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1lorannen
Continuing one of my favorite LT traditions, I asked the staff to come list their top books they read in the past year, and the results are in! Check them out over on the blog.
What were your top five reads for 2016? Tell us all about it here, or add yours to the list!
What were your top five reads for 2016? Tell us all about it here, or add yours to the list!
2tardis
Well, 2016 isn't over quite yet :) Nevertheless, I've whittled my list down to:
The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey. I can't imagine ever re-reading this, but it really made an impression.
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. A post-apocalyptic future that left me with a bit of hope.
Heroine Complex by Sarah Kuhn. Girl power team up!
Arabella of Mars by David D. Levine. Space opera: plucky heroine masquerades as a boy to travel to Mars to save her brother's life.
Children of Earth and Sky by Guy Gavriel Kay. Just beautiful writing, and a wonderful story.
There were quite a few others that I enjoyed very much. Some got eliminated as they were the most recent entries in long-running series.
The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey. I can't imagine ever re-reading this, but it really made an impression.
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. A post-apocalyptic future that left me with a bit of hope.
Heroine Complex by Sarah Kuhn. Girl power team up!
Arabella of Mars by David D. Levine. Space opera: plucky heroine masquerades as a boy to travel to Mars to save her brother's life.
Children of Earth and Sky by Guy Gavriel Kay. Just beautiful writing, and a wonderful story.
There were quite a few others that I enjoyed very much. Some got eliminated as they were the most recent entries in long-running series.
3lorannen
>2 tardis: Ooh, those are some excellent choices. Your top two are on my TBR pile already :)
4tardis
>3 lorannen: I see Lagoon is on your list - I really liked that, too. It didn't make my final five because I didn't like it as much as one of her previous books, Akata Witch, which I read a year or two ago because @bluesalamanders raved about it.
5lorannen
>4 tardis: Thanks for the recommendation! I'll have to check that one out—I'm definitely on the lookout for her other work.
6artturnerjr
Including rereads:
1) Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
2) Planetary (comics series) - Warren Ellis and John Cassaday
3) The Shining - Stephen King. This is, I think, my third time reading King's classic horror novel. If anything, it becomes more disturbing each time I read it.
4) The Big Sleep - Raymond Chandler
5) The Iron Dream - Norman Spinrad. Not a particularly enjoyable novel (not that it's intended to be), this one still makes it into my top five for its conceptual audacity and timeliness.
Honorable mention:
Pauline Kael: A Life in the Dark - Brian Kellow
1) Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
2) Planetary (comics series) - Warren Ellis and John Cassaday
3) The Shining - Stephen King. This is, I think, my third time reading King's classic horror novel. If anything, it becomes more disturbing each time I read it.
4) The Big Sleep - Raymond Chandler
5) The Iron Dream - Norman Spinrad. Not a particularly enjoyable novel (not that it's intended to be), this one still makes it into my top five for its conceptual audacity and timeliness.
Honorable mention:
Pauline Kael: A Life in the Dark - Brian Kellow
7mrmapcase
1. Victoria: A novel by Daisy Goodwin
2. Dark Spies by Matthew Dunn
3. Terminal by Marshall Karp
4. Clownfish Blues by Tim Dorsey
5. Killfile by Christopher Farnsworth
2. Dark Spies by Matthew Dunn
3. Terminal by Marshall Karp
4. Clownfish Blues by Tim Dorsey
5. Killfile by Christopher Farnsworth
9MarthaJeanne
I have over 50 book that I read this year with either 5 or 4 1/2 stars. suppose I leave out the rereads (Shute),
the hard core Theology and Needlework books (Construing the Cross, Old Testament Theology, 18th Century Embroidery Techniques, Gottes Lob : Kirchliche Textilien aus der Zeit Maria Theresias),
the books that worked really well with my elementary classes, and perhaps
even the books only available in German (Rabenschwarze Intelligenz : was wir von Krähen lernen können, Die Teufelsbraut zu Aachen ...)
I'm still left with too many to really choose just 5.
