This is my last read of 2019, and with it I'm beginning a new tradition of idiosyncratic yearly awards for the good, the bad, and the ugly of my reading year.

Best Re-Encounter:
A re-read that I got much more out of this time around
[b:The Swimming Pool Library|933327|The Swimming Pool Library (Vintage Blue)|Alan Hollinghurst|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1179581819l/933327._SY75_.jpg|2776591] by Alan Hollinghurst
Honorable Mention: [b:A Single Man|16842|A Single Man|Christopher Isherwood|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1380688373l/16842._SX50_.jpg|1802690] by Christopher Isherwood

Worst Re-Encounter:
A once-beloved book that wasn't as good as I remembered
[b:The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus|715058|The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus|L. Frank Baum|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387732742l/715058._SY75_.jpg|701311] by L. Frank Baum

It Isn't You, It's Me:
A book I didn't really enjoy or didn't quite "get," but I suspect I'm missing something
[b:The Flower Beneath the Foot: Being a Record of the Early Life of St. Laura de Nazianzi|917917|The Flower Beneath the Foot Being a Record of the Early Life of St. Laura de Nazianzi|Ronald Firbank|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348732066l/917917._SX50_.jpg|902991] by Ronald Firbank
Honorable Mention: [b:Swann's Way|863598|Swann's Way (In Search of Lost Time, #1)|Marcel Proust|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320436355l/863598._SY75_.jpg|4830806] by Marcel Proust

From the Jaws of Defeat:
A book that almost bested me, but I made it through and it was worth it
[b:The Golden Bowl|904917|The Golden Bowl|Henry James|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1179338000l/904917._SY75_.jpg|118576] by Henry James
Honorable Mention: [b:Ulysses|763241|Ulysses|James Joyce|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347248711l/763241._SX50_.jpg|2368224] by James Joyce

Exceeded Expectations:
A book that was even better than my high hopes
[b:Other Voices, Other Rooms|2287|Other Voices, Other Rooms|Truman Capote|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1329028916l/2287._SY75_.jpg|2222705] by Truman Capote
Honorable Mentions: [b:Rebecca|12873|Rebecca|Daphne du Maurier|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327871977l/12873._SY75_.jpg|46663] by Daphne Du Maurier and [b:The Graveyard Book|2213661|The Graveyard Book|Neil Gaiman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1531295292l/2213661._SY75_.jpg|2219449] by Neil Gaiman

Best Surprise:
A book for which I had low or no expectations that absolutely blew me away
[b:We Think the World of You|8843978|We Think the World of You|J.R. Ackerley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320535837l/8843978._SY75_.jpg|234100] by J. R. Ackerley
Honorable Mention: [b:On Beauty|210544|On Beauty|Zadie Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1495206882l/210544._SY75_.jpg|910752] by Zadie Smith

Worst Surprise:
A book for which I had high expectations that was a big disappointment
[b:Small g: A Summer Idyll: A Virago Modern Classic|35698428|Small g A Summer Idyll A Virago Modern Classic (Virago Modern Classics)|Patricia Highsmith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1500365601l/35698428._SY75_.jpg|558982] by Patricia Highsmith

Biggest Stinker:
A book that was all-around bleh
[b:Aspects of Love|2743315|Aspects of Love|David Garnett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1394313800l/2743315._SX50_.jpg|2723066] by David Garnett

Guiltiest Pleasure:
A book that may not have enriched my intellect, but definitely made me smile
[b:Luck in the Shadows|74270|Luck in the Shadows (Nightrunner, #1)|Lynn Flewelling|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1531049892l/74270._SY75_.jpg|2495] by Lynn Flewelling (plus sequels [b:Stalking Darkness|74275|Stalking Darkness (Nightrunner, #2)|Lynn Flewelling|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1376593955l/74275._SY75_.jpg|2496] and [b:Traitor's Moon|74273|Traitor's Moon (Nightrunner, #3)|Lynn Flewelling|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1302490280l/74273._SY75_.jpg|71864])

So Glad It Was Assigned:
A fantastic book I read for school that I would probably never have picked up on my own
[b:Lucio's Confession|2227599|Lucio's Confession|Mário de Sá-Carneiro|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328889022l/2227599._SY75_.jpg|2233397] by Mário de Sá-Carneiro

Best Laugh:
A book that caused me public embarrassment
[b:Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch|12067|Good Omens The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch|Terry Pratchett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1392528568l/12067._SY75_.jpg|4110990] by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Honorable Mention: [b:Me Talk Pretty One Day|4137|Me Talk Pretty One Day|David Sedaris|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1431013639l/4137._SY75_.jpg|1030767] by David Sedaris

Best Cry:
A book that caused me a different kind of public embarrassment
[b:Clock Without Hands|2974929|Clock Without Hands|Carson McCullers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1398733651l/2974929._SY75_.jpg|3005293] by Carson McCullers
Honorable Mention: [b:Black Leopard, Red Wolf|40524312|Black Leopard, Red Wolf (The Dark Star Trilogy, #1)|Marlon James|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1538656386l/40524312._SY75_.jpg|48215793] by Marlon James

Best New Author:
The best author I read for the first time in 2019
[a:Muriel Spark|13093|Muriel Spark|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1342563799p2/13093.jpg]

Book of the Year:
Whether because it was the best reading experience, gave me the most to think about, or was the most productively frustrating, the book I'm most glad to have read in 2019
[b:Clock Without Hands|2974929|Clock Without Hands|Carson McCullers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1398733651l/2974929._SY75_.jpg|3005293] by Carson McCullers