Sunday Post: My Favorite Love Story, February TBR List Winner, & Keeping Busy

New to My Shelves: February's My Lit Box arrived in the mail Friday, and I was eager to open it as always. The theme of the February box is "Three's a Crowd." The book selection this month focuses on loss, friendship, healing, and forgiveness, and many of the items in the box reflect those things in one way or another. I am anxious to read Adam Silvera's book, History is All You Left Me.

Arriving the same day, was a copy of Shades of Milk and Honey (Glamourist Histories #1) by Mary Robinette Kowal (which was one of the winners in my end of the year survey of books recommended by you I will be reading in the next few months--sooner than later, I'm sure!).  The cover of my copy is the older version (I couldn't find the book in my local library system, but was able to purchase a used copy). I thought I would share both covers with you. Which do you prefer?

(the older version)

(the newer version)

What I Am Reading: I am still reading The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood and likely will be all month long as part of the read-along. I finished Tessa Arlen's A Death By Any Other Name and hope to be starting my February TBR List winner shortly.

What I Am Listening To: I am in between audio books at the moment. I need to decide on my next one soon. Do I want to jump back into the In Death series by J.D. Robb, maybe try another nonfiction memoir, or go with something else entirely? The jury is still out.

What I Am Watching: I admit to not feeling very invested in Blacklist this season, but Blacklist: Redemption, which starts in a couple weeks has caught my eye. I also am all caught up with Timeless, which I am still enjoying and trying to ignore the glaring historical discrepancies. I have been watching OA, which I'm still on the fence about. There's also been a lot of My Little Pony and Popples in our house of late. I plan to watch the mid-season premiere of The Walking Dead Monday (a day late, instead of my usual week late), which I am excited about seeing. Especially after the end of the last season. 

What's Going On Off the Blog: The Christmas tree and decorations are finally down. We decided against decorating it for Valentine's Day this year. My back is mostly back to normal. The cookie sales are coming along. I had a nice lunch with a friend the other day. Work has been busy. I attended a symposium about internet use and children and families, which highlighted the benefits as well as the risk. And I have been trying to decide (at the last minute no less) where to have my daughter's birthday. That's about it really.

Around the Blogosphere:

• Carole of Carole's Random Life in Books is a discussion worth weighing in on: Random Book Talk - To Re-Read or Not To Re-Read?
• Greg of Book Haven raises a good question: Does Time Dilute The Impact of a Book?
• Books to add to my wish list for my daughter thanks to Suko of Suko's Notebook Three Picture Books for Children

This Week In Reading Mews:

• Mouse's Corner: Flat Stanley Series (I Can Read! Level 2)
• Where Is Your Bookmark? (Top Ten Secondary/Minor Characters I Wish Could Have Their Own Books) (& Top Ten New-To-Me-Series Authors Read So Far in 2016)
• Bookish Thoughts: All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai

Tell me about what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your week? Do you have anything planned for this coming week?

*

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

What is your favorite Valentine's Day read?

I was not sure if I should answer this question in relation to an actual Valentine's Day read or perhaps mention my favorite love story. I cannot say I have a favorite Valentine's Day read per say. It's a holiday that usually passes with a small amount of fanfare in our house (exchanging of cards, maybe a stuffed animal or small inexpensive gift exchanged, if that). I don't generally read anything different than usual around this time of year. Except maybe in children's books. My daughter really likes the book Max's Valentine by Rosemary Wells, but, if I am honest, I'm not particularly smitten with it.

I imagine for Valentine's Day this year, I'll be reading The Handmaid's Tale or my cozy mystery winner.

If we are talking about a favorite love story (which I wouldn't mind reading anytime during the year), I am tempted to list a Jane Austen novel like Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, or even Emma because I have such love for these books. Or what about The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon, a young adult novel I read last year which I adored? I think though, I will have to go with The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan, a historical fiction novel set in the early 20th century, in and around Niagara Falls, Canada. Tom and Bess were made for each other and I love their story, not to mention the history surrounding the setting and time period. The love story is only a part of this novel, but it's a memorable one.

What about you? Do you have a favorite Valentine read or love story (It doesn't have to be a romance novel)?

*

Thank you for helping me decide what book from my TBR collection I should read next:

My TBR List is a meme hosted by the awesome Michelle at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Sunday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and take a poll as to which you think I should read. I will read the winner that month, and my review will follow. While I will attempt to post my review that same month, I make no promises--it may go up the following month. 

It was a close race this past week! One vote separated the winner from the second runner up. Coming in at third was Books of a Feather by Kate Carlisle with 6 votes (26.1%). Crime and Poetry by Amanda Flowers came in second with 8 votes (34.8%). And the winner,  receiving 9 votes (39.1%), is Terrie Farley Moran's Read to Death! I am eager to read this one. Thank you to all who voted.

On the other coast, in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, Terrie Farley Moran's Read to Death features Sassy Cabot and Bridgy Mayfield, owners of a bookshop cafe. Upon returning from a day outing, the women and their book club find their driver murdered. All suspicion falls on the book club members--could a killer really be among them? And if so, who?


