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.
2
18,162 members
867 reviews
3.9
3
22,694 members
1,377 reviews
½ 4.3
4
52,158 members
2,236 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
7,249 members
424 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
9,421 members
625 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
2,991 members
123 reviews
4.1
15
8,837 members
427 reviews
½ 4.3
16
5,883 members
269 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
14,299 members
617 reviews
½ 4.4
11 Members
mzonderm, sipthereader, terran, MJC1946, koalakt, honkcronk, Trudial, gaylebutz, NoPlanetB, elca1946, FireflyLover
Explanations
NoPlanetB: Compelling story, brilliant writer.
18
17,269 members
1,035 reviews
4.1
20
32,667 members
1,647 reviews
4.2
10 Members
booklover3258, RuMuse, crazy4reading, Liciasings, MeganHuntStewart, snookerkitty, mdrcamp4, renbedell, snyd1978, FireflyLover
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.
21
10 Members
tardis, waitingtoderail, barrayaran, SaraHope, Jambyfool, midnightblues, CapitalHackels, amaranthe, MeganHuntStewart, dexterdame
Explanations
amaranthe: It is extremely funny, and not in a stupid way.
22
9,481 members
343 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.
23
5,925 members
313 reviews
3.8
24
2,618 members
195 reviews
½ 4.3
25
9,798 members
487 reviews
½ 3.7
26
4,053 members
268 reviews
4.1
27
2,120 members
142 reviews
3.9
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
4,164 members
304 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
14,591 members
874 reviews
4.1
30
22,145 members
1,385 reviews
4
31
8,078 members
378 reviews
½ 4.3
32
9,366 members
758 reviews
3.8
33
3,658 members
224 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
1,446 members
94 reviews
4
35
2,024 members
109 reviews
4.2
36
8,505 members
436 reviews
4.1
37
1,622 members
114 reviews
3.8
38
3,214 members
190 reviews
3.8
39
10,814 members
670 reviews
4.1
40
3,704 members
195 reviews
½ 4.4
6 Members
rosylibrarian, nancyewhite, Mirabelle, MeridianLRC, copperkid, NoPlanetB
Explanations
NoPlanetB: Eye-popping narrative.
41
2,390 members
170 reviews
4.1
42
28,721 members
663 reviews
3.9
43
11,457 members
491 reviews
4
44
2,482 members
92 reviews
4.2
45
8,673 members
520 reviews
4.1
46
4,056 members
185 reviews
½ 4.3
47
5,462 members
406 reviews
½ 4.3
48
3,608 members
214 reviews
½ 3.6
49
11,111 members
653 reviews
3.9
50
1,906 members
105 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
6,360 members
385 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
5,005 members
307 reviews
4.1
54
4,122 members
281 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
34,903 members
959 reviews
4.1
56
7,232 members
174 reviews
½ 4.6
57
22,522 members
369 reviews
4.1
58
3,504 members
183 reviews
3.8
4 Members
booklover3258, melissarochelle, ToniTobin, pagesaplenty
Explanations
booklover3258: Funny story and loved the dysfunctional family.
59
6,489 members
315 reviews
½ 4.5
60
5,555 members
306 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
7,182 members
421 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
15,942 members
334 reviews
4
63
3,343 members
125 reviews
4.1
64
5,271 members
280 reviews
4.1
65
7,070 members
387 reviews
3.9
66
4,788 members
144 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
4,127 members
170 reviews
3.9
69
2,660 members
136 reviews
½ 3.7
70
1,056 members
37 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
4,885 members
303 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
1,080 members
75 reviews
4.1
73
4,790 members
132 reviews
½ 4.4
3 Members
mzonderm, ikeyjamehoward, Mecaza
Explanations
Mecaza: The BEST book I have read this year by far..
74
14,030 members
324 reviews
4.2
75
8,324 members
235 reviews
4.2
76
4,131 members
168 reviews
4
3 Members
tiffin, Peace2, SimiSue75
Explanations
tiffin: Fascinating story.
77
1,473 members
38 reviews
4.2
78
26,610 members
628 reviews
4.1
79
6,313 members
447 reviews
4
80
4,574 members
183 reviews
4.1
81
1,501 members
48 reviews
4
82
4,084 members
150 reviews
4
83
56,851 members
496 reviews
½ 4.5
84
2,465 members
143 reviews
½ 3.7
85
5,099 members
185 reviews
3.9
86
20,342 members
312 reviews
3.9
87
1,869 members
130 reviews
½ 4.3
88
1,664 members
73 reviews
4
89
40,731 members
487 reviews
3.8
90
6,848 members
406 reviews
3.9
91
3,584 members
149 reviews
½ 4.3
92
10,650 members
388 reviews
3.8
93
2,465 members
129 reviews
½ 3.7
94
6,893 members
447 reviews
½ 3.4
95
14,589 members
431 reviews
4.1
96
12,195 members
471 reviews
4.2
97
4,293 members
158 reviews
4
98
4,110 members
259 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
3,621 members
295 reviews
3.8
100
3,366 members
167 reviews
4
2 Members
gbelik, Bellettres