My Top 5 Reads of 2013

[Rob]

Hudson wrote: "Just when I thought my TBR list was going to settle down along comes a post like this one....a good problem to have though. Here are my top five horror books of 2013:

The Remaining..."

Hi Hudson, Have you read Heart Shaped Box? That one really got under my skin...

[Kate]

My top 5 were:

1. Made me want to be a kid again. Perfect storytelling and one that will stay with me for years to come.
2. A story of friendship between a boy and a monster. Had me bawling at the end.
3. This novella is amazing. The impact of this read is like a sucker punch to the guts.
4. Two novellas in one. Kutter from Jeff Strand - one serial killer and his dog. Never thought I'd be rooting for a serial killer. Remains by Michael McBride - tense read about a rescue team trying to find missing teenagers. A little bit of sci-if with a lot of gory horror. Great reads.
5. A full on assault from start to finish. Great fun to read.

Special mention to , a nice departure from the usual survivor type zombie read. Pokes all kinds of fun at big corporations. Well worth the asking price.

[David]

Larry wrote: "The Summer I Died is deffently my fav book of the year"

Mine too! this thing should win a Bram Stoker..but I am sure it won't even be nominated.

[TJ]

My favorites were two from Stephen King - Joyland and The Shining,
two advance readings of upcoming books from Jonathan Janz - Dust Devils and the sequel to "The Sorrows" entitled "Castle of Sorrows"
and Elements of the Undead Omnibus by William Esmont

[Adam]

Isn't The Summer I Died being made into a film still? That is something, but I agree with you guys, it deserves a Stoker. It was exceedingly well written for extreme horror.

[Char]

Kate wrote: "My top 5 were:

1. Made me want to be a kid again. Perfect storytelling and one that will stay with me for years to come.
2. A story of frie..."

LOVE your list, Kate!

[Kimberly]

Kate wrote: "My top 5 were:

1. Made me want to be a kid again. Perfect storytelling and one that will stay with me for years to come.
2. A story of frie..."
GREAT list Kate!!!!

[Andy]

Sounds like I need to read Dweller.

[Jason]

Some great lists, with a good mix of mainstream and indies! Here were my favorite reads of last year (books I read, regardless of publishing date, though most were 2013)



(not horror, but too fantastic not to include)



There was also an anthology I found at the library called The Dracula, which has nothing to do with Dracula. It has short stories from all the greats, including Poe's Pit and a non-vampire story by Stoker. It's here on Amazon (difficult find), but can't really find on Goodreads. Too old?

http://www.amazon.com/Dracula-Book-Gr...

[Bill]

I have been putting off this list, because it is difficult to pick just five. Here they are in no particular order:







Honorable Mention: (either of these could have easily made the list)

[Kate]

Andy wrote: "Sounds like I need to read Dweller."

Yes, you do. ;)

[Char]

Andy wrote: "Sounds like I need to read Dweller."

You do!! It was excellent!

[Char]

Bill wrote: "I have been putting off this list, because it is difficult to pick just five. Here they are in no particular order:



[boo..."

That's a great list, Bill! The Light is the Darkness is on my list too. (And you know how I feel about Boy's Life!) :)

[Kate]

Thanks Charlene & Kimberly.

That's a great list, Bill. :)

Jason, good to hear how fab A Storm of Swords is, I'm reading that for my tbr challenge.

[Jason]

Yeah, I just added The Light to my TBR list. Looks excellent.

Kate, read the first 5 books. That one was by far the best

[Kenneth]

Here's my top 5 reads in 2013:

Doctor Sleep
Heart-Shaped Box
I Travel by Night
The Rising: Author's Preferred Edition
The Fog

[Mike]

[Kate]

Just gone back and looked at everyone's lists. So many great books both mainstream and indie. This is the type of thread that causes my tbr to explode. ;)

[Ken B]

Kate wrote: "Just gone back and looked at everyone's lists. So many great books both mainstream and indie. This is the type of thread that causes my tbr to explode. ;)"

I know what you are saying. Like my Kindle wasn't already bursting at the seams.

[Jon Recluse]

2013 was a great book year.

[Karie]

Read some really great books last year...probably because I see what you guys are reading! So glad I read "House of Leaves". It was daunting but well worth it.

, , , ,

[Jason]

I read Pilo this year too, and Dead Sea, both honorable mentions for me.

[Char]

Ken wrote: "Here's my top 5 reads in 2013:

Doctor Sleep
Heart-Shaped Box
I Travel by Night
The Rising: Author's Preferred Edition
The Fog

I Travel By Night made my list too.

[Hudson]

Rob wrote: "Hudson wrote: "Just when I thought my TBR list was going to settle down along comes a post like this one....a good problem to have though. Here are my top five horror books of 2013:

[book:The Rema..."

Yes I did read that Rob, thought that one was great as well. For some reason, I did not read Joe Hill when he first came out, I got caught up with him last year and I'm glad I did.

[Rachel]

here's my post with my top 5 2013 reads. They weren't all published this year and I left out books I'd reviewed previously in my blog.

http://racheldinga.wordpress.com/

[Char]

Rachel wrote: "here's my post with my top 5 2013 reads. They weren't all published this year and I left out books I'd reviewed previously in my blog.

http://racheldinga.wordpress.com/"

Now I'm even more excited to read Room. Nice list, Rachel. I guess I need to read some Gillian Flynn.

