It’s the start of a new year, which means it’s resolution time! Who doesn’t love coming up with all the ways they’re going to be a better, thinner, thriftier human and then losing enthusiasm for the project by January 31st? This year I’ve decided to do something I’m much more likely to follow through on: be more mindful of the books I choose to read.

As you may have read in a previous blog, the number of books I read in 2017 was, for me, completely abysmal. My optimistic goal of reading 35 books last year died sometime in July. In addition to the number of books I read being much lower than I’d expected, the variety of authors was just embarrassing. Mostly male, mostly white. I definitely need to widen my horizons, challenge my thinking, and support writers of color, particularly women.

It became glaringly obvious in 2017 that white women like me are failing women of color at every turn, and we need to do better. So, with that in mind, I’ve found some book lists to help me (and you) make better reading choices in 2018. As R. O. Kwon so eloquently states in the first article below: “If we can’t imagine one another, how will we get through these next few years?”

R.O. Kwon at Electric Lit put together a list of 46 Books by Women of Color to Read in 2018.

If fantasy fiction is your thing, here is a list from Goodreads of fantasy fiction by women of color.

Here are 23 LGTBQ books, all featuring protagonists who are people of color.

Into the YA scene? Here is a list of 100 inclusive science fiction/fantasy books from Book Riot.

This list is a few years old, but there is a good variety of genres to pick from.

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2017, Think Progress collected a list of 30 must-read books by women of color.

Check back in a few months for some reviews of the books I’ve read so far!

Happy New Year, and Happy Reading!

The year 2017 has been a rough one for many people. Whenever you think it can’t possibly get worse, that humanity can’t really be that bad, it does, and it is. From the election of the least popular president in U.S. history and the rise of neo-Nazism, to the refugee crisis and climate change, there has been a lot to be worried about (in fact, I had a hard time paring down the list of horrible things going on in the world, so that was fun). The future seems like a bleak, empty black hole whose gravitational pull is sucking us all in toward oblivion.

This morning I found myself reflecting on my own personal journey this year and how it would have been next to impossible to make without the love and support of my friends and family. I have leaned on them more than usual these past twelve months, and I am eternally grateful that they rushed in to support me with selflessness, love, and unwavering kindness. My wish for you, whatever you celebrate at this time of year, is that you’re able to find your own tribe of lovingkindness. Or, that you can be that person for someone else. We’re all going to need to hold each other up to face whatever comes.

On that note, I’ve rummaged around that garbage heap known as The Internet (damn it, I just remembered about net neutrality—f*ck) and found some things to, hopefully, lift your spirits.

This article in the New York Times, celebrating the arts in 2017.

This story about a Baltimore police detective who brought joy to a 98-year-old woman in her final days.

Two wealthy, beautiful people got engaged. (I know, I know. But they seem happy, so whatever.)

Sesame Street got a grant to bring some joy to refugee children from Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria. (Actually, just tool around that website for a minute. You’ll feel better.)

This bag of dicks was finally found guilty of war crimes and sentenced to life in prison.

Wonder Woman happened.

This questionable (but still heartwarming) excuse for getting out of jury duty.

These tech billionaires did something good with their money.

Bill Gates noted some positive news from Twitter.

Also from Bill Gates, some positive news on climate change.

I hope these stories have restored your faith in humanity a little bit. Now, go forth and be a positive force in the world.

Happy New Year!

One of my resolutions this year was to read more, so I challenged myself to read one book per week. I am excited to say that I met that goal and I have loved every minute of it. Well, most minutes. There are some minutes I will never get back and I am slightly bitter about reading those books. At least I can tell you to avoid these books so you aren’t bitter about reading them like I am.

I am attempting to do reviews of my books in one sentence. I hope you enjoy my year of reading in this set of quick reviews. (Amberly also reviewed her books this year and you can read her reviews here. She’s a much more talented writer, so maybe read hers next so you’re not disappointed by my blog posts after reading hers.)

I have read a ton of books this year, so I am splitting up my reviews into fun categories so they’re a bit easier to get through. 🙂

My first category has been one of my favorites this year:

PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES (PLUS SPACESHIPS AND OTHER FUN TRAVELING DEVICES)

Sully: My Search for What Really Matters

by Chesley B. Sullenberger, Jeffrey Zaslow

A life of preparation led to the successful emergency landing of Flight 1549–it also saved his library books from drowning in the Hudson–and while some are hesitant in calling him a hero for his job preparedness, I’d still categorize him as one.

