In spite of moving countries, travelling and a precipitous drop off in blog posts, 2017 has been a fantastic year of reading. I did a poor job of keeping track of all my books and had to try and reconstruct it all over the last few days. I added them all to Goodreads because that was the easiest way to go about it. If you want to see the list, I believe clicking on the infographic on the left will get you there. And as a consequence of all this, I do actually have some stats.
I read 13 books in 2017 but I’d like to count them as 10 as Wayward’s various volumes still include one running story. The shortest book I read was only 34 pages, 101 Coolest Things to Do in Scotland. The longest book I read was The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón in at 487 pages. The average number of pages was 258.
I read so many excellent books that it’s hard to narrow them down to a short list of favourites – when I look at the list of 13 and try to pick out 5, I must admit that most of them were adapted into films which just complimented my reading experience. So here goes:
5. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins – Well-written, precisely plotted psychological thriller, and deftly sketches one unreliable narrator after another.
4. Room by Emma Donoghue – I literally read this entire novel in one sitting and I can’t find enough words to convince you to go get your hands on it. RIGHT NOW.
3. Stardust by Neil Gaiman – The more Gaiman I read, the more I understand why people are so caught up in the magic he wields. Because that is basically what he does. He’s not an author, he’s a magician, painting magic pictures of rich, exciting worlds that come to life so quickly.
2. A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness – A beautiful and gripping story. I feel like this is one of those books that will stay with you long after you’ve read it.
and lastly, my favourite, and one that didn’t have a film adaptation but I wish it did:
1. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin – A long love letter to book lovers everywhere. It is about how reading a book can affect you. How a book that you loved as a child might mean something different to you as an adult and something that you didn’t get at one time in your life will totally change your life later. How you can tell so much about someone by the kinds of books they love to read.
“Sometimes books don’t find us until the right time.”
I know you all have been making your own favourites list and reading lots of others, so what book did you read that was great last year?
The last book I read in 2017 was also my favourite. Making Time by Bob Clagett. It looks at his journey from hobby maker to professional YouTuber.
Wow I’m impressed you read 13 books – I’ve only started one! I really want to make it a priority in 2018 🙂
Brida by Paulo Coelho
Hopefully I can read a lot more this year startling with call me My your name have u read it, if you have what are thoughts.
My favourite travel book, in recent times, is Before I Go To Sleep, but I can always be found reading A Stephen King book. Unfortunately, I’ve not read as much this year. Something I need to improve on.
I really want to read the girl on the train. Everyone raves about it
I love reading. Plan to read a book a week this year.
I love reading . Room was a brilliant
Book!
Ohh, I can’t remember if I even finished a book last year really. Been busy at work and travel and I can’t hardly finished a book. I just re-read some of it when I have some time. I guess, I need to make it a point to read and have a goal to aleast finish one or two a month.
I have read and watched The Girl On The Train and per usual preferred the book hands down. As I did with Gone Girl. I am drawn to Room by Emma Donghue. I feel like this would be a good read in one go for me!
Oh I really should read books more, I struggle to switch off to read. These books do good though and maybe I’ll give one a try
These all sounds like fantastic books and I already have a few I really want to read this year. I do find it hard to find the time lately though but I know it’s important to make moments to read
Laura x
Some fab reads in there that I have enjoyed too and some great ideas for me to look into. I adore reading but find it hard to be inspired as I have to look online living abroad so it’s great to have recommendations