Best Book You Read This Year...?

Question

Seems to be a question that's been asked before, but I don't care, I'm curious enough to spend five points on it...What books (up to five, or more if you have 'em) have you read this year that you've really enjoyed, and why?

Answer 1

I mostly read fantasy,supernatural and romance.A good plot is a must.The following are my finds from 20006.

I'm loved reading Summer Knight, a book in the Dresden files book series.It narrates the story of Harry Dresden,chicago's only professional wizard who works as a detective.In this book he deals with the Summer and Winter Courts of the fey.Apparently they are about to go to war.An event which was triggered by the death of the Summer Knight.Queen Mab of the Winter Court hires Harry to find out the true killer.

The Time-Master trilogy By Louise Cooper.(review from Amazon)The books are 'The Initiate',The Outcast and The Master.It tells the story of Tarod a fascinating anti-hero, evolving throughout the series from a loyal disciple of Order to the God of Chaos that is his true heritage, with the repeated examination of his humanity thrown into the mix.

Savage and Ascension by Kelley Armstrong.Both are available free from the author's website.They tell the story of Clayton,how he was made a werewolf,how Jeremy rescued the feral child wolf and earned Clayton's undying gratitude,and how Clayton became someone to reckon with in his Pack.Told in 1st person from Clayton's view,it is poignant and touching at times and humorous.We understand how his childhood influenced his later life.

Anne Gracie-The perfect rake.The heroine just wants to save her sisters from their abusive grand father.However one lie led to another and another.The hero was perfectly willing to go along with the charades.

Answer 2

I read The Dark Tower series by Stephen King - there are 7 books written over a couple of decades - it's his epic inspired by the Tolkien - its a great story, with loads of really interesting characters, and its really brutal, characters you have gotten to know and like get killed off as the story goes on, there's no nice happy ending, which makes it all the more believable - its more s**t happens, gotta get on with it sort of thing.

I've been reading some serious non-fiction stuff as well, mainly about the awful state of the world today, how we got here, who's responsible etc etc - some of it is nonsense conspiracy theory, but there are many excellent books which clearly uncover the truth, such as The Franklin Cover Up by John De Camp. I like to read all sorts of stuff and get different points of view, but it is very interesting to read something that can be thoroughly cross-referenced with consistent results.

Why do I do this? Well, I'm one of these people who keeps myself awake at night worrying about all the **** that is going on, and I reckon it can only get better if we all find out as much as possible so we can try to do something about it. So I enjoy it, and make myself miserable at the same time!!

Answer 3

I had two fantastic finds this year - first I read We need to talk about Kevin which was absolutely fantastic. I wasn't too sure if I would like it but once I started I couldn't put it down.

Then after raving about how that was my all time favourite book I went and read The Kite Runner, now again I didn't think I would love this book all that much but since it was cheap on Amazon I got it anyway. Once I started reading I was totally hooked!

I finished it about 2 weeks ago and haven't been able to read anything since, very rare for me, because I know it won't be a patch on this book.

I think it secret was that they both managed to create slightly unusual characters who you were instantly connected with. I am now hoping I can find another book to rival these two!

Answer 4

One really good book I read is called The Wild Rose by Doris Mortman, which talks about the Hungarian uprising of 1956. The characters are wonderfully created and the story touched me. It has many depths to it - and thats what a good book should have.

Also, The Prize by Irving Wallace was a good find for me this year. It tells the escapades of six Nobel laureates from the time they have been informed of winning the prize.

You won't be disappointed!

Answer 5

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Beautifully written and very moving. A book that upon finishing leaves you feeling bereft and silent. I enjoyed it so much i have since read his other novels, three of which (A Pale View of Hills, An Artist of the Floating World and The Remain of the Day) made a powerful impression on me. I enjoyed these books so much i am now focusing my university dissertation on his works. The narration and characterisation is fantastic, with difficult and unusual subjects. I would really recommend them.

Answer 6

Manhunt The 12 Day Hunt For Lincolns Killer
Number the Stars
Farenheit 451 (reread)
Sam's Letters to Jennifer

Answer 7

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket (All 13 of them)
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader by James Luceno
Death and the Penguin by Andrey Kurkov
Penguin Lost by Andrey Kurkov
Needful Things by Stephen King
Everything's Eventual by Stephen King
Nightmares and Dreamscapes by Stephen King
The Fog by James Herbert

Currently reading Bram Stoker's Dracula

They were all great, but the ones I couldn't put down were the Series of Unfortunate Events because they all continued from one another so had to keep reading to find out what happened next...

Answer 8

Joanne Harris- Holy Fools- just fantastic-her best ever.
Charles Dickens-Great Expectations (Re-read)
Maya Angelou- Wouldn't take nothing for my journey now (Re-read no 10000-perfect and inspirational.
Margaret Forster-Have the men had enough? Moving,full of questions and so close to life.
Harper Lee-To kill a mockingbird- Don't know why I never read this before but it is a superb classic and should be on everyones shelf.

Answer 9

"The Kite Runner" is hands down the best book I've read in several years (and I read a lot!) It's about friendship, growing up, and doing the right thing - and what happens when you don't have the courage to do the right thing. It offers a glimpse at life in Afghanistan before, during, and after the war there. I can't recommend it highly enough!

Answer 10

The Duncton Wood series...6 books by William Horwood. A tale covering many years and struggles in Moledom. It starts with 2 moles and develops over the 6 books into a wonderful story of the good and evil of society, but set in the burrows of Moledom. They are actually very thought provoking and spirtual books, I love them and have read the all twice...;