Books Read During 2016

I've been diligently keeping a list of books I've read since 2010.





It's one of those things I used to always say I was going to do, but would somehow forget to keep up with fairly early on.

Keeping up with it here on Meanderings and Muses, for some reason, made it an easier and more fun thing to do.






If you're interested in past reading lists - they're here:





You can see my 2010 list here -
http://meanderingsandmuses.blogspot.com/2010/12/books-read-during-2010.html





And, you can see my 2011 list here -

http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2011/12/books-read-during-2011.html

And here's my 2012 list -http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2013/01/books-read-in-2012.html

And, my 2013 list -
http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2013/12/books-read-duing-2013.html

And, my 2014 list -
http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2014/12/books-read-in-2014.html

And, my 2015 list -
http://www.meanderingsandmuses.com/2015/12/books-read-in-2015_14.html

If a book is on my list, it means I liked it. 

I am not one to finish a book I don't care for, or am even feeling lukewarm about. I know there are people out there who feel like they can't put a book down once they've invested some time in it, and that's fine. That's just not me. 

So I'm posting my entire list and simply including my most memorable reads of the year within that list. 

Truth be told, I'm terrible at remembering a lot about most books once I've read it and moved on. A lot of people can remember books, the plots, even quote passages from their favorites well after they've been read.
I wish I could do that.

The best I can do, however, is remember when a particular book made enough of an impression that it actually still brings on a bit of a physical reaction when I see the title.

A nudge of remembrance.

So. 


That's what I'm going with here.


My own unorthodox gut-reaction list of most memorable books of 2016, which I've highlighted in bold letters.

And, those very few you see in red. They're my "wow" reads. 

And, because it's only the 6th of December, there will be more added right up until the end of the year, so check back from time to time to see what's new (and what's good).






I finally gave in this year to some gentle nudges from my friends Judy Bobalik, Dru Ann Love and Kristopher Zgorski and picked up the first in the series by J.D. Robb.  Although I have long been a huge fan of Nora Roberts, I just didn't think the Roarke/Eve Dallas novels were going to be my cup of tea.

Pffft.

I am now head over heels in love with this series.  Addicted.  Tapping my toe awaiting the next one!

I inhaled these books one after another, as you can see from the list below.

For those who aren't familiar with the "(ARC)" you see on some of these titles, it means "Advance Reading Copy." Some of those titles were "ARCs" when I read them, but have now been released. Some, however, are not due to be released until next year, so I'm afraid you'll have to wait.  But, it'll be worth it.

I had one reading experience this year that, if you know me, you know of already.  

I received an ARC of a book by an author I had never heard of.

THE NEVER-OPEN DESERT DINER by James Anderson.

I have raved about this book all over the world.


I have sent copies of this book to good friends, and will continue doing so.

It's my book of the year and if you follow my list for suggestions, I hope you'll treat yourself to Mr. Anderson's book.

Happy Reading, Everyone!!

THE LITTLE BOOKSHOP ON THE SEINE by Rebecca Raisin

LETTERS FROM PARIS by Juliet Blackwell

EVERY FRENCHMAN HAS ONE by Olivia de Havilland

WINTER SOLSTICE by Rosamunde Pilcher

THE PARIS LIBRARIAN by Mark Pryor

THE RELUCTANT MATADOR by Mark Pryor

CORPUS CHRISTMAS by Margaret Maron

THE BUTTON MAN by Mark Pryor

THE BODY AT STARSHINE MILL by Celia H. Miles

THE BLOOD PROMISE by Mark Pryor

THE CRYPT THIEF by Mark Pryor

THE BOOKSELLER by Mark Pryor 

THE FIFTH PETAL by Brunonia Barry (ARC)

THE DRESS THIEF by Natalie Meg Evans

THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE by Melanie Benjamin 

THE PARIS EFFECT by K. S. R. Burns 

FROM A PARIS BALCONY by Ella Carey 

QUIET NEIGHBORS by Catriona McPherson 

ALL THE ODES by Pablo Neruda 

WHAT YOU BREAK by Reed Farrel Coleman (ARC) 

SAY NO MORE by Hank Phillippi Ryan (ARC) 

COMING TO ROSEMONT by Barbara Hinske 

PRACTICAL MAGIC by Alice Hoffman 

THE OBSIDIAN CHAMBER by Preston & Child 

MURDER IN CONTAINMENT by Anne Cleeland 

HOLD STILL by Sally Mann 

THE TRESPASSER by Tana French 

PAST CRIMES by Glen Erik Hamilton 

THE LONG AND FARAWAY GONE by Lou Berney 

BLIND SIGHT by Carol O'Connell 

I LET YOU GO by Clare Mackintosh 

APPRENTICE IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR by Shari Lapena 

