THE YEAR IN BOOKS, BOOK CHALLENGES WRAP & FIRST BOOK OF THE YEAR.

JANUARY ...

1. THE EYE OF NEFERTITI by Maria Luisa Lang {RFR}
2. JORIE AND THE MAGIC STONES by A.H. Richardson {RFR}
3. WESSEX TALES by Thomas Hardy {RC}
4. MARY POPPINS by P.L. Travis by P.L. Travis
5. MARY POPPINS COMES BACK by P.L. Travis
6. MARY POPPINS OPENS THE DOOR by P.L. Travis
7. MARY POPPINS IN THE PARK by P.L. Travis
8. MARY POPPINS IN CHERRY TREE LANE/MARY POPPINS AND THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR by P.L. Travis (For the review of all the books in the series please see book 4, Mary Poppins)
9. MEMOIRS OF A LAB RAT by Stephen and Cynthia Colson {RFR}
10. THE OLD TURK AND OTHER TALES by Joanna Patterson {RFR}
11. * THE NIGHTINGALE by Kristin Hannah {ABC}

FEBRUARY ...

1. THE GOOD LIAR by Nicholas Searle {OCRG}
2. THE SILENT KOOKABURRA by Liza Perrat {RFR}
3. * HOLLOW CITY by Ransom Riggs {BC}
4. THREE SISTERS, THREE QUEENS by Philippa Gregory {BC}
5. 11TH HOUR by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro {BC}
6. SEE YOU IN THE COSMOS by Jack Cheng {W}
7. LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY by Frances Hodgson-Burnett {RFR}
8. THE HOUSE ON HOLLOW HILL by David Kristoph & David McAleese {RFR}
9. THE TOWER OF NEVER THERE by David Kristoph & Danny McAleese {RFR} (Please see the above book for the link to the review of this one)
10. HEY DOORMAN VIII: TRUE TALES OF AN UNCOMMON BOUNCER IN LOS ANGELES by John P. Kildemm {RFR}

MARCH ...

Due to a spell in hospital there were no books read throughout March

APRIL ...

1. TALES FROM WITCHWAY WOOD: CRASH 'N' BANG by Kaye Umansky {BC}
2. TO CATCH THE CONSCIENCE OF THE KING by Martin White {RFR}
3. HEART OF DARKNESS by Conrad Joseph {OCRG}
4. * THE STRANGER IN THE WOOD: THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF THE LAST TRUE HERMIT by Michael Finkel {W}
5. THE STORY OF A SNAIL WHO DISCOVERED THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING SLOW by Luis Sepulveda {RFR}

MAY ...

1. LIBRARY OF SOULS by Ransom Riggs
2. TO THE HOLY SHRINES by Richard Burton {RC}
3. CAN-CANS, CATS AND CITIES OF ASHES by Mark Twain {RC} (Please see the above book for the review to this one) 
4. THE SKELETON ROAD by Val McDermid {RC}
5. A CLERGY HUSBAND'S SURVIVAL GUIDE by Matthew Caminer
6. THE BONES OF AVIGNON by Jefferson Bass {RC}
7. LINGER by Maggie Stiefvater {BC}
8. ANOTHER PLACE by Matthew Crow {RFR}

JUNE ...

1. THE MIDWIFE'S REVOLT by Jodi Daynard
2. THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS by Kenneth Grahame {RFR}
3. * SKIN DEEP by Laura Wilkinson {RFR} {BT}
4. THE GIANT'S CAUSEWAY by Philip Watson
5. COMMONWEALTH by Ann Patchett {ABC}

JULY ...

1. SLOW HORSES by Mick Herron {OCRG}
2. THE PORRIDGE PLOT by Che Golden {RFR}
3. THE HOUSE IN THE TREE by Bianca Pitzorna {RFR} (Please see above book for review of this one)
4. BAD MEMORIES: ASYLUM by Douglas Sandler {RFR}
5. * HOW SPELEOLOGY RESTORED MY SEX DRIVE by Michael Bernhart {RFR}
6. AT THE EDGE OF THE ORCHARD by Tracy Chevalier
7. THE NAUGHTIEST GIRL AGAIN by Enid Blyton {RC}
8. J. C. BEWIS PROUDLY PRESENTS THE MYSTIFYING MEDICINE SHOW by J. C. Bewis 
9. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING SEVEN by Alexander McCall Smith {RC}

AUGUST ...

1. * THE DUCHESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND'S LITTLE BOOK OF POISONS, POTIONS AND APHRODISIACS by Jane Northumberland
2. THE THINGS WE LEARN WHEN WE'RE DEAD by Charlie Laidlaw {RFR}
3. WINNIE THE POOH MEETS THE QUEEN by Jane Riordan
4. LIFE UNFINISHED {RFR} by Martin White
5. THE GOSPEL OF LOKI by Joanne M Harris  
6. BLACK NARCISSUS by Rumer Godden 

SEPTEMBER ...

