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Your Best & Worst reads of 2012 !!
That course sounds like it would quite interesting, Connie.
My top 3 reads for 2012; Anna Karenina, Summer At Mount Hope and The Grapes of Wrath. At the other end of the scale, one star went to My Name is Asya, Breath, Eyes, Memory and The Romantic Italian Nights.
Lesley, I think Breath, Eyes, Memory was a Oprah selection if my memory isn't failing me. Sorry to hear it wasn't a winner. I've read most of the Oprah selections, but I skipped that one for some reason. Thanks for sharing your Best/Worst with us !
Susan wrote: " ....":) at the shades of grey note! Ah, the complexity of an evolving lexicon. ...."I like the way you phrased that, Susan. It's odd to find myself editing phrases such as "shades of grey", lest i put ideas into the heads of others. Connie, as you can see, we completely understand your restraint.
Tala, thanks for sharing your titles read this year. I'm not familiar with them, so it helps to have an idea of what others consider worthy (or not). Again, this is another neat thing about listing our favorites & lesser appreciated.
I'm with those who do not list a book if i didn't finish it. Since i don't give books a rating, it doesn't hamper me as much as it might others. Basically, even if i read most of a book in the 1980s (as i have done to a couple of books on my list this year), i list it under the year i finished reading it.
deborah
Best of 2012 TWonderstruck This was children's book that was thoroughly enchanting
My Reading LifeThis book by Pat Conroy which illustrated what books and people influenced his writing was very interesting
Have a Little Faith: The Story of a Last Request
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
I've been wanting to read "The Warmth of Other Suns." Glad to hear that it made your top list for the year, Meredith!
5 star books I read in 2012:Cannery Row
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration May have been a little repetative but I read it so slowly it was perfect
Eating Animals Prompted me to eat even less meat than before
Night
Someone Knows My Name: A Novel Highly recommended if youlike historical fiction
A Christmas Carol
1 star books I read in 2012:The Cricket on the Hearth This did nothing for me. And it had fairies.
2 star books I read in 2012:
The Sense of an Ending Good ideas and message but the story used to make the points bored me.
Embassytown Cool ideas, poor execution
Agnes Grey Boring character talking about everything bad that happened but never seemed very upset about anything
Bored me so much I didn't finish:
Suite Française I thought I would like this but all the characters were either boring or annoying or snobby or a combination
Lolita
Meredith wrote: "Best of 2012 The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
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Meredith & Julie I purchased this book. However, the size has kept me from reading it. I hope to get to it this year. I'm glad it made your best of list.
Amy, if you read it later in the year, maybe we can Group Read it.
Julie wrote: "1 star books I read in 2012:The Cricket on the Hearth This did nothing for me. And it had fairies...."
LOL, Julie. I love that final slap--fairies, indeed! I haven't read this Dickens, and may wait much longer.
As for Agnes Grey, while i can understand what you mean about the characters, i think we would have appreciated it better back when it was written. Originally it was lost on me that while Agnes had character, she also had no option other than take what the awful children & circumstances offer.
Indeed, most of the Bronte books are like that. The situations are such that the main characters must accept abuse and poor treatment because there are few, if any, options. For me, this is something that has been lost. Fortunately i was in a group which had an English lit major as part of it & she explained passages which would have led us to understand that fact, back then, that is. Nowadays, it's hard to see unless you have that education.
ANYway, what seems to us irritating and/or boring are meant to be seen as the fruitless choice the main characters must stay with. I find myself tensed up while reading these novels, rather than relaxing. I suppose this is one of the aspects of the writing by Brontes which made them "different" in their own era.
As for Lolita, i keep asking myself why i finished it. I think it's because i was sorta reading it with someone else. In the end, i'm glad i finished it but it was so uncomfortable that i was more relieved than anything else when i reached that end.
From your best list, i liked Cannery Row very much, too. It cinched my esteem for John Steinbeck, after loving the quality of The Grapes of Wrath. I don't know if you are aware there is a sort of follow up to CR, it's called Sweet Thursday. Not nearly as good but still, it was nice to revisit some of the characters.