I hope you all have a great week! Happy Reading!

The Sunday Post is hosted by the wonderful Kimba, the Caffeinated Book Reviewer, and gives us all a chance to recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. 

---

 © 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

2016: A Year in Review & Looking Ahead (Part 2)

I enjoyed answering Jamie's (The Perpetual Page Turner) End of the Year Survey in past years and decided to join in again this year. If you haven't already, please check out the first half of my survey where I talk about my favorite reads of the year.

Read Part 1 of my 2016: A Year in Review Post to see what books most caught my attention last year!

My Blogging Bookish Life

In 2016 I published 159 blog posts. August was my most prolific month with 18 posts, and September was my slowest with only 9 posts. That's still pretty good considering.

This past July, I celebrated 10 years of book blogging. Where has the time gone?!  Thank you to everyone who has visited, read and/or commented here at Musings of a Bookish Kitty throughout the years. I cannot express just how much that means to me. You all are the reason I have kept at it for all these years. Well, that and my love for books. Obviously. 

The second year of my Postal Mail Club was another successful one. Each member selects a book and mails it along with a journal to their specified person on the club member list. We have two months to read the book, journal our thoughts, and then we mail the book to the next person on the list. This year, the books chosen were not necessarily ones on my radar, and some were even ones I would have passed over completely otherwise. That is part of the fun of being a part of a group like this.

Postal Mail Club books read in 2016:

• Beasts of No Nation by Uzodinma Iweala (my pick)
• The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
• The Lost Garden by Helen Humphreys
• Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
• Love Anthony by Lisa Genova
• The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist

Memes

At the beginning of 2016, I began participating in Michelle's My TBR List Meme at Because Reading, enlisting your help in choosing one book each month to read. I really enjoyed having you all take an active part in selecting what I would read. It can be difficult to choose on my own with so many choices. I can waste a lot of time deciding! I am grateful to Michelle for coming up with the idea. I plan to continue to participate in the meme in 2017, and hope you will join me! 

Books Read Because Of You (My TBR List Poll Winners of 2016):

• January: What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan
• February: Delia's Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer
• March: The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
• April: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
• May: Charming by Elliott James
• June: The Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister
• July: 'Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick
• August: Lost in Geeklandia by E.J. Russell
• September: The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
• October: A Dark and Stormy Murder by Julia Buckley
• November: The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
• December: White Christmas by Rebecca York

I regularly participated in Diane's (Bibliophile By the Sea) First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros meme and later added in Tuesday Teasers (now hosted by Ambrosia of The Purple Booker), which seemed a natural progression. I also took part in the weekly Book Blogger Hop hosted by Billy (Coffee Addicted Writer) and The Sunday Post hosted by the wonderful Kim, the Caffeinated Book Reviewer. I have met so many new-to-me bloggers as a result. While my participation in Broke and Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday was at times sporadic, I had such fun coming up with lists--who among us doesn't like bookish lists?

I am so thankful to all of you who host these memes. It's amazing that you are able to keep up. Diane and Michelle, especially, make a point of visiting every blog who link to their memes, something I appreciate and admire.

In 2016, I tried out Karen's Beyond the Books topic, which was a lot of fun. My participation fizzled out after awhile, I'm afraid. Life got too busy to keep up. I also tried a couple other memes here and there as well, but they didn't stick.


Challenges

This past year, I signed up for several challenges early on. I tackled the TBR Triple Dog Dare hosted by James of James Reads Books in my own way and managed to complete it successfully. I also participated in last winter's Clean Out Your E-Reads Challenge hosted by Berls of Fantasy is More Fun, Michelle of Because Reading Is Better Than Real Life, and Stormi of Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My!. which went hand in hand with the TBR Triple Dog Dare. I took on The Nonfiction Challenge, hosted by Jennifer of The Introverted Reader, with the goal to read between one and five nonfiction books. Well, I read one. So, I guess you can say that counts as a win, although not a very satisfying one.

I attempted to take on FitReaders hosted by Felicia of The Geeky Blogger's Book Blog and Jen from That's What I'm Talking About, but lost steam somewhere in there. I got sick or something and just never got my momentum back. While I don't think I will be joining them again this coming year, I do plan to make an effort to become more active again. Poor motivation and stick-to-it-ness are my weaknesses. I just have to keep getting back on the wagon.

My other challenge failure in 2017 was the What's In a Name? Reading Challenge hosted by Charlie of The Worm Hole. I managed to read three books that fit into one of the six categories.

• A country (try not to use ‘Africa’!) - If Neverwhere  were a country then maybe. But it's not. It's just Below.
• An item of clothing - The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer
• An item of furniture - My husband says a broken wheel (The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend) doesn't count. 
• A profession - The Fireman by Joe Hill
• A month of the year - June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemere
• A title with the word ‘tree’ in it - I began reading The Syringa Tree by Pamela Gien, but could not get into it, and so gave up. I had really hoped to like it. The novel is set in South Africa during the apartheid. 

