The Most Memorable Books I Read in 2017

Each year I like to give a little nod to the books that stayed with me, despite being shelved for many months. I can't help but note how dark most of the covers are. I guess that shows how much I like dark writing! For 2017:


How I wish I could write like this! A book you can't put down, with prose that belies that this is a debut novel. The main characters and the setting are unforgettable. But note: nothing to do with wolves!


This nonfiction memoir is an important addition to the exploration of trauma and its after effects. While it concentrates on the Holocaust, it discusses other traumas as well. Elegantly written.

This novel deals with many of the issues that Survivor Cafe deals with, only it follows a fictional family. The power of this book for me was in the deep emotions that the author is able to convey within the framework of the Holocaust.


The prequel to The Glass Castle. I read this a year ago but the dust, the horses, the family, the pioneer life still linger. My mother is reading it now and loving it! I adore Walls's writing style.



One of the best books I've ever read, with a master translator at the helm. For literary fiction fans.