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This year, I made it a personal goal to read 36 books. (In all honesty, my new goal is to read as many words as are necessary to beat my two coworkers’ word counts, but books seems like an easier goal to manage on a day-to-day basis.)

I’m a little behind at this point, a fact that Goodreads likes to remind me of every time I log in to update my progress, but I think 16 books read is still pretty respectable for the year I’ve had so far. You can see all the books I’ve read on Goodreads (and if we aren’t friends yet, go ahead and add me!), but today I thought I would highlight the five best books I’ve read to far in 2018.

[amazon_textlink asin=’0316508888′ text=’Nevermoor’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’aspiringheroi-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’a0d1892c-6a98-11e8-88fb-f7987862d580′] by Jessica Townsend

Nevermoor was the first book I read this year, and I was absolutely smitten! I read it for work as part of the Bee’s Bookshelf book club. I was expecting “just a children’s book” despite reviews calling it “the next Harry Potter,” and I was quickly captivated by the engaging writing, inventive plot, and memorable characters.

Morrigan Crow is a fun, refreshingly flawed heroine, and her mentor Jupiter North is mysterious and scatterbrained. I’d recommend this book to kids, teens, and anyone who enjoys unique, witty fantasy writing.

[amazon_textlink asin=’1501175467′ text=’IT’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’aspiringheroi-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’af32df0c-6a98-11e8-a3e5-8b6194fdec58′] by Stephen King

I am not a fan of horror movies. Let me say that again so maybe my husband will hear it. I am not a fan of horror movies. However, when IT came out last summer, it had just enough adorable adolescence and dorky humor to make me forget there was a creepy, man-eating clown in the sewers. Then when I heard they were making a second movie based on the rest of the book, I decided I’d have to read it.

IT is weird. That’s honestly the first word that comes to mind. It’s long, and the writing is unlike anything else I’ve ever read (and that’s including [amazon_textlink asin=’1439156816′ text=’On Writing’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’aspiringheroi-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’14e5a764-6a9b-11e8-ba8b-8bf00b7a5bd8′], one of my favorite writing books). The character development is unreal, and the switching POVs, from when the characters were kids and then adults, really gets you invested in their stories early on. So to summarize, IT is more weird than scary, and it’ll take you a while to read it, but you probably won’t regret it.

[amazon_textlink asin=’1594634726′ text=’Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’aspiringheroi-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’b820cab2-6a98-11e8-8b9e-09d21fbf500e’] by Elizabeth Gilbert

I decided to read this book as part of a list of books for writers that I’ll be debuting on the blog later this year. I’d heard good things about it, and I was excited to find a book from a successful author that focused on writing themes like creativity and inspiration instead of plot structure and getting published.

My first recommendation would be to listen to the audiobook if you can. Gilbert herself reads it, and it makes all of her advice sound motherly and that much more personal. She gives real examples from her life about the struggles writers face and empowers everyone to take their creative outlet by the reins and go! It’s super inspirational and totally worth the read (or listen).

[amazon_textlink asin=’055358202X’ text=’A Feast for Crows’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’aspiringheroi-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’c38c11e0-6a98-11e8-87bd-a3b8e6dfc7a0′] by George R.R. Martin

Why yes, I am that girl who watched all seven seasons of Game of Thrones before deciding she needed to read the books. That is typically the opposite of what I strive for, but sometimes things happen for a reason. Case in point, when I got major GoT withdrawals at the end of August, the books were there to help me through it.

I’m taking my time with these since the most recent book came out almost seven years ago, and we don’t yet have a publication date for Winds of Winter. (And did you hear? I’m also a George R.R. Martin when it comes to writing!) I read books one through four in rapid succession, which makes it difficult to differentiate between them, but the one thing I will say is that they just keep getting better. More characters, more narrative arcs, more points of view, but I can’t stop coming back for more.

Next up is A Dance with Dragons, and while it’s been difficult to keep up with in my sporadic reading schedule of late, I’m determined to finish it by the end of the summer.