CROSSING TO SAFETY by Wallace Stegner 

STEVIE NICKS; VISIONS, DREAMS & RUMOURS by Zoe Howe 

THE LIGHT OF PARIS by Eleanor Brown 

THE DOLLHOUSE by Fiona Davis 

THE LONELY TEDDY BEAR by Chelsea Radojcic 

THE CAVENDON LUCK by Barbara Taylor Bradford 

THE CAVENDON WOMEN by Barbara Taylor Bradford 

CAVENDON HALL by Barbara Taylor Bradford 

LAST WORDS by Michael Koryta 

BROTHERHOOD IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

DEVOTED IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

OBSESSION IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

FESTIVE IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

SURVIVORS WILL BE SHOT AGAIN by Bill Crider 

CONCEALED IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

THE SIXTH IDEA by P. J. Tracy 

THANKLESS IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

A LOWCOUNTRY HEART by Pat Conroy (ARC) 

CALCULATED IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

DELUSION IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD by J. K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne 

CELEBRITY IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

NEW YORK TO DALLAS by J. D. Robb 

TREACHERY IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

INDULGENCE IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

LETTERS FROM NEW ORLEANS by Rob Walker 

FANTASY IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

KINDRED IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

PROMISES IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

SALVATION IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

THE SECOND LIFE OF NICK MASON by Steve Hamilton 

STRANGERS IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

CREATION IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

INNOCENT IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

INK AND BONE by Lisa Unger 

BORN IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

MEMORY IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

THE HOUSE ON FIRST STREET; MY NEW ORLEANS STORY by Julia Reed 

ORIGIN IN DEATH by J. D. Robb

SURVIVOR IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

VISIONS IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

DIVIDED IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

MISSION TO PARIS by Alan Furst 

PORTRAIT IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

SHIRLEY JACKSON, A RATHER HAUNTED LIFE by Ruth Franklin (ARC) 

PURITY IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

THE HIGHWAYMAN by Craig Johnson 

REUNION IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

SEDUCTION IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

BETRAYAL IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

A GREAT RECKONING by Louise Penny (ARC) 

JUDGMENT IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

WITNESS IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

ALL SUMMER LONG by Dorothea Benton Frank (ARC) 

LOYALTY IN DEATH by J. D.Robb 

NIGHT SHIFT by Charlaine Harris 

JANE STEELE by Lyndsay Faye 

CONSPIRACY IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

KILLER LOOK by Linda Fairstein (ARC) 

MANITOU CANYON by William Kent Krueger (ARC) 

HOLIDAY IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

VENGEANCE IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

CEREMONY IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

RAPTURE IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

IMMORTAL IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

GLORY IN DEATH by J. D. Robb 

NAKED IN DEATH by J.D. Robb 

THE DARKEST SECRET by Alex Marwood 

FOOL ME ONCE by Harlan Coben 

JUNE by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore (ARC) 

A GOWN OF THORNS by Natalie Meg Evans (ARC) 

GUILTY MINDS by Joseph Finder (ARC) 

THE CHARM BRACELET by Viola Shipman (ARC) 

WILDE LAKE by Laura Lippman (ARC) 

THE SAINTS OF THE LOST AND FOUND by T. M. Causey (ARC) 

HOUR OF THE BEES by Lindsay Eagar (ARC) 

MY SOUTHERN JOURNEY by Rick Bragg 

THE POT THIEF WHO STUDIED GEORGIA O'KEEFFE by Mike Orenduff 

DEATH AT THE OLD HOTEL by Con Lehane 

WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND by Con Lehane 

BEWARE THE SOLITARY DRINKER by Con Lehane 

MURDER AT THE 42ND STREET LIBRARY by Con Lehane (ARC) 

NIGHT NIGHT, SLEEP TIGHT by Hallie Ephron 

RIVER ROAD by Carol Goodman 

THE MAGICIAN'S LAND by Lev Grossman 

THE MAGICIAN KING by Lev Grossman 

THE MAGICIANS: A NOVEL by Lev Grossman 

LIGHTNING BUG by Donald Harington 

THE NEVER-OPEN DESERT DINER by James Anderson 

THE READERS OF BROKEN WHEEL RECOMMEND by Katarina Bivald (ARC) 

THE CHOIRING OF TREES by Donald Harington