What I Read {Best Books of 2013}

Hi Friends!

As hard as it is to believe, it is time for my big "Top Ten" Books of 2013 post.  Twenty-thirteen was a great year for reading.  For the past 10 years, I've tried to read at least 52 books a year--this year I finished 67! I had so much fun looking back through my book journal and remembering all of the fabulous stories I read this year.  As always, my list is filled with fiction, some new, and some not-so-new.  Ready for my Top Ten? Here they are in no particular order:

The Middlesteins, Jami Attenberg.  

This completely dysfunctional family stole my heart.

Tell the Wolves I'm Home, Carol Rifka Brunt.  

I am still thinking about the fabulous Miss June.  A terrific story.

The Round House, Louise Erdrich.  

A coming-of-age/mystery book with a surprising young hero. 

May We Be Forgiven, AM Homes

Oh, Harry.  I am in love with your big transformation.

The Burgess Boys, Elizabeth Strout

Sibling rivalry, guilt, marriages, memorable characters.  Beautiful writing.

Love Me, Garrison Keillor

I'm still thinking of Iris, the wife of Larry, the main character.  She was awesome.

Eleanor & Park, Rainbow Rowell

Love story of two misfits.  Amazing.

Reconstructing Amelia, Kimberly McCreight

Oh, boy.  I had no idea where this story was going to go.  Loved that it kept me guessing.

And the Mountains Echoed, Khaled Hosseini

Khaled Hosseini never disappoints.  A story about families and choices and consequences.

Wash, Margaret Wrinkle

Still a little bit haunted by this one. 

The complete list of what I read this year:

 The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Steven Choboski (3)

Breed, Chase Novak (2 ½)

Seven, Jen Hatmaker (4)

 The Middlesteins, Jami Attenberg (4)

The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, Jonas Jonasson (4)

 Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, Ben Fountain (3 ½)

Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures, Emma Straub (2 ½)

Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, Robin Sloan (3 ½)

Tell the Wolves I’m Home, Carol Rifka Brunt (4)

The Death of Bees, Lisa O’Donnell (4)

Frances & Bernard, Arlene Bauer (4)

Birds of a Lesser Paradise, Megan Mayhew Bergman (4)

The Dinner, Herman Koch (3 ½)

The Playdate, Louise Millar (2 ½)

The Round House, Louise Erdrich (4)

Left Neglected, Lisa Genova (3 ½)

 The Lake of Dreams, Kim Edwards (4)

Wild, Cheryl Strayed (4)

An Abundance of Katherines, John Green (3)

The Newlyweds, Nell Freudenberger (3 ½)

The Fault in Our Stars, John Green (4)

Tiny Beautiful Things, Cheryl Strayed (3 ½)

This Book Will Save Your Life, AM Homes (4)The Mistress’s Daughter, AM Homes (2 ½)

Before I Go To Sleep, S.J. Watson (3 ½)

The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance, Elna Baker (3 ½)

Every Last One, Anna Quindlen (2 ½)

Wash, Margaret Wrinkle (4)

Inside, Alex Ohlin, (2 ½)

May We Be Forgiven, AM Holmes (4)

Looking for Alaska, John Green (3 ½)

The Light Between Oceans, M.L. Stedman (4)

In a Country of Mothers, AM Holmes (2 ½)

The Birth House, Ami McKay (3 ½)

A Constellation of Vital Phenomena, Anthony Marra (3 ½)

The Woman Upstairs, Claire Messud (4)

The Interestings, Meg Wolitzer (4)

The Burgess Boys, Elizabeth Strout (4)

Calling Me Home, Julie Kibler (4)

The Melting Season, Jami Attenburg (3 ½)

Instant Love, Jami Attenburg (4)

Love Me, Garrison Keillor (4)

Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie  (4)

Zelda, Therese Anne Fowler (3)

This Bright River, Patrick Somerville (3 ½)

A Fierce Radiance, Lauren Belfer (3)

Eleanor & Park, Rainbow Rowell (4)

Reconstructing Amelia, Kimberly McCreight (4)

Kingdom of Strangers, Zoe Ferraris (3 ½)

Orange is the New Black, (3 ½)

Let’s Discuss Diabetes with Owls, David Sedaris (3 ½)

Life After Life, Kate Atkinson (3 ½)

Love, Anthony, Lisa Genova (3 ½)

A Hundred Summers, Beatriz Williams (3 ½)

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me, Mindy Kaleng (3 ½)

 The Emperor’s Children, Claire Messud (3 1/2)

Me Before You, Jojo Moyes (4)

And the Mountains Echoed, Khaled Hosseini (4)

Winter’s Bone, Daniel Woodrell (3)

Everything is Perfect When You’re a Liar, Kelly Oxford (2)

Anonymous Sources, Mary Louise Kelly (3 ½)

Cartwheel, Jennifer duBois (3)

Instructions for a Heatwave, Maggie O’Farrell (3 ½)

Save Yourself, Kelly Braffet (2 ½)

The Cuckoo’s Calling, Robert Galbraith (3)

The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P., Adelle Waldman (4)

Tenth of December, George Saunders (3)

Have you read any good books this year?  I'd love to hear your recommendations!

Happy Reading!

XO,

Vicki