Well, it’s that time of the year again! Time for the recap of the books read in 2013. I thought I did pretty good this year, but I just checked last year, and last year I read 65!! Still, I guess 56 is not too shabby.
Sometimes people question the fact that I give a lot of 4’s and 5’s on my reviews. The reason is that I am very choosy about what I read. I don’t read just any book, I usually research it, read other reviews and decide if it is something that I really want to read. So, with that being said, I kind of stack the deck. If I don’t like a book, it means that I made a mistake in my research. But lately, I’ve been very grabby with the Kindle, Nook and iBooks daily deals and have a slew of books waiting to read. These might not be so positive, since I was usually motivated by a free or $1.99 price tag!
1.The Homecoming of Samuel Lake: A Novel by Jenny Wingfiled. 5/5
2.Let's Pretend This Never Happened: (A Mostly True Memoir)by Jenny Lawson. ⅘
3. Goneby Mo Hayder. 5/5
4. The Woodcutterby Kate Danley. ⅗
5.Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talkingby Susan Cain. 5/5
6. Witches on Parole (Witchlight Trilogy: Book 1)by Debora Geary. 3.5/5
7. Paris in Love: A Memoirby Eloisa James. 5/5
8. Ready Player One: A Novel by Ernest Cline. 5/5
9.The Painted Girls: A Novelby Cathy Marie Bushanan 5/5
10. Hunting Daylight by Piper Maitland. ⅘
11.The Good House: A Novel by Ann Leary. 5/5
12. The Teleportation Accident: A Novelby Ned Beauman. 3.5/5
13. Blue Jeans and Coffee Beans by Joanne DeMaio. 4.5/5.
14. Defending Jacob: A Novelby William Landay. 5/5
15. Bone Riverby Megan Chance. ⅘
16.Put 'em Up! Fruit: A Preserving Guide & Cookbook: Creative Ways to Put 'em Up, Tasty Ways to Use 'em Up by Sherry Brooks Vinton. 5/5
16, Tell the Wolves I'm Home: A Novel by Carol Rifka Brunt. 5/5.
17. A Thousand Days in Venice: An Unexpected Romance by Mariena de Biasi. ⅘.
18. The Lace Makers of Glenmara: A Novel (P.S.)by Heather Barbeau. ⅘.
19. Accidents Happen: A Novel by Louise Millar. ⅘.
20. Life After Life: A Novel by Kate Atkinson. ⅗.
21. The Other Typist by Megan Chance. 5/5.
22. Amity & Sorrow: A Novel by Peggy Riley. ⅘
23. Foodist: Using Real Food and Real Science to Lose Weight Without Dieting by Darya Pino Rose. ⅘.
24. The Next Time You See Me: A Novel by Holly Goddard Jones. ⅘.
25. Mud Season: How One Woman's Dream of Moving to Vermont, Raising Children, Chickens and Sheep, and Running the Old Country Store Pretty Much Led to One Calamity After Another by Ellen Stimson. 4.5/5
26. The Obituary Writer: A Novel by Ann Hood. 5/5.
27. Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook (P.S.) by Anthony Bourdain. ⅘
28. The Dinnerby Herman Koch. ⅘
29. Down and Out in Beverly Heels by Kathryn Leigh Scott. ⅘
30. The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. 5/5
31.The One I Left Behind: A Novel by Jennifer McMahon. ⅘
32. One Last Thing Before I Go: A Novel by Jonathan Tropper. 5/5
33. The Light Between Oceans: A Novel by M.L. Stedman. 5/5
34. Rain on Your Wedding Day by Curtis Edmonds. ⅘
35. Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick.
36. Love Anthony by Lisa Genova. ⅘
37. The Last Camellia: A Novelby Sarah Jio. ⅘
38. The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story by Lily Koppel. 5/5
39. Jesus, Mo and Cheese Puffs by Lisa Boucher. ⅘
40. Bellman & Black: A Novel by Diane Setterfield. ⅘
41. The Apple Orchardby Susan Wiggs. ⅘
42. Dad Is Fatby Jim Gaffigan. 5/5
43. I Remember Nothing (Vintage)by Nora Ephron. 4.5/5
44. The Heavens Riseby Christopher Rice. 5/5
45. Into the Darkest Cornerby Elizabeth Haynes 5/5.
46. The Circleby Dave Eggers. 5/5
47. Snowflakes and Coffee Cakesby Joanne Demaio. 5/5
48. Mrs. Poeby Lynn Cullen. ⅘
49. Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris. ⅗
50. Rude Bitches Make Me Tired: Slightly Profane and Entirely Logical Answers to Modern Etiquette Dilemmas by Celia Rivenbark. 5/5
51. Music of Ghosts: A Novel of Suspense (A Mary Crow Novel) by Sallie Bissell ⅘
52. I'll Sleep When You're Dead by E. A. Aymar. ⅘.
53. The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence. 5/5
54. The Wedding Bees: A Novel of Honey, Love, and Manners by Sarah-Kate Lynch. 5/5.
55. My Year with Eleanor: A Memoir by Noelle Hancock. ⅘
56. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. 5/5
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Kyle says
wow!! impressive!!
La Table De Nana says
Totally Impressed!
Must see how many I read.. 12 -15 tops..
Nothing has knocked my socks off this year..You know..the kind of book you can't stop talking about?:)
Amy says
Ever year you make me feel inferior as I glance over at my night stand, which holds 4 books. All covered with dust.
Sharon Collins says
Wow.. Well done on reading so many books. I read a total of 47 books in 2013. I am currently reading the 100 year old man who climbed out a window. So far loving it!!
shabby girl says
Thank you so much for posting the books you read. We are on the same page as far as what we like. I've read most of your 5/5 and agree!
Melynda Brown says
A book a week, plus. An impressive feat to be sure. I wish my eyes weren't so tired after work, I miss reading.....
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
High 5 on the book reading club! Im a book worm so I love seeing others lists, lots of my favorite last years are on yours. Thanks for the many suggestions too!
Marjie says
All new books, too! And I'm always impressed when people actually send you books to review - and jealous, too. I'm betting you'll beat me next year, though. The first quarter is setting up to be a "No reading, little blogging, lots of life getting in the way" sort of time.
Jessica J says
Wow! One of my goals this year is to read more. That list of yours is impressive!
Joanne says
That's over a book a week! I'm very impressed.
June says
Wow Pam. That's an amazing list. You've got me wondering where on earth you find the time between teaching, photography and blogging.
Barbara says
Always love your list. I copy and save it to examine later. I mixed books while away...some book group books (Loved Harvest) and some other oddball and relaxing books. Am reading Goldfinch right now. My daughter loved Forgiven and as a result, read The Dry and the Wet...same author....which she gave to me. She also recommended The Orchid Thief, which I ordered in book form so I could pass it along to my Garden Club.