And thanks to both you & Meredith for mentioning the US migration book. I've read many migration stories about those who settled in the Dakotas and Oklahoma but nowhere else. This reminds me. I've been wondering if there is a good book about the forced labor &/or migration of the Chinese into this country. Does anyone know of any?
deb
It would have been better if Agnes got pissed off or something. It seemed like she was talking about someone else instead of herself and that made her seem like a boring person. I read Tenant of Wildfell Hall and liked it much better.Lolita: I didn't even get to the most "uncomfortable" parts, but I couldn't concentrate on reading at all. It wasn't interesting me. Maybe if I kept with it, I would have waken up! lol
I do have Sweet Thursday on my list to read (and a reread of Grapes).
Julie wrote: "It would have been better if Agnes got pissed off or something. It seemed like she was talking about someone else instead of herself and that made her seem like a boring person. I read Tenant of Wi..."I don't know enough about the Bronte sisters (other than Charlotte) to know if this is a result of their personalities. Like you, Tenant held my interest & allowed me to release my tension in a different way. Part of this is why i feel Agnes didn't get torqued but it ended up not making it as good a book, for me, as the other. It certainly gave me a different perspective on being a good woman who is a governess to brats!
I have never even read any of the other Bronte sisters!
Madrano wrote: forced labor &/or migration of the Chinese----------------
I haven't read any. But if you go to Amazon and do a search for "forced labor chinese". It might lead to to some ideas.
I would love to get a group together for
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
So far with our group or buddy reads we have:
January: The Autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt
March: The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements
Perhaps we can do a May read of Warmth of other Suns.
I like keeping the group reads at every other month. Then people don't feel so stressed and have time to read other things.
What do you all think of May?
I thought Disappearing Spoon was March?
You are right, Julie ! Thank you. I will go back and correct my post.
Phew. You scared me for a minute. February is too early! :-)
Julie wrote: "Phew. You scared me for a minute. February is too early! :-)"-------------
LOL
No, apparently, I just don't know my calendar months ! I even posted about skipping a month between reads and then like a nut posted a January read followed by Feb.
Too bad there isn't a month between January and February. I could use an extra one.
Julie wrote: "Too bad there isn't a month between January and February. I could use an extra one."---------
I hear ya. I'm also in the market for a few extra hours in the day.
Alias Reader wrote: "I haven't read any. But if you go to Amazon and do a search for "forced labor chinese". It might lead to to some ideas..."Good idea. I don't recall any reviews for such books. At least it's worth a try.
Re. the May group book. Warmth of Other Suns sounds good to me. Can those with it on their DL wait that long?
deb
Madrano wrote: "Julie wrote: "1 star books I read in 2012:The Cricket on the Hearth This did nothing for me. And it had fairies...."
LOL, Julie. I love that final slap--fairies, indeed! I haven't read this Dicke..."
re migration of Chinese to this country-- There is At America's Gates: Chinese Immigration During The Exclusion Era, 1882 1943. I haven't read it, but it looks good.
I can wait until May to read "Warmth of Other Suns." I'm in no hurry. I haven't even purchased it yet.
Sounds like we have a plan ! I'll put it on the schedule. :) I purchased it some time ago because I saw another GR group read it and have a terrific discussion. Re: The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration~~Isabel Wilkerson
Shomeret wrote: "re migration of Chinese to this country-- There is At America's Gates: Chinese Immigration During The Exclusion Era, 1882 1943. I haven't read it, but it looks good. ..."Thank you, Shomeret. This appears to be exactly what i wanted, a sort of good first look at the issue.
I read a lot of good books this year. My favorites were The Tiger's Wife, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Norwegian Wood.The worst for 2012 were A Discovery of Witches, Hanna's Daughters, and Under Gemini
My lists will be short this year since I read fewer books in 2012 than usual. But here goes...Favorite Fiction
The Moonflower Vine
Nemesis
The Invisible Bridge
Three very different books, all set in earlier eras.
