The Terror of Knowing

It’s that time of year again – the time when I wrap up all of last year’s reading into one handy post for reasons.

But first, how did 2017 in general go for me personally?

As far as years go, 2017 was much better than 2016. For a start, no beloved family members passed away so woo, congrats family, you hung on in there. The fallout from my nanna’s death is still lingering though, which sucks, but that’s life… unfortunately. Elsewhere, 2017 was the year that I finally felt like my life was getting sort of to the point I wanted – I feel on top of the house and bills that go along with it which I share with Liz (check out her blog here if you’re so inclined); I sometimes exercise and eat well (emphasis on the sometimes); I travelled to the US for the first time and loved it; I booked a holiday with Liz to go to Disney World (!) in 2018; I saw The Killers live in Liverpool (best night ever); I got to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (the magic is SO good), Phantom of the Opera (twice!), Les Miserables again (my fav) and Hamilton (in a word… phenomenal); and, perhaps most importantly, I finally got a job in my chosen field and I feel like I’ve settled into it well and I’m valued as a member of the small team in the office. So, 2017, despite an overwhelmingly crap year for politics, the uncovering of disgusting levels of sexual harassment and abuse in Hollywood, and the world at large generally going to shit, for my own little blinkered view of the world, it was alright.

But that’s not what you’re here for, is it? This post is aaaall about the books. If you want to see what my top books of the year were, please see the companion blog post: Favourite Books of 2017. This year I surprised myself by not just necessarily including all of the books that were my favourite in any given month – some slipped off my radar as the months ticked by and others stayed with me for longer than I expected.

But, first things first, let’s take a good look at every single book I read this year, because the graphics and statistics are deeply satisfying to me.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas | 2/5 stars | Review
* The Bad Beginning (ASOUE #1) by Lemony Snicket | 3.5/5 stars
* The Reptile Room (ASOUE #2) by Lemony Snicket | 4/5 stars
* The Wide Window (ASOUE #3) by Lemony Snicket | 3/5 stars
Wishing for Birds by Elisabeth Hewer | 5/5 stars | Review
Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham | 4/5 stars | Review
* Saga, Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples | 4.5/5
* Saga, Volume 2 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples | 5/5
Saga, Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples | 5/5
* The Miserable Mill (ASOUE #4) by Lemony Snicket | 3/5
* Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (HP#4) by J.K. Rowling | 4/5
We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | 5/5 | Review

Read: 12 books | 2673 pages
Fav: Wishing for Birds by Elisabeth Hewer

* Sabriel (Old Kingdom #1) by Garth Nix | 5/5
* The Queen of the Tearling (Tearling #1) by Erika Johansen | 5/5 | Review
* Lirael (Old Kingdom #2)by Garth Nix | 4/5
The Invasion of the Tearling (Tearling #2) by Erika Johansen | 4/5 | Review
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman | 4/5 | Review
* Abhorsen (Old Kingdom #3) by Garth Nix | 4/5
The Fate of the Tearling (Tearling #3) by Erika Johansen | 3.75/5 | Review
* A Darker Shade of Magic (SOM #1) by V.E. Schwab | 4.5/5
* A Gathering of Shadows (SOM #2) by V.E. Schwab | 5/5

Read: 9 books | 3890 pages
Fav: A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

A Conjuring of Light (SOM #3) by V.E. Schwab | 5/5
* The Austere Academy (ASOUE #5) by Lemony Snicket | 4/5
* The Bone Season (Bone Season #1) by Samantha Shannon | 4/5
* The Mime Order (Bone Season #2) by Samantha Shannon | 4.5/5
The Song Rising (Bone Season #3) by Samantha Shannon | 4/5 | Review

Read: 5 books | 2247 pages
Fav: A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab

Hard Times by Charles Dickens | 2.5/5 | Review
How to Stop Time by Matt Haig | 5/5
* Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (HP#5) by JK Rowling | 4/5
The Name of the Wind (Kingkiller Chronicles #1) by Patrick Rothfuss | 4/5 | Review

