Photo by Cathryn Lavery on Unsplash
Last week I posted my top 10 favorite books published in 2017.
This week we’re celebrating the backlist.
Here are the favorite books I read this year that were published before 2017…
Best Fiction
Give this book a whirl if you like… skilled storytelling, literary novels with a modern tone and sense of humor, complex family stories, a wry tone, narratives that interweave the past and the present, 1960s counterculture, and stories of the past coming back to bite you
Best Feel-Good Fiction
The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood
Give this book a whirl if you like… heartwarming and quirky stories, charming characters, the Guinness Book of Records, children on the autism spectrum, intergenerational friendships, seniors with lively personalities, and stories of one person’s small actions having a big impact on others
Best Nonfiction
Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter
This one’s a re-read, because we went to there!
Give this book a whirl if you like… the behind the scenes story (literally!), stories of collaboration, the creative process, exuberance, music, history, and beautiful books
Best YA Fiction
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Saenz
Give this book a whirl if you like… smart and thoughtful novels, emotional coming of age stories, teen angst, family secrets, LGBTQ stories, and stories about friendship
Best Children’s Book
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
Give this book a whirl if you like… warm and honest stories of childhood, lyrical books in verse, and books you can read in small snippets
Best Memoir
Give this book a whirl if you like… forthright and candid memoirs, extreme sports, strong women, stories of vigor, senior power, swimming, stories of abuse survivors, and living a bold life
Best Self-Improvement Book
Give this book a whirl if you like… game-changing productivity books, thoughtful and practical advice, diving deep, focus, and taking back control in a world filled with distractions
Best Speculative Fiction
Give this book a whirl if you like… time travel, wide-ranging and absorbing stories, reading about the JFK assassination, a wry first-person narrative, and books that have it all: a ripping plot, realistic characters, and creative use of language
Best Graphic Novel
United States Constitution: A Graphic Adaptation by Jonathan Hennessey and Aaron McConnell
Give this book a whirl if you like… the Schoolhouse Rock approach to learning, government, lively and educational nonfiction graphic novels, and the “why” behind the American system of government
Best Historical Fiction
News of the World by Paulette Jiles
Give this book a whirl if you like… thoughtful and touching novels about intergenerational friendships, well-chosen words, 19th-century America, an intersection of cultures, journalism, and widowers
Best Short Stories
American Housewife: Stories by Helen Ellis
Give this book a whirl if you like… the clever use of words, sharp and modern short stories, a fair amount of snark, creative stories, the occasional dark twist, variety in tone among stories, and a quick and rewarding read
So, readers… What are your favorite books you read this year?
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