[Rachel]

I really love Gillian Flynn. I read Sharp Objects and really enjoyed it. I need to read Dark Places.

[Andy]

If you can find it from your local library, the audiobook version Sharp Objects is incredible. The reader really nails the sarcasm and spite of of Ama and Adora.

[Evans]

My Top Five in 2013:


5. Six Dead Spots

4. This Book Is Full of Spiders: Seriously, Dude, Don't Touch It

3. The Tent

2. What Hides Within

1. NOS4A2

Honorable mentions:

Bleeding Shadows
What the Dark Brings
Toes Up (I'll grudgingly keep the nepotism out of my Top 5!)
Black Evening: Tales of Dark Suspense
The Collection

[Beth]

My top 5 of 2013:
1. Ready Player One
2. NOS4A2
3. Joyland
4. The Shining
5. I Am Legend

[Char]

Wow, there's some great books here. You all have good taste. :)

[Jason]

I Am Legend is one of my favorite books. Perhaps that's why I thought the movie fell flat where others seemed to enjoy it.

[[deleted user]]

Misery - Stephen King
Blue World - Robert McCammon
Strega - Andrew Vachss
Edge of Dark Water by Joe R. Lansdale
Off Season - Jack Ketchum
Kin - Kealan Patrick Burke

[[deleted user]]

Jason wrote: "I Am Legend is one of my favorite books. Perhaps that's why I thought the movie fell flat where others seemed to enjoy it."

I Am Legend has such potential to be a great movie. But, it needs to be a drama, not an action movie. The Last Man on Earth got the story right, but doesn't have the right feel. The other adaptations completely miss the point. It's a short book. It could translate perfectly to film but needs to be a dark drama a la The Road.

[Erin]

[David]

My top Five that I read in 2013
1) The Summer I Died ~ Ryan C. Thomas
2) When We Join Jesus in Hell ~ Lee Thompson(novella)
3) Savage ~ Richard Laymon
4)14 ~ Peter Clines
5) Penpal ~ Dathan Auerbach

Still haven't figured out the putting pictures in the thread..I feel like such a tool....a great year for horror fiction!!!

Honorable Mention

N0S4A2 ~ Joe Hill
Video Night ~ Adam Cesare
Strings ~ Allison M. Dickson
Dust & Decay ~ Jonathan Maberry
Doctor Sleep ~ Stephen King

[Jason]

I. Clayton wrote: "Jason wrote: "I Am Legend is one of my favorite books. Perhaps that's why I thought the movie fell flat where others seemed to enjoy it."

I Am Legend has such potential to be a great movie. But, i..."

The Road - another favorite of mine. I did think the movie version was done well, too, all things considered.

I am surprised to see so many people adding Joyland to their list. I was anxious to get this, but then only heard average reviews of it so kinda put it on the back burner.

[Bill]

Joyland was very good, but I was a bit taken aback that it was marketed as hard case crime, which it was not.

[Gregor]

Bill wrote: "Joyland was very good, but I was a bit taken aback that it was marketed as hard case crime, which it was not."

The Colorado Kid really wasn't either.

[Char]

I thought Joyland was very good as well. It just didn't make my top 10 because I read so many other excellent books last year. It's also a hard book to categorize, it's not crime, it's not horror, it's sort of coming of age, but not really. LOL
I hope that clears it up for you. :)

[Evans]

I. Clayton wrote: "Misery - Stephen King
Blue World - Robert McCammon
Strega - Andrew Vachss
Edge of ..."

Now that's a strong list!

[Bill]

Charlene wrote: "I thought Joyland was very good as well. It just didn't make my top 10 because I read so many other excellent books last year. It's also a hard book to categorize, it's not crime, it's not horror, ..."

Crystal ;)

[Jon Recluse]

Bill wrote: "Charlene wrote: "I thought Joyland was very good as well. It just didn't make my top 10 because I read so many other excellent books last year. It's also a hard book to categorize, it's not crime, ..."

Lite.

[[deleted user]]

Jon Recluse wrote: "Lite."
Does that mean it tastes great or it's less filling?

[Beth]

Bill wrote: "Joyland was very good, but I was a bit taken aback that it was marketed as hard case crime, which it was not."

I agree Joyland was more of a coming of age story than a mystery/crime story. It was not at all what I was expecting but in a good way! :)

[Jason]

I will have to move it up on the list then... maybe...

[Kate]

David wrote: "My top Five that I read in 2013
1) The Summer I Died ~ Ryan C. Thomas
2) When We Join Jesus in Hell ~ Lee Thompson(novella)
3) Savage ~ Richard Laymon
4)14 ~ Peter Clines
5) Penpal ~ Dathan Auerbac..."

Great list, David. Savage is a favourite of mine. I really want to read 14 as well.

[Ray]

Rachel wrote: "I really love Gillian Flynn. I read Sharp Objects and really enjoyed it. I need to read Dark Places."

I'm only a few chapters into DARK PLACES but it's off to a great start.

[Rachel]

I just put a hold on Dark Places.

[David]

I. Clayton wrote: "Misery - Stephen King
Blue World - Robert McCammon
Strega - Andrew Vachss
Edge of ..."

Somehow in my adult life I have still never read McCammon's Blue World. I need to read that this year.