(List of all books read in 2016 here)
I've always like the idea of having a list of specific book goals for the year - for instance, "Re-read a childhood favorite" or "Read a book set in your hometown" - but I've yet to actually make goals like that. I didn't even have a specific number goal for this year.* Vaguely, I wanted to focus on reading more books by female authors as well as continue my hazy goals of "reading a variety of things" and "reading things I've been meaning to get to for a long time".
With that brief background, below is my list of of my top picks/favorites/recommendations from 2016. My caveat is always that this is a difficult list for me to compile since I read a lot of things and tend to like at least some aspects of most of what I read. That said, these stood out to me from among the rest for some reason or another (listed in no particular order).
East of Eden - John Steinbeck
An epic and beautifully-written classic. I'd just visited the Salinas Valley and the John Steinbeck Museum before reading this book, which lent a lot of context to it for me. I went through a period in junior high where I'd read The Grapes of Wrath followed by a lot of shorter Steinbeck works and had not necessarily been a fan of many of them (partially, I'm sure, due to the fact that there were things I couldn't appreciate or understand at that age). East of Eden rekindled my interest in Steinbeck, and (despite its length) I was sorry to finish it.
The Apprentice - Jacques Pepin
I read a number of autobiographies this year, but Pepin's was probably my favorite. It perhaps helped that he wrote his book in the later years of his life (it always feels a bit odd to me when someone writes an autobiography earlier than about age 40-50) and that he's a figure I've been familiar with for years (I read a few biographies this year from popular figures that I personally had little knowledge and no real connection to). Jacques Pepin writes about his childhood, his parents, and his transitions from helping in his family restaurant as a small child to the backbreaking work in Paris kitchens to moving to America. It's an eye-opening, behind-the-scenes type look at what it takes to become a chef of Pepin's particular caliber. Some key recipes from the various periods of Pepin's life are included with each chapter.
Ancillary Justice, Ancillary Sword, and Ancillary Mercy - Ann Leckie
I'm counting this trilogy together on my list. Female science fiction authors tend to be somewhat difficult to come across, but Leckie didn't disappoint. I really enjoyed her treatment of gender as well as the exploration of artificial intelligence, self, and culture throughout the series. And I feel the series is very readable and accessible enough even for non sci-fi fans.
The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
Beautiful, lush writing that combines some of my favorite kind of realism-based fantasy and magic. I wanted this book to go on and on (I'll admit to being somewhat unsatisfied with the ending, though not enough to turn me off of the book).
Neverwhere - Neil Gaimain
I picked up Neil Gaiman for the first time this year (starting with Stardust) and had devoured eight of his books by the end of 2016. I enjoyed everything of his that I've read so far, but Neverwhere has stayed at the top of my list as a satisfying book that combines some of my favorite elements to create a darkly realistic fantasy.
The Secret History - Donna Tartt
I had to include this book even though I had mixed feelings about the ending and difficulty categorizing what sort of book it was supposed to be. Perhaps it stood out to me because pieces of it were reminiscent of the Great Books classes I took in high school. Maybe it was the characters themselves that really held the book together. Either way, it managed to register as a combination of haunting, realistic, confusing, and strangely familiar to me. I also read Tartt's The Goldfinch early in the year, which was perhaps even more immersive and comprehensive in its treatment of its own story line, but The Secret History stuck with me more.
Facing Unpleasant Facts: Narrative Essays - George Orwell
I've noted in previous overview posts that I'm a fan of Orwell, so it's no real surprise that he landed on my list. I'd read a few of the essays in this collection in years past, but having a whole book of them to read at leisure is a treat. His final essay ("Such, Such Were Joys") is darkly reminiscent of Roald Dahl's account (from his book Boy, another favorite of mine) of experiences at an English Boarding school. Orwell's essays are a must for any fan of his books.
Bonus: Runner-ups (books that probably don't have as widespread appeal, but that stood out for me)
Wishful Drinking and Shockaholic, both by Carrie Fisher
I'm going to say right off that these books aren't for everyone. Fisher's brand of caustic (sometimes offensive) humor, wry intelligence, and sporadic writing style won't sit well with some. If you're looking for a comprehensive tell-all book, especially from her time working on the Star Wars films, these books won't live up to your expectations. But if you're looking for insight into who Carrie Fisher was, they give a beautifully shocking realistic mashup presentation of her life - as well as foster an unflinching and unapologetic discussion of living with serious mental health issues. I don't often cry when I read books, but some of Fisher's passages prompted tears.
[note - I read these books early in 2016 before Fisher's sudden death; it may be harder to obtain copies now.]
Galactic Pot-healer - Philip K. Dick
I'm a fan of Philip K. Dick in general, and Galactic Pot-healer is an example of him at his mind-bending strangest. If you're not a fan of Sci-fi in general, this book is probably not for you. If you enjoy Philip K. Dick and/or more "classic" speculative/sci-fi, you'll probably want to pick this up. It's less serious than the likes of A Scanner Darkly (my other P.K.D. read this year), weird, and manages to combine Lovecraftian horror and Dick's own brand of sometimes-pessimistic humor.
Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome - Reba Riley
Sometimes a little odd in tone, but interesting and thought-provoking, especially for those dealing with leaving fundamentalist religions.
The Blue Tattoo - Margot Mifflin
A comprehensive biography on the life of Olive Oatman (a Utah woman who was captured by Indians as a young teenager in the 1850's). Well-researched and very interesting for history buffs - it sparks thought on how stories are passed down over time, and the reliability of written, eyewitness, and even personal accounts of events.
*okay - I realized in early December that I could make an even 100 by reading 9 more books, if that counts...