[amazon_textlink asin=’0143122967′ text=’Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’aspiringheroi-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’d4cc9307-6a98-11e8-bf2f-019e8736a846′] by Pamela Druckerman

(Before you get any ideas, Mom, I’m not pregnant.)

I don’t remember where I first heard about this book, but I thought it sounded like a fascinating cultural study, and it definitely was. I imagine parenting books are generally overwhelming with lots of “no” and “don’t” and “that’s how you ruin your child forever,” but this was like discussing kids over a cup of coffee with a good friend. Pamela is not perfect, and she doesn’t attempt to be. She’s just there to guide you through whatever you want be interested in using from her vast knowledge of French parenting.

Things I will definitely consider whenever I decide to have children of my own: the French method for getting children to sleep through the night at four months old, the process for introducing young kids to a variety of foods, and their whole take on discipline, structure, and what children need from their parents to be successful and secure. Spencer will definitely have to read the short addendum with 100 tips taken from the book.

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What are the top five books you’ve read so far in 2018? My tbr pile is itching for a few more titles!

P.S. I read a lot of books in 2017, too.

I did it! I DID IT. I completed my Goodreads reading challenge for 2017! And more than that, I beat my goal by 14 books for a total of 43 books in a year. Thanks to Goodreads’ cool “My Year in Books” feature, I can also tell you that the list below of what I read in 2017 includes 17,128 pages worth of books. (These are all humble brags, I swear. Normally I don’t get anywhere near my goal.)

If we aren’t already connected on Goodreads, we should be. I love to see other people’s book recommendations and ratings, so mosey on over to my profile and send over a friend request, okay?

In case you are also interested in recommendations, take a gander at my list (and catch up on the first half of the year if you missed it). I read some really fantastic books in 2017.

What I Read: 2017, pt. 2

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray (★★★★★)
I am such a fan of Libba Bray, and I have been for so long. I was initially skeptical since this one focuses on a few of the different Diviners, but it did not disappoint. I’m not normally a fan of multiple POV, but I guess I should stop saying that because I’ve read some darn good multi POV novels lately. (Oh, and did anyone else catch the Gemma Doyle Easter egg in there? Because I may have squealed out loud when I saw it.)

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (★★★★☆)
Sometimes I read things because they’ve been on my TBR list for a while. Other times it’s because Netflix has launched a mini series of a book, and I don’t like to watch things before I’ve read them. To be honest, I was skeptical about this one. A girl commits suicide then sends around tapes from her final days with reasons why she did it? But I have to say I really enjoyed the book and thought the topic of teen suicide was handled really well. I’ve been warned that they completely change up the ending of this story in the Netflix series, and that’s probably why I haven’t been able to bring myself to watch it yet.

After You by Jojo Moyes (★★★★☆)
I was such a fan of Me Before You, so there was no doubt I would read this one, too. If you’ve read the first one, you probably have the same reservations I did about Lou’s life after, but I truly loved this one as much as the first. It’s very different, but Lou is still Lou, and that’s what matters.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard (★★★★☆)
This book immediately sucked me in with its interesting class structure,

The Elite by Kiera Cass (★☆☆☆☆)
I’m normally the kind of person who has to finish a series once I’ve started it, but this one just didn’t do much for me at all. I’m very much over the love triangle thing that YA lit loves to throw at us, and I also wasn’t crazy about the protagonist.

Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari (★★★★☆)
I thought this part-memoir, part-social science look at love was funny, well-researched, and truly eye-opening in some respects. However, I now find myself with fewer questions about Ansari’s need to write such a book to find a partner.

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard (★★★★☆)
I enjoyed this book a ton, which is saying something considering I read the majority of it while stuck for five hours on a plane on a runway during a monsoon. I did get a bit fatigued by the seeming love triangle by the end of it, which is probably why I haven’t read the third book in the series yet.