2016 Goals

How did I do with 2016's  reading and blogging oriented goals? Let's have a look:

1. Keep track of last sentences in 2016.  By keeping a  log of last sentences from the books I read this past year, I was even more cognizant of just how significant a role they can play in my reading experience. Going back and reading through them at the end of the year, brought back so many of the books for me, including the feelings I had reading the books. I plan to do this again in 2017, along with continuing to keep track of first sentences.

2. Make more time to read.  Yeah. I read less this year than I have in four years. I don't think I did too well with this goal. 

3. Make Mouse's Corner a more regular feature on my blog. Also didn't happen. It looked like it might happen for awhile there this past summer, but then life got too busy again to keep up.

Looking Ahead

I will not be participating in any challenges this year. As tempting as many of them sound, I like the idea of reading to my own tune this year. I also plan to participate in fewer book tours. I always try to only accept tour requests for books I really want to read, but occasionally I still get in over my head. There are so many great sounding books out there, after all.

Thank you to everyone who shared their recommendations with me in my poll last month. I plan to share the list of recommendations in a separate post shortly.

For several years now I have heard and seen people adopt one word of the year to inspire, guide and focus on each year. It's never something I took part in though. Until now. I got thinking about it a few weeks ago, playing around with the idea of choosing my own word. I floundered about for awhile, until finally seeking advice from friends on how best to come up with a word. The general consensus was that the word would more likely find me. One friend recommended journaling, or jotting down my thoughts in stream of conscious style, and it set me off on a different path than I had been on in coming up with my one word.

Journaling, brainstorming, poetry, creative writing, Girl Scouts, crafts, music, building, guiding, work, creative, creativity, creating . . . Create. And I had it! My word had found me. I felt both excitement and a bit of fear as I considered the word more fully in my mind. I like the Free Dictionary's definition of create the best:

1. To cause to exist; bring into being.
2. To give rise to; produce.
3. To produce through artistic or imaginative effort.

It is the third point that stands out the most for me in what I hope to focus and work on this year. Although the others may come into play in other ways.

What I want to do this new year is write more. Not just blog posts, but write more for myself. I want to start journaling again, and find my way back into letter writing. Most of all, I want to get back to writing creatively, be it stories or poetry. I also want to explore and develop a more defined place with my Girl Scout troop. I am not the most crafty person, but I do love to sing--and so do the girls. I can also think of places in my work and family life my word can be beneficial. I am a passive person in many respects, but with my word, I hope to begin to open myself up to opportunities to grow and, well, create. From what I understand, these words can take on lives of their own, and I look forward to seeing what 2017 will hold for me and how my word and I will grow and evolve over the course of the year.

I am also excited to see what the new year will hold for us in books. I look forward to hearing about what you are reading and comparing notes on books read that we have in common.

• Do you belong to any book groups? What did you read this year?
• How did you do on your 2016 reading challenges? 
• What are your reading and life goals for this year? Did you come up with one word to focus on this year?
• What are you most looking forward to in 2017?

I hope you all have an amazing New Year.

Mouse looking out the window 

to see what 2017 will bring.

---

© 2017, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

2016: A Year in Review (Part 1)

I enjoyed answering Jamie's (The Perpetual Page Turner) End of the Year Survey in past years and decided to join in again this year.  I did alter some of the questions and subtracted a few to make it my own.

Read Part 2 of my 2016: A Year in Review & Looking Ahead.

Overall I felt 2016 was a good reading year. I read less than I have in a while, but, for the most part, I enjoyed what I did read. There's a feeling a reader gets when opening a new book, one of anticipation and maybe a little fear. What if I hate it? What if I love it? Oh, I hope I love it! This year I was swept off my feet, visited new worlds, cried until my eyes were swollen and red, laughed, paced while I read as the tension kept building, and closed many books with an audible sigh of contentment, some of which left me deep in thought for a long time after.

Some Fun Meaningless 2016 Reading Statistics:

Number Of Books Read: 65

Genre Read The Most From:

(Some of what I read falls under more than one genre. Here, I count them under the genre I most identified with the book, Also of note, my categorization of each book by sub-genre using broad definitions).

Fiction - 23

• 11 Contemporary Fiction (Literary, Women's, General)
• 9 Historical Fiction
• 2 Young Adult
• 1 Thriller

Crime Fiction - 21 

• 6 Thrillers
• 5 Historical
• 4 Cozies
• 3 Mysteries
• 2 Science Fiction 
• 1 Paranormal/NonCozy

Fantasy/Science Fiction - 15

• 7 Urban Fantasy
• 2 Young Adult High Fantasy
• 1 Middle Grade Fantasy
• 2 High Fantasy Romance
• 3 Science Fiction (1 Dystopian)

Romance - 5

Nonfiction - 1 

Of the book I read, 6 were audio books.

19 of the 65 books I read in 2016 were written by men.
1 of  the 65 was written by a male/female writing team.

Month I Read the Most Books: May (8)
Months I Read the Least Books: March (3)

Best In Books

1. Favorite Reads in 2016?

Five books earned my top rating in 2016 (5 Paws).  They each had that "wow" factor that is made up of a combination of good writing, well-developed characters, a memorable setting or world-building, an entertaining or thought provoking story, and one that brings out an array of my emotions. A book that makes me cry is worth its weight in gold. I went back to read my reviews when compiling this list, and I still feel the same excitement and awe I felt when I was reading them. 

