List of Your Top 5 Books Read in 2013

[Mish]

The year is coming to a close, and to assist us in an up and coming challenge for 2014, we would like to know the top 5 books you’ve read in 2013.

It doesn't necessarily have to be a new release book; it can be anything from current to classic, but it must be a book that can be read as a standalone, and that you have read this year.

My top 5 are:

1 - The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
2 - The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M. Cain
3 - The Children by Charlotte Wood
4 - Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta
5 - The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

[Elaine]

My top 5 are:

1. Gone Girl
2. What Alice Forgot
3. Before I Go To Sleep
4. The Book Thief
5. The Sunne in Splendour

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Great thread Mish - my top 5 are:

1. Elianne by Judy Nunn
2. Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
3. A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley
4. Akropolis by Catherine McCallum
5. Secrets of the Tides by Hannah Richell

[[deleted user]]

1.A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth (I'm reading this now)
2. Sea of Poppies and its (loose) sequel River of Smoke by Amitav Ghosh
3. Fledgling by Octavia Butler
4. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
5. The Cat's Table - Michael Ondaatje

ETA: #5 has since changed to Dog Boy by Eva Hornung.

[Kathryn]

It's interesting to look back over the year's reading. Hard to pick just 5, but I think I'll go with these:

1. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
2. The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa
3. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
4. 11/22/63 by Stephen King
5. The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

[Andrea]

Ooh, how exciting! Lots to add to my TBR (or to bump up to the top).

Mine would be:
1. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
2. Burial Rites by Hannah Kent
3. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
4. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
5. Life of Pi by Yann Martel

And definitely an honourable mention to The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

[[deleted user]]

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

What the Ground Can't Hold by Shady
Cosgrove

The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes

Tully by Paullina Simons

Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey

[[deleted user]]

Andrea wrote: "Ooh, how exciting! Lots to add to my TBR (or to bump up to the top).

Mine would be:
1. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
2. Burial Rites by [auth..."

I agree on the honourable mention Andrea

[[deleted user]]

Tanvi wrote: "1.A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth (I'm reading this now)
2. Sea of Poppies and its (loose) sequel River of Smoke by Amitav Ghosh
3. Fledgling by..."

Oh I have The Cats Table ... Must read it

[Phrynne, Series Queen!]

This is a great way to grow our TBR lists.

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman.
Burial Rites by Hannah Kent.
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker.
Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

[Zoey]

The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon
Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati
Naked in Death by J.D. Robb
The Girl in the Steel-Capped Boots by Loretta Hill
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

[Michael]

If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino
The Machine by James Smythe
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

[Angela]

Jennie - Daystarz Books wrote: "Tanvi wrote: "1.A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth (I'm reading this now)
2. Sea of Poppies and its (loose) sequel River of Smoke by Amitav Ghosh
3. [book:Fledg..."

What's your opinion so far of 'A Suitable Boy'? It's on my TBR shelf....

[Angela]

I am seeing so many great books! Can't wait to add half of them to my growing TBR list...

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder
Stiff by Shane Maloney
Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
Galápagos by Kurt Vonnegut
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

[[deleted user]]

@Angela It's sublime. A little heavy on the politics, but I love it. I don't know if I'd read it again, but at the moment it's like opening present after present, it's packed with so many characters and scenes. Make sure you have *time* to read it, though; if you pick it up every now & then you'll lose the thread of the story.

[Katrina]

I agree with Angela...i will be adding lots to my tbr shelves too!
Thought this would be really hard, but when i flicked through my read books these 5 actually stood out :)
In no partic order
1. Burial Rites
2. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
3. Matthew Flinders' Cat
4. The Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times
5. The Sins of the Father ....technically of a series i just realised. So my back up no. 5 is Round Ireland with a Fridge

[★ Jess]

Wow, because of the strains of year 12 I've only managed to read 14 books this year: 12 comics and 2 novels. I can't fill out this list :(

[Rani]

In no particular order:

1. Nothing to envy: Ordinary lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
2. My Policeman by Bethan Roberts
3.The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
4. Life After Death by Damien Echols
5. Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Rifka Brunt

[Binari]

To Kill a Mockingbird
Looking for Alaska
The Book Thief
How to Save a Life
Of Mice and Men

[Mish]

★ Jess wrote: "Wow, because of the strains of year 12 I've only managed to read 14 books this year: 12 comics and 2 novels. I can't fill out this list :("

that is totally understandable Jess. If those books/comics were top reads for you, add them to the thread. You don't have to reach 5 :)

[Mish]

I'm going to have to read Burial Rites. It seems very popular.

[Ben]

The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Solaris
Gun Machine
The Final Solution
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

There are some great books here - is there anyone else out there who has some fantastic books they have read this year? Please share them with us....you know we all want to add to our TBRs ;)

[Dale]

The Light Between Oceans
One Mountain Away
One Breath Away
and one poetry
Gestures of Love
and one other non fiction Soul Friend: The story of a shared spiritual journey

[Dale]

Angela wrote: "I am seeing so many great books! Can't wait to add half of them to my growing TBR list...

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder
Stiff by [author:Shane Malon..."

I loved Sophie's World when I read it years ago, Angela.

[Alik]

My Top 5 are:

1. The Song of Achilles Madeline Miller
2. A Monster Calls Patrick Ness
3. Wool Omnibus. Hugh Howey
4. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Jesse Andrews
5. The Book of Joe Jonathan Tropper

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Alik wrote: "My Top 5 are:

1. The Song of Achilles Madeline Miller
2. A Monster Calls Patrick Ness
3. Wool Omnibus. Hugh Howey
4. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Jesse Andrews
5. The Book of Joe Jonathan Tr..."

