Top Ten Books of 2017

Only 30 hours left of 2017, and as I'm not expecting to finish any more new books by the end of the year, I think it's time to call my Top Ten.

Readingwise it's been a much better year than 2016, and I actually had a hard time limiting myself to ten.

In no particular order...
Top Ten Novels of 2017

The Chemist - Stephenie MeyerI dove into this book headfirst a Friday evening, and didn't come back up for breath again until I'd read the last page. So good!

The Lightning-Struck Heart - T.J. KluneLoved this book so much! It made me laugh out loud on several occasions and I fell deeply in love with all the characters. A close contender to the best book of the year.

The Obsession - Nora RobertsTotally unputdownable! :-) It reminded me that I actually do like Nora Roberts' books as long as I stay away from her romances.

A Soft Breath of Wind - Roseanne M. WhiteWhile I really enjoyed the first book too ("A Stray Drop of Blood") it was this sequel that really blew me away. Possibly the best book I've read all year.

Until the End of the World - Sarah Lyons FlemingI only finished this just before Christmas, but wow - so good! Very similar to the Newsflesh trilogy in many ways, but as that's one of my favourite series, I really don't mind.

Sleeping Giants - Sylvain NeuvelAlso wins "Most Unusual Writing Style" award, which is possibly one of the reasons why I liked it so much. I've always been a huge fan of epostilary novels, and this comes close enough to count.

The Sister Circle - Vonette Bright & Nancy MoserDelightful book with many of the same characteristics as the Yada-Yada series. I found it charming and thought-provoking... and highlighted quotes all over the place.

Every Heart a Doorway - Seanan McGuireDelightfully quirky and right up my aisle. I loved it!

Throne of Glass - Sarah J. MaasI so enjoyed the first book in this series... which just makes it all the more disappointing that the third one ended up being a DNF.

Mr. Mercedes - Stephen KingI like that Stephen King doesn't just stick with one genre, but branches out a bit. This is the first crime novel of his that I have read, and it did not disappoint. The last few chapters especially had me on the edge of my seat and turning the pages as fast as I could.


Top 7 Non-Fiction of 2017
(Yes, I'm cheating... but also not, as it seems slightly unfair to compare fiction and non-fiction. Besides, it's my blog, so I make the rules :-P )

Hva' så nu? - GeoEvery bit as good as his first book. And both of them books I'd recommend to anybody who's experienced cancer "up close and personal" - whether as a patient or a relative.

If Your Dream Doesn't Scare You - Kristine K- StevensOf course my list has to include at least one travelogue, and this is one of the best ones I've read in quite awhile. Kristine's way of writing really appealed to me, and her adventures were fascinating to read about.

Under bjælken - Jens AndersenFascinating portrait of our crown prince.

Something New - Lucy KnisleyTotally lived up to my expectations, and I found myself tearing up on more than one occasion.

Hamilton - the Revolution - Lin-Manuel MirandaI so want to be in the room where it happens and eventually get to see this on stage!

Love and Laughter in the Time of Chemotherapy - Manjusha PawagiA very poignant memoir. It's purely by coincidence that I read both this and "Hva' så nu?" the same year, but both of them tackle the dealing with cancer in a very real and honest way.

Lighter Than My ShadowOnce again proving that graphic novels are an excellent way to tackle heavy subjects - including depression, eating disorders and sexual abuse.

2017 Playlist

My playlist for this year.

1. Stars - Demi Lovato
Brenda had this as part of her 2016 soundtrack, and I immediately loved it. I love the energy of it - it's one of those can't-sit-still numbers for me :-)

2. Stressed Out - Twenty One Pilots
Sometimes a certain smell will take me back to when I was young
How come I'm never able to identify where it's coming from
I'd make a candle out of it if I ever found it
Another recommendation from Brenda and the lyrics immediately stuck with me. So well-written and relatable.

3. Not Today - Hillsong United
Fear must have thought I was faithless
When it came for my heart.
...
I’ll sing the night into the morning
I’ll sing the fear into Your praise
I’ll sing my soul into Your presence
Whenever I say Your Name
Let the devil know not today
No soundtrack of mine would be complete without at least one number by Hillsong. "Let the devil know not today" has been my recurring refrain whenever I've felt overwhelmed, and this song reminds me that "Fear is just a liar, running out of breath."

4. I'm an Albatraoz - AronChupa
Probably one of the songs Lars has heard the most this past year. Fortunately I quickly came to like it as well. It's definitely not my usual fare, but something about it just appeals to me. I'm also amused by the fact that the music video includes obvious mistakes by the back-stage dancers :D

5. It's Quiet Uptown - Hamilton
There are moments that the words don’t reach
There is a grace too powerful to name
We push away what we can never understand
We push away the unimaginable.
....
Forgiveness. Can you imagine.
As I will mention in my yearly wrap-up post, this has been my year of Hamilton. I desperately hope I'll get to see it in London next year. Michala gave me the soundtrack for Christmas last year, and I've been listening to it pretty much non-stop all year (no pun intended, but very appropriate). My favourite song is still "Alexander Hamilton", but as I used that for my soundtrack last year, I thought I'd add a different one this time, and the lyrics to "It's Quiet Uptown" never fail to move me - how you can go through the worst and darkest period of your life, and through God's grace still come out in one piece on the other side.

6. Rockabye - Clean Bandit feat. Sean Paul & Anne-Marie
A random discovery that immediately had me reaching for Soundhound to figure out what on earth that song was. A very different lullaby, that's for sure! The lyrics have no special meaning to me, but I love the music.

7. Galway Girl - Ed Sheeran
Possibly my one favourite song this year (not counting Hamilton). From the very first time Lars played it I was instantly hooked, and it's another of those songs that I can't sit still when hearing.