A few that seem to really stand out are
Dragonflight : in search of Britain's dragonflies and damselflies
The marrying of Chani Kaufman
The man who made things out of trees
Hitman Anders and the meaning of it all
Grow for Flavour: Tips & tricks to supercharge the flavour of homegrown harvests
The oyster catcher
And I'm sure the ones listed in the first group were at least as interesting to me as those in the second group.
the hard core Theology and Needlework books (Construing the Cross, Old Testament Theology, 18th Century Embroidery Techniques, Gottes Lob : Kirchliche Textilien aus der Zeit Maria Theresias),
the books that worked really well with my elementary classes, and perhaps
even the books only available in German (Rabenschwarze Intelligenz : was wir von Krähen lernen können, Die Teufelsbraut zu Aachen ...)
I'm still left with too many to really choose just 5.
A few that seem to really stand out are
Dragonflight : in search of Britain's dragonflies and damselflies
The marrying of Chani Kaufman
The man who made things out of trees
Hitman Anders and the meaning of it all
Grow for Flavour: Tips & tricks to supercharge the flavour of homegrown harvests
The oyster catcher
And I'm sure the ones listed in the first group were at least as interesting to me as those in the second group.
102wonderY
Stories from World War 2 crowd my list of bests this year.
Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave
A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute
When Books Went to War by Molly Guptill Manning
Crooked Heart by Lissa Evans
The only exception is Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai *And because the Vietnamese language features in the story just a bit, I highly recommend listening to the audio version.)
Honorable mentions include The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave
A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute
When Books Went to War by Molly Guptill Manning
Crooked Heart by Lissa Evans
The only exception is Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai *And because the Vietnamese language features in the story just a bit, I highly recommend listening to the audio version.)
Honorable mentions include The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
11mooingzelda
It's been a really good reading year for me! Quite difficult to pick just five, but...
1) A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara - I don't think a book has ever made me as emotional as this one.
2) The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers - Probably one of the best sci-fi novels I've ever read!
3) Fool's Quest by Robin Hobb - Because I LOVE Fitz and the Fool, and this series is shaping up to be the best yet.
4) The Good immigrant edited by Nikesh Shukla - A particularly timely, thought-provoking and very often funny collection of essays about the immigrant experience in the UK.
5) Half Of A Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - I can't believe this is only the second Adichie novel I've read. She's so, so good.
1) A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara - I don't think a book has ever made me as emotional as this one.
2) The Long Way To A Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers - Probably one of the best sci-fi novels I've ever read!
3) Fool's Quest by Robin Hobb - Because I LOVE Fitz and the Fool, and this series is shaping up to be the best yet.
4) The Good immigrant edited by Nikesh Shukla - A particularly timely, thought-provoking and very often funny collection of essays about the immigrant experience in the UK.
5) Half Of A Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - I can't believe this is only the second Adichie novel I've read. She's so, so good.
12anglemark
>11 mooingzelda: Incorrect touchstone for A little life.
13rosalita
All of these got 5 stars from me in 2016:
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. A searing look at the racial biases in the American criminal justice system.
The Daughters of Mars by Thomas Keneally. A beautifully written story about two sisters from Australia who serve as nurses in World War I.
The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks. A fictionalization of the life of Israel's King David. Like David's harp, Brooks' writing sings.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. A contemporary black man's point of view about race relations in America. Some deeply uncomfortable truths for white Americans here, but so necessary to acknowledge and absorb.
A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell. Historical fiction about ordinary Italians coming together to shelter the Jews among them in the death throes of the Nazi occupation.
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. A searing look at the racial biases in the American criminal justice system.
The Daughters of Mars by Thomas Keneally. A beautifully written story about two sisters from Australia who serve as nurses in World War I.
The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks. A fictionalization of the life of Israel's King David. Like David's harp, Brooks' writing sings.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. A contemporary black man's point of view about race relations in America. Some deeply uncomfortable truths for white Americans here, but so necessary to acknowledge and absorb.
A Thread of Grace by Mary Doria Russell. Historical fiction about ordinary Italians coming together to shelter the Jews among them in the death throes of the Nazi occupation.
14tardis
I love looking at the list and seeing the diversity! There are books on it that I would never in a million years read (The Orenda), and old favourites that I'm thrilled someone else has just discovered (The Curse of Chalion), and books I loved and should have included, but somehow didn't (Every Heart A Doorway), and books I didn't like (The Children of Hurin). Not to mention quite a few that I will be adding to my hold list at the public library.
