Last Call! - PBT Top Ten Books of 2016

[Anita]

You were close, Blueberry!

You wrote the word "by" between the book title and author. Please just change that to a dash.

i.e. Hot Milk - Deborah Levy

[Ladyslott]

Blueberry wrote: Well this is embarrassing but I don't know what I did wrong? I thought I followed the instructions. ..."

Blueberry please go back to your post (message #24). The format is Book Title - Author; that is a dash between the two not "by",
It may seem nitpicking, but if all our members vote it will be over 2,000 books to collate, and the word by instead of a dash changes the sort. It's easier for me if everyone just corrects their post.

Thank you

[Booknblues]

Blueberry wrote: "Nicole R wrote: "Blueberry, will you please edit your post so it follows Linda's instructions above? You have some great books and we want to make sure they are counted!"


Well this is embarrassin..."

drop the "by" and put in a space and a -

and you will be good. :)

[Susie]

Amy wrote: "Susie, darling! I love that you included the Signature of All Things on your list. It was in my top four for 2015, including All the Light, Nightingale, and the Boston Girl, and oh yeah, add as a f..."

Amy, I knew you'd be happy that it was on my list!

[Susie]

Ladyslott wrote: "Susie wrote: "I found this task really hard, which is great because it means I've read lots of exceptional books this year. I had a shortlist of sixteen but I reluctantly managed to narrow it down ..."

Edited. :-)

[Susie]

Anita wrote: "Another great endorsement of Signature of All Things. Anxious to get to it."

I'm feeling stressed about you reading it now!

[Anita]

Susie wrote: "Anita wrote: "Another great endorsement of Signature of All Things. Anxious to get to it."

I'm feeling stressed about you reading it now!"

LOL! Definitely don't be . . .my very good friend told me a lot about it, and I think I'm going to like it, but it certainly won't be on you if I don't!

[Kristel]

Remembering Babylon by David Malouf
The Martian - Andy Weir
Broken April - Ismail Kadare
That They May Face The Rising Sun - John McGahern
The Rithmatist - Brandon Sanderson
Anna Karenin - Leo Tolstoy
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J. K. Rowling
The Good Lord Bird - James McBride
A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
The Brothers Karamazov - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

[Ladyslott]

Kristel wrote: "Still Alice - Lisa Genova
The Martian - Andy Weir
Broken April - Ismail Kadare
That They May Face The Rising Sun - John McGahern
[book:The ..."

Kristel;

As per the instructions I requested that the HTML link not be used. Please remove the links, otherwise I cannot include them in the list.

[Kristel]

Ladyslott wrote: "Kristel wrote: "Still Alice - Lisa Genova
The Martian - Andy Weir
Broken April - Ismail Kadare
That They May Face The Rising Sun - John McG..."

Done, no instructions on page 2 and I missed that HTML and thought I remembered others with HTML.

[Ladyslott]

Kristel wrote: "Ladyslott wrote: "Kristel wrote: "Still Alice - Lisa Genova
The Martian - Andy Weir
Broken April - Ismail Kadare
[book:That They May Face The Rising Sun..."

Thank you. Not sure what you been by no instructions on page 2, but thanks for fixing the list.

[Kristel]

After the page gets so long, if you respond to an email or whatever the drop down thing is called. It takes you to the end. Which now is the second page and on this page where I posted, there was no examples. I am sorry that I used HTML, it makes sense that it would mess up a spreadsheet. Should have known better.

