Books of 2017- An Overview

Here are the books I read this year!!!

Books of 2017- Installment #22

106.The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan 
I read the first book earlier this year and really enjoyed it, so I planned on reading this one once Christmas approached. And here it is, Christmastime. Well, this book delivered! A delightful love story- not the initial days but after the original attraction and getting together. It is the growing-together part. It is great! It put a smile on my face many a time (especially when the dog, Boris, destroys a Donald Trump chew toy in a 5 seconds flat).

107. Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich
I've never read anything by Louise Erdrich despite the fact that I've been interested in reading a novel by her for a long time. (I read The Red Convertible for the first time 20 some odd years ago.) I remember that when I worked at Walden Books in '93 or '94, I got an advanced copy of one of her books. I don't remember which one (but probably The Bingo Palace), but for whatever reason it didn't grab me. This title intrigued me, and I just had to check it out. It's a very interesting look at a dystopian future where we, all inhabitants of the Earth, are devolving. I have no idea if this was meant as an homage to the Postman by David Brin or not, but I really enjoyed the mail carrier who is a hero. She even named him Hiro (and I won't quibble with her saying he was a Korean-American man named the very Japanese name Hiro)!

108. Artemis by Andy Weir
I love Andy Weir's writing! I was really excited to get this book, but my husband wanted me to wait to start it until after he did because he's not been able to spend much time reading lately. Then he wanted me to hurry up and read it but I had all these library books piling up around me! This book made me laugh and in these times of trouble, that's a good thing!!!!

109. Christmas Stars edited by David G. Hartwell
I saw this book at the local comic book store and wanted it. But I didn't get it right away. Eventually, though, I found myself back there, and I'm so glad I did! This book hit the spot! It gave me great Christmas stories without any of the schmaltz that so many Christmas books do. I also got to read the story that inspired the movie It's a Wonderful Life. I didn't realize it had been a short story originally, and I certainly didn't realize it had been self-published! 

110. The Speaker by Traci Chee
I really enjoyed The Reader and have been looking forward to reading the sequel so I was so pleased when it finally became available at the library!

111. The Monkey's Paw 猴爪 by W.W. Jacobs,‎ John Pasden,‎ Renjun Yang,‎ Cui Yu,‎ and Jared Turner 
This was a fun way for me to practice my Chinese. It's enough like the original that I could easily read it, but different enough that I wasn't exactly sure how things would play out.

Books of 2017- Installment #21

101. The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu by Joshua Hammer
I was so excited to read this book. I really wanted to hear all about these books. And those sections paid off! Incredible descriptions of these amazing manuscripts, of how they were protected from multiple invasions over centuries, of the breadth of books. But, while I understand why, the bulk of the book is about terrorism and that was tough and rightfully so.

102. After On by Rob Reid
OMG! I started this book on the day it was released- August 1, 2017. I only just finished it. I loved Year One and was so excited to read another novel by Rob Reid. Funny science fiction is such a rare treat. I did not find that to be this novel. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it and am glad I finished it. I would say about a quarter of the way through the book I started to get into it, but I was constantly getting library books and so back-burned this book- again and again and again. So other than long and hard to finish, what is After On? It's a kind of terrifying glimpse into Silicon Valley and social media. It's also about the singularity.

103. Ryan Higa's How to Write Good by Ryan Higa
This is a book my husband picked up and suggested I read. It's a nice mix of text and comic, of story and writing advice, of dark and light.

104. Blood Red Kiss by Gena Showalter, Kresley Cole, and Larissa Ione
This book is a collection of three supernatural romances. They are all good, though I had some issues with the relationship in the first novella. I really liked the second one- Forsaken by the Night- the most. The main character was an indigenous vampire-skinwalker outcast who develops a relationship with a wolf. I quite liked the shifts in perspectives.

105. Bonfire by Krysten Ritter
I heard about this book on NPR. They were interviewing Krysten Ritter, and while I knew I liked her acting, I didn't know if I would like her voice as a writer. The interview intrigued me and so here I am, writing about her book. This was a great mystery. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, and it felt so very relevant.

Short Stories

I read a lot of short stories this year, and I decided to compile a list of awesome ones here!!!!

In alphabetical order.... 