Thanks to all contributors!
Thanks to all contributors!
15lorax
>1 lorannen: I'll need to think about my five, but did Tim give all of the LT staff copies of The Stolen Child, or what? :-)
16kgriffith
I got mine because I was office-sitting for Lisa when the first batch arrived :D Loranne hasn't even gotten a copy yet, but I'm not parting with mine. Sorry, L!
17elenchus
I added 5 books to the list earlier today, including comments "explaining my choices". I just revisited the list to see new additions, and my list has disappeared. A browser refresh didn't change it.
Did I add my 5 titles to a different list?
Were my selections deleted somehow? Or never properly added? (I thought they were, after all the link to show my 5 books appeared, and after adding the titles I was able to select each book to add a comment about why I chose the book.)
Did I add my 5 titles to a different list?
Were my selections deleted somehow? Or never properly added? (I thought they were, after all the link to show my 5 books appeared, and after adding the titles I was able to select each book to add a comment about why I chose the book.)
18sturlington
My top 5 were:
1. A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay -- a really unusual horror story that pays homage to a lot of horror classics
2. Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende -- just an enthralling work of historical fiction
3. Four Ways to Forgiveness by Ursula K. Le Guin -- honestly, can she write a bad book? this one took my breath away
4. The City of Mirrors by Justin Cronin -- a thoroughly satisfying conclusion to his literary vampire-apocalypse trilogy
5. Descent by Tim Johnston -- not your typical thriller, this novel about a father's search for his missing daughter reminded me a lot of Cormac McCarthy
Honorable mentions go to:
* Troubled Daughters, Twisted Wives, edited by Sarah Weinman, a well-curated collection of 20th-century noir stories by women writers
* Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins -- a surreal novel about a climate-changed southwestern US
* Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut -- still appropriate for these times we live in
* Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout -- perhaps not a likable character, but a very relatable one, at least for me
* Dracula by Bram Stoker -- a reread that, while often purple in prose, still holds up
1. A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay -- a really unusual horror story that pays homage to a lot of horror classics
2. Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende -- just an enthralling work of historical fiction
3. Four Ways to Forgiveness by Ursula K. Le Guin -- honestly, can she write a bad book? this one took my breath away
4. The City of Mirrors by Justin Cronin -- a thoroughly satisfying conclusion to his literary vampire-apocalypse trilogy
5. Descent by Tim Johnston -- not your typical thriller, this novel about a father's search for his missing daughter reminded me a lot of Cormac McCarthy
Honorable mentions go to:
* Troubled Daughters, Twisted Wives, edited by Sarah Weinman, a well-curated collection of 20th-century noir stories by women writers
* Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins -- a surreal novel about a climate-changed southwestern US
* Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut -- still appropriate for these times we live in
* Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout -- perhaps not a likable character, but a very relatable one, at least for me
* Dracula by Bram Stoker -- a reread that, while often purple in prose, still holds up
19Petroglyph
In no particular order, the five books i expect to still be recommending years from now are:
* The song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
* The quest for Corvo: An experiment in biography by A. J. A. Symons
* Euphoria by Lily King
* Paris stories by Mavis Gallant (her writing is almost distractingly good!)
* Traumnovelle (a.k.a Dream Story) by Arthur Schnitzler
Edit: wildly inaccurate touchstones
* The song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
* The quest for Corvo: An experiment in biography by A. J. A. Symons
* Euphoria by Lily King
* Paris stories by Mavis Gallant (her writing is almost distractingly good!)
* Traumnovelle (a.k.a Dream Story) by Arthur Schnitzler
Edit: wildly inaccurate touchstones
21NarratorLady
Delighted to have found this list as it gives me great suggestions for future reading. Now I'll try to narrow my faves to five....
22mooingzelda
>12 anglemark: Thanks - I have no idea why it was going to Twilight, so I've just removed the link!