8. Stay the Night - Alcazar
If I was one to go out dancing, this would be my anthem :-D

9. Believer - Audio Adrenaline
Oh I believe I can walk on water with You, Lord
When I walk through the valley of the shadows
When I’m trapped in the middle of the battle
I will trust in You
‘Cause trouble comes, but you never let it take me
I hold fast ‘cause I know that You will save me
I will trust in You, I will trust in You
2017 saw a distinct change in my walk with God. Very much inspired by what I saw happening in Nina and Christian's lives. They went all out for God, and I wanted to have the same trust in Him that they do. I'm still learning, and it's definitely a work in progress, but this song is a perfect example of how I'm trying to grow. I worry too much about everything. I need to relax, and trust in God.

10. Perfect Life - Levina
Finding I bend but I don't break
I'm almost a sinner, nearly a saint
Finding with every breath I take
I'm not afraid of making mistakes
Sometimes it's wrong before it's right
That's what you call a perfect life
This year's Eurovision Song Contest was full of songs that have been added to our regular rotation ever since. The lyrics of this one resonated with me more than the music, and it's one I'll probably keep returning to.

11. Hey Mamma - Sunstroke Project
This was Sunstroke Project's second time at the ESC and both times they've brought Epic Sax Guy along. Just wait until you hear him. ... better yet, check out the actual stage show for "Hey Mamma" here or their 2010 entry "Run Away" here.

12. I Can't Go On - Robin Bengtsson
My favourite entry from the 2017 ESC. I know it's the kind of song that's a dime a dozen, but I don't care - I love it :-D

13. When God Closes a Door - Larkin Poe
When God closes a door, God leads you up the stairs
Leave your earthly cares, On the second floor
When God cracks a couple skulls, God cracks a couple more
His plate is full, On the second floor
I love the imagery of God as a bad-a** biker :-D I definitely don't agree with all the lyrics, but this imagery amuses me. Sometimes I just need to know I have a God who can "kick ass and take names".

14. Llama In My Living Room - AronChupa
I was a bit slow to really fall for this song, but fortunately Lars made sure to subject me to constant exposure... which can work either way, and this time it slowly but surely grew on me. Mostly because of the absolute INSANITY of the lyrics. I definitely have a soft spot for absurdity in lyrics.

15. Can't Sleep Love - Pentatonix
Pentatonix is one of Liz' favourite groups, so during my visits I've come to hear a lot of their music, and really enjoy them too. This is definitely one of my favourites.

16. Lady Madonna - The Swingle Singers
Man, I would LOVE to sing this in a choir. The harmonies are just perfect and - more importantly - sound like they'd be all sorts of fun to sing!

17. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy - Pentatonix
Actually I wanted the version that's sung in "Outlander", but couldn't find that one on Spotify :-P.

19. So Will I - Hillsong United
If the stars are made to worship so will I
A bit slower than what I usually go for, but somehow it's come to be one of my very favourite songs of worship.

19. Hold håbet op - Marianne Søgaard
A new Christmas song I was introduced to at church earlier this month. I immediately fell in love with it. The music is very reminiscent of various musicals and the chorus is suitably haunting, and is easily a song I could see myself listening to all year around.

... and that seems like a good note(!) to end on :-)

Top Ten Books I Hope Santa Brings

With Christmas coming up in less than a week, The Broke and the Bookish thought it about time for us to list which books we hope to find under the Christmas tree this year.

In no particular order...


The Obsession - Nora RobertsI read "The Obsession" earlier this year, and it immediately moved to the top of my "Top Ten Books of 2017" list (which I have yet to post). I own it as an e-book, but would love the physical copy as well.


Wish Upon a Star - Trisha AshleyThough presented as a Christmas novel, it's really not. But it IS one of the most delightfully charming and feel-good novels I've read in a long time. Unfortunately it seems to be out of print almost everywhere, but I still hope Santa can find it :-)


Hamilton: the Revolution - Lin-Manuel MirandaAnother book I read earlier this year. I got it out of the library, thinking it'd be the sort of book I'd want to read once and then that was it. I was wrong. Not only do I want to read it again, but I also want to have it to lend out to others, once they "discover" Hamilton for themselves (which may actually happen, now that it has opened in London. I so want to go over and see it!)


A Stray Drop of Blood / A Soft Breath of Wind - Roseanna M. WhitePossibly the two best books I read this year. Again, I own them as e-books, but really want them for my library as well.


In Arcadia - Andrea K. HöstProbably the last book of the Touchstone series. As I own all the others as physical copies, I'd love this one as well to complete my collection.


Under bjælken - Jens AndersenThe newly published official portrait of Crown Prince Frederik. It's been touted as being the most in-depth biography of our crown prince ever, and the few chapters that were released to promote it were really interesting. I know I could just get this from the library, but still wouldn't mind at all if Santa brought it :-)


Worsted for War - Rachael B. AndersonOne of my favourite webcomics in graphic novel form? Oh, yes please! :-D


Knitter's Handy Book of Top-Down Sweaters - Ann BuddNot so much a book of patterns as a book of numbers :) Ann Budd takes five basic sweater designs and provides stitch numbers for multiple different sizes and gauges. It's a book I would've been utterly uninterested in just a few years ago, but now that I'm more inclined to use sweater patterns as inspiration rather than a recipe to follow exactly, I thought it would be fun to have.


The Rabbit Hunter - Lars KeplerThe 6th book in a series where I've read and greatly enjoyed the first five. I definitely want to finish this series.


A Wish Upon the Stars - T.J. KluneCheating a little bit here, as this 4th book in the series won't actually be published until March of next year (which is also why the cover is from the 3rd book), and the audiobook will probably be even later than that, but I can't wait! So thought I'd add it here anyway.