LJ’s Notable Books of 2017

In addition to Library Journal‘s Best Books of 2017 list, the editors revealed their Notable Books of 2017, including:

A CONJURING OF LIGHT by V.E. Schwab
“The final installment in Schwab’s “Shades of Magic” trilogy has been my personal favorite book of the year—and the series itself is one that I’ve recommended to readers a hundred times over. All along, Schwab has been spinning an enchanting tale worthy of a spot on the shelf next to Harry Potter, and it all comes to a head here as her superbly written characters fight to stop the darkness overtaking their world. It was certainly a delicate balance between wanting to race through the pages to know how it ends and savoring the experience, knowing it’d be my last traipse through Red London.” — Kate DiGirolomo, SELF-e Community Coordinator

THE SECRET LIFE: Three True Stories of the Digital Age by Andrew O’Hagan
“These three long-form essays by novelist and essayist O’Hagan, which I first delved into when they ran in the London Review of Books, are centered on the larger themes of selfhood, secrecy, and the way we exist online. One of my Fall 2017 Editor’s Picks, the book features the compelling story of O’Hagan’s failed attempt to ghostwrite Julian Assange’s autobiography, his own creation of a false online persona for a dead man, and an examination of the Australian man who claims to be bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto. O’Hagan is a brilliant essayist and I can’t recommend his work enough.” — Amanda Mastrull, Assistant Editor

LILLIAN BOXFISH TAKES A WALK by Kathleen Rooney
“My second-favorite book of 2017 is this engaging debut based on the life of a pioneering advertising woman. It’s New Year’s Eve 1984, and octogenarian Lilllian Boxfish takes a stroll down memory lane as she revisit the Manhattan spots that played key roles in her remarkable life.” — Wilda Williams, Fiction Editor