I read and reviewed 48 books this year (plus a handful I read but never reviewed, and a couple I'm reading right now but haven't finished yet), which seems to be about my usual number. Like before, I'm breaking these down into new-to-me books and re-reads.
New To Me
A Portrait of Emily Price by Katherine Reay -- I read all four of Reay's books this year, and this one I loved so much I had to buy my own copy as soon as I'd finished it. It's a heartfelt look at the meaning of family, love, and belonging.
Greenwillow by B. J. Chute -- Cute and charming and funny and sweet.
I, Claudia by Charity Bishop -- A brilliantly imagined look at what life as Pontius Pilate's wife might have been like.
Lady Cop Makes Trouble by Amy Stewart -- Second in a series based on the real experiences of one of the first woman police officers in the United States. Much funnier and more rambunctious than it sounds.
Letters from Father Christmas by J. R. R. Tolkien -- A beautiful labor of love from a highly creative father for his four children.
And Now Tomorrow by Rachel Field -- A moving, rich exploration of a woman's search for meaning and identity.
Re-Reads
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë -- Simply my favorite book of all time, that's all.
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton -- I consider this the ultimate coming-of-age story.
Shane by Jack Schaefer -- A beautiful picture of how one person can impact the lives of others.
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery -- Another example of how a person can impact others.
How about you? What were the best books you read this year?
Anne of Green Gables is one of my favourite books! <3 I really want to read The Outsiders, I've heard so many good things!
ReplyDeleteBookaholic 007 -- ooooooh, I hope you love The Outsiders when you get to it! It's astonishingly good.
DeleteI should reread Anne of Green Gables...
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm thrilled to see that Letters from Father Christmas made it onto the list!! :)
Laura, I hadn't reread most of the series since I was a teen. It was fun to revisit, for sure.
DeleteLFFC was too good not to be here! Enchanting book.
Ah, Jane Eyre was great, wasn't it! Thanks again for the read along ..... it came at a very appropriate time and it was so fun to read it over an extended period. All the best for 2017!
ReplyDeleteCleopatra, yes, although I was sometimes frustrated by how long and drawn-out the read-along got, in the end, I think it was a pleasant way to savor the book :-) Happy reading in 2017!
DeleteAww, I'm honored to make the list. :)
ReplyDeleteCharity, I'm going to have to find and read more of your books!
DeleteWow, many of the books you've listed sound really good. Happy reading to you in 2017!!
ReplyDeleteHere's my TTT post for this week: http://captivatedreader.blogspot.com/2016/12/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-best-books-of.html
Thanks, Captivated Reader! Hope you have a great book year too! I'll check out your list soon :-)
DeleteI will definitely be reading the Amy Stewart books! :)
ReplyDeleteCheck out my TTT and my current giveaway.
Lauren, those two books by Amy Stewart are an absolute hoot! Enjoy :-)
DeleteI'll check out your links, thanks!
"Finders Keepers" and "End of Watch" by Stephen King. EoW was ok; Finders Keepers may have been the best thing he's written in ages ... it was one of those "just one more chapter and then I'll go to bed" books ... I finished it at a gallop.
ReplyDelete"A House in the Sunflowers" by Ruth Silvestre, about a couple who buy a house in France and how they become friends with their neighbors and their struggle to fix the place up. Sweet and very funny.
"Call the Nurse" by Mary J. McLeod, about a district nurse who lives on an island in the Hebrides.
"The Hare's Vision: A new Irish Myth" by William A. Methven. A strange, quirky little story about an Irish priest and his friend, a golden hare of unusual attributes.
Janet, so cool you found a new Stephen King book that thrilled you!
DeleteI've never heard of the others, but "A House in the Sunflowers" sounds like I would like it. I'll have to see if the library has it.
Oh, the Outsiders! Have you read more of Hinton's other work? "Rumble Fish" is the eeriest, for me. There's something about the Motorcycle Boy...I'd like to know if she based him on someone in reality, because he's too otherworldly not to be real.
ReplyDeleteStephen, I've read several of her other books -- That was Then, This is Now, Tex, and Taming the Star Runner. I liked the latter best of those three, but not nearly so much as The Outsiders. But I have yet to read Rumble Fish, and I'm not sure why. So I have something to look forward to? I know that S. E. Hinton has said it's the book she's proudest of, so I do want to read it... one day. Maybe this year! We'll see.
DeleteI likewise read AoGG and Jane Eyre this year, as you already know, and they were both beautiful. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, and The Outsiders. I have somewhat mixed feelings for that one, but I plan to re-read it sometime soon and decide what to think. :)
Meredith, that's interesting that you have mixed feelings about The Outsiders. I hope you review it when you re-read it, and share what you do and don't like about it!
DeleteOhMyGoodness, I'm SO glad to see Amy Stewart's book make this list! I just picked up the first book when I was at B&N the other day, so now I'm all the more excited. :)
ReplyDeleteKatherine's books are always fabulous. Great list!
Rissi, I love both of those books by Amy Stewart! So incredibly fun and spunky and nifty.
DeleteYAY! I'm so glad. Makes me feel like my spontaneous buy of book one wasn't in vain. :)
DeleteRissi, I totally bought her first book on a whim too. I spotted the paperback at B&N and thought, "That just looks nifty -- I'll try it." So glad I did!
DeleteYay for Katherine's! I'm still so pleased you loved that one. And you've reminded me of a few others I need to move up my TBR. :)
ReplyDeleteKara, I loved Portrait so much, I gave it to two different people for Christmas. Just a wonderful book.
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