It is that time of the year where we talk about the ‘best of’ 2014. When I say ‘best of’ I am referring to my favourites of the year. I have once again divided my list into books released in 2014, the backlist and non-fiction. I have done it this way because I have had a strong focus on non-fiction this year and want to recognise my favourites. I also don’t want my ‘best of’ list to be dominated by classics, thus the reason for the first two lists.
Top Five Reads from 2014
5. Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
4. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
3. Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson
2. Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer
1. All That is Solid Melts into Air by Darragh McKeon
Top Five Reads from the Backlist in 2014
5. In The First Circle by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
4. The Odyssey by Homer
3. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
2. The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
1. Middlemarch by George Eliot
Top Five Non-Fiction Reads in 2014
5. What We See When We Read by Peter Mendelsund
4. Levels of Life by Julian Barnes
3. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
2. Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman
1. The Dark Path: A Memoir by David Schickler
Now it is your turn to let me know of your favourite books, the new releases and the older books. It doesn’t matter; just what you discovered and loved.
Did you find War and Peace a difficult book to read or understand? I noticed in your review it took you around 4 months to read! Many people consider it one of the best books of all time. I have it on my Kindle and am a bit nervous about starting it as I haven’t read too many classics before. I suppose it’s one of those books that require much more thought, reflection potentially even research (?) upon reading when compared to maybe something from the middle grade genre (not saying these books are worse because of it). Do you recommend reading some other “easier” classics before attempting this one? Great post by the way.
I found it an easy book to read, it was just the time I book I wanted to take my time with. Stay absorbed in the words and the world. I would recommend trying something smaller before moving onto something like War and Peace
Thanks for your suggestions. Will let you know how I end up going!
look forward to hearing how you go
Some very impressive titles on your lists there…. (Not a James Patterson in sight!) 😉
I don’t read Patterson 😛
And I’ve only read Grasshopper Jungle
Did it make your ‘best of 2014’ list?
Nope but there was a lot of James Smythe
I read most of my Smythe last year and it ended up on that list.
I quite enjoyed Station Eleven, and I remember having fond feelings about In Cold Blood as well, back in the day. All That is Solid… is on my plan to read next year, as well as War and Peace *stares at the copy* Interesting that Grasshopper Jungle and Belzhar made it to your list, they didn’t grab my attention enough to be added to the reading list, but maybe I was wrong to overlook.
It is weird to have two YA books on my list but Grasshopper Jungle and Belzhar were both great. You HAVE to read All That is Solid Melts into Air as soon as possible; that’s an order.
:p Yesssir. Actually I will, this one sounds very much like my cup of … erm… coffee/tea/chai. I checked from GR that you give five to A Constellation of Vital Phenomena as well, which I’m also long overdue with – I have it on audiobook, and I suck at audiobooks, though.
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena was almost my favourite book from 2013, but a sci-fi novel beat it. These two books will make an excellent pairing so maybe just read physical copies. I’m not sure what your library situation is but I think you NEED to read both.
Do you have a post of favourites 2013? (Of course you do… can you link?)
Yeah, I haven’t read either but even so one book somehow associates with the other. I own a Kindle (horror! :p) and have All That Is Solid… as an e-book, if I like it a lot, I will buy a physical copy (I have only two bookcases and they are … full :p), I’ll see about A Constellation…, if I like the copy in bookshop I might get it on a whim. I don’t use library here in Finland, but am quite liberal with my book buying otherwise.
You could look for the link yourself 😛 but here it is http://literary-exploration.com/2013/07/04/my-top-of-the-first-half-of-2013/
I’m very liberal with my book buying too but I still love checking the library’s online catalogue. If they have the book I can get it quicker than ordering a book online.
Nice list! I’m looking forward to reading Station Eleven and All That is Solid Melts into Air in the coming year.
I really hope you enjoy both of them.