Read: 4 books | 2036 pages
Fav: How to Stop Time by Matt Haig

A Feast for Crows (ASOIAF #4) by George R.R. Martin | 4.5/5 | Review
American Gods by Neil Gaiman | 5/5 | Review
A Room with a View by E.M. Forster | 3.5/5 | Review
The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O’Neill | 5/5
* Soulless (Parasol Protectorate #1) by Gail Carriger | 3.5/5
* The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood | 5/5

Read: 6 books | 2741 pages
Fav: The Lonely Hearts Hotel by Heather O’Neill

Frenchman’s Creek by  Daphne du Maurier | 4/5
* The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater | 5/5
Howards End by E.M. Forster | 4/5
* This Savage Song by V.E. Schwab | 3.5/5
Our Dark Duet by V.E. Schwab | 4/5
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney | 2.5/5 | Review
* Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling | 4/5
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier | 4/5
The End We Start From by Megan Hunter | 2/5 | Review
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon | 5/5

Read: 10 books | 3348 pages
Fav: When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

* Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo | 5/5
Stardust by Neil Gaiman | 4/5
The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer| 5/5 | Review
Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson & Adrian Alphona | 3.5/5
 * Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo | 5/5
* The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman | 5/5

Read: 6 books | 2009 pages
Fav: The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer

The Princess Diarist – Carrie Fisher | 4/5 | Review
* Saga, Volume 1 – Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples | 4.5/5
* Saga, Volume 2 – Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples | 5/5
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue – Mackenzi Lee | 5/5
* Saga, Volume 3 – Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples | 4/5
Kong: Skull Island [The Official Movie Novelization] – Tim Lebbon | 3/5
Murder on the Orient Express – Agatha Christie | 5/5 | Review
A Natural History of Dragons – Marie Brennan | 5/5 | Review

Read: 8 books | 2223 pages
Fav: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Weird Things Customers Say In Bookshops – Jen Campbell | 4/5
Exit West – Mohsin Hamid | 4/5 | Review
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – JK Rowling | 3/5
The Tropic of Serpents – Marie Brennan | 4/5
The Hating Game – Sally Thorne | 3.5/5 | Review
A Dance with Dragons: Dreams and Dust (Vol. 1) – George R.R. Martin | 3/5
My Salinger Year – Joanna Rakoff | 4.5/5 | Review

Read: 7 books | 2000 pages
Fav: My Salinger Year by Joanna Rakoff

* Northern Lights – Philip Pullman | 4/5
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall – Anne Bronte | 4/5

Read: 2 books | 936 pages
Fav: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte

Saga, Volume 4 – Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples | 4.25/5
Saga, Volume 5 – Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples | 3.5/5
Saga, Volume 6 – Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples | 3.5/5
Saga, Volume 7 – Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples | 4.5/5
milk and honey – rupi kaur | 3.5/5
This Is Going To Hurt – Adam Kay | 5/5 | Review
* Shadow and Bone – Leigh Bardugo | 3.5/5
* Siege and Storm – Leigh Bardugo | 4/5
* Ruin and Rising – Leigh Bardugo | 3.5/5

Read: 9 books | 2282 pages
Fav: This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay

 The Good Immigrant – ed. by Nikesh Shukla | 4/5
Grave Mercy – Robin LaFevers | 3.5/5
Big Little Lies – Liane Moriarty | 5/5
The Bat – Jo Nesbø | 3/5
The Winner’s Curse – Marie Rutkoski | 3.5/5
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake | 3.5/5
* The Princess Diaries – Meg Cabot | 3.5/5
* A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens | 3/5

Read: 8 books | 2832 pages
Fav: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

2017 Overall

86 books (64 in 2016) | 29217 pages (26086 in 2016)
Shortest: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – 42 pages
Longest: A Feast for Crows – 852 pages

Gender: 61 by women | 36 by men
Genre: 78 fiction | 8 non-fiction
Format: 17 hardbacks | 41 paperbacks | 10 ebooks | 13 audiobooks | 5 eARCs

34 re-reads
Reviews: 24 out of 86 / 27% (28% in 2016)

Best Books of 2017

How was your reading year in 2017, and your year in general?
Did it bring you all you hoped it would or has it been a disappointment?

Most importantly… let’s look forward now: Happy New Year one and all and I hope 2018 brings all that you wish for!

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