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A review by trish204
2016 on Goodreads by
4.0
Alright, alright, alright! I was told I really should write a review of my reading year. I've never done this before (just another new thing brought to you by 2016) so bear with me.
No, Winnie, not you! That was just a figure of speech! Oh well, fine, you can stay. After all, I did finally read this classic of all children's classic in 2016.
Overall, 2016 was a tumultuous year.
We had an American election that brought out the best and worst in people, crazy and frightening political developments across the globe, many terrorist attacks, weird weather and natural catastrophes, exceptional scientific discoveries and fantastic art (to name at least two positive things), lost a lot of childhood heroes and important figures, ... I listen to a podcast (that's right, only one and I only started it in 2016) about historical events and they recorded a conversation of different historians about the year 2016 and how bad it really was. They did not all agree but the discussion was very interesting (they all made very good points).
Anyway, for me personally, there were a few changes in my work place, a lot of stress, my health sometimes gave in or I heard bad news from other people (yes, I care so it affects me). Not too good.
But 2016 was also the best reading year EVER. I mean, 200 books! I'm quite proud of that.
And not just any 200 books. There was a little bit of everything: smut, classics, non-fiction, poetry, scifi, fantasy, horror, historical novels, biographies, children's books, comic books and graphic novels, plays, short stories, AND I let myself be persuaded to really try audiobooks. In the meantime I quite like them, actually (I even listened to Harry Potter at twice the usual speed)! I re-visited old loves (Harry Potter) and discovered new ones (Kate Daniels). I became a beta-reader. I tried new genres and ventured out of my comfort zone.
What else?! *taps chin* Oh yeah:
At the beginning of the year we re-did my room so I could fit even more book shelves in.
I signed up to be able to nominate books for the HUGOs.
I went to meet Chris Riddell in person (very nice man).
I went back to being an Apple user (yes, book-motivated).
I joined a group here on Goodreads and am very active there too. I even drew up a calendar so as to organize my reading life a bit more (which, I think, helped with reading so much).
I met new people online, some of which have left a lasting impression (and will, fingers crossed, not be gone from my life).
There were also quite a few wonderful movies (some of which were surprisingly good book adaptations).
Thus, 2016 was a year of daring, of trial and error, of contradictions.
And yes, I'm one of those who (despite the good reading life I had) is glad the year is over. Sadly, although I'm one of those hopelessly hopeful people, I doubt 2017 will be much better (all my childhood heroes are of an age when death is definitely a possibility, political problems have been brewing for too long to just solve themselves, terrorism won't simply vanish).
Nevertheless, as long as I have this "home" where I can be the nerdy geeky little bookdragon that I am, talk to likeminded people - about books and bookmarks and bookstores and shelves and who is pregnant so had the perfect excuse to build one hell of a bookish nursery and who has just started reading what book to their kids and who has what kind of pet and wether or not they like to read with their owners ... - I should be relatively fine (as I said: hopelessly hopeful).
Now, I know that many have singled out certain books they liked best but honestly, that is like picking your favourite limb to keep!
Two book series that deserve mentioning because they don't seem too well-known just yet: The Chronicles of St. Mary's (historical fiction / fantasy / scifi all in one) by Jodi Taylor (the audio version narrated by Zara Ramm is exceptional) and Fairyland by Catherynne M. Valente.
If you want to know more, go check out my year in books -that is what it's for after all. ;P
I'll let John Oliver conclude for me:
No, Winnie, not you! That was just a figure of speech! Oh well, fine, you can stay. After all, I did finally read this classic of all children's classic in 2016.
Overall, 2016 was a tumultuous year.
We had an American election that brought out the best and worst in people, crazy and frightening political developments across the globe, many terrorist attacks, weird weather and natural catastrophes, exceptional scientific discoveries and fantastic art (to name at least two positive things), lost a lot of childhood heroes and important figures, ... I listen to a podcast (that's right, only one and I only started it in 2016) about historical events and they recorded a conversation of different historians about the year 2016 and how bad it really was. They did not all agree but the discussion was very interesting (they all made very good points).
Anyway, for me personally, there were a few changes in my work place, a lot of stress, my health sometimes gave in or I heard bad news from other people (yes, I care so it affects me). Not too good.
But 2016 was also the best reading year EVER. I mean, 200 books! I'm quite proud of that.
And not just any 200 books. There was a little bit of everything: smut, classics, non-fiction, poetry, scifi, fantasy, horror, historical novels, biographies, children's books, comic books and graphic novels, plays, short stories, AND I let myself be persuaded to really try audiobooks. In the meantime I quite like them, actually (I even listened to Harry Potter at twice the usual speed)! I re-visited old loves (Harry Potter) and discovered new ones (Kate Daniels). I became a beta-reader. I tried new genres and ventured out of my comfort zone.
What else?! *taps chin* Oh yeah:
At the beginning of the year we re-did my room so I could fit even more book shelves in.
I signed up to be able to nominate books for the HUGOs.
I went to meet Chris Riddell in person (very nice man).
I went back to being an Apple user (yes, book-motivated).
I joined a group here on Goodreads and am very active there too. I even drew up a calendar so as to organize my reading life a bit more (which, I think, helped with reading so much).
I met new people online, some of which have left a lasting impression (and will, fingers crossed, not be gone from my life).
There were also quite a few wonderful movies (some of which were surprisingly good book adaptations).
Thus, 2016 was a year of daring, of trial and error, of contradictions.
And yes, I'm one of those who (despite the good reading life I had) is glad the year is over. Sadly, although I'm one of those hopelessly hopeful people, I doubt 2017 will be much better (all my childhood heroes are of an age when death is definitely a possibility, political problems have been brewing for too long to just solve themselves, terrorism won't simply vanish).
Nevertheless, as long as I have this "home" where I can be the nerdy geeky little bookdragon that I am, talk to likeminded people - about books and bookmarks and bookstores and shelves and who is pregnant so had the perfect excuse to build one hell of a bookish nursery and who has just started reading what book to their kids and who has what kind of pet and wether or not they like to read with their owners ... - I should be relatively fine (as I said: hopelessly hopeful).
Now, I know that many have singled out certain books they liked best but honestly, that is like picking your favourite limb to keep!
Two book series that deserve mentioning because they don't seem too well-known just yet: The Chronicles of St. Mary's (historical fiction / fantasy / scifi all in one) by Jodi Taylor (the audio version narrated by Zara Ramm is exceptional) and Fairyland by Catherynne M. Valente.
If you want to know more, go check out my year in books -that is what it's for after all. ;P
I'll let John Oliver conclude for me: