Books in 2017
Jan. 6th, 2018 11:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bearshortyBooks I've Read in 2017 (with date finished)
1. A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood (Jan 3). 192pp.
2. Trudno Byt' Bogom (It's Hard to Be a God) by Strugatsky brothers (started in 2016) (Jan 8) (Russian). 315pp.
3. Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers (Jan 11) 202pp.
4. Decisive Moments in History by Stefan Zweig (Jan 25) 253pp.
5. Neuromancer by William Gibson (Feb 4) 292pp.
6. The Island of the Colorblind by Oliver Sacks (Feb 11) 264pp.
7.Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold (Feb 21) [Vorkosigan Saga] 340pp.
8.A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (Feb 28) 203pp.
9.The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison (Mar 13), 440pp.
10.A King's Ransom: A Novel by Sharon Kay Penman (Apr 6), 657pp.
11. Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik [Book 4 Temeraire] (Apr 13), 400pp.
12. Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang (Apr 29), 282pp.
13. Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy (May 15), 455pp.
14. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman (May 17), 283pp.
15. Among Others by Jo Walton (May 21), 302pp.
16. The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick (May 27), 274pp.
17. Marina by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (June 1), 326pp.
18. Words Are My Matter by Ursula Le Guin (June 22), 318pp.
19. Kosmotechnolukhi: Volume 1 by Olga Gromyko (July 2) (Russian), 444pp.
20. Kosmotechnolukhi: Volume 2 by Olga Gromyko (July 9) (Russian), 431pp
21.Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (July 12), 326pp
22.Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly (July 20), 266 pp
23.Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik [Book 5 Temeraire], (July 29), 317 pp.
24.The Geek Feminist Revolution by Kameron Hurley (Aug 3), 256pp.
25. Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie (Aug 10), 354pp.
26.Way Station by Clifford D. Simak (Aug 18), 209pp.
27. To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis (Aug 29), 494pp.
28.The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin (Sept 7), 448pp.
29.Stranger Than Fanfiction by Chris Colfer (Sept 9), 304pp (read in 1 day)
30.Men Explain Things To Me by Rebecca Solnit (Sept 11), 124pp
31.My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Sept 19), 334pp
32.Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome (Sept 29), 138pp
33.Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (Oct 2), 170pp
34.Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik [Book 6 Temeraire] (Oct 15), 312pp.
35.The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold (Nov 4) [Vorkosigan Saga] 318pp.
36.The Better Angels of our Nature: why violence had declined by Stephen Pinker (Nov 17), 696pp.
37. The Lily and the Lion by Maurice Druon (Dec 1), 378pp.
38. Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton (Dec 9), 299pp.
39.The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell (Dec 24), 329 pp.
40.13 Clocks by James Thurber (Dec 26), 124pp.
41. Rapture Practice by Aaron Hartzler (Dec 28), 397pp.
The first book you read in 2017:
A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood - I read it in two days. I've been meaning to read it for a while and I was finally been able to borrow it on my Kindle. It was a great book to start the year with.
The last book you finished in 2017:
Rapture Practice by Aaron Hartzler - Also read it in two day after borrowing it on my Kindle. I was in bed, sick, and it was the perfect level of reading. A good YA.
The first book you will finish (or did finish!) in 2018:
Probably Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey, the 1st Expanse book. I'm about a third way in and even though it is a big book, it is pretty easy to read, so I probably won't break it up with another book.
How many books read in 2017?
41, which I'm thrilled about because I really didn't think I would be able to read much with a new baby. But it worked out.
Fiction/Non-Fiction ratio?
34 fiction/7 non-fiction More non-fic than usual as I read several Hugo nominated non-fiction collections.
Male/Female authors?
18 male authors (19 if Strugatsky brothers count as 2) and 18 female (I read several books by some female authors)
Most books read by one author this year?
3 by Naomi Novik
Favorite books read?
My favorite book was To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis, followed by four runner ups: A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood, Barrayar by Bujold, Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell, and The Geek Feminist Revolution by Kameron Hurley
Best books you read in 2017?
in terms of writing Connie Willis was so clever in plot, Christopher Isherwood is the master of language and Bernard Cornwell had a way with words to evoke Anglo-Saxon world.
Least favorite?
Wrinkle in Time was my least favorite.
Most disappointing book/Book you wished you loved more than you did?
13 Clocks was disappointing - it came highly recommended and I didn't like it at all. I also had a hard time getting into It's Hard to be a God - it just didn't work for me.
Best series you discovered in 2017?
I actually read Shards of Honor by Bujold last year but it was this year with Barrayar that Vorkosigan Saga clicked for me and Warrior's Apprentice confirmed it. This is the year I fell in love with it.