I've always like the idea of having a list of specific book goals for the year - for instance, "Re-read a childhood favorite" or "Read a book set in your hometown" - but I've yet to actually make goals like that. I didn't even have a specific number goal for this year.* Vaguely, I wanted to focus on reading more books by female authors as well as continue my hazy goals of "reading a variety of things" and "reading things I've been meaning to get to for a long time".
With that brief background, below is my list of of my top picks/favorites/recommendations from 2016. My caveat is always that this is a difficult list for me to compile since I read a lot of things and tend to like at least some aspects of most of what I read. That said, these stood out to me from among the rest for some reason or another (listed in no particular order).
East of Eden - John Steinbeck
An epic and beautifully-written classic. I'd just visited the Salinas Valley and the John Steinbeck Museum before reading this book, which lent a lot of context to it for me. I went through a period in junior high where I'd read The Grapes of Wrath followed by a lot of shorter Steinbeck works and had not necessarily been a fan of many of them (partially, I'm sure, due to the fact that there were things I couldn't appreciate or understand at that age). East of Eden rekindled my interest in Steinbeck, and (despite its length) I was sorry to finish it.
The Apprentice - Jacques Pepin
I read a number of autobiographies this year, but Pepin's was probably my favorite. It perhaps helped that he wrote his book in the later years of his life (it always feels a bit odd to me when someone writes an autobiography earlier than about age 40-50) and that he's a figure I've been familiar with for years (I read a few biographies this year from popular figures that I personally had little knowledge and no real connection to). Jacques Pepin writes about his childhood, his parents, and his transitions from helping in his family restaurant as a small child to the backbreaking work in Paris kitchens to moving to America. It's an eye-opening, behind-the-scenes type look at what it takes to become a chef of Pepin's particular caliber. Some key recipes from the various periods of Pepin's life are included with each chapter.
Ancillary Justice, Ancillary Sword, and Ancillary Mercy - Ann Leckie
I'm counting this trilogy together on my list. Female science fiction authors tend to be somewhat difficult to come across, but Leckie didn't disappoint. I really enjoyed her treatment of gender as well as the exploration of artificial intelligence, self, and culture throughout the series. And I feel the series is very readable and accessible enough even for non sci-fi fans.
The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
Beautiful, lush writing that combines some of my favorite kind of realism-based fantasy and magic. I wanted this book to go on and on (I'll admit to being somewhat unsatisfied with the ending, though not enough to turn me off of the book).
Neverwhere - Neil Gaimain
I picked up Neil Gaiman for the first time this year (starting with Stardust) and had devoured eight of his books by the end of 2016. I enjoyed everything of his that I've read so far, but Neverwhere has stayed at the top of my list as a satisfying book that combines some of my favorite elements to create a darkly realistic fantasy.
The Secret History - Donna Tartt
I had to include this book even though I had mixed feelings about the ending and difficulty categorizing what sort of book it was supposed to be. Perhaps it stood out to me because pieces of it were reminiscent of the Great Books classes I took in high school. Maybe it was the characters themselves that really held the book together. Either way, it managed to register as a combination of haunting, realistic, confusing, and strangely familiar to me. I also read Tartt's The Goldfinch early in the year, which was perhaps even more immersive and comprehensive in its treatment of its own story line, but The Secret History stuck with me more.
Facing Unpleasant Facts: Narrative Essays - George Orwell
I've noted in previous overview posts that I'm a fan of Orwell, so it's no real surprise that he landed on my list. I'd read a few of the essays in this collection in years past, but having a whole book of them to read at leisure is a treat. His final essay ("Such, Such Were Joys") is darkly reminiscent of Roald Dahl's account (from his book Boy, another favorite of mine) of experiences at an English Boarding school. Orwell's essays are a must for any fan of his books.
Bonus: Runner-ups (books that probably don't have as widespread appeal, but that stood out for me)
Wishful Drinking and Shockaholic, both by Carrie Fisher
I'm going to say right off that these books aren't for everyone. Fisher's brand of caustic (sometimes offensive) humor, wry intelligence, and sporadic writing style won't sit well with some. If you're looking for a comprehensive tell-all book, especially from her time working on the Star Wars films, these books won't live up to your expectations. But if you're looking for insight into who Carrie Fisher was, they give a beautifully shocking realistic mashup presentation of her life - as well as foster an unflinching and unapologetic discussion of living with serious mental health issues. I don't often cry when I read books, but some of Fisher's passages prompted tears.
[note - I read these books early in 2016 before Fisher's sudden death; it may be harder to obtain copies now.]
Galactic Pot-healer - Philip K. Dick
I'm a fan of Philip K. Dick in general, and Galactic Pot-healer is an example of him at his mind-bending strangest. If you're not a fan of Sci-fi in general, this book is probably not for you. If you enjoy Philip K. Dick and/or more "classic" speculative/sci-fi, you'll probably want to pick this up. It's less serious than the likes of A Scanner Darkly (my other P.K.D. read this year), weird, and manages to combine Lovecraftian horror and Dick's own brand of sometimes-pessimistic humor.
Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome - Reba Riley
Sometimes a little odd in tone, but interesting and thought-provoking, especially for those dealing with leaving fundamentalist religions.
The Blue Tattoo - Margot Mifflin
A comprehensive biography on the life of Olive Oatman (a Utah woman who was captured by Indians as a young teenager in the 1850's). Well-researched and very interesting for history buffs - it sparks thought on how stories are passed down over time, and the reliability of written, eyewitness, and even personal accounts of events.
*okay - I realized in early December that I could make an even 100 by reading 9 more books, if that counts...
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