Flight 232: A Story of Disaster and Survival

by Laurence Gonzales

A great, thorough look at an epic plane crash that will keep you from wearing synthetic fabrics on a plane, but that won’t matter because you’ll never want to fly again.

Spaceman: An Astronaut’s Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe

by Mike Massimino

Mike Massimino makes you want to be an astronaut with his funny stories, even after his massive f*ck up on a Hubble spacewalk.

Before the Fall

by Noah Hawley

A very enjoyable mystery/thriller I shouldn’t have read while on a plane. (What is it with me and plane crash books?)

Dark Matter

by Blake Crouch

It will blow your mind and make you question your own reality (and it’ll also give you a migraine).

The Woman in Cabin 10

A hot mess of a woman gets into trouble on a boat and no one believes her, but *SPOILER ALERT*: SHE WAS RIGHT.

The Breakdown

by B.A. Paris

I hadn’t met a protagonist I loathe more than the main character in The Girl on the Train, until I met Cass–the most whiny, obnoxious, and boring character to have ever lived in a thriller. This story drags and drags and I’m sad that I’ll never get these hours of my life back. (Here I go breaking my sentence rule, but I can’t help it with these truly awful books.)

We Are Legion (We Are Bob)

by Dennis E. Taylor

This book has an incredibly strong beginning that hooks you in, but I will go against the trove of other positive reviewers to say that it became redundant and lost purpose along the way.

Artemis

by Andy Weir

I wanted to love you, Artemis, I really did, but this book has characters I didn’t become invested in and a dull, boring story line that didn’t live up to my expectations and my previous love for Watney.

Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery

A funny smart-ass went to space, wrote an awesome book about it that unexpectedly made me cry multiple times throughout.

As you’ve seen, I have read a lot and I am here to tell you that most of them are mysteries or thrillers. I am a thriller junkie. It’s my go-to genre and my chosen escapism. You might think I am dark and twisted after you see what I have read, but I am not ashamed. I have read some great ones this year and I look forward to another year filled with them!

MYSTERIES AND THRILLERS

Broken Harbour (Dublin Murder Squad #4)

by Tana French

Tana French is a good mystery author and when she picks up the pace, she’s a great one who makes you slightly concerned about traveling to Ireland.

The Dry (Aaron Falk #1)

by Jane Harper

A solid first thriller with fairly adequate character development, but this isn’t a book you’ll want to stay up all night reading.

The Girl Before

by Rena Olsen

An intense, compelling thriller from the deep circle of hell that is human trafficking.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (Millennium #3)

by Stieg Larsson, Reg Keeland (Translator)

A somewhat satisfying conclusion to the series–and then they made me liar by adding two more books to the series.

The Girl in the Spider’s Web

by David Lagercrantz, Stieg Larsson (Creator), George Goulding (Translator)

Ah, the book that made me a liar (because the Millennium series didn’t end with the third book) is enjoyable and is stronger than the previous finale, so I forgive it.

The Perfect Stranger

by Megan Miranda

Enjoyable enough reading for a long plane ride, but you’ll forget about it the minute you step off of it.

You (You #1)

This is one of the best, creepiest thriller I’ve ever read and you’ll hate yourself for liking the disturbing stalker at the heart of this story. (P.S. It’s going to be a Lifetime series, so let’s hope they don’t ruin it for us.)

Hidden Bodies (You #2)

While this takes a slightly different path than the first book, it’s still the same old Joe you oddly like.

The Woman in Cabin 10

A hot mess of a woman gets into trouble on a boat and no one believes her, but *SPOILER ALERT*: SHE WAS RIGHT.

Final Girls

by Riley Sager

So much is happening all of the time and I don’t care that there isn’t the strongest plot because I love the craziness and everything that is going on at once.

Stillhouse Lake (Stillhouse Lake #1)

by Rachel Caine

Gwen wasn’t always a badass, but watch out for her now because she is a protective mama bear who will destroy you.

My Sister’s Grave (Tracy Crosswhite #1)

by Robert Dugoni

Dull, boring, and blah.