Favorite Nonfiction
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President
Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West
Three true stories of remarkable men.
I'd have to rate The Autobiography of Malcolm X as my favorite book of the year. I can't believe I never read it before now!
One book I disliked this year, although it wasn't my worst, was
This Beautiful Life.
My worst book of the year was Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. Granted, you miss a lot by reading a play, and you can't see the contribution that the actors make to the story. But reading this play was like spending time with a bunch of obnoxious drunks - something I avoid in real life and that I wish I had avoided in my reading life.
Happy New Year everyone!
Charlotte wrote: "I read a lot of good books this year. My favorites were The Tiger's Wife, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Norwegian Wood.The worst for 2012 were A Discovery..."
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Welcome to Book Nook Cafe, Charlotte ! Thanks so much for sharing your Best/worst reads with us.
My niece just read The Perks of Being a Wallfloweron a plane trip over the holiday and said she enjoyed it a great deal.
Love your avatar. Your baby is too cute !
Connie wrote: "My lists will be short this year since I read fewer books in 2012 than usual. But here goes...Favorite Fiction
The Moonflower Vine
Nemesis
The Invisible Bridge
Three very different books, all ..."
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Connie, I thought I was all set to say no to The Invisible Bridge and you put it on your best list! I'm so conflicted. My f2f book club is reading it and the author will be there. I have to read it by the last week of January. We have such similar tastes in books, that I think you are tipping the scale back to my reading it.
I am thrilled that you loved The Autobiography of Malcolm X. It is one of my all time favorite books. You so clearly see the arc of his fascinating life.
Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President was also a favorite of mine this year. I plan on reading her other book The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey. I'm waiting for Amazon to lower the price a bit.
Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West has been on my radar. I know nothing of N. Korea. Since you put it on your best of list, I'll now add it to mine. Thanks!
Connie wrote: "I'd have to rate The Autobiography of Malcolm X as my favorite book of the year. I can't believe I never read it before now! ..."I join you & Alias in praising this book. It is the best bio or autobio i've ever read. I liked the development evidenced in the book and felt it was presented in a superb manner. Outstanding.
Charlotte, i liked Perks of Wallflower, too. It's the only book my son has suggested i read. And he was right, it was good. I haven't seen the movie, lest it disappoint. And thank you for sharing your list.
deborah
Here is my list of Best books read in 2012. I’m being rather fair & not including books which I completed this year but began in the ‘80s. Yes, there are several which fall into that category. I’ve also separated my list into fiction & non.FICTION
Shipwrecks by Akira Yoshimura. This slender Bildungsroman novel is set in medieval Japan. A young teenager learns about how the village keeps alive, gathering fish & such from the coastline. It is a fascinating book which lingered in my mind weeks after i finished it.
Zone One by Colson Whitehead. The only zombie book i’ve ever read, it was written by an author whose books I’ve enjoyed in the past. The vocabulary is healthy, which was appreciated, as was the fact that he created a new sort of zombie, one which doesn’t kill, giving the book some heft in one’s consideration of good and evil.
In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden. Read with others here at BNC, after decades of sitting on my shelf. I liked learning about the main character’s past & present, as well as the way the community proceeded and developed in new ways.
Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky. Another book read with others here, the author was new to me. While few of the characters were pleasant, the first half of the book held me in its grasp. Upon completion i read two more novels by Nemirovsky. They were just as well written but too similar to one another for me to read further this year.
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. As good as hoped. Six main characters, each with their own storyline, time period and chapters, complimented one another’s story. Brilliant execution.
NONFICTION
Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard. Exploring the circumstances around the attempted assassination of John Garfield and the medical technology developed but not used to save him, mostly because the professionals weren’t up-to-date on changes. Frankly, i fell in love with this President, too, short as his term was.
