As I wrote in July 2017 was not a great reading year for me; and to prove that point I only read 31 books after I posted on July 27. In fact, this may be my worst reading year since 2003... I only read 76 books, down quite a bit from last year's 106, and 112 in 2015. I almost always average two books per week, but this year I just made 1.5. The reasons still remain politics, along with a big (unexpected move), and the ease with which I can now access Netflix (I'm serious! This new Comcast feature where I can use Netflix on any handheld device or TV in my house has been a bit of a time suck.). In any case, I'm adding four more books that I read since August to my top books in 2017 list, to create a Top 10.
1. Masterpiece by Elise Broach– I loved this middle grade book so much. It has art, history, thrills, friendship. I am going to have my son read it, probably next year. Slightly reminiscent of From the Mixed-Up Files…
2. Science Fair Season: Twelve Kids, A Robot Named Scorch… And What It Takes to Win by Judy Dutton– Reading prep for new fall course on the afterschool hours– adding week on “fairs!”
3. The House of Spies by Dan Silva– This series is now my designated summer vacation reading. Silva has a formula now, which is enjoyable, but next time I’d appreciate more twists on that formula. Also, very long, needs tad more editing at this stage.
4. Trace by Archer Mayor– Wow, I have caught up on the Joe Gunther series (book 28!). Perhaps the best yet, setting up more characters to keep series going after Joe?
As a refresher the other six are: Killer Show, We Never Asked or Wings, American Historical Pageantry, The Lions of Little Rock, A Fall of Marigolds, and In This Grave Hour.
My top two books are both, surprisingly, middle grade fiction: The Lions of Little Rock (it stood out all year long) and Masterpiece.
For nonfiction my favorite is a book I began in 2017, but still haven't finished (it is lengthy), so look for it on my 2018 list. Given that move (to Providence) it might not surprise you that it's Mike Stanton's The Price of Providence: The Rise and Fall of Buddy Cianci, America's Most Notorious Mayor.