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

Teahorn

Good grief it doesn't seem like A Little Life is for me

Tara

What is The Fitz?

semi I enjoyed The Humans, and I've read Of Mice And Men twice

The Bone Clocks - I had previously been a bit sniffy about David Mitchell but once I was persuaded to start this I was hooked.

Also agree that A Little Life is miserable to the point of just not being very enjoyable.

A Boy Made Of Blocks by Keith Stuart. About a father and son, son is autistic and father struggles with him. Splits from partner and then bonds with his son on Minecraft. More to it than that but I absolutely loved this book - didn't sugar coat anything and really gave an insight into life with an autistic child and how some parents struggle. Didn't sugar coat or romanticise anything. Thought it was amazingz

Dr Zhivago. Amazing, I don't know why I didn't read it before. I don't want to see the film though, in case it's not as good.

I've also enjoyed The God of Small Things.

Mine is Flight Behaviour, but I see that's already been mentioned. Also Black Water by Louise Doughty. And my favourite non-fiction this year is Born to Run.

Come and join us on the 50-book challenge thread, OP - lots of great recommendations there. It doesn't matter if you don't make it to 50!

A Brief History of Seven Killings- loved, loved, loved it. Set in Jamaica during the Bob Marley years, and written beautifully.

Yes, the Isabel Dalhousie's could be described as repetitive tbh. I loved the characters and the Edinburgh setting though.
Great thread.

I've not read much this year but last year I read Echoes by Laura Tisdall in 3 days and loved it

smurfs keep meaning to

Tara tried to do it in 2015 it was a tough year and I failed - I'm out of time now but I might lurk

fruity I hope it's not too tearjerky

Middle How accessible is it? Is it hard work?

Usernumbers thanks

Every A Thousand Autumns doesn't have the tricksy structure of Cloud Atlas, it is straight narrative, so easier to engage with (although I loved Cloud Atlas too).

The South by Colm Toibin. It's about an Irish woman who leaves her husband (this is back in the 50ies) to become a painter in Barcelona. It's v engaging and so beautifully written, the images stay with you.

I liked Cloud Atlas right up until that awful bit written in dialect which I wholly just skipped.

Londonmama sounds great I've just read the blurb now

The only 5* on my goodreads this year has been 'This Must be the Place' by Maggie O'Farrell. She writes so so well.

The rise and fall of the working class by selena Todd . It has awoken something inside of me.

I have that Vanessa heard it is good.

wales I am intrigued what has it awoken

I have a Maggie o Farrell in my to read pile..............The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox.

My favourites this year have been The Magicians, a cross between Harry Potter and Secret History, and Isa and May by Margaret Forster, about two grandmothers, because the characters reminded me very much of my own grandmothers.

EverySongbird

Fitz is a recurring character in her novels. Start with Assassin's Apprentice and see how you go. It's magical fantasy, but jawdroppingly original fantasy; there is no cheap rip-off of Tolkein here. It is like she's writing about a world that really exists. I read a lot of fantasy and often you can see the influences of other writers from the plot clichés- not this one.

Ooooo Partially and Tara both of those sound great. I'm not a big fantasy reader but I have read ASOIAF / Rivers Of London / Harry Potter and Secret History is a great book

The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd

Historical novel it is not an easy read it's very very moving but a really good book

The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan. I love her books you get taken to far away places and the central characters are always women telling their stories she has a wonderful way of writing

Both books have been out for a few year now

Don't bother reading Follow You Home why I finished it I don't know

I loved Americanah and Rivers of London both great on audio too

Enthusiasm

Absolutely loved The Invention Of Wings gorgeous book

Er....Follow You Home, no comment (PM me)

I did try an Amy Tan once and got not far but I was pretty young at the time, teens.

I must tell you all that I have just read The Last Act Of Love by Cathy Rentzenbrink in one sitting. Very moving. Recommend.