23reading_fox
My only 5* reads this year were re-reads - Terry Pratchett, janny wurts and CJ Cherryh
thud, and hat full of sky, master of whitestorm and peacemaker
Generally it's been a poor year for me, only tagging 80 book so far, and a lot of 3* ish. It was pleasing that some of the ER titles made it into 4 and 4.5*
thud, and hat full of sky, master of whitestorm and peacemaker
Generally it's been a poor year for me, only tagging 80 book so far, and a lot of 3* ish. It was pleasing that some of the ER titles made it into 4 and 4.5*
24LibraryPerilous
A Gentleman in Moscow—It feels necessary post-November 8th
Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile
The Sunne in Splendour
A Burnable Book
The Name of the Rose
Honorable mentions to Rush Oh!, So Excellent a Fishe, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, and Above Suspicion (which also feels necessary post-November 8th).
Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile
The Sunne in Splendour
A Burnable Book
The Name of the Rose
Honorable mentions to Rush Oh!, So Excellent a Fishe, The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, and Above Suspicion (which also feels necessary post-November 8th).
25Cecrow
>23 reading_fox:, wow, that's too bad. :(
>24 LibraryPerilous:, hurrah for Umberto Eco; was that read prompted by his death? I'll be reading him this year for that reason.
>24 LibraryPerilous:, hurrah for Umberto Eco; was that read prompted by his death? I'll be reading him this year for that reason.
26LibraryPerilous
>25 Cecrow: I did bump him up Mt. TBR after his death. I'd only read Baudolino, many years ago. I hope you enjoy your year of reading Eco. I plan to tackle Foucault's Pendulum and The Island of the Day Before soon.
Edited: post reference #
Edited: post reference #
27lit_chick
Top 5:
South Riding, Winifred Holtby
Hell's Bottom, Colorado, Laura Pritchett
Ordinary Grace, William Kent Krueger
Crow Lake, Mary Lawson
Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi
_______________
**QUESTION: when I made my own Best of 2016 List, the cover that showed up for South Riding was NOT my cover of choice, but I was not able to change it. Any ideas?*
South Riding, Winifred Holtby
Hell's Bottom, Colorado, Laura Pritchett
Ordinary Grace, William Kent Krueger
Crow Lake, Mary Lawson
Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi
_______________
**QUESTION: when I made my own Best of 2016 List, the cover that showed up for South Riding was NOT my cover of choice, but I was not able to change it. Any ideas?*
28southernbooklady
Off the top of my head:
Nine Island
The Invention of Nature
The Argonauts
My Father, the Pornographer
The Fishermen
Nine Island
The Invention of Nature
The Argonauts
My Father, the Pornographer
The Fishermen
30lorax
In no particular order:
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
Necessity by Jo Walton
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
Necessity by Jo Walton
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie
31Familiar_Diversions
I clearly need to do a better job choosing books for myself in 2017, because I had a hard time coming up with my top 5 of 2016 list. Here's what I settled on:
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
Space Battle Lunchtime Volume 1 by Natalie Reiss
Invader by C.J. Cherryh
The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun Volume 1 by Izumi Tsubaki
Including a graphic novel and a manga volume felt like cheating, but I didn't have any other options I felt good about including on the list. If I abandoned my personal "don't include any rereads" rule, my list would look like this:
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey
The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Wind by Fuyumi Ono
Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey
The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
Space Battle Lunchtime Volume 1 by Natalie Reiss
Invader by C.J. Cherryh
The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz
Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun Volume 1 by Izumi Tsubaki
Including a graphic novel and a manga volume felt like cheating, but I didn't have any other options I felt good about including on the list. If I abandoned my personal "don't include any rereads" rule, my list would look like this:
The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey
The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Wind by Fuyumi Ono
Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey
The Cybernetic Tea Shop by Meredith Katz
32AnnieMod
>31 Familiar_Diversions: Why would Graphic novels and manga not be eligible for best of the year? :)
33Familiar_Diversions
>32 AnnieMod: Ha, good question! Too many people over the years telling me that they don't count as reading, I guess. :)
34techeditor
My top books this year were
The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian
Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Before the Fall by Noah Hawley
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian
Afterwards by Rosamund Lupton
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
Before the Fall by Noah Hawley
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
35lorannen
>32 AnnieMod: and >33 Familiar_Diversions: There's always at least one on my best of—I read too many for there not to be!
36Nancyhope
Loved Before the Fall by Noah Hawley, also Saving Sophie by Ronald Balsom and Killing A King: The Assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.
