I didn’t get off to a great start this year - there were a few duds that got me to this point - but it ended with a bang. Here are the top three books I read in 2017.

1. A Gentleman in Moscow

This is one of the few books I’ve listened to on Audible and enjoyed it so much I had to buy the hardcover as well. It’s worth a listen just to hear Nicholas Guy Smith’s brilliant narration about a Russian count who is held under house arrest in a Moscow hotel.

2. Farthest North

The full title of this book is “Farthest North: The Incredible Three-Year Voyage to the Frozen Latitudes of the North” - which gives you a decent summary already. It’s the first-person account of Fridjtof Nansen and his journey in the late 1800’s to get closer to the north pole than anyone had before. I spent several nights by the fire reading this one, it was a great book to read in the winter.

3. The Remains of the Day

I can’t believe I hadn’t read this yet - it was originally published in 1990. I remember seeing previews of the movie back then, with Anthony Hopkins starring as the lead character. I was surprised how much I enjoyed reading what I worried might just be a boring book about a butler. Definitely worthy of a top three spot for 2017.

- @jbnunn