Friday, December 30, 2016

Favorite Books of 2016


  • Books Read in 2016 - 126 -  (14) of these were non fiction (6) children's books and (32) were audio books. 
  • Approximately 50% of the books read were sent to me by publishers as either eGalleys, eAudios or ARCs and, another 40% were library books.  The remaining 10% were books that I purchased at one time or another.

Favorite Books of 2016
(in no particular order)























  1. All the Ugly and Wonderful Things; Bryn Greenwood
  2. My Name is Lucy Barton; Elizabeth Strout
  3. Under the Influence; Joyce Maynard 
  4. Looking Back: A Chronicle of Growing Up Old in the Sixties; Joyce Maynard  (nonfiction)
  5. The Heavens May Fall; Allen Eskens
  6. Eleanor and Hick: The Love Affair that Shaped a First Lady (NF); Susan Quinn (nonfiction)
  7. When Breath Becomes Air; Paul Kalanithi (nonfiction)
  8. Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter; Kate Clifford Larson (nonfiction)
  9. The Notorious RBG; Cameron & Knizhnik (nonfiction)
  10. My Sunshine Away; M.O. Walsh
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41 comments:

  1. Sarah's Book ShelvesDecember 30, 2016 at 7:52 AM

    I love seeing My Sunshine Away on your list! That was one of my top 3 last year. And When Breath Becomes Air and Lucy Barton made my lists as well.

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  2. bermudaonionDecember 30, 2016 at 8:42 AM

    I'm making note of your list because I think we have similar taste in books. At least one of those books will be on my best of list too.

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    1. (Diane) Bibliophile By the SeaJanuary 1, 2017 at 8:56 AM

      Glad I could help you pad your list Kathy:) Happy New Year!

      Delete
  3. Laurel-Rain SnowDecember 30, 2016 at 10:41 AM

    I loved Under the Influence...and enjoyed Maynard's Looking Back (both in another year). Rosemary was another book I loved, and so was All the Ugly and Wonderful Things, but they didn't make my Top Ten this year. It was sooo hard to decide!

    Thanks for sharing!

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    1. (Diane) Bibliophile By the SeaJanuary 1, 2017 at 8:55 AM

      YES, too many good books, I struggled with picking just 10 as well.

      Delete
  4. Mary (Bookfan)December 30, 2016 at 11:35 AM

    Under the Influence has been on my TBR list for a while - hopefully will read in 2017.

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  5. SukoDecember 30, 2016 at 12:23 PM

    I haven't read any of these! I will refer to your list from time to time, Diane, for ideas. Have a happy and safe New Year. :)

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  6. Katherine PDecember 30, 2016 at 12:34 PM

    I really enjoyed My Name is Lucy Barton and am looking forward to reading Rosemary in 2017. Somehow I've never read any Joyce Maynard and I feel that I really need to fix that.

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    1. (Diane) Bibliophile By the SeaJanuary 1, 2017 at 8:50 AM

      Glad that you loved, My Name is Lucy Barton - different but, so good. Happy New Year, Katherine.

      Delete
  7. JoAnnDecember 30, 2016 at 12:50 PM

    Our lists share Notorious RBG and When Breath Becomes Air... Lucy Barton was on my list last year. Looking forward to Eleanor and Hick, Rosemary, and Under the Influence.

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    1. (Diane) Bibliophile By the SeaJanuary 1, 2017 at 8:49 AM

      I think that you will enjoy, Eleanor and Hick, Rosemary, and Under the Influence.
      Happy New Year!

      Delete
  8. rhapsodyinbooksDecember 30, 2016 at 1:46 PM

    I read a big long excerpt of Rosemary in a magazine - what a story!

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  9. TiDecember 30, 2016 at 2:08 PM

    Under the Influence almost made mine. I really enjoyed that one.

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  10. Brian's Home BlogDecember 30, 2016 at 3:43 PM

    Great list and many good ones!

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  11. IlianaDecember 30, 2016 at 3:56 PM

    Looks like a great reading year! I haven't read any of these books but some are on my radar for sure!

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    1. (Diane) Bibliophile By the SeaJanuary 1, 2017 at 8:45 AM

      Happy New Year as well and I hope you will enjoy a few of these.

