2017 Books

1. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

This book was pretty fun. It's about a 30 something woman who hits her head on a gym bike and has the strangest amnesia- she forgets the past 10 years of her life entirely. She wakes up thinking she's pregnant with her first and head over heels for her new husband, but really she is about to get divorced, has 3 spoiled kids, and is a PTA mom dream. Not literature by any means, but a fun short book. Made me wonder where I'll be in 10 years, as well as where I was 10 years ago.

2.    The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins.

I resisted this trilogy for a long time for some reason... but I finally read them this year. I enjoyed it, much like I enjoy all dystopias. I couldn't finish the 3rd one though, it got too corny for me.

3.    Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth

Pretty similar to the Hunger Games Trilogy. Enjoyable just like all teenage dystopias are to me, and couldn't finish the 3rd one because it was getting too corny for me.

4.    Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

After watching the show on Netflix I ordered the book. I wanted to know that the book wasn't as open-ended as the show, that it offered suicide as a wrong alternative, not as a good revenge. Although it wasn't super well written, it offered me some comfort. The book makes it very clear that teen suicide is wrong and a problem. It was a quick read, wouldn't ever really recommend it unless someone needs closure after watching the show.

5.    Pastel Orphans, Gemma Liviero

     Extremely sad book about two Jewish siblings during WWII. I don't remember it too much to be honest, now I wish I'd written about it, but I remember really liking it. It tugs at your heart strings and shows you the beauty of life in suffering. It left me sad but uplifted at the same time. Definitely recommend it.

6.    The Handmaids Tale Margaret Atwood

    Dystopian novel again of course. This time it was mostly fueled by the HULU show I watched with Joe. Not the best show in the world, but very well made. I don't think I'd read it again, but it made me think a lot of how Christianity is perceived by non-Christians. How Christians are portrayed in the media, and how non-Christians are portrayed as well.

7.    Precious Little Sleep By Alexis Dubief

This one is more practical than literature, and just about Baby Sleep, but still counts as a book. I loved it, and it helps a lot with my "business."

8.    Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

Favorite book of the year. It is, of course, a sad and hard novel, a murder mystery. It is so harsh, so blunt about Soviet thinking. We have it so easy, not being forced to think about survival, not having to make certain choices, but being able to practice our morality. How easily I take it for granted that I can read a book and talk about how terrible the conditions in it are without fearing for my family's well being. 

So there you go, not many, but way more than in 2016 or 2015, so it's a start. (I of course didn't even includ Elmo's Potty Time Book, Curious George's Good Night Book, Baby's 100 First words, The Farm or Your Baby's First Word will be DADA, all of which I read a minimum of 100 times this year). 

Next year I want to read a LOT more books, and write about my thoughts on them. If you feel kind send me a book in the mail or through Kindle and I'll read it. If you feel less kind but still want to suggest, then please send me suggestions for this year.