2019 is over, and 2020 is here! Last year definitely had its ups and downs, but one thing I can’t complain about is all the cool things that came out over the past twelve months. I’m a little late to the party – my third year of uni is keeping me on my toes! – but I wanted to show a little love for last year. Better late than never – it’s time for my Best of The Year.
BEST BOOK OF 2019
ON THE COME-UP (ANGIE THOMAS)
If you’ve ever checked out my Youtube channel, you'll know that I’m a bookworm to the core – and while I’ll have a video on my channel dedicated to discussing the best books of the year, it would be remiss of me not to mention the book that made the top spot. If you’re a reader – or maybe even if you’re not – you’ve probably heard of The Hate You Give, the poignant and painfully relevant story of a girl named Starr Andrews whose best friend is a victim of police brutality. It was an incredible debut, and this year Thomas has done it again with her new book, On The Come Up. The book follows an aspiring teen rapper who is keen to prove herself by stepping out of her dead father’s shadow and proving she’s a powerful artist in her own right – a journey made all the more difficult by her family’s struggle with poverty. It’s a raw, brilliant read; Angie Thomas’ character work is impeccable, her use of voice is amazing and she crafts truly unforgettable stories. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, and I’m so excited to see what this author does next. BEST MOVIE OF 2019
ABOMINABLE
What is it about animated movies that makes them hit so hard? Is it because they offer a safe, comfortable escape from the harshness of daily life with beautiful visuals, feel-good vibes and a guaranteed happy ending, or because I’m just a big kid on the inside? Who knows, but either way, Abominable was definitely my favourite movie of 2019 (even better than Avengers: Endgame.) The film follows grieving teenager Yi who is determined to save up enough money to go on a trip she had planned with her late father. Unfortunately, her plans are disrupted by the unexpected arrival of a Yeti on her rooftop. Everest is a long way from home, and it’s up to Yi and her friends, social media-obsessed Jin and basketballer Peng, to get him back to the Himalayas and out of the hands of disgraced ex-explorer Burnish. This movie has a little bit of everything – it’s like Ice Age meets Big Hero 6 with hints of Up and the aesthetic of Frozen – and it’s one of the most touching and beautiful films I’ve seen in recent living memory. I started tearing up within the first five minutes and was close to tears from beginning to end. It’s difficult to vocalise exactly what made this movie so special, but the best way to describe it is ‘beautiful.’ Both visually stunning and highly emotional, Abominable has easily made the list of my favourite movies of all time, and if you haven’t seen it already then you need to add it to your list. BEST TV SHOW OF 2019
SEX EDUCATION
2019 was a great year for TV, bringing us shows such as Umbrella Academy and Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK. It was also the year that, two decades late to the party, I finally watched Buffy The Vampire Slayer. (Well, most of it. They lost me at season six; I don’t need that kind of energy in my life.) With so many awesome shows to choose from, I was pretty conflicted about my best pick… but in the end I had to choose Sex Education, whose main character Otis is totally turned off by sex, but surrounded by people who are obsessed with it – including his mother, a renowned sex therapist who is determined to get to the root of his repulsion. Sex Education is funny, gritty and smart, and it was exciting to see the world get so on board for a British show, even one with somewhat questionable Briticisms. Despite being a weird Australian/English/American hybrid (that’s completely intentional, apparently) there’s something quintessentially English about the show, with its dry humour and moments of painful embarrassment for the protagonist, not helped by the fact that my last memory of its lead actor Asa Butterfield was as a seven year old druid boy in BBC’s Merlin. Seeing him thrust into the role of a teenage sex guru was an adjustment, to say the least. The show isn’t perfect, and I had some issues with it – namely that they had a perfect opportunity for some on-screen asexual representation that was totally thrown away at the last minute – but it was warm, funny and compulsively watchable, and the second season just landed on Netflix. If you somehow haven’t seen it (which I sincerely doubt) then plonk yourself down on the couch and prepare to cringe… but in a good way. BEST ALBUM OF 2019
IT'S STILL NOTHING PERSONAL
Last but not least, we’re going to talk about music. Ten years on from the release of their third album, All Time Low decided to mark the occasion by rerecording and rereleasing Nothing Personal, in a way that’s both true to the original album but manages to incorporate the skill and nuance they’ve gained over the past decade as a band… and has somewhat better sound quality than the version released in 2009. Listening to this album was an incredible nostalgia kick; it’s truly stood the test of time, and it feels like an older and wiser version of itself with the same mid-2000s pop-punk vibes we know and love, but with some killer riffs and a couple of twists to keep things new. I’ve had it on repeat since the day it was released, and I’m happy to say that nine years later, listening to Weightless still gives me hope that maybe it’s not my weekend, but it’s gonna be my year. That’s a wrap on some of my favourites of 2019. What books, movies and music stood out to you last year, and what are you excited to see, read or listen to in 2020? Don’t forget to let me know!
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AuthorHelen is a writer, booktuber, and all-round lover of words! Archives
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