My favourite books of the year!
Just like last year’s top ten list, I’ve made a list of the ten books that I enjoyed reading the most in 2012, regardless of genre or year of publication.
I read a lot of YA this year, and as I went back over all of my reviews, I wasn’t surprised to see that YA books made up half of my list.
I noticed that, particularly towards the end of the year, I read a lot of horror/supernatural/paranormal stories this year. That’s something that will certainly continue next year. I already have a couple of books lined up to read that are supposed to be pretty spooky!
And again, like last year, I’ve decided to leave out books that I read this year that were part of a long-running series, unless it was the first book in the series. I wanted to put together a list where someone could pick up a book I’ve listed and get reading, without having to go back and read from the beginning of a series.
All of the books on this list are recommended reads, and in no particular order.
1. Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn
Once I started, I couldn’t put this book down. Talk about a page turner! I loved this story, even while I despised the characters.
2. Please Look After Mom, by Chi-Young Kim (Kyung-Sook Shin, translator)
This was a wonderful, beautiful, emotional book and I’m so glad I finally got around to reading it.
3. Columbine, by Dave Cullen
I don’t read much non-fiction, but this was a fascinating book, and one that I thought about again and again as the news lately seems full of stories about other shootings.
4. World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, by Max Brooks
It is no secret that I love zombie stuff, and this was the best zombie book that I read all year! I loved reading about the zombie outbreak in different parts of the planet, seeing how different cultures and communities addressed the problem. I know there’s a movie version coming out but it looks to be only loosely based on this book (not that that would stop be from watching it!).
5. Anna Dressed in Blood, by Kendare Blake
I loved this book! The characters, the story, the setting (Canada!)…it was all great, and was followed up by a sequel that was just as good, Girl of Nightmares.
6. This Dark Endeavour, by Kenneth Oppel
This was awesome, and if you like historical fiction, I highly recommend it. The imagined youth of Victor Frankenstein is exciting, somewhat spooky, and continues in the sequel, Such Wicked Intent. I’m looking forward to more from this series!
7. I Hunt Killers, by Barry Lyga
Another first in a new YA series, this book was so fun. If you like the show Dexter, and/or a good mystery and aren’t put off by a bit of violence, I definitely recommend it.
8. The Diviners, by Libba Bray
No surprise that another Libba Bray book made my top ten list. I love her books! This is, yet again, the first book in a new series, and was funny, scary, set in the roaring twenties, and full of great characters.
9. Long Lankin, by Lindsey Barraclough
Oh, the chills I got from this book! This was well-written, and full of suspense and tension. If you like a fright without gore or violence, and a historical setting to boot, this is definitely for you!
10. Afterwards, by Rosamund Lupton
Lupton’s previous book, Sister, was on my top ten list last year, and I think I liked this one even more. This was another great mystery, and I’ll read whatever this author writes next.
So that’s it for 2012. I’m looking forward to a bunch of great new books to read in 2013! I hope to borrow more library books, and to keep working through my TBR list. What are you looking forward to reading next year?