[Regina Lindsey]

A Man Called Ove - Fredrick Backman
Tsar of Love in Techno - Anthony Marra
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down - Anne Fadiman
A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea - Dina Nayeri
A Gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towles
A Storm of Witchcraft - Emerson W. Baker
Dubliners - James Joyce
Lawrence in Arabia - Scott Anderson
A Golden Age - Tahmina Anam
The Beak of the Finch - Jonathan Weiner

[Cora]

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian - Sherman Alexie
Maniac Magee - Jerry Spinelli
The Serpent - Claire North
Jagannath - Karin Tidbeck
Red Rising - Pierce Brown
The Library at Mount Char - Scott Hawkins
The Scorpion Rules - Erin Bow
The Fifth Season - N. K. Jemisin
The Alloy of Law - Brandon Sanderson
City of Stairs - Robert Jackson Bennett

[Ferris]

The Nix - Nathan Hill
Eyeball to Eyeball - Dino Brugioni
Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

[Nicole R]

Ironman wrote: "The Nix - Nathan Hill
Eyeball to Eyeball - Dino Brugioni
Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood"

The Handmaid's Tale is one of my favorite books. I have heard such great things about The Nix but, despite even having checked it out from the library, have not read it yet.

[Ferris]

Thy Neighbor's Wife - Gay Talese

[Denizen]

Kristel wrote: "Still Alice - Lisa Genova
The Martian - Andy Weir
Broken April - Ismail Kadare
That They May Face The Rising Sun - John McGahern
The Rithmatist - Brandon Sanderson
Anna Karenin - Leo Tolstoy
Harry..."

I love seeing a couple classic Russian novels on your list!

[Ladyslott]

Kristel wrote: "After the page gets so long, if you respond to an email or whatever the drop down thing is called. It takes you to the end. Which now is the second page and on this page where I posted, there was n..."

No apology necessary and thanks for making the correction.

[Joi]

Here's my top 10 in no particular order- Top 6 were easy peasy. Comping up with the 4 extras was harder.

Definitely making me rethink some of my ratings. 5 Stars that I wouldn't put on my top 10 list, and some 4 stars that I feel like did make my top 10 list.

The Secret History - Donna Tart
Helter Skelter- Vincent Bugliosi
Dark Matter - Blake Crouch
The Martian - Andy Weir
Ready Player One - Ernest Cline
Unbroken- Laura Hillenbrand
84, Charing Cross - Helene Hanff
The Blind Side - Michael Lewis
Big Little Lies - Liane Moriarty
Escape - Carolyn Jessop

[Jennifer]

I love this! But harder than I thought it was going to be. I thought 10 was a lot.

The Tsar of Love and Techo - Anthony Marra
A Man Called Ove - Fredrik Backman
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena - Anthony Marra
The Marriage Plot - Jeffrey Eudenides
Wool - Hugh Howey
The Light Between Oceans - ML Stedman
The Passage - Justin Cronin
The Underground Railroad - Colson Whitehead
The Lake House - Kate Morton
Rules of Civility - Amor Towles

edited on 12/31/16

[Jenni Elyse]

Anita wrote: "I so love these lists and want to comment on each one, but fear making the thread so confusing. So will make my comments here:

Jenni - Love how you stick with us, and yet always manage to read you..."

I think this group is so fun. I love that we have things in common and things to learn from each other. :)

[Jenni Elyse]

Kristel wrote: "Still Alice - Lisa Genova
The Martian - Andy Weir
Broken April - Ismail Kadare
That They May Face The Rising Sun - John McGahern
The Rithmatist - Brandon Sanderson
Anna Karenin - Leo Tolstoy
Harry..."

I'm glad to see that we have one in common. And, I always love seeing Harry Potter on people's lists.

[Jenni Elyse]

I love looking at everyone's lists. I love seeing the diverse reads and the ones that everyone seems to love. I've noticed "Being Mortal" and "The Tsar of Love and Techno" the most so far.

[Sara]

Jenni Elyse wrote: "I love looking at everyone's lists. I love seeing the diverse reads and the ones that everyone seems to love. I've noticed "Being Mortal" and "The Tsar of Love and Techno" the most so far."

84, Charing Cross Road and A Man Callec Ove have also stuck out to me as making several lists.

[Amy]

I thought I'd see more of A Gentleman in Moscow. Including myself, only three times maybe?

