For me the Novel, Film, and Album of the Year

In my early 30s I compiled lists of the novels, films, and albums which to that point had either become all-time favourites or left an indelible impression. Though now a less avid blogger, I've still been adding one more each year. So here they are for 2016, the year I turned 41.

NOVEL #41:

Joseph Boyden - The Orenda

The book dates back to 2013 but my interest in its themes (aboriginal history and the missionary complicity in western conquest) goes back further than that. I'm very grateful to my sister-in-law Amy for recommending it. The story is gripping, the sense of place and time is strong, and the way it weaves in and out of the perspectives of its three main characters is beautiful.

Runners-up:
Nick Cave, The Death of Bunny Munro (2009)
Cormac McCarthy, The Sunset Limited (2006)
Dave Eggers, You're Fathers, Where are They? (2014)
Stephen King, The Shining (1977)

FILM #41:

Terrence Malick - The Tree of Life

This isn't exactly new -- here's what I wrote about it the first time 'round -- but on second viewing this year I fell in love with it.

Runners-up:
The Overnighters (2014)
Other People
Stranger Things
Demolition (2015)

ALBUM #41:

Dawes - All Your Favorite Bands

In this spot I could and probably should have put We're All Gonna Die, since it was actually released in 2016. Truth be told, since I listened to all five Dawes albums non-stop this year, top billing could also have gone to Stories Don't End or North Hills. But, for me and for this year, this one is most representative. Every song is perfect.

Runners-up: 
The Tragically Hip, Phantom Power (1998)
Bon Iver, 22, A Million
Leonard Cohen, You Want it Darker
The War on Drugs, Lost in the Dream (2014)
Radiohead, A Moon Shaped Pool

I used to keep a list of favourite non-fiction as well but my reading in that department is pretty eccentric and chronologically erratic. For what it's worth, the non-fiction that got to me the strongest this year included Bonhoeffer's Creation and Fall, Wayne Morris's Theology Without Words, Elizabeth Johnson's Ask the Beasts, and Stephen Backhouse's Kierkegaard: A Single Life.

Needless to say, I recommend all of these highly.

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