2016 books | The Plaid Pladd Blog

Posts Tagged ‘2016 books’

2016 Books: The Pretty

January 2nd, 2017 by pladd

Okay, so these book covers aren’t necessarily pretty but they are ones that drew me in. I put a * next to the ones that are also on my 2016 Books: The Good list. Winning all the awards!

Her Name in the Sky by Kelly Quindlen
I looked at this one for a long time. It works well with the wistfulness of the story.

*Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
This kind of pop art really sells the whimsical nature of the story.

The Women in the Walls by Amy Lukavics
This book didn’t live up to the creepiness of the cover.

Habibi by Craig Thompson
Beautiful art style, suspect story

Dawn at Emberwilde by Sarah E. Ladd
I read this for #LaddSolidarity but I also really like the cover.

*Romeo and/or Juliet: A Chooseable-Path Adventure by Ryan North
YES

Let Me Die in His Footsteps by Lori Roy
SO PURPLE of course I like it

Shell-Shocked by Jessica Payseur
I just think everyone needs to see this cover. LOOK AT IT. It’s an Easter-themed romance novel.

The Year of the Beasts by Cecil Castellucci
I’m here for modern Medusa

I’ll See You In Paris by Michelle Gable
This cover looks like something I’d enjoy, but alas

*Augie and the Green Knight by Zach Weiner
All the art in this book was great!

*Anything but Ordinary Addie: The True Story of Adelaide Hermann, Queen of Magic by Mara Rockliff
Get it, girl

The Core of the Sun by Johanna Sinisalo
Another cover that’s not pretty but is interesting

Sprinkles! Recipes and Ideas for Rainbowlicious Desserts by Jackie Alpers
I WANT IT

*Anya’s Ghost by Vera Brosgol
Graphic novels I liked usually make it on here because I love the art

*The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig
The cover itself looks exciting even before you know what it’s about

Baba Yaga’s Assistant by Marika McCoola
BABA YAGA I LOVE YOU

*LumberJanes vol. 3: A Terrible Plan by Noelle Stevenson
Lumberjanes pretty much always ends up on here, right?

*The Encyclopedia of Early Earth by Isabel Greenberg
Another great graphic novel

Surprise-Inside Cakes by Rettke Amanda
YUM

Previously: 2016 Books: The Ugly

2016 Books: The Ugly

January 2nd, 2017 by pladd

Here are my picks for ugliest book covers of the year (out of ones I read). I put a * next to the ones that were also on my 2016 Books: The Bad list. Rocking it with all the bad awards!!!

One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories by B.J. Novak
As boring as it can get, really

Over Easy by Mimi Pond
I expected more from this graphic novel

Fortune’s Pawn by Rachel Bach
If this book hadn’t been recommended to me, the cover would have turned me away. I’m not into technical specs about your space ship.

*Feeling Lucky by Kathy Bryson
Dude is still wearing a shirt? What kind of romance novel cover is this?

*American Werechaun in Dublin by Andy Click
Blah

Pamela; or, Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson
This book was considered downright SALACIOUS in its time, so I feel like this cover could try harder.

Ratfucked: The True Story Behind the Secret Plan to Steal America’s Democracy by David Daley
This book was really interesting, but its cover isn’t doing anything for it.

You’ll Grow Out of It by Jessi Klein
Those bangs, oh god

The Gates of Evangeline by Hester Young
It took me a stupid amount of time to realize that those are trees. Why are they sideways?

*To Catch an Heiress by Julia Quinn
Rose clip art. Not even trying.

*The Warlord by Elizabeth Elliott
At least he’s not wearing a shirt, but the luscious flowing locks aren’t really doing it for me.

Eight Hundred Grapes by Laura Dave
This looks like a children’s book not an angsty novel set in a winery

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff
You can do better

*Cosmic Sex by Karen Kelley
He looks stoned

Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast
This cover makes my teeth itch

Pogue’s Basics by David Pogue
Boring

*Kana’s Quest by Anthony Ray Olheiser
Homemade

The Girls by Emma Cline
Eh

*The Eyes of the Arab Boy by R Lamirand
I hate everything about you

Previously: 2016 Books: The Bad
Next: 2016 Books: The Pretty

2016 Books: The Bad

January 1st, 2017 by pladd

This year I rated 11 books 1 star on GoodReads. Here they are:

It was a tough call on Worst Book of 2016. But I’m going with Looking for Alaska, mostly because of how critically and socially acclaimed it is. That raises expectations pretty high (unlike most of the other books here, which I expected to be terrible), so when it sucked it felt worse.

Looking for Alaska by John Green
I read this for Banned Books Week. Here’s my full review of why it sucks.

Library Book Sale Trash

The Warlord by Elizabeth Elliot
A romance novel I got for 20 cents at the library book sale. It’s about a dude in 12th cent. Scotland marrying a girl to save her from her evil step father. And then they find love.

To Catch an Heiress by Julia Quinn
In this crappy romance novel, an English lord/AGENT OF THE CROWN kidnaps the wrong girl because he thinks she’s a Spanish spy. Then they find love.

Cosmic Sex by Karen Kelley
Library book sale has a strong representation this year! This book is about aliens landing on earth to discover what these earthmen are like.

Proving a Point to Someone

Feeling Lucky by Kathy Bryson
I read this to prove a friend wrong who thought there weren’t any romance novels about Irish dudes. This is about a woman who “catches” a leprechaun by grabbing his ass and then is entitled to his treasure. He tries to seduce the treasure back. Also in this universe leprechauns are just hot dudes who like money and can dance in mid air because why not.

American Werechaun in Dublin by Andy Click
I read this book for the same reason. It’s about a dude who keeps blacking out at the full moon and waking up with gold coins in his pocket. You know, a werechaun. Eventually he learns to control his powers and brings peace to the warring leprechaun and werechaun communities.

Kana’s Quest by Anthony Ray Olheiser
I read this when James Fox challenged me to read a knock-off Lord of the Rings book. It’s about the war between angels and Satan and involves some angel/human romance. It’s completely insane.

Passion and Ponies by Tara Sivec
This book is about a woman deciding she can overlook her Friend With Benefits brony tendencies and upgrade him to Boyfriend status.

Hate Book Club

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
I read this for Hate Book Club, full review here.

The Eyes of the Arab Boy by Rod Lamirand
This was another Hate Book Club selection, famous for the author himself volunteering it. Full review here.

Just Randomly Bad

The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver
This book was about a dramatic car accident that killed one twin while injuring the other and everyone mistakes the one that lived for the one that died. And now she’s just pretending to be her sister?? Forever?? It’s really dumb.