The Night Parade by Kathryn Tanquary 

I had this to say about The Night Parade in my review: 

What a delightful book The Night Parade turned out to be! I loved every minute of it. I lost myself in the pages and wished I could join Saki on her adventures through the spirit world. The vivid descriptions, the sometimes quirky and always interesting characters, and the world Kathryn Tanquary has created had me under their spell as I read this novel. The story may seem simple on the surface, but it is quite complex when you look at it more closely.

The Hummingbird by Stephen P. Kiernan

I had this to say about The Hummingbird in my review: 

Healing and forgiveness are at the center of this novel as it deals with the difficult topics of war and dying. Stephen P. Kiernan expertly takes three seemingly different stories, one from the past and two from the present, and weaves them together. The Hummingbird is an emotional and thought provoking novel that will resonant with many readers.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

I had this to say about Neverwhere in my review: 

A mixed band of individuals going on a quest is not new to the fantasy genre, but I like Gaiman's approach to it in Neverwhere. An astute reader may notice the several literary allusions, although it isn't at all necessary to do so to enjoy the novel. I'm sure I missed half of them at least. Gaiman's sense of humor, the enduring and interesting characters, and the mystery surrounding Door's family's death kept me riveted to the pages of the novel. I found Neverwhere to be extremely entertaining and a fun read over all.

When the Moon Is Low by Naida Hashimi

I had this to say about When the Moon Is Low in my review: 

I fell in love with this novel from the start. The writing is beautiful. The characters feel so real. The story is such a sad one, intense, and heartbreaking, and yet there is also hope. Hope that they will reach their family in England. Hope that they will find a better life elsewhere. There was breath-holding and tears--both happy and sad.

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon

I had this to say about The Sun Is Also a Star in my review: 

Fellow readers, I am so enamored with this book. Eleanor and Park, move over. There's a new young couple in my heart. [...] Nicola Yoon's writing style drew me in immediately. I appreciated the way Yoon told Natasha and Daniel's story. I liked the shifts in perspective, including the side stories of some of the minor characters. It was a good reminder of how our actions or inactions, however big or small, something so simple as a smile or a thank you--or lack thereof--can impact another's day. Our actions have consequences, whether good or bad, intended or not. We are all connected in some way.

Although not in my top five, The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum by Kirsten Weiss came close and was my favorite crime fiction novel of the year. It is rare a cozy ends up being one of my favorite, although I do enjoy the sub-grenre from time to time. There was just something about this one that set it above the rest, and I am looking forward to reading the next in the series this coming year.

2. Book I Was Excited About & Thought I Was Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Jesmyn Ward's Salvage the Bones sounded so good from its description, set in the South around the time of Hurricane Katrina. The writing is beautiful, and it's one of those books I feel like I would have loved if I had been able to get past the animal cruelty and dog fighting. Alas, it was too much for me and it ultimately hurt my enjoyment of the novel.

3. Most Surprising Book I Read?

The Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister was a surprise to me. Somehow I got it in my head this was more of a mystery than it actually was. I also wasn't expecting it to be a historical novel. I must have forgotten that when I finally picked up the book to read. Regardless, I ended up really enjoying The Magician's Lie.

4. Book I “Pushed” The Most People To Read? 

Both my mom and mother-in-law received copies of Nadia Hashimi's When the Moon Is Low for Christmas this year. And I have been recommending The Hummingbird by Stephen P. Kiernan right and left. Also, Nicola Yoon's The Sun Is Also a Star. The Invisible Library series is a must read for anyone who enjoys fantasy and adventure.

5. Best series I started in 2016? 

So many! I am always starting new series (which is bad for all the series I have yet to finish). If I had to pick just one, I would have to say The Invisible Library Series by Genevieve Cogman. I read both The Invisible Library and The Masked City. It is such a fun series that features a librarian spy who travels between dimensions. Her home base has a distinct Victorian feel to it, with steampunk qualities.

Seraphina and Shadow Scale, books in Rachel Hartman's duology featuring dragons and humans living side by side, was quite enjoyable as well. I look forward to visiting that world again.

6. Favorite Authors I Discovered in 2016?

I know I should narrow this list down more, but I I find it impossible to do so any further. All of these amazing authors are new to me, and I definitely plan to read more of their books at some point in the future.

Miranda Beverly-Whittemore

Katarina Bivald

Genevieve Cogman

Lia Davis

Nicole Dennis-Benn

Rachel Hartman

Naida Hashimi

Ninni Holmqvist

Greer Macallister

Danielle Monsch
Delores Fossen

Jaime Lee Moyer

Amanda Quick

John Scalzi

Kathryn Tanqaury

Ruth Ware

Kirsten Weiss

Nicola Yoon

7. Best Book From a Genre I Don’t Typically Read/Was Out of My Comfort Zone?

Grace Without God: The Search for Meaning, Purpose, and Belonging in a Secular Age by Katherine Ozment came at the perfect time for me, and I could relate to much of the author's own struggles with faith and religion. While the subject matter has long interested me, it isn't something I often read about and it definitely isn't something I am comfortable talking about on such a public forum as my blog. And yet, I did, and it was worth it.