[Karin]

I may add 1 or 2 more before the year ends. These are all first time reads only and 5 stars (even if rounded up to 5)

All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr
Our Mutual Friend - Charles Dickens
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand - Helen Simonson
Forgiven: The Amish School Shooting, a Mother’s Love, and a Story of Remarkable Grace - Terri Roberts
The Summer Before the War - Helen Simonson
Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges - Amy Cuddy
Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania - Erik Larson
The Daughter of Time - Josephine Tey
Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd - Alan Bradley
God Gave Me You - Tricia Seaman, Diane Nichols

[Jenni Elyse]

Sara wrote: "Jenni Elyse wrote: "I love looking at everyone's lists. I love seeing the diverse reads and the ones that everyone seems to love. I've noticed "Being Mortal" and "The Tsar of Love and Techno" the m..."

Yes, you're right. I've seen a couple of instances of Life After Life too.

[Kristel]

Anita wrote: "Hot Milk - Deborah Levy
Shotgun Lovesongs - Nikolas Butler
Purity - Johnathan Franzen
Fates and Furies - Lauren Groff
My Name is Lucy Barton - Elizabeth Strout
The Tsar of Love and Techno - Anthon..."

I read Fates and Furies and I think it was 4 stars for me. I read a lot of really good 4 star books. Many of the rest are on my wish list; Purity, Lucy , The Tsar, Shotgun Lovesongs.

[Kristel]

Diane wrote: "I have a total of 9 now. I am leaving space for one that might come up in December.

The God of Small Things - Arundhati Roy
Season of Migration to the North - Tayeb Salih
The Expatriates - Janice..."

We naturally read a lot of the same books, good to see these listed as favorites.

[Kristel]

Amy wrote: "Amy's Top Ten List:

This was both easy and hard. I put 8 names off the bat on my phone while my kid was at the dentist. Last two spots had plenty of competition.

Here Goes:

A Gentleman in Mosco..."

You have a lot of great books on your list.

[Kristel]

Blueberry wrote: "We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
The Day I Killed James by Catherine Ryan Hyde
Hell is Empty by Craig Johnson
The Amazing Mrs. Poll..."

Interesting list!

[Kristel]

This is not an official entry but just adding my favorite nonfiction this year; all 5 stars. So I am going to break all the rules Linda!
The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking
Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage, and Survival
The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll through the Hidden Connections of the English Language
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Seabiscuit: An American Legend
Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War

I chose to just use my fiction books so did not include any of the nonfiction.

[Kristel]

Denizen wrote: "This is tough as I read many wonderful books this year. No particular order.

Being Mortal - Atul Gawande
The Tsar of Love and Techno - Anthony Marra
Fates and Furies - Lauren Groff
The Water Knife..."

Nice list. I like China Mieville. I read Embassytown this year which I really liked and will get to The City & The City someday. I also have Being Mortal sitting here to read.

[Kristel]

Regina wrote: "A Man Called Ove - Fredrick Backman
Tsar of Love in Techno - Anthony Marra
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down - Anne Fadiman
A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea - Dina Nayeri
A Gentleman in Moscow - ..."

I really liked The Spirit Catches You.... when I read it.

[LibraryCin]

Joi wrote: "Definitely making me rethink some of my ratings. 5 Stars that I wouldn't put on my top 10 list, and some 4 stars that I feel like did make my top 10 list. ..."

It's always interesting when that happens, isn't it!?

And yay! that "Escape" made your list!!! It was on my list the year I read it, as well.

[LibraryCin]

Karin wrote: "Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania - Erik Larson..."

I'm reading this now. I guess it's early to say for sure, but it just may make my list, as well. We'll see how the book plays out!

[Karin]

LibraryCin wrote: "Karin wrote: "Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania - Erik Larson..."

I'm reading this now. I guess it's early to say for sure, but it just may make my list, as well. We'll see how the boo..."

