Bookmarks Subscribers discussion

Let us know what your top 3 books of the year have been so far. Let's make this the place where we can share our favorite books. The books should be those that you've read this year and not necessarily published this year.

I'll get us started.

1. Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
2. We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
3. Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

The Chalk Girl by Carol O'Connell

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain


Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden--from 9/11 to Abbottabad by Peter L. Bergen

Linda wrote: "The Chalk Girl by Carol O'Connell

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking [bookcover:Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Sto..."

Oh, Quiet is an excellent book. It's hard to narrow it down to 3, especially if one reads a large number of books. The book helped me to gain an understanding of how to raise my introverted daughter and to better understand myself.

1. Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin
2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
3. Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

Tough one -

and

and

My 3 favorite books for 2012 so far are: and

Kathy, Fingersmith looks really good. Has anyone else read it?

Victoria, Ready Player One is a on my top 10 list of all time favorite books. A masterpiece.

Karen, Gone Girl seems to be the hot read right now. I'm looking forward to reading it in August.

The Journal of Joyce Carol Oates: 1973-1982

Oryx and Crake

Faithful Place closely tied w/ Father of the Rain

Karen wrote: "My 3 favorite books for 2012 so far are: and "

I am currently reading Defending Jacob. I don't know how it ends, but it is really an interesting story so far.

Sera wrote: "Kathy, Fingersmith looks really good. Has anyone else read it?

I tried it and couldn't get into it. I think it was just one too many faux Victorian novels for me.

Great topic! My top one and two, and probably interchangeable for thos slots are:
Matterhorn
And
The Sense of an Ending

Probably in #3 is
The Devil All the Time !
But it is only narrowly edging out The Distant Hours and What Is Left the Daughter (how is that for cheating and gettin 5 in there?!)

I just added a "tied for 3rd" Betsy . . . couldn't help it!

Betsy wrote: "Sera wrote: "Kathy, Fingersmith looks really good. Has anyone else read it?

I tried it and couldn't get into it. I think it was just one too many faux Victorian novels for me."

Ah, ok. I understand. I continue to be on the fence regarding this one.

Kate wrote: "The Journal of Joyce Carol Oates: 1973-1982[bookcover:The Journal of Joyce Carol Oates: 19731982]

Oryx and Crake

Faithful Place closely tied ..."

The Likeness is up for me some time over the next few months. I'm also happy to see how much readers continue to enjoy this series.

Betsy wrote: "Great topic! My top one and two, and probably interchangeable for thos slots are:
Matterhorn
And
The Sense of an Ending

Probably in #3 is..."

LOL - no worries, Kate and Betsy.

I can't believe that I had left American Rust out so I'm mentioning it here as well.

Kathy F wrote: "Karen wrote: "My 3 favorite books for 2012 so far are: and "

I am currently reading Defending Jacob. I don't know how..."

Kathy I hope you enjoy Defending Jacob as much as I did. I was very luck to have had a chance to meet the author.

-I can't wait to start the next one!!

, I bought this before Ray Bradbury passed away, I can't believe I had not read this before now!

loved this very personal story by Luanne

Becky wrote: "-I can't wait to start the next one!!

, I bought this before Ray Bradbury passed away, I can't believe I had not read this be..."

Becky, I'm on the second book of the Game of Thrones' series. I hear that the 3rd one is the best of the bunch - lucky you!

Sera wrote: "Becky wrote: "-I can't wait to start the next one!!

, I bought this before Ray Bradbury passed away, I can't believe I had no..."

For some reason #2 keeps popping up, it should be #1, I will try to fix it later!

No worries. The first one was awesome! Let me know when you read the second one. I hope to read it prior to year-end.

1861: The Civil War Awakening I found myself looking up people, places, and events online as I read – especially images because Goodheart’s descriptions drew me in and prompted me to want to see more.
The Dovekeepers Powerful look into the tragedy at Masada through the eyes of women who could have been the survivors who told the story of their people.
The Snow Child after 100 pages, was hooked. It's a bit of magical realism and fairytale and Hallmark movie, so very different from the historical fiction and non-fiction that I usually read.

Laurie wrote: "1861: The Civil War Awakening [bookcover:1861: The Civil War Awakening] I found myself looking up people, places, and events online as I read – especially images because Goodheart’s descriptions dr..."

I'm a big fan of The Snow Child, too. Some of my GR friends have mixed feelings about it, however.

Now that we are nearing the end of the year, I thought that it would be a good time to ask this question again:

What have been your top 3 books of the year?

I am going to bump The Dog Stars and target it for January.

My three:

Lolita

The Sisters Brothers

Gone Girl

Just saw the Goodreads Choice awards ... and I have to say that for the most part I am surprised at the results. Definitely not what I would have picked as favorites. I thought some of the winners were downright poor. (But I guess that means I'm in the minority!)

I agree with you, Lynn, which I think also puts me in the minority!

Sera wrote: "I agree with you, Lynn, which I think also puts me in the minority!"

It's good to know that I 'm not alone!

I agree with both of you

We may have enough to start a revolution - ha ha ha.

Add me to that group.

Yes!

I think those 2, but can't decide on my 3rd pick (there are a couple I could name).

The Orphan Master's Son The Sense of an Ending Hemingway's Boat: Everything He Loved in Life, and Lost, 1934-1961

Lynn and Kate, I've read a couple of the books and definitely have the others on my TBR. Good to know that I have some excellent reads to look forward to picking up next year.

My favorites of the year:

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

The Song of Achilles

The Winter Sea

Defending Jacob

It is too hard to limit it to just 3, especially when they are different genres.

I agree, Lisa. I read so many incredible books this year. We should definitely look at the books by genre next year, too. I find it difficult to compare a classic with a book like Gone Girl , which stood apart from the other thrillers in its own right, in my opinion.

Did anyone read a book that made a members' top 3 that he or she didn't like?

I believe that I would enjoy everyone's top reads and hope to get to a number of them next year.

Sera wrote: "Did anyone read a book that made a members' top 3 that he or she didn't like?"

There are a few here that I didn't care that much for, but it's all just a difference of taste -- and I really think that life experience makes a difference in how we perceive the stories.

There are some books above that I haven't read or heard of that I will be adding to my TBR.

The books I enjoyed most in 2012 would include:

    

There are so many more, but these are the first three to pop into my head :)

Code Name Verity (stick with it and read for the details provided - it's worth it!), Where'd You Go Bernadette, and Flight Behavior

(and I know what the next two would be if I couldn't count!)

You don't have to limit your list to 3, Linda.

Top 3 so far 2013...

(both 5 stars)
4stars

in that case and

Linda wrote: "in that case and "

I loved Bridge of Sighs..