8. Most Action-packed/Thrilling/Unputdownable Book of the Year?

In audio, that would easily be John Scalzi's Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas, which I couldn't tear myself away from and listened to in one day.

In print, I will have to go with The Invisible Library and The Masked City by Genevieve Cogman. Both books had me from the start, and were almost full of nonstop action from start to finish. Another one that comes close to being just as action packed is Charming by Elliott James, an urban fantasy novel that, once it had me in its clutches, wouldn't let go. 

9. Top Five Favorite Covers of Books I Read in 2016?

Delia's Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer

Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister

The Night Parade by Kathryn Tanquary 

The Ninja's Daughter (Shinobi Mystery #4) by Susan Spann

The Story of a Brief Marriage by Anuk Arudpragasam

10. Book I Can’t Believe I Waited UNTIL 2016 to Finally Read?

Why did I wait so long to read The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)?! I know why, of course, but my excuse is silly given how much I ended up liking this book. I am eager to read the other books out in the series now.

11. Shortest Book I Read in 2016? 

White Christmas by Rebecca York - 86 pgs

12.  Longest Book I Read In 2016?

The Fireman by Joe Hill - 747 pgs

13. OTP of the Year (you will go down with this ship!) (OTP = one true pairing)?

Natasha and Daniel from Nicola Yoon's The Sun Is Also a Star. No question about it.

14. Favorite Book I Read in 2016 From An Author I’ve Read Previously?

It would be easy to say Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman or The Hummingbird by Stephen P. Kiernan, both books which made my top five list in 2016, but I really want to give some love to Tessa Arlen's Death Sits Down for Dinner, the second in her Edwardian series, featuring Lady Montfort and her servant, Mrs. Jackson. I adore this series and am anxious to read the next book when it comes out.

I also really enjoyed Amy Stewart's Lady Cop Makes Trouble, A Black Sail by Rich Zahradnik, and Curse of the Gargoyles by Rebecca Chastain, all of three of which are great series I am reading and can't help but mention.

15. Best World-building/Most Vivid Setting I Read This Year?

I have so much love for The Night Parade by Kathryn Tanquary. The world-building is amazing and it's such a good book, combining modern day Japan with mythology and old traditions. Everyone should read it.

Also, Anuk Arudpragasam's writing in The Story of a Brief Marriage vividly brought to life the conditions Dinesh and his fellow evacuees were living in on the coast of Sri Lanka during the civil war. It's one that stays with you quite a while after reading.

16. Most Unique Book I Read In 2016?

Elan Mastai's All Our Wrong Todays. It was . . . mind-bending. Seriously.

17. Book That Made Me The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn had some pretty ugly mad-making moments. From colorism to the human trafficking and everything else that came with it. Amazing book, but a very difficult read. 

Another book that got my ire up rather significantly, but not in a good way, was Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward. I really struggled with this one because it hit on a subject matter I have difficulty reading about (animal cruelty).

18. Book That Made Me Cry in 2016?

I say it every year, but it would be easier to ask me which books didn't make me cry. Of all the books I read, the one that made my cry the most was Stephen P. Kiernan's The Hummingbird. It hit so close to home, and is such a beautiful book.

19. Book That Put A Smile On My Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

I loved every minute of reading The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald, which was such a fun read.

20. Hidden Gem Of The Year?

June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore. I thoroughly enjoyed it--even gave a copy to my mother for Christmas this year. A dual time period novel set in 1955 and the present, it's set in a grand old house and has a little bit of everything-romance, family drama, intrigue, and even ghosts.

I would love to know what your favorite reads of 2016 were! Please share a link to your favorites list below if you posted one--or just tell me in the comments. Did we read any of the same books? If so, what did you think?

Here's to another great year in reading in 2017!

---

© 2017, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Last Sentences of 2016 (SPOILERS - READ AT YOUR OWN RISK)

[Last sentences of books read in 2016]

Just as first sentences hold their own magic, so do the last sentences of each story and book we read. The first sentence must draw you in and make you want to keep reading. The last sentence carries with it the final feeling a reader will have for the book. Was it satisfying? Did it leave something to be desired? More importantly, does that last sentence bear the weight of all that came before it? Ultimately, that's exactly what it is supposed to do. 

Some of these last sentences will mean nothing out of context, but some are major spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Do you ever come across a last sentence that stays with you for awhile?