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
The Book of Joe by Jonathan Tropper

[Sharon]

My top 5 are:

1. The Son-in-Law by Charity Norman
2. The Shadow Year by Hannah Richell
3. Still Missing by Chevy Stevens
4. The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes
5. The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman

[Chris]

In no particular order my Top 5 are:


1. Citadel by Kate Mosse
2. Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks
3. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
4. Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman
5. Tomorrow, When the War Began byJohn Marsden

[Angela]

Dale wrote: "Angela wrote: "I am seeing so many great books! Can't wait to add half of them to my growing TBR list...

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder
Stiff by [aut..."

Me too Dale! I read it every year without fail. Timeless!

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Some fantastic reads here, some of which are already on my TBR!!! Keep the lists coming!

[Mish]

Alex wrote: "A great year's reading coming to a close. In no particular order:


1.Barracuda by Christos Tsiolkas
2.Pick-Up by Charles Willeford
3.Bitter Wash Road ..."

I'm reading Philip Marlowe books in order...I can't wait to till I get up to this book - The Long Goodbye. I keep hearing it is different to his other books.

[Michael]

The Long Goodbye is my favourite of all the Marlowe books :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Michael wrote: "The Long Goodbye is my favourite of all the Marlowe books :)"

I see this is #6...do they need to be read in order, or could this one be a stand-alone?

[Michael]

They are pretty much stand-alone novels.

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

OK thanks Michael:)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Booktopia has a lot of Raymond Chandler books reasonably priced, with FREE DELIVERY until midnight tomorrow night (23rd Nov) http://www.booktopia.com.au/search.ep...

Free shipping code SMART

[Michael]

Brenda wrote: "Booktopia has a lot of Raymond Chandler books reasonably priced, with FREE DELIVERY until midnight tomorrow night (23rd Nov) http://www.booktopia.com.au/search.ep......"

I wonder why they have all the Marlowe books as a penguin classic except The Little Sister

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

I suppose it's because they have recently been re-released as penguin classics..they are a pretty reasonable price aren't they?

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Thanks Alex:)

[Mish]

Alex wrote: "Mish,

The Long Goodbye, for mine, is his masterpiece. It is far more "autobiographical" and has a melancholic resignation throughout.

Oh, and 2013 is the year I discovered the brilliance of
[au..."

Wow this does sound good. it makes me want to jump ahead.

[Mish]

Brenda wrote: "Booktopia has a lot of Raymond Chandler books reasonably priced, with FREE DELIVERY until midnight tomorrow night (23rd Nov) http://www.booktopia.com.au/search.ep......"

Oh my goodness Brenda. I had no clue the others were re-released as penguin classic - I've only seen The Lady in the Lake(which I have). I might casually hint/mention these books to Hubby for christmas ;)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Mish wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Booktopia has a lot of Raymond Chandler books reasonably priced, with FREE DELIVERY until midnight tomorrow night (23rd Nov) http://www.booktopia.com.au/search.ep......"

You'd better tell him to order them before tomorrow night to take advantage of the free delivery Mish;)

[Mish]

Alex wrote: "Mish wrote: "Wow this does sound good. it makes me want to jump ahead."

Aww, they're all great. Enjoy the journey. His last one,
Playback, is not as great as the other ones. It's l..."

Thankyou info on the other books Alex, I’ll keep that in mind.

Yes that’s why I like to read them in order to experience the journey :)

[Mish]

Brenda wrote: "Mish wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Booktopia has a lot of Raymond Chandler books reasonably priced, with FREE DELIVERY until midnight tomorrow night (23rd Nov) http://www.booktopia.com.au/se..."

I will :)

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Mish wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Mish wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Booktopia has a lot of Raymond Chandler books reasonably priced, with FREE DELIVERY until midnight tomorrow night (23rd Nov) http://www.book..."

How many have you read Mish, and are they in "real" books or ebooks?

[Liam || Books 'n Beards]

My top five:

1. The End Specialist by Drew Magary
2. Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey
3. House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
4. The Legacy Of Lord Regret by Sam Bowring
5. Wool Omnibus (Silo, #1) by Hugh Howey

I really can't hype End Specialist up enough apparently.

[Mish]

Brenda wrote: "Mish wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Mish wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Booktopia has a lot of Raymond Chandler books reasonably priced, with FREE DELIVERY until midnight tomorrow night (23rd Nov) ht..."

2 Brenda, one in real book (penguin classic) The Lady in the Lake and The Big Sleep on ebook and I've got another one Farewell, My Lovely on ebook as well. I'm disappointed I bought them on ebook now. I didn't think I would like them as much as i do. And because of that, want them in Real books

[Brenda, Aussie Authors Queen]

Mish wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Mish wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Mish wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Booktopia has a lot of Raymond Chandler books reasonably priced, with FREE DELIVERY until midnight tomorrow nigh..."

Oh fair enough. I'm tossing about buying them from Booktopia. I'm just not sure, as I haven't read any of them before! Decisions, decisions! lol

[Michael]

Brenda wrote: "Mish wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Mish wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Mish wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Booktopia has a lot of Raymond Chandler books reasonably priced, with FREE DELIVERY until midnight ..."

I recommend starting with The Lady in the Lake