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
52,116 members
2,235 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
89,653 members
1,556 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
23,888 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
35,147 members
632 reviews
4.1
28 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, 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
8,516 members
436 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
63,097 members
1,139 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.
64
14,909 members
538 reviews
½ 4.4
66
6,519 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
4,256 members
66 reviews
½ 4.3
76
24,841 members
1,312 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.
78
18,816 members
454 reviews
4.1
79
3,308 members
170 reviews
4
80
7,242 members
424 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
4,436 members
300 reviews
4.1
84
41,537 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
4,559 members
253 reviews
4
87
8,076 members
378 reviews
½ 4.3
88
10,115 members
322 reviews
4.1
91
10,640 members
388 reviews
3.8
93
6,628 members
252 reviews
3.9
94
4,100 members
170 reviews
4.2
95
20,250 members
496 reviews
3.9
96
6,266 members
181 reviews
4
97
10,579 members
194 reviews
4
99
19,066 members
521 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
93,912 members
1,447 reviews
4.2