1. THE HOLLOW MEN by Rob McCarthy {OCRG}
2. SILENT HOURS by Cesca Major (RFR}
3. FRANGIPANI by Celestine Hitiura Vite
4. THE SACRED RIVER by Wendy Wallace {BC}
5. * FAIRDAY MORROW AND THE TALKING LIBRARY by Jessica Haight & Stephanie Robson {RFR}
6. SOLD AS A SLAVE by Olaudah Equiano {BC}

OCTOBER ...

1. * THE WOLF TREE by C J Bemis
2. * THE WHITE CITY by C J Bemis (Please see above for review)
3. THE SWEEPER by Rebecca Hazell {RFR}
4. HOW EXISTENTIALISM ALMOST KILLED ME by Michael Bernhart {RFR}
5. JACK FORTUNE by Sue Purkiss {RFR}

NOVEMBER ...

1. HIDDEN FIGURES by Margot Lee Shetterly {RC} (Please see The Hollow Men for review)
2. NORTHERN LIGHTS by Philip Pullman {BC}
3. THE SUBTLE KNIFE by Philip Pullman {BC} (Please see Northern Lights for review)
4. THE AMBER SPYGLASS by Philip Pullman {BC} (Please see Northern Lights for review)
5. FERNANDO CAN TANGO by Jude Lennon & Kelly Thornhill {RFR}
6. THE TAEXALI GAME by Nancy Jardine {RFR}
7. * HEMLOCK JONES AND THE ANGEL OF DEATH by Justin Carroll {RFR}

DECEMBER ...

1. * THE CHRISTMAS TALE OF ELAINE GALE by David Thompson {RFR}

FAVOURITE COVERS ...

(In no order of preference other than that in which I 
reviewed the book) ...

ABC: Arkansas Book Club
BT: Book Tour
RC: Reading Challenge
RFR: Received for review
OCRG: Oxford Centre Reading Group
W: Won
*: Book(s) Of The Month
Title(s) hi-lighted in red: Yet to be reviewed on Pen and Paper though they may be available on my GoodReads page

Please note: Whilst the books are always listed in the order in which I read them, they need not necessarily be reviewed in that order. 

With only 74 of the 104 books I had hoped to read actually read 2017 has been a disappointing year reading wise, however I did manage to complete two challenges.

With thanks as always to Charlie over at The Worm Hole who once again organised the What's In A Name? challenge of which I read the following books. Please click on the title(s) above should you feel inclined to read my thoughts on them. Oh and be sure to visit Pen and Paper later this week for details of this years challenge.

• The category with numbers in numbers in the title: 11th Hour by James Patterson
• The category with a building in the title: To The Holy Shrines by Richard Burton
• The category with the letter X in the title: Wessex Tales by Thomas Hardy
• The category with a compass direction in the title: Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
• The category with a item of cutlery in the title: The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
• The category with the same first letter in the title: Can-cans, Cats And Cities of Ashes by Mark Twain.

The first time I've participated in this challenge, thanks to Bev over at My Reader's Block and her Mount TBR challenge which, with 24 books off my TBR mountain read, saw me scale the lofty heights to reach the 'Mount Blanc' level. Once again, please click on the book's title above should you wish to read my review.

1. Wessex Tales by Thomas Hardy
2. Mary Poppins 
3. Mary Poppins Comes Back
4. Mary Poppins opens The Door
5. Mary Poppins In The Park
6. Mary Poppins In Cherry Tree Lane & Mary Poppins In The House Next Door all by P.L. Travers
7. Hollow City by Ransom Riggs
8. Three Sisters, three Queens by Philippa Gregory
9. 11th Hour by James Patterson
10. Crash 'n' Bang by Kaye Umansky
11. To The Holy Shrines by Richard Burton
12. Can-cans, Cats And Cities Of Ashes by Mark Twain
13. The Skeleton Road by Val McDermod
14. The Bones Of Avignon by Jefferson Bass
15. Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
16. The Naughtiest Girl Again by Enid Blyton
17. J.C. Bewis Presents The Mystifying Medicine Show by J.C. Bewis
18. The Importance Of Being Seven by Alexander McCall
19. The Sacred River by Wendy Wallace
20. Sold As A Slave by Olaudah Equiano
21. Northern Lights
22. The Subtle Knife
23. The Amber Spyglass all by Philip Pullman
24. Skinwalker by Faith Hunter

 Thanks again to Book Journey's Sheila for once again hosting  the First Book Of The Year meme. Sadly too late to enter it on January 1st, I shall never the less be emailing it to Sheila for inclusion tomorrow. Apologies for the quality of the picture (to tell you how bad it actually is the wall behind me is in fact raspberry and.not orange). My very first selfie, I was aiming for the mysterious, moody look as it seemed in keeping with the title of the book .. at least that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it.

(Image courtesy of Sheila @ Book Journey)

Wishing you all a blessed new year, may 2018 be kind to you.