Season’s Readings everyone! As 2017 draws to a close, I thought it might be interesting to look back at what I’ve read over the last twelve months and try to highlight my favorite books this year. I’ve listed these books in alphabetical order, by title, until the last entry at the bottom, which is, in my opinion, the best book I’ve read in 2017. It probably won’t be a big surprise that many of these titles listed are ones for which I interviewed the authors for the LAPL Blog. (I only reach out to an author if I enjoyed their book!) If you haven’t yet read these titles, I highly recommend them! And I hope to provide more author interviews in 2018! Happy Holidays!
2017 Favorite Reads
As in A Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, Chambers populates a fascinating story with strong compelling characters and a world that is simultaneously a revelation and immediately recognizable. The result is a novel that feels both like a new discovery and an old friend at the same time. A marvelous read!
On New Year’s Eve, 1984, an elderly resident of New York City walks to her favorite neighborhood restaurant for dinner only to realize she isn’t hungry. To prepare herself for her end of the year meal, she decides to take a walk around her neighborhood and, ultimately, throughout the city she loves. As she walks, we readers join her as she remembers and reminisces about the six decades she has lived here, how some things have changed, how some are still the same, the effects she has had and how she has been affected by her life there, all in the titular character’s clear, strong voice. With Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk, Kathleen Rooney has written both time capsule and a love letter to New York City and its wonderfully diverse inhabitants. There really is no other city in the world quite like New York City.
Still stinging from the failure of his latest novel, Martin Chuzzlewit, Charles Dickens is approached by his publishers in November, 1843. Even though this is his first failure, they threaten him with a contractual clause demanding him to deliver a Christmas novel-before Christmas-or they will ruin him financially. Dickens has never been frugal with his money. To make matters worse, he is continually forced to financially support his family, both immediate and extended, and his wife, who is about to give birth to their next child, is planning a lavish Christmas celebration. As a result, the threat of financial ruin seems very, very immediate. But how do you write a Christmas novel under the threat of a ticking clock, when the very last thing you are feeling is the Christmas spirit?
In Mr. Dickens and His Carol, first time novelist Samantha Silva creates wonderful portraits of both Dickens and his primary inspiration, the city of London. Silva does a masterful job of portraying Dickens’ restless energy and increasing self-doubt as he struggles to create a story that will not only save him, but go on to become one of the best known holiday tales in history. A charming and thoroughly enjoyable read, especially at this time of the year!
A mysterious group posts a list of world leaders online, along with the promise that, to "set things right" in the world, these people will die. The first will die on 12/13. On 12/14, 2 will die. On 12/15, 4 will die, and so on for 12 days. By Christmas, the world will be “cleansed.” And then these world leaders start to die mysteriously. A journalist, her teen daughter, autistic son and an ex-Special Forces soldier are drawn into the maelstrom of an impending apocalypse in the weeks before Christmas.
In Twelve Days, always excellent author Steven Barnes creates a terrifying situation with a threat that seems almost possible, populated by characters so likeable and relatable that you cannot help but root for them as they navigate what seems like an almost impossible situation. A marvelous thriller!
As the schisms between those that have that those that do not grow, modern society continues its inevitable breakdown. But since technology now provides anyone with the ability to design and create basic needs via computers and printers, many people simply choose to “walkaway” from the culture that has failed them. They create a new identity and live outside of our established culture. No jobs, no money, few belongings.
Living in a dangerous world of abandoned cities and factories, and whole areas destroyed by climate change, it isn't always and easy life to be a walkaway. But the first group flourishes and, as they do, more join them. But when the walkaways make a discovery that could change humankind forever, it becomes a battle to see if this fledgling new culture will be able to survive a direct assault by the establishment.
Walkaway is a fascinating and compelling near-future thriller. It covers a lot of ground with a group of likable characters and questions our very way of life.
When Mary Jekyll (daughter of the infamous Doctor) meets Diana Hyde, Beatrice Rappaccini, Catherin Moreau, and Justine Frankenstein the ladies join forces to take down a secret society of mad scientists. Cool fictional women running around Victorian London, hopefully wearing amazing dresses, and quashing evildoers? Yes, please!