The Keeper of Lost Causes (Department Q #1)

by Jussi Adler-Olsen, Lisa Hartford (Translator)

This fed my thriller addiction as the twisting timelines had me on the edge of my seat, needing to know what happened next.

The Absent One (Department Q #2)

by Jussi Adler-Olsen, K.E. Semmel (Translator)

Oh, how I used to love you, Department Q, until you were ruined for me with this mediocre second book.

In a Dark, Dark Wood

by Ruth Ware

A decent mystery where you see what’s coming, but a decent novel nonetheless.

The Good Daughter

by Karin Slaughter

Karin Slaughter delivers yet another fantastically sick and twisted thriller, just how I like them.

Last Breath (The Good Daughter 0.5)

This is a solid supplemental read to the first book in the series and I think it was cleaved from the first because that was already becoming a War and Peace-length book.

The Secrets She Keeps

by Michael Robotham

Predictable moral of the story: Don’t trust people you meet at the grocery store, especially if you’re a pregnant woman.

One of Us Is Lying

by Karen M. McManus

Learn how to say no to mediocre YA novels by passing this one up.

Alone

by Lisa Gardner

If you like sick and twisty Karin Slaughter, Lisa Gardner is like her less damaged little sister who’s also enjoyable to be around.

Blindsighted (Grant County #1)

by Karin Slaughter

If you are looking for a new thriller series to pass the time, Slaughter has you covered with this first installment of a series where a small town in Grant County, GA is rocked by some truly gruesome and heinous murders.

Kisscut (Grant County #2)

by Karin Slaughter

Sara Linton, the town’s pediatrician and medical examiner (such a random combination, right?), steps in it again in this fast-paced thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end.

The Book of Ivy

by Amy Engel

After a devastating nuclear war, a small group of survivors are fighting for power because that’s really the most important thing when you’re trying to survive a nuclear winter.

The Child Finder

by Rene Denfeld

You pulled me in with your gorgeous cover and you let me down with this discontinuous, meandering novel that failed to deliver an interesting premise.

The Last Mrs. Parrish

by Liv Constantine

It’s like a Lifetime movie, except with phenomenal writing.

The Lying Game

by Ruth Ware

A group of lying friends continue to lie to everyone around them to help their deceitful friend when they could’ve been honest all along, but who wants to read a book like that?

The only category that can compete with mysteries and thrillers for me is non-fiction, mainly historical and biographical writings. I simply love good stories. If you’re at a party with me, I will corner you and ask you to tell me all of the interesting stories about your life. Weird? Maybe, but I just love hearing about people and what makes them the way that they are.

BIOGRAPHY AND NON-FICTION

The Daily Show: An Oral History as Told by Jon Stewart, the Correspondents, Staff and Guests

by Chris Smith, Jon Stewart (Foreword), Oliver Wyman (narrator), Jay Snyder (narrator), Kevin T. Collins (narrator), Chris Lutkin(narrator), Robert Fass (narrator), Lauren Fortgang

A thoroughly enjoyable history of the show that will make you miss Jon Stewart’s face and wit on your television screen.

Bitter Is the New Black: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office

by Jen Lancaster

You keep on reading it, hoping that the offensive protagonist will redeem herself through this journey she’s taking, but nope. Hands down, the worst book I have ever read in my entire life. (I broke my one sentence review rule to convey that point.)

Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood

Funniest book I have read this year, possibly ever, and it is clear that I want Trevor to be my best friend after reading this book.

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis

by J.D. Vance

An interesting look at life in the Rust Belt from the point of view of an addict’s son who overcame the odds to make it in the Ivy Leagues, but I didn’t take it as a literal window into their lives as some people did.

A Life in Parts

by Bryan Cranston

Cranston is an incredibly funny guy who has a big heart and delves deep into his roles–are you sure he wasn’t actually making meth in New Mexico?

Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology

by Leah Remini, Rebecca Paley

We’ve all heard that Scientology is bananas; Leah gives us an front row seat to the crazy show.

Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE

by Phil Knight

Say what you will about Nike, this is an inspiring memoir about its leader and how it grew from a $50 loan in 1962 to the empire it is today–I am clearly underachieving in my life and business.

The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck: How to Stop Spending Time You Don’t Have with People You Don’t Like Doing Things You Don’t Want to Do

by Sarah Knight

You only have so many f*cks to give; don’t waste them on people and things that don’t actually matter.

