2014 in Books

2014: A Year in Books

I really enjoyed just about every book I read this year.  As I am typing this, I feel like I write that every year.  My personal reading year was dominated by three genres: historical fiction, fantasy, and realistic fiction.  I did read two non-fiction books, and they are at the bottom of the list.  

I was surprised to see that I read more fantasy books than any other kind because I would not say that fantasy is a genre I enjoy.  The numbers speak for themselves, and I loved each fantasy book I read this year.  

Historical fiction is my absolute favorite genre, and I was swept away in each book.  I love how I am transported to another time and place when I read this genre.  To be honest, I am still working on Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932 because it is the type of book that I need to read in larger chunks of time because it has SIX narrators!  One place I found this book and Frog Music was on NPR's Wednesday Book Talks.  I often kick myself for not having a note pad to record each author they interview because the books all sound so interesting.  

In terms of realistic fiction, I mainly lived in the YA world.  John Green is a favorite of mine, and I enjoyed both of his books this year. I thought Looking for Alaska was his second best book (after Will Grayson, Will Grayson, of course).  

Enjoy the list!

Realistic Fiction:

The Husband's Secret, Liane Moriarty

Looking for Alaska, John Green

Paper Towns, John Green

If I Stay, Gayle Forman

A Cold and Lonely Place, Sarah J. Henry

Fantasy:

Everyday, David Leviathan

Insurgent, Veronica Roth

Divergent, Veronica Roth

Unwind, Neal Schusterman

Sabotaged, Margaret Peterson Haddix

Sent, Margaret Peterson Haddix

Historical Fiction:

Frog Music, Emma Donnaghue

The Daring Ladies of Lowell, Kate Alcott

Ripper, Stephan Petrucha

Lovers at the Chameleon Club, Paris 1932, Francine Prose

Non-fiction:

Return from Heaven, Carol Bowman

Nickel and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenriech

For School/Contract Work:

Frindle, Andrew Clements

The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan

The Cay, Theodore Taylor

Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls

Total: 21