2014 was a good year in books. One of the (many) things I love about Goodreads is its ability to rate books. Below is a run-through of my most highly rated books of the year (beginning with the most recently read). (I also marked my three favorites of the favorites, in case you want the Cliff Notes version!)
After We Fall (formerly titled Falling) – Emma Kavanagh. I was pleasantly surprised by this one. The
novel is told from the viewpoint from four characters - Tom, a police officer;
Celia, a flight attendant and Tom's wife; Jim, a father and former police
officer; and Freya, a young student. Their lives intertwine over the course of
the book, all centered on a plane that goes down one snowy night. Their stories
are superbly told and each character extremely well-drawn-- albeit not always
likeable. There are several mysteries that build within the book-- why did the
plane go down, of course--along with a murder that's central to the story. You
would think with so few characters that the plot would seem trite and the
outcome apparent, but Kavanagh does a great job of creating suspense and
keeping you on your toes. Just when you think you've figured something out,
there's another small surprise. I found
myself completely immersed in the character's lives (I was immediately drawn to
Tom, liked Jim and Freya, and had issues with Celia, but that's all just from
my own perspective). Definitely a worthwhile read. Quick too, I downed it in a
couple of days, even though I was staying up until all hours wrapping presents!
(Read via Netgalley ARC; After We Fall will be published 6/1/2015)
The Burning Room – Michael Connelly. Another great Bosch
novel (#19!) by Connelly, though the ending left me a bit unsettled. I love
Bosch like an old friend. In this chapter, Bosch is still solving
Open-Unsolveds, this time with a rookie partner, Soto. They wind up with a
politically charged case, which soon looks to be tied to another old case –
this one that has personal ties for Soto. It’s another great mystery, per
usual, and the way Connelly voices Bosch is just soothing to me. But, then of
course, this comes from the person who read about 15 Bosch books while
pregnant. He’s kept me company through a lot.
One Plus One – Jojo Moyes. One of my favorite books
of the year. It’s sort of silly and outlandish in plot, but you don’t care,
because you’re just riveted, wanting to read it as quickly as possible. Jess is
a down-on-her-luck mom of two (her daughter, Tanzie, plus stepson Nicky), whose
husband has abandoned her so she must work two jobs to make ends meet. She
meets Ed, a millionaire who is also a bit down-on-his-luck (oh just some
investment fraud charges and such) while cleaning his vacation home. Eventually
Ed comes to their rescue (literally, as the family is sitting on the side of
the road) and helps drive them to a math competition for young Tanzie, who is a
maths expert. Along the way, a lot happens. You’d think the novel would be pat
and predictable, but it’s really just… lovely. And one of the few books I’ve
really loved that I actually think would make a good movie, provided I can
approve all casting choices, of course. **2014 favorite**
Blue Lily, Blue – Maggie Stiefvater. Two Maggie books in one
year. Insanity. This is the third book in Stiefvater’s “The Raven Cycle,” which
is a series not exactly for the faint of heart, as it details a mystical and crazy
dreamland world. But it’s a beautiful and captivating series. The third book
does not disappoint. The series follows Blue, the daughter of a psychic and her
friends from a local boy’s school – the beautiful Gansey, who is chasing King Glendower; the volatile Rowan;
and Adam, a local boy on scholarship. To describe the series, I only have to
tell you that Blue and her mother can see the dead once a year and that she
knows that Gansey will eventually die. And Blue also knows that she can’t kiss
her true love, or he will die. Oh and Rowan can dream anything he wants to life
(his father could do the same and actually dreamed his mother into existence).
And yet, none of this seems too crazy when you read these books. In this
installment, the gang continues their search for Gansey’s king, Blue suffers a
horrible loss, and they meet someone who actually knew Glendower…
Leaving Time – Jodi Picoult. I actually really enjoyed this
Picoult novel, and I haven’t really been a huge fan of some of her later works.
It tells the story of Jenna, who lost her mother in a sad accident at an
elephant sanctuary. Trying to find her, Jenna goes through her old research
journals and enlists the help of two kooky characters: a dejected psychic,
Serenity, and an even more dejected PI, Virgil. The story follows their journey
to find Jenna’s mother, Alice, along with flashbacks into Alice’s life and how
she met Jenna’s father. It also contains A LOT of research and information
about elephants. As in, probably, more than you’d ever like to know. You will
probably skim that a bit – a lot of readers have complained about it – but I
didn’t find it detrimental to the story, just a tad supplemental. The story features
one of Picoult’s crazy twists, and Jenna is just such a complete and
complicated character that you can’t help but root for her, poor kid.