Other new series for me this year
Cornwell's Last Kindgom series about Anglo-Saxon England and, loosely, Willis' Oxford time-travel books.
Favorite new author you discovered this year?
Connie Willis - I can't believe I didn't read her before. I gave her books to my Dad once for his birthday. I'm happy that I finally read her.
Other new authors
Stefan Zweig, William Gibson, Stephen Pinker, Aaron Hartzler, Ted Chiang, Madeleine L'Engle, Katherine Addison, Jo Walton, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Margot Lee Shetterly, Kameron Hurley, Rebecca Solnit, Ruth Bader Gingsburg, Jerome K. Jerome, Bernard Cornwell and James Thurber.
Oldest book read?
Three Men in a Boat , published in 1889.
Newest?
Stranger than Fanfiction by Chris Colfer was published in February of 2017.
Longest book title?
The Better Angels of our Nature: why violence had declined
Shortest title?
Marina
How many re-reads?
One - Mary Poppins, which I read when I was a child and barely remembered. (I read Norse Mythology before but not Neil Gaiman version)
Any in translation?
Marina (from Spanish), and I read two (three) books in Russian - Strugatsky and two volumes of Gromyko.
How many of this year's books were from the library?
19 - I borrow them through my Kindle. I didn't borrow any physical books from the library.
Book that most changed my perspective:
Pinker - he really shows that we tend to see the negative in our world and statistics are much more optimistic about the peaceful time we live in. Even the terrorist attacks that seem to happen a lot, used to happen a lot more often.
Favorite character:
Cordelia from Vorkosigan Saga
Most memorable character:
Too many
Favorite scene:
Too many but probably scenes with Laurence in Victory of the Eagles where he is so despairing.
Favorite quote:
I never remember specific quotes
Most inspirational in terms of own writing?
Kameron Hurley
How many you'd actually read again?
I don't tend to reread books very much because there are just so many books to read.
A book that you never want to read again:
Wrinkle in Time - I really didn't like it.
Book you recommended most to others in 2017?
Pinker probably, just because I found his statistics and perspective very helpful in this terrible political climate. It was just nice to read and realize that maybe the world wasn't as terrible as it appears to us.
The book series you read the most volumes of in 2017:
Temeraire with 3.
The genre you read the most in 2017:
Sci-fi: 13
Fantasy:7
Classic: 5
Non-fiction memoir: 5
Modern: 4
historical fiction: 3
history: 2
mythology: 1
general non-fiction: 1
Your favorite "classic" you read in 2017:
"A Single Man"
Most surprising (in a good way) book of the year?
Barrayar - I didn't expect to fall in love with it
The hardest book you read in 2017 (topic or writing style):
Pinnker book, just because it was very long 700 pages. It wasn't actually hard to read or anything but I did need persistence to finish it.
The funniest book you read in 2017:
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis - I was just giggling with that book so much.
The saddest book you read in 2017:
Victory of the Eagles - I really felt for Laurence
The shortest book you read in 2017:
Men Explain Things To Me by Rebecca Solnit - 124 pages
The longest book that you read in 2017
The Better Angels of our Nature: why violence had declined by Stephen Pinker - 696pp.
Best book that was outside your comfort zone/a new genre for you?
I didn't read anything in a new genre.
Most thrilling, unputdownable book of 2017?
To Say Nothing of the Dog - I just wanted to keep reading it. Then "Attachments" "Rapture Practice" and "Stranger than Fanfiction" I also read really fast. The last mostly for fun, it was terribly written. Attachments and Rapture Practice - I just wanted to see what will happen. But Willis was just the best.
Most beautifully written book in 2017?
A Single Man - his writing style is just so beautiful
Book you most anticipated in 2017?
There were lots of books I wanted to read but I don't think I really anticipated anything.
Favorite cover of a book you read in 2017?
I don't really look at covers much.
Book that had the greatest impact on you this year?
Pinker because it helped me to reexamine our assumptions and made me think a lot.
Book you can't believe you waited till 2017 to finally read?
Willis!
Book that had a scene that left you reeling and dying to talk to someone about it?
I don't think it terms of scenes - but books rarely make me reel.
Looking Ahead:
One book you didn't read this year that will be your #1 priority in 2018?
Not #1 but I really want to finally make it through the whole of Paradise Lost. I read many 8 chapters out of 12 ten years ago and I really want to finish it. So I got a Kindle version and will try to read a little bit each night.
New book you are most anticipating for 2018?
Brief Cases by Jim Butcher, 2nd Dresden Files short story collection. Otherwise, I have a list of books I want to get to - new to me. They are below in Book List 2018.
Here is my list of books I want to try to read this year. My book list for the year ends up half of books on my list and half books that come up during the year when someone recommends them. I want to read 5 books that won a Hugo as one of my goals. I don't count small kid books that I read to the girls. Anyway, here it is: Book List 2018 .
