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Original poster

What is the best book you've read this year?

64 replies

Stokey · 18/09/2012 13:31

Am about to go on holiday and would like some recommendations.
I have read quite a lot this year with maternity leave and a new kindle, although have fallen into the kindle trap of buying cheap books and then feeling slightly dirty after reading them!
Books I've read and enjoyed this year include State of Wonder, Me before You, Before I go to Sleep, the William Nicholson trilogy, Perfect People, The White Lie.
Loads of 99p Kindle books that are a bit meh, quite good for when I was extremely sleep deprived, but not what I am after now that I get a reasonable night's sleep.
Anyway tell me what have you enjoyed please, thanks.

OP posts:
JiltedJohnsJulie · 26/09/2012 13:55

Think if you liked Me Before You, you might like Life, Death and Vanilla Slices by Jenny Eclair.

Definitely one of my favourites for this year.

This Short Story is good too and it's free which is always a bonus Smile.

NurseRatched · 25/09/2012 20:52

tumbletumble ['Room'] Emma Donoghue's next book: The Sealed Letter is great too.

KlarkyKat · 25/09/2012 20:52

My Mum gave me East of Eden by John Steinbeck recently and I loved it, best thing i've read for ages and inspired me to read more classics. I'll be pinching a few ideas from this list though...

NurseRatched · 25/09/2012 20:48

My unashamed fave so far this year -though it's relatively 'old': A Confederacy of Dunces - by John Kennedy Toole. Very very funny - though not politically correct in any sense Grin

noddyholder · 24/09/2012 21:47

Gone girl was great
The Burial is brilliant

NellyBluth · 24/09/2012 21:32

Oh, Mark Billingham is amazing, I just devour those (while happily imagining the luscious David Morrissey as Thorne...)

I've just finished The Night Circus and it was wonderful.

MissBeehivingUnderTheMistletoe · 24/09/2012 21:32

Game of Thrones was brilliant Smile

Original poster
Stokey · 24/09/2012 21:21

Oh and just bought the first Mark Billingham, must put the kindle down now, too much temptation!

OP posts:
Original poster
Stokey · 24/09/2012 21:17

Have downloaded Gone Girl and Harold Fry, have read a few of the others The Help, Kevin, Incredibly Loud. Thanks for help Mumnetters, off tomorrow hoping the rain holds off.

OP posts:
BonnyDay · 24/09/2012 20:41

bernadette
100 year old man
gone girl
submission

tumbletumble · 23/09/2012 20:55

This year I have enjoyed Room and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

Peeenut · 23/09/2012 10:47

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. I read it in one day on holiday.

I also loved A Monster Calls, it's a children's book but excellent. I was sitting by the pool trying not to cry.

LizzieVerekerGold · 22/09/2012 16:56

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce - read it in one sitting, and Rivers of London. Have lovely hols!

Makingmama · 22/09/2012 16:46

Snow Child, beautiful!

DancehallDaze · 21/09/2012 13:52

I have been reading Mark Billingham in order. The first three were compulsive reading. Just finished the fourth which I found not so engaging, which seems to be backed up by other reviews. Am about to start the fifth which sounds more promising.

Galaxymum · 21/09/2012 13:35

I have loved "The Thread" best. It was so beautifully written and I learnt a lot from the author - completely transported me.

madasamarchhare · 21/09/2012 13:31

Loved me before you too, however also couldn't put down 2 Elizabeth Hayes novels -into the darker corner and revenge of the tide. Excellent reads.

5Foot5 · 21/09/2012 13:25

"Dress Circle" by Laurie Graham.

Actually nearly anything by Laurie Graham but I read this a few weeks ago and found it almost unputdownable

DuchessofMalfi · 21/09/2012 08:39

The Help was good, but I thought the ending was a little unsatisfactory.

LouMacca · 21/09/2012 07:28

Ah The Help, of course!! Don't know how on earth I forgot to mention that, a brilliant read....

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 21/09/2012 05:17

If you are tempted by Grey but actually want a good piece of literature, Gordon by Edith Templeton is amazing

akaemmafrost · 21/09/2012 05:02

The Help. Didn't want it to end and haven't found anything that has hooked me in as much. Loved it.

Yamyoid · 21/09/2012 04:13

The Shadow of the Wind. Also enjoyed We Are All Made of Glue by Marina Lewycka.

thelittlestkiwi · 21/09/2012 02:23

I know what you mean about cheap kindle books. I loved Me before You too.

Not this year, but this is one of my all time fav books. I have gifted it several times and read it a number of times. It made my (male) boss sob.

www.amazon.co.uk/Hunting-Midnight-Zarco-2-ebook/dp/B005AE68ES/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348190435&sr=8-1

omfgkillmenow · 21/09/2012 02:13

Also Ken Follett -amazing, unputdownable! And Conn Iggulden, he may not seem like a obvious choice for a woman, my DP was like WTF? But seriously, brilliant, was one on them (make your own tea kids there's microwave burgers in the fridge) type books, well 2 trilogies actually, one about Ceasar and one about Genghis, just AMAZING cannot tell you how good they were.