1. An Account of the Sky Whales by Que A and translated by Andy Dudak (2017) Science Fiction
2. All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury (1954) Science Fiction
3. Annie’s Day by Andy Weir (2011) Fiction 
4. April in Paris by Ursula K. Le Guin in The Wind’s Twelve Quarters (1962) Science Fiction (Time Travel)
5. Artifice by Naomi Kritzer in Cat Pictures and Other Stories (2014) Science Fiction
6. Atonement by Michael Cunningham (2018) in It Occurs to Me that I am America: New Stories and Art Fiction
7. August 2002, Night Meeting by Ray Bradbury in the Martian Chronicles (1945) Science Fiction
8. Balancing Acts by Louise Erdrich (2018) in It Occurs to Me that I am America: New Stories and Art Fiction
9. The Ballad of Marisol Brook by Sarah Grey (2013)
10. Beholder by Sarah Grey (2013)
11. Bigger than Death by by Nancy Etchemendy & illustrated by Lance Paladino (1997) in Cricket Magazine October 2014 Volume 42, number 2 (1997) Supernatural
12. The Bird by Jane Yolen in Emerald Circus (2017) Horror
13. Bits by Naomi Kritzer in Cat Pictures and Other Stories (2013) Science Fiction
14. Black, Their Regalia by Darcie Little Badger (2016) Fiction
15. Brass Canaries by Gwendolyn Clare (2009) Fiction
16. Bring Your Own Spoon by Saad Z. Hossain in The Djinn Falls in Love and Other Stories (2017) Supernatural
17. By Degrees and Dilatory Time by S. L. Huang (2015) in The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2016
18. Cat Pictures Please by Naomi Kritzer in Cat Pictures and Other Stories (2015) Science Fiction
19. A Ceremony of Discontent by Eleanor Arnason in Catalysts, Explorers & Secret Keepers: Women of Science Fiction (2018) Science Fiction
20. A Christmas Haunting by Craig Dominey (2009) Supernatural
21. The Christmas Show by Pat Cadigan (2013) Supernatural
22. The City Born Great by N. K. Jemisin (2016) in The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2017
23. Click-Clack the Rattlebag by Neil Gaiman in Trigger Warnings (2013) Supernatural
24. The Congregation by Kamila Shamsie in The Djinn Falls in Love and Other Stories (2017) Supernatural
25. Continuity of Parks by Julio Cortázar (1964) Fiction
26. Dark Conception by Joe L. Hensley & Alexei Panshin under the pseudonym Louis J. A. Adams in Christmas Stars (1964) Fantasy
27. A Debt Repaid by Marina J. Lostetter (2014) Fiction
28. December 2001, Green Morning by Ray Bradbury in The Martian Chronicles (1950) Science Fiction
29. The Deckhand, The Nova Blade, And The Thrice-Sung Texts by Becky Chambers in Cosmic Powers (2017) Science Fiction
30. Delilah by Annie Bellet in Till Human Voices Wake Us (2012) Fiction
31. Direction of the Road by Ursula K. Le Guin in The Wind’s Twelve Quarters (1974) Science Fiction
32. The Egg by Andy Weir (2009) Science Fiction 
33. Evian Still by Jane Yolen in Emerald Circus (1985) Fantasy
34. Evil Robot Monkey by Mary Robinette Kowal (2008) Science Fiction
35. Fable by Charles Yu (2016) Fiction
36. Falls the Shadow on Broken Stone by Annie Bellet in Forgotten Tigers and Other Stories (2014) Fantasy
37. The Fermi Paradox Is Our Business Model by Charlie Jane Anders (2010) Science Fiction
38. A Fist of Permutations in Lightning and Wildflowers by Alyssa Wong (2016) Science Fiction
39. Fix-It Shop by Pat Murphy in Catalysts, Explorers & Secret Keepers: Women of Science Fiction (2018) Science Fiction
40. The Flames of Sligachan by Amy Brannigan and Caroline Brannigan (2010) Supernatural
41. The Fly by Katherine Mansfield (1922) Fiction
42. The Fog Horn by Ray Bradbury (1951) Supernatural
43. For Fear of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn in Catalysts, Explorers & Secret Keepers: Women of Science Fiction (2018) Fantasy
44. Friends by Richard Crompton (2010) Supernatural
45. The Future is Blue by Catherynne M. Valente (2016) in The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2017
46. The Future Looks Good by Lesley Nneka Arimah in What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky: Stories (2017)
47. Getting Somewhere by Susan Isaacs (2018) in It Occurs to Me that I am America: New Stories and Art Fiction
48. gezhizhwazh by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson (2013) Fiction
49. The Girl Who Woke the Dreamer by Laini Taylor in My True Love Gave to Me (2014) Fantasy
50. The Great Silence by Ted Chiang (2015) Science Fiction
51. The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern in Christmas Stars (1943) Fantasy
52. Greetings, Humanity! Welcome to Your Choice Of Species! by Adam-Troy Castro (2018) Science Fiction