The Third Domain: The Untold Story of Archaea and the Future of Biotechnology by Tim Friend. I put this as a “best” because I learned so much from the author. Archaea are everywhere, including the rusticles hanging from & “consuming” the Titanic, deep sea vents, asteroids and, yes, your body! The facts & science were phenomenal, however, once Friend learned about rusticles, all the further facts he learned were employed to support his own theories/thoughts about archaea, instead of remaining impartial. It managed to become confusing, as a result but not until the last few chapters. The first saved the book.
Confederates in the Attic: Dispatches from the Unfinished Civil War by Tony Horwitz. Visiting Civil War battlesites, with & without reenactors, Horwitz explored the war and those who fought it. In addressing reenactors, he addressed contemporary South & the remaining prejudices, which are barely under the surface. Some of these people, as well as the history shared, remain in my thoughts as I read further books on this war.
How to Be a Civilian by Morton Thompson. Written immediately after WWII, the humorous book was meant to assist returning soldiers to adjust to the changes they find in the USA. In the end it was a sweet book, despite acknowledging that theirs was one in a long series of wars, and that there would be more. It included philosophy and the practical, such as how to convert their heavy military coats to look civilian-ready.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass and Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs. I combine these two because they were together in the book I owned; both were equally worth reading. In a fairly straight-forward way both authors share the experiences of slaves 20 or so years prior to the beginning of the Civil War.
DISAPPOINTED
I can’t really say I had a worst unless it would be Elizabeth Taylor: The Last Star by Kitty Kelley, which was read because I was at my dad’s house a week & there was NO OTHER material available. I hesitate to call it worst because i knew what i was getting when i began it. :-) It was awful but probably fulfilled what readers in that time wanted.
From the following i really expected much more, particularly given the hype of two.
A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson. This man shared much material about the trail in the beginning, which pleased me. Then he left the trail, even going home. Heck, he didn’t even finish the trail. That alone let me down but the book itself lost interest for me after he returned home.
The Swerve: How the World Became Modern by Stephen Greenblatt. This book won prestigious awards. I even took the time to read Lucretius's On The Nature of Things, the rediscovery of which is the core of the book. He barely discussed the WHY of the importance of what he considered to be a motivating factor in the Renaissance! I was glad an online friend read the book with me, just so i could fully vent. ;-) Yes, she agreed with me.
Sleeping Where I Fall: A Chronicle by Peter Coyote. I like the actor and what i knew of his Digger past was fascinating. However, he needed to edit himself, as well as his journals from which he quoted. Readers really didn’t need to know when he got flat tires, etc. As i had no expectations of this book prior to reading it, i probably shouldn't put it here, but there 'tis.
Deb, I enjoyed reading your Best/Worst list. You had quite a few that I was totally unfamiliar with. It's fun to read about new titles. I agree with you on In This House of Brede, Suite Francaise, and Destiny of the Republic. I enjoyed them all.
Sorry to hear you didn't like A Walk in The Woods. I find Bryson quite funny. Though I understand your complaint about him not finishing the walk. I guess that didn't bother me as much as I thought it was more of a lark for him.
Charlotte wrote: "The worst for 2012 were A Discovery of Witches..."I TOTALLY agree with you. I was so disappointed with that book. I wanted to like it, but I just couldn't. It started out strong, but too quickly degenerated into a sappy paranormal romance novel along the lines of "Twilight." Ugh.
I will concur with Alias, Deb and Connie that "Destiny of the Republic" was an excellent read. I'm also waiting to read the author's next book, Alias.
Alias Reader wrote: "Deb, I enjoyed reading your Best/Worst list. You had quite a few that I was totally unfamiliar with. It's fun to read about new titles. I agree with you on In This House of Brede, Suite Francai..."
I was surprised that A Walk in the Woods was on the "disappointing" pile, too. I enjoyed the book - it wasn't a favorite but I thought it was entertaining. Sorry that you didn't enjoy it as much as I did, Deb.
