The Best Books I Read in 2025

I read 26 books in 2025, besting my Goodreads goal of 25 by one. Here are the best books I read in 2025, in no particular order.  

Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe, 1929: Wolfe’s debut novel announced the arrival of a major new literary talent. Look Homeward, Angel drew heavily from Wolfe’s own life and childhood. Wolfe’s love of language is what animates and drives his writing. When Wolfe gives us a list of smells in the book, he doesn’t just stop at three or four; he keeps going and going for a page and a half. Look Homeward, Angel is a beautiful, messy, sprawling novel, bursting with life on every page. The characters are vivid; the prose is rich with energy and vitality. If you like Wolfe, you should also check out The Short Novels of Thomas Wolfe, and The Complete Short Stories of Thomas Wolfe. 

Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris, by Andrea Swensson, 2024: A biography of Cornbread Harris, a fixture of the Twin Cities music scene who is now 98 years old, Deeper Blues details Harris’ life as a pianist and performer. The book also becomes a catalyst for the renewal of his relationship with his son Jimmy Jam, the famous songwriter and producer. Deeper Blues is funny, moving, and touching, an excellent example of how music can connect people.  

The Far Side of Paradise, by Arthur Mizener, 1951, and Scott Fitzgerald, by Andrew Turnbull, 1962: The first two biographies of the writer F. Scott Fitzgerald, both books are a fantastic look at the beautiful prose and disordered life of the brilliant chronicler of the Jazz Age. Mizener’s biography gives us glimpses of the charismatic Fitzgerald who entertained with card tricks and created fun and intricate games for children. Turnbull knew Fitzgerald in the 1930’s, when he was a boy, and Scott and Zelda rented a house from Turnbull’s parents. Turnbull’s biography paints a portrait of the man and his work, but it has a personal touch that makes it especially appealing. Turnbull wrote of him: “Fitzgerald focused on you—even riveted on you—and if there was one thing you were sure of, it was that whatever you happened to be talking about was the most important matter in the world. A further seduction was his smile—quick, tight, and very appealing. It was not so much a smile as a flash of confidence in you and your mortal possibilities.” I love how that quote makes Fitzgerald sound a bit magical, like Jay Gatsby. I also re-read The Great Gatsby in 2025, which of course I recommend as the starting point for anyone coming to Fitzgerald’s writing.  

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, by Carson McCullers, 1940: A fantastic novel about a small town in the South. McCullers brings a sharp, discerning eye to her varied cast of characters. The center of the hub around which the characters revolve is John Singer, who is deaf and speaks only in sign language. Singer is a fascinating figure, he becomes a kind of priest-like figure to those he interacts with, offering them a silent absolution and benediction, while remaining an inscrutable figure himself. McCullers’ skill in writing the novel is how she is able to get into the heads of so many different characters and have them all ring true to life. A remarkable achievement.  

Tuck Everlasting: The Graphic Novel, based on the novel by Natalie Babbitt, adapted and illustrated by K. Woodman-Maynard, 2025: A superb adaptation of the classic young adult novel. Woodman-Maynard, who previously did a wonderful graphic novel adaptation of The Great Gatsby, has the gift of remaining true to the essence of a story while also successfully adapting it for a different medium. Tuck Everlasting is an interesting book, as it asks difficult questions about life and mortality. Woodman-Maynard's gorgeous watercolors are a perfect accompaniment for the pastoral beauty of the setting.  

Book Review: Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris by Andrea Swensson (2024)

The cover of Deeper Blues: the Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris, by Andrea Swensson, 2024.

Cornbread Harris is one of the treasures of Minnesota’s music scene. Cornbread has been entertaining audiences in the Twin Cities with his piano playing since the late 1940’s, and on April 23rd, he will turn 98 years old. Cornbread’s fascinating life story is told in the excellent 2024 book Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris. The book was written by Andrea Swensson, who began meeting weekly with Cornbread at his home in 2021 to discuss his life and career. 

Cornbread Harris is one of those musicians who defies easy categorization. You can call his music blues, jazz, rock and roll, but the truth is that it’s a mixture of all of those things, plus more besides. Swensson deftly navigates the reader through Harris’s decades in the Twin Cities music scene. Her research into Harris’s life and career is thorough and comprehensive, and it’s fascinating to see how the tidbits she uncovers spark memories for Cornbread. Harris has many notable accomplishments in his long career. He played piano with the Augie Garcia Quintet on “Hi Ho Silver,” most likely the first rock and roll record made in Minnesota. The Augie Garcia Quintet was also the opening act for Elvis Presley at Presley’s first Minnesota concert appearance at the Saint Paul Auditorium in 1956. Garcia’s group was such a hit that Elvis’ manager Colonel Parker yanked them off the stage, afraid they might upstage Elvis. 

 Cornbread has seen his share of heartbreak in his personal life. Orphaned at the age of three, he was raised in several foster homes before living with his grandparents. Four of Cornbread’s marriages have ended in divorce. Cornbread is the father of one of the architects of the “Minneapolis Sound,” the songwriter and producer Jimmy Jam. Cornbread and Jimmy performed together when Jimmy was a teenager, but after Cornbread and Jimmy’s mom got divorced Cornbread and Jimmy were estranged for many years.  

Deeper Blues examines Cornbread’s past, but it also tells the story of the present day. As Cornbread and Andrea are having weekly discussions about his life, Cornbread is also starting to reconnect with Jimmy. Andrea is able to connect Cornbread and Jimmy through Zoom calls, and she observes the two men reestablish their relationship. It doesn’t feel like a spoiler to mention that the emotional highlight of the story is when Jimmy joins Cornbread on stage in Minneapolis for Cornbread’s 95th birthday concert.  

Cornbread has a sunny disposition, and his mantra is: “I am a blessed dude.” (p.9) He also tells Andrea: “All of my hardships ended up to be blessings.” (p.3) What a wonderful way to look at the world. Swensson has crafted a rich and vibrant portrait of Cornbread: piano player, songwriter, singer, entertainer, a truly remarkable musician and person.  

One of my favorites quotes in the book is from Jimmy Jam: “People don’t remember the details of stuff. But what they do remember is how you made them feel.” (p.186) That is very true, and it’s a quote that I remember hearing for the first time when I was in school to get my teaching license. I tried my best to always make my students feel welcomed and respected.  

Deeper Blues is about music, love, and the connection between a father and a son, with the uplifting message that it’s never too late to forge a new connection. It’s a beautiful message, and you will be blessed by spending some time with Cornbread and Jimmy.