Get Your Sh*t Together: How to Stop Worrying About What You Should Do So You Can Finish What You Need to Do and Start Doing What You Want to Do (A No F*cks Given Guide)

by Sarah Knight

As a person who thinks of herself as having her sh*t together, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and also feel vindicated in knowing people who are constantly late simply don’t have their own sh*t together.

Life, Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism

by Ron Suskind

This heartfelt story about non-verbal Owen living through Disney movies will make you bawl, especially if you’re an autism parent raising a mini-Owen.

Elon Musk: Inventing the Future

by Ashlee Vance

Elon Musk is a self-learning machine that makes you want to buy your very own $100k+ Tesla.

Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World

by Rachel Ignotofsky

This is a beautifully illustrated, short history book on women in science that I loved and it should be required reading for young girls.

Einstein: His Life and Universe

by Walter Isaacson

This is a very thorough and interesting Einstein biography that covers not only his professional accomplishments, but his personal shortcomings as well–he’s definitely not going to win any Husband of the Year awards.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

by Rebecca Skloot

While they have subsequently saved many lives, it is appalling how some of the most commonly used human cells in scientific research came to be.

Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

by Irin Carmon, Shana Knizhnik

Ruth Bader Ginsburg gives me life.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

by Neil deGrasse Tyson

I know this is intentionally a small book (and I loved it), but I wanted about 30 more chapters about chemicals in the cosmos.

The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women

by Kate Moore

These are women we should know about and their stories are compelling, I only wish it had been told by a better author who could write well.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

by Cheryl Strayed

Another hyped book I didn’t love as much as everyone else, but it was an amusing story of one very unprepared woman’s journey alone in the wilderness who somehow didn’t die along the way.

I Can’t Make This Up: Life Lessons

by Kevin Hart, Neil Strauss

Laughing this hard at Kevin Hart was not something I ever thought I would do.

What Happened

by Hillary Rodham Clinton

This book didn’t depress me as much as I thought it would; it was a thoroughly insightful look into the campaign and election and further solidified the truth that she is the president that we all deserved and didn’t get.

Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?: And Other Questions You Should Have Answers to When You Work in the White House

by Alyssa Mastromonaco, Lauren Oyler

Let me preface this by saying I love Alyssa Mastromonaco when she’s on Pod Save America, but this book reads like a disorganized, whiny book of fluff without much substance.

Scrappy Little Nobody

by Anna Kendrick

Unexpectedly, Anna Kendrick is a talented writer who makes this a fun, light read–perfect for the beach or lazy weekend.

Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change

by Ellen Pao

I depressingly must recommend this book, especially to women in male-dominated fields, although I wish we didn’t have to write these in 2017. (P.S. She gives amazing advice at the end of the book.)

Unqualified

by Anna Faris, Chris Pratt (Foreword)

You end this book really liking Anna Faris, but you wish she had had a ghost writer or an editor who could’ve better organized the book.

Cosmos

by Carl Sagan

You must have this book in your life and it’s even better as an audiobook because LaVar Burton gives Carl Sagan’s incredible writing the beautiful voice the Cosmos deserve.

Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose

I have always been inspired by Joe’s life of loss, heartache, and subsequent perseverance, but this book comes off as a whiny, querulous tale of why he didn’t run for president (and it wasn’t because of his loss of Beau).

I wish I had a new Harry Potter book to review every year, but at least I had The Cursed Child to tide me over. Plus, I found my most favorite book of all time. BONUS.

THE MYTHICAL AND THE MAGICAL

Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, Parts 1& 2

by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany (Adaptation), Jack Thorne (Adaptation)

A nice addition to my favorite stories of all time, done in a way that felt authentic to the series, regardless of what the haters say.

Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey

Hands down, this is my favorite book I own and you should totally buy it if you’re a Harry Potter nerd like me.

Norse Mythology

by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman’s complex and funny style make this a gratifying, quick read that’ll make you want to travel to Valhalla and hang out with all the gods, except Loki–screw that guy.

Outlander (Outlander #1)

This thoroughly researched book–the author used actual books and not the internet back in the 90s, y’all–is an incredible read where you’ll meet your favorite book beau of all time, Jamie Fraser, and he’ll help you forget the weeks of reading you had to do to finish this.

