It’s been a whirlwind year, and while it’s easy to focus on the negative, we’d like to take a look at the positives that came out of 2017. We weren’t able to see all the movies and TV shows we’d have liked and we couldn’t read all of this year’s best books, but we do want to share 10 of our favorite things that 2017 has given us.
Books
“What We Lose”
This debut novel from Zinzi Clemmons is an exquisite look at the role grief can play in life. It’s a sort of coming-of-age that doesn’t follow a narrative format, which makes it stand out in a crowd. Not to mention that the book’s cover is brightly-colored and gorgeous – a great addition to any bookshelf!
“Turtles All the Way Down”
John Green’s latest novel feels like a departure of what audiences have come to expect from him. There is still a teenage romance plot line (or two), but the real focus in this book is the internal struggle of the protagonist, and what it feels like to constantly deal with certain types of mental illness. And, as with most of John Green’s writing, you’ll probably learn a few new things along the way.
Movies
“Get Out”
Jordan Peele’s directorial debut – which he also wrote – is one of the most beloved movies of 2017. It has the suspense and the horror that were expected, as well as some much-needed comic relief, all wrapped up in a socially-conscious and very relevant story. This film could not have come at a better time, as is evident by the conversations it spawned throughout the year and its lasting messages.
“Wonder Woman”
This movie, written by Allan Heinberg and directed by Patty Jenkins, defines the term “blockbuster.” Not only is it the most successful of the movies in the DC Extended Universe critically and commercially, but it also gave hope to audiences who needed it. We’ve finally seen the empowering effects of a female-driven superhero movie, and it’s definitely left us wanting even more.
“The Big Sick”
The romantic dramedy written by star Kumail Nanjiani and his real-life wife Emily V. Gordon tells the true(ish) story of their early romance. They have to overcome huge hurdles, namely Emily’s health and Kumail’s strict Pakistani family, but there are plenty of laughs along the way. “The Big Sick” serves as a reminder that rom-coms are not all formulaic and not all bad. We interviewed Kumail, Emily and Producer Barry Mendel on the SXSW red carpet in March 2017. Check it out here.
TV Shows
“Game Of Thrones, Season 7”
The most recent season of HBO’s epic fantasy series, based upon the novels of George R.R. Martin, had a lot of ground to cover. It was the first season that book readers couldn’t spoil and, as such, generated a lot of predictions from week to week. The deceit and action included in season 7 measured up to earlier seasons, but now it looks like we may have to wait until 2019 to see the story completed.
“Stranger Things, Season 2”
Audiences were thrilled to get back to Hawkins and see what’s up with the characters we came to love in season one. Though there was some debate about which season was better, there’s no doubt that the show’s sophomore season dominated screens and discussions – both online and offline – for several months.
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
The latest series from “Gilmore Girls” creator Amy Sherman-Palladino became available in full on Amazon Prime at the end of November and quickly made a splash. The titular character is a Jewish woman in late-1950s New York City whose life gets turned upside down, leading her to try her hand at stand-up comedy. It’s fast-paced, funny and a wholly unique experience.
News and Events
The Women’s March
On January 21, 2017, women (and allies) around the world gathered to advocate for human rights legislation, including reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, racial equality, immigration reform and more. It began with the planning of the Women’s March on Washington and grew exponentially, eventually leading to marches on all seven continents.
The Solar Eclipse
On August 21, 2017, people across the contiguous U.S. stopped what they were doing to marvel at a total or partial solar eclipse. People bought specialized eclipse glasses and made their own tools with which view it. There were social media posts everywhere leading up to the day and following the event. It felt like a truly magical moment that brought the country together.
What were some of your favorite moments from 2017? Share with us in the comments below!
Originally hailing from Pennsylvania, Jackie has called Austin home since choosing to attend the University of Texas, where she graduated with a degree in multimedia journalism. She loves spending time with her dogs, writing about pop culture in all its forms and spending time with friends – eating, drinking and doing trivia.