What's the best books you've read in the last 12 months?

[lizkt]

American Dirt really stands out for me.

Looking for some new books to read so would love to hear any ideas.

The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
The Craftsman by Sharon Bolton
Seven Days by Alex Lake
Gave them all 5 stars!

Falling for Christmas

Also loved Hamnet, Where the Crawdads Sing,

My favourite so far has been The Five by Hallie Reubenhold - the backstories behind the victims of Jack the Ripper. Absolutely fascinating.

Closely followed by The Woman in the White Kimono

Perhaps I am a hopeless science nerd, but I absolutely loved Project Hail Mary.

I listened to the Audible version. By the end I was in love with a certain character called Rocky.

American Dirt had cropped up a lot. What was it that everyone was drawn to in this book?

I've been trying to get through this one for some time now and haven't picked it up in a while. Should probably get going with it again soon.

[quote lizkt]@stripetop I find a lot of these bestseller books tend to go for 99p on Kindle at some point or another. Goodness knows why but not complaining :-) I got Piranesi recently for 99p.[/quote]

I don't have a kindle but is there an app to get these deals also?

Windows01
American Dirt, for me, was a great adventure story which at the centre holds the tale of a mother's love for her son.
I know it's been criticised in some circles because it wasn't written by a Mexican author.
I loved it!

@Windows01 I'm rather obsessive about monitoring Kindle bargains and buying far too many of them, not sure when I think I'm going to read some. www.ereaderiq.co.uk offers various options, displaying popular books that are currently available at a lower price and with options to watch for books at various price points, import wishlists, all sorts.

Another monitoring website is called something like KindofBook - I don't think it's as good but they do send out a daily email and I sometimes spot some offer on there that I would otherwise have missed.

I've just read 'Small Pleasures' and really enjoyed it. It's such a lovely, easy, lyrical read.

@Windows01

I just use the desktop app these days and download to there. Not sure where my Kindle is these days.

You can buy the kindle deals on the usual amazon site.

@KateyKontent

Hail Mary by Andy Weir was the best book I've read this year

I really like Gentleman in Moscow, think I actually preferred Rules of Civility by the same author.

I'm about the re-read the Sanctuary fantasy series by Robert J Crane.

Just here to say yes to Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.

Possibly the best book I've ever read. I had it on ebook and audiobook so I could switch between and keep listening when I had to do stuff. Totally brilliant. Can't wait for the film (though it should have been an 8 part series)

@LoveFall

Perhaps I am a hopeless science nerd, but I absolutely loved Project Hail Mary.

I listened to the Audible version. By the end I was in love with a certain character called Rocky.

@LoveFall it was amazing, wasn't it?!

DH and I read/listened simultaneously and just loved it.

Placemarking. Highlights would include Hamnet (actually sobbed), Beartown, and Small Pleasures.

Outright winner though has to be We, The Sea.

Outright loser would be Rodham which I found utterly vile and salacious.

The Signature of All Things Elizabeth Gilbert
Oliver Kitteridge Elizabeth Strout
Hamnet
I Am I Am Maggie O'Farrell

@hanahsaunt

Placemarking. Highlights would include Hamnet (actually sobbed), Beartown, and Small Pleasures.

Outright winner though has to be We, The Sea.

Outright loser would be Rodham which I found utterly vile and salacious.

I can't find the author of We. the Sea?

@MagpieMary sorry - was in a complete rush - it's We The Drowned by Carsten Jensen. Really fabulous.

Thank you!

Purple hibiscus by chimamanda ngochi. Brilliant

My top three are...
The Octopus Man by Jasper Gibson
Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Best fiction to date for me this year was Francis Spufford's Golden Hill, which most of my book group hated

Best non-fiction so far is too difficult to narrow down as I've had a really good streak of excellent books, but I loved The Land Where Lemons Grow by Helena Attlee. Everything you ever wanted to know about citrus fruits!

The Dutch House by Anne Patchett.

In Dubious Battle, by John Steinbeck. Just crazy about it.

I doubt it's anyone else's cup of tea, though.

Agatha Christie's Five Little Pigs (quite innovative in the way she presented the material, and on this occasion I did not guess whodunit, SMH)

Dracula - Bram Stoker, soooo much darker and more disturbing than I remembered its being

11/22/63 by Stephen King- needed a light edit, but gripping, and one moment near the end absolutely ripped my guts put in the best possible way.

Hearts invisible furies - brilliant. I laughed so much, and it's so thought provoking.
Behind Closed Doors - couldn't put it down but at times too scared to pick it up !
I'm off to Google Claire Chambers as I'm sure I've read one of hers. I will read Small Pleasures though.
Great thread. Thanks op.