FLUFF

Me Before You (Me Before You #1)

by Jojo Moyes

Bitter, frustrated and mean man who’s bound to a wheelchair from an accident tries to scare away his sweet caretaker; they fall in love and tough decisions are made; and you find out that Will isn’t the biggest jerk in the world.

MISCELLANEOUS FICTION

The Handmaid’s Tale

by Margaret Atwood

An alarming, captivating work of fiction one would believe is absurd as a reality, then this past year happened and it doesn’t seem that unrealistic.

American War

by Omar El Akkad

A future civil war brought on by the banning of fossil fueled vehicles is an eerie glimpse into the future that hooked me in at the beginning, but soon bored me with a slow moving story line and dull characters.

Lincoln in the Bardo

by George Saunders

A satirical historical fiction book that was difficult to follow and random at best; I felt like a dolt for not “getting” this book after all of its hype.

For many of us, the words poetry and poem conjure up painful memories of high school English teachers trying desperately to get us to thee and thou our way through Shakespeare’s sonnets and arrive at some kind of understanding of what the Bard was getting at. Personally, I had always thought poetry was a bit beyond me. I hardly ever knew what a poet was trying to say, and for the love of everything could not figure out why they couldn’t just bloody well say what they wanted to say.

Or whether shall I say, mine eye saith true,
And that your love taught it this alchemy

-from “Sonnet 114” by William Shakespeare

Whatever, Shakespeare.

Sometime in college, however, it was pointed out to me that perhaps that was the problem. Why must we figure out what the poet is “trying” to say? What if we just listened to the words, the shape of them, the sound they make, the order in which they appear on the page? What if we just took the poem on it’s face and saw it for what it was? A gathering together of words that evoke an image or a feeling, even if it’s not the image or the feeling that the poet might have intended or had in mind when she was writing. It was like someone switched on a light. I suddenly “got” poetry.

Mind was a prison, ruby lined
in its lipstick noir—

-from “Everyone in Me is a Bird” by Melissa Studdard,

I have become a lover of poetry. I read poetry every day, thanks to poets.org and their fantastic Poem-A-Day email. I even buy books of poetry in the bookstore, on purpose. I have found poetry to be like mental yoga. When the world is a flaming pile of horse sh*t (which, let’s be honest, is pretty much always these days), reading a poem brings my brain a sense of calm. I turn off whatever noise is happening around me and I zero my attention in on a few lines and I read them slowly. I even backtrack and read lines over to make sure I’ve gotten the full flavor before I move on. I read the whole poem again. Repeat asana.

Once in a sycamore I was glad
all at the top, and I sang.

-from “Dream Song 1” by John Berryman

I have a folder in my email inbox where I put the poems that I really love. I’ll forward them to friends I think might enjoy them.

I also have the the Poetry Foundation‘s poetry app. This delightful app puts hundreds of poems at your fingertips, and is a great way to spend time in line at the grocery store. Bonus: Someone will see you staring at your phone and assume you’re doing something mundane and mindless, when, in fact, you’re reading the sublime lines of William Blake. Take that, Judgey McJudgesalot.

in love. I shout with the rough calculus
of walking. Just let me find my way back,
let me move like a tide come in.

-“The moon rose over the bay. I had a lot of feelings.“ by Donika Kelly

Perhaps the best part of the poetry app is the spin feature. Click the “spin” button and you’ll land on a random pairing of topics (Joy & Life, Passion & Youth, Boredom & Family, etc.) and it will give you a list of poems on that topic. You can then slide the top half and the bottom half to make different combos and see what poems come up (Joy & Youth, Boredom & Life, etc.). I like to use it as a kind of Magic Eight Ball. Think of a question you want to know the answer to, keep it in your mind as you hit the spin button, and the first poem in the list will have the answer to your question! Of course, if you don’t like that answer, or if the answer is unclear, just move down the list. Fate is nothing if not reasonable.

what was once lost
now leaps before you.

-from “Why Whales are Back in New York City” by Rajiv Mohabir

The point is, friends and lovers, that poetry is not something to be afraid of or confused by. Poetry is experience distilled down into its essence. It is a combination of words chosen with precision and care to make an image in your mind, or a feeling you can’t quite put your finger on, or maybe a feeling you can put all five fingers on and you’d rather not think about that right now so you move on to another one. Poetry is a quiet moment with your mind, in which you can take a break, stretch, breathe.

