2017 Book Challenge!

Here's my list of books which I want to read in 2017. As I mentioned last week, I plan on reading a book a week for a total of 52 books, but right now I only have 42. I'll add other books that I hear about that I find interesting, if the length of the books I've chosen allows for reading more than my current list. Some of them, like the Chronicles of Narnia series, are very short, and since I'm a fast reader I may be able to read two or more a week. But others, like A Girl of the Limberlost are longer, so it may take me more than a week to read them. Also, I don't want to just rush through them. I want to enjoy and learn from them all. Maybe someday I'll be able to read a book each week, but I'm not sure if my time constraints will allow for it.

Any way, here's my 2017 list.

Nonfiction: I wanted to include several of these because I enjoy reading them as well. They cover topics that I’m currently interested in. I hope to read one a month, as kind of a balance for my fiction frenzy.

1. Do Over*, by Jon Acuff

2. Outwitting The Devil*, by Napoleon Hill

3. The Millionaire Next Door*, by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko

4. Overdressed*, by Elizabeth L. Cline

5. Worn Stories, by Emily Spivack

6. No More Dirty Looks*, by Siobhan O'Connor and Alexandra Spunt

7. Spark Joy*, by Marie Kondō

8. Women In Clothes, by Sheila Heti, Heidi Julavits, and Leanne Shapton

9. The Curated Closet*, by Anuschka Rees

10. How to Get Dressed*, by Alison Freer

11. Wear No Evil*, by Greta Eagan

12. Deluxe*, by Dana Thomas

13. The Joy Of Less*, by Francine Jay


Horror: As I mentioned in the past, I used to dislike Horror. But books by authors such as Madeleine Roux and Ransom Riggs have started to thaw my resistance to it. I don’t think I’ll be picking up a Stephen King book any time soon though.

14. Sanctum, by Madeleine Roux

15. Catacomb*, by Madeleine Roux

16. Escape From Asylum, by Madeleine Roux


Historical Fiction: Although I don’t think A Girl of the Limberlost technically falls under this genre, I included it here because it is set back in a earlier time from us.

17. A Girl of the Limberlost, by Gene Stratton-Porter

18. Les Misérables, by Victor Hugo

19. Sultana*, by Lisa J. Yarde

20. Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

21. Love Then Begins, by Gail McEwen and Tina Moncton

22. I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith


Fantasy: One of my favorite genres (honestly, probably my favorite). I have a wide selection here.

23. Aurora Abroad by Karen Kiefer

24. Into the Trees, by J. Alastair Nash

25. Wish*, by C. H. Aalberry

26. Read No Evil, by Steven W. White

27. The Princess, the Knight, and the Knave, by R. D. Ferguson

28. Darkshore, by Megan Jendrick and Nathan Jendrick

29. The Dragonfly Prophecy, by Jacquelyn Castle

30. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll

31. Phantastes, by George MacDonald

32. Lilith*, by George MacDonald

33. The Princess and the Goblin, by George MacDonald

34. The Princess and Curdie, by George MacDonald

35. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis

36. Prince Caspian, by C. S. Lewis

37. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C. S. Lewis

38. The Silver Chair, by C. S. Lewis

39. The Magician's Nephew, by C. S. Lewis

40. The Horse and His Boy, by C. S. Lewis

41. The Last Battle, by C. S. Lewis

42. Thorn Changer, by Christy Reed


Yes, I know, I feel like a jerk for including my own book, but as the sequel will hopefully be coming out later this year, I want to reread it as part of the process of keeping consistency/editing the sequel.

Most of these links are not for the exact format, edition, or version of the books I'll be reading, but I wanted to provide them so you could check out the books and see whether you wanted to read them yourself. I'll probably read and listen to a combination of formats such as paperback, audio book, etc.

That’s my list so far. Hopefully I’ll find I’m able to read another ten books this year, but I will be quite happy reading 42. I will say that I may be replacing some books on this list with others, if I find I don't want to finish them for some reason. Any other books you recommend? Have you read any of the above, and what were your thoughts on them? Let me know in the comments below.

Next week, I'll tell you some things I plan on doing to help me read so many books.

*For the sake of brevity, I have not included the subtitles of these books.