Every year I set a Goodreads challenge for myself. I usually set my goal around 50 books. I log anything I read fiction, nonfiction, graphic novel, picture books (but I don’t seek out children’s books. Otherwise I’d raise my number count) However, this time last year I decided to mix it up. I set my goal at 35 books with the caveat that I use this reduced quantity goal to allow myself the time necessary to finally remove some longer, more challenging novels from my To-Read list. I succeeded! As of writing this I read 48/35 books!
Now I’d love to be able to make a Best of 2017 list, but I just simply don’t read enough new releases. So instead, I’m going to highlight some of the best ones I read this year as recommendations for any mood you might be in. I read a lot that I loved this year, so I hope you enjoy!
For When You Want to Read a Classic:
I only read a couple classics this year but Gone With the Wind was one of my favorite books I’ve ever read. My copy was gifted to me by my favorite middle English teacher when she moved away over a decade ago and I cannot believe it took me so long to read it.
It’s an interesting novel to grapple with. The politics of the author and the main character are dated and racist but the novel itself seems like a very detailed time capsule. I feel like I learned something about the point of view of the southerns and despite the author’s intentions, I was able to condemn the characters for it while still being along for the ride. I particularly love how flawed and ugly Scarlett can be. She is the kind of female protagonist I enjoy. She’s a survivor because she’s tough and determined but she’s also heinously selfish, manipulative and shallow. But I love that about her. I find her very dynamic and I enjoyed getting to follow her life. If you haven’t read it yet, I think you will too.
For When You Want a Fantasy Trilogy:
I was blessed with reading not one, but two complete fantasy trilogies this year. Though I adore this genre, I find that often I have to sift through a lot of garbage to find the true gems. Both of these trilogies are very good but they are also very different from each other. The Magicians really epitomizes urban fantasy. It’s full of self-aware pop culture references and R rated language and situations. It also manages to succeed in both subverting the genre expectations while mirroring it.
The Winner’s Trilogy however might be my more favorite of the two. The protagonists Arin and Kestrel feel fresh despite coming from the trope heavy YA genre. It also starts off with a premise that could have easily been the most problematic things I’ve ever read, but somehow deftly avoided any of the expected pratfalls and matured into thoughtful commentary. The language used in telling this story was just really beautiful to me and it scratched all my romantic itches. Okay, so that’s maybe the least lovely way I could have described that but here we are.
For When You Want To Read a New Release:
These two 2017 YA novels really gave me more than I ever could have anticipated. I had long anticipated the release of John Green’s latest novel and Turtles All The Way Down surprised me. It was dark but hopeful and as someone from Indianapolis, it was really nice to read a story set in my city.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas was unlike anything I’d ever read before. It was vibrant and fresh and on the cutting edge of social commentary. While reading this it occurred to me that I’d never read a contemporary fiction book with young black protagonists who felt real and authentic. This book was maybe the most important one I’ve read all year. I highly recommend it.
For You You Want A Memoir:
If you’re wanting a laugh, I recommend You Can’t Touch My Hair. Phoebe Robinson is one of the funniest women alive and while her jokes were absolutely hilarious, this book also was really informative for a white girl like me. No matter how woke we think we are, there’s always room for improvement.
If you’re wanting something thought-provoking, heartbreaking and cathartic, I recommend You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me by Sherman Alexie. This memoir is about him grieving his mother. He talks about growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation and what it was like growing up loving and fearing his abusive mother. If this doesn’t make you cry, you’re inhuman. I recommend the audiobook for this if you want to really hear a man bare is soul to you.
If you’re wanting something right in the middle of that, I recommend The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher. I one hundred percent believe with all my heart that the world was just a little extra suckier than it would have been without our Space Mom. Her irreverent humor and affection is something the world is missing now more than ever. While this book is a little sad in the wake of her death, it also explores some emotional territory as it details the time of her affair with Harrison Ford and how young and in love and utterly helpless she was during this time. The sections of her diary from this time are beautiful and more than a little sad. I highly recommend the audio book version if you want to hear Carrie and her daughter work together to bring this book to life.
For When You Want Something Scary
I like creepy, crawly, paranormal stories. I like thrillers and mysteries and ghost stories. I’ve read a fair amount of them. Stephen King’s IT is hands down the scariest thing I’ve ever read. Are his descriptions of Pennywise horrifying? Yes. Is his depiction of domestic violence unsettling and uncomfortable. Yes. But the scariest part of all is that he creates these beautifully realistic kids, with truly heartwarming relationships to each other and then puts them in real, genuine peril.
For When You Want a Good Audiobook:
I am still incredibly peeved that Indianapolis did not get a theatrical release of the movie adaptation in 2017, but I am going to do my best to put that aside and strictly talk about this audiobook. Call Me By Your Name was my favorite book I read this year.
Armie Hammer does a spectacular job as the narrator. His sensuous voice is the perfect match for the sensual and urgent text of this novel. I almost couldn’t bear to listen to this when in the same room as other people. It’s incredibly intimate. It’s the kind of novel that takes your breath away and leaves you feeling spent and lonesome. When I finished this book, I couldn’t help but feel very sad about the fact that I might never read another book in my life that made me feel the way this one did. I highly recommend it.
What book recommendations do you have for me?
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