For the
10 Year in 10 Books Mini-Challenge, here are my book recommendations published each year since 2007! (And yes, I've actually read a book published in each of those years! I wasn't sure if that would be the case but Goodreads says yes!)
2007:
Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay
Guy Gavriel Kay is one of my favourite authors, and he just happens to be from my city, Winnipeg! So of course I'm gonna take this opportunity to spread the word. Note: This book is way more YA-ish than any of his others so if that's not your thing, all his other books are excellent historical fantasy. But if you don't mind a hint of YA, I personally loved this one.
2008:
The Widows of Hamilton House by Christina Penner
Wow, were there ever a lot of good books to choose from in 2008! But ultimately another Winnipeg author wins out! (What can I say? We have good writers.) Christina Penner was actually one of my computer science professors in university, and turns out to be a woman of many talents. This book is really excellent. And, the book is based on the actual history of a haunted house in Winnipeg!
2009:
Binky the Space Cat by Ashley Spires
Maybe an odd choice, but there wasn't an obvious choice for this year and this really is the start of a great series! Also, Canadian! It's about a cat who thinks the house is a spaceship, bugs are aliens, and he has to protect his humans from alien threats. What's not to love?
2010:
Machine of Death: A Collection of Stories About People Who Know How They Will Die edited by Ryan North
First, a side note: have you ever read
Dinosaur Comics? If not, go check it out because it's amazing. Anyway the writer of that webcomic is the editor of this book, which is a collection of short stories based on the concept of a machine that, with a quick blood test, can tell you how you'll die. They are extremely varied and pretty much all wonderful. There's also a second book which I haven't read yet but keep meaning to!
2011:
MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New Best Friend by Rachel Bertsche
Just when I thought I'd make a completely Canadian list! Oh well. This book legitimately changed my life. If you're an adult who's struggling with the question of how to make friends (and, better yet, best friends), I highly recommend this book. And even if that's not a problem you have, but you just enjoy funny/heartwarming memoirs, then I still recommend it!
2012:
The Mine (Northwest Passage #1) by John A. Heldt
This year was really tough to choose! There were a lot of really, really good books published in 2012! This one is the first in a series of time travel stories (some closely related, some loosely) with real heart.
2013:
The Faceless One by Mark Onspaugh
Still looking for a good horror novel to round out your October selections? The Faceless One is scary, but also satisfyingly different. The story makes use of Tlingit mythology, and the main characters are an old Tlingit man and an old black man who became friends in a retirement home and team up to save the world from an ancient evil. Love!
2014:
Frog Music by Emma Donoghue
Before I even read Room, my first Emma Donoghue book was Frog Music, a historical fiction set in 1876 San Francisco. Great characters, great plot... just read it!
2015:
Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon
This middle grade novel about a girl who poses as a wicked witch in order to take possession of Castle Hangnail is seriously delightful. I particularly recommend the audiobook.
2016:
Roses and Rot by Kat Howard
Faeries (the scary kind). A prestigious artists' retreat. Two sisters from an abusive home, each practicing their art, unexpectedly in competition with each other. Super beautiful writing! Are you convinced yet?
2017:
Star-Crossed by Barbara Dee
So far I've only read one book published in 2017, but as it happens, I loved it. This is a middle grade novel about a girl who starts to realise she has feelings for another girl, all while the school is preparing to put on Romeo and Juliet as the school play. Very sweet.
