Friday, December 28, 2012

My 15 Favorite Reads of 2012


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




On a Farther Shore by Rachel Carson


The Black Count by Tom Reiss


The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

18 comments:

Blodeuedd said...

I haven't read any of those books :/

Sam (Tiny Library) said...

I've read Gillespie & I and I loved it too, what a main character.
Most of the other books are now on my wishlist :)

bermudaonion said...

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!

Man of la Book said...

From the few we read in common, I agree they were very good.

http://www.ManOfLaBook.com

Marce said...

Some of those are new to me. I want to read The Last Policeman, I read his 1st book.

Yvette said...

Great list, Ryan. I feel very left out since I've only read one book (The Yellow Room) on your list.

But 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!

JaneGS said...

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.

Happy Holidays and best wishes for a wonderful book-filled 2013!

Staci said...

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!!

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

What a great list. I want to read Gillespe and I and just added a few others to my list as well.

Alexia561 said...

I'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!

Michelle Stockard Miller said...

Great 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.

Mystica said...

I've read Gillespie and I but all others are new to me. Thank you for the list.

Anonymous said...

Great pics Ryan, looks like I'll have some reading to do.

Deb

The Reading Frenzy said...

Great list Ryan, looks like I have some more reading to do.
Happy New Year
deb

Anonymous said...

great list, and we have one in common!
you will find my list in this post:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2013/01/03/year-of-reading-2012/

Lisa said...

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.

Erin O'Riordan said...

I 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.

Laurie C said...

These look so interesting, but I haven't read any except The Lottery!