37Familiar_Diversions
>30 lorax: Ancillary Mercy! I loved that book. It made it to my Top Five list last year. :)
38AnnieMod
>33 Familiar_Diversions: Those people are entitled to their opinions even when those opinions make them narrow-minded individuals. :) For all I care, a book with no words can be the best book of the year (Shaun Tan's The Arrival for example... ).
39Limelite
5 Best-Loved Books of 2016 Are. . .
Georgia: A Novel of Georgia O'Keeffe by Dawn Tripp lyrical, passionate, powerful, and undefeated -- just like her art is the woman and the writing
A Mercy by Toni Morrison the true cost of slavery is that it enslaves and demeans us all, whether owned or owner
Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Robert Harris Cicero -- a mind, a politician, a Roman, a man. . .wish he were alive today
Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver transformative, timely, not to be ignored
People Die: A Novel by Kevin Wignall utterly original thriller, shocking, humane, poetic. . .can Good ever come out of Evil?
Lagniappe: The Mortifications: A Novel by Derek Palacio sweeping and devastating, destined to be a modern classic of the Cuban immigrant experience. . .lovers of Junot Diaz will throw themselves at the feet of Derek Palacio instead
Georgia: A Novel of Georgia O'Keeffe by Dawn Tripp lyrical, passionate, powerful, and undefeated -- just like her art is the woman and the writing
A Mercy by Toni Morrison the true cost of slavery is that it enslaves and demeans us all, whether owned or owner
Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Robert Harris Cicero -- a mind, a politician, a Roman, a man. . .wish he were alive today
Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver transformative, timely, not to be ignored
People Die: A Novel by Kevin Wignall utterly original thriller, shocking, humane, poetic. . .can Good ever come out of Evil?
Lagniappe: The Mortifications: A Novel by Derek Palacio sweeping and devastating, destined to be a modern classic of the Cuban immigrant experience. . .lovers of Junot Diaz will throw themselves at the feet of Derek Palacio instead
40anglemark
>33 Familiar_Diversions: One of my five this year was a graphic novel.
41Vonini
I have an 8 month old baby, so I have seriously less reading time now. I decided to tackle some 1001 books because usually I enjoy them a little less than the regular books I normally choose. I don't want to be frustrated by wanting to read the books I'm really into and not having the time. I'll save those for when she goes to school :-) So I read a lot less books than I normally do and I enjoyed them a little less (still enjoyed most of them though and I'm clearing up MTB very nicely in the process). So my top 5 reads for this year are:
1. The King by J.R. Ward
2. The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman
3. At Winter's End by Robert Silverberg
4. Grey by E.L. James
5. One Bite with a Stranger by Christine Warren
Already looking forward to all the great books I'm going to read once I have more time again :-)
1. The King by J.R. Ward
2. The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman
3. At Winter's End by Robert Silverberg
4. Grey by E.L. James
5. One Bite with a Stranger by Christine Warren
Already looking forward to all the great books I'm going to read once I have more time again :-)
42jldarden
Top 5 this year;
Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Ed Tarkington
Whiskey and Charlie by Annabel Smith
The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King
The Lemon Table by Julian Barnes
Black River by S.M. Hulse
Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Ed Tarkington
Whiskey and Charlie by Annabel Smith
The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King
The Lemon Table by Julian Barnes
Black River by S.M. Hulse
43Familiar_Diversions
>40 anglemark: Hearing that other people have graphic novels on their lists makes me feel better.
>38 AnnieMod: I need to tape this to my monitor! :D
>38 AnnieMod: I need to tape this to my monitor! :D
44.Monkey.
This is SUCH an impossible question, I read a whole lot of amazing books this year, argh! *skims the list* Of the 79 I've finished as yet, I would count 14 of them as "best"! Pfffff.
Demons - Fyodor Dostoevsky - Just exquisite. Dostoevsky was amazing, and this book... All the things he grasped, and was able to express in this story... just stunning, and still completely relevant.
Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston - Brilliant evocative writing of a woman's search for happiness, and herself.
Brighton Rock - Graham Greene - My favorite Greene yet; still feels like him but Ida brings a different vibe to the story than his usual.
Rob Roy - Walter Scott - I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this rousing vaguely-authentically biographical/historical tale.
Pickwick Papers - Charles Dickens - Slow at first but really amusing tale, with your usual Dickensness pointing out the plight of the poor.