1. A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood (Jan 3). 192pp.
2. Trudno Byt' Bogom (It's Hard to Be a God) by Strugatsky brothers (started in 2016) (Jan 8) (Russian). 315pp.
3. Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers (Jan 11) 202pp.
4. Decisive Moments in History by Stefan Zweig (Jan 25) 253pp.
5. Neuromancer by William Gibson (Feb 4) 292pp.
6. The Island of the Colorblind by Oliver Sacks (Feb 11) 264pp.
7.Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold (Feb 21) [Vorkosigan Saga] 340pp.
8.A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (Feb 28) 203pp.
9.The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison (Mar 13), 440pp.
10.A King's Ransom: A Novel by Sharon Kay Penman (Apr 6), 657pp.
11. Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik [Book 4 Temeraire] (Apr 13), 400pp.
12. Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang (Apr 29), 282pp.
13. Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy (May 15), 455pp.
14. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman (May 17), 283pp.
15. Among Others by Jo Walton (May 21), 302pp.
16. The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick (May 27), 274pp.
17. Marina by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (June 1), 326pp.
18. Words Are My Matter by Ursula Le Guin (June 22), 318pp.
19. Kosmotechnolukhi: Volume 1 by Olga Gromyko (July 2) (Russian), 444pp.
20. Kosmotechnolukhi: Volume 2 by Olga Gromyko (July 9) (Russian), 431pp
21.Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (July 12), 326pp
22.Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly (July 20), 266 pp
23.Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik [Book 5 Temeraire], (July 29), 317 pp.
24.The Geek Feminist Revolution by Kameron Hurley (Aug 3), 256pp.
25. Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie (Aug 10), 354pp.
26.Way Station by Clifford D. Simak (Aug 18), 209pp.
27. To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis (Aug 29), 494pp.
28.The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin (Sept 7), 448pp.
29.Stranger Than Fanfiction by Chris Colfer (Sept 9), 304pp (read in 1 day)
30.Men Explain Things To Me by Rebecca Solnit (Sept 11), 124pp
31.My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Sept 19), 334pp
32.Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome (Sept 29), 138pp
33.Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire (Oct 2), 170pp
34.Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik [Book 6 Temeraire] (Oct 15), 312pp.
35.The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold (Nov 4) [Vorkosigan Saga] 318pp.
36.The Better Angels of our Nature: why violence had declined by Stephen Pinker (Nov 17), 696pp.
37. The Lily and the Lion by Maurice Druon (Dec 1), 378pp.
38. Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton (Dec 9), 299pp.
39.The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell (Dec 24), 329 pp.
40.13 Clocks by James Thurber (Dec 26), 124pp.
41. Rapture Practice by Aaron Hartzler (Dec 28), 397pp.
The first book you read in 2017:
A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood - I read it in two days. I've been meaning to read it for a while and I was finally been able to borrow it on my Kindle. It was a great book to start the year with.
The last book you finished in 2017:
Rapture Practice by Aaron Hartzler - Also read it in two day after borrowing it on my Kindle. I was in bed, sick, and it was the perfect level of reading. A good YA.
The first book you will finish (or did finish!) in 2018:
Probably Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey, the 1st Expanse book. I'm about a third way in and even though it is a big book, it is pretty easy to read, so I probably won't break it up with another book.
How many books read in 2017?
41, which I'm thrilled about because I really didn't think I would be able to read much with a new baby. But it worked out.
Fiction/Non-Fiction ratio?
34 fiction/7 non-fiction More non-fic than usual as I read several Hugo nominated non-fiction collections.
Male/Female authors?
18 male authors (19 if Strugatsky brothers count as 2) and 18 female (I read several books by some female authors)
Most books read by one author this year?
3 by Naomi Novik
Favorite books read?
My favorite book was To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis, followed by four runner ups: A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood, Barrayar by Bujold, Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell, and The Geek Feminist Revolution by Kameron Hurley
Best books you read in 2017?
in terms of writing Connie Willis was so clever in plot, Christopher Isherwood is the master of language and Bernard Cornwell had a way with words to evoke Anglo-Saxon world.
Least favorite?
Wrinkle in Time was my least favorite.
Most disappointing book/Book you wished you loved more than you did?
13 Clocks was disappointing - it came highly recommended and I didn't like it at all. I also had a hard time getting into It's Hard to be a God - it just didn't work for me.
Best series you discovered in 2017?
I actually read Shards of Honor by Bujold last year but it was this year with Barrayar that Vorkosigan Saga clicked for me and Warrior's Apprentice confirmed it. This is the year I fell in love with it.
Other new series for me this year
Cornwell's Last Kindgom series about Anglo-Saxon England and, loosely, Willis' Oxford time-travel books.