What is known as love, what can become 
the heart’s food stored away for some future
Famine

-from “May Perpetual Light Shine” by Patricia Spears Jones

Listen, I get it. The holiday season is a busy time. There are relatives. There is food. There are various and sundry school and work festivities you’re obliged to take part in. You have to buy gifts (from your favorite online shop, probably) and you have to practice your “Oh this is such a great gift!” face for when someone gets you a truly heinous thing that no one in their right mind would ever pay actual money for. It’s a hectic time of year. I get it.

However:

THIS DOES NOT EXCUSE YOU FROM APOSTROPHE ABUSE IN YOUR HOLIDAY CARDS.

There. I said it. STEP AWAY FROM THE APOSTROPHE.

Since I know you’re busy and you don’t have time to Google the rules for making names plural, I have taken pity upon you and created a little guide. I know, I’m amazing. You’re welcome.

• Do NOT use an apostrophe. I know you want to. I know it’s right there, just waiting to be the hook that you hang that s onto, but resist. You can do it. Back away.
• If your name ends in any letter other than s, x, z, ch, or sh, just slap that s right on there. Bam! Done.
• If your name ends in s, x, z, ch, or sh, add an es (e.g., Rodriguezes, Joneses). I know it looks weird. Get over it.

Whew! People. It’s that simple. You can do it. We believe in you.

And if you need a quick reminder, or if you can’t quite get this concept across to a loved one, we have the perfect gift.

Order by December 15th to get it by Christmas!

If you’re anything like me, you started out 2017 with grand plans for reading All the Books, perhaps also keeping a reading journal where you would write out some brilliant thoughts about All the Books. Unfortunately, if you’re like me, 2017 took a hard right turn somewhere and all of your lovely reading, and thinking about reading, plans went right down the crapper. I read 33 books last year, according to my Goodreads Reading Challenge. This year I thought I could read 35 with no problem. It’s just two more books. What could possibly go wrong?

The answer: 2017. The year 2017 went wrong.

It is November 28th and I have read 15 books so far. Fifteen! It’s hard for my brain to even comprehend this. Probably because I only read 15 books and my brain has gotten slow and flabby.

If you find yourself in the same predicament and you just can’t decide what to read next, fear not. I am here to present you with a quick review of All 15 (sigh) Books Amberly Managed to Read in 11 Months. Click on the book titles to go to their respective Goodreads pages for more info. Happy browsing!

1.) Turner: The Extraordinary Life and Momentous Times of J.M.W. Turner by Franny Moyle

Wow, I was really hoping to ease you guys into the depths of my nerdiness. Alas. This is the first book I read in 2017, so, here we go. I highly recommend this book if you love J.M.W. Turner paintings. He was an interesting and complicated person and later in life he kind of just started to do his own thing and it’s fascinating. If you don’t like J.M.W. Turner paintings, or if you have never heard of him (Google him, for the love of everything) then I don’t know what to do with you.

2. & 3.)The Name of the Wind  and The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

I’m doing these together because they’re books one and two of the Kingkiller Chronicle series by Patrick Rothfuss. Book three has yet to be written, so if you’re the kind of person who needs to know how things end RIGHT NOW, I recommend waiting until the third book comes out, which, spoiler alert, may be never (although there is a TV adaptation in the works). If you’re not that kind of person, these are some fantastic fantasy novels with all of the fantasy staples: poor kid who doesn’t know he’s destined for greatness, magic, bad guys, faeries, lutes, etc.

4.) The View from the Cheap Seats: A Collection of Introductions, Essays, and Assorted Writings by Neil Gaiman

Well, that pretty much sums it up. If you love Neil Gaiman, you will probably love this book. He has Wise Things to Say about Life, Writing, and Whatnot.

5.) Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

A retelling of classic Norse mythology. It’s good on its own, but I found the experience slightly enhanced by casting a Hemsworth brother (honestly, does it matter which one?) and Tom Hiddleston as Thor and Loki in my head.

