top 20-ish books of 2017

This may seem like an odd post for April, seeing as how most everyone else advertised their 2017 favorites in December and January. But I've been putting a lot of time and energy into my editing business over the past few months and let this dear blog fall by the wayside. And since I haven't posted any book reviews in a while, I decided to smoosh all of my favorites from last year into one tidy list. In no particular order, here are my top books of 2017:

Fiction

Little Flower by Ted Oswald
Admittedly, though I gave it a 5/5 rating, all I wrote in my reading journal about this novel was, "Amazing, as usual." Ted Oswald is a gifted writer with a talent for making the reader feel truly present in his stories. This newest novel, set in India, is a gripping story about an elderly nun, a young prostitute, and a murdered man. How is that for attention-grabbing?

There Is a Land by Ted Oswald
Another book by Oswald, this second novel in the Libete Limye Mystery series is told from Libete's point of view but from two different points in time. Both suspenseful and poetic, it brings Haiti and the people who live there to life. (Start with Because We Are.)

Raj by Gita Mehta
Beautiful descriptive wording in this novel makes the story of India's independence interesting and accessible, in addition to the fact that it is told through the perspective of a single protagonist. I loved following Jaya's story, even though it wasn't always happy.

Breed of Giants by Joyce Stranger
This clean, romance-free horse story for adults is a beautiful tribute to Shire horses and the people who keep this draft breed alive even in modern times. (Full review here.)

Castle Waiting by Linda Medley
Even if you don't typically read graphic novels, I highly recommend this fun, unique fantasy with nods to classic fairy tales. There are two large volumes, but make sure you read the updated edition of the second volume, as the original ends rather abruptly. (Full review here.)

Bronze by B.B. Shepherd
Bronze is an engaging YA horse story with well-written descriptions and mental health themes. Though a bit cliché, I also thought it was very realistic and overall found it to be an addicting, light read. (Full review here.)

Exiles by Jaye L. Knight
This list would be woefully incomplete without Jaye L. Knight's latest book! I love the relationships in Exiles, as well as the introduction of new places and cultures (and really big trees). After a comfortably slow start, this novel is filled with lots of action and some really tense moments. If you haven't read any of the Ilyon Chronicles yet, you definitely should--it's one of my absolute favorites. (Click for reviews of books 1, 1.5, 2, and 3.)

Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
One of Kingsolver's many excellent novels, this book contains themes of relationships, conservation, nature, science, rural communities, and church. Nothing has an easy answer, and no one is perfect--life is complex and messy. Everyone has a story. Everything is connected.

The Wee Free Men and A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett
These first two books about the young witch Tiffany Aching are so, so funny! The second novel is a little creepy, and both are surprisingly, subtly wise.

The Dragon Quartet by Marjorie B. Kellogg
This fantasy/sci-fi crossover is both entertaining and relevant. It has compelling characters, interesting cultures and landscapes, a brilliant weaving together of times and places, and settings eerily parallel to our own. And dragons, of course!

The Girl from Everywhere duology by Heidi Heilig
I love all of the characters and relationships in this wonderful mixture of cultures, myths, and history. These books contain plenty of twists and turns and poor decisions and witty conversations, and I highly recommend them.

The Crows of Beara by Julie Christine Johnson
Something of a cross between the movie Leap Year and a Barbara Kingsolver novel, this book contains beautiful Irish landscapes, refreshingly believable characters, and a poetic story. It is a narrative of both people and place, and I love it.

Blood of Dragons by Robin Hobb
This is a great conclusion to the wonderful Rain Wilds Chronicles, a fantasy quartet that I highly recommend to all dragon lovers. (Full review here. If you haven't read the first three books, start here. And then read book two. And so on.)

Nonfiction

The Freelancer's Bible by Sara Horowitz
With tips on everything from setting up your desk to paying taxes, this truly is The Freelancer's Bible. I read a library copy cover-to-cover, and now I wish I had my own copy. If you are new to freelancing, this book is definitely worth a read.

A Journey with Mark by Marek P. Zabriskie
This is an excellent book for personal study of the Gospel of Mark. Although it is meant to be read at any time of the year, I found that it works very well as a Lenten devotional.

Good and Cheap by Leanne Brown
With a subtitle of "Eat Well on $4 a Day," this cookbook includes everything from shopping tips to suggestions for oatmeal mix-ins to a crustless quiche recipe. I first discovered the free downloadable PDF version and loved it so much that I later purchased the updated paperback. The recipes are simple, practical, and customizable.

Walden and Other Writings by Henry David Thoreau
I cannot even begin to tell how much I love this book. It is soul food, brain food, a brutal critique of humanity and beautiful portrait of simplicity with stunning descriptions that lend themselves well to being read aloud.

The Subversive Copyeditor by Carol Fisher Saller
A great resource for beginning copy editors, this little book is informative yet doused with wit. Although mostly about professional relationships, it also contains some tips on technique as well as a helpful section in the back that points to additional useful resources.

Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis
This book provides a fascinating, inspiring, remarkably relateable look into C.S. Lewis's youth, from his childhood in Belfast, Ireland, to his studies at Oxford. It's a book to savor. If you're a fan of Lewis, this is definitely a must-read.