As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust – Alan Bradley. I can't
help it. I just find Flavia de Luce absolutely delightful. I want to be her
friend, her confidante, her laboratory buddy. This novel finds Flavia in
Canada, navigating boarding school after discovery that she's to be inducted in
the same secret society as her mother. Perhaps I envisioned a bit more secret-spy
training for Flavia than the book delivered - instead, immediately upon her
arrival, a dead body falls out of a chimney, and Flavia sets upon her usual
course - proving the adults wrong and finding out whodunnit. It's a formula
that still hasn't gotten old, because Bradley simply writes Flavia so well. She
is such an amazing character - so likable, so true to herself. I can just
picture her in the situations in which she finds herself, and imagine the
adults around her and their expressions. Flavia has some good interactions with
both her fellow students and teachers at this new academy -- many of whom knew
her mother, the late Harriet. She proves herself a worthy detective, again, of
course, using her wits and chemistry. The whole Nide business is still a bit
odd and confusing to me. I suppose that's the point, but it's hard not to have
some resolution - though I suppose we are supposed to be sharing Flavia's
similar frustration at this point. Nevertheless, I am amazed at Bradley's
ability to continue to write books that so embody this character. I often try
to envision a Flavia film and then find myself hoping it never happens, as I
would hate to have the Flavia in my head ruined by the movies. Definitely worth
a read, as always, and now I'm left bereft that I'll have to wait over a year
for the next installment of Flavia's adventures. (I read this via a Netgalley
ARC; it will be published 1/6/15.)
The Same Sky – Amanda Eyre Ward. Another one of my absolute
favorites of the year. It is just a beautiful book. Ward's writing is simply
lovely and magical. When I finished the book, I was left feeling a bit
disappointed - not by the plot or the writing, but that it was over. It's one
of those novels that I'll be recommending to everyone. The Same Sky
tells the story of two unique individuals. The first is Alice, a forty-year-old
living in Texas, with her husband. Together, they run a successful BBQ
restaurant and appear incredibly happy. But they've been through a long and sad
string of infertility, and Alice is left empty by the latest episode - a
birth-mother taking back a baby promised to her, after Alice spent the night
with the baby she thought was going to be hers. Alice's chapters alternate with
those of Carla, a young girl in Honduras. Carla's mother leaves for America
early in the story, leaving Carla with her grandmother and one of her younger
twin brothers. Carla's voice is just amazing. Ward captures this young teenager
perfectly. I'm not sure how you can read this book and not fall completely for
Carla. There are times when I didn't completely love Alice, or when I wanted to
shake her, but Carla - I just wanted to hug her and take her home. As you read
the novel, Alice and Carla's stories are completely separate, which is
fascinating. They provide an intriguing commentary on our society and the
American Dream -- Alice seems to have it all in America, but she feels empty
due to her childless state. And Carla wants nothing more than to come to
America to be with her mother. I simply loved the book - I won't give away any more
of the plot, but it was well-written and beautiful. (I read this via a
Netgalley ARC; the book will be published on 1/20/15.) **2014 favorite**
Natchez Burning – Greg Iles. Apparently this book is even
longer than The Goldfinch and I picked it up as a “beach read.” Hmm. Genius
that I am, I didn’t realize it’s actually the fourth in a Penn Cage series by
Iles until I was too far into the plot to stop, so oh well. He apparently wrote
three Cage novels earlier and then this one later, so it does stand alone, if
you’re willing to be a bit confused. It was still a really good read about Penn
Cage, mayor of a small Southern town, who unwittingly stumbles upon a series of
racist crimes as he tries to exonerate his father, the exalted Dr. Tom Cage,
from a crime. The story flashes back 40 years to the times of MLK, the
Kennedys, and the KKK. It’s amazing, and there are so many characters that it’s
hard to keep track of them sometimes. But the book is stunning and the
characters are so fully drawn that they truly seem real, and you’ll start to
get confused about what history is real and what Iles is making up for Burning. My only warning if you read this – Burning is apparently the first
in the second half of another trilogy of Penn Cage novels, so if you read this
huge book looking for complete resolution… well, forget it!
Like This, For Ever – S.J. Bolton. I can’t remember how I
discovered the Lacey Flint series, but I’m glad I did. I need another spunky
detective in my life, even if she does frustrate me to no end. (Just accept
that Joesbury loves you already, Lacey!) This one is a little tough to read, as
it centers around a series of murders of young boys, but the plot certainly
keeps you guessing. As always, Lacey finds herself at the center of trouble
(shocking, I know).
