[gmw]

I've been revisiting the Discworld this year (my version of a comfort read) and it turns out they are the only 5 star reads I've had. I have read some other very good books through the year, but nothing that seems likely to ever make it to true favourite status.

There were two books that came close, but in each case they were let down by the sequel (which in each case was really the second half of the story). These were: Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor and An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green - both YA books. I would still recommend these as excellent reads, and even the sequels for both are perfectly fine, they were disappointing only because the first book led me to expect better, instead they were just good.

Other memorable books include:

The Coco Pinchard books by Robert Bryndza were fun reads. Light and easy entertainment.

The Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend has been a fun middle-grade fantasy. The setting was quite original and neatly told, but it's a little too obviously for younger readers to garner top ratings from me.

Factfulness by Hans Rosling, Ola Rosling, Anna Rosling Rönnlund.


The Hank Green book, and the Hans Rosling non-fiction book, are the closest I came to telling others: You have to read this. In fact, while I'm here, everyone really should read Factfulness - important any year, but after this year in particular.


One of the worst books I read this year left me a little bemused because it was written by someone that provides a quite good writer's advice blog. A gentle reminder that there is a difference between doing things right and creating something that works. The former can help that latter, but can't guarantee it.


As for "can't wait" ... I find that less of a problem that I used to. Happy to wait, I have plenty to read while I do.