I think it is so interesting how much our expectations or desires can affect our perceptions of a book. Fairly frequently, when I complain about a book it has more to do with what I thought should have happened or what I expected than a problem with the book. This is one of the reasons why I wait to read the books that receive a lot of hype - I have fewer expectation when I do read it. Of course, sometimes the book is just badly written or poorly plotted, etc.
Amy wrote: "I will concur with Alias, Deb and Connie that "Destiny of the Republic" was an excellent read. I'm also waiting to read the author's next book, Alias."----------------
Maybe when Amazon puts it on sale, we can round up a Buddy Read.
Re: The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
Best ReadsMy 5-star books:
I really enjoyed The Book of Negroes (aka Someone Knows My Name: A Novel in the US) by Lawrence Hill despite being wary of the subject matter; the main character's personality won me over.
War Dances by Sherman Alexie was funny, thought-provoking and sometimes uncomfortable but ultimately rewarding. I will definitely check out other books by the author.
Honorable Mentions
I gave 18 books 4-star ratings (!) so I've limited myself to point out 5 books that made me want to read more by their authors.
The End of East by Jen Sookfong Lee
not new narrative territory but affecting story
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
interesting point of view and funny voice though the women get short shrift
The Girls by Lori Lansens
engaging story
Anil's Ghost by Michael Ondaatje
beautiful writing and heart-breaking story
Funny Boy by Shyam Selvadurai
conveyed the emotions of the main character very well
Worst Reads
I gave these books 2-star ratings (my lowest of the year).
Alentejo Blue by Monica Ali
aimless and uninteresting
A Gesture Life by Chang-rae Lee
disturbing subject matter and totally unsympathetic main character; especially disappointing because I enjoyed the author's Native Speaker
Sumofparts wrote: "Best ReadsMy 5-star books:
I really enjoyed The Book of Negroes (aka Someone Knows My Name: A Novel in the US) by Lawrence Hill despite being wary of the subject matter; the main character's perso..."
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Very interesting list, Sum. Thanks for sharing with your Best/worst with us.
I read
Brick Lane~Monica Ali and thought it was very good. But I've never read any of her other books. Sorry to see Alentejo Blue wasn't up to par.
Susan wrote: "I think it is so interesting how much our expectations or desires can affect our perceptions of a book. Fairly frequently, when I complain about a book it has more to do with what I thought should have happened or what I expected than a problem with the book...."I agree, Susan. Around 50% of the books i dislike is because i expected something else. The Bryson book is a good example. I found the book's humor fun but the rest left me indifferent, mostly because i expected less "civilization". Then, taking a complete break was a major let down.
I can think of a couple of others where the same thing happened. In The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean by Susan Casey i learned plenty and that new-to-me knowledge overcame the fact that she seemed to have written the book with far too much material about surfers. I thought it was a science book but it was not. Still, it was one of my tops books. And, worse, it sparked a long-hidden interest in surfing. Darn! I really, really dislike when that happens! ;-)
Another book which overcame was one i mentioned this year, The Third Domain: The Untold Story of Archaea and the Future of Biotechnology. The science was terrific & just what i wanted. But once the author, Tim Friend, latched onto a theory he liked, it seemed to me as though he began only sharing information which supported his theory. Yet it made my "best" list.
As for fiction, i am almost always let down by contemporary novels which are "hot". After you shared your approach of not reading them immediately, i recognized the wisdom of that & refrain. If i never thanked you for that tip, allow me to do so now. Thanks.
deb
Sumofparts wrote: "War Dances by Sherman Alexie was funny, thought-provoking and sometimes uncomfortable but ultimately rewarding. I will definitely check out other books by the author...."Sumofparts, i find Alexie's work excellent material, too. I think i've read most of his offerings, even the YA and poetry. His wit mixes with the sadness in a unique way. He is an author whose work, however, shouldn't be read one after another, as there is a repetitive quality. It is good because he often presents the subject with a different result or fresh insight.
