I’ve mentioned it before, and I’ll mention it again, I really enjoy delving into new shows and books, especially this past year. I just love getting caught up in a story, losing track of time because you just want to know what happens next in the story. In 2019, I got to read and watch numerous storylines that I really enjoyed. After creating my list, I’m thinking I had way too many! But hey, it was a year’s worth. I thought it would be fun to reflect on what I was consuming throughout the year in regards to books and shows, and maybe these can be recommendations for you if you are wanting to read a new book or watch something new, since it can get a little overwhelming since we have so many (probably too many) options.
TV SHOWS
As much as I love movies, it’s fun to binge watch a show every now and then. I feel like I didn’t really watch much TV at the beginning of the year, but near the back end of the year there was a lot of great stuff that caught my attention. Here’s the six shows that really stood out to me this year:
#1 The OA
If you are ever in the need of a weird Sci-fi show, The OA is right up your alley. This is probably one of the weirdest shows that I have ever watched, but dude, it’s so good!! Season 1 came out back in 2017, and I was so pumped when season 2 came out in April of this year. The cinematography is beautiful and the storyline is so different from anything else that’s out there. I would try to explain it, but it’s a little hard to sum it up in a few words! Season 2 was just as good as season 1, and I couldn’t stop watching it. Let’s just say that I had a presentation one afternoon at school, and I spent the entire morning binging this show instead of preparing for it, it was that addicting. By the way, totally aced that presentation and watched this within 24 hours, so a total win win in my book.
#2 Four Weddings and a Funeral
This show is a remake of the movie of the same title, but oh my gosh, this show was the best. It takes place in London and it go me feeling some wanderlust. I’ve only been to London once, but ever since I first went I’ve always wanted to go back. The show follows four Americans who live in London and all the ups and downs with love, and it was so beautifully done. Usually when I watch a show I don’t feel the need to watch it again, but I feel that way with this show. Mindy Kaling killed it when writing this adaptation.
#3 Unbelievable
Gosh, this show was intense, but it was very well done. It’s based on a true story as it follows two female detectives trying to track down a serial rapist. I couldn’t stop watching this show and had to know what happened next. This show made me really sad because of what these women went through, but I think it was an important story to tell that I think everyone should watch at least once.
#4 Stay or Sell
Ok, so this isn’t a fictional show or anything, but a new HGTV show that came out this past fall. I loved this show and really hope Brad and Heather Fox get a second season! It’s just about them fixing up couple’s houses in Minnesota, and I absolutely love Heather’s design skills. They are super talented and I hope to see many more houses done by them in the future on their show!
#5 The Mandalorian
I love anything Star Wars related, and this show looked amazing based on the trailer ahead of its release in November. It wasn’t fun having to wait each week for new episodes, especially between episode 7 and 8, but it was well worth it! They did a great job with this show and I can’t wait for season 2!
#6 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
So, I wasn’t originally going to write about this show, but the more I got to thinking about it, the more I knew that this definitely needed to be on my list of favorite shows from 2019! If you are a Gilmore Girls fan, then I think you’d love this show since it’s written and produced by its creator Amy Sherman-Palladino. Ever since the end of season 2, I have been counting down the days for season 3 to come out. This show is one of my all time favorites, so when it finally did come out, I needed to push aside all those Christmas movies and make room to watch this show! My absolute favorite scene of the entire season is why this is on my list today. Episode 5 of season 3 was probably the best episode of the entire series. When Lenny Bruce is in town in Miami to see Midge and when they hang out is one of the most beautiful scenes in television I have ever seen. I could rewatch that part over and over again, the cinematography is just breathtaking! That episode alone is one of the reasons why I had to include it on this list!
BOOKS
#1 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
This book had been on my list to read for YEARS. I had started it I think two different times, but I just never made it a priority to actually finish it. I grew up on the movie (Keira Knightley is amazing, I love her, she can do no wrong) and have seen it a good, humble 100 times. So in 2019, I finally went all in and finished it from start to finish. I absolutely loved the book and am mad at myself that I never finished it sooner! It was one of those books you can’t put down, even though I basically already knew how it ended. This is one book that I definitely see myself reading again and again in the future, maybe as many times as I’ve seen the movie.
#2 You Are a Bada** by Jen Sincero
I know, I know, scandalous title. This isn’t my first self help book I’ve ever read, but I always had this one on my list to read because I was really curious about it. And let me tell you, it was really eye opening for me. It made me realize how terrible I was treating myself and talking to myself. You see, I have no problem being everyone else’s cheerleader and encouraging them, no matter what. But I wasn’t talking to myself the same way. I had positive thinking for everyone around me, except towards myself. I was just always so negative and thinking that I’m wasn’t good enough and wouldn’t amount to anything in life. Reading this book made me want to change that way of thinking. It made me realize that the way you talk to yourself matters, and that was something I desperately needed to change. I wish I would’ve read this book sooner to make me have this realization, but hey, I know that now and I can change the way I think moving forward. So if you need a shift in your mindset, I recommend giving this book a try. I feel like it’s a book I should read every year as a constant reminder to myself!
#3 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This book that has always been on my reading list, but I never really got around to reading it. It was one of those books that you were supposed to read in school, but honestly I hated being told what to read, especially since there were so many other things going on. Like how could you expect me to read multiple chapters a week when I have games and tournaments and on top of that more homework?? But hey, rant aside, I finally read this book for the first time in 2019. And it has easily become one of the best books I’ve read. This book kept me engaged and I couldn’t put it down, and it’s definitely a book everyone should read. It gives so many important life lessons, as well as a glimpse into one of the most heartbreaking times in our history.
#4 Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
If you want to have another case of wanderlust, then give this book a try. It’s based on a true story of Frances Mayes, who moved to Italy and her process of renovating a villa. Talk about a dream. This book inspired me to travel and move to Europe, as well as want to try the Mediterranean diet. I don’t know about you, but the Italians are just living life right.
#5 Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
I put this as my last book to read for the year because I wanted to see the movie coming out in December, and once again, I could not put this dang book down. I loved it. But let me be completely honest for a second, this book did not end the way I wanted it to. Absolutely not. This was one of those books that makes you think about it days after finishing it. Once I finished it I was just like yea, it was a good book. But the more I thought about it, the more I just didn’t like the way Louisa May Alcott ended it. And if you’ve read it, then you know exactly what storyline I’m talking about. But now that it’s been a couple of weeks since reading it, I understand it, but still, it kind of hurt a little. I loved probably about 85% of the book, the last 15% being the ending. So why is this one of my favorite books of the year? For Alcott to make me feel this way and this attached to the characters, she did a great job keeping me an invested reader, making it a great book. It’s crazy that this book was based in the 1860’s, yet some of the concepts are still so relevant today.
And that’s the full recap of all of my favorite shows and books for 2019! This list is definitely representative of my 2019 in regards to entertainment, and I’m happy with all the good content there was. I’m excited to see what storylines I’ve yet to read and watch for 2020! Thanks for stopping to read this way too long post, I hope you to take a chance on some of these books or shows, I highly recommend them!