Recommend the 20 best books you've read in the last five years

Description
A casual acquaintance is looking for ideas about books to read, but you don't know much about their tastes. Thinking back over your last five years of reading, which books would you recommend?
1
52,268 members
2,239 reviews
½ 4.4
105 Members
bookworm12, cherylc, dara85, akerr, eshaw27, booksinbed, KimarieBee, artisu, bookaholicgirl, chellerystick, brignogan, klhorn, LDVoorberg, yourotherleft, chgstrom, m_island, catiescarlette, stephenis, JaneAustenNut, myers3, checkaboo, laluna179, critterbug, lmbix, perennialreader, eurekajim, LisaGregory, Krisbee, cmtl, tina1969, askthedust, JPodlaski, marthamwatson, CarterPJ, martensgirl, AeroArne, Begona, Fjumonvi, AvitaCosno, shutch, hgalligher, Risbom, MaggieFlo, Diane-bpcb, kszr, HelenGress, Volkertvos, NoPlanetB, Jillian_Kay, linlef, Peace2, mwinem, 985077MA, LisbethE, melaniejayne, authordanagoodman, Tim.Looney, dawndouble, kamrie, RickyHaas, beckibell, marianoel, lynnrae523, FKQG, bnbsalvatore, Minneba, Prinzessin_Erdbeer, Vicariousz, Rdra1962, ikomilo, JukieH, prof_em, margosneezer, hosehead51, victoriawitthoff, neicybee, TashMason, patty6116, eheld, Jelissa88, contegobay, viharsheth, chezbob, Kiwiclaire50, tmrocks, Jen8888, thelibraryofjess, Brandy1411, roojs, archanads, AmySKNunez, Tosta, agsblend, TheCottonShoe, Priyanka.6033, NidiaMR86, angieunplugged, Kylagm, NancyBookwin, Venditti, AmyRoden, jasnajaleel, MWeisberg, WeatheredSpines, LydiaMoreau12, , ,KrisM , ,SpreeMetVoeten ,booknest , ,Eowyn1 , , ,47degreesnorth , ,gypsysmom ,lorannen ,kazzer2u ,Femklutz , ,hollythepenguin ,
Explanations
: Totally off the mark for anything even remotely touching on the Holocaust. Repulsive.
booknest : Nazi lite, unrealistic, makes light of the suffering.
gypsysmom : Did not like this book but I realize I am in a minority
2
89,855 members
1,559 reviews
½ 4.4
90 Members
bookworm12, Morphidae, goldenmoon, booksinbed, kristenl, caseylondon, LittleTaiko, bookaholicgirl, klhorn, mmignano11, chgstrom, elliepotten, catiescarlette, Somateria, JaneAustenNut, Eliz12, sbodmer, myers3, sdunford, laluna179, brenzi, perennialreader, CindyKC, eurekajim, bsnbabe68, lordcharles, Jenny1013, devilish2, PrueGallagher, Penske, cej1027, Canadian_Down_Under, bytheseabchcmbr, shutch, hgalligher, MaggieFlo, StefanieGeeks, oliviabiba, Lyn5r, Jillian_Kay, jeanie0510, linlef, Reenie822, jackanthony, 985077MA, melaniejayne, Tim.Looney, hyrieh, baldosmum, RickyHaas, beckibell, bnbsalvatore, cubsfan3410, Minneba, Vicariousz, kamalsood, Rdra1962, booksbooks63, Jbritz, JukieH, DAGray08, mcountr, neicybee, TashMason, TeriAndersonNeedham, patty6116, eheld, Jelissa88, MaggieFP, Kiwiclaire50, kerihudson, roojs, AmySKNunez, Eiseley.Staff, agsblend, izzy45, Priyanka.6033, RubyJadeG, Kylagm, NancyBookwin, wilanasmidt, Sscully, victorywestfall, Simacore, RMWILSON, booked.and.bizzy, zarareads, WeatheredSpines, LydiaMoreau12, Silversewist, , ,grnman , , ,47degreesnorth , ,Diane-bpcb ,lorannen ,fulner , ,KerryMcGuire ,sadbookgirl , ,hestermaree
Explanations
lordcharles: In its time and place it was very important in having a white lawyer defend a black man. People had to understand that skin color is not painful. Watching a child caught between worlds was fundamental as well.
Diane-bpcb : never liked this; note sure why
fulner : This book is awful to begin with, and public school kids are forced to read it.
3
23,915 members
685 reviews
4.2
74 Members
stillramona, generalkala, bookworm12, eshaw27, booksinbed, mccin68, bookaholicgirl, fvg, Aerrin99, citygirl, sianpr, mmignano11, goldenlobo, Somateria, hildretha, stephenis, JCBest, skyrad43, sbodmer, myers3, brenzi, booknest, perennialreader, kathyann1229, mishy215, pagewright, bsnbabe68, Simone2, tina1969, katie4098, PrueGallagher, kappasigma, Winny99, Fjumonvi, Canadian_Down_Under, shutch, ahef1963, Diane-bpcb, jan48, Lyn5r, AngelGH, LenoreR, venus.radfordbell, elainemberman, readinglife11, nitascrib1, Minneba, Rdra1962, prof_em, neicybee, HalHinson, TeriAndersonNeedham, ParanoidMaryMarvel, patty6116, Jelissa88, contegobay, viharsheth, MaggieFP, Kiwiclaire50, AmberCA, roojs, AmySKNunez, Eiseley.Staff, La_gatta, Priyanka.6033, RubyJadeG, Venditti, AmyRoden, RanaMohamed, Sscully, P.Stevens, NeideDeSordi, WeatheredSpines, Silversewist, ,grnman ,lorannen ,KerryMcGuire ,
Explanations
Somateria: My favourite novel of all time, first read at school many years ago, before I'd been to Cornwall. Re-read several times, most recently for a book club.
mishy215: I've read this book twice seen the movie several times. I just love the suspenseful tone of the book.