So then, honorable mentions:
The Compass Rose - Ursula K Le Guin - Really really wonderful thought-provoking stories. Le Guin is fabulous!!
Human Acts - Han Kang - Wonderfully touching (LTER) book about the horrors committed during the uprising in South Korea.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - Anne Brontë - Great important story dealing with the way women were treated virtually as property in England.
Resolution - Denise Mina - The last book of a great trilogy, probably the best ending to a series ever, it was just perfect.
Demons - Fyodor Dostoevsky - Just exquisite. Dostoevsky was amazing, and this book... All the things he grasped, and was able to express in this story... just stunning, and still completely relevant.
Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston - Brilliant evocative writing of a woman's search for happiness, and herself.
Brighton Rock - Graham Greene - My favorite Greene yet; still feels like him but Ida brings a different vibe to the story than his usual.
Rob Roy - Walter Scott - I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this rousing vaguely-authentically biographical/historical tale.
Pickwick Papers - Charles Dickens - Slow at first but really amusing tale, with your usual Dickensness pointing out the plight of the poor.
So then, honorable mentions:
The Compass Rose - Ursula K Le Guin - Really really wonderful thought-provoking stories. Le Guin is fabulous!!
Human Acts - Han Kang - Wonderfully touching (LTER) book about the horrors committed during the uprising in South Korea.
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - Anne Brontë - Great important story dealing with the way women were treated virtually as property in England.
Resolution - Denise Mina - The last book of a great trilogy, probably the best ending to a series ever, it was just perfect.
45Kiwi_Jim
These were my top five. It was great to read something from Stoker other than Dracula, Loved Slapstick vintage Vonnegut, And as a (late to the party) Murakami fan it was very cool to read his first books in english. To see where the style started knowing where it is now.
The Lair Of The White Worm by Bram Stoker
The Buried Giant by Kazoo Ishiguro
Franny And Zooey by J.D. Salinger
Slapstick Or Lonesome No More by Kurt Vonnegut
PinBall / Wind by Haruki Murakami
Biggest disappointment this year was The Vorrh by B. Catling. It had so much that was interesting inside of it and yet it did so little with it.
The Lair Of The White Worm by Bram Stoker
The Buried Giant by Kazoo Ishiguro
Franny And Zooey by J.D. Salinger
Slapstick Or Lonesome No More by Kurt Vonnegut
PinBall / Wind by Haruki Murakami
Biggest disappointment this year was The Vorrh by B. Catling. It had so much that was interesting inside of it and yet it did so little with it.
46tropics
The Horse: The Epic History Of Our Noble Companion - Wendy Williams
Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life - William Finnegan
The Invention Of Nature: Alexander Von Humboldt's New World - Andrea Wulf
Walking The Nile - Levison Wood
Telling Our Way To The Sea: A Voyage Of Discovery In The Sea Of Cortez - Aaron Hirsh (reread)
Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life - William Finnegan
The Invention Of Nature: Alexander Von Humboldt's New World - Andrea Wulf
Walking The Nile - Levison Wood
Telling Our Way To The Sea: A Voyage Of Discovery In The Sea Of Cortez - Aaron Hirsh (reread)
47Storeetllr
Some good picks upthread! I personally can attest that The Sunne in Splendour is brilliant, and I also enjoyed the Ancillary trilogy which, if we were rating series, would be on my list of top five.
It was so hard to choose just five, but here are my top pics for 2016 (which don't include any rereads):
This Thing of Darkness by Harry Bingham. Mystery thriller. 4th in Fiona Griffith series.
The Wrong Side of Goodbye by Michael Connelly. Latest Bosch.
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. Scifi/Thriller
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. Audio. Nonfiction.
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. Literature.
At the end of each quarter, I choose 2-4 books that I enjoyed the most during that quarter and track them here, just in case anyone is interested in seeing what the rest of my favorites for the year are.
It was so hard to choose just five, but here are my top pics for 2016 (which don't include any rereads):
This Thing of Darkness by Harry Bingham. Mystery thriller. 4th in Fiona Griffith series.
The Wrong Side of Goodbye by Michael Connelly. Latest Bosch.
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. Scifi/Thriller
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. Audio. Nonfiction.
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. Literature.
