Happy New Year and Reading 2017
“Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” ― Groucho Marx, The Essential Groucho: Writings For By And About Groucho Marx
Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a lovely celebration, and now you're getting back into the swing of things. It's weird, because I always feel New Year's is a little over-hyped. Then again, maybe it's because I spend it at home watching TV, thrilled not to have to be out in massive crowds of people. How did you spend it? Did any of you make New Year's resolutions? I tend not to, though I do participate in Goodreads Reading Challenge every year. Last year my goal was 150 books, which I met, but this year I've decided to shoot a little lower with 120. Are you participating? I read some really great books in 2016, and some not so great, and my to-read list grew to an unmanageable, toppling pile. So, I've been thinking about some of the books I'd like to cross of the list this year. Some are new releases, I never got around to and some are older books or classics I've always thought I should read. Plus I just read an article that showed a great number of film adaptions of books coming to cinemas this year, and I do like to read the book before I see the movie, so it looks like 2017 will be a busy reading year! Here are some of the books I'm especially looking forward to reading (click on the title for a link to the Goodreads page for summaries). Let me know yours in the comments below, and happy reading!
The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths - The Ruth Galloway mystery series is one of my favorites and The Chalk Pit is the ninth book. The characters are memorable and very real, I almost feel as if I know them personally. Highly recommended!
Her Every Fear by Peter Swanson - The Kind Worth Killing, Swanson previous book, was such a page-turner. I can't wait to see what he has up his sleeve in this one!
The Breakdown by B.A. Paris - Another book by an author who really impressed by in 2016 with Behind Closed Doors. I read the whole thing on a train journey from Oxford to Cardiff and it made the trip fly by, so I'm really excited for this one to be published.
Palestine by Joe Sacco - Last year I got into a number of really excellent graphic novels, a totally new genre for me. Palestine has been recommended by a number of Goodreads friends, so I'm looking forwards to expanding my knowledge of this genre.
Walking the Americas by Levison Wood - Wood's previous two books were among my favorite last year, so I was thrilled to learn this will be hitting the shelves in February!
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi - I've read only good things about this book, and finally got my copy from the library!
The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney - I do love a good psychological thriller, and this one looks like it will deliver. Can't wait for publication day!
The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner - Not my typical fare, but it's been recommended by so many people, I think I need to give it a try and see what all the fuss is about.
My Grandmother Asked Me to tell You She's Sorry by Fredrick Backman - I didn't LOVE A Man Called Ove, but I did fall for Backman's other book Britt-Marie Was Here, so I am really looking forward to this one. They all have a slightly melancholy air, but feel very true and beautifully observed. Recommended!
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens - I'm a little embarrassed to have studied English literature and never read this book, so this one is a must for 2017. Dickens is a bit hit-and-miss for me, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
So there we have ten of my to-read books, what are some of yours?
