After doing the 50 books a year reading challenge for a number of
years now, I thought I would change it up this time and read only books
by women authors. This challenge initially came from my wife, who
felt--rightfully so--that I wasn't reading enough women.
This turned out to be a great thing, as not only did it energize my reading--I exceeded 50 books this year, which I had not been able to do for a while--but it also forced me to find authors I might have passed over before, several of whom I enjoyed immensely and will look for more from.
I think it made me a better reader, and I hope a better writer. It was such a good thing that in 2016 I am going to take on another challenge a friend put before me, which was to read only authors of color for one year. I think I will expand this challenge a bit and also include authors in translation. I'm curious to see what I will find in 2016.
But before that, here is a look back to 2015, and my favorite reads. Instead of doing a Top Ten, as this was a special challenge I decided to make it an even dozen. Curiously, there are three dystopian novels and three Eastern European stories. I would consider five science fiction, two thrillers, and one lone western. An interesting mix:
1. Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel
2. Zoo City by Lauren Beukes
3. The Ghost Network by Catie Disabato
4. The Only Ones by Carola Dibbell
5. Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell
6. Innocence by Heda Margolius Kovaly
7. Girl at War by Sara Novic
8. When the Doves Disappeared by Sofi Oksanen
9. Find Me by Laura Van Den Berg
10. White Crocodile by KT Medina
11. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
12. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Happy Reading!
This turned out to be a great thing, as not only did it energize my reading--I exceeded 50 books this year, which I had not been able to do for a while--but it also forced me to find authors I might have passed over before, several of whom I enjoyed immensely and will look for more from.
I think it made me a better reader, and I hope a better writer. It was such a good thing that in 2016 I am going to take on another challenge a friend put before me, which was to read only authors of color for one year. I think I will expand this challenge a bit and also include authors in translation. I'm curious to see what I will find in 2016.
But before that, here is a look back to 2015, and my favorite reads. Instead of doing a Top Ten, as this was a special challenge I decided to make it an even dozen. Curiously, there are three dystopian novels and three Eastern European stories. I would consider five science fiction, two thrillers, and one lone western. An interesting mix:
1. Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel
2. Zoo City by Lauren Beukes
3. The Ghost Network by Catie Disabato
4. The Only Ones by Carola Dibbell
5. Epitaph by Mary Doria Russell
6. Innocence by Heda Margolius Kovaly
7. Girl at War by Sara Novic
8. When the Doves Disappeared by Sofi Oksanen
9. Find Me by Laura Van Den Berg
10. White Crocodile by KT Medina
11. Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
12. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Happy Reading!
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