It’s that time of year (the last reading day of 2013) where I pick my favourite and bests. The first nine are in no particular order:
Barracuda by Christos Tsiolkas – a sure-fire conversation starter.
The Last Banquet by Jonathan Grimwood – it’s melodramatic, it’s over the top, it’s a brilliant read.
99 Reasons Why by Caroline Smailes – truly creative writing and clever publishing. It’s a reading ‘experience’.
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion – yes, it’s pure rom-com but the characters linger, unlike other books in the same genre.
A Thousand Pardons by Jonathan Dee – I always enjoy the way Dee balances the ludicrous with the everyday.
The Gourmet by Muriel Barbery – best read in one sitting to truly appreciate the punchline ending.
The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell – if there’s one book that has frustrated the shit out of readers this year, it’s this one. But boy, what a page-turner.
Message From an Unknown Chinese Mother by Xinran – traumatic, heartbreaking, unforgettable.
Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead – at first you laugh… But there’s depth in the story that stays with you.
My favourite book of 2013 – Burial Rites by Hannah Kent – beautiful, memorable.
I’m exceptionally bad at sticking to the rules. Honourable mentions to:
My Notorious Life by Kate Manning (like The Last Banquet, it’s an action-packed page-turner).
The Post Office Girl by Stefan Zweig – unexpected gem.
Little Known Facts by Christine Sneed – Sneed is one to watch.
The Middlesteins by Jami Attenberg – best ‘family drama’ I read this year.
What Nora Knew by Linda Yellin – not released until 2014 but it’s chick-lit perfection.
Some good ones on there! And some to check out!
Awesome list! You’ve listed plenty of titles I really need to get around to for 2014 =P And yay for The Rosie Project 😀 It also made it on my list this week 🙂
Happy New Year! 🙂 My TTT
I’ve only read one of these – plenty to keep me going in 2014!
Never a shortage of good books, is there?!
A great and worthy list! Thanks for linking back to some of your reviews here too. I look forward to reading your thoughts on some of the ones I haven’t read yet! I’m a big fan of Christos Tsiolkas but I just haven’t found time to read Barracuda yet. It’s high on my list for early 2014. Happy new year 🙂
Thanks for stopping by this year.
Barracuda a perfect summer read – have made everyone around me read it so that we can talk about it!
Burial Rites made mine as well. The Other Typist didn’t, but could’ve. I (of course) loved Seating Arrangements and it made my 2012 top ten list. Have you started on Shipstead’s new one? Also, as an aside, have you been getting a lot of search terms looking for a comparison between Amber Dermont and Donna Tartt? I’ve gotten a bunch over the last few days…
Haven’t started Astonish Me yet – it’s burning a hole in my pocket (so to speak) but I have a few other ARCs to read first. Really trying not to request as many this year but NetGalley is very, very seductive.
Oddly, I’ve had a few visits on Dermont and Shipstead as well (not heaps) but also a few visits for people looking for ‘boarding school dorms’ – which I think leads them to Dermont here.
Your commentary on The Other Typist made me LOL. It totally frustrated the crap out of me, but it was a quick read!
Glad I made you laugh! I think I need to reread it and look for more clues.
Christine Sneed’s Little Known Facts was my pick for best of 2013. I’m in the middle of Seating Arrangements right now. Good picks.
Have you read Sneed’s short story collection? I haven’t yet, but it’s in my summer TBR stack.
On Twitter yesterday, Sneed told me that there’s another book in the pipeline, this one set in Paris. Oh-la-la! Scheduled for publication by Bloomsbury in 2015. Hooray!
Yes, I have her short story collections and have read one so far. I can’t wait for another full-length novel!
The Rosie Project really is a lot of fun – I absolutely loved the characterization. Also, I’m incredibly intrigued by The Last Banquet. I’ve heard good things about it several times over the past few months. I may have to pick it up soon!
I’ve only read 2 of your top choices, I’ll have to look in to you others.
Great list – and a bunch I haven’t heard of before! Thank you for sharing!
I’ve got What Nora Knew lined up and ready to go, and a coworker has been raving about My Notorious Life — really looking forward to both! The Rosie Project just made me so happy. Great list!
Oh my gosh, I am so excited to read The Rosie Project!!! I can’t believe I haven’t read it yet esp because I was excited since last MAY, haha. I need to get on it.
Oh my~ even though I have an Andy Warhol quote that says “I never read. I just look at pictures” hanging in my apartment entrance, I applaud you. I wish I was a bookworm, too… you go!