It’s about that time to start reflecting on the year that has passed — and my very favorite way to do that is by reviewing the books I’ve read…
Read in 2013
2013 has been a year full of really wonderful books. Although I only read eight, I fell in love with nearly every single one. Many had such a profound effect on me that I still can’t find the words to properly write about them. Most recently that was The Fault In Our Stars — deeply sad, but not in an overtly emotional way, if that makes sense. Similarly, Code Name Verity left me absolutely speechless. If you’re looking for a good read, I can recommend any of the books on my list from 2013.
- Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
- Tenth of December by George Saunders
- Zen Under Fire by Marianne Elliott – My Review
- The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee – My Review
- Life of Pi by Yann Martel
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – My Review
To Read in 2014
If you’re friends with me over on Goodreads, you know my to-read list is impossibly long. Which is why for 2014, I still have books leftover from 2013 to read. But a Kindle is at the top of my Christmas list, so I imagine I’m going to be tearing through books like crazy this year!
- Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
- Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
- Wake by Elizabeth Knox
- Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- Joseph Anton by Salman Rushdie
- Bossypants by Tina Fey
- Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson
- And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
- A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
What are your favorite books from this year? Are there any I should adding to my list for 2014?
For more year-end book reviews, check these posts out:
P.S. Make sure to check out Click Clack Gorilla’s Year in Books 2013 and Book Lover Blog Hop for more great lists of books read this year!
ooh, Code Name Verity and The Fault In Our Stars were probably my top two reads of the year. SO GOOD. I need to look back at my read list. Zen Under Fire was great too.
I love, love, love my kindle. I think I read 3 or 4 times as many books this year as last year because of it. I borrow library books all the time too on it! I think you’re going to love having one, especially for all your travels. (And you can sync your kindle with your phone! You can always have a book in your pocket!!)
Your reviews on Goodreads are why I ended up reading Code Name Verity and The Fault In Our Stars in the first place, so thank you! I am also VERY excited for my Kindle. I don’t think libraries in Germany are in the loop with Kindle loans, but I may have to investigate!
I’ve read three of them: Kite Runner (which made me feel so sad that I wished I hadn’t read it), Life of Pi (which was very interesting, recommended by a podcast and not at all what I normally like to read either), and Gone Girl (which was lots of fun). Glad you enjoyed your reading choices this year so much! Best of luck with your reading in the new year!
Oh and I meant to say as well: I have Code Name Verity on my shelf and have been dying to read it for so long. It seems that everyone I know who reads it falls totally in love. Can’t wait!!!!
I know what you mean about Kite Runner, although I was glad I read it, it definitely made me uncomfortable. Code Name Verity is really pretty fantastic and really turns the traditional story of female friendship on its head. Loved it!
Nice list. Code Name Verity sounds great, will have to get that soon, too. I’m very bad about just posting a list and not giving anyone any idea of what my favourites are, should probably go back and rectify that. I haven’t read Kite Runner because I found the film so disturbing and books like that tend to be even more so (keep thinking of Sleepers, which still haunts me years later).
Sometimes it’s hard for me to pick favorites, but this year it was really clear for me (although I did love them all). I can imagine that a real visualization of Kite Runner would be horrifying, since reading the words was horrifying enough.
my husband gave me the George Saunders, can’t wait to dive in, loved Pastorlia, and CivilWarLand in Bad Decline
I received the book as a gift and since it was the first time I’ve read anything by Saunders, I was pleasantly surprised. If you’re already a fan, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!