Some of my favorite reads this year… would love to hear about yours in the comments!
The Name of the Wind / Zeitoun / Water for Elephants / Little Bee / The Hunger Games / The Help / The Forgotten Garden / The Tiger’s Wife / The Distant Hours / The House on Mango Street / The Glass Castle / A Reliable Wife / The Liar’s Club / The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo / What is the What / The Angel’s Game
We clearly have the same taste books…I have read almost all of these and most of them are on my favorites list too! This year I also thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Meaning on Night’ by Michael Cox, and ‘The Rules of Civility’ by Amor Towles–quite different from each other, but both terrific and un-put-downable. Books are the best. :)
I’ve read a book from each shelf! Water for Elephants and The Help were amazing (my boyfriend even got into them too!). I read The Glass Castle a while ago, but I remember it being good. And finally I am still enamored with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo … I’ve watched the Swedish movie series and I can’t wait for the American version next month!! I will definitely have to look into the others you have listed here – Thank you for sharing!
What is the What was great! I absolutely *hated* Water for Elephants, though – seemed like it was totally written with the movie-deal in mind.
I’m reading “Room” right now by Emma Donoghue and it’s pretty amazing so far!
Most of these are on my shelf! I loved The Help in particular.
I read The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo a couple of years ago and love the series! I really recommend the next two of the trilogy. It’s a shame that I’ve read them in a way!
Thanks for sharing these, always looking for good reads. I’ve read a lot of these too. ‘The Help’ would be my favourite, I’m giving it to everyone for Christmas. Little Bee (known as One Hand in UK) is also good and agree with Alexandra, ‘Room’ is totally amazing also and in my top 5 books. Currently reading ‘Pigeon English’ which is very similar to Room.
Just finished reading Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. I picked it up from the library randomly and loved it. I started reading The Glass Castle on the bus this morning… have heard very good things…
Born to Run by Christopher McDougall.
Great picks for the books!! Especially The Hunger Games – might be one of my favorite books ever! I’ve read 6 of your picks, but now I’ll put the others on my list…thanks!
Aww, yay! I love that you made a whole book category for giving. Perfect! I really enjoyed The Help, The Tiger’s Wife, and Hunger Games. Water for Elephants was heartbreaking. If you liked The Angel’s Game, I absolutely recommend Zafon’s first novel, Shadow of the Wind. That is still one of my favorite books and I think it tops Angel’s Game. Also, since we’re on books…check out The Book Thief, and The Arsonist’s Guide to Author’s Homes in New England. Gosh, I could go on and on. Thanks for sharing! I love reading your blog. :)
I think we may be literary soulmates. :) So many of my favorites are on this list. Have you read Cutting For Stone? I bet you will like it, given these selections.
Hi Kristen, I did read Cutting for Stone and really enjoyed it!
Love this! The shelves look so great. I read ‘Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ and seeing it in theaters tomorrow! Also read Little Bee–so sad, but so well written. The Help has been on my list for awhile..I’m going to have to check some of these others out! Great gift guide :)
Have you read the Shadow in the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafron? It was so amazing that I thought The Angels Game had to be just as good. I had a hard time getting through that one. Just didn’t keep me as engaged. Thanks for some other great recommendations, I look forward to reading some of them.
I did, and it’s another really great book!