PrueGallagher: The writing beautifully evokes the period and the entire novel is tense and atmospheric
35
35,225 members
633 reviews
4.1
29 Members
booksinbed, johnpdeever, citygirl, chellerystick, Crypto-Willobie, lemicnic1227, booknest, Simone2, lordcharles, Lapsus16, zumstein, AvitaCosno, joanra21, Risbom, WhatUsername, smcb, NoPlanetB, madhatter73, dawndouble, sadbookgirl, kamalsood, sockitahme, CharlesTheB, RODNEYP, mysimas, Dave_Underwood, izzy45, tyronerees, zarareads,gilroy , ,zapzap ,PrueGallagher
Explanations
PrueGallagher : I don't care that the beauty of the writing puts you on Humbolt's side or that Lolita holds so much power; it's still a book about pedophilia and I will not feel sorry for Humbolt
52
8,514 members
437 reviews
4.1
21 Members
aprille, SqueakyChu, pammab, bookworm12, goldenmoon, KimarieBee, amysisson, kxn11, goldenlobo, hammockqueen, inangulocumlibro, KatyBee, Jenny1013, IrishSue, Winny99, Penske, KittyTwist, richard_c, WendyRobyn, archanads, nankan,pitjrw , ,aulsmith
Explanations
: Bad science fiction, terrible dialogue, and really bad theology.
61
63,298 members
1,141 reviews
4
16 Members
gilroy, applemcg, brianc6, inangulocumlibro, lordcharles, martensgirl, eclecticdodo, joanra21, Peace2, chwiggy, Femklutz, CharlesTheB, ijamiedee, Nonconformisto, Kylagm, annabohachova
Explanations
lordcharles: Opened my eyes to a number of things - and possibilities. Frightening. On pet.
65
15,043 members
542 reviews
½ 4.4
67
6,531 members
331 reviews
4.1
15 Members
pechmerle, rstaedter, Kieln, lillypatti72, SpreeMetVoeten, eurekajim, Lapsus16, rozymary, peterveen, LoneS, linlef, kazzer2u, osch, Michael_Gibbons, CharlesTheB
Explanations
pechmerle: A combination of East Asian history, historical romance, suspense, and writing style that is irresistible. A little knowledge of Japanese history before reading makes it a much richer reading experience.
73
4,253 members
66 reviews
½ 4.3
75
18,864 members
455 reviews
4.1
77
24,892 members
1,313 reviews
4.2
15 Members
donutage, fifthbusy, kootibkiteer, RobinMG, briarhills, smasler, rozymary, Risbom, WhatUsername, HelenGress, Peace2, richard_c, ParanoidMaryMarvel, Jelissa88, SundayN, ,
Explanations
donutage: An inventive and, by the end, surprisingly moving story of an orphan raised in and by a graveyard. Categorized as a YA title, which is understandable, but I consider it also a meditation on parenthood.
79
3,315 members
170 reviews
4
80
7,265 members
425 reviews
4
12 Members
Shrike58, Aquila, Euryale, ArieJvdP, dhm, SusiLibrarian, RobinMG, Dilara86, zjakkelien, gypsysmom, lorannen, jpahl,ayaeckel
Explanations
Shrike58: Another current example of the best state of the art of modern SF that builds on the traditions of the field (imagine what a collaboration between Le Guin & Cherryh would look like) while trying to extend the state of the art. Some people think this is a bad thing, and I'm not sure that Leckie's tricks of language always work, but this is ultimately a very individual story of how one comes by personal dignity.
82
4,437 members
300 reviews
4.1
83
8,092 members
378 reviews
½ 4.3
85
41,663 members
618 reviews
3.8
12 Members
aprille, donutage, unspuncapricorn, dmsteyn, smasler, tjsween, AmourFou, pseudoeden, CharlesTheB, NidiaMR86, CLMor, oauuao,KerryMcGuire ,booksbooks63
Explanations
donutage: It's a "classic" for a reason. Ambitious, profound, playful, at times bizarre. Like many, I read this back in high school and was somewhat flummoxed by the "boring" "digressions" about whale anatomy and sailing ships. When I re-read it a couple years ago, I was more willing to take the sprawling narrative on its own terms and found it infinitely enjoyable.
86
6,647 members
250 reviews
3.9
88
4,571 members
253 reviews
4
89
10,132 members
322 reviews
4.1
92
10,670 members
389 reviews
3.8
94
4,106 members
171 reviews
4.2
95
20,281 members
496 reviews
3.9
96
6,275 members
182 reviews
4
97
10,581 members
194 reviews
4
99
19,129 members
522 reviews
4.2
10 Members
WylieMaercklein, jSummer, MaryKay1822, RobinMG, susanbooks, oliviabiba, Jim.Shine, CharlesTheB, stickeminastew, hildegardesp2, ,
Explanations
: Plodding prose telegraphing everything from page 1 onward. The message/moral is a popular one hence the undeserved hype. The less said about the Nobel the better.
100
94,127 members
1,451 reviews
4.2