Friday, December 30, 2016

My Favorite Books of 2016 (plus a few older ones)

A few people have asked about my favorite books of the year, and I'm always hesitant to post that because it seems so arbitrary - there are SO MANY books that I'm sure are great that I just haven't gotten to yet! So this isn't any sort of "best books of 2016" in general, but rather my favorites of the ones I happened to read. And I've followed it with a second list of some great older books that I read for the first time in 2016. What were your favorites of the year?

(Both lists are alphabetical by author because I was driving myself crazy trying to rank them.)

My Favorite Books of 2016:

Exposure by Helen Dunmore
The Trespasser by Tana French
Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
Girls on Fire by Robin Wasserman

My Favorite Older Books I Read in 2016:

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke
The Secret Place by Tana French
Twilight of the Elites by Chris Hayes
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers

Morning Coffee (12/30/16)

I've got a special edition of Happy Friday links for you today - a compilation of various "best books of the year" lists that looked interesting. Hope you enjoy. Later today I'll tell you about my favorite books of the year.

NPR's Book Concierge

LA Times: The 10 most important books of 2016

History Today: The best history books of 2016

The 2017 Tournament of Books Long List

35 Over 35

Book Riot: Best Books of 2016

At the Times:

100 Notable Books of 2016

The Year in Reading

Notable Children’s Books of 2016

The 10 Best Crime Novels of 2016

At Literary Hub:

Baffling Omissions from the NY Times’ 100 Notable Books List

10 Overlooked Books By Women in 2016

Literary Hub's Best Books of 2016

At the Guardian:

The best fiction of 2016

The best crime books and thrillers of 2016

The best SF and fantasy books of 2016

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Morning Coffee (12/17/16)

"Prevent Tragedy Before It's Too Late": Read the Statement 1,200 Scholars Just Released About Trump

Ivanka Trump Will Not Fix "Women's Issues"—She Will Distract From Them

ICYMI, here's the Vanity Fair piece that had Trump tweeting against them, because obviously that's something very important for him to be spending his time on. (Spoiler: it's a restaurant review.)

Of course: West Virginia Official Fired for Calling FLOTUS 'Ape in Heels' Is Reinstated

"Feminists’ critique of male power has long been caricatured as hatred of men. But it is feminists whose fight is motivated by the belief that men can be better, if we can make clear that they, too, benefit from a safer, more equal and more just world."

"Trump is taking advantage of a well-established media norm— if the president-elect says something, it’s news."

Good for him: Dan Snow crowdfunds £160,000 to back pro-EU political candidates

I have so many questions about this, starting with - is it REAL? REALLY? Siberian Reality Survival Series ‘Game2: Winter’ To Allow Rape, Murder & More

The Private Heisenberg and the Absent Bomb

William Trevor's Quiet Explosions

This new study may explain why peer review in science often fails

I kept putting this off in favor of more IMPORTANT links but I really want you to see it: A Canadian town is threatening drunk drivers with Nickelback torture

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Friday, December 2, 2016

Morning Coffee (12/2/16)

Happy Friday! Let's take a break from current events for some fun links.

Does your Friday need some pictures of Matt Czuchry in fancy clothes? It may. I don't know your life.

Ooh, a history Advent calendar!

Important: The Greatest TV Beards of 2016

Wes Anderson's H&M Christmas ad is just delightful.

I'd never end up using at least half the stuff, so it would be a waste for me, but these beauty product Advent calendars are so gorgeously designed.

I'm mildly obsessed with Christmas markets. Here's Budapest's.

A socialite wore a cat dress to an event and I thought you'd want to know.

This story about Prince William saying his wife likes adult coloring books is cute, and I don't NOT believe it, but he had to make conversation while giving an OBE to a famous adult coloring book illustrator so what was he SUPPOSED to say?

Book the Halls: Bookish Holiday Decor

Whoa: The World’s Largest Jigsaw Puzzle Has 33,600 Pieces