Mid-Year Review: My Top Ten Favorite Books So Far This Year.

Can you believe the year is half over? With the Top Ten Tuesday theme this week being the best books that I have read so far this year, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to review my reading year so far.

I have read a total of 35 books (not including children's books, of which I have read over 90). I long ago surpassed my Goodreads goal of reading 13 books for the year (okay, so my goal was a bit of a joke this year).  Looking back, I have read a lot of great books so far, and quite a variety. I decided it would be a year of no reading challenges, and so far I have stuck to it  despite some very tempting ones. I avoided making any real reading goals, although I did make a list Top Ten Books I'm Looking Forward To For The First Half Of 2017, which I didn't fare to well with. But let's not focus on what I haven't yet read, rather what I did read from that list.

I read the book my husband recommended, Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie (review pending). I also read a book my daughter recommended, The Princess In Black Takes a Vacation by Shannon and Dean Hale and LeUyem Pham. Back in December I had asked you all to recommend a book for me to read during the first half the year, and I picked two winners the following month: Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal and Uprooted by Naomi Novik. Both of which I have read. My review of Kowal's book is pending, but I did enjoy it. Thank you to those who recommended those books!

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Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely ladies at Broke and Bookish.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday theme is Best Books I've Read In 2017 So Far. Considering most of the books I have read this year are children's books, I thought I would split the list--five of my favorite children's books read in the first half of the year and five of my adult favorites so far. I also included two honorable mentions because I couldn't help myself.

1. Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell, illustrated by David Catrow is a favorite of mine and Mouse's. We both love Molly Lou Melon. Molly Lou tries to live by her grandmother's advice and it is soon put to the test when she encounters a bully at her new school. This book is about having confidence in oneself and celebrating our differences.

2. While in search for a book about the Chinese New Year, I came across this gem of a children's book, The Nian Monster by Andrea Wang, illustrations by Alina Chau. Yet another favorite Mouse and I share, this one about a young girl who goes up against an ancient monster using her wit and charm. I liked how the author incorporates Chinese New Year traditions into the story and the heroine's actions as the story unfolds.

3. Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine, illustrated by Kadir Nelson is a well written and thoughtful book that introduces children to the difficult subject of slavery. The author does not shy away from presenting some hard facts of the time, making this a good book for parents to read with their children in case they have questions or want to talk about anything and everything that happens to Henry.

4. When I first read Let Me Finish! by Minh Le and Isabel Roxas to Mouse, I was nearing the end when she blurted out the big reveal that was coming (she had read the book at school, evidently). I guess she missed the message of the book. Those of you who don't especially like book spoilers will be able to relate to this book and the main character, a boy who just wants to read his book without someone giving away the ending. That doesn't seem like too much to ask for, does it? Evidently it might be . . .

5. Chalk by Bill Thomson is perhaps a cheat given it was a re-read for me. I fell in love with this book the first time I encountered it--an imaginative story told through illustrations about a group of children who find magic chalk waiting for them at the park. It's one of my daughter's favorites too. We have read it several times now and never tire of it.

6. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See was not only the first book I finished reading in 2017, but it also earned my highest rating. That's quite a way to start the year! I have long been a fan of Lisa See's work, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan being one of my all-time favorite books. This one comes in right next to it. Lisa See is gifted at creating characters that get under my skin and in weaving history, tradition, and cultural issues into her novels. She is an auto buy author for me. I can't get enough of her books.

7. I picked up The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood to read for a read-along and because the timing seemed perfect. I had only read one other Atwood book in the past, which I enjoyed, but found a little intimidating. The Handmaid's Tale is beautifully crafted and such a sad, and, in many ways, frightening story. Especially given how easily it is to imagine the fiction in the novel becoming reality. I can see why The Handmaid's Tale is considered a modern classic.

8. Monstress, Volume One: Awakening by Liu, Marjorie & Sana Takeda is a work of art, both in the writing and the gorgeous artwork. While I enjoy graphic novels, I tend to gravitate more towards graphic memoirs, which tend to have more depth (at least in my relatively limited experience). However, the richness of the world and character building in this volume is amazing. I am anxiously awaiting the release of the second volume next month.

9. LaRose by Louise Erdrich was my first book by the author, but it will not be my last. I found her writing beautiful. She is extremely adept at drawing out the raw emotions of her characters as well as immersing me completely in their lives. I loved how well--and naturally--she incorporated Ojibwe tradition and history into the novel.

10. Uprooted by Naomi Novik was one of the books recommended to me in a poll I held last December. It was also a book I had been wanting to read for some time. It did not disappoint. Naomi Novik's world building drew me in instantly, and I especially appreciated the tie in to existing folklore.


Honorable Mentions:

I could not help but mention The Princess in Black series by Shannon and Dean Hale, illustrations by LeUyem Pham even though the entire series was a re-read this year for us. It remains a favorite for both my daughter and me. It is just so much fun. It's about a princess who has a secret identity. When she dons her black monster fighting attire, she becomes the Princess in Black. Whether hosting a fancy birthday party or beating up monsters, she is a fun character to spend time with.

I was a little nervous about reading Ancillary Justice (Imperial Radch #1) by Ann Leckie at first because of the mixed reviews, but I found it to be an extremely compelling and good read. It took a moment for me to get into because of the unusual narrative style, but once I did, I had a hard time putting the book down. Breq is such an interesting character, and I look forward to reading more about her in the next book of the series.


Have you read any of these? What did you think? What is your favorite book of the year so far?

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