1. The Nix. Nathan Hill
Wow, wow, wow...everything that the endorsers write on the back of the book is actually true! 731 pages of sheer joy. I feel that Hill's is the most active and engaging writing that I'll ever read. This was his first novel, and I'm scared to read another one! Unbelievably great story. The Nix defines what a novel should be.
I can't even begin to describe the plot so I'll just say that Hill's ability to cover and criticize nearly everything about modern society is stunning.

2. In the Woods. Tana French
Part one of six from the Dublin Murder Squad. This detective book is about the murder of a child in a rapidly changing Irish town, and the tense interaction between the two detectives who attempt to solve the case. SO good. I'm starting book two soon.

3. A Secret History. Donna Tartt
One of my girlfriend's all time favorites so I wanted to give it a try. Deep, dark, coming of age novel that takes place in small northeastern academic setting. Characters to love and hate. Tartt uses fantastic descriptive writing to tell the story of rather unique group of friends, and their struggle to cope with a horrendous idea with which they actually follow through.

4. Commonwealth. Ann Patchett
Again, THIS is a novel...one that grabbed me from the first sentence. “The christening party took a turn when Albert Cousins arrived with gin.” Are you kidding me?? This is a book about life, and the crazy turns it can and will take. Upon finishing I remember thinking that Patchett was able to say A LOT in just 350 pages, and applaud her for that.

5. As Good as Gone. Larry Watson
You won't find this one on any bestseller list. I stumbled upon it on the EBR library app, and checked it out because it was one of the few available that I was interested in. However, it was surprisingly great! Set in rural, but changing Gladstone, Montana this wonderful "western" novel pits Traditionalism against Modernism featuring an old "cowboy" who chooses to take a surprising visit to his old town to watch his grand kids for what he hoped would have been an uneventful couple of days. Upon returning, his memories haunt his thoughts, and his name and his stubborn pride jeopardize his life.

6. Ready Player One. Ernest Cline
There's been a lot of hype surrounding this one after Spielberg decided to make it a movie, and quite frankly that's why I read it. The book is vastly entertaining, and a must read for anyone with any affinity for the 80s...in fact you should probably watch episodes of Stranger things between chapters or play Back to the Future in the background.

7. The Dinner. Herman Koch
Hilarious, yet dark. I'm somewhat ashamed to say that I relate to the main character more than I'd like to admit. This book starts off with dinner reservations to a fancy restaurant, and ends with well, not dessert. I think it was brilliantly written, and easy to get lost in.

8. The Innocent. Ian McEwan
Typical McEwan book. It's concise and set in cold war Berlin, which is why I was drawn to it.

9. Trash. Andy Mulligan
Easy YA "summer" read with one hell of a story (kid detectives) and a beautiful resolution.

10. The Novice. Taran Matharu
Fun and light. Book One of a Trilogy that I might or might not finish.

11. The Martian. Andy Weir
Overhyped. This story becomes downright monotonous 1/3 of the way through. Weir's over use of decent humor turns stale fairly quickly.

12. On Chesil Beach. Ian McEwan
Meh.

This post was edited on 12/28/17 at 4:20 pm