      Delete
  12. JudithDecember 30, 2016 at 7:28 PM

    What an accomplishment--126 books read! I'm interested that a number of them were audiobooks. I'm considering adding more audiobooks to my booklist in 2017.

    I'd like to ask: From what sources or suppliers do your audiobooks come from? What are your strategies for obtaining audiobooks? (I'm thinking if you get most of them from the library.)

    Under the Influence is on its way to me via ILL.
    So very interested that you selected Looking Back as one of your best of the year.

    Here's to Multitudes of Great Books in 2017!
    Happy New Year!
    Judith

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    1. (Diane) Bibliophile By the SeaJanuary 1, 2017 at 8:45 AM

      Most of my audios are downloaded or on ads from the library these days. I hope you'll enjoy Under the Influence - I do love Maynard and actually, I think you suggested her NF Looking Back to me so -- thank you. Happy New Year!

      Delete
  13. NanDecember 30, 2016 at 7:45 PM

    There was some about Rosemary in the book, Kick by Paula Byrne. Such a sad situation.

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    1. (Diane) Bibliophile By the SeaJanuary 1, 2017 at 8:42 AM

      Yes, Rosemary's story was very sad. I tried the Kick book on audio but, wasn't crazy about the narration so I returned it to library after first disc.

      Delete
  14. UnknownDecember 30, 2016 at 8:43 PM

    Great list Diane. I loved My Sunshine Away and have My Name Is Lucy Barton on my 'ToRead' list. Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Laura at Library of Clean ReadsDecember 30, 2016 at 9:52 PM

    I haven't read any of these books! But All the Ugly and Wonderful Things has been on my radar. I like reading non-fiction too. This is a great list.

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    1. (Diane) Bibliophile By the SeaJanuary 1, 2017 at 8:41 AM

      Laura, I hope you will try - All the Ugly and Wonderful Things.

      Delete
  16. MysticaDecember 30, 2016 at 11:11 PM

    I've read two of them but bookmarking this for the future! so many good ones here.

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    1. (Diane) Bibliophile By the SeaJanuary 1, 2017 at 8:40 AM

      Glad u enjoying my list. Sending you New Years happy wishes.

      Delete
  17. MargotDecember 31, 2016 at 1:13 AM

    I loved The Notorious RBG too. That's the only one from your list I've read, but you've given meee some great ideas for future books. Happy New Year Diane.

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    1. (Diane) Bibliophile By the SeaJanuary 1, 2017 at 8:40 AM

      Margot, glad I could add to your 2017 reading. LOVE LOVE RBG - she better stay alive these next 4 years LOL

      Delete
  18. MeganDecember 31, 2016 at 12:04 PM

    My wish list just got a whole lot bigger. I haven't read any of your favorites, but I'm now doubly glad to have Under the Influence and All the Ugly and Wonderful Things already in my possession!

    Happy New Year!

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  19. LisaDecember 31, 2016 at 4:33 PM

    I almost bought All The Ugly and Wonderful Things the other day when it was on a great ebook sale, but couldn't remember if people had liked it. Kicking myself now!

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    1. (Diane) Bibliophile By the SeaJanuary 1, 2017 at 8:38 AM

      Lisa, that is a good one, perhaps you can download it from your library. Happy New Year!

      Delete
  20. KailanaJanuary 1, 2017 at 9:38 AM

    Oh! I got All the Ugly and Wonderful Things the other day and couldn't remember why it was on my list. It was you. :) It was an e-book sale so I figured I would grab it. :)

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  21. Literary FelineJanuary 1, 2017 at 3:41 PM

    What a wonderful selection of books, Diane! It was thanks in part to you that Eleanor and Hicks ended up on my wish list and then was given to me as a gift for Christmas. :-) I am looking forward to reading it. I hope you have a wonderful New Year, Diane. I so enjoy reading your reviews. Thank you too for hosting the First Paragraph meme. I know it can be time consuming, but I really appreciate that you take the time to visit all of the participants blogs. Thank you.

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  22. thecuecardJanuary 2, 2017 at 2:00 PM

    This is good list! I've read three of them: Kalanithi's, Walsh's, and Strout's. I think I'd like to try the Greenwood book as well. thanks.

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