I hope you like it. I listened to the audiobook, which was very well done.

[Anita]

Kristel wrote: "This is not an official entry but just adding my favorite nonfiction this year; all 5 stars. So I am going to break all the rules Linda!
[book:The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journ..."

Three of my favorites are on your non-fiction list!!

[Amy]

Kristel, my first Shelfari friend! We have been reading and loving the same books for years. I'm not surprised.

[Blueberry]

corrected :)

[Anita]

Shuva wrote: "This thread is really not a good idea for me.... Mt TBR got higher - same thing happened last year too!!!"

You have my sincere sympathies . . .

[Kelly]

The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah
Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
A Man Called Owe - Fredrik Backman
Me Before You - Jojo Moyers
All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr
Seabiscuit - Laura Hillenbrand
A Gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towels
The Boys in the Boat - Daniel James Brown
The Book Thief - Markus Zusak
Just Mercy - Bryan Stevenson

[Ladyslott]

Kelly wrote: "The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah
Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
A Man Called Owe - Fredrik Backman
Me Before You - Jojo Moyers
All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr
Seabiscuit - Laura Hillenbrand
..."

I have read all of your list except for one, and I loved all of them, so now I am going to check out Just Mercy.

[Kelly]

Ladyslott wrote: "Kelly wrote: "The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah
Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
A Man Called Owe - Fredrik Backman
Me Before You - Jojo Moyers
All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr
Seabiscuit - Laur..."

I think you will like it.

[Ladyslott]

Kelly wrote: "Ladyslott wrote: "Kelly wrote: "The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah
Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn
A Man Called Owe - Fredrik Backman
Me Before You - Jojo Moyers
All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr..."

It's available a my library, it will be on the list for 2017, need to read 5 books by the end of this month to complete all my challenges.

[Mindy aka serenity]

I'm in grad school, so history books feature prominently in my reading for 2016. I've read many great books this year, fiction and nonfiction!

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
Edward III and Chivalry: Chivalric Society and Its Context, 1270-1350 - Juliet Vale
Middlemarch - George Eliot
Avengers of the New World: The Story of the Haitian Revolution - Laurent Dubois
Medieval Maidens: Young Women and Gender in England, c.1270-c.1540 - Kim Phillips
American Gods - Neil Gaiman
History Matters: Patriarchy and the Challenge of Feminism - Judith Bennett
Bring Up the Bodies - Hilary Mantel
Le Paradis Des Femmes: Women, Salons, and Social Stratification in Seventeenth-Century France - Carolyn Lougee
Bleak House - Charles Dickens

[Kimber]

The Alchemy of Stone - Ekaterina Sedia
The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula Le Guin
All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson
A Canticle for Leibowitz - Walter M Miller Jr.
Between the World and Me - Ta-Nehisi Coates
Tattoos on the Heart - Gregory Boyle
The Boys in the Boat - Daniel James Brown
Just Mercy - Bryan Stevenson

[Raine]

Here is my list - only 9 so far but I will update at the end of the year.

The Long and Faraway Gone - Lou Berney
The Hot Zone - Richard Preston
The Chosen Child - Linda Huber
The Guest Room - Chris Bohjalian
Don't You Cry - Mary Kubica
One True Loves - Taylor Jenkins Reid
The Light Between Oceans - M L Stedman
Before the Fall - Noah Hawley
Fates and Furies - Lauren Groff

[Jen]

My Top ten read in 2016 (it was a great year for me and hard to pick my favorites):

The Tsar of Love and Techno - Anthony Marra
A Brief History of Seven Killings - Marlon James
House of Leaves - Mark Danielewski
Homegoing - Ya'a Gyasi
Between the World and Me - Ta-Nehisi Coates
The Sellout - Paul Beatty
Hystopia - David Means
Do Not Say we Have Nothing - Madeleine Thien
The Many - Wyl Menmuir
Hot Milk - Deborah Levy