The Invasion of the Tearling by Erika Johansen (★★★★☆)
This second book in the Tearling trilogy allows the reader to glimpse even more about the Tearling’s history and society by giving us a completely new perspective from someone in the past. I initially didn’t enjoy switching between Kelsea and the new character, but soon found myself hanging on

The Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johansen (★★★★☆)
I thought this book was a fantastic conclusion to the trilogy, and I think that means I’ve grown as a reader (and hopefully as a writer, too?). I didn’t see the ending coming at all, but it was incredibly satisfying

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (★★★☆☆)
I thought the idea behind this book was super interesting, but it took a little while for the story to get going, and I still don’t know that I’m sold on a few relationships between main characters.

Wires and Nerve: Volume 1 by Marissa Meyer (★★★☆☆)
Graphic novels aren’t really my thing (though this was the second one I read in 2017!), but I loved the characters in Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles, and she did not disappoint with a story focused entirely on Iko.

Hook’s Revenge by Heidi Schulz (★★★☆☆)
Shameless plug: If you have kids in your life, I would seriously suggest checking out The Bee’s Bookshelf. It’s a new book club for kids, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the books we’ve read for it like this one about the daughter of Captain Hook and her quest to find his treasure.

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman (★★★★★)
I have a confession to make. This was the very first book that I ever read by Neil Gaiman! How it that even possible? I don’t know, but it was an adorable story with great illustrations, and I would definitely recommend it as a read-aloud for anyone out there with elementary schoolers.

The Gift with All the Gifts by M. R. Carey (★★★★☆)
This book was recommended by a coworker, and I was very pleased to discover it wasn’t just another zombie story. I thought the main zombie girl was incredibly relatable and that ending. (Plus you can watch a surprisingly good film adaptation on Amazon Prime right now!)

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (★★★☆☆)
I wanted to like this one more than I did. I still enjoyed the story, but the ending didn’t enthrall me like I wanted it to.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (★★★★★)
In August of last year, the shortest GoT season yet ended, and I plunged into a deep, dark withdrawal period. Up until that point I’d never been interested in reading George R.R. Martin’s series of serious tomes because at one point someone told me they were long for the sake of being long, but I deeply regret waiting so long to get into them. I read the first one in maybe three days, and then devoured the next one, too.

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin (★★★★☆)
I wish I could be more specific about things I liked between these books, but I read them all in such quick succession that I can’t quite remember what came in which book. Sorry!

The List by Patricia Forde (★★☆☆☆)
This one was another Bee’s Bookshelf pick about a dystopian society that has limited language to a 500-word list. Can you imagine? Overall it was a really unique idea that was well-executed for a children’s book.

A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin (★★★★★)
Once again, I can’t quite remember why I loved this book so much compared with the others, but it got a five. I’m going to say that while it had great character development and gripping prose like the others, it was just that much above the others.

Before the Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray (★★★★★)
Words cannot describe how much I loved this book. Bray is so good at creating realistic but also fantastical settings in her historical fiction, and this third book in the Diviners series is no exception. I laughed and I cried, the social/political commentary was poignant, and my main ship sailed! I will be impatiently counting down the days to the next one.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (★★★★★)
For my work team, 2017 was the year of the Outlander obsession. I don’t really even know how it happened, but we were all reading or watching or just generally fangirling over these characters and their stories. I very much enjoyed Gabaldon’s first novel. I will say that I started the second book, and each subsequent book appears to be so different from the others that I might be content leaving things off with Jamie and Claire as they were at the end of this first story.

Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín (★★☆☆☆)
Why didn’t I like this novel more? I have friends who loved it, it’s partially set in one of my favorite countries in the world, it’s historical fiction. I should’ve loved this book, but something about it felt too heavy for me like I needed Eilis to feel more about her life so that I could. Maybe once I see the movie (the whole reason I read the book in the first place because I’m obsessed with Saoirse Ronan) it’ll all come together for me.

