The Ten Best Books I Read in 2013
A new year, a new list! In this blog I’ll be discussing the best books that I read in 2013. Some of these are pretty old, while some have been published within the past year. If you would like to see the books on Amazon, simply click on the titles.
OK, no more pussyfooting. Let’s do this!
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Very honorable mentions:
The Jaws Two Log
The Jaws Two Log often goes for several hundred dollars, depending on the time of year, but it’s worth a read if you can find it for less than $50. And if you have a copy you are willing to spare, let me know. I would love to digitally archive this long out of print book so every fan of Jaws can read it … but it would likely require mangling the book.
I love the Jaws Two Log because of its insight into the troubled production of Jaws 2. It’s not quite as terrific or meaningful as Carl Gotlieb’s The Jaws Log, but it’s a damn fine piece of investigative on-set journalism, and it’s the sort of thing you just don’t see nowadays.
The Odyssey File
This treasure is a whole different beast. Basically, this behind the scenes book chronicles the email correspondence (the first of its type) between 2010 director Peter Hyams and author Arthur C. Clarke, all the way back in 1982. It’s a terrific look at emerging technology and how it influenced the business. Plus it’s a real treat to hear Clarke and Hyams battle wits. Clarke sure was a firecracker. Read this book and find out.
And now the official list:
10. Heart-Shaped Box
The staggering Stephen King legacy lives on with his son, Joe Hill, who might just turn out to be a better, sharper writer than his father, believe it or not. Heart-Shaped Box is a touching, eerie, character-driven thriller that will remind you of King’s finest work. And Joe Hill is just getting started. I haven’t read his other books just yet, but I hear they are even better than this one. I can’t wait to crack into them.
9. Paddle Your Own Canoe
Nick Offerman’s biography takes you on a delightful ride through the mind of one of today’s funniest funnymen. Sure, the book trails off on the occasional meandering tangent, and it spends a lot of time on the subject of drugs and Offerman’s wife, Megan Mullally, but that’s just who this guy is. So drink up, especially if you’re a lover of Ron Swanson … and all things meat.
8. Night of the Living Trekkies
I’ve already talked about this book here, so read that. Night of the Living Trekkies is a fine mashup of Trek and zombie lore, with a few fun twists and turns. Genre fans are sure to love (and laugh with) every page.
7. The Hot Zone
Every winter I like to scare the shit out of myself by reading about deadly viruses that ravage the human body and wither the soul down to a red, thick pile of melted goo. The Hot Zone was this year’s pick. I actually read part of the book as a kid, but it was a little too over-my-head at the time. But now, as an adult, I have returned to The Hot Zone and found a wonderfully written, terrifying true story about how one of the single most deadliest viruses almost decimated mankind. Truly scary because everything you read … is real.
6. Joyland
I’m gonna be honest here, I don’t usually have the time for Stephen King’s books. I love the guy. He’s a brilliant writer who knows his characters and his stories backwards and forwards. And he’s easily one of the most inspiring writers I have ever had the joy of reading. But his books are LONG. Very long. So long that I just can’t invest an entire year plowing into them. So naturally, I jumped at the opportunity to read this somewhat short, thoroughly enjoyable dramatic chiller. Of the two new King books I read this year (I also read Doctor Sleep), I greatly preferred Joyland. It’s one of his best books, exciting and beautifully written from start to finish.
5. The Fault in Our Stars
A touching, devastating book. Admittedly, the plot borrows from your usual Lifetime movie-of-the-week “kid with cancer” formula, but plot isn’t everything. This book’s real strength is in the writing. John Green perfectly paints his characters with sharp, witty dialogue, heartbreaking, realistic characterization and raw drama. If you don’t find yourself shedding a tear by the end of this one, there might just be something wrong with you. I can’t wait to see what the film adaptation looks like. If it’s anything like the book, movie lovers are in for one helluva tearjerker.
4. Coreyography
I’ve written a rather lengthy essay about this book here. Check it out. Coreyography is an honest, shocking and touching portrayal of the life of Corey Feldman, former child star, musician and struggling actor. A great read, especially if you are (or were) a fan.
3. The Demonologist
Hands down, the scariest book I have ever read. Seriously, don’t dive into this one at night, especially if ghosts, demons and sinister spirits freak you out. The Demonologist details the the real life history of Ed and Lorraine Warren. For those unaware (or those who haven’t seen The Conjuring), Ed and Lorraine Warren are real life demonologists, who have tracked, exorcised and eradicated demons and spirits for several decades. This book outlines their experiences and shares some of their more terrifying stories. If you don’t believe in ghosts, spirits or demons, this book is sure to turn you, or at least have you questioning some things.
2. Life of Pi
I saw the film first, and I got the book for free when I bought the Blu-ray. I also purchased the audiobook to go along with it, and I read it while on a trip to see my good friend. What a rejuvenating experience it was. Life of Pi will probably go down as one of my all-time favorite books, right up there with The Disaster Artist, which is #1 on this year’s list. Life of Pi is a fun, heartbreaking, beautifully written drama, and I actually think it’s better than the film, if only because the finale is less manipulative. Life of Pi is a book about hope, tragedy, loss, love, humanity and spiritual rejuvenation. And it’s one of the finest books I have ever read on the subject. Just phenomenal.
1. The Disaster Artist
Easily my absolute favorite book of the year. I read this one in about five hours. I simply couldn’t put it down. If you love The Room, and you’re keen to know more about not only the making of the film, but also it’s costar, Greg Sestero, and his completely adorable (and sometimes very tense, very scary and often very funny) relationship with The Room’s renaissance man, Tommy Wiseau. You will never look at The Room the same way again, and you might just walk away loving the film a little more. That’s the impact of this book. And I seriously hope Sestero writes a follow-up that chronicles the years after making The Room. I want so much more because this book delivers in spades.
That’s it, folks. What are some the best books you read in 2013, or ever? Let everyone know in the comments below!
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