University of Illinois Press Best of 2019

Every December since 2007 we have posted an annual list of our pop culture favorites. This year we have added a “Best of the Decade” component.  The University of Illinois Press Best of 2019 edition is in alphabetical order by staff member’s last name. Merry Holidays!

Angela Burton, Intellectual Property Manager
Favorite Book
: Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow; the Department Q series
Favorite music download: Rhiannon Giddens, “I’m On My Way”
Favorite TV Show: Watchmen, Better Things, Joe Pera Talks with You

Favorite live performance: Brandi Carlile, August 3, 2019
Website I visit every day: Justwatch
Favorite Podcast: POD Saves America
*****Best of the Decade*****
Film: Mad Max: Fury Road
TV: Please Like Me, The Americans
Book: Room by Emma Donaghue
Music: Brandi Carlile, By the Way, I Forgive You
Live Performance: Hamilton, CIBC Theatre

Heather Gernenz, Publicity Manager
Favorite Novels
: The Need by Helen Phillips, Bunny by Mona Awad, Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Favorite Essay Collection: Trick Mirror: Essays on Self Delusion by Jia Tolentio
Favorite LP:  Weyes Blood – Titanic Rising, Michael Kiwanuka-Kiwanuka

Favorite Film:  Harriet, Ophelia
Favorite TV Shows:  Poldark, Fleabag
*****Best of the Decade*****
Music: every single Florence + The Machine album.
Books:
Best Literary Fiction:
The Lesser Bohemians by Eimear McBride, Station 11 by Emily St. John Mandel, Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer, A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki, Untamed State by Roxanne Gay, Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff, Euphoria by Lily King
Best Short Story Collection: Gutshot by Amelia Gray, Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado, Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell
Best Series: Binti by Nnedi Okorafor, Imperial Radch Trilogy by Ann Leckie, The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante, The Machineries of Empire Series by Yoon Ha Lee
Best Nonfiction: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari, Romantic Outlaws by Charlotte Gordon, Charlotte Bronte: A Fiery Heart by Claire Harman, The Dead Ladies Project by Jessa Crispin, H is for Hawk by Helen MacDonald, The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison.

Michael Roux, Marketing & Sales Manager
Favorite LP: Weyes Blood – Titanic Rising

Favorite Film: Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood; Midsommar
Favorite TV Show: Succession
Favorite live performance: Bryan Ferry, Chicago, IL – August 1, 2019; Black Pumas, Urbana, IL – September 26, 2019

Website I visit every day: eBay.com
Favorite Podcast: The Ezra Klein Show
*****Best of the Decade*****
TV: True Detective season 1
Music: Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
Book: Donna Tartt – The Goldfinch
Concert: Joanna Newsom at the Chicago Theater, December 16, 2015


About michael

Marketing & Sales Manager since 2012