Top Five Books of 2014

Description
What are your top five reads for 2014? These books DO NOT need to have been published in 2014.
Members
397 participating members
2
13,578 members
764 reviews
3.9
3
16,316 members
1,184 reviews
½ 4.3
4
42,292 members
2,079 reviews
½ 4.4
22 Members
lucybrown, spartahiker, Florinda, krazy4katz, MJC1946, Devlindusty, SherylHendrix, MeganHuntStewart, amyshaff, Trudial, cadacada, Barbsn, jan48, lyneaclark, LisaYork, painter1, kenjohnson, MichelleAbel, PaulKelleher, snyd1978, Jonas.Pieters, Tosta
Explanations
SherylHendrix: A riveting story that highlights the human emotions of individuals caught in the horrors of war.
5
5,405 members
344 reviews
4
21 Members
lorax, tardis, conceptDawg, Vierran, barrayaran, montano, Euryale, lkmiller, earthsinger, Vilakins, dot.zen, jamestream, Devlindusty, zjakkelien, gypsysmom, pjdscca, TempleCat, lorannen, ChristineParker, kenjohnson, SkippyRoxy
Explanations
lorannen: By far one of the most original and compelling space novels I've read in recent years.
6
7,800 members
571 reviews
4
19 Members
innominate, skyeval, starfishian, ymkahn, mzonderm, sipthereader, rainpebble, nancyewhite, novelcommentary, chaminah, cmtl, JSWBooks, PoetVictoria, hubblegal, kenjohnson, elca1946, canaiden, SkippyRoxy, suerv
Explanations
innominate: A novel of time and place, of death and rebirth. Of foxes and not. Historical and ahistorical. A fantastic (in both senses of the word) read.
starfishian: Absolutely brilliant. Kate Atkinson is a gifted writer.
12
2,316 members
110 reviews
4
15
6,112 members
329 reviews
½ 4.3
16
4,708 members
234 reviews
3.8
11 Members
Aquila, snora, zhejw, charl08, lsh63, chgstrom, KymmAC, Picarina, peterveen, gendeg, elca1946
Explanations
Aquila: Do I need to explain my choice? Loved the set up.
17
13,575 members
923 reviews
4.1
19
11,354 members
578 reviews
½ 4.4
10 Members
mzonderm, sipthereader, terran, MJC1946, koalakt, honkcronk, Trudial, gaylebutz, ThoughtPolice, elca1946
Explanations
ThoughtPolice: Compelling story, brilliant writer.
20
10 Members
tardis, waitingtoderail, barrayaran, SaraHope, Jambyfool, midnightblues, CapitalHackels, amaranthe, MeganHuntStewart, dexterdame
Explanations
amaranthe: It is extremely funny, and not in a stupid way.
21
7,092 members
285 reviews
4.2
10 Members
Eat_Read_Knit, novelcommentary, njinthesun, jhaggis, JSWBooks, amyshaff, peterveen, LisaYork, elca1946, canaiden
Explanations
JSWBooks: There's so much to this book. One reader quoted The Guardian's review: "There are some novels that tell a great story and others that make you change the way you look at the world. ... Adichie's Americanah is a book that manages to do both." It is about race, immigrants, relationships. Beautiful, provacative writing.
22
24,514 members
1,522 reviews
4.2
9 Members
booklover3258, RuMuse, crazy4reading, Liciasings, MeganHuntStewart, snookerkitty, mdrcamp4, renbedell, snyd1978
Explanations
booklover3258: Sad story of love and loss. Why wouldn't I love this book?
RuMuse: I didn't expect I'd like this book, much less love it. It's the clear voice of the protagonist, Hazel, with her insights and mordant humor, that make this a great book.
23
4,670 members
280 reviews
3.8
24
2,252 members
177 reviews
½ 4.3
25
6,223 members
431 reviews
½ 3.7
26
3,392 members
238 reviews
4.1
27
1,830 members
140 reviews
3.8
8 Members
overthemoon, Bookmarque, reader517, spartahiker, pdebolt, EllsieFind, markatpie, painter1
Explanations
Bookmarque: Stories of orphans and outsiders usually follow a familiar storyline, but this novel surprised me both in characterization and in plot. Set in an unusual location and time it is an introspective and engrossing novel.
28
3,382 members
263 reviews
4
8 Members
innominate, KimarieBee, s2nowy, lsh63, rainpebble, Sharn, Brindle, ElizaBev
Explanations
innominate: A bare description of this novel (the tale of the last woman to be executed in Iceland) doesn't do justice to its complexity and clarity of purpose. A tale of death breathing life into a past society.
29
10,360 members
745 reviews
4.1
30
16,829 members
1,218 reviews
4.1
31
6,525 members
331 reviews
½ 4.3
32
7,878 members
694 reviews
3.8
33
2,569 members
182 reviews
4.1
7 Members
susanj, tardis, mkunruh, Vierran, jsburbidge, amaranthe, pagesaplenty
Explanations
amaranthe: Maia unexpectedly becomes emperor after having lived his 18 years as an embarrassment in exile. He must learn to govern effectively without being killed, being manipulated by older members of the government, or becoming like his father. Lots of politics, intrigue, problem-solving, and heart.