53. The Griffon’s Green Door by Jess E. Owen & illustrated by Tiffany England in Cricket Magazine July/August 2015 volume 42, number 9 (2015) Fantasy
54. The Gift of the Magicians, with Apologies to You Know Who by Jane Yolen in Emerald Circus (1992) Fantasy
55. Harvey’s Dream by Stephen King (2003) Fiction
56. Hate for Sale by Neil Gaiman (2018) in It Occurs to Me that I am America: New Stories and Art Poem
57. A Haunted House by Virginia Woolf (1943) Supernatural
58. Have You Heard the One About Anamaria Marquez? by Isabel Yap (2014) Supernatural
59. Hello, Hello by Seanan McGuire in Future Visions (2015) Science Fiction
60. Honest Man by Naomi Kritzer in Cat Pictures and Other Stories (2007) Supernatural
61. Hunter’s Moon by Patricia A. McKillip in Wonders of the Invisible World (2002) Fantasy
62. I Stand Here Ironing by Tillie Olsen (1961) Fiction
63. I Was a Teenage Werewolf by Dale Bailey (2016) in The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2017
64. If They Come in the Morning by S. J. Rozen (2018) in It Occurs to Me that I am America: New Stories and Art
65. In the Trees by Alice Hoffman (2018) in It Occurs to Me that I am America: New Stories and Art Fiction
66. In the Witch’s Garden by Naomi Kritzer in Cat Pictures and Other Stories (2002) Fantasy
67. Innocence, Rearranged by Annie Bellet in Forgotten Tigers and Other Stories (2014) Fantasy
68. Interesting Facts by Adam Johnson (2015) in The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2016
69. Isabella’s Garden by Naomi Kritzer in Cat Pictures and Other Stories (2011) Fantasy
70. An Insistence of Vision by David Brin in An Insistence of Vision (2013) Science Fiction
71. The Jinn Hunter’s Apprentice by in The Djinn Falls in Love and Other Stories (2017) Supernatural
72. July Tale by Neil Gaiman in Trigger Warnings (2013) Fiction
73. Juno in July by Jane Yolen in Catalysts, Explorers & Secret Keepers: Women of Science Fiction (2018) Science Fiction
74. A Jury of her Peers by Susan Glaspell (1917) Fiction
75. The Landlady by Roald Dahl (1959) Fiction
76. The Last Night of the World by Ray Bradbury (1951) Science Fiction
77. The Last Question by Isaac Asimov (1956) Science Fiction
78. Like Daughter by Tananarive Due (2014) Science Fiction
79. Liking What You See by Ted Chiang in Stories of Your Life and Others (2002) Science Fiction
80. The Long Night by Steve Vance & illustrated by Peter Wartman in Cricket Magazine October 2015 Volume 43, number 2 (2015) Science Fiction
81. Lost Girls by Jane Yolen in Emerald Circus (1997) Fantasy
82. The Lottery by Shirley Jackson (1948) Fiction
83. The Lovers by Eleanor Arnason (1994) Science Fiction
84. Lucky Girl by Heidi Pitlor (2018) in It Occurs to Me that I am America: New Stories and Art Fiction
85. Lullaby for a Lost World by Aliette de Bodard (2016) Science Fiction
86. Lunar Labyrinth by Neil Gaiman in Trigger Warnings (2013) Fiction
87. Madeleine by Amal El-Mohtar (2015) Science Fiction
88. Miracle by Connie Willis in Christmas Stars (1991) Fantasy
89. Miss Carstairs and the Merman by Delia Sherman (1989) Science Fiction
90. The Mistletoe Bride by Jeanette Winterson in Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days (2016) Fantasy
91. The Monkey’s Paw by W. W. Jacobs in The 13 Best Horror Stories of All Time (1902) Supernatural
92. Mrs. Hood Unloads by Mike Resnick (1991) in The Fantastic Adventures of Robin Hood Fantasy
93. The Murderer by Ray Bradbury (1953) Fiction
94. My Last Landlady by Neil Gaiman in Trigger Warnings (2013) Fiction
95. My Mother, Dancing by Nancy Kress in Catalysts, Explorers & Secret Keepers: Women of Science Fiction (2018) Science Fiction
96. Nevermore by Sue Larkins Weems in Shelf Life (2016) Fiction
97. No Spaceships Go by Annie Bellet in Till Human Voices Wake Us (2010) Science Fiction
98. Of Ash and Old Dreams by Sarah Grey (2013)
99. Not by Wardrobe, Tornado, or Looking Glass by Jeremiah Tolbert (2016) in The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2017
100. The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. LeGuin (1973) Science Fiction
101. Openness by Alexander Weinstein (2016) in The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2017  
102. Our Faces, Radiant Sisters, Our Faces Full of Light! by Kameron Hurley (2017) Fantasy
103. The Pale Man by Julius Long (1934) Fiction
104. Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu in Paper Menagerie (2011) Fiction
105. Paper Pills by Sherwood Anderson in Winesburg, Ohio (1919) Fiction
106. The Phantom Coach by Amelia B. Edwards (1864) Supernatural
107. Planet Lion by Catherynne M. Valente (2015) in The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2016