At the end of each quarter, I choose 2-4 books that I enjoyed the most during that quarter and track them here, just in case anyone is interested in seeing what the rest of my favorites for the year are.
48mainrun
I appreciate "best of" threads. I find many books due to them. Storeetllr, Angle of Repose is one of my 2016 favorites too. Here are my top five:
The Warded Man by Peter Brent science fiction This book was recommended via LibraryThing. This is very readable and I think a cool plot. This is one of a five book series and I plan on reading the rest of them.
The Poacher's Son by Paul Doiron thriller This book uses my home state, Maine, as its setting.
Joyland by Stephen King horror Looking back at my previous "best of" lists, Stephen King is usually there.
Little Black Lies by Sharon Bolton thrillers Another favorite author of mine.
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner historical fiction Another book LibraryThing thought I would like, and I did.
The Warded Man by Peter Brent science fiction This book was recommended via LibraryThing. This is very readable and I think a cool plot. This is one of a five book series and I plan on reading the rest of them.
The Poacher's Son by Paul Doiron thriller This book uses my home state, Maine, as its setting.
Joyland by Stephen King horror Looking back at my previous "best of" lists, Stephen King is usually there.
Little Black Lies by Sharon Bolton thrillers Another favorite author of mine.
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner historical fiction Another book LibraryThing thought I would like, and I did.
51maggie1944
Pax by Sara Pennypacker
Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne
Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
Believer: My Forty Years in Politics by David Axelrod
Growing a Farmer by Kurt Timmermeister
Empire of the Summer Moon by S.C. Gwynne
Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
Believer: My Forty Years in Politics by David Axelrod
Growing a Farmer by Kurt Timmermeister
52avatiakh
This was hard but I added to the list just now -
The Lie Tree by Francis Hardinge
Fallen Dragon by Peter F. Hamilton - I read lots of his scifi this year, but this is a stand-alone - note that John Lee is a wonderful narrator
The Osamu Tezuka Story: A Life in Manga and Anime by Toshio Ban - a graphic biography of an amazing creative genuis
Asking for it by Louise O'Neil - impressive YA
The Eternaut by H. G. Oesterheld & Francisco Solano López - Graphic Novel - classic scifi from author who along with his family became part of Argentina's Disappeared
I held back from adding series books, more YA and graphic novels, but honorable mentions to:
Two Brothers by Gabriel Ba & Fabio Moon - graphic novel, based on book The Brothers by Brazilian writer, Milton Hatoum.
The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley - children's book
The Lie Tree by Francis Hardinge
Fallen Dragon by Peter F. Hamilton - I read lots of his scifi this year, but this is a stand-alone - note that John Lee is a wonderful narrator
The Osamu Tezuka Story: A Life in Manga and Anime by Toshio Ban - a graphic biography of an amazing creative genuis
Asking for it by Louise O'Neil - impressive YA
The Eternaut by H. G. Oesterheld & Francisco Solano López - Graphic Novel - classic scifi from author who along with his family became part of Argentina's Disappeared
I held back from adding series books, more YA and graphic novels, but honorable mentions to:
Two Brothers by Gabriel Ba & Fabio Moon - graphic novel, based on book The Brothers by Brazilian writer, Milton Hatoum.
The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley - children's book
53elkiedee
Haven't thought about my top 5 yet but have noticed something a bit weird in the listings. A book by Michelle Hauck has been listed as 3 people's favourites, but only one copy is catalogued on LibraryThing by someone different. When I looked at the members who've listed it, they've also listed several books by each other.
54Wassilissa
My Top Five:
Some of them are German and not yet translated
I read a lot of good books this year, but these are the ones that kept me thinking for a long time.
Auerhaus by Bov Bjerg
Ach, diese Lücke, diese entsetzliche Lücke by Joachim Meyerhoff
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice
Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets by Svetlana Alexievich
Some of them are German and not yet translated
I read a lot of good books this year, but these are the ones that kept me thinking for a long time.
Auerhaus by Bov Bjerg
Ach, diese Lücke, diese entsetzliche Lücke by Joachim Meyerhoff
Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith
The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice
Secondhand Time: The Last of the Soviets by Svetlana Alexievich
55trevor_short
Shadow Rites by Faith Hunter
Urban Fantasy. Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock books are a must read. Fast and action packed.
