Another year come and gone and what a year! I began in Portland and am now writing from Seattle. Thankfully, it’s another city that appreciates books and reading so I imagine we’ll get along just fine.
On to the reading! I may end up saying this every year but…this was a wonderful year for readers. Good enough that I had to create a separate list for debut authors. As I look at my best books list, I see a small theme, and that is that I tend to like more complex and, sometimes, dark stories. Not horror or violence but often a protagonist who is not very likable (& Sons, The Woman Upstairs, The Dinner). At the very least, conflicted. I’m not going to delve into the psychology of that.
This is the time of year (in fact, the very last day of that year) when rankings of the best or favorite books appear. Yes, there are any number of professional organizations that you can turn to but, as in so many things, I like to rely on friends and people I trust. So, in addition to my list, here are links to the year-end lists of some great book bloggers I count on. Despite the fact that we all read a great deal I still found new titles to add to my 2014 reading list so I’m sure you will as well!
Shannon at River City Reading, Leah at Books Speak Volumes, Monika at A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall, Jennifer at The Relentless Reader, Jennine at My Life in Books, and Kerry at Entomology of a Bookworm.
Ciska @ Ciska's Book Chest says
December 31, 2013 at 2:40 amLooking forward to start The Goldfinch so it makes me happy to see it on your list. There are some very interesting looking books on there. *goes add them to Goodreads*
Thanks for sharing. Have a very bookish 2014!
Andi (@estellasrevenge) says
December 31, 2013 at 7:20 amGreat choices!!! I hope to read several on your list in the new year…especially The Goldfinch, The Woman Upstairs, and The Dinner!
Catherine says
January 1, 2014 at 10:57 amThe Woman and The Dinner are dark but sometimes I really like books that mess with your mind. Both of these do that!
Leah @ Books Speak Volumes says
December 31, 2013 at 9:14 amGreat list (and thanks for linking to mine)! We share a few favorites, and many of the others are on my TBR list. Definitely hope to get to a few of them in 2014. Happy New Year!
Rory says
December 31, 2013 at 9:44 amWith the raves The Goldfinch is getting, I feel like I should drop everything and get started on it. I LOVED & Sons, it made my top ten list too and I’ve been curious about both Lexicon and Frances & Bernard (based a bit on Flannery O’Connor…?). I think these lists are both good and bad. Good because you find out about so many book and bad because I realize I’ll never be able to read everything I want.
Catherine says
January 1, 2014 at 10:56 amI know- I feel the same way as I read all of yours! Pleased by the ones we share but feeling like i need to catch up on what I missed!
Shannon @ River City Reading says
December 31, 2013 at 8:00 pmOh, I love your list – probably because we share so many titles and several that just barely missed mine! With We Are Water on both yours and Leah’s list, I’m really thinking I might need to grab a copy. Thanks for the shout out 😉
Catherine says
January 1, 2014 at 10:58 amNot a problem- you’re always so generous!
Jennine G. says
December 31, 2013 at 11:08 pmWell, I’m reading the Goldfinch right now and Lookaway, Lookaway had another positive review I had read, so I think it will be a 2014 book for me. Thanks for the shout out/link to my list!
Tanya says
January 1, 2014 at 11:20 amI’m in the middle of The Goldfinch right now and I’m not sure it would make a Best of list for me. I must admit the opinion about it keeps changing, sometimes i love it, sometimes I hate it. I just think something pretty wonderful is going to have to happen to nudge me from a 4 star to a 5 star rating.
Catherine says
January 2, 2014 at 2:32 pmI don’t give many 5 star ratings so my best list includes 4 stars- which is what I gave Goldfinch. It will be interesting to see if it bumps up to a 5 for you!
Katie @ Words for Worms says
January 1, 2014 at 1:10 pmOooh Kent Haruf! I LOVED Plainsong and Eventide… I must get to Benediction!
Catherine says
January 2, 2014 at 2:32 pmI’m embarrassed that it took me this long to find his work! Benediction was one of the 5 star rating I gave this year. I LOVE his writing!
Katie @ Doing Dewey says
January 1, 2014 at 4:27 pmWow, I’m surprised by how many people have lists where I’ve read none of their favorite books of the year. Looks like I have some catching up to do in 2014! 🙂
Catherine says
January 2, 2014 at 2:33 pmI feel the same way! We all read so much- how is it there isn’t more overlap? I guess that’s what’s great about books!
Rebecca @ Love at First Book says
January 2, 2014 at 1:23 pmI loved Mother, Mother! And I can’t wait to get my hands on Lexicon!!!
Catherine says
January 2, 2014 at 2:42 pmBoth of those are ‘mess with your head’ books and sometimes I need that- especially when they’re well written.