Now that I did the video version of my Top 10, here’s a bit
more info about the books WITH pictures. For the most part, I didn’t put ANY of
these in order except Sandman Overture, which as a Sandman fan was such a beautiful
thing to read, but I’m digressing. Let’s get into the thick of it. If you want
the full review, click the Goodreads review link and if you’re interested, I
also included links to the books on Amazon Smile.
My top 10
Sandman Overture – Neil Gaiman, JH Williams III, Dave
Stewart, Todd Klein
As a graphic novel it is stunning on all levels. I saw that
the book got some lower ratings and as someone who is very fond of this series,
I can’t see why it wouldn’t be 5/5 stars. I think the writing is as dreamy as
ever (yay puns) and the artwork and composition of the collection is stunning.
Just opening up the book to flip through the artwork shows how beautiful a
literary work can be.
Good Omens – Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett had an intense sense of humor and it shows that he and Neil had a blast writing this book. You might suspect who is writing what, but the reality is that their combined characters makes for a fun read about the end of the world, the anti-Christ, and the four horsemen of the apocalypse, or more so an updated version of them, as relevant in 2017 as it was when it first came out.
Strange Luck – Amie Irene Winters (Indie author)
One of 4 indie reads on this list, Strange Luck is a dreamy
ethereal read whose strength lies in the amazingly creative concepts offered by
Amie Irene Winters. Strange Luck is the name of an antiquities store and to
have an item in this store, it must be something borderline or actually other
worldly. It’s one of those locations in fiction you’d LOVE to explore in real
life. But with a store like that, you’re bound to have objects that attract the
attention of beings that are also out of this world. A very fun dreamy read
from a great indie writer.
Anatomy of a Darkened Heart – Christie Stratos (Indie
author)
That this book was written by an indie author is another testament
at how many great reads are out there by people you’ve never heard of. Abigail
Delilah Whitestone was named to spite the father of the Whitestone family. You’ll
find out why that name packed such power in Victorian London as well as how one
broken relationship can affect an entire family and beyond. This is the first
installment of the Dark Victoriana collection, a series of 5 books set in the
same town but that are not part of the same narrative. It shows influence of
Shakespeare and is a deep and dark psychological book, rich with symbolism and a
great read.
Bright Needles – Anaïs Chartschenko (Indie author)
If you are squeamish and prefer poetry that is nice and
fluffy, this collection is NOT for you. If you want something beautifully raw,
intensely emotional, and that drives words to the bone, then give this
collection a check. I’d just finished reading a collection by a Nobel Laureate
and was left meh. Anaïs Chartschenko slapped me back into reality showing that
some indie authors really have no limits for how deep they can write.
Daughter of Darkness - Katya Mills (Indie author)
Katya Mills is a unique indie author with an author voice
all her own. Daughter of Darkness reads like a Noir Slingblade and the beauty
in her writing is not what she says, but how she says it. Imagine a book that
reads like poetry in prose. Extremely unique and very refreshing if you want
something different, I always make several warnings when I recommend this book
because it’s so atypical but in the best possible way. I have her second book
and can’t wait to dive in for more.
Pleasures of the Damned – Charles Bukowski
I’d never read Bukowski… so obviously my first read is a
500+ page collection. There is variety in this intense collection and with one
book spanning his career, I realized just how much there is to learn from
someone like Bukowski. A collection with intense poems, no nonsense lines,
vulgar at times and heavenly others. He captured a raw definition of humanity
in words and I will probably always treat poetry in terms of Before Bukowski
and After Bukowski.
The Little Prince – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
There is such beauty in simplicity. This novel touched me
deeply and is a book everyone should read in the hopes that people are a bit
better. A touching tale, dreamy, symbolic, and something to read every year for
me.
The Golden Compass – Philip Pullman
YA need not be simple minded. That’s the message I got from
the first book in the Dark Materials series. Lyra is a lovely character, but
her dynamic with her daemon, Pantalaimon is where you see the beauty of our
duality. This is an amazing intro for this series and I shall probably read
both other books this year.
Best Loved Poems - various
To find out what poetry you like, getting a collection is
definitely a wonderful option. This collection was a gift from a friend and definitely
one I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.
And there you have it, my 10 favorite books I read in 2016.
If you want to watch more reviews check out my Goodreads page and Youtube
channel because I plan on reviewing everything I read on Goodreads and making
several book review videos to further the discussion.
For now, thanks for reading and
Peace, love, and maki rolls
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