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
This is a wonderful overview of Pakistan's recent history as well as a compelling story of Malala Yousafzai's incredible experience.

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In all, 2017 was an excellent reading year. I could have added a few more books to this list, and I did combine two books into one entry several times. So really, my top books of last year make up about half of what I read, since my grand total was 51 books. Hopefully 2018 will be just as good . . . I'm off to a decent start!

Have you read many good books yet this year? Share your favorites below!

devouring and savoring {mini book reviews}

Earlier this month, I set my Goodreads goal to a humble 36 books, my intent being to read two novels and one work of nonfiction each month, and to savor every book. Evidently, I'm much better at devouring novels--though I seem to be savoring my current nonfiction book quite well, which I am still only partway through. I somehow managed to read six novels in the month of January, and since I loved nearly all of them, I wanted to share some brief thoughts on each one, in case you might enjoy them, too. (You may notice that I have only five listed here--I also read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, but I plan to dedicate an entire post to reviewing the HP series later on.)



Blood of Dragons (Rain Wilds #4)
by Robin Hobb




This is a great conclusion to a great series. (If you haven't read the first three books, start here. And then read book two. And so on.) Lives are saved, lives are taken, and people learn to stand up for themselves, as well as for each other. I loved watching the characters grow and change and become themselves throughout this series. Blood of Dragons has fewer cliffhanger chapter endings and slightly less (non-graphic) sexual content than the previous three books, but it is still there. I highly recommend The Rain Wilds Chronicles!

4/5 leaves

Breed of Giants

by Joyce Stranger

Despite my small stature, I am hopelessly attracted to large things--books, trees, horses. . . . So there was no question when I found this small (ironically) novel about the largest horse breed as to whether I would buy it. It exceeded my expectations. Breed of Giants is a beautiful tribute to Shire horses and the people who keep this draft breed alive even in modern times. This clean, romance-free horse story for adults (yes, you read that right--feel free to do a happy dance) includes animal perspectives, such as that of Brock the badger, without anthropomorphizing, and the human characters are colorful yet realistic.

5/5 leaves

Castle Waiting (Volume I)

by Linda Medley

This serendipitous library find is perhaps the first graphic novel I've ever read. An omnibus, it attracted me with its immense size, green spine, and intriguing title. Inside, it contains a fun fantasy with nods to classic fairy tales, and yet the story itself is entirely unique. The equally unique characters are easy to empathize with--I can hardly begin to pick a favorite. Though I wouldn't categorize this book as religious fiction, Peace, being a nun, has a Christian theme to her tale. This squeaky-clean graphic novel does have a few mature scenes that might go over the heads of younger readers.

5/5 leaves

The Namesake

by Jhumpa Lahiri

I enjoyed reading about the (fictional) experience of an Indian immigrant in the U.S.--the cultural contrasts, the very real emotions, the methods of coping in a place that is not home, the themes of family and loneliness. Ashima's story drew me into this novel, her unique perspective dominating the beginning. However, the book quickly switches to her son's point-of-view and remains there for most of the book, and I found his character bland and almost boring. I enjoyed the overarching story, and the ending was very good, but I just didn't click with the main protagonist.

2.5/5 leaves

Shadow Scale (Seraphina #2)

by Rachel Hartman

This second book in the Seraphina duology about humans, dragons, and half-dragons, and their struggle to coexist--or not---is brilliantly and artfully woven together. Pieces fell into place as part of schemes I couldn't have imagined, though it all made perfect sense. There were also many grey areas; I found myself asking, Is the antagonist was really a villain, or a tragic victim of circumstance? Although I didn't at all like how the love-triangle was "solved," the ending of this novel was simultaneously heartbreaking and hopeful.

4/5 leaves

around the world {book haul}

Funny how I plan to read books already on my shelves, and somehow end up with a stack of new ones. . . . Three of these were gifts (one to my husband), and one was an impulse buy. The three that are mine each take place in a different country, so I look forward to adding them to my Reading the World list!

The Hundred Secret Senses
by Amy Tan

I don't know much about this book other than that it's about a Chinese-American family and involves both countries. My mother-in-law gave it to me when I saw her in Texas for a wedding a few weeks ago, having already read and enjoyed it herself. It's perfect shape and well-loved look makes me want to pick it up and start reading immediately!

Island of the World
by Michael D. O'Brien

The sheer size of this massive hardcover, plus an intriguing title and beautiful cover, led me to pick it up in a thrift store and refuse to leave without it. Island of the World centers around the life of a boy who grows up during World War II, and the summary promises a novel just as beautiful and haunting as the cover (which, by the way, was created by the author . . .).

Blessed by Thunder
by Flor Fernandez Barrios

While in Texas, we "happened upon" a used bookshop, and my mother-in-law offered to buy each of us--my husband, his brother, and myself--a two dollar book from the sale racks on the sidewalk. I chose this Cuban memoir, about a woman who grew up under the rule of Fidel Castro.

Rogue Lawyer
by John Grisham

This is obviously my husband's choice from the used bookshop, and I have no idea what it's about, nor any intention of reading it. So why did I include it in the stack? Good question. . . .

