Top Reads of 2017
Top Reads of 2017
Similar to 2016, 2017 has been a year unlike any other. I'm sure this will be the trend, but I'm hoping for only good things to make 2018 stand out. I read countless articles, magazines, short stories, and 55 books. Of all the readings I took in this year, here are my favorite books. I've included a mini review, that are mostly spoiler free, as well as a link to Goodreads.com. Enjoy!
by Alan Furst
The first book I finished in 2017 and I already want to reread it. It was dark, and gritty, and just delightful. I loved the locations described in this book and now I really want to go there even more. As usual, I fell in love with the main character and couldn't put the book down.
I initially picked this book up after hearing about it on Booktube. And I really don't like asking for help, I basically hate asking for help, it's something I struggle with and the title seemed so honest, I just have to read it. And honestly, I really enjoyed how this book was written. Reading it was like having Amanda sitting across from you and just telling you stories. There was grit, truth, and laughter. I felt it was very honest and just a lovely insight into performance art. I fell in love immediately when she started talking about living statues. I adore living statues. The first ones I ever came in contact with were in Barcelona, Spain. Interacting with them were some of the sweetest, most honest, and genuine moments I've had with complete strangers. So, yes, I was hooked with this book from the start. I previously hadn't known about Amanda or her work, but this was a beautiful and very personal introduction to her spirit and work.
The Shadow of the Wind
by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Translated by Lucia Graves
This book. Oh, this book. I loved it. It had these beautiful moments of sweetness, and ones of intensity, that would just make me so happy and then so anxious while reading. It was so beautifully written, or I suppose translated. This is one of the few books that I'd love to be able to read in the original language it was written in, because it was an amazing translation.
Othello
by William Shakespeare
I wasn't expecting to like this one as much as I did. As with my other favorites of his works, I loved the repetition, the wit, the flow, the raw reactions and motives of the characters. I just loved it. I ended up finishing this while eating dinner, I couldn't put it down.
Esme of Paris
by Esme Davis Matz
This is a reread for me, but I still absolutely adore it. I honestly can't get enough of this book; it's witty, honest, bare, and beautiful. If you love history, performing arts, an uncanny insight to these things, and can manage to get your hands on a copy, it is so wonderful and worth it.
The Foreign Correspondent
by Alan Furst
As with the previous Alan Furst novels, I adored this. The amount of detail he gives, the character descriptions, the way the various characters speak and how their speech is just as unique as they are; I love it and I can't get enough. Throughout this one, I read parts of it out loud to hubby as it was just that good. I'm trying to get him to read these novels as well, but we'll see. I absolutely adored the main character and his interactions throughout the book. This one was very different from his other novels that I've read, and I highly enjoyed it. My only complaint is that I wish it would have been longer.
Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work
by Tim Gunn, Ada Calhoun
I have loved Tim Gunn since I knew of him. So when I came across his book at Barnes and Noble, oh, I got excited and couldn't help myself (as usual.) Initially, I was going to read this on the flights to Ireland, this last summer, but I got sucked into Frankenstein. Anyways, the more I read this book, the more I loved it. Hearing his opinions on various little things throughout life were just wonderful to read and relate to. It was a quick read, but I found it delightful. I plan to add his other books to my tbr and general shelves in the near future.
The Original Frankenstein
by: Mary Shelley with Percy Shelly
As a reread, this is absolutely wonderful. I imagine it would be great as an original read too. The first half of this book shows Percy Shelly's additions to the text. The second half is the text without Percy Shelly that's based off of an early draft. Reading both of these have shown a great insight into the story and how it's been shaped. This edition also includes loads of other information about the author, time, edits, and so on. I think this was a perfect read at a perfect time. I finished the first half while on a few flights this summer. It's a great story to sink into while flying.
by Andre Norton
I listened to the audio book of this while sewing one day and I finished it that day. I honestly wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. It was one of those simply beautiful science fiction novels that I just fell into. The adventure and danger part reminded me of Treasure Island and when I first read that. I also kinda, somehow, just immediately loved Hume. I don't know why, but I adored him. Well, I adored a lot about this book - the narration, the character development, the strangeness, the creatures, the descriptions. I just really loved this. (And now I have several of her books, and I plan to sprinkle them into my tbr / regular reading.)
Love in the Time of Cholera
by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
translated by Edith Grossman
I started out wanting to read this to simply see what the hype was about. After some movies and TV shows praised it, my curiosity grew and I gave it a chance. It is very dense, as in there's just so much text per page; I will say that. But I really did like it. It was a beautiful trip through the characters' lives. I got to the point where I had about 50 pages left, and I told hubby that I don't know how it's going to be wrapped up.. His response was making fun of me and Ted from How I Met Your Mother. Which I think is totally fair - I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did.
Geronimo's Story of His Life
by Geronimo
I read this as part of Nonfiction November, but I've been meaning to read this for awhile now. And it did not disappoint. I only wish that I could have read it while I was living in Arizona; for I walked, hiked, and traveled to many places mentioned in the text. I loved hearing his story, from him. I also couldn't get enough of the small sections that addressed customs and tribal history. His story is fascinating and I understand fully why people regard him so much.
Dracula
by Bram Stoker
I've been wanting to read this since right after I first read Frankenstein, when I was about 16... I don't know why I put it off for so long, although, I did start reading it in 2014 ish, but never got past the first 50 pages or so. Needless to say, as it's on this list, I loved it. It referenced Norse mythology, Dante, and several of Shakespeare's work, and I couldn't be more happy about it. I actually loved the format which I was at first hesitant about. I also fell in love with Van Helsing - he was just a delight to read. I mean I've loved his character in the movie adaptions but, again, the book is better. I know this book isn't for everyone, kind of like Love in the Time of Cholera or Frankenstein, but I really enjoyed it.
Happy creating, and happy reading!
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