"Outside a dog a book is man's best friend, inside a dog it is too dark to read!" -Groucho Marx========="The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid." -Jane Austen========="I don’t believe in the kind of magic in my books. But I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book."-JK Rowling========"I spend a lot of time reading." -Bill Gates=========“Ahhh. Bed, book, kitten, sandwich. All one needed in life, really.” -Jacqueline Kelly=========

Monday, December 15, 2014

TTT: My favorite books read in 2014


Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
    Read for my SOTH book club in January.
Round House by Louise Erdrich
    Read for my RHS book club in January
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic for Gold at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin by Daniel Brown
    Nonfiction; also read in January (it was a month of good books) for RHS book club in February.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
    An audiobook read by the author. Very magical and imaginative.
Wonder by RJ Palacio
     A Junior book but quite wonderful and magical. Read for SOTH book club in March.
How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare by Ken Ludwig
     Ever hear the phrase "The book fell open and I fell in"? This phrase aptly describes my experience with this book. I hoarded it and kept renewing it at the public library until they wouldn't let me renew it again.
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
     Everyone who had read this book before me told me I would love it. They were right.
The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
     This is the book I tell people to read if they can't figure out what to read.  What is not to like? A book about books and short stories!
Looking for Alaska by John Green
     My only re-read on this list. It has been a favorite YA book for a long time.
The Golem and Jinni by Helene Wecker 
     This was another audiobook selection and it took forever to finish the book in this format but I loved the experience of this book.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
     My first magical realism in a super-long time. I had to work pretty hard to appreciate this book but the work paid off and I'm pretty proud of myself for both conquering AND enjoying this book.
The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
     Important topics---anti-slavery AND feminism written by a favorite author.
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya
     My second magical realism of the year and I was ready for it.  I see why this one ends up on a lot of "must-read" lists, but like One Hundred Years of Solitude, it is not a good selection for someone not willing to work at it.
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
     An audiobook read by the author.  I LOVED this book but others in my RHS book club didn't which makes me wonder if the format (audio) was the trick.
I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
     My favorite YA book of the year and the one I hope wins the Printz Award.

And lastly, I am sure this book will be on my favorites list but I am not finished with it yet:
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The Goldfinch

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and Bookish.

 
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10 comments:

  1. Captivated ReaderDecember 16, 2014 at 1:00 AM

    I'm currently reading reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman... Otherwise, I haven't read any of the books you've mentioned in your post. I'll have to check them out! Here is a link to my TTT list for the week: http://captivatedreader.blogspot.com/2014/12/top-ten-tuesday-top-ten-books-i-read-in.html

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  2. ChrissiReadsDecember 16, 2014 at 3:09 AM

    I keep seeing I'll Give You The Sun on lists and it's making me so excited to read it! :-) It looks like you've had a great reading year! :-) My TTT

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  3. InToriLexDecember 16, 2014 at 7:05 AM

    Thanks for stopping by my blog!!! Im definitely adding Give you the Sun, since its everywhere!!!

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  4. Jess (Gone with the Words)December 16, 2014 at 9:00 AM

    I didn't know The Ocean at the End of the Lane was read by Neil Gaiman! I may have to check this out! And I'm due for a Looking for Alaska reread. Love it!

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  5. AnonymousDecember 16, 2014 at 11:20 AM

    I recently checked out Looking for Alaska on audiobook--still need to start it! - Maggie @ macarons & paperbacks

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  6. AllisonDecember 16, 2014 at 2:35 PM

    Oh, I like your presentation of your favorite reads for 2014. May I steal the idea?!?

    Of the books on your list, I've read only three of them. I very much agree with your choice of Looking for Alaska! Also, I do enjoy Gaiman, although I have yet to read The Ocean at the End of the Lane.

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    Replies
    1. Anne@HeadFullofBooksDecember 16, 2014 at 11:40 PM

      Sure. I am always admiring other graphics on blogs and can't figure out how they do them, so I am honored that someone likes something I've done.

      Delete
  7. MargaretDecember 16, 2014 at 8:19 PM

    This year I loved Round House, The Boys in the Boat, The Invention of Wings and A Tale for the Time Being also. Incredible books and they all stretched me as a person and a thinker. I read the Shadow of the Wind a long time ago and it was amazing too, very mystical.

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  8. Anne@HeadFullofBooksDecember 16, 2014 at 11:39 PM

    We had highs and lows with our selections for book club this year, for sure.

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  9. Shay(The Story Goes...)December 17, 2014 at 5:57 PM

    The only one of these which is I'll Give You The Sun, but yes. It's the best! I just loved it so much. =)

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