\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/The-Three-Christs-of-Ypsila.jpg?fit=341%2C530&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"341,530\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"The-Three-Christs-of-Ypsila\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/The-Three-Christs-of-Ypsila.jpg?fit=341%2C530&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/ows_146240858498601.jpg?fit=199%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/ows_146240858498601.jpg?w=1324&amp;ssl=1 1324w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/ows_146240858498601.jpg?resize=199%2C300&amp;ssl=1 199w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/ows_146240858498601.jpg?resize=768%2C1160&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/ows_146240858498601.jpg?resize=678%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 678w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" data-attachment-id=\"19556\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2016\/07\/29\/louise-erdrich-larose\/ows_146240858498601\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/ows_146240858498601.jpg?fit=1324%2C2000&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1324,2000\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"LaRose\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/ows_146240858498601.jpg?fit=678%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"191\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/The-Peregrine.jpg?fit=191%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/The-Peregrine.jpg?w=338&amp;ssl=1 338w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/The-Peregrine.jpg?resize=191%2C300&amp;ssl=1 191w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 191px) 100vw, 191px\" data-attachment-id=\"6738\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2011\/12\/20\/my-twelve-favorite-reads-of-2011\/the-peregrine-2\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/The-Peregrine.jpg?fit=338%2C530&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"338,530\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"The-Peregrine\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/The-Peregrine.jpg?fit=338%2C530&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2015\/07\/23\/elizabeth-taylor-a-wreath-of-roses\/\">10. <em>A Wreath of Roses<\/em>, by Elizabeth Taylor (1949)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2016\/11\/30\/loren-eiseley-collected-essays-on-evolution-nature-and-the-cosmos\/\">9. <em>The Immense Journey<\/em>, by Loren Eiseley (1957)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2012\/01\/25\/milton-rokeach-the-three-christs-of-ypsilanti\/\">8. <em>The Three Christs of Ypsilanti<\/em>, by Milton Rokeach (1964)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2016\/07\/29\/louise-erdrich-larose\/\">7. <em>LaRose<\/em>, by Louise Erdrich (2016)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2016\/07\/29\/louise-erdrich-larose\/\">6. <em>The Peregrine<\/em>, by J.A. Baker (1967)<\/a><\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{&quot;blog_id&quot;:1,&quot;permalink&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2019\/12\/31\/the-best-books-ive-read-this-decade\/&quot;}' id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-26959 gallery-columns-5 gallery-size-medium'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"189\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/Butchers-Crossing.jpg?fit=189%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/Butchers-Crossing.jpg?w=334&amp;ssl=1 334w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/Butchers-Crossing.jpg?resize=189%2C300&amp;ssl=1 189w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 189px) 100vw, 189px\" data-attachment-id=\"7813\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2012\/09\/24\/episode-1-john-williams-butchers-crossing\/butchers-crossing-3\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/Butchers-Crossing.jpg?fit=334%2C530&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"334,530\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Butcher&amp;#8217;s-Crossing\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/09\/Butchers-Crossing.jpg?fit=334%2C530&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Look-at-Me.jpg?fit=195%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Look-at-Me.jpg?w=309&amp;ssl=1 309w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Look-at-Me.jpg?resize=195%2C300&amp;ssl=1 195w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Look-at-Me.jpg?resize=200%2C307&amp;ssl=1 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" data-attachment-id=\"26984\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2019\/12\/31\/the-best-books-ive-read-this-decade\/look-at-me\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Look-at-Me.jpg?fit=309%2C475&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"309,475\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Look at Me\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Look-at-Me.jpg?fit=309%2C475&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"238\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Stone-Upon-Stone.jpg?fit=238%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Stone-Upon-Stone.jpg?w=422&amp;ssl=1 422w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Stone-Upon-Stone.jpg?resize=238%2C300&amp;ssl=1 238w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px\" data-attachment-id=\"8337\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2012\/12\/14\/wieslaw-mysliwski-stone-upon-stone\/stone-upon-stone\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Stone-Upon-Stone.jpg?fit=422%2C530&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"422,530\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Stone-Upon-Stone\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Stone-Upon-Stone.jpg?fit=422%2C530&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"191\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Lives-of-Girls-and-Women.jpg?fit=191%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Lives-of-Girls-and-Women.jpg?w=338&amp;ssl=1 338w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Lives-of-Girls-and-Women.jpg?resize=191%2C300&amp;ssl=1 191w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Lives-of-Girls-and-Women.jpg?resize=95%2C150&amp;ssl=1 95w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 191px) 100vw, 191px\" data-attachment-id=\"10260\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2013\/11\/29\/alice-munro-princess-ida\/lives-of-girls-and-women-2\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Lives-of-Girls-and-Women.jpg?fit=338%2C530&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"338,530\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Lives-of-Girls-and-Women\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Lives-of-Girls-and-Women.jpg?fit=338%2C530&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"188\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Akenfield.jpg?fit=188%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Akenfield.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Akenfield.jpg?resize=188%2C300&amp;ssl=1 188w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Akenfield.jpg?resize=640%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 188px) 100vw, 188px\" data-attachment-id=\"16645\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2015\/09\/23\/releases-episode-4\/akenfield\/#main\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Akenfield.jpg?fit=1280%2C2048&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1280,2048\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Akenfield\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Akenfield.jpg?fit=640%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2010\/05\/11\/john-williams-butchers-crossing\/\">5. <em>Butcher&#8217;s Crossing<\/em>, by John Williams (1960)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2018\/02\/19\/episode-1-anita-brookners-start-in-life\/\">4. <em>Look at Me<\/em>, by Anita Brookner (1983)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2012\/12\/14\/wieslaw-mysliwski-stone-upon-stone\/\">3. <em>Stone Upon Stone<\/em>, by Wieslaw Mysliwski (1984)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2013\/09\/11\/alice-munro-lives-of-girls-and-women\/\">2. <em>Lives of Girls and Women<\/em>, by Alice Munro (1971)<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mookseandgripes.com\/reviews\/2015\/10\/09\/ronald-blythe-akenfield-portrait-of-an-english-village\/\">1. <em>Akenfield<\/em>, by Robert Blythe (1969)<\/a><\/p>\n<p>[\/fusion_text][\/fusion_builder_column][\/fusion_builder_row][\/fusion_builder_container]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On the last day of the 2010s, I want to look back and see what books shaped my 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