The Polygamist’s Daughter by Anna LeBaron (★★☆☆☆)
I found this autobiography on the Goodreads Best of 2017 nominees list and immediately requested it from the library. The story was interesting but horrifying, and I was happy with the way it concluded. I think my main issue was lack of prior knowledge. Perhaps if I’d known of Anna’s father and family before reading her story, I would’ve been able to get into it a little more.

On Writing by Stephen King (★★★★☆)
This half-writing manual, half-memoir is considered the quintessential read for aspiring authors, and when my dad gifted it to me at the beginning of 2017, I took it as part “you can do it” and part “maybe this’ll get her to actually write something.” I carried it around with me to work, to  (I’ve just started It, so I’ll let you know how that goes.)

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (★★★★★)
Short and sweet and powerful, this little adaptation of Adichie’s TED Talk is worth a read.

Victoria by Daisy Goodwin (★★★★☆)
Goodwin wrote this novel alongside her scripts for the ITV series Victoria with Jenna Coleman (You can find Season 1 on Amazon Prime, and Season 2 came out in the U.S. this week!), and it’s a fun look at the young monarch’s first few years of being Queen of England. If you’ve already seen the first season, the book pretty much follows it to the letter, though there are some cute scenes between Victoria and Lord M that we don’t get to see onscreen.

Origin by Dan Brown (★★★★☆)
This book was one of three that Spencer read this year (and he tripled his reading goal, so can you tell we have different priorities?). It’s become a bit of a tradition for Spencer to read the latest Dan Brown book while we’re up in Vermont for the holidays, and then I read it after. This one dealt with really interesting topics like humanity’s reliance on technology and where that will lead us in the future, so I was pretty into it.

What was your favorite book in 2017? Did we read any of the same ones? How many are you hoping to read in 2018? And finally, are we friends on Goodreads yet?

P.S. If you’re looking for more book lists, I’ve got you covered.

This post contains affiliate links.

A while back my dad gifted me with the quintessential writing manual, On Writing: A Memoir Of The Craft by Stephen King. It was both his way of telling me I could do it and gently nudging me to get back into writing.

It has since traveled everywhere with me, from Lisbon to Ghana to Los Angeles, which means the spine is cracked, the jacket is torn, and the pages have experienced more wear and tear than perhaps any book that I’ve ever owned. I keep the guilt at bay by reminding myself of all the knowledge I’ve gleaned from the part-memoir, part-writing manual. One particular nugget that’s wedged itself into my brain is a quote that I’d heard before:

If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time
(or the tools) to write. Simple as that.

For the last few years, I’ve used Goodreads to keep track of what I’m reading, but this year I am going to make my reading challenge goal. I’m actively working toward becoming a better writer, and what’s easier than reading a whole bunch of really great books to help reach that goal?! (SPOILER ALERT: I’ve read a lot of great books in the last six months.)

What I Read: 2017, pt. 1

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (★★★★☆)
This book was dubbed the new Gone Girl, and since that one held me captive with surprises at every turn, I knew I’d have to read it. Ultimately, I’d have to say that it lived up to expectations. I felt like every detail was perfectly set up to be revealed at the best moment, and I never saw anything coming in a glaring way. Also, the multiple POV was handled nicely, and I felt like I really got to know each of the three women in the story. (The movie isn’t bad either. Emily Blunt is a gem!)

Very Good Lives: The Fringe Benefits of Failure and the Importance of Imagination by J.K. Rowling (★★★★★)
I’m counting this one as a book simply because Goodreads does. Full disclosure: It’s actually the commencement speech that Rowling gave to the Harvard’s graduating class in 2008. Despite being brief, it’s worthwhile read. It’s nice to hear such a successful author talk about failure as a stepping stone to bigger things, and of course she knows about the importance of imagination better than most. Plus Joel Holland’s illustrations are just lovely.