Before the car turned down another street, a fox's tail slipped between a line of trees. ~ The Night Parade by Kathryn Tanquary


And they would live happily ever after. ~ The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald


Neely and I have a son. ~ Angels Burning by Tawni O'Dell


And that is all anybody needs to know. ~ What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan


She would have bathe in the moonlight falling so beautifully over Paris, and she would think of the girl who had so badly wnated to live, the girl who had simply wanted more, and she would thank her, then, for promises made and promises kept. ~ Moonlight Over Paris by Jennifer Robson


And that yes, Momma, the spirit always has a choice. ~ My Sweet Vidalia by Deborah Mantella


Devi groaned and buried her hands in Neoeme's hair, pulling her closer and resolving never to go six weeks without Noeme ever again. ~ Slaying Dragons by Sasha L. Miller


And I shouldn't have worried about her not recognising me, not at all, because we know each other at once. ~ The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer


And just as I let my eyes close, I realize that it's a Russian Olive outside, tapping at my window. ~ The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams


She had plenty of time to change and catch the half past ten train to Kew, and meet Mr. Stafford at the Lamb and Flag before their visit to the Orchid House. ~ Death Sits Down for Dinner by Tessa Arlen

It felt like he was never letting go. ~ North of Here by Laurel Saville


"And a future to plan." ~ Delia's Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer


I am a cat, and I have one life left. ~ The Ninth Life by Clea Simon

It looked like the one. ~ The Decent Proposal by Kemper Donovan

I cannot rest from travel:

I will drink

Life to the less; all times I 

have enjoy'd

Greatly, have suffer'd

greatly, both with those

That loved me, and alone;

on shore and when

Thro' scudding drifts the

rainy Hyades

Vext the dim sea: I am

become a name. 

~ The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

Neither said very much, but what they did not say spoke to a rare peacefulness, a trust so solid that even if they could not see each other, they both new the other was there. ~ All Stories Are Love Stories by Elizabeth Percer

And you saved us. ~ Terrible Virtue by Ellen Feldman


And this is what I have remembered of love. ~ The Lost Garden by Helen Humphreys


"Ajmal, my friend, let's go!" ~ When the Moon Is Low by Nadia Hashimi


I had a place to stand. ~ Seraphina by Rachel Hartman


He made room for me and we sat together the rest of that afternoon, not talking, but letting our hands walk over the keys and remember. ~ Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman


Their names meant hope, and they had given hope to each other, and this was what brought them together, closed that gap between them, eliminated the social and class differences, made them sisters, mothers--made them equals. ~ A House for Happy Mothers by Amulya Malladi


Samantha smiles again and puts her arm around Nick as they walk. ~ Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas by John Scalzi


And they lived. ~ Charming by Elliott James


One after the other, the women went inside. ~ June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore


The glasses clinked together as the key glittered in the candlelight, casting sharp reflections on the three faces. ~ The Shadow Revolution by Clay Giffith and Susan Griffith


"Wouldn't you like to know . . ." ~ Stone Guardian by Danielle Monsch


She will know that I am a mother. ~ Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward


"I certainly think I can guarantee that." ~ Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman


For keeps. ~ Under An Adirondack Sky by Karen Rock


In less than a whisper, he breathed it against my breast: "I surrender." ~ The Hummingbird by Stephen P. Kiernan


If we are open to it, we can see that there is grace all around us, with or without God. ~ Grace Without God by Katherine Ozment


She puts her good hand in his, and they walk away from the town, together, toward the brightening horizon. ~ The Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister


For a minute, my finger hovers irrationally over the delete button, and then I click. ~ In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware


I told myself there were two of them now and they were holding hands, their eyes fixed on the road ahead. ~ The American Girl by Kate Horsley


He says get ready to have some fun, little girl, because it's  a big bright morning, and this is where the story begins. ~ The Fireman by Joe Hill



"That will work very well." ~ 'Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick



And in a few months, someone else. ~ The Sixth Idea by P.J. Tracy


"She knows how to keep a secret." ~ The Ninja's Daughter by Susan Spann


"I love you, too, and I'm so very fortunate to have found you," she replied, before he lowered his lips to hers. ~ When I Found You by Kate James


"Take me out, Sam." ~ The Whiskey Sea by Ann Howard Creel


This is why we're all here.
Love
Anthony
~ Love Anthony by Lisa Genova


"Because neither could I." ~ Lost in Geeklandia by E.J. Russell


The only world that Logan wanted, anyway. ~ Blame It On the Cowboy by Delores Fossen

I can't imagine what the next ten years will bring, and for that I am immensely grateful. ~ Fractured by Catherine McKenzie

She just hoped she lived long enough to enjoy it. ~ The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman

"No dreams tonight." ~ Naked in Death by J.D. Robb

She dropped another curtesy to Ao Shun and followed Coppelia out of the room--back towards the Library. ~ The Masked City by Genevieve Cogman

Taylor went after her. ~ A Black Sail by Rich Zahradnik

He tucked his arm around her waist again, nudged her foreward, "Perfect timing." ~ Glory in Death by J.D. Robb

"I think we need to talk." ~ Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates


But Fleurette's voice banished the criminals and lunatics from my mind, if only for one night. ~ Lady Cop Makes Trouble by Amy Stewart


"Let's put our heads together and find Victoria West." ~ A Dark and Stormy Murder by Julia Buckley


"To Lily."  ~ The Madness of Mercury by Connie DiMarco


There was no doubt a rational explanation. ~ The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum by Kristen Weiss