Staked by Kevin Hearne
Urban Fantasy. The Iron Druid is another great series to read.
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
Young Adult Fantasy. Ya. Better than some urban fantasy books I've read. Really good reading in this series.
You can really get into the main character and feel for her.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Fantasy. Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down. Very fluid writing.
The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher
Fantasy. Butcher's newest series and as usual action packed.
Urban Fantasy. Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock books are a must read. Fast and action packed.
Staked by Kevin Hearne
Urban Fantasy. The Iron Druid is another great series to read.
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
Young Adult Fantasy. Ya. Better than some urban fantasy books I've read. Really good reading in this series.
You can really get into the main character and feel for her.
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Fantasy. Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down. Very fluid writing.
The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher
Fantasy. Butcher's newest series and as usual action packed.
56calm
The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng
My Real Children by Jo Walton
The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness (this was a tough choice as I also loved A Monster Calls)
Temeraire by Naomi Novak (I really need to get the rest of this series and I'm not entirely sure why I left it so long before I did get around to reading it)
The Pesthouse by Jim Crace
My Real Children by Jo Walton
The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness (this was a tough choice as I also loved A Monster Calls)
Temeraire by Naomi Novak (I really need to get the rest of this series and I'm not entirely sure why I left it so long before I did get around to reading it)
The Pesthouse by Jim Crace
57NarratorLady
Fiction:
The Tumbling Turner Sisters by Juliette Fay - a vaudeville story!
The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson - The war is WWI and the story may be a bit familiar but the writing is exquisite.
The War That Saved my Life by Kimberly Brubaker - a YA book for all ages. Fabulous audiobook.
The Wonder Garden by Lauren Acampora - excellent debut short story collection
The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer - hilariously clever
Non-fiction:
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wiklkerson - my fave of the year. EVERYONE should read this book.
The Underground Girls of Kabul by Jenny Nordberg - female resistance to repressive societies results in sobering solutions.
H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald - much of the power of this book came from listening to the author narrate it.
We Are Market Basket by Daniel Korshun - rare loyalty between an owner of a supermarket chain and his employees results in a win for both.
The Private World of Georgette Heyer by Jane Aiken Hodge - a look at the genius and wit of a very private author.
The Tumbling Turner Sisters by Juliette Fay - a vaudeville story!
The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson - The war is WWI and the story may be a bit familiar but the writing is exquisite.
The War That Saved my Life by Kimberly Brubaker - a YA book for all ages. Fabulous audiobook.
The Wonder Garden by Lauren Acampora - excellent debut short story collection
The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer - hilariously clever
Non-fiction:
The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wiklkerson - my fave of the year. EVERYONE should read this book.
The Underground Girls of Kabul by Jenny Nordberg - female resistance to repressive societies results in sobering solutions.
H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald - much of the power of this book came from listening to the author narrate it.
We Are Market Basket by Daniel Korshun - rare loyalty between an owner of a supermarket chain and his employees results in a win for both.
The Private World of Georgette Heyer by Jane Aiken Hodge - a look at the genius and wit of a very private author.
58sparemethecensor
Thank you to the previous posters for sharing these! I have noted more than a dozen books to check out in 2017.
My favorites this year:
Fiction
Aitmatov, Chingiz. The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years.
Dick, Philip K. The Man in the High Castle.
Hannaham, James. Delicious Foods.
Levine, Sara. Treasure Island!!!
Wharton, Edith. The Age of Innocence.
Nonfiction
Casey, Susan. The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean.
Fadiman, Anne. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down.
Knight, Sarah. The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck.
Malcolm, Janet. Iphigenia in Forest Hills: Anatomy of a Murder Trial.
Zambreno, Kate. Heroines.
My favorites this year:
Fiction
Aitmatov, Chingiz. The Day Lasts More Than a Hundred Years.
Dick, Philip K. The Man in the High Castle.
Hannaham, James. Delicious Foods.
Levine, Sara. Treasure Island!!!
Wharton, Edith. The Age of Innocence.
Nonfiction
Casey, Susan. The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean.
Fadiman, Anne. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down.
Knight, Sarah. The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck.
Malcolm, Janet. Iphigenia in Forest Hills: Anatomy of a Murder Trial.
Zambreno, Kate. Heroines.
