Favorite Books I Read Last Year
I usually write this post before the end of the year, but I had so many issues with my computer last month (thanks a lot, Windows 10!) that I had to set it aside. No worries, because when I looked back at my reading list, it wasn't very impressive.What did I spend all that time doing, anyway? Well, I worked on a new novel for the first half of 2016, and no, it's nowhere near ready. Around June, I realized it wouldn't be complete in time for the annual ARIA Book Expo. And I do like to have something available every December for my local authors event. So I set to turning my grandfather's journal into a little book. And it sold well!Anyway, back to what I read. I didn't want to title this "My Five Favorite 2016 Books," because I'm usually late to reading bestsellers.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr was published in 2014. Best book I read in 2016, hands down. If you haven't picked it up yet, make it a resolution for 2017!
Boys in the Trees, a memoir by Carly Simon, was a favorite as well. She holds little back here, which made it difficult at times (her marriage to James Taylor).
The Sparrow Sisters by Ellen Herrick. Her debut novel, and it was just lovely! A little bit of magic, a little more mystery.
The Light Between Oceans was published back in 2012. Honestly, I couldn't remember if I read this book in 2015 or 2016, so I looked back at my end-of-2015 post, and the fact that I hadn't included it in my favorite books list told me I must have read it this year. Because I definitely would have listed it in 2015. The book became a movie, but, unlike many books-turned-movies, the movie didn't disappoint me. Still, read the book if you haven't. Now. There are many, many books on my to-be-read list. Here are the ones I resolve to read in 2017:The Family Plot by one of my absolute favorite indie authors, Brea Brown. She never lets you down!Fifty Ways to Make a Family by K.C. Wilder. The long-anticipated sequel to her brilliant Fifty Ways to Leave your Husband.Mixing It Up by Tracie Banister. I've enjoyed all of Tracie's previous books, so I downloaded this one as soon as it was released. Looking forward to getting mixed up in this one!The Hopefuls by Jennifer Close. Actually, I started reading this one back in the late summer, but had to set it aside. I so enjoyed her Girls in White Dresses, and I'm happy to have this book to finish.Moonglow by Michael Chabon. I won this book and it's on a side table, waiting for me to open it.The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I'm about four chapters in and loving it.And finally, another book I've started and am really enjoying is The Pie Sisters by the writing team of Leigh Brown and Victoria Corliss. A sweet book about three sisters and their memories of long-ago summers.So...I've got my work cut out for me! Writing, reading, editing. I hope that by December of this year, I'll have a good list to present.What book did you read in 2016 that was your absolute favorite?