Behind them, for now, was Sean and the old green Chevy, and behind the Chevy was the lit diminishing city and beyond the city were the high summits, undiminished by distance, and beyond these the sun was falling into the west but they did not see it--nor the mountains nor the city but only the darkening sky ahead and the climbing moon and the road, and it was a road as straight and flat and bare as any they'd ever seen and it raced away before them over the plains, hiding nothing. ~ Descent by Tim Johnston

This time he did not have to make his voice go deep when he said it. ~ Lazaretto by Diane McKinney-Whetstone


And again, "Daniel." ~ The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon


I wrote that he found it on the beach between Abbekås and the Mossbystrand the day we met each other in the November twilight, when he was out collecting stones and I was walking my dog. ~ The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist


Except  for her lone, grainy figure on the water's surface, dark in the face of the sun. ~ Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn

And for now that was all she was going to reveal. ~ White Christmas by Rebecca York

"Welcome home, my Queen." ~ Royal Enchantment by Lia Davis


My gargoyle was home to stay. ~ Curse of the Gargoyles by Rebecca Chastain


All along, it was you. ~ All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai

All the while his chest continued to oscillate, to rise and fall independently of him, accepting and renouncing, as the atmosphere continued entering and leaving, the small volume of air that it was still able to hold. ~ The Story of a Brief Marriage by Anuk Arudpragasam

---

© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

First Sentences 2016

[First Sentences of books read in 2016]

It is said the first sentence in a book holds a certain magic. It sets the tone for what is to come and the best ones will grab you right away, compelling you to read more. This is my third year logging the first sentences of books I have read throughout the year. It is impossible for me to choose a favorite, although some are better than others. Do any of these in particular draw you in and make you want to read more?

From the backseat, Saki sent another desperate message on her phone. ~ The Night Parade by Kathryn Tanquary

The strange woman standing on Hope's main street was so ordinary it was almost scandalous. ~ The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

The last time I was this close to Rudy Mayfield he was leaning across the seat of his dad's truck trying to grope my recently ripened breats. ~ Angels Burning by Tawni O'Dell


In the eyes of others, we're often not who we imagine ourselves to be. ~ What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan

Helena had heard, or perhaps she had rad somewhere, that people on the point of death were insensible to pain. ~ Moonlight Over Paris by Jennifer Robson

My momma believes all babies to be gifts from God, no matter what. ~ My Sweet Vidalia by Deborah Mantella

Devi was almost certain she wasn't going to be reprimanded at this outpost. ~ Slaying Dragons by Sasha L. Miller

I dream about Carmel often. ~ The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer

"If I was going to kill the Prophet," I say, not even keeping my voice low, "I'd do it in Africa." ~ The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

A wet and miserable late-autumn day had turned into a bitterly cold winter night as the sun sank unseen below a horizon obscured by a bhank of thick gray clouds. ~ Death Sits Down for Dinner by Tessa Arlen

As Miranda moved through the house, putting away a load of laundry, picking up the glass her mother left in the living room the previous night, straightening the magazines on the coffee table, removing a few dead flowers fro ma vase, she found herself glancing out of each window, her view of him coming and going, her perspective on him a bit different from each vantage point. ~ North of Here by Laurel Saville

The locomotive engine belched billowing clouds of steam, a black-iron dragon chained to the tracks. ~ Delia's Shadow by Jaime Lee Moyer

At first, they were shadows. ~ The Ninth Life by Clea Simon


Before gray hair, or crow's-feet, or achy backs and fickle knees, there is one sign of aging that makes appearance early enough to bewilder its young(ish) victims instead of alarming them, as it should. ~ The Decent Proposal by Kemper Donovan


The buzz in the street was like the humming of flies.  ~ The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith


On the morning of February 14, exactly seven hours, fifty-two minutes, and thirteen seconds before the earth's two largest tectonic plates released decades' worth of strain under a busy suburb just outside San Francisco; exactly eight hours, eight minutes, and fifty-three seconds before the energy dislodged from the seismic shifting triggered an even more catastrophic displacement farther north along the San Andreas Fault; exactly eight hours, nine minutes, and twelve seconds before all gas, power, water, cell, and satellite communications were severed from San Francisco and its environs; exactly eight hours and twenty-two minutes before thousands of tiny sparks and larger ignitions got out from under the valiant efforts of a drought-plagued understaffed fire department and prematurely exhausted volunteers; and exactly ten hours and eleven minutes before the real danger to the old precariously built packed-like-sardines city--fire--proved its indomitable hunger, Max Fleurent was on the phone with his mother.  ~ All Stories Are Love Stories by Elizabeth Percer


Once, on a train going God knows where, to give still another speech, I awakened in the middle of the night nauseated.  ~ Terrible Virtue by Ellen Feldman


What can I say about love? ~ The Lost Garden by Helen Humphreys


Though I love to see my children resting soundly, in the quiet of their slumber my uneasy mind retraces our journey.  ~ When the Moon Is Low by Nadia Hashimi


I remember being born. ~ Seraphina by Rachel Hartman


I returned to myself. ~ Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman

Rock-a-bye baby in the tree top, when the wind blows, the cradle will rock . . . 

