1.07.2013

What I Read in 2012

I fell just shy of my goal of reading 50 books in 2012, but if I'm totally honest, I probably read a trashy romance or two that I forgot to count.  That, combined with the books I started and didn't like, plus the tons of children's books I read last year, should definitely add up to more than 50.  I'm calling it a win.

Here were my ten (okay, eleven including both Sookie Stackhouse books) favorites, in no particular order:

The Flight of Gemma Hardy  If I had to choose my most favorite book of the year, this one would likely be it.  A slightly more modern (think 1950s) re-imagining of Jane Eyre, this book absolutely captivated me.  Lovely, lovely story.

Looking for Alaska  I finally jumped on the John Green bandwagon this fall, and I am not looking back.  I devoured this book in a day and a half, and while I liked it quite a bit at the time, it's the kind of book that I have thought about often since I read it.  There's so much to love in this book:  boarding school, rural Alabama (well, I love that part, anyway!), realistic teenagers I want to be friends with, first loves...the list goes on and on.

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake  This book and its characters stuck in my heart the moment I read it.  Southern preacher Samuel Lake and his precious family may be my favorite characters of the  year.  This book also provided some of my favorite quotes of the year.

The Shoemaker's Wife  A classic epic love story.  Tears were shed, and I am not ashamed to admit it.

The Last Plea Bargain  If you're a John Grisham fan, read this.  I loved it, and totally didn't see the end coming.

The Fault in Our Stars  (Yes, another John Green) The buzz about this book is what finally made me check out the author.  It lived up to expectations!  Fair warning:  tearjerker, but worth it.

Dead Reckoning and Deadlocked  (Sookie Stackhouse, Books 11 and 12)  I love Sookie Stackhouse and I don't care who knows it.  Award-winning literature?  Nope, but a heck of a lot of fun!

The Age of Miracles  Early YA genre, with some dystopian elements.  The details made the book for me.

First You Try Everything  I forgot how much I liked this book until I was going over the list of what I read this year.  A haunting view inside the demise of a marriage.  Loved the ending.

Laugh with the Moon  Technically this is middle-grade fiction, but my 30-year-old self loved it.  

Honorable Mentions:
Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn
Saving Ruth, by Zoe Fishman
The List, by Siobhan Vivian
Alabama Moon, by Watt Key
The Leftovers, by Tom Perotta
A Wilderness of Error, by Errol Morris
Heist Society, by Ally Carter
Shadow of Night, by Deborah Harkness
First Date, by Krista McGee
Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
Shooting Stars, by Allison Rushby

What was your favorite book read in 2012?  Did you read any of my favorites?

Nerdy as it may sound, I can't wait to get started on this year's list!

2 comments:

  1. Inspired! I will do one like this tonight :)

    My favourites were Sinead Moriarty and then a suggestion i got from Simple Mom - What Alice Forgot - Alice Moriarty :)

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  2. i plan to bring this list to my new BOOK CLUB meeting :) i read gone girl...but i think that might be it from your list.

    how many times have i told you about kitchen confidential? apparently i like that book! ha! but, i like it because it made me remember about stuff to do in the kitchen and increased my confidence. it's not really a "fun" read!!

    i'll let you know our first book club pick!

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