Favorite Reads of 2017

On this last day of 2017, I would like to look back at the books I read and loved in the past 12 months. According to Goodreads, I read 38,874 pages across 128 books. This is officially the most I've ever read in my life in a single year. This was also the year I got into audio books in a much more serious way and got through several non-fiction books. In addition, I did read many wonderful books of fiction and here are just a few that stood out:

1. Arcadia by Iain Pears

For whatever reason, I did not give this book 5 stars when I originally read it. It has however stuck with me throughout the year, and I am already considering re-reading it. It is a mix of time/parallel world travel, dystopian, historical fiction, sci-fi, and fantasy. It has an interesting and unexpected plot and a cast of likable characters.

2. The Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johansen

This book was the perfect conclusion of The Queen of the Tearling trilogy. This is now officially one of my favorite fantasy series, and one I would like to re-read soon. This is also a dystopian/parallel world travel fantasy featuring a strong female protagonist. I highly recommend this trilogy to everyone who likes fantasy and dystopian fiction.

3. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

This is another fantasy, but one that is based on Russian folklore and fairy tales. Specifically, it is a re-telling of the Russian folk story about Morozko (the Frost King). This book also features a strong female lead who challenges the established role of women in society and embraces all the ways in which the world considers her to be different and flawed.

4. Anything by Narine Abgaryan

This year I discovered and fell in love with books by Narine Abgaryan. She is an Armenian who writes in Russian and her books are filled with warmth, love and childhood wonder. So far I've read 3 of her books and I am very glad that I have a few more on my shelves to dive into.

5. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

This book was personally very helpful to me. Late in 2016, a friend of mine lost a young beautiful intelligent daughter who committed suicide. The Bell Jar allowed me a glimpse into the mind of someone who gradually falls apart and succumbs to a mental illness. It helped understand, heal and generally be more aware of issues surrounding mental illness and suicide.