Favorite Reads of 2016

Looking over the list of books I read in 2016, I decided to pick out 5 most memorable ones. If you do not have a lot of time for reading, and would prefer to read just a few really good books, please consider one of these (you can see my more detailed reviews of each of them by clicking on the title):

1. Mary by Vladimir Nabokov

This book was a surprise. It was Nabokov's first published novel and I did not have high expectations. However, after reading this novel I do so clearly see why certain authors make it into the category of classics. Their work truly stands the test of time. The writing is amazing, the structure of the novel is really interesting, the characters are extremely well fleshed out. The main protagonist is complex and relatable, and the entire novel is permeated with a tangibly painful sense of nostalgia. I am definitely planning to read more Nabokov in 2017.

2. Summer Crossing  by Truman Capote

2016 was the year I discovered Truman Capote. I read a book about him in January (The Swans of Fifth Avenue) and became very curious about his work. If you've never read anything by him, you are missing out - he is a true master. Capote is another author I plan to keep reading.

3. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

I read Gilead as part of my 2016 reading challenge. It fit into the category of a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. This was another gem that reminded me why reading is worth our time. Robinson did a wonderful job writing from a point of view of an old country preacher. The book is filled with wisdom, humility and forbearance. I highly recommend it.

4. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Station Eleven is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel. Even if you feel that you are over the entire genre which has inundated our shelves and TV screens, I would still give this one a shot. It is not just about surviving an apocalyptic event. It is also about preserving one's humanity, it's about unexpected connections, and vicissitudes of fate; it is startlingly realistic in its portrayal of an end of the world scenario and perseverance of human spirit.

5. A Gloom is Cast Upon the Ancient Steps by Alexander Chudakov / "Ложится мгла на старые ступени" А.П. Чудаков

I do not have a detailed review of this book as it is not published in English. But this book has a very deep personal meaning to me. The author was born in my home town, and in this novel, he relates the story of his own family and the story of many others displaced by the Russian revolution, wars or Stalin's purges. The novel received the Russian Booker Prize in 2011, and would be of interest to anyone interested in the Soviet history, and in particular Siberian deportations.

Checking in on my 2016 reading goals

Goals for 2016	End of Year Status
Read 85 books in 2016	So far I have read 107 and will most likely complete another one bringing the total number of books read in 2016 to 108.
Read 10 classics	Surpassed this goal as well - I read 11 classics in 2016.
Review 12 ARCs	I have reviewed 11, and I do have one more to review, but the release date is January 3, so I will probably start reading it tonight or tomorrow. It is unlikely I will finish it this year, but overall I did well on this goal.
Read mostly the books I own	Out of 108 books read this year, 60 came from my local library. Even though I am a big fan of public libraries, I do have a lot of unread books on my shelves and in my e-reader. So I could definitely do better in this area next year.
Reading challenge (52 books of various themes and genres – see the link)	Completed. I read 52 books to meet this challenge: one per each category. I did not count any books toward more than one category.

"Aerie" by Maria Dahvana Headley

Aerie is a sequel to Headley's Magonia, which I read and really liked last year. This is a young adult fantasy novel where birdlike creatures live high in the sky in the country of Magonia and hide from humans in weather patterns. In the first book, the main protagonist Aza Ray discovers that she is Magonian, travels up to her native country and learns about her heritage. In Aeire Aza Ray's story picks up about a year after the events of the first book. She is back on earth living with her adopted family and in a relationship with her childhood friend Jason. Unbeknownst to her in Magonia her enemies regroup and plan another deadly attack on earth. Aza Ray, her adopted sister Eli and Jason all find themselves embroiled in this conflict and the story takes off from there. The plot itself is pretty straightforward and somewhat predictable. However, I do love the world Headley created and there is something about her writing that keeps me enthralled and wishing for more. Her books do not have the best ratings on goodreads, but I enjoyed both of them and gave them 5 out of 5 stars. They are light, easy to get through and filled with fantastical creatures. I am not sure if she will write any more books in this world. Aerie does have a nice rounded off ending and does not require a follow-on. However, I would definitely like to read more books by this author. Oh, and can we just a take a moment to appreciate the gorgeous cover this book has!

"Mary" by Vladimir Nabokov

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am currently trying to finish up my 2016 reading challenge. The next category was “a popular author’s first book.” I ended up running a google search for this and picked Vladimir Nabokov’s Mary.  Up to that point, I had only read his Lolita and had very vague ideas about his works in general. Mary was a pleasant surprise. It is a real gem of a novel. At 89 pages, it is quite easy to get through. It is also beautifully written. Set in pre-WWII Berlin, the story is focused on a boarding house where Russian emigres tended to get lodgings. The main character Gleb quite accidentally discovers that his next door neighbor is married to his first love – Mary. Moreover, she is scheduled to arrive in Berlin in a week’s time. Most of the story is focused on Gleb’s reminiscences of his youth and first love. It is very nostalgic and beautiful. Another interesting thing about the novel is that Mary who occupies the main character's every thought, and bears the name of the novel, never makes an appearance except in Gleb’s memories. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. 5 out of 5 stars.

"Interview with the Vampire" by Anne Rice

Since we are almost to the end of 2016, I decided to go back to the reading goals I set for myself back in January and see if I can make the final push to complete them.  One of the challenges on the list was “read a book that came out the year I was born”. My choice for this category was Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire. I had tried reading this book a few years ago and had to set it aside. So this time, I wanted to really push myself and give it a chance. So many people love Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles that I really wanted to see what the fuss was all about.

I must say it took me a while to get through this relatively short novel. I can see the appeal this book might have for others. It could be viewed as very sensual and even lyrical. To me, big chunks of it just seemed morbid.  I guess I am just over the whole vampire thing. The book definitely had its moments. There are unexpected twists in the story which held my interest. But overall, it is not my cup of tea. I will not be reading other novels in the series.  I must say that the writing is really good. 3 out of 5 stars - mostly for the superb writing as I was not a fan of the story line.