2017 Reads
Like many, I read in waves. 2017 was an arrow up year. I read so many lovely things this year, some that really touched me.
The Sympathizer — by Viet Thanh Nguyen [The best book I’ve read in a very long time. Grabs you by the throat from the first line and never lets go. It balances a very sad story with levity and amazing description and presents a fresh angle about the Vietnam War. I can’t believe it’s the author’s first book.]
The Light of the World — by Elizabeth Alexander [A gorgeous book about losing a beloved partner. The melancholy is balanced by the beautiful prose. Read like poetry in many parts.]
White Working Class — by Joan Williams [Written by a self identified liberal, New York, elitist this book tries to break down stereotypes and answer some the questions that dems are asking in their own echo chambers about working class values. In these extremely polarizing times, it gave me empathy and a breath of fresh understanding.]
Here I am — by Jonathan Safran Foer [I’m obsessed with some of the concepts in this book. Some passages I’ve played over and over in my mind and will likely stay with me forever. I’ve heard certain critics say that the children were too precocious. Who cares? It’s fiction just go with it and enjoy.]
Freedom — by Jonathan Franzen [Hate is too strong of a word, but I strongly disliked this book. The writing was good, but the characters were either annoying or deplorable, and their sweet ending didn’t feel deserved.]
Geisha, a Life — by Mineko Iwasaki [Read in preparation for a trip to Kyoto. This is the real Memoirs of a Geisha. Authentic and it didn’t need the lure of prostitution to still be a very interesting account about geisha culture.]
Half of the Yellow Sun — by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie [Deft writing about a topic that was important to learn about (the Biafran War) but so so sad with more helpings of sad on the side.]
Bonfire of the Vanities — by Tom Wolfe [Great, great, great. Classic for a reason. Worth reading.]
The Year of Magical Thinking — by Joan Didion [I’m in the middle of this book now. My first read of Ms. Didion’s. So far it’s…ok?]