Although this year I did a lot more studying than reading for fun, and have not been posting as much as I normally do, I could not resist the yearly recap post phase, which is always so fun. These recaps are often where I get ideas for my next year's travel, books and races!
So here they are, in no particular order, my top seven reads from 2014. You can find past lists here: 2013, 2012, and 2011.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking -- This one took me a bit to get through, but it was because it's chock full of information and it was a lot to take in. However, I really related to a lot of the things that she talks about. For instance, introverts are not necessarily shy; they just need alone time to recharge and prefer less stimulus than extroverts.
Mr. Penumbria's 24 Hour Bookstore -- This was a fun and fast read about a quirky old man who owns a bookstore in San Francisco that turns out to be more than just a bookstore. I liked the story and it had a few twists, plus it was set in the city, so that gave it an added plus.
Eleanor and Park --A story about an unlikely pair of friends in high school, this story was one of those ones you just can't put down because it is so fun!
Unbroken -- You probably know all about this because of the movie, but it's a story about an Olympic runner turned WWII airman who gets stranded in the ocean for many weeks and captured by the Japanese. He goes through hell and lives to tell the tale. It's a very interesting book.
Orphan Train -- I didn't realize this part of our nation's history, but large trains full of orphans were sent to the Midwest from the East Coast and were "adopted" and made to work on the farms there. This was an eye opening and interesting read about one of the orphan girls.
MWF seeking BFF -- A thirty something who has just moved to a new city sets out to make a new best friend. She quickly realizes how hard it is to make friends when you are a married thirty something. She tries really hard though, pulling people from all walks of life, and ends up with a few good friends in the end.
The Storied Life of AJ Fikry -- Recommended by Lisa, this story did not disappoint. This is the story of a book seller on a tiny island in MA who ends up adopting a stowaway baby. He is a likeable character and he goes through some of the same worries and thoughts and tribulations as we all have gone through. It was one of those books I could not put down.
So there you have it! This year's list is a lot smaller than the past years, but there are always a few good ones. This year more than others, I put a lot of books down unread. I probably started but did not finish at least a dozen books. I have decided that it's not worth my time to read a book I am not getting into.
How about you: What was your favorite book this year? Did you put any down without finishing them?
So here they are, in no particular order, my top seven reads from 2014. You can find past lists here: 2013, 2012, and 2011.
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking -- This one took me a bit to get through, but it was because it's chock full of information and it was a lot to take in. However, I really related to a lot of the things that she talks about. For instance, introverts are not necessarily shy; they just need alone time to recharge and prefer less stimulus than extroverts.
Mr. Penumbria's 24 Hour Bookstore -- This was a fun and fast read about a quirky old man who owns a bookstore in San Francisco that turns out to be more than just a bookstore. I liked the story and it had a few twists, plus it was set in the city, so that gave it an added plus.
Eleanor and Park --A story about an unlikely pair of friends in high school, this story was one of those ones you just can't put down because it is so fun!
Unbroken -- You probably know all about this because of the movie, but it's a story about an Olympic runner turned WWII airman who gets stranded in the ocean for many weeks and captured by the Japanese. He goes through hell and lives to tell the tale. It's a very interesting book.
Orphan Train -- I didn't realize this part of our nation's history, but large trains full of orphans were sent to the Midwest from the East Coast and were "adopted" and made to work on the farms there. This was an eye opening and interesting read about one of the orphan girls.
MWF seeking BFF -- A thirty something who has just moved to a new city sets out to make a new best friend. She quickly realizes how hard it is to make friends when you are a married thirty something. She tries really hard though, pulling people from all walks of life, and ends up with a few good friends in the end.
The Storied Life of AJ Fikry -- Recommended by Lisa, this story did not disappoint. This is the story of a book seller on a tiny island in MA who ends up adopting a stowaway baby. He is a likeable character and he goes through some of the same worries and thoughts and tribulations as we all have gone through. It was one of those books I could not put down.
So there you have it! This year's list is a lot smaller than the past years, but there are always a few good ones. This year more than others, I put a lot of books down unread. I probably started but did not finish at least a dozen books. I have decided that it's not worth my time to read a book I am not getting into.
How about you: What was your favorite book this year? Did you put any down without finishing them?
I think the only one I didn't finish this year was The Ocean at the End of the Lane. I just passed it on to a friend who was interested in it but I got about 100 pages in and just couldn't get into it.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the first 2 books or MWF seeking BFF. Quiet sounds interesting. I am definitely what you'd call and outgoing introvert. Phil is a shy extrovert. My favorite book of the year was The Storied Life of AJ Fikry. I think I gave up on some books this year but I can't remember which ones. I should have given up on Neverland which is a book read when I was in Jamaica... lesson learned - if it doesn't grab me in 50 pages, I need to give up. Life is too short to read books that you don't really like!
ReplyDeleteI read the Orphan Train and thought it was a great book!
ReplyDeleteI love your book lists. It always helps me find something new to read.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite book that I read this year was A House in the Sky. I think you would like it! It's a memoir about a Canadian journalist who spent 15 months in captivity in Somalia. A very moving book and a page turner.
ReplyDeleteI also LOVED The Storied Life of AJ Fikry. I think that book would make an awesome movie!
Ooh, what an intriguing list of books I hadn't previously heard of! I listened to Quiet on audio and spent most of the time repeating bits to my BF because pretty everything Cain said was so me!
ReplyDeleteI'm putting the Mr Penumbria and Orphan Train on my Goodreads TBR list. They look perfect.
I think my best 2014 reads were The Master And Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, Revenge by Yoko Agawa and The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. Blindness by Jose Saramago was great on audio too.