6.) The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss

Although this book also takes place within the same story of The Name of the Wind  and The Wise Man’s Fear, it’s a small book that explores the life of a side character, so it’s not technically part of the series. It’s not necessary to read it in order to understand the main books, but it’s still beautifully done and will hold you over for an hour or so whilst we wait patiently for Mr. Rothfuss to finish the third book…

7.) Stardust by Neil Gaiman

Are you sensing a pattern here? This is a straight-up fairy tale told Neil Gaiman-style. It’s a fun, fast read that would be perfect if you’re trying to beef up your Reading Challenge numbers quickly.

8.) The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy

I swear I have no idea what possesses me to pick these kinds of books up. I can think of exactly one other person I know who would enjoy this book. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys a plodding English family drama with bits of salacious sex that never actually appear on the page, but drive the entire plot, then this is your jam. Warning: Contains lots of Old White Men doing idiot things to the detriment of most.

9.) The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster

This trilogy usually appears bound together as one volume, so I think it only counts as one book. The three books are loosely related to each other and are a little weird and completely brilliant and I had a ton of fun reading them. They’re about people in New York City, but they are not at all conventional or beholden to your preconceptions. You’ve been warned.

10.) Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance

I picked this up because J.D. Vance is a hometown boy and I’ve been trying to wrap my head around the 2016 election. I’ll keep my opinions on the conclusions he draws to myself. The book is well written and I think it portrays the places I grew up with a degree of fairness.

11.) Villette by Charlotte Brontë

If you’ve read Jane Eyre and you’re not on a “I must read everything Charlotte Brontë ever wrote” kick, then I would suggest passing this one up. It’s basically a lesser version of Jane Eyre and there is a lot of French dialogue that isn’t translated (at least not in the copy I have) so you’ll spend a lot of time typing things into Google Translate. Unless you read French, of course, in which case, you know. Good for you.

12.) Hermit in Paris: Autobiographical Writings by Italo Calvino

If you’re not into Italo Calvino or his writing (sort of magical realism), then you can probably skip this book, too. If you do like his writing, it’s an interesting look into his writing processes and his life generally.

13.) The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon

I cannot recommend Michael Chabon enough. This is the second book I’ve read of his (The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay was the first) and each time I marveled at his ability to nail down humans being human. And he does it with wit and gorgeous writing. The Yiddish Policemen’s Union is an alternative history exploration with a murder mystery, social commentary, a bit of a love story, and some good old fashion noir.

14.) Preludes & Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman

Who has two thumbs and kept Neil Gaiman in expensive notebooks this year? This girl.

This is the first of the Sandman comics, though I think it wasn’t originally published in that order. It’s brilliant, just like all of the other stuff he does.

15.) The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

This book is a subtle punch to the gut. Arundhati Roy has an uncanny ability to sneak the most life-altering, horrifying experiences into prose and then weave in the repercussions in such a way that you don’t realize you’re dead until you’re a ghost standing over your own corpse like “What just happened here?” This book won the Booker Prize in 1995 and no wonder.

Bonus Books

Just in case those weren’t enough to whet your bookish appetite, I’m currently reading:

The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman, a fascinating look at the science of ornithology and how studying the way bird brains work could help us understand ourselves;

and

The Brontës: Wild Genius on the Moors by Juliet Baker, the most in-depth biography of the entire Brontë family available. I hope.

Not Slim Shady, sadly. Or maybe, thankfully. Either way, my actual name is Amberly and I will be your friendly neighborhood blogger at Grammatical Art for the foreseeable future.

Hello!

A Brief History of, Well, Me

I’m originally from Ohio. I went to undergrad at the same illustrious institution that the two amazing Women of Grammatical Art attended, received my bachelor of arts in English with a creative writing emphasis, did some random stuff for a year or two and then moved to Baltimore to pursue an MFA in creative writing and publishing arts. After that, I worked in medical publishing for about four years, then moved back to Ohio to be closer to my family. Currently my day job consists of comparing one document against another document in the hope that I catch all of the errors before the first document goes out in the market. It’s all very exciting.

In my free time I read, write, watch movies, plan world domination, go to the gym, and volunteer. I drink more coffee than is probably wise.

What I Shall Be Blogging About

Books, grammar, science, coffee, movies about books, grammar, science, or coffee, how I will never forgive Linda or Paul McCartney for the line “…world/in which we live in.” That type of stuff.

What I Hope You’ll Gain from Said Blogging

A laugh, some knowledge, and a small but nagging irritation whenever you hear “Live and Let Die.”

See you around!