Favorite new author you discovered this year?
Connie Willis - I can't believe I didn't read her before. I gave her books to my Dad once for his birthday. I'm happy that I finally read her.
Other new authors
Stefan Zweig, William Gibson, Stephen Pinker, Aaron Hartzler, Ted Chiang, Madeleine L'Engle, Katherine Addison, Jo Walton, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Margot Lee Shetterly, Kameron Hurley, Rebecca Solnit, Ruth Bader Gingsburg, Jerome K. Jerome, Bernard Cornwell and James Thurber.
Oldest book read?
Three Men in a Boat , published in 1889.
Newest?
Stranger than Fanfiction by Chris Colfer was published in February of 2017.
Longest book title?
The Better Angels of our Nature: why violence had declined
Shortest title?
Marina
How many re-reads?
One - Mary Poppins, which I read when I was a child and barely remembered. (I read Norse Mythology before but not Neil Gaiman version)
Any in translation?
Marina (from Spanish), and I read two (three) books in Russian - Strugatsky and two volumes of Gromyko.
How many of this year's books were from the library?
19 - I borrow them through my Kindle. I didn't borrow any physical books from the library.
Book that most changed my perspective:
Pinker - he really shows that we tend to see the negative in our world and statistics are much more optimistic about the peaceful time we live in. Even the terrorist attacks that seem to happen a lot, used to happen a lot more often.
Favorite character:
Cordelia from Vorkosigan Saga
Most memorable character:
Too many
Favorite scene:
Too many but probably scenes with Laurence in Victory of the Eagles where he is so despairing.
Favorite quote:
I never remember specific quotes
Most inspirational in terms of own writing?
Kameron Hurley
How many you'd actually read again?
I don't tend to reread books very much because there are just so many books to read.
A book that you never want to read again:
Wrinkle in Time - I really didn't like it.
Book you recommended most to others in 2017?
Pinker probably, just because I found his statistics and perspective very helpful in this terrible political climate. It was just nice to read and realize that maybe the world wasn't as terrible as it appears to us.
The book series you read the most volumes of in 2017:
Temeraire with 3.
The genre you read the most in 2017:
Sci-fi: 13
Fantasy:7
Classic: 5
Non-fiction memoir: 5
Modern: 4
historical fiction: 3
history: 2
mythology: 1
general non-fiction: 1
Your favorite "classic" you read in 2017:
"A Single Man"
Most surprising (in a good way) book of the year?
Barrayar - I didn't expect to fall in love with it
The hardest book you read in 2017 (topic or writing style):
Pinnker book, just because it was very long 700 pages. It wasn't actually hard to read or anything but I did need persistence to finish it.
The funniest book you read in 2017:
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis - I was just giggling with that book so much.
The saddest book you read in 2017:
Victory of the Eagles - I really felt for Laurence
The shortest book you read in 2017:
Men Explain Things To Me by Rebecca Solnit - 124 pages
The longest book that you read in 2017
The Better Angels of our Nature: why violence had declined by Stephen Pinker - 696pp.
Best book that was outside your comfort zone/a new genre for you?
I didn't read anything in a new genre.
Most thrilling, unputdownable book of 2017?
To Say Nothing of the Dog - I just wanted to keep reading it. Then "Attachments" "Rapture Practice" and "Stranger than Fanfiction" I also read really fast. The last mostly for fun, it was terribly written. Attachments and Rapture Practice - I just wanted to see what will happen. But Willis was just the best.
Most beautifully written book in 2017?
A Single Man - his writing style is just so beautiful
Book you most anticipated in 2017?
There were lots of books I wanted to read but I don't think I really anticipated anything.
Favorite cover of a book you read in 2017?
I don't really look at covers much.
Book that had the greatest impact on you this year?
Pinker because it helped me to reexamine our assumptions and made me think a lot.
Book you can't believe you waited till 2017 to finally read?
Willis!
Book that had a scene that left you reeling and dying to talk to someone about it?
I don't think it terms of scenes - but books rarely make me reel.
Looking Ahead:
One book you didn't read this year that will be your #1 priority in 2018?
Not #1 but I really want to finally make it through the whole of Paradise Lost. I read many 8 chapters out of 12 ten years ago and I really want to finish it. So I got a Kindle version and will try to read a little bit each night.
New book you are most anticipating for 2018?
Brief Cases by Jim Butcher, 2nd Dresden Files short story collection. Otherwise, I have a list of books I want to get to - new to me. They are below in Book List 2018.
Here is my list of books I want to try to read this year. My book list for the year ends up half of books on my list and half books that come up during the year when someone recommends them. I want to read 5 books that won a Hugo as one of my goals. I don't count small kid books that I read to the girls. Anyway, here it is: Book List 2018 .