2017 wasn’t my best reading year ever; I blame that whole planning-a-wedding thing. Still, I managed to read a total of 65 books (okay, books AND comics), including 31 with queer characters or content and 42 by non-male authors. Also, I read Atlas Shrugged, which I think should be counted as a feat unto itself (it’s good! but also hella looooong).
- Wilde Stories 2016: The Year’s Best Gay Speculative Fiction – ed. Steve Berman
- Bedtime Stories for Cats – Leigh Anne Jasheway
- Catfantastic Vol. 2 – Andre Norton and Martin Harry Greenburg
- Catfantastic Vol. 3 – Andre Norton and Martin Harry Greenburg
- Rejected Princesses: Tales of History’s Boldest Heroines, Hellions, and Heretics – Jason Porath
- Your Magickal Cat: Feline Magic, Lore, and Worship – Gerina Dunwich
- Great Speeches on Gay Rights – Ed. James Daley
- Catfantastic Vol. 4 – Andre Norton and Martin Harry Greenburg
- Catfantastic Vol. 5 – Andre Norton and Martin Harry Greenburg
- Atlas Shrugged – Ayn Rand
- Heiresses of Russ 2016: The Year’s Best Lesbian Speculative Fiction – Ed. A M Dellamonica and Steve Berman
- The King of the Cats and Other Feline Fairy Tales – ed. John Richard Stephens
- The Tribe of Tiger – Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
- Summer in Orcus – T. Kingfisher
- Mystery Cats – ed. Lilian Jackson Braun & Patricia Highsmith
- Toad Words and Other Stories – T. Kingfisher
- The Moment of Change: An Anthology of Feminist Speculative Poetry – ed. Rose Lemberg
- Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell – Susanna Clarke
- A Song of War: A Novel of Troy – Stephanie Thornton et. al.
- The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories – Susanna Clarke
- Keeper of the Dawn – Dianna Gunn
- Arcane Perfection – ed. Pat Mosley, et. al.
- An Alphabet of Embers: An Anthology of Unclassifiables – ed. Rose Lemberg
- Tailchaser’s Song – Tad Williams
- A Year of Ravens: A Novel of Boudica’s Rebellion – E. Knight et. al.
- Watership Down – Richard Adams
- Jackalope Wives and Other Stories – T. Kingfisher
- Paradise Lost – John Milton
- The Wicked and the Divine, Book 5: Imperial Phase I – Kieron Gillen
- Summerwode (The Wode Book 4) – J Tullos Hennig
- The Miseducation of Cameron Post – Emily M Danforth
- The First Time She Drowned – Kerry Kletter
- Iron Peter: A Year in the Mythopoetic Life of New York City – Charles Ortleb
- Lumberjanes Vol 1: Beware the Kitten Holy – Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis
- Dreadnought: Nemesis Book 1 – April Daniels
- The Price of Salt – Patricia Highsmith
- Two Boys Kissing – David Levithan
- Scourge of the Righteous Haddock – Ashley Schwellenbach
- The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars Part 1 – Irene Koh et. al.
- The Wheel Diver – Ashley Schwellenbach
- Through the Woods – Emily Carroll
- Welcome to Night Vale: A Novel – Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
- Lumberjanes Vol 2: Friendship to the Max! – Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis
- Lumberjanes Vol 3: A Terrible Plan – Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis
- Lumberjanes Vol 4: Out of Time – Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis
- Mystery of the White Lions: Children of the Sun God – Linda Tucker
- Lumberjanes Vol 5: Band Together – Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis
- Lumberjanes Vol 6: Sink or Swim – Noelle Stevenson and Grace Ellis
- The Steel Remains (A Land Fit for Heroes) – Richard K. Morgan
- A Short History of Nearly Everything – Bill Bryson
- Homer’s Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned About Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat – Gwen Cooper
- Journey from Yesterday – Roma Niles Burke
- Facing the Wave: A Journey in the Wake of the Tsunami – Gretel Erhlich
- The Cold Commands (A Land Fit for Heroes) – Richard K. Morgan
- The Dark Defiles (A Land Fit for Heroes) – Richard K. Morgan
- Psychic Abilities for Beginners: Awaken Your Intuitive Senses – Melanie Barnum
- How To Meet & Work with Spirit Guides – Ted Andrews
- Mostly Void, Partially Stars: Welcome to Night Vale Episodes, Volume 1 – Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
- Master and Commander – Patrick O’Brian
- The Great Glowing Coils of the Universe: Welcome to Night Vale Episodes, Volume 2 – Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
- Intuition: Knowing Beyond Logic – Osho
- Post Captain – Patrick O’Brian
- H.M.S Surprise – Patrick O’Brian
- Yeshua’s Loom: A Tapestry of Cats (Yeshua’s Cats Book 5) – C L Francisco
- The Essential Rumi – trans. Coleman Barks
Only Fragments 
Did reading Atlas Shrugged turn you into a libertarian? My ex read it last year and described it as “life changing.” He’s since become a libertarian and, in my opinion, incredibly selfish and short-sighted. I blame that book completely for us breaking up and swore I’d never touch it.
But, hearing someone like you who I greatly respect describe it as good makes me curious. I may have to give it a read.
Maybe it will help me understand my ex better, at least.
Haha! No, it definitely didn’t change my life, or my politics. The pure capitalist lens of the book is definitely something you need to take with a grain of salt – but if you’re able to set aside your inner voice that says “THIS WOULDNT ACTUALLY WORK” then I think it’s an interesting read. The world inside the book is compelling if you’re willing to see it as a fictional world only and not a commentary on our world. For example, there’s a very stark divide between the good guys and the bad guys, with few characters who fall in between. So while I loved certain characters, and hated others in the good way you hate a well written villain, I also recognized that creating such stark good vs evil is problematic and avoids the greater issues within the capitalist theme.
Still, I think the boo, is worth reading for the plot, characters, and pure skill with which it was written, as long as you can roll your eyes but otherwise choke down the CAPITALISM IS PERFECT message Ayn Rand is trying to shove down your throat. XD Its definitely a divisive book, though, and a challenging one, so it’s not for everyone. I read it because it’s my wife’s favorite book; it’s not otherwise something I’d seek out. I basically went in knowing it had something to do with trains? And some John Gault dude?
But yeah, anyway, I wouldn’t super trust anyone who agrees with the actual message of the book – but I also can’t deny that it’s a masterpiece anyway. But then again, I’ve heard the same of Mein Kampf…
Oh, and as to your comment about your ex, this book will definitely be popular with anyone who feels they’re smarter than everyone else and that forces them to have the raw deal in our current liberal snowflake society. So… whiny man-babies. *cough*
Thanks for the insight! I might try to fit it in this year, between my school reading.
Let me know if you do; I need someone besides my wife to discuss my hopeless ships with.
Will do!
One of my New Years Resolutions this year is to read more books!! I challenged myself to one a week but 65 books + a wedding! Bravo haha!
I also read An Alphabet of Embers. Loved it!