As everyone knows, with January comes a fresh batch of new year’s resolutions. Since I really enjoyed making a list of books to read last year, I decided to try my luck again with a new list for 2017! Well, semi-new; some of them will be repeats of books I didn’t get around to reading in 2016, but that I’ll hopefully have better luck with this year. Either way, here’s to a bright new year of reading!
So to kick off my 2017 goals, here’s the first half of my list of the top ten books I want to read this year. Enjoy!
1) A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Oh yes, I’m still working on this one. I started reading A Game of Thrones a couple of years ago, but after school started taking up most of my time, I had to put it down for a while. My resolution from last year to read every day has helped me pick it up again, though, and now that I’m done with school, maybe I’ll finally be able to finish it this year! Of course, seeing how long it’s taking me just to get through the first book, I’ll probably have to pick up the rest of the A Song of Ice and Fire saga from the TV series!
2) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
That’s right, I still haven’t read the Hunger Games trilogy! Crazy, right? I know I had wanted to start reading more dystopian fiction last year, but I guess I got so caught up in historical fiction that there just wasn’t enough time for anything else. These books are at the top of my list, though, so hopefully I’ll find the time to finally read them this year. I look forward to enjoying a new fiction genre in 2017!
3) Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Speaking of dystopian fiction, here’s another book that’s been on my to-read list for a long time. I remember watching the film adaptation of Fahrenheit 451 for an Introduction to Technology class in middle school, but to this day I haven’t gotten around to reading the book. I enjoy stories that explore the dangers of mass media, state-based censorship, and an ignorant society, so this book is a definite must-read for me – if not this year, then at least for my bucket list!
4) Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
This one was recommended to me by my boyfriend, who started reading the book last year and has really been enjoying it so far. Ready Player One certainly sounds like the sort of novel I’d like: a science fiction story set primarily in a virtual world and rife with 80s pop culture references. I am planning to read more sci-fi this year, so this will definitely be an interesting pick for my 2017 list!
5) 1984 by George Orwell
I know, this book is on everyone’s to-read list, but it’s so iconic that I just couldn’t leave it off mine any longer. George Orwell’s classic dystopian novel is so relevant to modern-day society, it’s terrifying to think the most glaring mistake in the author’s prediction of the future may well be that he was only off by a few decades. Exploring themes of authoritarianism, totalitarianism, censorship, and historical negationism, 1984 is the epitome of political dystopian fiction. It doesn’t sound like the most uplifting choice for my 2017 reads, but… well, let’s just say, I have a feeling this novel will be more relevant this year than ever!
That’s it for today’s to-read list! Tune in next week for the second half of my top ten list of books to read in 2017! Thanks for reading!
What about you? What books do you plan to read in 2017? Have you made any other resolutions for the new year?
In my opinion numbers 3 and 5 are great reads. Cheers.
That’s what I hear! Can’t wait to read them myself! Thanks for reading! 🙂
I loved Ready Player One! The Hunger Games was okay; I liked the first book a lot but felt that the others were a little bit lacking. And I want to read Games of Thrones, too, but there are so many other books on my list as well that I’m not really sure I’ll get to it. If you like fantasy, I highly recommend the Lightbringer series by Brent Weeks; it’s quickly becoming one of my favorites. 🙂 Thanks for sharing your list!
I’ve heard great things about Ready Player One! Sounds like a book I’d really enjoy. I would like to read the first book in the Hunger Games series, at least to satisfy my curiosity if it’s better than the movie (as books usually are, in my opinion). I do love fantasy, so I’ll definitely have to look into the Lightbringer series! Thanks for the recommendation! Glad you enjoyed my list! Thanks for reading! 🙂
A varied assortment of good books. I would suggest The Handmaiden’s Tale.
Thanks! I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for reading, and for the suggestion! 🙂
An eclectic mix indeed and I’ve read 2,3 &5. Will check out number 4 though. I was massively into sci-fi a few years ago so have fun reading these…from the serious to the slightly madcap!
I’ve heard good things about Ready Player One, so I’m sure we’ll both enjoy it! Gotta love science fiction; it’s one of my favorite genres! Thanks for reading! 🙂
You’re right about 1984 now being more relevant than ever. A similar classic novel that has also shot to relevancy, almost prophecy, in these modern times is It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis, a 1930’s work about a fascist takeover of the U.S.
I’ve heard of that book! Definitely want to add it to my to-read list. Thanks for reading, Robert! Happy New Year! 🙂
Happy New Year!