Big Little Lies – Liane Moriarty. I would basically read
anything Moriarty publishes by now. Her books are just witty and fun and
usually a good story. This one is no exception. This is the story of several
moms with kids in the same school in Australia (perfectionist Madeline;
beautiful Celeste; and newcomer Jane). Moriarty is great at creating distinct
characters. At the beginning of this one, we’re told there’s been a murder, and
the whole book unfolds leading up to that day, coupled with police statements
taken by those in attendance. You get some lovely (and heartbreaking) stories
from the women in question, along with a pretty good mystery. Hard to go wrong
with that.
Elizabeth Is Missing – Emma Healy. One of my all-time
favorite reads of this year. It’s poignant and heartbreaking and gorgeous, with
pieces that will make you laugh out loud. It’s really hard to believe that this
is Healy’s first novel. It tells the story of Maud, who is suffering from
memory loss, and who is convinced her best friend, Elizabeth, is missing and in
trouble. As we hear from Maud, we meet her daughter Helen, who bears the burden
of caring for her, various other paid caretakers, and Elizabeth’s son. We also
get glimpses into the past, as Maud remembers back to times spent with her
sister, Sukey. I can’t really describe how lovely this book is, or how
perfectly Healy seems to capture Maud’s memory disintegrating as the novel
carries on. I recommended this book to my Mom, who is caring for an ailing
parent, thinking she’d find some comfort in Helen’s story, and Maud’s too, and
she also loved it. It’s really amazing. **2014 favorite**
Sinner – Maggie Stiefvater. I pretty much always love
Maggie’s books, and it has nothing with her attending the same college as me. I vacillated on my 4 star rating for this one, but I sort of see
this as a love letter, of sorts, to fans of her Shiver trilogy (this is
billed as Shiver #4, or a standalone companion). If you’ve read the Shiver
books (and you should, they’re so much fun), you’ll remember Cole and Isabel –
this novel follows Cole and Isabel, post all the adventures in the earlier
books. It’s lovely and beautiful and sad and funny and all the emotions a
Maggie book usually brings into your life.
That Night – Chevy Stevens. This was a bit of an “It
book” this year, but it was definitely worth picking up. Toni is a fairly
typical rebellious teen, until her younger sister is murdered. Toni and her
boyfriend are sent to prison for the crime. The book centers on Toni and
Ryan—both out on parole—trying to figure out life after prison. The two aren’t
supposed to have contact, but each is determined to prove their innocence. The
story alternates between past and present and it’s surprisingly engrossing,
even if I wanted to kick Toni sometimes for being so stupid.
The Divorce Papers – Susan Rieger. This was one of those
books that surprised me. It was a book told entirely through
correspondence (emails, letters, legal papers, etc.) and while it takes a bit
to get used to (some of the legal stuff is really… legal), it’s an engaging
book. The protagonist, Sophie, is a young criminal lawyer with no interest in
divorce law whatsoever. But she winds up taking on one of the firm’s most
important clients, Mia (through no fault of her own) and landing the case. By
doing so, Sophie earns the ire of others in her firm and gets to tackle Mia,
who is no easy client. But Sophie is fun, Mia is a trip, and the whole book is
quite enjoyable – and a bit crazy to look at the legal battles the rich go
through!
The One & Only – Emily Giffin. I’ve read a lot of Emily
Giffin’s so-called fluffy “chick lit” books and apparently, this book was
pretty polarizing in its plot. I fell on the really loved it spectrum.
Admittedly, it’s right up my alley, as it was all about sports and football.
Shea is adrift in life, working a dead-end job and stuck in a relationship she
doesn’t care for. She starts having feelings for her best friend’s dad, who
happens to be a pretty famous football coach. The story seems like it would be
unbelievable, but I didn’t think so. Shea was a little clueless at times, but a
pretty engaging character. And I, of course, loved all the football references
thrown in.
The Goldfinch – Donna Tartt. I resisted reading this book
for a while, as it was sort of the “It Book” of late 2013/early 2014, but I’m glad
I gave in. Be warned, it’s long, but it’s a worthy and captivating read. It
starts with young Theo, who survives a crazy accident that kills his mom. He
winds up living with a family of a school friend, and he embarks on this crazing
coming of age journey. The book follows him as he grows up, all the while
returning to the thread of this painting that reminds Theo of his Mom. I won’t
lie, parts of the book are a little wild and weird, but overall, it’s a really
amazing story. The kind where you just want to keep reading – chores and kids
and jobs and bedtimes be damned – to get to the end.
Together Alone- Barbara Delinsky. I chose this book to rest
my brain, and it was perfect, enjoyable fluff. I basically figured out the plot
about 50 pages in and still enjoyed it anyway. It’s part romance, part mystery.
