What's the best book you've read so far this year?

[Donna R]

[Liam || Books 'n Beards]

The End Specialist by Drew Magary was probably my favourite read thus far.

[A.C.]

A.C. wrote: "Half Way Home by Hugh Howey"

I have to update this comment as I've just finished reading the Shift Omnibus, also by Hugh Howey.

Shift Omnibus Edition

I still love Half Way Home but... Shift is outstanding.

[Lit Bug (Foram)]

Beloved Friend: The Story of Tchaikowsky and Nadejda Von Meck

(view spoiler)[Peter Ilyich Tchaikowsky was a legendary Russian composer living in the 1800s Soviet Russia - Nadejda von Meck, many years his senior and a widow, was immensely rich (one of her estates was 12000 acres in size) and with an exquisite taste in music. Living in the same era as Tolstoy (they were acquainted), he was born in an era where Russian music had no reputation in the world (then confined to Europe for the Russians), and Russian music had no recognition in Russia itself. His mentors, the Rubenstein brothers established formally the Russian school for music, and introduces him to Madame von Meck, who becomes his patron and then his confidante, as they begin to exchange intimate letters, deciding never to meet in real life.

The letters explore the lives of Tchaikowsky, Madame von Meck, the Rubensteins, and other people that significantly affected their lives.

Their lives, as revealed by the letters, were traumatic. Like Dostoevsky's books, truly tragic. If you like Dostoevsky, you will definitely love this book. These letters were willed by von Meck to her favorite grandson Vladimir (Volichka), and his wife Barbara von Meck corresponded with Bower to publish these letters interspersed with biographical information.

And yes, both of them hid one crucial fact from each other, which invariably colored their whole lives and also their interactions with each other. And yet, they were united by bonds of very touching friendship which long ago became such a habit that they couldn't live apart.

Their deaths too were intriguing - von Meck died three months after Tchaikowsky's death. Thus ended one of the strangest intimacies in all history, and its end was as inexplicable as its course. Seven months before his death, deep in depression and darkness, he had written a work now known as 'The Sixth Symphony', and his brother and confidante Modeste Tchaikowsky referred to it as Peter having written his own requiem.

The best book I read since January this year.

Since the basis of their unusual relationship lay on their taste in music and von Meck's great appreciation for him as a composer, there are often technical details about music they share in their letters. Also, since both of them were frequent travelers to Europe, for recreation as well as for the sake of promoting music, the book also throws light on the global trends in music, and much on the nature of Europeans in the 1800s, especially Germany, Italy and France, which had an immense impact on Russian music.

Dostoevsky was fiction - but you cannot escape the tragedy in this case because it was all true. (hide spoiler)]

[Tango]

The only five star read for me this year has been Burmese Days. I love his writing, so clever! I read it as preparation for a visit.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

A.C. wrote: "A.C. wrote: "Half Way Home by Hugh Howey"

I have to update this comment as I've just finished reading the Shift Omnibus, also by Hugh Howey.

Shift Omnibu..."

Agreed. I haven't read Half Way Home yet but Wool Omnibus and then its sequel Shift Omnibus Edition were truly outstanding. Can't wait for the next one!

[A.C.]

Phrynne wrote: "Agreed. I haven't read Half Way Home yet but Wool Omnibus and then its sequel Shift Omnibus Edition were truly outstanding. Can't wait for the next one!"

I believe it's going to be called 'Dust' and I can't wait either. I really enjoyed the Wool Omnibus but Shift completely blew my mind. :)

[Liam || Books 'n Beards]

A.C. wrote: "A.C. wrote: "Half Way Home by Hugh Howey"

I have to update this comment as I've just finished reading the Shift Omnibus, also by Hugh Howey.

Shift Omnibu..."

Do I need to have read the other Wool books to read the Shift ones?

[A.C.]

Liam wrote: "Do I need to have read the other Wool books to read the Shift ones?

[bookcover:Shift Omnibus Edition|17306293..."

You could read Shift on its own but you would get so much more out of it if you read Wool first. Plus Wool is excellent in its own right. I'd definitely recommend reading Wool first, and then Shift. :)

[Liam || Books 'n Beards]

Rightio I shall TBR it :)

[Leonie]

I just read the Wool omnibus - a great concept and a fascinating story.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey

First Shift: Legacy etc;)

[A.C.]

