First Book of the Year + 2nd Blogiversary!!

Happy New Year everyone!! 

I think, regardless of your beliefs and feelings about certain worldly events that have occurred of late, you can probably agree with me that 2017 can only improve on 2016.  On top of that, while 2016 was a wonderful year for reading, there are so many excellent new books to look forward to this year as well. I'm giddy with excitement to think about all the wonderful reading I have coming up in my future!

As with last year I decided to join Book Journey's First Book of the Year. Per Sheila's site:

"The First Book is a book that maybe you have been wanting to read for a while but have not had time for, a coveted book, an old favorite re-read – whatever you want. The point is that this is the book that will kick off the year for you. What will it be?"

For me, this was an easy choice as I've been waiting to find the time to read my pick. The author is a favorite of mine and I always know she's going to give me a complicated, controversial topic to think about as her characters experience extreme difficulties and the reader tries to determine what they would do in the same situations. Any ideas yet? No? Okay, well my pick for the First Book of the Year is....

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years' experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she's been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don't want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. Does she obey orders or does she intervene?

Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and, as a result, is charged with a serious crime. Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender, takes her case but gives unexpected advice: Kennedy insists that mentioning race in the courtroom is not a winning strategy. Conflicted by Kennedy's counsel, Ruth tries to keep life as normal as possible for her family—especially her teenage son—as the case becomes a media sensation. As the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy must gain each other's trust, and come to see that what they've been taught their whole lives about others—and themselves—might be wrong.

With incredible empathy, intelligence, and candor, Jodi Picoult tackles race, privilege, prejudice, justice, and compassion—and doesn't offer easy answers. Small Great Things is a remarkable achievement from a writer at the top of her game.

To see what everyone else is reading for their First Book of the Year make sure to go over to Book Journey HERE. 

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Today is also the 2nd Blogiversary for A Literary Vacation!! Happy Birthday to my little blog! I plan on doing a separate post sometime soon detailing the number of reviews, spotlights, giveaways, etc. I've done since the blog started two years ago, but until then I just wanted to thank, from the bottom of my heart, those fellow readers and reviewers who have embraced me and my blog on this fun journey. I have met some of the kindest, most supportive fellow book nerds over the last few years and I feel so blessed to have you all in my life. Here's to another wonderful year of reading and sharing what we love!!

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