Favourite reads of 2014

[Stephanie]

Hello and welcome to 2015! I hope everyone got a bit of extra time for reading over the holidays. I can't really say that I did... for some reason, my holidays always end up being as busy as my work time! I still got through a book or two though.

So what was everyone's favourite reads in 2014? I read some really great, enjoyable books; too many to list here. But I have to say my absolute favourite was Elizabeth is Missing, which was a first novel from Emma Healey. I read it at a gulp and just loved it. I was initially attracted to it because of the mysterious element, but on reading the book there was so much more to it. The central character is completely lovable and very funny and the writing style is very enjoyable. I laughed out loud more than once! Quite unusual for a psychological mystery. Everyone I've spoken to who has read this book just loves it - I highly, highly recommend! Will definitely be on the lookout for anything else by Emma Healey in the future.

Who else has a favourite read from 2014?

[Erica]

My favs were (they all got 5* from me):

My Name Was Judas
Eleanor & Park
Looking for Alaska
The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid

Honourable mention goes to: Jasper Jones. This was a new author to me and I really enjoyed the book and recommended it to several people throughout the year.

[Megan]

I also loved Elizabeth is Missing, more than I expected. I enjoyed the mystery and the characterisations.

I was one of the people who enjoyed The Luminaries very much. It also made me go back to The Bone People, which I hadn't read since 1986! I enjoyed it so much more this time - great writing and a gritty story.

I also borrowed The Paris Architect off of my husband's bookshelf, and very much enjoyed this story. Initially, the main character is very unlikable, but he is forced to confront who he is and to reconsider his purpose in life gradually and, I felt, quite believably. It is set on Paris during WW2.

Children of the Jacaranda Tree was a random Amazon find for me. I very much enjoyed learning a little more about the recent political history of Iran. The book spans 30 years, starting in 1983 (from memory) and starting with a baby being born in Evin Prison in Tehran. It's a shocking start, and there are plenty of confronting events. Here's a link to more information: http://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/c...

Because of the age group I teach I also read several great Young Adult Books:
Bugs
When We Wake
And While We Run were great NZ books, and I also enjoyed The Impossible Knife of Memory.

I know I read other fantastic books, too, but for now that's my list!