So, in the manner of a lot of book bloggers, I have compiled a list of my “Best of…” titles that I’ve read this year for both fiction and for non-fiction. In the same vein, titles on these lists are not necessarily published in 2016 – this is just when they made their wending way into my grubby little mitts and off the TBR pile (for some of them)…

To the lists:

Fiction Top Five:

• A Man Called Ove – Fredrik Bachman
• Praisesong for the Widow – Paule Marshall
• The Color Purple – Alice Walker
• Drinking Coffee Elsewhere – Z. Z. Packer (short stories)
• Brooklyn – Colm Toibin

Non-Fiction Top Five:

• Humans of New York – Brandon Stout

Just adored this photographically heavy book, and actually read this twice B2B as I enjoyed this read so much. As close to a perfect read at the perfect time as I’ve ever had. Squee.

• Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor Frankl

Not an easy read, but this was a heart-rending experience of Auschwitz and its aftermath by one of its most eloquent survivors. Amazing read.

• Miles from Nowhere: In Search of the American Frontier – Dayton Duncan

A more academic read than the usual NF and about the history of the American contemporary frontier. Really an in-depth exploration of an influential part of America’s history and would be interesting for anyone curious about the early days of U.S. history.

• The Worst Journey in the World (Volume II) – Apsley Cherry-Garrard

Usually listed in the Top 100 Adventure Books, last year I had read and loved Volume I of this heart-racing non-fiction account of an Edwardian Antarctic expedition which went hideously wrong. This volume covers the second half of the journey which went even more wrong than the first bit (if that’s even possible), but it’s written by someone so charming that you forgive them for their unwitting errors right way.

• Going Home to Nicodemus – Daniel Chu

The story of African-American pioneers who move north after the Emancipation Proclamation, and a more forgotten side of early American life on the plains of Kansas. This sent me down a whole other world of rabbit trails learning more about these families who worked so hard to get a better life for them and for their families.

General numbers:

• Total books read: 56. (Woah. Low for me, but no biggie. Had an interesting year, shall we say.)
• Total number of Fiction: 25
• Plays: 2
• Short stories: 1
• Non-fiction: 28
• Books written by POC: 30% (17)
• Books Owned (%): 40% (rounded up)
• Total pages: 13, 659

So, overall a good reading year (despite the low-ish total). I think that most of what I’ve read has been really good, with only a couple of stinkers, and I’ve read pretty widely as well. More NF than F which is interesting to me.

In the new year, more of the same! Happy reading!