108. Promises to Keep by Jack McDevitt in Christmas Stars (1984) Fantasy
109. Remember This For Me by Sarah Pinsker in Catalysts, Explorers & Secret Keepers: Women of Science Fiction (2018) Science Fiction
110. Robin Hood and the Witch Who Misspelled Sherwood Forest by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough (1991) in The Fantastic Adventures of Robin Hood Fantasy
111. Robin’s Witch by Nancy Holder (1991) in The Fantastic Adventures of Robin Hood Fantasy
112. Rule of Rock by Benjamin Jacobson & illustrated by Kelly Leigh Miller Cricket Magazine January 2015 volume 42, number 4 (2015) Science Fiction
113. Scrap Dragon by Naomi Kritzer in Cat Pictures and Other Stories (2012) Science Fiction
114. Seven Wonders of a Once & Future World by Caroline M. Yoachim in Cosmic Powers  (2015) Science Fiction
115. Smear by Brian Evenson (2016) in The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2017
116. So Much Cooking by Naomi Kritzer in Cat Pictures and Other Stories (2015) Science Fiction
117. Social Phobic’s Guide to Interior Design, The by Sarah Grey (2013)
118. A Sound of Thunder by Ray Bradbury (1952) Science Fiction
119. Space-Time for Springers by in Cat’s in Space (1958) Science Fiction
120. The Star by Arthur C. Clarke (1954) Science Fiction
121. Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang in Stories of Your Life and Others (2002) Science Fiction
122. Successor, Usurper, Replacement by Alice Sola Kim (2016) in The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2017
123. The Tail by M.J. Engh in Cat’s in Space (1988) Fiction
124. Tamitha and the Troll-Witch by Elizabeth C. Desimone & illustrated by Barbara Bakos Cricket Magazine October 2015 Volume 43, number 2 (2015) Adventure
125. Tea Time by Rachel Swirsky (2015) in The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2016
126. Team Effort by Ed Groman (1991) in The Fantastic Adventures of Robin Hood Fantasy
127. Teenagers from Outer Space by Dale Bailey (2016) Science Fiction
128. These Constellations Will Be Yours by Elaine Cuyegkeng (2017) Science Fiction
129. They’re Made Out of Meat by Terry Bison (1990) Science Fiction
130. The Things by Peter Watts (2010) Science Fiction
131. Time Enough at Last by Lynn Venable (1953) Fiction
132. To Serve Man by Damon Knight (1950) Science Fiction
133. The Trout Fisherman by Joyce Maynard (2018) in It Occurs to Me that I am America: New Stories and Art Fiction
134. Vaster than Empires and More Slow by Ursula K. Le Guin in The Wind’s Twelve Quarters (1971) Science Fiction (Trees)
135. The Veldt by Ray Bradbury (1950) Science Fiction
136. The Venus Effect by Joseph Allen Hill (2016) in The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2017
137. Waiting for a White Knight by Teresa Bateman & Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman in Cricket Magazine May/June 2008 Volume 35, number 9 (2008) Fantasy
138. The Wall by Naomi Kritzer in Cat Pictures and Other Stories (2013) Science Fiction
139. Welcome to the Medical Clinic at the Interplanetary Relay Station| Hours Since the Last Patient Death: 0 by Caroline M. Yoachim (2016) in The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2017
140. What Happened at Blessing Creek by Naomi Kritzer in Cat Pictures and Other Stories (2011) Fantasy
141. What Kelp Remembers by Eric Schwitzgebel (2014) Science Fiction
142. When Jesus Comes Down the Chimney by Ian Watson in Christmas Stars (1986) Science Fiction
143. The Wife’s Story by Ursula K. Le Guin in (1982) Supernatural
144. A Willingness to Act by Paul Miller & illustrated by Ricardo Bessa in Cricket Magazine March  2015 volume 42, number 6 (2015) Adventure
145. Winter Solstice, Camelot Station by John M. Ford in Christmas Stars (1986) Poem
146. The Witch of Orion Waste and the Boy Knight by E. Lily Yu (2016) in The Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy 2017  
147. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in The 13 Best Horror Stories of All Time (1892) Fiction

2017 Finalists for the Trixie and the Moai Book Award

Last year I decided that I was going to give 5 awards to the books I'd read that year that seem the most amazing. Books that I can't let go of or rather books that can't let me go...

It's totally arbitrary and nothing comes with the award but a little "sticker" I made to go on them. But I still want to recognize the amazing books I read this year.

So without further ado these are the finalists for the second annual Trixie and the Moai Book Award!

Once again there's a lot of stiff competition!!!