2017: Reading Year in Review

Despite major life events that took up a significant amount of time in 2017, namely buying and renovating a house, moving, and starting a master’s degree program, I was able to power through a substantial number of books last year. So I thought it would be fun to look back at the year behind us to break down just what my reading life looked like. See my previous round-up from 2016.

In 2017, I read 96 books in total, in following genres:
18 fiction (including historical)
11 fantasy
13 science fiction
4 mystery
8 nonfiction (including memoirs)
14 Young Adult
19 children's (fantasy and fiction)
9 graphic novels (excluding all comic books).

I rated 8 of the books I read this year a full 5 stars. They are (in rough order):
Artemis by Andy Weir (2017)
Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore (2017)
Howl’s Moving Castle series (3 books) by Diana Wynne Jones (1986-2008)
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (1961)
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (2008)
Year of Yes by Shonda Rimes (2015)

Unlike in past years, I finished every book I started last year. Giving up on a book that I’m not enjoying very much is something that I’d like to be better about. There are so many good books I want to read and I really want to stop wasting my time on ones that aren’t good. Luckily, the only couple books I read and didn’t enjoy last year were children’s books, so at least I didn’t waste too much time.

This was also the year that I read more new releases than I normally do. Typically I find it easier to wait until any hype or interest dies down on a book, so I’m much more of what’s called a ‘backlist’ reader. But this year, 12 of the books I read were released this year, including The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo (YA Fantasy), The Fifth Doll by Charlie N. Holmberg (Historical Fantasy), The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Marta McDowell (Nonfiction), and The Fortune Teller by Gwendolyn Womack (Fiction). 

Lastly, my favorite quote of the year was from The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (1961):

“Have you ever heard the wonderful silence just before the dawn? Or the quiet and calm just as a storm ends? Or perhaps you know the silence when you haven't the answer to a question you've been asked, or the hush of a country road at night, or the expectant pause of a room full of people when someone is just about to speak, or, most beautiful of all, the moment after the door closes and you're alone in the whole house? Each one is different, you know, and all very beautiful if you listen carefully.”

Stay tuned next week for a look ahead at 2018 and my reading goals for the upcoming year. And reviews for all the books above (excluding the children’s books I didn’t like) are forthcoming as well.

Keep reading! Beth