I’ve read a lot of books this year, much like every year since I finished my BA. So here are a few of my favorites, in the order that I read them. I've also added why I love the book and tried to avoid just saying "It's a fantastic book!" as the answer to that point.

The File by Timothy Garton Ash

Somehow I had never read this book before, even though it’s about one of my favorite periods in history. Ash read his Stasi file after it was released in the 1990s. This book is about the memories these detailed notes on his activities bring back. If you like Cold War intrigue or are interested in the East German dictatorship, you will love this classic.

Why I loved it: Understanding the continuing differences between Eastern and Western Germany is one of my main academic interests - learning a bit more about the day-to-day life of someone who lived in East Germany helps me understand today's Germany a tiny bit more.

Look Who's Back (Er ist wieder da) by Timur Vermes

A satirical look at life in Berlin in the early 2010s...if Hitler came back and was mistaken for a social media celebrity. This is the darkest of humor, and goes from being hilarious to chilling in a single page. It reminded me of the election as I read it, and now I wish that everyone had been required to read this before voting.

Why I loved it: This book is hilarious, and points out that people will put up with the unspeakable for entertainment. As mentioned above, the parallels to our most recent election, in which a reality star gained real power, shouldn't be overlooked.

The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson

A spinster feminist takes on the task of being a teacher in a strongly patriarchal society in pre-war England. This book somehow gets through a basket of themes - homosexuality, women in the workforce, war, class, refugees, and marriage being just a few of the ones that readily come to mind - without feeling like you're being beat over the head with any of them. These themes hide in the charming village where most of the novel takes place.

Why I loved it: It's like a Downton Abbey that you can actually relate to. The people are wonderfully drawn, and the entire book is quite lovely. It's comforting while simultaneously showing the reader how quickly an idyllic existence can be destroyed.

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

This book, if nothing else, will remind you that you need to follow the instructions your doctor gives you even if they seem unnecessary to you. Besides that, it’s a wonderful look at depression and mental health. And they go to Starbucks a lot.

Why I loved it: It made the blind panic that so many people experience when doing normal things or running into someone unexpectedly seem....less like a sentence and more like something that can be overcome. It's also very important for mental health to be seen as a normal medical illness instead of something shameful to hide.

United by Cory Booker

Senator Cory Booker’s book made me feel inspired and guilty simultaneously. There is so much good work being done, but there is still so much more work to do to ensure the dignity of all people in the United States. Booker writes about criminal justice reform, urban poverty, and class privilege in Newark.

Why I loved it: I've been feeling pretty pessimistic following the election, but Sen. Booker has also faced setbacks and came back better than ever. We can all do the same.

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders 

This is the third adult fiction pick on my list! It starts out so simplistic that I thought it was mislabeled as adult fiction, but follows Patricia and Laurence through their difficult childhoods and middle school years before catching up with them as adults for the bulk of the novel. Laurence is a champion of science, while Patricia is a gifted witch.