Another year of reading is over and it's time to some how narrow them all down to a Best of List. It's always hard to narrow a list down in such a way that doesn't make me feel like I'm letting a book slip through the cracks, but keep the list from getting out of control. I some how managed to get the list down to 15 this year, though there are another 10 or so that could have easily made the final cut.
This year, the list is a little more diverse and contains a lot more nonfiction than in the past. As usual, these are all books that I read for the first time in 2012, so rereads didn't count. The closest I got to breaking that rule was a collection of short stories, one of which I have read over and over again. So with no further ado, I present my favorite books of 2012.
The Thorn and the Blossom by Theodora Goss
Raising Stony Mayhall by Daryl Gregory
Gillespie and I by Jane Harris
The Dispatcher by Ryan David Jahn
The Dressmaker of Khair Khana by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
The Red House Mystery by A.A. Milne
The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
The American Bible by Stephen Prothero
The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters
The Absolutist by John Boyne
The Yellow Room by Mary Roberts Rinehart
The Gospel According to the Fix by Chris Cillizza
On a Farther Shore by Rachel Carson
The Black Count by Tom Reiss
The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
I haven't read any of those books :/
ReplyDeleteI've read Gillespie & I and I loved it too, what a main character.
ReplyDeleteMost of the other books are now on my wishlist :)
I know I read more than most people so I'm always surprised that I've read so few of the books on other people's best of lists. I've read 1 on your list. I need more time to read!
ReplyDeleteFrom the few we read in common, I agree they were very good.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ManOfLaBook.com
Some of those are new to me. I want to read The Last Policeman, I read his 1st book.
ReplyDeleteGreat list, Ryan. I feel very left out since I've only read one book (The Yellow Room) on your list.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm taking note of the other titles and am hoping to do better in the coming year. Wow, my TBR list is bulging at the seams!!
GILLESPIE AND I has captured my attention and THE BLACK COUNT. I definitely mean to read THE DISPATCHER which I won in your contest months ago but for whatever reason I haven't read yet. I've really been a sluggard this year.
Hope to do better next!
I haven't read any of the books on your "Best of" list except The Lottery, but that's not to say I don't want to. In particular, the AA Milne is so interesting--talk about being shackled to Winnie-the-Pooh. The American Bible looks so interesting--it's on my Amazon wish list, and I know eventually I'll be getting it.
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays and best wishes for a wonderful book-filled 2013!
One of my favorite things about blogging is reading the end-of-the-year lists and the best books that my friends loved!! I want to read The Absolutist and something from Rinehart for sure this year!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great list. I want to read Gillespe and I and just added a few others to my list as well.
ReplyDeleteI've only read The Lottery, but want to read The Thorn and the Blossom because of your great review! I just need more time to read! Here's to a great 2013!
ReplyDeleteGreat list! There are many here that I will be checking out. Mary Roberts Rinehart...I swear one of her books WILL be read by me next year! And I won On a Farther Shore from you. I hope to get to it as well.
ReplyDeleteI've read Gillespie and I but all others are new to me. Thank you for the list.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics Ryan, looks like I'll have some reading to do.
ReplyDeleteDeb
Great list Ryan, looks like I have some more reading to do.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year
deb
great list, and we have one in common!
ReplyDeleteyou will find my list in this post:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2013/01/03/year-of-reading-2012/
You did have a varied year of reading! I've added several of these over the year thanks so your reviews - good to know they stand up.
ReplyDeleteI really liked 'The Black Count.' I said I wasn't going to read 'The Count of Monte Cristo,' but now that I know the true story of Alexandre Dumas pere's brave and tragic father, I started reading it.
ReplyDeleteThese look so interesting, but I haven't read any except The Lottery!
ReplyDelete