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From the Editor's Desk {Tip of the Week}

don't dangle participles!

Incorrect: While editing the manuscript, the doorbell rang and interrupted her.

The doorbell certainly wasn't editing the manuscript, so this should be rewritten to make clear that the "her" mentioned at the end of the sentence was doing the editing.

Correct: While she was editing the manuscript, the doorbell rang and interrupted her.

Also correct: While editing the manuscript, she was interrupted by the doorbell ringing.

Need an editor? Check out www.serenaedits.com.

I offer copyediting and proofreading services for everything from blogs to books!

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a trot around the globe {mini reviews}

It's funny how the books I choose to write mini reviews for often have a theme. This time, all three books are set in different countries: Iceland, India, and Russia. I actually wrote full reviews of the first two for OnlineBookClub.org, so click on the titles if you'd like to view those (the third simply links to Goodreads)!

Goodbye Bombay
by Gry Finsnes

I had high hopes for this novel about an expat in India, but unfortunately, it fell short. Although the story was actually very captivating, I disliked the protagonist, Christine, who seemed quite irrational and self-centered. And I'm so very tired of affairs and broken marriages! What about healthy relationships? Can we read about those for a change? To her credit, Fisnes does include vivid, colorful imagery and tantalizing descriptions of food, and Christine has two kind, loyal friends whom I adored. If you like romance, you may enjoy this one more than I did!

3/5 leaves

The Silver Arrow
by Ieda Jonasdottir Herman

When considered as a middle-grade novel (despite the teenaged protagonists), this is an enjoyable read with a fun adventure. I really appreciated the unique Icelandic setting, and I loved the possibility of Hidden Folk and Finna's unwavering belief in them even when others scoffed at her. Unfortunately, the book has quite a few flaws, starting with the rushed first chapter and the unnatural dialogue throughout. And an unexpected twist launches the story into absurd, unrealistic nonsense. The combination of Icelandic folklore, aliens, and Norse gods is an interesting concept, but poorly executed.

2/5 leaves

Egg and Spoon
by Gregory Maguire

Adventure. Mayhem. Magic. This delightful fairytale full of Russian folklore and hilarity falls on the younger end of the young adult spectrum, but it's very fun. It's a beautiful weaving of lives, and each has their own story--there is so much growth and depth in so many different characters! Baba Yaga, of course, is a wonderfully fun character. There is definitely more to her than meets the eye! And what an impossibly beautiful ending. Egg and Spoon includes a good old fashioned "moral of the story," but one of the best I've ever read in a fairytale. In fact, I pulled several nuggets of truth from this book. Among them: "Live your life," spread the wealth, everything is connected (and one missing piece affects the whole puzzle), and family is important.

4/5 leaves

reading the world

I love to travel. I love visiting new places, seeing the landscape, experiencing the culture, eating the food, learning how other people live, and how we're really all the same--if we take the time to recognize each others'  beautiful souls. I even love walking through the airport, and, yes, sitting on an airplane (12-hour flight? bring it on). I love the anticipation, the excitement, the realization that this pressing, rushing crowd is comprised of individuals from a thousand different places and experiences.

But I can't always be traveling! Someday, when I'm rich (ha), I'll pack a small bag of clothes and a suitcase full of books and explore the world. Until then? I can satisfy my immense wanderlust through books. And the beauty of it is, I don't have to limit myself to dry, dense, technical nonfiction--there are some great memoirs and biographies out there, yes, but fiction can also include vivid, beautiful descriptions of very real cultures and places. I can enjoy a made-up story about made-up people and still learn about the world I live in!

I also believe in the importance of reading diverse books--a variety of stories written by and about people of all backgrounds and experiences. My bookshelf is full of books written by white authors and based in American or western European settings, and I want to change that.

Poland (I can't for the life of me remember which city this is. Krakow or Wroclaw, I think.)

So. I'm going to begin documenting the places that I travel to through reading, and you can follow along by checking out that new link in the menu bar at the top of my blog that says "reading the world."

On that page, I've compiled a list of UN-recognized countries (plus a few others) that I can use to organize books by the country in which they are set, marking them with an * if the author has lived in that country and an ** if the author is from that country.

Peruvian highlands

Because I read a lot of books set in the U.S., I won't be including all of them in this list. I'll list them on a case-by-case basis, so if you have any questions about why I included a specific book (U.S. or otherwise), please don't hesitate to contact me! Additionally, a lot of fantasy books are written in settings based on real places, and so those, too, will be included on a case-by-case basis.

You may notice that I listed "Romani people" among the European countries. Romani people do not "belong to" any one country or territory, but their culture is equally as important as anyone else's, and so, because they span an entire continent (and beyond!), I've chosen to list them separately rather than try to box them into a single country.

Want to travel the world with me? Feel free to copy the list of countries I've compiled and begin documenting your own journey. I'd love to see where you visit, so please share a link if you choose to  join in the fun!

Thailand (just outside Chiang Mai)

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Do you enjoy traveling? Which countries have you been to? And, tell me, what is your favorite book set outside your own country?