What else would you rather be doing than reading this Christmas? 🙂
Non-fiction
These two books have made me think the most deeply this year. My husband, Jonathan, and I have spent hours walking along the canal and discussing the aspects that have challenged us. I recommend the audiobooks because they will force a slower pace of ‘reading.'
Krista has a fantastic podcast that touches on the metaphysical side of life. She interviews the quieter voices, those who are not shouting for attention. There are no marketing tactics, no productivity tips. Just a discussion of what really matters. This book is Krista's selection of wisdom from those who have appeared on the show.
The complete opposite to Krista's podcast and book, but just as useful in a different way. This is Tim Ferriss' chosen excerpts from his podcast interviews with some of the top performers in the world. I have about 20 pages of notes from the book.
I've been a Tim fan since I read The Four Hour Work Week ten years ago. It gave me the spark I needed to change my career and basically led me to where I am today. So Tim is a kind of mentor for me through his podcasts and books – perhaps this particular book will help you too.
Short and very to the point. I have this in print and ebook because I like to have it with me at all times. I dip in and out and read a little chapter in between other things. It's a bit like Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield for me – it continues to kick my ass every time I read it!
I know the title won't fill you with excitement 🙂 But this book will save you time, money and pain – whether you are an indie or traditionally published. So many authors sign bad contracts with agents and publishers and that momentary decision may impact the rest of your life. Carrie Fisher signed a bad contract early on, signing away the rights to her image when she thought Star Wars would go nowhere. Authors sign contracts where they license worldwide rights, in all languages, in all formats, in all territories, for very little money, for the life of copyright – that's 70 years after the author's death. They might not realize at the time what they are signing because they are just so grateful to be published.
This book will empower you. Buy it and read it. You're likely to learn something wherever you are in your author career.
I'm humbly adding my own book to the list as it has resonated with a lot of writers this year. It includes excerpts from my own journals as I battle self-doubt, fear of failure, self-censorship, creative disappointment and much more. You are not alone on the rollercoaster of being a writer!
Fiction
A missing God. A library with the secrets to the universe. A woman too busy to notice her heart slipping away.
One of the most original supernatural thrillers I've read. Very dark. Definitely on the edge of horror.
I hadn't read this one before, and it has stuck with me all year. The island, the paintings, the little figures in the box. A great example of the long tail of fiction as this was published in 2008 and it's new to me this year.
Angels and battles and monsters and apocalypse. What else could you possible want? For fans of Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy.
I'm not a zombie fan, but I loved the World War Z (the book, not the film) for the incredible number of character POVs and the diversity of the cast. I'm not a vampire fan either but the V-Wars books got me for the same reason. I devoured them all in a few days and really enjoyed the diverse stories.
Here are more fiction books that I love – and if you enjoy supernatural thrillers, you can find my fiction as J.F.Penn here.
Happy Christmas Reading 2016!
Please leave your book recommendations in the comments below so we can all share reading happiness 🙂
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Hi Joanna. Duma Key. I should have trusted that you'd like this one. It was the one book I brought with me on our cross-country move. It's the shells under the house I keep hearing and enjoying. I haven't read King since Carrie. I just didn't like his writing. I don't know what changed, but since reading Duma Key, I can't get enough of him and see a definite string running through just about everything, starting with the second of the Dark Tower series. There is a story element that is slowly played out in just about every single book he's written since his accident. There may even be a touch of Sartre. King might be having fun with his readers, or he may have something in the works, the likes of which we've never experienced. One never know with that trickster :-) So much is happening in the world right now, spending time talking, thinking, reading, and sussing out what's really important seems like the most rational thing to be doing in this cultural climate. Thanks for the book suggestions. After a serious illness last February, I had to take the rest of the year off. It seems I need more time and look forward to more books to devour. All of these look fabulous. Happy New Year. I hope it's a fabulous one for you and yours.
