Holly wrote: "Robin wrote: "This list verified my feelings that 2020 has been a garbage year for new books."

If it weren't for old books I'd having nothing to read."

Amen

The Book Guru wrote: "Holly wrote: "Robin wrote: "This list verified my feelings that 2020 has been a garbage year for new books."

If it weren't for old books I'd having nothing to read."

Amen"

I don't think anyone can make an all encompassing statement covering everyone of the myriad genres of books we read. I think the quality of books released in any year varies with the reader's preferred genres. In fact I don't think 2020 has been any weaker than 2019 for new books and I think the 2020 Arthur Ellis awards for books published in 2019 was the weakest AE awards contest in quite a few years. I do agree 2020 so far is a bit light on 4 star reads and I did hit a few real duds, like in Emerald O'Brien's (one of my favourite authors) and Kiersten Modglin's "Locke Industries" novels, but I have also read some pretty good new books like these in the following list:

Lion's Head Revisited: A Dan Sharp Mystery(Dan Sharp Mystery #7) by Jeffrey Round

Reserved For Murder: Book 2 of The Ottawa Detective Series by Kevin Hopkins

River of Lies (B.C. Blues Crime #5) by R.M. Greenaway

Closing Time: A Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery by Brenda Chapman

What She Found by Emerald O'Brien

Mermaid (Sean O'Brien, #11) by Tom Lowe

However I will also admit that I have not read a really WOW BANG blockbuster 5 star or better book released yet in 2020 but we're only half way through and I'm basically an optimist!

well am still struggling on opening the book

Nivel un

I have finally had time to read all I wanted, and I haven't read a thing! Thank you for adding suggestions. I am so looking forward to some of these great titles! Thank you!

Jessica wrote: "I guess I'm one of the readers leading to these as top. I've read 2, own 1 that I haven't read yet, and have 10 others on my reading list.

Popular lists do tend toward being more "commercial" fic..."

Philip wrote: "Jayne wrote: "Wow. The arrogance in this thread is mind-numbing. To say you aren't going to read any of these books is ridiculous. How can you dislike books you HAVEN'T read?

Actually there are m..." Why would you all come down on American authors? I'd suggest you read a few out of your comfort zones. Try American Dirt. You will probably never look at immigration and migrants in the same way again. Try Educated for a different look at life.

This complete English book is interested.

2020, the year of negative thoughts? Instead, please add some excellent suggestions that you would want on the list. I'd love to hear some international recommendations!

Thea | (unapologetic_bibliosmia) wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Amazon owns Goodreads...#facts"

True, but we do have a UK specific Amazon in the UK for example...."

Well, i don't think that's the case; and not just for books.
I live in Iran and original books are very rare!(Most of the books are Copied from PDF downloads and are not related to the original author or publisher.) As my professor is concerned, I believe the lack of copyright rules in Iran make it a lot more difficult to buy original books at a fair price. I've been looking for Bridge of Clay for almost a year now, and I still haven't found a place in the entire country that has this book. Because of the US sanctions, even universities are blacklisted from educational publishers! I always hoped that the academic world would be more independent from politics and stuff.
Now, the only way us, university students, can access books, is through Library Genesis and places alike. I hope for this to change.

Amy wrote: "Don't you know the US is the only country on the planet?"

No, but this is an American company headquartered in America. Surely your country devises lists of this type?

Julia wrote: "Goodreads comments sections are seriously full of the most miserable people on the internet. Good lord."
Not a lot of critical thinkers. An internet search would probably turn up several country-specific lists by individuals located in their own countries or even by companies based in their specific countries.

Vincent Collins wrote: "Last year I wanted to read 35 books but I only read 0 and this year my goal is to read 1. P.S. I haven't read any!"


That's sad

Robin wrote: "This list verified my feelings that 2020 has been a garbage year for new books."

I agree. The only book in the entire list worth reading is The Splendid and the Vile.

If you truly want something different to read and feel that 2020 has been a disappointment read my book Brant's Light an inspiring true story. I am not advertising for sales this is just a book that everyone needs to read especially in these dark times.

So many whiners here. WAH, the books are all written by Americans. WAH, the books are all written by women. WAH, I don't like the choices. WAH, WAH, WAH. Don't like it, just scroll on by. Easy peasy.

How is DEACON KING KONG not on this list?! I guess black writers don’t matter as much as black lives? What the fuck.

Linda wrote: "So many whiners here. WAH, the books are all written by Americans. WAH, the books are all written by women. WAH, I don't like the choices. WAH, WAH, WAH. Don't like it, just scroll on by. Easy peasy."
hahaha I don't generally pay attention to those type of comments. They just bring my mood down. You made my day though. Thank you.

But why only best of literatures of the US and not other countries. I kinda don't get it.

Goodreads’ reader base has gotten far too narrow. “Reader favourite” lists like this make it painfully obvious how skewed the site is to a particular type of reader.

You should have writers in other countries. I would love to see a UK based newsletter every now and then with UK stats and uk releases.