I’m tired and very behind this week, so without any further preamble, I’m going to jump right into it. Here are the books that surprised me (for better or for worst) the most:
Another Brooklyn was far more poetic and deeply emotionally affecting than I had expected it to be. Though it deals with difficult topics, it does so with great beauty and careful wording.
I honestly expected Lost for Words to be a bit of a fluffy, romantic romp. Based nearly entirely on the cover. But it turned out to deal with more serious topics than I had anticipated, and to do so in surprisingly good writing. It wasn’t perfect, but having gone in with almost zero expectations, I was very impressed.
Oh, what a disappointment Grounded was. I was looking for a book that was part quickly-drawn travel memoir of many countries and part tale of obstacles impressively overcome. Instead I ended up with a half-hearted, rote account of the logistics of the trip – which were quite challenging at times, but still. There wasn’t much interaction with any of the places or people encountered, nor was there much introspection. It ended up feeling rushed and putting me in a vaguely grumpy mood while convincing me that Seth and I are never destined to be friends as I really don’t like him much.
This was the standout success of my 2017 reading life. Last Night In Montreal is Emily St. John Mandel’s debut effort, so I wasn’t expecting it to live up to how I felt about Station Eleven, her most recent work. But it was every bit as beautifully written, and managed to balance perfectly on a knife point between literary fiction and psychological thriller.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is another book I just didn’t know much about when I went in. I thought it would be a book club type of book, a bit soppy in places but decently written and literary enough to feel like you’ve done something worthwhile in finishing it. But it actually ended up being simultaneously a heart-wrenching account of World War II and a lighthearted story of friendship and love.
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend was just… disappointing. I mean, it wasn’t universally bad, but it wasn’t what I wanted it to be. The setting was great, and the book store is obviously going to catch my attention. But the plot was a bit meandery, and I had a hard time connecting to or caring about the characters. It was an okay read, but not the all-time favourite I was expecting to find.
I expected a bit more substance from Elizabeth Wein than your typical YA novel, but I got so much more. Black Dove White Raven touches on so many themes that I don’t even know where to start – it is set in the 1930s, but features a white female pilot who is raising a young daughter and an adopted black son on her own in Ethiopia, right before it goes to war with Italy. There are so many types of courage, so many challenges that must be overcome, and so much loyalty and love. It also taught me about a place and history I knew nothing about. Wonderful.
I’m not much for Sci-Fi normally. So I went into The Martian a bit (okay, a lot) skeptical. But man, was I pleasantly surprised! I absolutely loved this book. The plot was great, sure, but mainly I just loved the main character. He was endlessly entertaining, and watching him problem-solve was pretty amazing.
For those who aren’t aware of the tragedy that is this book, grab some tissues. The Opposite of Loneliness is a collection of short works (stories, articles, essays) by Marina Keegan. It was published posthumously, because she died in a tragic accident shortly after graduating from Harvard, and before beginning an internship at The New Yorker. I knew that going in, but had that vague disassociation that comes with not really knowing anything about someone. But by the end of this book I was gutted. Keegan’s voice is so intimate, so intelligent, so full of promise and talent… the knowledge that this is the only selection of her work that I’ll ever get to read of her is something I am, to this day, still unable to make my peace with.
So those are my picks for this week’s topic. Phew. That felt like a lot. I hand the mic to you. Which books completely defied your expectations? Have you read any of these?
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly link-up feature created by The Broke and the Bookish and hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Every week TTT has a different topic, and everyone who links up has to create a link of ten items that fit that topic. To see past and upcoming topics, go here.
I just finished up The Opposite of Loneliness – and you’re right – I just about need a tissue box as well.
I am so glad to hear LOST FOR WORDS was impressive…I love that cover. I would have expected a light, fun read too. THANKS for sharing.
I enjoyed READERS OF BROKEN WHEEL RECOMMEND.
THANKS for sharing all of these books.
Terrific post.
I was just thinking about the Keegan the other day and I read it a long time ago. Such a loss. I also was surprisingly moved by that book, a great one for a list like this.