Alpha by Olivie Blake (★★★★☆)
This little graphic novel is absolutely beautiful and the whole dystopian, genetically perfect human concept is intriguing. I came across the illustrator and her (mostly Harry Potter-verse) art on Tumblr, and then I’ve followed the author’s (mostly Harry Potter-verse) fan fiction for a while, so it was nice to see the two come together to create something original and wonderful. Sequel forthcoming!

The Circle by Dave Eggers (★★★☆☆)
Why yes, I did pick up this book because I wanted to see the film starring Emma Watson when it came out in April. I really liked the whole idea of the book, especially considering how prevalent social media and Internet culture is within our society, but it took a bit for me to get into. I will say, however, that if you saw the film and were confused/put off by the ending, read this book. I think it’s all handled much better (and more realistically).

Looking for Alaska by John Green (★★★★☆)
John Green is just fantastic, right? I can only read his books when I feel like being completely transported back to high school because that’s exactly what happens every single time. Looking for Alaska was no different; I identified in some way with each of the misfit characters and soaked up every little detail about their lives. I also really love how time was handled in this novel. You know exactly when the “something big” is going to take place, but it still squeezes your heart when it does.

Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (and Everything in Between) by Lauren Graham (★★★★★)
Who doesn’t love Lauren Graham? When I saw she had released a book around the same time as Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life came out, I knew immediately that I needed to read it. I’d devoured Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick the year before and had high hopes for this “funny actress memoir.” I was not disappointed. Graham is hilarious and kind and self-deprecating and confident and wonderful, and it all shines through so beautifully in this book. Do I yet know if there will be more Gilmore Girls in our future? Well no. But it’s still worth the read, I promise!

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (★★★★☆)
This book has been on my to-be-read list ever since the movie with Carey Mulligan and Keira Knightley came out in 2010, and I finally made time for it this year. (On a completely unrelated note, someone once told me that Carey Mulligan was my celebrity lookalike, and I still get all blushy and pleased when I think about it.) Though it’s a little slow at times, I loved the narrator, Kathy, and the premise is so unique and surprising. It makes you think about all sorts of things that I won’t list here, in case you haven’t been spoiled about the ending yet.

The Selection by Kiera Cass (★★☆☆☆)
The whole premise of this book is great from the interesting caste society to the Bachelor-style way of having the prince find his future bride, but this book reads very much on the young side of Young Adult. Just so so young. Will I still read the sequel? Probably, but definitely not until I’ve gotten through the sequels to some of the books below.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (★★★★☆)
What a great children’s book! Also, how had I never read this before? And finally, oooh time travel. It’s been on my mind often lately. You’ll want to read this one before the star-studded film adaptation comes out next year!

Structuring Your Novel: Essential Keys for Writing an Outstanding Story by K.M. Weiland (★★★★☆)
Just a nice little book on plot structure to help guide my first draft.

The Diviners by Libba Bray (★★★★★)
I love Libba Bray so very much. Her prose is wonderful, and she is amazing at completely immersing her reader in the time and place in which her novels take place. (The Gemma Doyle trilogy is also fantastic.) This novel is based in 1920s New York and features a cast of diverse teenagers who all have special abilities. It’s yet another example of multiple POV done well.

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen (★★★★☆)
I really enjoyed this book, probably a lot more than I expected to considering I found it on a random “books that will be made into movies soon” list. I’m not sure if that’s even in its future anymore, but the book itself is worth it regardless of its silver screen plans. Kelsea is a princess in exile for her own safety until she turns seventeen and returns to take back her kingdom from her murderous uncle. There’s magic, power struggles, and some very strong language for a YA novel, and I loved every minute of it. (Does this even count as YA? I don’t really know.)

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott (★★★★★)
From what I’ve seen about writing craft books, this one is always a close second to the book by Stephen King that we discussed in the intro, and they are very similar in their writing style. However, Lamott teaches writing and wrote this book as if you were in one of her classes, which makes the connections between writing and her life a bit more overt. Overall I thought it was a great read, and she has good insight for writers into the importance of writing vs. publishing, where good stories come from, and how to silence the critic living inside your brain.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (★★★★★)
This book absolutely slayed me. Have you ever read something that was so wonderful that it both inspired you to want to write better and also caused you to second guess everything you’d done so far in your first draft? That was this book for me. The characters are brilliant, Bardugo is a master of multiple POV chapters, and the plot kept me engaged throughout. Until last week, I couldn’t tell you when I last found myself staying up way, way past my bedtime to finish a book.

