The best reads of 2017

I think we can all agree that 2017 was quite the year, packed so full of crazy events that it seemed to last forever. Whether 2017 was your year or whether you’re hoping for positive change in the next, the past twelve months have seen the publication of some great books, and in the space of the past year, I somehow managed to read a couple of these hot-off-the-press volumes, along with several old favourites. Here are some of the best things I read in 2017.

The plot of The Hate U Give is utterly gripping, and the novel deals with both highly pertinent socio-political themes, whilst also focusing on the teenage drama we all secretly love.

By far one of my best reads of 2017 was Angie Thomas’ thrilling debut, The Hate U Give, which follows the story of Starr Carter, a young black girl who witnesses the fatal shooting of her unarmed friend by a police officer, and is subsequently drawn into activism. The plot is utterly gripping, and the novel deals with both highly pertinent socio-political themes, whilst also focusing on the teenage drama we all secretly love. The author’s personal experience lends a sense of authenticity to the narrative, something which is often lacking in YA novels. The Hate U Give was met with immense critical acclaim upon publication, topping the New York Times YA best-sellers list, and has already been optioned for a film adaptation.

Another of my favourite books from the past year was The Word is Murder, an intriguing new mystery novel from celebrated novelist Anthony Horowitz. This book is set to be the first in a series featuring eccentric detective Daniel Hawthorne and, whilst the plot seems typical of a murder-mystery, the narrative structure is highly distinct. Instead of creating a new character to tell the story, Horowitz has instead placed himself at the centre of the action, as an author whose services are enlisted by Hawthorne. The plot is therefore a clever mixture of events from the author’s life, and fabricated interactions between himself and his characters. It certainly makes for interesting reading, and I am very much looking forward to the rest of the series.

Patrick Ness’ Release has been praised for its truthful portrayal of LGBT characters and relatable insight into teenage life.

Karen McManus’ ‘High School Murder’ novel One of Us is Lying, made for some excellent holiday reading last summer. It’s the sort of book which can easily be devoured in one sitting, highly readable and easy to follow, perfect for holiday relaxation. The story focuses on several students suspected of killing their classmate, nothing particularly thought-provoking, just good, fast plot which makes it an absolute page-turner. Another speedy YA read of 2017 was Release by the highly acclaimed Patrick Ness. Release has been praised for its truthful portrayal of LGBT characters and relatable insight into teenage life. The story tells of one day in the life of Adam Thorn, focusing on his relationships with friends and family, as well as his internal struggle with his sexuality. It’s easy-reading, and I finished it in one night, but be warned, it’s pretty heavy on the emotions!

Of course, it’s not just about the books that hit the shelves for the first time in 2017, I for one also read a lot of older books in the past year which deserve the title of ‘best read’. Rather embarrassingly, I only read Orwell’s 1984 for the first time in 2017, and was blown away by its continued political significance and detail. Further proof that I have been living under a literary rock, is the fact that I only just got around to reading The Perks of being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. For once, in my opinion at least, the hype seemed to be justified. I also picked up Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame over the summer, and I must say it is one of the most tragically beautiful works I have ever encountered. Finally, I Am the Messenger, a slightly surreal novel by Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief, which may have been the best thing I read in 2017. This book was expertly written, the perfect mix of poignancy and humour, and the story was absolutely ingenious. Whether you’re a fan of The Book Thief or not, I cannot recommend Messenger highly enough.

So there we go, those were just a few of the things I loved reading in 2017. The new year looks to be another promising year for literature, and I cannot wait to sink my teeth into some of the upcoming releases.

Isabel Alexander

I, like many others was swept up in the success and interest surrounding the BBC version of Sathnam Sanghera’s ‘The Boy with the Topknot’. Sanghera, who’s father and sister suffer from schizophrenia, attempts to unravel his family history and write a memoir, whilst also dealing with turning his back on his Punjabi upbringing. It is rare for me to watch a film before reading the original book. Truth is, although the televised drama did a commendable job of bringing hugely important and relevant issues surrounding minority communities -bringing mental health and family dynamics to the fore- I was left feeling dissatisfied at the end, wanting more. And the vastly different book satisfied my curiosity.

The true heroine of the story is Sathnam’s mother, epitomising the strength of countless Indian women who torn from their homes and brought to the UK…

Although tackling harrowing issues of severe mental illness, it is, at its heart, a psychological exploration of family and culture; of what happens when one way of life is transplanted onto another. The results are both inspiring and destructive, and such experiences are becoming more and more common in Britain today. The true heroine of the story is Sathnam’s mother, epitomising the strength of countless Indian women who torn from their homes and brought to the UK to marry strange men and build new lives in an unknown country. As a third generation member of a dysfunctional Punjabi family, I could relate only too much to the volatile nature of family relationships, the problems arising from taboo subjects, the unfair expectations placed on children and the effects all these can have. Although probably punctuated in Indian families, these are universal themes. The novel is thus both enlightening and comforting, and holds great significance for anyone trying to grapple with identity and their place in the world.

Arisa Loomba