2017 has gone so fast. Perhaps not as fast as I would’ve liked but fast enough that it’s almost 2018! Although in 2017, despite a couple of months, I managed to read and I read a lot! 2017 has actually become my best year in terms of reading – since I began tracking on GoodReads. In 2014 I managed a whopping 59 books. In 2015, I was able to boost it up to 65 books. 2016 I blew 2015 out of the water with a total of 112 books!
Currently, at the time of writing this, I am on 114 and I still hope to reach my goal of 125 books! But even if I don’t reach that goal then I’m still going to be extremely happy with the books I have read. Although, this post isn’t meant to be a one bragging with how much I read. Simply because no matter how much other people read – it’s not a competition. No. This post is going to be on my favourite books which I have had the pleasure of reading this year alone. I hope you enjoy and let me know if any on my list are on yours as well.
- A Monster Calls By Patrick Ness
On my trip to London earlier this year while waiting for my friend Darran to finish work, I was able to head into a Waterstones Cafe and read. Armed with a hot chocolate and croissant I opened my copy of A Monster Calls – which I’d bought almost a year previously! Next thing I knew, the hot chocolate was done and realisation that the end of Connor’s story was near, when a lovely barista/bookseller came over placing another hot chocolate in front of me while tears were slowly trailing down my cheeks. Perhaps not the best book to read in public but I completely adored it, shortly after my return I even watched the film. Although in private so no one had to witness my tears this time.
- Lost for Words By Stephanie Butland
You know when a book speaks to you, it grips to your soul and changes the world around you for the briefest of moments. That’s what happened when I read Lost for Words, a story which follows a bookseller named Loveday who has a past she’d rather forget about and present where she rather live in books. The connection between a reader and the protagonist is vital as the story being told, which is why I enjoyed it so much despite being ill. Which is why it’s one of my favourite books, and likely will be read again very soon.
- The Loneliest Girl in the World By Lauren James
Properly one of the most hyped books which I heard about this year, and mysteriously received. Still to this day, I have no idea how this ended up in the post on the way to me but I’m glad it did! When stuck in the house this book really boosted my spirits and took me into out of space! This is the first book I’ve read by Lauren James which means that I know by the end of 2018 I will have read the rest of her novels!
- Letters to the Lost By Brigid Kremmerer
Grief and death, two themes within novels which immediately able to pull me in and entice me to fall into the world. I picked up Letters to the Lost by chance and devoured it in a single sitting, and they stirred a lot of emotion in me. The way Brigid Kremmerer writes is beautiful, her writing is elegant and story telling is a piece of art. Now I can’t wait for her next book to come out so I can meet these characters again in More Than We Can Tell since it heavily features Rev which was a character I was intrigued by.
- Wishful Drinking By Carrie Fisher
An audio book which I had to mention. In September I began University again for my second year, which meant a 45 minute train commute each day. I was nervous with the commute which means I’ve adopted to audiobooks and podcasts to distract me and one of this was Wishful Drinking. Carrie Fisher was one of my role models and an actress which I admired, meaning listening to her own book in her own voice really warmed my heart. It made my commute much more enjoyable and a little less scared, I think I learnt a lot from Carrie in this book.
- The Hours By Michael Cunningham
During my first year of university, I read a few books although didn’t complete my entire reading list. Maybe it was due to not finding a book which I was able to connect with. Which is why during my second year I was surprised to find a book which I connected with so deeply that its managed to get into my favourite books of 2017! The Hours is split into three different perspectives during three different days in time, all connected by a single book. It’s a remarkable novel which I’ve found a deep appreciation for.
- Secrets for the Mad By Dodie
You know when you pick up a book and somehow instantly you know it will be good, you know this is a book which will stay on my shelf for a long time. Secrets for the Mad is a book which fits in this category perfectly, its a book that I know I will come back to time and time again. Dodie was a relatively new YouTuber for me, yes she’s been around a while but it was only this year I really began to watch her videos. Actually I think I only truly watched them religiously after I bought her music and read her book, which I am glad that I did.
- Wonder By R.J Palacio
Although a recent read, it is certainly one which resonated with me. Auggie, whom has a facial disfigurement, begins school and along with that is forced to face many other challenges. This book focuses on the idea that it’s easy to nice but it’s better to choose to be kind. After reading, I instantly picked up the companion novel Auggie and Me which I completely adored. It really pushed the message of ‘Choose kind‘ in a way to prove that no matter who a person is, you don’t know what’s really going on and that is why kind is so important.
For me reading is a magical experience. It’s a time I can loose myself from the world I am currently in and find myself in a world entirely different to my own. Which is why each of these books, while there were often connections to my own life – the differences make them increasingly enjoyable.
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