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo (★★★★★)
Oh hey, more of the same. I read this duology in a 48-hour period, and now I’m kind of stuck wondering what to do with myself. It was that good.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon (★★★☆☆)
I loved the short chapters and fun “extras” (IM conversations, doodles, definitions, etc.) that made this book such a short read, and I’ll even admit that there was a twist that I didn’t see coming! Yoon also completely gets the teenage, first romance feelings, which was just a punch of nostalgia to the gut. Overall it was a good read, and I imagine I’ll be dragging Spencer to see the movie soon.

I’ve read 16 of 30 books for the Goodreads 2017 Reading Challenge! What have you been reading lately?

Now that we’re back from vacation, I feel like things are finally started to get back to normal. Unfortunately I didn’t read nearly as much as I wanted to while we were away; I guess riding across Kentucky and drinking bourbon will do that to you! Right now I have a Kindle full of half-read books, which means this list is significantly shorter than I imagined it would be. But any reading for pleasure is better than the zero books I had the time to read in college that weren’t on a syllabus, and I read some gems this spring!

What I Read: Spring 2015

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare (★★★★☆)
As far as Shakespeare’s comedies are concerned, this one was alright in my book! I liked the two main characters, especially Beatrice, and the play was engaging and unique. I wrote a full review for book club, which I would love for you to check out!

 

The Awakening by Kate Chopin (★★★★★)
I seriously loved this novella! I don’t know if I was in a particularly feminist mood or if having been to New Orleans made a difference, but I feel in love with Chopin’s writing style, and I became truly engrossed in her portrayal of the time period. To read even more great things about The Awakening, my full review for book club.

 

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery (★★★★★)
When I included this one in my list of books to get anyone through a break up, I knew that I would have to read Anne of Green Gables again. It’s been years! Montgomery really brings Prince Edward Island to life through her descriptions of the scenery, and you can’t help but love the dramatic, albeit well-meaning Anne Shirley. Despite being about an orphan in a time that wasn’t too great for orphans, this book is lighthearted and fun, but I will warn you that the ending made me cry big fat tears on the bus home from work.

 

Paper Towns by John Green (★★★★☆)
I think I’m really going to love reading all of these John Green novels. He captures the teenage spirit so well, and I’m honestly amazed at his skill with expressing the thoughts and emotions of both male and female characters. I really enjoyed this novel, the character development, the whole idea behind “paper towns,” and all of the adolescent hijinks. If you’re into John Green (and who isn’t?), you’ll probably want to check out Sarah‘s Jane and John in June series.

 

Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery (★★★★☆)
Oh Lucy Maud Montgomery, how easily you take me back to a simpler time of schoolma’ams and doilies. The thing that I’ve enjoyed most about rereading the Anne novels is that they’re so focused on Anne, her relationships with men and women, and her growth as a human being. What I remember most from the television series is her budding romance with Gilbert Blythe, but he makes small appearances throughout as Anne’s friend-and-only-a-friend that I was surprised, disappointed, and then pleased. This book would definitely pass the Bechdel test!

 

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (★★★★☆)
Having only just finished this book, I feel like I’m still processing it. It honestly read more to me like a series of vignettes than a novel (perhaps similar to The Canterbury Tales?), but each new character and viewpoint was so well-written that I was captivated for roughly thirty hours of reading. If you’re looking for more concrete thoughts, read my full review for book club!

Linking up with Kels

What was the best book that you read this spring? Mine was probably The Awakening, but I honestly enjoyed them all, so it’s hard to choose!

P.S. I also read some good (very Austen-centric) books during the winter.