And he is an entertaining speaker, as well. Originally i saw him on "Charlie Rose" and was impressed. When we had an opportunity to see him in person (at, fittingly, the National Museum of the American Indian-- http://nmai.si.edu/home/ ) we liked him even more. It appeared that the speech was extemporized, although i know he hit certain points he planned.
I have only read Sherman Alexie's The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven which was excellent!
Carol, that is still my favorite, i think. Or maybe it's just that the title is so rollickingly delicious!
Carol wrote: "I have only read Sherman Alexie's The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven which was excellent!"--------------
I also only read one of his books. I read it so long ago, I don't recall much. I know I enjoyed it.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
I am 1/16 Wampanoag -- the first Thanksgiving Indians.
Connie wrote: "Lori, I agree with you about not putting books we haven't finished on a "worst book" list. I never rate or write a review of a book that I haven't finished because it wouldn't be fair to the autho..."Me too. Except for Fifty Shades of Grey - it deserved all the one-star ratings it could get! Haha
Miss Melly wrote: Me too. Except for Fifty Shades of Grey - it deserved all the one-star ratings it could get! Haha ------------
I usually finish a book I start. I think there were only 2 or 3 this year that I stopped reading. However, if I did stop I wouldn't put it on my list. If others want to list it that's okay, too. Just make a notation that you did not finish.
MM, many people feel that way about Fifty Shades. It seems you either love it or hate it. Me? I haven't read it.
Denise wrote: "...Unfortunately, there is no abandoned button on Goodreads so I feel I need to mark it as read (not really true since i abandoned it). If I mark it as read then I also feel it should be rated. The one star rating is fair with "didn't like it"."Denise - you could create your own shelf for abandoned books. I have one called "gave-up-on". What you have to do is add a new shelf and check it as "exclusive" which means a book can only be on one of the "exclusive" shelves (this is also explained in the sidebar "Bookshelf Tips", which you see when you edit your shelves; the default exclusive shelves are "read", "currently-reading" and "to-read").
Sum, is correct.That is what I did. I created a new shelf and titled it DNF. (for did not finish). I only have 4 books on it.
I've found that I am abandoning less books now than I ever did in the past. I really give credit to Goodreads for that--because now, before I pick up a book to purchase/borrow/read, I come here to GR to see what it is rated and read the reviews. There have been a number of instances where I've been either persuaded or dissuaded from reading the book(s). Previously I would have mostly just depended on whether or not the description on the back cover sounded interesting or not. I feel like GR has allowed me to focus my time and attention more accurately on those books I will enjoy while steering me away from those that will be a waste of my time. I have you all to thank for that! :)
Book Nook Cafe
Books mentioned in this topic
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (other topics)The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven (other topics)
The Third Domain: The Untold Story of Archaea and the Future of Biotechnology (other topics)
The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks, and Giants of the Ocean (other topics)
Brick Lane (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Sherman Alexie (other topics)Susan Casey (other topics)
Tim Friend (other topics)
Monica Ali (other topics)
Junot Díaz (other topics)
More...
Incidental Happenstance
The Unwanted Wife
A Song for Julia
Savage Cinderella ...."
Tala, thanks for sharing these titles. I have a question about Savage Cinderella, as it sounds like something a friend of mine would really like - are parts of it really heavy? Given the kidnapping back story, I'm imagining something really dark or a little hard to get into. My friend is not very patient and doesn't like stories that are too negative!
Connie wrote: I hope you enjoy The Light Between Oceans. I like books that involve making ethical decisions. Years ago, I took a Medical Ethics course, and we had to read the newspapers for three months looking for examples of medical ethical problems and keep a journal about it. I really became more intuned to how decisions were not black and white, and not just in the medical arena. Religous decisions, political decisions, decisions made during wartime, the list goes on.....
It was really difficult to write that paragraph without using the phrase "shades of grey" which has its new connotation. :)
I like those ethical issue books, too. So interesting to try to understand all sides of a decision.
:) at the shades of grey note! Ah, the complexity of an evolving lexicon.