Brenda wrote: "Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey

First Shift: Legacy etc;)"

Thanks Brenda. For some reason the add book function didn't work properly. :(

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

A.C. wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey

First Shift: Legacy etc;)"

Thanks Brenda. For some reason the add book function didn't work properly. :("

No problems:)

[Lily]

'Say you're sorry' by Michael Robotham.
House For All Seasons by Jenn J McLeod.

[Liam || Books 'n Beards]

My mum loved Say You're Sorry too.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Lily wrote: "'Say you're sorry' by Michael Robotham.
House For All Seasons by Jenn J McLeod."

House for all Seasons was great!

[Jenn]

Lily wrote: "'Say you're sorry' by Michael Robotham.
House For All Seasons by Jenn J McLeod."

Why thank you, Lily. I will be sure to bookmark this so next time MR comes home to Coffs I will show him!!!!

[Marianne]

absolutely loving it!!

[Dale]

best book read this year fiction The Light Between Oceans
non fiction Soul Friend: The story of a shared spiritual journey
poetry New and collected poems by Ruth Fainlight. For some reason the image wouldn't come up. Computer being contrary this morning.

[Mish]

I found the authors name Dale but I couldn't see the title of the book.

Ruth Fainlight

[Dale]

I don't know why it didn't show up before. Computers GRR!. But you can find the cover and my review here, Mish. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10...

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Dale wrote: "I don't know why it didn't show up before. Computers GRR!. But you can find the cover and my review here, Mish. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10..."

New & Collected Poems

The pick up in the search button can't differentiate "and" and "&"!!!

[Dale]

Mystery explained. Thanks Brenda. Always knew computers weren't as smart as humans LOL

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Dale wrote: "Mystery explained. Thanks Brenda. Always knew computers weren't as smart as humans LOL"

Apparently it's a fault with the software O_O!!!

[Ernest]

The best book I've read this year is Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. What a brilliant, thought provoking and challenging book.

[Liam || Books 'n Beards]

Ernest wrote: "The best book I've read this year is Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. What a brilliant, thought provoking and challenging book."

Oh man, Ender's Game is one of my favourite novels ever. First read it during high school, absolutely inhaled it.

[Alik]

I loved Enders Game too and actually convinced my 17 year old son to read it too ( it's been years since he read fiction!) I just finished the sequel Speaker For The Dead- not as good- a bit preachy for my taste.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Alik wrote: "I loved Enders Game too and actually convinced my 17 year old son to read it too ( it's been years since he read fiction!) I just finished the sequel Speaker For The Dead- not as good- a bit preach..."

Ender's Game
Speaker for the Dead

It's great your son read it too Alik, did he enjoy it?

[Alik]

He did although I'm sure part of the reason why he read it is because the movie is coming out later this year!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Alik wrote: "He did although I'm sure part of the reason why he read it is because the movie is coming out later this year!"

Well I guess it doesn't matter why he read it, as long as he did;)

[Liam || Books 'n Beards]

I loved Speaker for the Dead, I've had a lot of people complain about it being preachy but I honestly didn't get that impression from it.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

I didn't find it preachy either and I was just glad that Ender was grown up. I had a lot of trouble in Ender's Game visualising all those little kids doing the things they did. I have just watched the trailer for the movie and the character of Ender appears to be older than the one in the book. Thank goodness.

[Marianne]

Now it's a toss up between and loved them all!

[Deb]

I think my best read so far this year was The Fault in Our Stars.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Deb wrote: "I think my best read so far this year was The Fault in Our Stars."

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

[Lit Bug (Foram)]

I am really impressed by The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World - it definitely is a life-changing book.

[[deleted user]]

Two books for me : Peace, Love and Khaki Socks and House for all Seasons

[B the BookAddict]

Brenda wrote: "Deb wrote: "I think my best read so far this year was The Fault in Our Stars."

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green"

Read reviews. Very interested. Added to my TBR.

[Neil]

Would have to say Jessica by Mr Courtenay. But if I cheat, as I read most of this next book late last year but finished start of January was The Passage by Justin Cronin.

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

Neil wrote: "Would have to say Jessica by Mr Courtenay. But if I cheat, as I read most of this next book late last year but finished start of January was The Passage by Justin Cronin."

The Passage is a fantastic book. Did you go on to read The Twelve?

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Neil wrote: "Would have to say Jessica by Mr Courtenay. But if I cheat, as I read most of this next book late last year but finished start of January was The Passage by Justin Cronin."

I loved Jessica by Bryce Courtenay when I read it ages ago now:)

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Deb wrote: "I think my best read so far this year was The Fault in Our Stars."

That was a great book except for the fact that you needed a box of tissues to get through to the end!