Emily’s daughter goes off to college, leaving her with her distant husband. We
learn that Emily also had a son who was kidnapped and never found. As Emily
grapples with her daughter growing up and her husband’s strange behavior, we
learn more about her young son’s disappearance. The novel is silly but
enjoyable and a fast read.
Josie & Jack – Kelley Braffet. This book was mesmerizing
and weird. It sucked you into the story of the two siblings, basically living
alone in a creepy old house with their abusive father, who leaves them to their
own devices. It's not for the faint of heart, for sure. Josie is a not an easy
character to like (her brother even less so), but the story is rather
spellbinding. I'd compare it to another book, but I feel like that would be too
much of a spoiler to anyone interested in reading it. I give the whole book
minus the epilogue 4 stars. The epilogue didn't seem necessary. Still, a worthy
read.
Lock and Key – Sarah Dessen. Sarah Dessen
became my new "read all her books like a crazy person" obsession in
March. I really enjoyed this book. Ruby, at 17, winds up living with her
estranged sister after her mother disappears. Her sister and her husband have
money and Ruby has to start her life basically over. Ruby was a very realistic
character, and for some reason, I really liked her brother-in-law, too. I
couldn't put the book down. I was completely immersed in Ruby's coming of age
tale.
Someone Like You – Sarah Dessen. This was a very engrossing
YA novel about Halley, whose best friend Scarlett's boyfriend passes away. Lots
of rather outlandish things seem to happen, but Halley is a very lovable
character and you find yourself rooting for her. Somehow it all seems believable
nonetheless.
The Accidental Tourist – Anne Tyler. This book was different
than I usually read. At first, I wasn't sure I'd enjoy it (the protagonists are
splitting up after the death of their son). The novel focuses on the husband,
where I thought I wanted it to focus on the wife. But it turned out to be very
enjoyable, though I cannot pinpoint why. Macon goes on his own little journey
of self-discovery and you go right along with him. He's a quirky guy and it's a
quirky book, but also deep, if that makes any sense.
Someday, Someday Maybe – Lauren Graham. Well, you have to
take my review with a grain of salt, because I love anything Lauren Graham
does. The end of the book told me she also has a MFA. What? Whatever, Lorelai
Gilmore/Sarah Braverman. Frankly, I kept imagining those characters writing
this as I read it, or seeing Franny, the main character, as one of those
characters. The story was a tad predictable in places, but that's (let's be
honest) the kind of story I like. Franny was very likable and it was a very fun
and engaging tale.
The Mothers – Jennifer Gilmore. This book was very
well-written and almost hard to read. Jesse and her husband Ramon have spent
years trying to get pregnant and are now turning to adoption. It presents an
extremely accurate portrayal about infertility and I bet about the adoption
process, too. The main character is almost unlikable, but also real -- like a
friend you would find frustrating, but love anyway. I just enjoyed it. It was a
good read.
Feeling Sorry for Celia – Jaclyn Moriarty. OK, so in
January, I read a bunch of books by this woman's sister (seriously, how do
families get all this talent in one place?), so I decided to try Jaclyn's
books. This novel is in a different format (all letters, some of which are from
imaginary societies or people) but features a very engaging heroine. Elizabeth
is in high school, dealing with a flighty best friend who keeps disappearing.
The story unfolds via a series of letters between Elizabeth and her mom; a pen
pal from another school; Celia (the flighty best friend); imaginary societies,
etc. Elizabeth is winsome - no other way to put it and the format grows on you
rather quickly. I didn't want it to end, because I'd grown attached to the kid!
The Hypnotist’s Love Story – Liane Moriarty. As you see, I'm
not a discerning rater. I rate based on pure enjoyment or not, not some sort of
literary prowess. This tells about Ellen, a hypnotherapist who falls for
Patrick. All is great, except Patrick has a stalker -- his ex-girlfriend. The book
is mainly from Ellen's point of view, but we hear from her (the stalker)
sometimes, too. Very poignant story in some ways. I really enjoyed this one.
The Faraday Girls – Monica McInerney. I was surprised I
liked this as much as I did. The story of a father and his five daughters, whom
he brings up after his wife's death. It focuses on them mostly in their
adulthood. One has a baby, Maggie, and part of the novel skips forward to
Maggie as a young adult. They were a very dysfunctional family, but quite fun
to read about.
What Alice Forgot – Liane Moriarty. I read The Husband's
Secret and then got on a kick reading the rest of Liane's books (bought the
first one and then found the rest via the library or Oyster, so I didn't feel
too guilty about it). In this one, Alice hits her head at the gym and wakes up
thinking she's 29 and pregnant, despite the fact that she's actually 39. She's
forgotten the last 10 years of her life. The book chronicles her struggle to
get her memory back. The ending is a probably a little pat, but I really liked
this one.
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