Can I ask for the best book you've read in 2016?

[EverySongbirdSays]

It doesn't matter what genre, whether it's YA or adult or what year it was originally written in or whether it's fiction or non-fiction. Tell me what made it "best"

I used to read a lot and I just burned out of it, I realise I really miss it and want to get back into it so I'm building an Amazon wishlist to work through

All Suggestions Welcome

[melibu84]

I used to love reading, but sticking to it is a bit of a struggle!

One book I really enjoyed this year was Call of the White: taking the world to the South Pole by Felicity Aston.

I also re-read Lord of the Rings and found I could appreciate it more this time around :)

[Somerville]

I don't have my list of what I've read this year to hand, so this is the best book I've read in the past few months, instead. The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. Thoroughly entertaining with a rollicking story but also well written and with a strong cast of nuanced and relatable (despite not all being human) characters.

[caramelgirl]

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. It was our book club book last week and blew everyone away. I also read A Testament to Youth by Vera Brittain which I enjoyed but which was heavy going.
I re read Unsticky by Sarra Parrish which is at the other end of the spectrum (beach read type book) but also really good.

[caramelgirl]

Oops,Unsticky is by Sarra Manning.

[EverySongbirdSays]

Yeah melibu that has been my issue sticking to any book for more than 20 minutes

The only book I've read THIS YEAR is Miss Peregrine (first one)

[lemonpoppyseed]

The Unseen World by Liz Moore. Just finished it this afternoon. It was superb. And I just read The Wonder by Emma Donoghue. Also excellent.

[Bloodybridget]

The Book of Strange New Things by Michael Faber. The story of a Christian minister employed by an American corporation to join its settlement on a distant planet as pastor to the native inhabitants, who have made hhis appointment a condition of their continued practical support for the colonists. Meanwhile on Earth, things are falling apart catastrophically. An extraordinary, gripping, moving exploration of faith, human-ness and love.

[melibu84]

EverySong I didn't even realise that was a book, i'll add it to my list. I really want to see the film!

I am reading 3 books at the same time. Been trying to read them for nearly 4 months now :/

[EverySongbirdSays]

melibu I read the book and then watched the trailer again and it's clear they've changed essential things abut a main character, so I've got the hump now

bridget - I have it already sitting here waiting! Under The Skin and Crimson Petal both magnificent

lemon The Wonder is already on the list as it caught my eye surfing, I will add the other.

[HelenaDove]

The Butterfly Summer by Harriet Evans.

Maestra by L S Hilton.

Both good but the Butterfly Summer is the best of the two.

[EverySongbirdSays]

melibu In the last year I've started and not finished so many books including Elizabeth Is Missing, the first Outlander book, Vile Bodies and the Hamilton biography the musical is based on. Nothing has stuck apart from Peregrine and I read that on a train.

[Bloodybridget]

I'm really keen to read The Wonder too - love Emma Donohue. Will check out other recommendations here!

[EverySongbirdSays]

Both added thanks Helena Butterfly Summer doesn't look like my usual jam but I will give it a whirl. I'll give anything a whirl at this stage.

[HelenaDove]

Do NOT be fooled by the cover...............it is set in two time zones and has a fab twist at the end.

The Butterfly Summer stayed with me for a good while after i finished it.

[HelenaDove]

I can also recommend The Mistletoe Bride and Other Haunting Tales by Kate Mosse which i read last Christmas.

[EverySongbirdSays]

What is it with books aimed at female readers and twee as fuck covers though? (yes the cover was the issue)

[HelenaDove]

Its a fab read . There is a couple of twists throughout as well as at the end.

[HelenaDove]

My 21 year old niece loved it too.

[MidniteScribbler]

A reread for me - The Circle and the Cross of Caiseal Mor. And then the two sequels that follow it. It's about the Roman Catholic invasion of Ireland, from the Druid perspective. Part fantasy, part history, I enjoyed it the first time I read it years ago, and enjoyed rereading it again this year.

[DoctorTwo]

I'm currently reading And The Weak Suffer What They Must? by Yanis Varoufakis. It's not a work of fiction but at times it reads like one. It should be required reading for students of history, politics and economics as sn introduction in how not to do business.

[DeliveredByKiki]

Finally got round to Barack Obama's autobiography (the first one) recently - it's brilliant and also made me so sad that he's on his way out of the White House

[ayeokthen]

I've been working my way through the Skinner series by Quintin Jardine again. Set in Edinburgh (my home city) and various other parts of Scotland, police thriller/whodunnits. I love his style of writing, his descriptions of Edinburgh and the characters who develop over 20 + books.

[EverySongbirdSays]

Midnite That sounds AMAZING

Kiki I've read it and it is brilliant, I struggled with the sequel though. I'm looking forward to his memoirs from office.

aye sounds right up the DMs alley actually

Doctor interesting will take a look

Bumping this for the day crowd.

[nolongersurprised]

everydongbirdsays that thing re cutesy covers for actually good books pissed Lionel Shiver off as well, when some publisher put a pastel cover on 'Kevin'.

'Hope Farm' by Peggy Frew.

[nolongersurprised]

Sorry - songbird, not dongbird, lol.