34
1,165 members
83 reviews
4
35
1,584 members
94 reviews
4.2
36
7,445 members
392 reviews
4.1
37
1,423 members
107 reviews
3.8
38
2,536 members
168 reviews
3.8
39
3,024 members
171 reviews
½ 4.4
6 Members
rosylibrarian, nancyewhite, Mirabelle, MeridianLRC, copperkid, ThoughtPolice
Explanations
ThoughtPolice: Eye-popping narrative.
40
1,772 members
147 reviews
4.2
41
25,277 members
612 reviews
3.9
42
6,023 members
371 reviews
4
43
1,705 members
79 reviews
4.2
44
6,617 members
463 reviews
4.1
45
3,516 members
176 reviews
½ 4.3
46
4,553 members
379 reviews
½ 4.3
47
8,478 members
613 reviews
4.1
48
3,048 members
193 reviews
½ 3.6
49
9,484 members
605 reviews
3.9
50
1,452 members
93 reviews
4
5 Members
Aquila, susanj, byzanne, rarm, jsburbidge
Explanations
Aquila: Like Rosemary Sutcliff, but with a female protagonist - and a bisexual one at that. Fascinating, integrated, beautifully written.
52
5,021 members
340 reviews
4.1
5 Members
chgstrom, Her_Royal_Orangeness, flying_monkeys, brushman, iogrey
Explanations
flying_monkeys: Uses two mythological creatures to explore what it means to be human.
53
4,144 members
289 reviews
4.1
54
2,919 members
242 reviews
3.9
5 Members
isis27, boo-radley, flying_monkeys, ChristineParker, ardvisoor
Explanations
flying_monkeys: What's scarier than something you can't see but know is right beside you? Eek!
55
32,766 members
904 reviews
4.1
56
4,151 members
131 reviews
½ 4.6
57
18,616 members
329 reviews
4.1
58
3,053 members
170 reviews
3.8
4 Members
booklover3258, melissarochelle, ToniTobin, pagesaplenty
Explanations
booklover3258: Funny story and loved the dysfunctional family.
59
4,739 members
261 reviews
½ 4.5
60
4,313 members
282 reviews
½ 4.3
4 Members
Vierran, leahbird, dexterdame, lorannen
Explanations
lorannen: Saga finally convinced me to become a regular reader of comics. It's a brilliant story, with artwork to match.
61
5,518 members
350 reviews
3.9
4 Members
hailelib, isis27, BookLizard, Tanya-dogearedcopy
Explanations
Tanya-dogearedcopy: Urban Fantasy about a RC in modern-day London who discovers that he has wizarding skillz; The author was a scriptwriter for Doctor Who, and the story is very fast, funny, and quintessentially British.
62
13,220 members
296 reviews
4
63
2,480 members
111 reviews
4.1
64
4,068 members
240 reviews
4.1
65
5,693 members
338 reviews
3.9
66
4,164 members
130 reviews
½ 4.3
4 Members
Picarina, nittnut, lottpoet, Wassilissa
Explanations
nittnut: Because it's the first book in a new to me series. It's such a pleasure to find a great new series.
67
3,297 members
154 reviews
3.9
69
2,344 members
130 reviews
½ 3.7
70
863 members
33 reviews
½ 3.7
3 Members
Parker51, JuliaMaria, kara.shamy
Explanations
JuliaMaria: Wie Frauen in der Kunstgeschichte unsichtbar gemacht werden. Verpackt in Beschreibung eines spannenden Duells zweier Ķünstler.
71
4,149 members
274 reviews
3.9
3 Members
tottman, gaylebutz, miketopper
Explanations
tottman: Listened to this book on audio and it absolutely blew me away. Absolute gut-punch. Brilliant writing.
72
909 members
75 reviews
4.1
73
3,469 members
114 reviews
½ 4.4
3 Members
mzonderm, ikeyjamehoward, Mecaza
Explanations
Mecaza: The BEST book I have read this year by far..
74
10,690 members
256 reviews
4.2
75
5,922 members
195 reviews
4.2
76
3,451 members
152 reviews
4
3 Members
tiffin, Peace2, SimiSue75
Explanations
tiffin: Fascinating story.
77
1,117 members
35 reviews
4.2
78
23,948 members
559 reviews
4.1
79
4,832 members
379 reviews
4
80
3,282 members
153 reviews
4.2
81
5,909 members
383 reviews
3.9
82
1,307 members
43 reviews
4
83
3,570 members
141 reviews
4
84
48,320 members
449 reviews
½ 4.5
85
2,074 members
132 reviews
½ 3.7
86
3,594 members
154 reviews
3.9
87
16,627 members
248 reviews
3.9
88
1,541 members
116 reviews
½ 4.3
89
1,389 members
70 reviews
4
90
2,736 members
139 reviews
½ 4.3
91
8,248 members
328 reviews
3.8
92
2,017 members
121 reviews
3.8
93
5,469 members
402 reviews
½ 3.4
94
5,211 members
142 reviews
½ 4.3
95
12,398 members
373 reviews
4.1
96
9,405 members
422 reviews
4.2
97
3,570 members
145 reviews
4
98
3,500 members
235 reviews
3.8
2 Members
Aquila, Laura1124
Explanations
Aquila: I read this without reading about it first, which was lucky, and it turned out to be a book exactly right for me.
99
2,956 members
278 reviews
3.8
100
2,702 members
147 reviews
4.1
2 Members
gbelik, Bellettres