2017 In Books

"I never felt magic crazy as this
I never saw moons knew the meaning of the seaI never held emotion in the palm of my handOr felt sweet breezes in the top of a tree"

- Northern Sky, by Nick Drake



Top Books I Read In 2017


I reread through the whole Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling. I was reminded once again why those stories are so very beloved: for me personally, it is because of the pervasive themes of hope and of needing other people. The stories start with the young boy who could have been broken by what he experienced, which includes loss, abandonment, serious neglect, and a lack of anyone loving him or believing in him. He could have been an angry child who lashed out, who was mistrusting and secretive. I'm always amazed when I meet people in real life who have terrible pasts yet are incredibly kind nonetheless. Harry, the boy who lived, is no exception. Quietly, the story gives us shattering moments  of the horror of neglect coupled with the intense need for connection, such as in book 4 when the character of Mrs. Weasley hugs Harry, and how he fights tears as he realizes it is the first time he can ever recall being hugged as though by a mother. He is 14.
The stories grow darker as they go along because the stakes grow higher. Currently, book number 4, "Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire", is my favorite. Before, the books ended with the darkness being defeated, at least temporarily, but in this one the forces of evil gain the upper hand, causing everyone to realize the full impact of what they're fighting. More than ever, it is clear that none of them - talented and brave as they may be - can fight it alone. Or that they can succumb to cowardice. The main protagonists are given plenty of chances to recuse themselves from the fight. Yet it is because they choose hope and light and each other, again and again, that I love the stories so much.


"The Hate U Give", by Angie Thomas was one which surprised me. The title is an anagram, coming from a Tupac lyric which states that "thug life" stands for "The Hate you (U) Give Little Infants Fucks Everyone". It's a bold and true statement, as is the book. 
In it, Starr is a black minority in a private high school. She balances her life by being the girl her school friends see and know - not "too" black, aka nothing to get her called ghetto - and the girl her family knows; helping her caring, out-of-jail Dad run his corner store, and dealing with the fact that she saw her best friend die in a drive-by shooting. Then one night, tragedy strikes again. Starr wants justice, but is terrified that speaking out will cause negative attention on her family from both the police and neighborhood gangs. She and her family must decide if it's better to be safe ... or to speak out for the truth. A riveting and revealing novel in an age of continually needing to understand the truth on racial issues. Warning: strong content, including language and some descriptions of violence throughout. Yet for young and anyone else who is ready for it is definitely an important read. 

"Uninvited" by Lysa TerKeurst. Rejection is one of the feelings which can shake a person's self-worth and deeply effect many aspects of life. "Uninvited" is full of authentic stories of rejection and hurt, and how to uninvite those feelings instead of letting them taint our lives. The book feels like the good friend who looks you in the eyes and says "I've been there, I know your pain. Now let's acknowledge the truth of what's happened and tell it to move aside and make room for the truth of who you are: valued, worthy, and loved." 


"Wonder", by R.J. Palacio. I have yet to see the movie version, but the book is absolutely lovely. It follows young Auggie Pullman who has been home-schooled because of the extreme birth defects and surgeries which make adults gasp and children cry when they see him. Entering public school is far from easy; people can be cruel and self-centered, and being someone (or the friend or sibling of) who stands out in a way people aren't used to is a challenge. Told through the eyes of Auggie, his family and friends, it is a story of acceptance, growth, and community.


A Few Others:

"Artemis", the newest offering by the author of "The Martian" Andy Weir. The story follows Jasmine "Jazz" Bashura and her life of semi-crime as a smuggler on a city on the moon. Funny and quick-paced, the read was entertaining, especially if you're interested in the technical jargon of how a city could function on the moon (I was). Just like his first novel, the protagonist has a quick wit and a liberal use of colorful language, so a warning for that.

"The Handmaid's Tale", by Margaret Atwood, the classic dystopian tale which was the show everyone was talking about. Beautifully written, I laughed at how the characters in the book are pretty darn unlikeable, yet how they definitely changed that for the show (amount many other things).

"Talking As Fast As I Can" autobiography by Lauren Graham. Funny and insightful.

"Love, Loss, and What We Ate" memoir by Padma Lakshmi. Growing up in India, moving to New York, working in Europe, and focusing on exactly what the title says: finding love, experiencing loss, and always appreciating the tastes, sights, and smells of the foods which make up each place and each phase of life.

"Milk And Honey", poems by Rupi Kaur. Brutal in their honesty, the author chronicles the highs of love along with the lows of abuse and break-ups. She writes thoughtfully about how women should stand for themselves, accept themselves, and the beauty in doing so.

"All These Wonders", stories from The Moth. True and extraordinary stories from ordinary people around the globe who were brave enough to stand on a stage and tell them.



Goodreads shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/52313164?shelf=read