If you’ve been reading my blog for a little while, it’s likely obvious that I love to read. I get questions about how I manage to still read so much with two kids (I go through about a book or two a week) and my answer is simply that I’m willing to sacrifice sleep (ugh) for it – I can’t fall asleep until I’ve read a certain amount. Given that, here were my favorite reads of 2017. 2017 was a bad, scary year for many things but a great one for books and reading. Please note that my picks aren’t just books that were published in 2017…just ones that I read. My true list of favorites for 2017 is much longer than this…but here’s 7 for 2017.
Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo. A beautifully written, important book which I just covered in this past Weekend Update. Non-fiction set in the slums of Mumbai.
People Who Eat Darkness by Richard Lloyd Parry. Another non-fiction, another one published a few years back that I just found. True crime + observations of society in Japan.
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid. Set from the perspective of a refugee couple with a touch of the surreal. This one surprised me. I really loved it.
The Custom Of The Country by Edith Wharton. The more I think about it this is one of my favorite Wharton works. You either love or hate Undine Spragg (I’m the former).
Snobs by Julian Fellowes. Hilarious and biting, my first introduction to Fellowes and it was not a disappointment. Excellent social commentary in upper crust British society
Kent Haruf – This is an author, not a book, but I read all of Kent Haruf’s books these years and loved all of them. Start with the first of the Plainsong series, Plainsong.
Until the Twelfth of Never by Bella Stumbo. For any fan of true crime. I had no idea about the Betty Broderick story and this book…oh my. I’m still thinking about whether or not she was justified in what she did…and how much she was. And Stumbo is a fantastic writer. Why isn’t this book more popular?
What was some of your favorite reading in 2017? PLEASE share!
9 Comments
Ju
December 18, 2017 at 8:13 amI read “The Custom of the Country” on your recommendation and thought it was fantastic. A gripping plot, a fantastic anti-heroine married to some beautiful writing. I also couldn’t help but root for Undine to succeed. Thank you!
sydnee
December 18, 2017 at 8:32 amHere are a few of my favorite reads: The Child by Fiona Barton, The Dry by Jane Harper, and The Arrangement by Sarah Dunn.
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Jaime Stephens
December 18, 2017 at 11:25 amThe Rules of Civility by Amor Towles is a good read – reading now Beneath a Scarlet Sky but Mark Sullivan. I manage about two books a week as well but have no distractions other than a full-time job and a husband!
Jaime Stephens
December 18, 2017 at 11:26 amForgot to add anything by (the late) Jim Harrison. His writing is BRILLIANT!!!!
Katherine
December 22, 2017 at 2:57 pmAdding Jim Harrison to mylist! Thank you! And I loved Rules of Civility.
irina
January 3, 2018 at 10:58 amHappy new year , Kat! Most of my favorite books last year were not in English so i wouldn’t reference them but I remembered that you recommended ” Stasiland” at some point in the past ( even though the last couple of pages ruined the book for myself:), and I thought i’d mention the show called ” Babylon Berlin”. You may like it if you haven’t seen it already.
Anna
January 6, 2018 at 4:31 amHome Game by Michael Lewis, hilarious and utterly honest, a fun read for nervous new parents like me and my hubby! And two cookbooks that have transformed how I cook (especially vegetables): Tender by Nigel Slater and The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters. A proud moment when we went to a famous restaurant for the tasting menu and the family thought my cooking was better 🙂
Katherine
January 7, 2018 at 10:10 amLoved this one too!
Anonymous
January 11, 2018 at 7:39 pmMy favorite book ● ALL THE LIGHT I CANNOT SEE. ● I never wanted it to end. You ever read a book and stretch it out so it won’t end? That’s this book.