It's been a good year for reading! I read 63 books this year, and 12 of them were 5-star ratings for me on Goodreads. I think I'm getting better at picking books I will enjoy, and not just reading things that I think I should read. In no particular order, these are my favorite books of the year:
- The Rosie Project: quite possibly my favorite book of the year. So sweet. So funny. I'm impatiently waiting for the sequel, which should be available for me to pick up at the library any day now. (my review here)
- MaddAddam: the third book in this trilogy was my favorite, but you have to read the first and second ones first (which are also great). I need to read more of Margaret Atwood's books! (my review here)
- Orphan Train: I still can't believe this is based on real things that happened. The history and the main characters were quite captivating. (my review here)
- The Storied Life of AJ Fikry: this was recommended by a few people and they were right. Books about people who love books are quite lovely. (my review here)
- Big Little Lies: so much drama, but written in a way that seemed believable and interesting instead of obnoxious. (my review here)
- The Lost Wife: beautifully written account of such a sad time. I was shocked to read the author's note at the end that this was based on a true story. (my review here)
- Hyperbole and a Half: Allie Brosh is just hilarious. (my review here)
- One More Thing: I'm not normally into short stories, but these were witty enough to win me over. (my review here)
- The Eyre Affair: fun and nerdy, just what I like. (my review here)
- Ready Player One: the first book I read this year was an early favorite. Another nerdy plot that was just fun to read! (my review here)
- Beautiful Ruins: somehow, I didn't write a blog post reviewing this book. I read it back in June, and now I can't remember specifics about what I liked. But I gave it 5 stars, so it makes the list!
- We are Called to Rise: sad but beautiful. There was just enough closure that I wasn't mad at the end, but I still wanted a few more chapters to wrap things up. (my review here)
What were your favorite books of the year? Anything I should add to my ever-growing list?
Happy New Year's Eve! Be safe tonight and have fun. I'll probably skip posting tomorrow, and then be back at it for 2015. (Seriously, how is it 2015? We live in the future!)
And my Goodreads list just grows and grows!
ReplyDeleteFavorite books = pretty much the best way to sum up a year! I also read The Rosie Project, AJ Fikary (one of my top 2 for the year), Orphan Train, and Big Little Lies this year and liked them all a lot. They were such enjoyable reads but still had a little something deeper, like historical interest or a topic that really makes you think. The other book for me that did that in 2014 (the other of my top 2 picks for the year) was The Good Luck of Right Now.
ReplyDeleteOh, and after your review of One More Thing I got it for Peter for Christmas - he doesn't read much fiction, but I thought he'd like it a lot, and also I really want to read it now too... just have to wait my turn for it now :)
Happy New Year!
i think we have very similar taste in books because i read and loved many of these same books - and you've given me suggestions of others to look into. i finally got my hands on the rosie project and also found that i really loved it, and the sequel is due for me to pick up at the library now, so i'm anxious to read it! i am curious if you read the gold finch by donna tartt? it was a 718 page book on my ipad, so i was thankful for the time over christmas to read it and i'm glad i plowed through it as it became the favorite book i read in 2014!
ReplyDeleteI loved this so much, Andi! All the favorites in one place...I've been horrible about reading since I started my job, but I finally got my hands on a copy of Gone Girl, and I'm really excited to start reading it! I also know that I need to utilize our library more and read books that have been recommended to me (such as each and every one of these books, at your recommendation) instead of just blindly trying to pick something out of either our own bookshelves or the library shelves. I'm adding each and every one of these books to a note on my phone that I can take with me to the library!! ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to read a book a month this year (sounds pretty shabby in comparison to your goal...) so this list is great! Big Little Lies is definitely on my list. I read Beautiful Ruins last year and loved it!
ReplyDelete♥ perfectly Priya