Merry Christmas Joanna! Here are my favorite reads of 2016:
1)The remaining books from the Anniversary Day Saga in the Retrieval Artist Series by Kristine Kathryn Rusch. I read Search & Recovery, The Peyti Crisis, Vigilantes, Starbase Human, and Masterminds. The best way to describe this series is CSI meets Star Trek and deserves to have its own TV Series on the SyFy Network, Netflix, or Amazon Prime. http://marion-hill.com/category/retrieval-artist-series/
2) Downward to the Earth by Robert Silverberg: Silverberg wrote thought-provoking science fiction including religious and philosophical themes during his most profilic period of 1967-1976. Downward to the Earth is considered his best work and a homage to Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Also, the novel opens with a verse from the book of Ecclesiastes that got my attention. Writing a story about atonement for one's past sins made this novel worth reading despite being dated in its references. For those who looking for thought-provoking science fiction that incorporates religious themes well....Silverberg's books of that time are worth reading. And you can start with this one. http://marion-hill.com/book-review-77-downward-to-the-earth-by-robert-silverberg/
3) Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel: If there is such a thing as a gentle dystopian novel, then Station Eleven fits the bill. This popular novel has garnered a lot of attention and deservedly so. I don't need to go into great detail about the book. Just read it!! http://marion-hill.com/book-review-80-station-eleven-by-emily-st-john-mandel/
4) Breeder by Karin 'Hoyle' Ballstadt (Does anybody in this forum know this author? LOL): While Station Eleven could be described as a light or gentle dystopia, Breeder is the opposite. Not quite as dark or dire as The Road by McCarthy or Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler. But it is a strong dystopian novel and worth reading. I'm looking forward to reading Criminal (Book 2) in 2017 and Breeder is a solid novel that deserves to be read. http://marion-hill.com/book-review-87-breeder-by-k-b-hoyle/
5) Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler: The third dystopian novel on my list and they are all by women. I don't know what that means other than these women wrote some good books and deserved to be read. Ha! Anyway, The Parable of the Talents is probably the most challenging novel I've read in 2016. Butler takes aim at Evangelical Christianity and the Religious Right in the novel. Even though, I thought her presidential candidate bordered on caricature more than a fully rounded antagonist. Despite that misgiving...I found Parable of the Talents to be thought-provoking, well-written and disturbing at the same time. Also, it is the sequel to Parable of The Sower. However, you can read Talents and go back to read Sower afterwards. http://marion-hill.com/book-review-92-parable-of-the-talents-by-octavia-butler/
6) Independence Day by Richard Ford: This is the second book in the highly acclaimed Frank Bascombe novels. The story takes place around the 4th of July weekend and Frank Bascombe continues on with his life from The Sportswriter. Now in his 40's and divorced, Frank has to adjust to the changes in his life. It would be easy to dismiss the Frank Bascombe novels as liberal, white male, middle age angst. However, Richard Ford is a heck of a writer and can get quite introspective. I have enjoyed this novel and The Sportswriter quite a bit despite being diametrically opposed to Bascombe's worldview. That's the sign of a great writer. http://marion-hill.com/book-review-88-independence-day-by-richard-ford/
7) Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay: Kay has carved out a unique niche in fantasy literature and Ysabel enhances that reputation. Considered to be Kay's YA novel, Ysabel brings Roman and Celtic mythology into a contemporary setting in Aix-En-Provence of Southern France. I had a blast reading this novel and Kay is a writer that I will keep my eye on going forward. http://marion-hill.com/book-review-97-ysabel-by-guy-gavriel-kay/
8) Essentalism by Greg McKeown: My final book and non-fiction read of 2016. McKeown writes about how the essential philosophy should be incorporate into every aspect of our lives. I read this book twice in 2016 and surprisingly some principles of Essentialism allude to the Book of Proverbs and resonated with me. This book will be a permanent one of my bookshelf. A must read for sure. http://marion-hill.com/book-review-93-essentialism-by-greg-mckeown/
Those are my favorite reads of 2016. Looking forward to a great reading year in 2017.
Thanks for the awesome list. I'm getting some more samples for my Kindle!
You are welcome, Joanna!
Black Flag Rising by Jesse Russell
Oh my goodness.... What coincidence, posting this on the day of Carrie Fisher's death, since you mention her rights blunder. Wow!
I, too, read (and loved) the forward thinking in Four Hour Work Week!
My Recommendations: (other than my book-couldn't resist)
All The Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doer. Wonderful, wonderful, WONDERFUL tale about a blind girl during the time of Nazi's. ( I know, not your typical read, but I feel you will really enjoy this, it has all the genres. )
Origins (Series), by Mark Henrikson
I absolutely loved this & feel it suffers from a lack of discoverablity. It's a different recounting of history...and I'll just leave it at that.
Dean Kutzler- I couldn't agree more. All the Light We Cannot See is a spectacular book. Gorgeous language and so many intricate moments, revealing the characters. I worked with blind kids for 6 years so this one really spoke to me. Dazzling.
I read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah this year - another WWII story based on the women living in France at the time of the Nazi occupation. I found it deeply moving. She also has an eye for detail and quiet, profound moments. I learned a great deal.
In a lighter - sort of - vein, I read Ready Player One. Dystopia with vertical trailer parks. I worked in a video arcade in college back when Donkey Kong was the newest thing. I read Death in Venice while giving out change there... at any rate, I loved the book. It featured lots of my old favorites and it rang true in the way some science fiction does. Oddly familiar.
I also finally got to Stephen King's Misery. Great book. I never saw the movie but I couldn't see anyone but Kathy Bates every time Annie opened her mouth.
Can't wait to check out some of the books other folks have mentioned. Merry Happy, whatever you celebrate. Thanks for your generosity towards the writing community. I hope your New Year is great.
Oh my...Seriously, Kristen, Misery, is one of the only book s that truly "scared" me. Maybe because of the reality factor of it happening, or maybe it was just the writing, by, oh my! ?
Thanks for the other recommendations similar to All The Light We Cannot See (Damn long title only works because of the novel's brilliance), can't wait to check them out! ?
Marion - Station Eleven! How could I forget. Loved it. Thanks for reminding me of another great read from this year. :-)
You are welcome, Kristen. I really enjoyed Station Eleven.