Monday, November 20, 2017

Ramblings from the Stacks - Tell Me What to Read

Somehow we are flying towards the end of 2017 which just doesn't quite seem possible.  And somehow it's time to start thinking about what I'm going to reading in 2018.  This part is weird because 2018 still sounds like a fictional year to me.  Something out of a science fiction book or a date when you really just mean impossibly far away.  But regardless of that 2018 is really just a few weeks away and I have to start doing some reading planning!

The past few years I've picked 5 books that are a bit outside of my comfort level - pretty much anything in the fantasy, science fiction or YA genres. Some have been huge hits and others not so much but it's been very much a learning experience and I've really enjoyed broadening my reading just a little.

For 2017 I picked 12 Middle Grade books and 12 books that I'd been wanting to read for ages but just never made the time.  This had me reading books like In the Woods by Tana French, A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchey, and The Lake House by Kate Morton.  I've really enjoyed it and it's been nice to get a few of the "I really want to read that" books off my list.

But now it's time to make my lists for 2018 and I need some help!

For Middle Grade I'm reading some more of the series I've started this year like Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica George and finishing up the Melendy family series by Elizabeth Enright.  But what Middle Grade books do I need to add to my list?  I'm looking for both classic and recent.

For my "Out of the Wheelhouse" books I'm thinking of reading something by Illona Andrews but not sure which one and have had a hard time thinking of other choices.  Maybe The Martian by Andy Weir?  I've seen the movie but that doesn't count.

As for books I've wanted to read for ages I'm thinking a Liane Moriarty book but am not sure what else.

So tell me - what book do I need to read?  I'm open to any genre and any age.  Really any book that just needs to be read in 2018!

23 comments:

  1. I have wanted to try something by Illona Andrews too. The Martian on audio was great. I loved most of Liane Moriarty's books. Big Little Lies and The Husbands Secret are favorites from her.

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    1. These 3 have been on my list st forever. I think 2018 is the year to make it happen!

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  2. Ilona Andrews seems very popular, I've been tempted to try some of those too. I second Grace on Big Little Lies, easily my favorite Moriarty so far. For middle grade I'd recommend The Cats of Tanglewood Forest or Emilie and the Hollow World.

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    1. I haven't heard of either of the MGs but I'm intrigued! I'm leaning towards Big Little Lies. I really like the plot of My Husband's Secrets but Big Little Lies has much more recommendations.

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  3. I'm waiting for the last Kate Daniels book to come out!

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  4. I've read several MG books this year that I've loved: WISHTREE by Katherine Applegate (although THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN is my favorite of hers), YOU MAY ALREADY BE A WINNER by Ann Dee Ellis, and FORGET ME NOT by Ellie Terry. I also love all of Cynthia Lord's MG books as well as the Al Capone series by Gennifer Choldenko.

    As for Moriarty, BIG LITTLE LIES is my favorite of hers. I also really liked WHAT ALICE FORGOT and THE HUSBAND'S SECRET.

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  5. The Martian audiobook was a favorite of mine!

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  6. I've two children's books to suggest - one is Cressida Cowell's series How To Train Your Dragon and the other is the excellent Knights of the Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden.

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    1. I have How to Train Your Dragon on my TBR but I'm adding the Rubben series.

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  7. Eeee! Curran! Ilona Andrews is awesome. They're a fantastic writing team. Book one was a little slow for me but after that...woo!

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    1. Oh thanks for the heads up. If the first book isn't a wow I won't be discouraged.

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  8. I recommend The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty. It was my Throwback Thursday post last week. ( :

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    1. I love the sound of the plot for The Husband's Secret!

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  9. The Martian is a great choice! And the book is so much better than the movie (and I enjoyed the movie).

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  10. The Martian for sure - but on audiobook. In terms of middle grade I highly recommend Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt and Wonder by R. J. Polacio is not to be missed ( movie just out but the book was great). Big Little Lies by Moriarty. I see the One and Only Ivan recommended above - that's good too. And ah... why not try a psy/changeling nalini singh first in the series. Just sayin'!

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    1. Oh I like the idea of trying Nalini Singh! I've heard amazing things. I've been thinking about Wonder. The movie looks good and that's made me curious about the book.

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  11. I love Liane Moriarty and What Alice Forgot is my favourite of all her books. Hmmhh trying to think who else to recommend....What about Dark Matter by Blake Crouch, it's a science fiction thriller that was very much outside my normal choices but it was one of my favourite books of 2016. My fav of 2017 is Last Christmas in Paris and I know you'll love that one so hopefully you'll get to read that soon too.

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  12. Well, you know that I love Ilona Andrews. The Kate Daniels series and the Hidden Legacy series are both wonderful.

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