This has been my first year as a reviewer on Goodreads, and now I wish I discovered this site sooner. This has been a great reading year for me, so faThis has been my first year as a reviewer on Goodreads, and now I wish I discovered this site sooner. This has been a great reading year for me, so far I’ve read 106 books, and here’s a quick summary of my reading highlights from 2017.
Best Contemporary: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine: I’ll keep this short and sweet like the book itself. Suffice to say that this shattered every expectation I had and went in a direction I never would have expected. If you asked me to recommend only one book this year, I would first rage at you for asking such an impossible question (don’t you know that readers never have one favourite?), and then I would choose this one.
Best Fantasy: Crooked Kingdom: It was a tough decision, between this and The Queen of Attolia, but in the end Leigh Bargudo’s miraculous jump from mediocre fantasy novelist in Shadow and Bone to this masterful epic won out. And Crooked Kingdom definitely wins out in the size department – I’ve always believed that if it doesn’t give me wrist-ache reading it, then it’s no true fantasy novel. It had everything one could ask for in a fantasy: enchanting, but not complicated, worldbuilding, unique characters and intricate plotting. Also, props to Bardugo for publishing a duology of two huge volumes when she could easily have cut it into a trilogy and gotten those extra $$$. Respect.
Best Sci-fi: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet: I want to write that this was so incredibly different, but that word goes nowhere near far enough to describing the unique nature of this book. Sure, aliens have been done before, but not like this. I was utterly spellbound by all the distinct alien worlds, culture and anatomies she was able to create, and how she subtly used these to create such an important – but unpreachy – message about tolerance and acceptance. The imagination of this woman is out of this world.
Best Thriller: Dark Matter: The biggest mind-fuck of the year started out strong and only got better once it headed towards its climax and the final showdown. Sure, it was confusing and the premise absolutely ridiculous, but who cares when the fall-out is so damn entertaining? I’ve never considered myself to be a particular fan of thrillers, but reading this made me want to seriously reassess that.
Best Crime: In the Woods: I haven’t read many crime novels this year, and none of them warranted a five-star review. Most were four stars, so I guess In the Woods is the most decent out of a decent bunch. Perhaps better suited for hardcore fans of crime, than those looking for some light mystery, this book really delves into the minutiae of the case. I won’t say all of the detail provided was absolutely necessary for either the plot or my entertainment, but it was certainly a comprehensive read. The characters had great chemistry and the final reveal was brilliant.
Best Romance: The Rosie Project: This could also come under best comedy, although I don’t know how much of an honour that would be when I’ve only read a handful of those in 2017. This year I’ve really gravitated towards the more serious and heart-breaking novels. I don’t know what that says about my state of mind in 2017 but anyhow… The Rosie Project was witty and charming, and by focusing on a middle-aged man with Asperger’s quest for love, it provided a refreshing change from the wave of teen-angst romance novels that have recently flooded the literary market.
Best Historical Fiction: Homegoing: This family epic follows the descendants of two sisters; the story opens in eighteenth-century Ghana and ends three hundred years later in present-day America. Each descendent is only allocated a chapter, yet with Gyasi’s concise and vivid writing, 20 pages is all you need to fully empathise and understand each one of them. A fascinating and thought-provoking read about family and national identities, and how seemingly minor decisions can irrevocably transform our lives and those of our descendants.
Best Supernatural: A Skinful of Shadows: Hardinge’s latest release blends two of my favourite genres, supernatural and historical fiction. Set during the English Civil War, it follows a girl grappling with her newfound ability to communicate with spirits. There’s something about Hardinge’s writing style and plotting that’s so indescribably unique and original, and her books always remain fresh in my mind many months after completing them. I also had the pleasure of meeting Francis Hardinge earlier this year and she’s just as engaging in person as she is in writing.
Best Non-fiction: We Should All Be Feminists: This book needs little introduction, being a landmark in feminist literature. It’s a title most would have heard of, but not enough have read, and at a mere 50 pages there really is no excuse. I would recommend this to every human on the planet.
Best Graphic Novel: The Complete Persepolis: This wasn’t just an entertaining and funny read, but also a very informative one, as it follows Marjane during her childhood years in 1980s Iran. This book was moving without resorting to emotional manipulation or over-used cliché. Despite it’s sometimes heavy subject matter, it remained a quick and humorous read throughout. The images were beautifully drawn, and proved that you don't need reams of flowery prose to create honest and relatable characters.
Honourable Mention (I couldn’t think of a separate category): Before I Fall: This is the literal definition of a page-turner. This may sound surprising considering the number of books I’ve read this year, but this is the only one I read in a single sitting. And it was while I was supposed to be studying for my final university exams, so that should tell you how invested I got in this novel. My dissertation can go screw itself, I knew what was really important – are Sam and Kent going to get together already?...more
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