The nursery rhyme played itself in her head over and over again as she tried to fall asleep. ~ Opening of A House for Happy Mothers. ~ A House for Happy Mothers by Amulya Malladi


From the top of the large boulder he sat on, Ensign Tom Davis looked across the expanse of the cave toward Captain Lucius Abernathy, Science Officer Q'eeng and Chief Engineer Paul West perched on a second, larger boulder and thought, Well, this sucks. ~ Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas by John Scalzi


There's a reason that we refer to being in love as being enchanted. ~ Charming by Elliott James


Houses don't always dream.  ~ June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore


A bold moon hung over the dark London cityscape. ~ The Shadow Revolution by Clay Giffith and Susan Griffith


Jack Miller aimed his shotgun at the monster's grey-skinned head and pulled the trigger. ~ Stone Guardian by Danielle Monsch


China's turned on herself. ~ Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward

The night before he went to London, Richard Mayhew was not enjoying himself. ~ Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman


Rebecca Day shrugged on her raincoat and eyed the rain tapping against the Koffee Kat's storefront window. ~ Under An Adirondack Sky by Karen Rock


Deborah Birch is a seasoned hospice nurse whose daily work requires courage and compassion. ~ The Hummingbird by Stephen P. Kiernan


One night five years ago, I heard a strange noise outside the window of our brick row house near Boston. ~ Grace Without God by Katherine Ozment


Tonight, I will do the impossible. ~ The Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister


I am running. ~ In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware


You ever have one of those Magic 8-Balls as a kid? ~ The American Girl by Kate Horsley


Harper Greyson had seen lots of people burn on TV, everyone had, but the first person she saw burn for real was in the playground behind the school. ~ The Fireman by Joe Hill


"I've got to get rid of her, Birch." ~ 'Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick


Confine a dozen scientists and engineers to a seemingly endless desert of hard-packed sand with no recreational diversions and inevitably, they will design and build a golf course. ~ The Sixth Idea by P.J. Tracy


Knocking echoed through the silent house. ~ The Ninja's Daughter by Susan Spann


"The pilot's bringing the plane back?" ~ When I Found You by Kate James


She opened her eyes to blackness. ~ The Whiskey Sea by Ann Howard Creel


It's Columbus Day weekend, and they lucked out with gorgeous weather, an Indian-summer day in October. ~ Love Anthony by Lisa Genova


The hotel ballroom doors whooshed closed behind Charlie Forrester, muffling the sound of wedding guests hooting at the groomsmen dancing to "Too Sexy for My Shirt." ~ Lost in Geeklandia by E.J. Russell


Logan McCord hated two things: clowns and liars. ~ Blame It On the Cowboy by Delores Fossen


I'm still not certain what it was that made me begin my daily morning vigil at the front windows. ~ Fractured by Catherine McKenzie


Irene passed the mop across the stone floor in smooth, careful strokes, idly admiring the gleam of wet flagstones in the lantern light. ~ The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman


She woke in the dark. ~ Naked in Death by J.D. Robb


The London air was full of smog and filth. ~ The Masked City by Genevieve Cogman


The NYPD Harbor Launch Patrolman Crane thudded over the waves toward the Brooklyn docks. ~ A Black Sail by Rich Zahradnik


The dead were her business. ~ Glory in Death by J.D. Robb


This was a grand adventure, I told myself. ~ Brownies and Broomsticks by Bailey Cates



I handed the newspaper back to Mrs. Headison. ~ Lady Cop Makes Trouble by Amy Stewart


I was immersed in The Lost Child, one of my favorite Camilla Graham novels, when an unlikely phone call changed my life. ~ A Dark and Stormy Murder by Julia Buckley


There are those among us who prey, who hunt under the guise of trust. ~ The Madness of Mercury by Connie DiMarco


Friendship can be a minefield. ~ The Perfectly Proper Paranormal Museum by Kristen Weiss


Her name was Caitlin, she was eighteen, and her own heart would sometimes wake her--flying away in the dream-race where finish lines grew farther away not nearer, where knees turned to taffy, or feet to stones. ~ Descent by Tim Johnston

The dimly lit room smelled of sage and mine and boiled cotton. ~ Lazaretto by Diane McKinney-Whetstone


Carl Sagan said that if you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe. ~ The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon


It was more comfortable than I could have imagine. ~ The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist


The long hours Margot works at the hotel are never documented. ~ Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis-Benn


Amelia Parsons was too upset to see the car speeding toward her through the swirling snow. ~ White Christmas by Rebecca York


There it is.  ~ Royal Enchantment by Lia Davis


"How's Oliver doing, Mika?" ~ Curse of the Gargoyles by Rebecca Chastain


So, the thing is, I come from the world we were supposed to have. ~ All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai


Most children have two whole legs and two whole arms but this little six-year-old that Dinesh was carrying had already lost one leg, the right one from the lower thigh down, and was now about to lose his right arm. ~ A Story of a Brief Marriage by Anuk Arudpragasam

---

© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.