Best of 2017: Books, Movies, and TV

Posted on by emmathebibliophile

2017 was an interesting year for me. I read WAAAY more manga than I usually do, saw less movies than last year by almost half (43 this year compared to 82 last year), but played far more games. Here are some of my 2017 stats:

  • Total books read: 125
  • Total 2017 movies seen: 43
  • In 2016, I mostly read books by female authors, and this was the case again in 2017. I did even better in 2017! 86% of books I read were by female authors (compared to 71% in 2016), 14% by male authors (compared to 29% in 2016).
  • I had less of a wide range of genres this year: 61% of what I read was manga. 9% was nonfiction, 7% was YA fantasy, and 5% was comics.
  • I’m planning to focus on reading novels over graphic novels this coming year.
  • 7 of my top 10 reads of 2017 were audiobooks! Selecting audiobooks based on good reviews, plus a long commute to work really paid off for my reading.
  • I didn’t see as many movies as I would have liked, but that was because I had less free time this year. I’d like to get to more unusual movies this coming year.
Gender of authors read in 2017
86% of books I read were by female authors (compared to 71% in 2016), 14% by male (compared to 29% in 2016)
The overwhelming majority of what I read was manga, followed by non fiction and YA fantasy
I had less of a wide range of genres this year: 61% of what I read was manga. 9% was nonfiction, 7% was YA fantasy, and 5% was comics.

Top books of 2017

  1. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (5/5)
  2. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin (5/5)
  3. Orange: The Complete Collection 2 by Ichigo Takano (5/5)
  4. Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray (5/5)
  5. The Cold Cold Ground by Adrian McKinty (5/5)
  6. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri (5/5)
  7. Bitten by Kelley Armstrong (4/5)
  8. The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey (4.5/5)
  9. Fellside by M.R. Carey (4.5/5)
  10. We Were There (whole series) by Yuuki Obata (4/5)

Honourable mention:

  1. Fruits Basket Collector’s Edition, Vol. 1 by Natsuki Takaya (5/5)
  2. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (4/5)
  3. Ms. Marvel (Vol 2-8) by G. Willow Wilson (4/5)
  4. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (5/5)
  5. Chi’s Sweet Home by Kanata Konami (5/5)
  6. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman (4/5)
  7. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (4/5)
  8. The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan (4.5/5)
  9. Her Nightly Embrace by Adi Tantimedh (4/5)
  10. Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older (4/5)

Top Movies of 2017

  1. Wind River (5/5)
  2. Get Out (5/5)
  3. Dunkirk (5/5)
  4. Logan (5/5)
  5. Thor: Ragnarok (4.5/5)
  6. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (4.5/5)
  7. Hidden Figures (5/5)
  8. Okja (4.5/5)
  9. Spiderman: Homecoming (5/5)
  10. Wonder Woman (4.5/5)

Top TV shows of 2017

  1. Wallander (from 2016, but watched in 2017) – I think it’s worth warning that this show is pretty depressing. It is beautifully shot, wonderfully acted, with clever crimes that you *feel*, but it makes you sad.
  2. This is Us – Ugh, this show. The feels. I love all the characters. I love that they at first appear perfect, but then we get to know them and see all of their flaws. These flaws are real and not brushed over and hurt people. I love that it is a family saga. I love that it goes across generations and keeps teasing out fascinating new storylines. I just want to know more!!
  3. Attack on Titan Season 2 – This show never fails to impress me. The friendship between the characters, the way the military is depicted, and the olden days setting really work well together.
  4. Broadchurch – Another beautifully shot crime drama. The acting is excellent, with David Tennant and Olivia Colman as the main characters. Season 3 gets into extremely sticky business, examine a rape. Not a murder and rape. But a rape. With the season starting RIGHT after the rape has happened, the investigation is portrayed with uncomfortable realism. I have never seen a crime show portray rape investigation so honestly.
  5. The Magicians – You know, this isn’t the best show on TV, but like Shadowhunters, my god do I love it!
  6. Shadowhunters – I could just sit and watch this show over and over. I crave a new season as soon as it’s done!! I love that they take the Shadowhunter world, which I liked but didn’t love, and somehow make it into a crime/military/teen/romance show. This show actually gave me a new appreciation for the books because I just imagine the books are the characters from the show.
  7. Black Mirror
  8. Brooklyn Nine-Nine
  9. 11.22.63

Favourite games completed/played 2017

  1. Pokemon Y
  2. Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
  3. Pokemon Moon
  4. ARMS
  5. Ever Oasis

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