The first half is all the books I read & recommend.
The second half are books I started reading / read but do not think highly enough of to recommend (although some I had to finish simply because I got too invested in what was happening and needed to know the ending).
No book links because I thoroughly encourage you to use a library or a local, independent bookseller and absolutely by all means possible, avoid Indigo/Chapters, and Amazon.
If you need one that delivers in Canada, I very much like McNally Robinson. They can order any book you like.
WHAT I RECOMMEND
Legends and Lattes
Bookshops & Bonedust
Goblins & Greatcoats
Brigands & Breadknives
(All written by Travis Baldree)
Orc and Friends of Orc – Fantasy – Comedic – Heartwarming – Thoughtful – Friendships
I started with this first book, was hooked on the orc Viv and honestly, had to read all of his other books. Read maybe is not correct, I DEVOURED them. They made me laugh, they made me cry, I really felt so good about them that I went back and reread them again a second time. I would also pass them along to Little Bun to read, he would enjoy them greatly.
Dear Debbie: Frieda McFadden
Journalist – Mental thriller
Queen of mental thrillers. Another good read of a journalist who was fired from her newspaper and she goes on a violent rampage…. Anyway, her books are short, fast to read, and engaging for a quick afternoon.
The Secret Lives of Murderer’s Wives: Elizabeth Arnott
Murderer’s wives – Point of view – Living under a spotlight
A great book looking at the perspective of the wives of serial killers and whether or not they “knew” what their unhinged, mentally unstable spouses were up to. All fiction of course, but also told in a very comedic sort of way where it makes you take the subject seriously enough to ponder how well you know someone in your life, but also to laugh at some bits.
Good Omens: Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
Devil versus Angel – Comedic – Beginning of civilization – Thwarting evil – TV series did justice to the book
I love the TV series and the book didn’t fail either. I think this is a single instance where the TV series did justice to the book that inspired it. Heaven and Hell battle it out on Earth through little tiny things like inspiring or smiting characters throughout history like Shakespeare, Job of the Bible, etc.
The Earth Children’s Series (6 books total) – The Clan of the Cave Bear: Jean M. Auel
The Clan of the Cave Bear
The Valley of Horses
The Mammoth Hunters
The Plains of Passage
The Shelters of Stone
(But I read the 6th one in October, which was the final ending so I will post there to keep it accurate)
Young Adult – Homo sapiens – Neanderthals – Evolution of mankind – Culture – Clans – Fitting in
It is more of a young adult series, but it really calls into question what it means to be human, what it means to fit into a place, and how far someone may go to try and be accepted. It traces the lineage of two diverging lines – Homo sapiens and neanderthals – and fictionally tries to tell the story of how the split may have happened. Heartbreaking.
Want more book recommendations?
All of my previous book recommendations are here.
If you’re lazy like me, here are my YEARLY book roundups from each year.