5 After 5, Top 5 Books you Read this Year

It's always so difficult to choose my selections for a "favorite book" list, but here goes my best try at favorite reads for 2017...

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It's time for another round of 5 After 5!  In case you missed it, last week's list was children's books your kids loved this year and if you're new to this series, you can read more about it here - then catch up on all the old editions here.

Today I've got my list of 5 to share, as well as next week's topic for you to stew about over the upcoming days.

And this series is a link party, so be sure to scroll down and join in all the fun with us this week!

List the top 5 books you read last year

You know there's no way I can truly narrow down all the bazillion books I read last year to my five favorites, but here's my best shot:

1.  Deconstructing Penguins

 
This book wasn't at all what I expected. I'd thought it would just be another book that went on and on about the benefits of reading aloud to kids, but it turned out to be all about a family book club and walked through all sorts of children's book examples on how to do this.

It definitely got me all jazzed to try something like this here, either in a group or just between the three of us here at home!

2.  How Not to Calm a Child on a Plane

This book is all that I can hope for in a vacation book, quick to read and hilarious!

If you want a good dose of parenting ridiculousness, then this is the book for you!

3.  The Nightingale

I never seem to read as much fiction as I'd like each year and when I get ahold of a book like this one, I just want to slap myself upside the head for not reading more of it.

The book's WWII topic attracted me and the moment I cracked open its pages, I couldn't put it down!

4.  The Year of Living Danishly

I went all hygge-crazy last year and read approximately 374 books on Scandinavian and Nordic life.

Okay, maybe it was just 6, but still, I really covered the topic pretty well.

But this book was definitely my favorite. It was not only a memoir (my favorite genre), but I loved the way the author organized the whole thing.

5.  Heather Shumaker Books

I had to list this entry by author because I read two of her books that I loved equally: It's Okay Not to Share and It's Okay to Go UP the Slide.

This gal could definitely join my offbeat un-club club (if I had one) and I spent half the time reading these books shouting out, "Thank you! Finally, someone with a brain!"

If you want to follow the rules and please everyone, stay away from these books. If you want to polka while everyone else is marching to the same beat, then these books are for you!

For next week:

2018 Goals

Ack! A new year! Who knows what it will bring, but I know a few things I'm hoping will happen...

I can't wait to hear about your new-year goals!

That's right, every post will be read, pinned and tweeted!  

Every Saturday, just stop by one of our blogs to add your own list of five, then pop over and read as many other posts as you're able to each week - treat it like a true party and really mix it up and mingle with our fun little community!

The rules are simple:  just write your own list following the prompt each week (feel free to interpret it loosely - or in a unique way!), follow both of the hosts on the social media channel of your choice, and then get into the spirit of the party by grabbing your favorite beverage or snack and reading the lists of the other party-goers.

Your Hosts:

Lisa, at Syncopated Mama: Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // Google+ // Bloglovin'

Samantha, at Motivated Days: Twitter // Pinterest // Google+ 

What's your list?  I'd love to hear!  Either leave a comment below or email me at lisahealy (at) outlook (dot) com.

Also, if you don't want to miss a single minute of fun around here, be sure to sign up for free updates and then look forward to having each post delivered right to your inbox!

An InLinkz Link-up

Linked up with: Favorite Things, Over the Moon, Share the Wealth Sunday, Dishing it & Digging it, What's for Dinner?, Family Joy Blog Link-Up,  Literacy Musings Monday, Practical Mondays, Homeschool Nook Link Up, Happiness is Homemade, Merry Monday, Motivation Monday, What'd You Do This Weekend, Meet Up Monday, Totally Terrific Tuesday, Together on Tuesdays, Show Me Yours Linky, Tasty Tuesdays, Little Learning Link Up, Two Uses Tuesday, Hip Homeschool Hop, Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party  Tuesday Talk, Wonderful Wednesday, A Little Bird Told Me, Everything Early Childhood, Creative Muster, Party in Your PJs,What to Read,I Am Pinnable, Christian Bloggers Link Up, This Is How We Roll, Creative Ways, Hearts for Home, Creative Exchange,  100 Happy Days, Try It Like It, No Rules Weekend Blog Party, Tune in Thursdays,  Booknificent Thursdays, Thursday Favorite Things, I'm Lovin' It, Inspiration Spotlight, Home Matters, Pretty Pintastic Party, Weekend Potluck, Awesome Life Friday, Creative Collection, The Beautifully Creative Inspired , Bloggers Pit Stop, Weekend Traffic Jam, Pin Me Party,  From the Archives, Family Fun Friday, Friday Frivolity, Bloggers Spotlight, Make My Saturday Sweet, Weekend Wind-Down Party,Friday Features Linky, Funtastic Friday , Best of the Weekend, Sweet Inspiration Link Party, Small Victories Sunday, You're Invited,  Love to Learn Tuesdays